RTHK: German navy chief resigns over Ukraine crisis remarks The head of Germany's navy has resigned following controversial remarks on the crisis in Ukraine, a defence minstry spokesman said on Saturday. Kay-Achim Schoenbach said the idea that Russia wanted to invade Ukraine was "nonsense", adding that Putin deserved respect, in comments at a think-tank meeting in New Delhi on Friday. The vice-admiral would leave his post "with immediate effect" said a spokesman. In a video filmed at the New Delhi meeting, Schoenbach said that what Putin wanted was "to be respected". "It's easy to give him the respect he wants, and probably deserves as well," he said. He also said that the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, was gone and would not come back to Ukraine. On Saturday, Schoenbach made it clear that his comments did not represent the government's view and had been ill-advised. "There is no need to quibble: it was clearly a mistake," he tweeted. In a statement later on Saturday, he said he had submitted his resignation "to avoid any more damage being done to the Germany navy and above all, to the German Federal Republic". Earlier on Saturday, the Ukrainian foreign minister had summoned Germany's ambassador to Kyiv to protest "the categorical unacceptability" of Schoenbach's comments. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-01-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. WHO chief warns COVID-19 pandemic "nowhere near over" Xinhua) 09:42, January 23, 2022 SINGAPORE, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently refuted the narrative that the Omicron variant signals the COVID-19 mitigating into a mild disease, warning that the pandemic is far from over. "This pandemic is nowhere near over," Tedros told reporters from the WHO's headquarters in Geneva, Singapore's Chinese-language Lianhe Zaobao paper reported on Thursday. The Omicron variant is much more contagious than previous strains and has spread rapidly since it was first detected in southern Africa in November. "Omicron may be less severe, on average, but the narrative that it is a mild disease is misleading," Tedros said Tuesday. "Make no mistake: Omicron is causing hospitalizations and deaths, and even the less severe cases are inundating health facilities," he added. 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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 'Why I killed Gandhi' which is set to release on Limelight OTT on January 30 - Gandhi's death anniversary Mumbai: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Sunday said that the party will not allow the release of the movie 'Why I killed Gandhi' in Maharashtra. "If you portray Gandhiji's murderer as a hero, it is not acceptable. Our country is known through Gandhi and his ideology. He is celebrated worldwide. Congress will oppose it. We will request Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray not to allow this movie's release in Maharashtra," said the Congress leader. Earlier today, the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a complete ban on the movie "Why I Killed Gandhi" as the film glorifies Nathuram Godse the traitor and killer of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. "All Indian Cine Workers Association demands a complete ban on the movie Why I Killed Gandhi which is to be released on OTT Platform in India on January 30, 2022, as this movie glorifies Nathuram Godse the traitor and killer of the father of nation Mahatma Gandhiji. Gandhiji is someone who is admired by entire INDIA and the world, Gandhiji's Ideology is a symbol of Love and Sacrifice for each and every Indian," the letter reads. The association further said that if this movie releases the entire nation will be shocked and devastated by the display of the heinous crime. "Nathuram Godse is (the Traitor and Assassin of Gandhiji) doesn't deserve an inch of respect by anyone in this country, the actor who played the role of Nathuram Godse (the traitor and the killer of Gandhiji) is a sitting MP in Lok Sabha and is under the oath of Indian Constitution, if this movie releases the entire nation will be shocked and devastated by the display of the heinous crime which occurred on January 30, 1948," it said. 'Why I killed Gandhi' which is set to release on Limelight OTT on January 30 - Gandhi's death anniversary. Amol Kolhe was previously in Shiv Sena and a leading Marathi actor since 2008 and has acted in many period movies and played many roles of historic figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Kolhe joined Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 2019 and defeated Sena's Shivajirao Adhalarao Patil in the Shirur Lok Sabha election. It was alleged that an Arunachal youth was abducted by the PLA on Tuesday Guwahati : The Peoples Liberation Army of China has assured its Indian counterpart to release 17-year-old Miram Taron who had gone missing from Arunachal Pradeshs Upper Siang district along the international border with China. It was alleged that an Arunachal youth was abducted by the PLA on Tuesday. The defence PRO at 4 Corps headquarters Lt. Col. Harsh Wardhan Pande told this newspaper that the Indian Army has spoken to its counterpart in PLA which promise to ensure his safe release following the defined protocol between the two countries. Col. Wardhan said the boys release from the Chinese may take seven to 10 days. The Regulatory has issued a show-cause notice to the airport in case of serious violation of security rules at the airport The DGCA's audit report suggested that the Kolkata airport has been negligent in the maintenance of the runway as per the mandated safety requirement. (Representational Image - ANI) New Delhi: India's aviation regulatory body, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) imposed a fine of Rs 20 lakh on Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBIA) for violating safety norms by neglecting runway maintenance. "After the regulator started safety auditing for airports a few months back, the audit report found that NSCBIA has committed serious safety norms violations, especially on the runway maintenance work. It has been decided to impose a fine of Rs 20 lakh," a senior official from DGCA confirmed to ANI. The DGCA's audit report suggested that the Kolkata airport has been negligent in the maintenance of the runway as per the mandated safety requirement. The Regulatory has issued a show-cause notice to the airport in case of serious violation of security rules at the airport. "According to the audit report, the maintenance of the runway at Kolkata airport was not done as per the guidelines, the lights on the runway were not fixed properly and Foreign Object Debris (FOB) was reported on the runway, which could have been a part of an aircraft's safety during landing and takeoff was a concern," DGCA official told ANI. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) did not comment on ANI's queries regarding the DGCA action, but AAI sources told ANI that, "An internal committee has been constituted to look into the said incident." This U-turn within a day by Priyanka has left the party cadres in the state confused regarding the position of the party New Delhi: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday backtracked from declaring herself as the chief ministerial face in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections. On Friday, while releasing the youth manifesto of the party in the national capital, she was asked about the CM face. She had replied, Are you seeing any other face from the Congress? Then? She had further added, My face can be seen everywhere. Speaking to a news agency on Saturday, she clarified that on Friday, she had made the comment about her being the chief ministerial face in irritation. She said, I am not saying that I am the (CM) face (of Congress in the Uttar Pradesh elections)... I said that (you can see my face everywhere) in irritation because you all were asking the same question again & again. This U-turn within a day by the Congress general secretary has left the party cadres in the state confused regarding the position of the party. Her remark was considered as a major indication on Congress chief ministerial candidate for the Assembly elections scheduled in February and March. Congress till now has not projected a chief ministerial candidate in any of the five poll-bound states. The Congress under Ms Priyanka Vadras leadership is trying to put up a strong fight in Uttar Pradesh by reaching out to the women and youth that form a significant part of the states population. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, there were reports that she might contest from Varanasi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the speculations later fizzled out. She was then appointed general secretary incharge of Uttar Pradesh East in 2019. Later, she was given responsibility of the full state. In the last couple of months, she has been re-building the organisational structure in the state. Congress is facing an uphill task in the state; several of its leaders have deserted the party claiming that it has no future in the state. Recently, Supriya Aron, who was given a ticket by the Congress from Bareilly, joined the Samajwadi Party. Her husband Praveen Aron, former Lok Sabha MP of the party from Bareilly, also joined the Samajwadi Party on Saturday. Others, who have deserted the party, include West UP leader Imran Masood, Harendra Malik and his son Pankaj Malik. UP stalwart and former union minister Jitin Prasada quit the party last year. Two women, from Pakistan and South Korea, among the lay people on whom Francis conferred the ministry of lectors and catechists on Sunday of the Word of God. At the Angelus he announces a day of prayer on 26 January for peace in Ukraine: "Fraternity comes before partisan interests". Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The Word reveals the true face of God and at the same time leads us to man, because "sacred Scripture has not been given to us to entertain us, to pamper ourselves in an angelic spirituality, but to go out to meet others and approach their wounds". This is the message that Pope Francis delivered to the Church today on what - by his own will on the day in which the liturgy proposes the Gospel passage from Jesus' "first sermon" in the synagogue of Nazareth - has become the Sunday of the Word of God for the past three years. Francis presided at a Mass in St Peter's Basilica during which he conferred the instituted ministries of lectors and catechists on 16 lay people for the first time. Among them were two young women from Asia: Sweety Iqbal from Pakistan and Na Young Kim from Korea. Introducing the new lectors and catechists, the Pope said: "They are called to the important work of serving the Gospel of Jesus, of proclaiming him, so that his consolation, his joy and his liberation can reach everyone. That is also the mission of each one of us: to be credible messengers, prophets of Gods word in the world. Consequently, let us grow passionate about sacred scripture, let us be willing to dig deep within the word that reveals Gods newness and leads us tirelessly to love others." Because the Bible - explained Francis in his homily - reveals who God really is: "God is not an overlord (padrone), aloof and on high an ugly but untrue image of God but a Father (Padre) who follows our every step. He is no cold bystander, detached and impassible, a God of mathematics. He is God-with-us, passionately concerned about our lives and engaged in them, even sharing our tears. He is no neutral and indifferent god, but the Spirit, the lover of mankind, who defends us, counsels us, defends us, sustains us and partakes of our pain. He is always present." and hIs word, "by telling us the story of Gods love for us, liberates us from the fears and preconceptions about him that stifle the joy of faith. That word overthrows false idols, unmasks our projections, destroys our all too human images of God and brings us back to see his true face, his mercy. The Pontiff recalled - in the synagogue of Nazareth also says that "he is sent to go out to meet the poor". Because if on the one hand the Word consoles, on the other hand it "undermines our justifications that make what is wrong always depend on something else and on others". He added, ". How much pain do we feel in seeing our brothers and sisters dying at sea because no one will let them come ashore! And some people do this in Gods name. The word of God invites us to come out into the open, not to hide behind the complexity of problems, behind the excuse that nothing can be done about it or its somebody elses problem, or what can I do?, leave them there. The word of God urges us to act, to combine worship of God and care for man." The call to today as the time of the Word of God was also at the heart of the words addressed to the faithful from the window overlooking St. Peter's Square during the Angelus prayer. A reminder that also applies to preaching which - Francis warned - without the strength of this today risks leaving the field to "impeccable conferences, well constructed speeches, which however do not move the heart and so everything remains as before". "For this reason," he added, "those who preach are the first to have to experience the today of Jesus, so as to be able to communicate it in the today of others. The pope then returned to suggesting that the faithful take the Gospel into their hands every day, particularly during this liturgical year the Gospel of Luke with its proclamation of mercy. "With time we will discover that those words are meant for us, for our lives. They will help us to welcome each day with a better, more serene outlook, because when the Gospel enters today, it fills it with God." Lastly, at the Angelus, Francis announced a day of prayer for peace in Ukraine on Wednesday 26 January in the face of new tensions that call into question security in Europe and the world. "I appeal to people of good will," he added, "to raise prayers to Almighty God so that every action and political initiative may be at the service of human brotherhood rather than partisan interests. Citing the decree with which he proclaimed St Irenaeus a Doctor of the Church on Friday, Francis pointed him out to the faithful as a bridge of unity between East and West that urges us "to work all together for the full unity of Christians". by Giorgio Bernardelli On the Sunday of the Word of God , the story of Thailand-s mountain tribes who are preparing a Bible dictionary, the first step towards a complete translation of Scripture. In Asia there are still 751 languages spoken by 124 million people who do not have any Sacred Scripture in their own tongue. Milan (AsiaNews) - On the third Sunday of Ordinary Time, which falls today, for the past three years - at the behest of Pope Francis - Churches around the world have been celebrating the Sunday of the Word of God, with the intention of promoting reflection and the dissemination of Sacred Scripture. This is a theme that also poses a specific question for Asia: how many of its peoples really have the possibility of holding the books of the Bible translated (all 73 or at least in part) into their mother tongue in their hands? According to some statistics released a few months ago by the Wycliffe Global Alliance - an evangelical association active in the promotion of translations of the Holy Scriptures - today the Bible is at least partially available in 3495 languages, spoken by a total of 7.04 billion people. However, there are 7378 languages in the world, in short double that figure in which it is not available. And (again according to these figures) there are 1892 languages for which the absence of a translation makes the Word of God completely inaccessible to millions of people. The largest number are Asian languages: 751, spoken by a total of 124 million people. But how is the Bible translated and who does it? There is obviously no single formula, but one very significant experience in this sense is the one involving the Akha people, who live in the mountains of northern Thailand. In 2007, the last official census recorded 50,000 Akha people in the country, but it is estimated that this number has now risen to 200,000 as a result of migration from neighbouring Myanmar. Hundreds of thousands more Akha live between Laos and (above all) China. For fifty years the PIME missionaries in Thailand have been carrying out their ministry among these people, who today, thanks to the work of evangelisation, have their own Christian communities in what have become the dioceses of Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Nakhon Sawan. "Our mission," says Fr Marco Ribolini, a PIME missionary in Mae Suai, "has always been rooted in the translation of liturgical texts into Akha, which is still mainly an oral language. We missionaries were the first to put it in writing, following two main guidelines, one Protestant and the other Catholic. But it still remains an uncertain language, lacking a local literature". Hence the importance of a translation of the Bible that is truly the fruit of a community process, which is exactly what is being done. The "laboratory" in the mountains of Thailand started in September 2020, involving all the Catholic communities of the Akha. Each community has chosen representatives from among its catechists, who have formed a commission that meets periodically and is working under the guidance of Fr Ribolini. The first step was to define a biblical-theological dictionary, before proceeding with the translations. "We worked in three subgroups," says the missionary, "The first focused on the names of biblical characters and toponymy. We had to propose transliterations: since the Akha language was written down by us missionaries, it uses the European alphabet, but the names must be written as close as possible to the Thai sounds." "A second group worked on the neologisms needed to translate the Bible: there are words and expressions that are completely foreign to the local language and we had to decide how to propose them. For example, how to translate 'people of God' or 'Kingdom of God' into expressions that are just as concise? Some said that we were betraying the Akha language, others (on the contrary) feared that they did not feel worthy of imagining words that would end up in the Bible. After all, even the names of the sacraments - which in the Akha missions have been in use for a long time and have been borrowed from the Latin root - were neologisms for their language. Finally, a third group discussed words that were not strictly biblical, but nevertheless linked to theology and catechesis." This type of work went on for months and was able to count on an important contribution from the first two priests of this ethnic group, ordained in recent years: the Betharramite Fr Tar and Fr Nathi, a PIME missionary now in the Philippines. Having studied theology, they were able to guide the discussion among the Akha on the words of faith without the mediation of the Thai language. In spite of the many difficulties caused, even in the mountains of Thailand, by the lockdowns for Covid-19, each group completed its task a few weeks ago. However, as Father Ribolini goes on to explain, "the discussion continues on these 4,000 or so terms: each group will discuss the solutions adopted by the others, before asking for a written opinion from all the parishes where there are Akha communities. And only at the end of this great consultation will the final version be handed over to the bishops of the three dioceses, who will make the final decision on the approval of this biblical-theological dictionary". Therefore it is a profoundly communitarian process. "The Akha people," commented Fr Ribolini, "were looking for something to represent them, to bring them together by offering a tangible sign of their presence, culture and identity, also with reference to the faith." In the meantime, some catechists have already started to work on the actual translations of the books of the Bible. For the time being, they are leaving the words contained in the biblical-theological dictionary in red as provisional, pending the final choices. But they are proceeding with their work. So that the Bible in the language of the Akha does not remain a distant dream. "ECCLESIA IN ASIA" IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY ON YOUR E-MAIL? SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AT THIS LINK 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 Over the years, weve seen our share of such displays. The Air Force calls them elephant walks for reasons that stretch back to the Second World War, and few of them are so imposing as the one shown in the main photo of this piece.Front and center, weve got an F-35 Lightning II , and then we get some more of them in the rows that follow. Interlaced, we are treated to F-16 Fighting Falcons, looking just as potent and fresh as their much younger companions.All of these fighter planes are deployed with the 354th Fighter Wing based at the Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The tankers, on the other hand, belong to the Air National Guards 168th Wing, stationed at the same base.The location has been around since 1943, and is responsible with conducting a wide range of missions in the Pacific, from offensive to interdiction and air support to training.The needs of the base were until recently served by F-16s, with the 354th Fighter Wing involved in every major conflict in which the United States has been part of, except Korea. As of 2020, the unit started getting its hands on F-35s, and it eventually hopes to field a small army of over 50 of them.The planes lined up on the runway of the Eielson military installation back in December 2021, as a demonstration of the wings ability to rapidly generate combat airpower. SUV HVAC EV This latest contract will see direct investments from GM to construct an all-new electric motor component production facility within an already existing GM plant in the Western New York town of Lockport, near the city of Buffalo.Before this initiative, the Lockport production facility helped to manufacture vital components for the GMand pickup truck lineup like radiators, heater cores, and Air Conditioning/units.Between 2023 and 2026, GM expects to add as many as 230 new high-quality, well-paying jobs to the local economy by hiring dedicated experts in theproduction field to ensure that the partial initial transition from gasoline to battery EV infrastructure goes smoothly and without incident.GM's investment in Lockport Components reaffirms our commitment to manufacturing in Western New York and our confidence in this team. They will build a crucial module in our electric motor assembly for our future electric trucks and SUVs," said Gerald Johnson, GM executive vice president of Global Manufacturing and Sustainability.With over 1,500 employees and governed by the UAW Local 686 union, the Lockport facility is a beacon of opportunity for an area once vital to both automotive and aeronautical production in America. General Motors alone has been a stalwart of the Buffalo metro region since 1923.With this latest direct monetary investment in the region, it's only a matter of time before a portion of every General Motors EV has some manner of components leaving with the Lockport stamp of quality. Its generally agreed that writing as we know it today first came to be about 5,500 years ago on this planet, in a place we now know as Iraq. But long before ideas got to be drawn up into symbols packed together to form words, we had cave paintings, with the oldest one, discovered in 2021 in Indonesia, believed to be 45,500 years old.Its only natural to assume that, if we ever encounter the remnants of a long-gone civilization on some other planet, well also find very old traces of something similar to our cave paintings. And how wonderful it would be if, somehow, we would be capable of doing that right next door, on Mars We know more or less for a fact the place once had the right conditions to support life . Whether life, specifically intelligent one, eventually came to be, is another question entirely. But one can only hope.The HiRISE camera that has been sending back photos of the place for years ago helped us a lot with better understanding the planet we all dream of colonizing. So far, it has failed to provide proof of life in whatever form, but that doesnt stop our brains from seeing what they want.The shot used as the main photo of this piece was taken back in 2016 from an altitude of 248 km (154 miles). It shows layered deposits on the planets South Pole (Planum Australe), so neatly arranged in apparent portrayals of local beings that they seem to have been made by the hands of an ancient Martian on the walls of some local cave.What we really get however are features where the pervasive red coloring of Mars which have built up over the age, with no ice or frost anywhere in sight. Thats because the features pictured here are facing the Sun.The region is known to harbor a subglacial lake almost a mile beneath the surface, which according to the scientists who stumbled upon it back in 2018 , is the first stable body of water found on the planet. With first deliveries in China starting by September 2022, It was expected that it would arrive in Norway sometime in 2023, but it is always good to have a better idea of when that should happen. Li did not stick only to that and revealed other interesting plans from NIO.According to the Chinese carmaker founder, the company plans to reach 2025 in 25 new markets. In other words, China, Norway, and 23 other countries. Most of them must be in Europe, but we would not be surprised if the U.S. and Japan were also included in this strategy.The NIO CEO also revealed something that may be an answer to Norwegian customers. He said that the defog mode on the ES8 would be updated in January. The ES8 is the only vehicle currently sold in Norway by NIO . If the company announced it would update this mode, thats probably because NIO owners have complained about it in the rigorous Norwegian winter. If that is really the case, we would love to hear from NIO customers in Norway to learn what is going on.NIOs second model to go on sale in that country will be the ET7 in the last quarter of 2022. Curiously, the Chinese automaker has not disclosed plans to sell there the more affordable models it already produces: the ES6 and the EC6. That seems like an intelligent strategy.With more expensive cars such as the ES8 and the ET7, NIO has time to establish more battery-swapping stations and service centers to keep both at a high level. When this infrastructure is in place and well established in Norway, that will be when NIO will be ready to present not only the ET5 but also the ES6 and the EC6 there. We bet that they will be delivered simultaneously or close to the ET5. But at the same time, it also comes with extra options that allow for more traditional uses of the navigation directions.For example, Google Maps allows users to print the directions it generates for a user-defined destination, therefore making it possible to study the map and the route without the need for an Internet connection.However, this particular feature has mysteriously stopped working properly in early January, with users finding out the hard way that Google Maps incorrectly prints the data when requested.When you go to print directions with the map, it opens the map as a full screen, and the actual route is in the middle of the screen. With what it is doing now, the printout part is only giving the left part of the screen, so the route is off the right side of the page, so not in the printed section, someone on Googles forums explains The same behavior has already been confirmed by other Google Maps users out there, so clearly, this isnt just an isolated problem happening to a handful of people.Right now, however, no workaround is known to exist, and whats more, its not even know whos to blame for the whole thing. If Google Maps is indeed the culprit, then Google is obviously the one that should come up with a fix, though right now, the search giant is yet to acknowledge the problem.Someone says the only way to get around this glitch is to just set the printing options to use custom scaling options and reduce the size to around 50%, though on the other hand, this makes every little block of text and the Google Maps data much harder to read on a piece of paper. 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. Get 25% off of the regular $65 annual All Access rate. With this subscription you will get: Digital access to ElPasoInc.com and archives (value $45) Print subscription home or business delivered (value $65) Book of Lists (annual rate only, value $50) El Paso Inc. Magazine (value $20) El Paso Kids Inc. Special sections - OR - Get 15% off of the regular $45 annual Digital-only rate. With this subscription you will get: Complete digital access to ElPasoInc.com. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chair of the committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday his panel has information that points to the Trump administration making plans to have the military "potentially seize voting machines." Driving the news: Politico this week was the first to report that a draft executive order directing the secretary of Defense to seize machines was among the documents that Trump lawyers tried to stop the Jan. 6 committee from obtaining. Thompson said the panel has already spoken to former Attorney General Bill Barr on the matter. What they're saying: Thompson said the committee has also spoken to people at the Department of Defense to follow up on the allegations. "We are concerned that our military was part of this big lie on promoting that the election was false." "We have information that between the Department of Justice, a plan was put forward to potentially seize voting machines in the country and utilize Department of Defense assets to make that happen." Thompson said there was no operational plan, but that "the draft itself is reason enough to believe that it was being proposed." Sarkissian also complained about verbal attacks from various political factions which he said have targeted him and members of his family during his tenure. He did not name those detractors. After very long deliberations and four years of active work, I have decided to resign from the post of the president of the republic, Sarkisian said in a statement. This decision is not emotional at all, and it follows certain logic. The president does not have the necessary tools to influence the radical processes of domestic and foreign policy in these difficult times for the country and the nation, added the statement. In particular, the 68-year-old head of state pointed to his inability to veto bills passed by the parliament or influence issues relating to war and peace. In that regard, he renewed his calls for major amendments to the Armenian constitution. Under the constitution, which was radically amended in 2015, the president of the republic is elected by the parliament. The current National Assembly is controlled by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians Civil Contract party. Pashinian and his political allies did not immediately react to Sarkissians surprise resignation. Sarkissian lived and worked in London for nearly three decades prior to becoming president in April 2018 as Armenia completed its transition to a parliamentary system of government engineered by his predecessor, Serzh Sarkisian. He was elected for a seven-year term by the countrys former parliament controlled by Serzh Sarkisians political allies. Armen Sarkissian was sworn in just two weeks before Serzh Sarkisian resigned as prime minister amid Pashinian-led mass protests sparked by the ex-presidents attempt to prolong his decade-long rule. The current president has since rarely opposed or challenged the Armenian governments policies, prompting strong criticism from opposition groups. But he did urge Pashinian to resign and call snap general elections following Armenias defeat in the 2020 war with Azerbaijan. Sarkissian announced his resignation five days after going on what his press office described as a short vacation. The office said that he needs to undergo a medical examination. A physicist and mathematician by education, Sarkissian worked at the Cambridge University when he was appointed as newly independent Armenias first ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1991. He served as prime minister for four months in 1996-1997 before being again named ambassador in London. His second ambassadorial stint was cut short in 1999 by then President Robert Kocharian. Sarkissian stayed in Britain and made a fortune there in the following decade, working as an advisor and middleman for Western corporations doing business in the former Soviet Union. He was appointed as Armenian ambassador to Britain for a third time in 2013. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Money available to local residents who need help paying their household expenses after facing COVID-related economic struggles is dwindling. However, some of it may be headed to other individuals across the country. In Beaumont, CARES Act funding was so successfully distributed that only about $100,000 still remains of the original $1.5 million for eligible city residents. But Jefferson county experienced significant difficulties giving away the approximately $7.6 million they were awarded through the Department of the Treasurys Emergency Rental Assistance program. After suffering the loss of $315,000 in reallocated funds last November due to a failure to disperse the federally-mandated target of 30% of the roughly $7.6 million by September 2021, the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission still has approximately $5.1 million to distribute to qualifying households in Jefferson County. Related: Jefferson County still has millions for rent, utility help Both programs seek to support households whose income is less than 80% of the median income for the county or city and who have suffered a reduction in income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under CARES Act funding, qualified Beaumont residents are eligible for up to 3 months of aid, not to exceed $3,000. Those who successfully apply for county funding can receive up to 15 months of financial assistance. Related: Pandemic continues to penalize low-income renters The CARES Act funding is nearly gone, largely because Some Other Place the non-profit tasked with dispersing the money already had the staffing and structures in place for an operation of that style and magnitude. Beaumonts director of Planning and Community Development Chris Boone said there was one main reason the city chose Some Other Place to distribute these funds for them: efficiency. We work with them already on homeless programs, and so they are set up for case management, Boone said. So given the urgency of getting the funding out, we partnered with them, and there was a lot of work on their part, and we appreciate that. It worked pretty well. According to Some Other Place Director Paula ONeal, they didnt even have to publicize that they had funds. People come to Some Other Place for help. They know that that's what we do, ONeal said. That's probably why we were getting more people coming to us anyway. SETRPC, on the other hand, runs a variety of disaster relief programs, and they struggled to recruit and retain case managers to disperse the COVID money. We've had a lot of trouble finding staff and case managers that would show up for interviews, said SETRPC Community Services Division Director Colleen Halliburton. We even had one not even show up the first day of the job after we held the position for three weeks for her and they didn't even call to let me know they weren't coming after all. It has been a very challenging time to hire people, and to hire people with very good skills and work ethic. Additionally, setting up the application database was a two-month process that put them behind in the dispersal process. Before COVID, SETRPC used old-fashioned paper applications. But the challenge of dispersing $7.6 million necessitated a database that could handle the volume of applications. At the same time, another state rental assistance fund was up-and-running and Jefferson County residents were applying for that money. It had been available months before SETRPC began taking applications. The state of Texas distributed $20 million to Jefferson County alone through a program called Texas Rent Relief. The state of Texas ran their program simultaneously in Jefferson County, Halliburton said. Normally, when a county or city gets a direct allocation, the state does not run their programs in those communities, but this time, they ran it across the entire state. So a lot of us who have not spent as much - it's because the state was already giving money out in our community. In the end, in order to not lose the entirety of their funding, SETRPC submitted a plan of action to the Department of the Treasury indicating how they planned to distribute the funds by the hard deadline of September 2022. The plan was accepted, and SETRPC recruited 13 case workers from four local non-profits: RISE Center for Independent Living, Legacy Community Development Corporation, Nutrition & Services for Seniors and Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County. That has drastically increased our speed in the last two months, Halliburton said. Some Other Place also assured SETRPC that they would help distribute the ERA funds as well once they have finished distributing Beaumonts money. Jefferson County residents are being helped tremendously, said Halliburton. They've not been just left without any assistance. Applications can be found on SETRPCs website. A call center is also available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 409.899.0824 for those who are not able to complete the requirements online. Tenants and landlords can make an application. CARES Act funding applications can be found at Some Other Place, 590 Center St., or on the city of Beaumonts website. All materials must be submitted in person to Some Other Place. Funding is expected to be gone soon. I think under the program we have until 2027 to spend it, Boone said. But honestly, we don't want to wait that long. rachel.kersey@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/ontheREKord Bennington, VT (05201) Today Rain likely. High 57F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Pittsfield firefighters quickly knock down two house fires reported within hour of each other Look Ahead, Pittsfield Applications open soon for Pittsfield's ARPA money, starting a new chapter in city's relationship with the program BIG RAPIDS Officers with the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety responded to the following calls. All calls may not be reported. Tuesday, Jan. 18 A civil matter was reported in the 1700 block of South State Street. A fourth-party caller advised that a woman was being held captive. The parties were spoken to, and no abduction or kidnapping was occurring. The civil issues and exaggerations were made by the third and fourth-party callers. Big Rapids police officers assisted Michigan State Police in the 400 block of South Third Avenue. Wednesday, Jan. 19 Fraud was reported in the 1100 block of Fuller Avenue. A woman was tricked into sending an unknown subject money online. A well-being check was performed for a student who had not been in school for quite some time. Thursday, Jan. 20 Suspicious activity was reported in the 100 block of Mill Street. A passerby found an open door at a residence. The residence was found to be secure and the owner was notified. A traffic stop was performed on Madison Street near Fourth Avenue. The stop led to driver being cited for no insurance. A civil matter was reported in the 1100 block of Fuller Avenue. A man and a woman were arguing in a vehicle in the parking lot. It was verbal only. A driver was arrested near State Street for operating while intoxicated-third offense, operating a motor vehicle with a revoked license, and open intoxicant. Big Rapids police officers assisted the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office with the arrest of a man. A disorderly man was arrested in the 400 block of South Third Avenue for a bond violation. The man was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail. The move will reduce dependence on China for Indian manufacturers Hyderabad-based Biophore India Pharmaceuticals has developed and started manufacturing the key intermediates of Nirmatrelvir, one of the active ingredients of Paxlovid, the latest anti-COVID-19 therapy, approved by the US FDA through the emergency use authorisation route. The manufacturing is being done in collaboration with Rakshit Group. This is expected to greatly reduce the dependence on imports, mainly from China, from where these intermediates are being procured currently. Biophore is also manufacturing Nirmatrelvir in a US FDA compliant facility and has announced that they will be filing for approval with DCGI soon. Dr Jagadeesh Babu Rangisetty, CEO, Biophore, says, As and when the product gets approved in India, we can ensure that the manufacturers of this product can be self-reliant from within India itself and not be dependent on imports, which can be tricky in terms of control of quality and supply. Rameswara Rao Chandana, Chairman, Rakshit Group, says, Manufacturing of these intermediates requires extreme temperatures and large volumes of Lithium reagents and with the above infrastructure that we have, we are well placed to ensure that the requirements for the market can be met locally. With a strong partner such as Biophore, we believe this is a perfect synergy to get these products to the market quickly. Experts also threw light on how paracetamol can be used in treating omicron patients below 60 years The new-age antiviral treatment drugs like Molnupiravir are broad-spectrum antivirals that act as chain-terminators. This was mentioned by Dr Shashank Joshi (Padma Shri Awardee), Chair, International Diabetes Federation Southeast Asia, Endocrinologist, Joshi Clinic, Lilavati Hospital, Member, Covid 19 Maharashtra State Task Force who was speaking during Health4All Online Episode-14. Joshi said, "We are seeing a 30 per cent hospitalisation risk reduction with the use of Molnupiravir. If someone above the age of 50 has a consistent fever for two days alongside two or three comorbidities, then the doctor might prescribe them these antivirals. Omicron patients below 60 years with no comorbidities can start symptomatic treatment with paracetamol. Elaborating on the confusion about the use of the drug, Dr Joshi said, There is no need to worry in such cases because these pills are not prescribed to children below the age of 18 years, or to patients who require hospitalisation or to pregnant women. The pill must be administered within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms for patients in the high-risk population group, namely, hypertensives, diabetics, people on immunosuppressed medication, senior citizens, people with other ailments and likewise. Dr Harshal Salve, Additional Professor, Community Medicine, Co-ordinator - Collaborative on Air Pollution and Health Effects Research in India (CAPHER-India), General Secretary- Faculty Association of AIIMS (FAIMS), said, To reduce mortality from Covid, two important things need to be taken care of. Firstly, the healthcare system needs to also focus on the management of chronic illnesses alongside Covid. The availability of medicines, medical help and other healthcare services for non-covid diseases have taken a backseat due to the pandemic. This needs to change to minimise the impact of comorbidities on the current pandemic. Secondly, all individuals in the vulnerable population must ensure that they are fully vaccinated. Dr Nandni Sharma, Director Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College & Hospital, said, We are expecting the Omicron wave will decline just as steeply as it rose upwards. As more and more people get vaccinated, the severity and duration of illness are also likely to be less than the variants seen earlier." Mainly Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province & Ringing Trips to Bahrain We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Unlimited website access 24/7 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. As Jack Dorsey read out his opening statement to a hostile panel of US politicians examining Twitters role in spreading misinformation, eagle-eyed viewers noticed a strange object over the executives right shoulder. Strategically placed within the frame of the video call delivered straight from Dorseys kitchen was a rectangular device resembling an old-fashioned flip clock that, instead of telling the time, presented a sequence of seemingly random numbers. Cryptocurrencies are the new frontier for Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Credit:Bloomberg The machine was, it turned out, a block clock, which displays Bitcoins price, the details of newly created coins, and users personal balances. Dorseys message at the hearing last March was clear: he may have been ordered in front of Congress to talk about Twitter, but his heart lay in Bitcoin. In November, Dorsey turned that message into action. The founder of Twitter had led the company through two periods of tumult, taken away Donald Trumps microphone to the world and become one of Silicon Valleys most high-profile entrepreneurs, but after 15 years Dorsey announced he was quitting the social network with immediate effect. West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has filed a Federal Court application seeking to avoid travelling to Sydney for his upcoming defamation battle with Clive Palmer. The defamation trial between the mining billionaire and Premier, in which they are both suing each other, is due to start in the Federal Court next Monday, January 31. The defamation battle between Clive Palmer and Mark McGowan is due to start in the Federal Court in Sydney on Monday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen/Trevor Collens Mr McGowan was ordered to attend the Sydney hearings in person, despite WAs border closures. The states Attorney-General, John Quigley, was also expected to appear in person. The WA Premier has now filed an application, due to be heard tomorrow at 4.30pm AEDT in the Federal Court in Sydney, seeking to give evidence online rather than in person. He is also asking for the same arrangement for Mr Quigley. Mr Palmer is suing Mr McGowan over public comments in 2020, including the WA Premiers claim that the businessman and former federal politician was the enemy of the state over his legal challenge to border closures. In return, Mr McGowan is alleging his reputation was damaged by advertisements Mr Palmer paid for claiming he had abused the parliamentary system and lied to the people of WA. If the application to give evidence remotely is not granted, Mr McGowan is seeking to have the trial rescheduled. A Federal Court spokesman said as follows: For quite a while we had virtually no orchestra ensembles and no choirs. Loading When we started having ensemble groups practising again it was very much divided into very small year groups, so we couldnt play together as one big ensemble. That was really sad because a lot of my close friends are in other year groups, and we didnt get to learn from each other and play together. Elenis mother Tiffany said she was pleased students would be able to sing in choirs, play in orchestras and perform in musicals again across different year groups. Music is such an important part of our daughters life at school and for the last two years, so many things have been restricted and this is her last year, she said. David Gresham, director of music at St Catherines and president of the Australian Band & Orchestra Directors Association, NSW said the changes would ensure students would not miss out on a third year of opportunities within the arts. Previously, music programs were significantly impacted by restrictions on the mixing of cohorts, he said. Most choirs, bands, orchestras or musicals simply could not take place due to this restriction. The changes allow these ensembles and production to now take place. The return of singing in schools is essential to both classroom and co-curricular music. Stephen ODoherty, facilitator of the Roundtable of Instrumental and Vocal and Music Education Organisations and a former shadow education minister welcomed the changes after his group had been advocating for two years for the return of music in a COVID-smart way. All students and staff have been asked to take a rapid antigen test before they return for the start of the school term on February 1 and to take two tests each week for the first four weeks of the term. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet outlines the governments return to school strategy with Education Minister Sarah Mitchell (left) on Sunday. Credit:James Alcock Ms Mitchell said more than four million rapid antigen (RAT) tests had been distributed and more than six million will be out by Tuesday evening. More than eight million surgical masks have been sent to schools. Schools will not be closed if there is a positive case, but the school community will be notified. Acknowledging there would be some disruption and challenges along the way, Premier Dominic Perrottet said it was important for children to return to school on the first day of term, particularly for some who have missed up to a quarter of their schooling during the pandemic. Its where our kids work best and where opportunity is created, he said. Loading Its best for educational outcomes, its best for mental health, and its best for social outcomes as well. NSW Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos said his members were concerned for the health and safety of students and staff. While the NSW government advised, but did not require primary school children to wear masks, Mr Gavrielatos said they should be mandatory for all primary and secondary school students, as they were in Victoria. We remain very concerned, and we are bracing ourselves for a disruptive start to the school year, he said. You cant be vigilant enough with these settings. No other industry requests you to be on a work site with hundreds and up to 2000 other people in sometimes poorly ventilated sites, which are classrooms with up to 30 students. Experts say the Omicron wave has probably reached its peak, with COVID-19 case numbers in Victoria and NSW now likely to be on the downward slope, even with an expected surge as schools reopen. Three epidemiologists who have analysed average case number and hospitalisation patterns in Victoria and NSW forecast that COVID-19 hospital admissions will soon reach a peak, followed by deaths, but will eventually follow the decline in overall case numbers, most likely sometime in February. That view is shared by Victorias top health official, with chief health officer Brett Sutton declaring again on Sunday that a peak in Victorias cases was likely behind us. NSWs seven-day average for case numbers reached a peak of over 47,000 on December 17, which has now dropped to below 28,000. Hakea Prison had its first genuinely suspected case of COVID-19 after an inmate was remanded in custody to the Canning Vale facility on Wednesday night, which has since been downgraded to a false positive. A directive to prison staff, obtained by WAtoday, said the handover from police went relatively smoothly, and staff working with this prisoner are comfortable with the situation. Hakea Prison has another suspected COVID-19 prisoner. Credit:Fairfax Staff were advised and reminded of COVID protocols, including Personal Protective Equipment use and where to locate it around the prison. Hakea Prison houses men who have been remanded in custody while waiting to appear in court or those who have just been sentenced. The guilds Victorian branch president, Anthony Tassone, said most pharmacies he knew of including his own would not yet have the stock to take part in the free test program, but hoped to have supply of the rapid tests by late January or early February. Wan Lim, a pharmacist at Newton & Leung in Collingwood in Melbourne, said her pharmacy did not have stock because she had not been able to source rapid tests cheaply enough to make it worth participating in the scheme, for which the government pays $10 plus GST per test, along with a $4.30 administration fee. Small pharmacies must compete for access to rapid tests with supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths, state and federal governments and large pharmacy chains, which have the cash flow to place large orders weeks in advance. Chemist Warehouse will hand out free five-packs of rapid antigen tests to concession cardholders at all 500 of its Chemist Warehouse and My Chemist stores across Australia, with those in Sydney and Melbourne expected to run out within hours. I would temper everyones expectations that stock will run out again pretty quickly, Chemist Warehouse chief operating officer Mario Tascone told the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. If concession cardholders do miss out on day one, dont panic ... Weve got more stock coming throughout the week. A one-pack limit will be imposed to prevent hoarding, while customers who are not pensioners will be able to buy a two-pack only, and the items will not be available online or through click-and-collect. While Chemist Warehouse was due to receive 1 million testing kits over the weekend from orders placed in December, the vast majority of smaller pharmacies are not expected to have free tests available on Monday. To be eligible for a free test, patients must have a pension concession card, Commonwealth seniors healthcare card, DVA gold, white or orange card, healthcare card or low-income card. The union movement is increasing pressure on the government over the rapid test shortage, with a television advertising campaign launching on Monday calling for the tests to be made available free to all Australians. Free and accessible tests are one of the best tools we have to keep Australians safe and reduce the strain on our healthcare system, Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sally McManus said. Providing them should be the number one priority for the Morrison government. State governments are putting pressure on the rapid test supply chain, with NSW ordering 12 million and Victoria ordering 14 million to be distributed to parents and schools, prompting South Australian Premier Steven Marshall to ask the competition watchdog to probe how the larger states sourced the tests. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is investigating rapid test makers over what Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Health Minister Greg Hunt say are false claims that the federal government requisitioned tests ordered by third parties for the national stockpile. Loading Motion One, the company at the centre of the controversy, has signed a $26.29 million deal with the federal government to supply an unknown quantity of its Orawell saliva testing kits, but has said it is yet to deliver the order. A federal Health Department spokeswoman said the free rapid tests would be distributed over the coming three months. The Australian government has purchased over 70 million RATs and the states and territories have purchased more than 130 million RATs, to be delivered during January and February, ensuring a steady supply of kits for Australia, the spokeswoman said. While we are aware there are supply constraints within the market, it is expected supply will normalise over coming weeks. Loading Labor has seized on the lack of tests, with Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on Sunday repeating that its easier to catch COVID in many places in Australia than it is to catch a RAT. The same mistakes that were made with the rollout of the vaccine have been made for the rollout of the rapid antigen tests, Mr Albanese said. The fact is we should have been manufacturing rapid antigen tests here in Australia. Why is it that that wasnt put in place? Mr Hunt said on Saturday that access to rapid tests during the Omicron wave was a global challenge. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has cancelled her wedding as the nation imposes new restrictions to slow the community spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. New Zealand will impose mask rules and limit gathering from midnight on Sunday after a cluster of nine cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant showed community transmission from the North to South islands after a wedding. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced fresh restrictions in New Zealand on Sunday, including the cancellation of her own wedding. Credit:Getty Images A family travelled by plane from the North Island city of Auckland to a wedding in the South Island attended by 100 people. The family and a flight attendant tested positive. New Zealand will move to a red setting under its COVID-19 protection framework, with more mask wearing. Indoor hospitality settings such as bars and restaurants and events like weddings will be capped at 100 people. The limit is lowered to 25 people if venues are not using vaccine passes, Ardern said. The Pacific nation of Kiribati which had almost entirely kept the coronavirus out, has gone into lockdown for the first time in the pandemic. The government imposed a 24-hour curfew on Saturday after passengers on the first international flight in months tested positive for the virus. Before this month, Kiribati, one of the worlds most remote places, had recorded just two infections - in two people returning on a ship in May last year, who quarantined on the vessel. The Pacific nation of Kiribati, made up of more than 30 atolls, had been able to largely avoid the pandemic for two years. Credit:Justin McManus The new restrictions include a ban on social gatherings and a requirement for residents to stay at home except in the case of emergencies. Most government offices and other institutions will close, except for hospitals, the police and essential services. Thirty-six people on a flight from Fiji tested positive on landing about a week ago on the first plane to arrive since the nation reopened its borders this month. All 54 passengers were quarantined at a facility, but at least four cases were since reported in the community, including a security guard at the quarantine centre. Emporia, KS (66801) Today Periods of rain. High 58F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Thundershowers overnight following a period of rain early. Low 53F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall may reach one inch. has written to independent directors of Ltd (FRL), confirming that Samara Capital "remains interested and committed" to invest Rs 7,000 crore for buying all retail assets of the debt-ridden company and asked the retail firm to furnish existing due diligence reports to Samara by Sunday, according to sources. On January 19, had approached the independent directors of FRL reiterating its willingness to assist the Mumbai-based company in addressing its financial concerns. In response, the independent directors had asked to confirm by January 22 that it will infuse Rs 3,500 crore into the cash-strapped retailer in order to repay FRL's lenders by January 29, 2022. Amazon - in its reply on January 22 - said "we confirm that based on your letter dated January 21, 2022, Samara Capital has once again reiterated to us that they remain interested and committed to lead and take forward the term sheet dated June 30, 2020, signed amongst Samara, FRL and the Promoters of FRL The term sheet contemplates a purchase consideration of Rs 7,000 crore, as per the letter, a copy of which was seen by PTI. "Pertinently, the Samara Term Sheet provides for an acquisition of all retail assets of FRL, including the "small store formats" comprising the 'Easy Day', 'Adhaar' and 'Heritage' brands, through an Indian owned and controlled entity structure led by Samara and supported by Amazon," said the e-commerce major in the letter. Amazon said the transaction envisaged in the Samara Term Sheet would ensure availability of funds in FRL at the earliest, through an asset sale and an equity infusion, which would be a direct antidote to FRL's indebtedness. Emails sent to Amazon and Future group did not elicit any response. Amazon, in its latest letter, asserted that its engagement will not affect the binding nature of the injunctions passed in the Arbitration Proceedings and by Indian Courts, and said the new transaction will have the understanding that "the transaction with the Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani (Reliance Industries Limited) group (MDA Group) will not proceed and not be acted upon; and all assistance would be done through legally compliant structures". Future and Amazon have been locked in a bitter legal tussle after the US e-commerce giant dragged Future Group to arbitration at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) in October 2020, arguing that FRL had violated their contract by entering into a deal for the sale of its assets to billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Retail on a slump sale basis for Rs 24,713 crore. Earlier this month, had said it had missed the due date for payment of Rs 3,494.56 crore to banks and lenders as it could not sell assets due to its ongoing litigation with Amazon, impacting its monetisation plans. Notably, in December, fair trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI) had suspended the 2019 approval for Amazon's deal to acquire a 49-per cent stake in Future Coupons Pvt Ltd (FCPL), FRL's promoter, while slapping a penalty of Rs 202 crore on the e-commerce major. The CCI order has been challenged by Amazon before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, which has issued notice to the fair trade regulator and FCPL. The NCLAT has directed to list the matter on February 2 for the next hearing. (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.) US e-commerce giant has again written to of (FRL), including Gagan Singh, Ravindra Dhariwal, and Jacob Mathew, expressing its willingness and ability to help FRL address its financial concerns. This included the solution proposed in the term sheet between Amazon-backed private equity firm and FRL, in which the former contemplated an infusion of Rs 7,000 crore in the Kishore Biyani firm. has reached out to FRL in response to the retailer's letter in which the company said that it is willing to accept Amazons proposal but under certain conditions, and assessment of the proposal will be subject to FRLs legal obligations. has also sent the letter to top officials, including Ajay Tyagi, chairman, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Ashok Gupta, chairman, Competition Commission of India (CCI), Sanjay Kumar Mishra, director, Enforcement Directorate, and G Mahalingam, whole-time member, Sebi. It has also been sent to top executives at Union Bank of India, Bank of India, State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Central Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, UCO Bank, and Indian Bank. We are pleased that for the first time since our letter dated December 2, 2020, the are willing to consider Amazons assistance in addressing the financial concerns of FRL, said Amazons letter to FRLs (dated January 22) which Business Standard has reviewed. We note that significant time has been lost on account of the unwillingness of FRL and the independent directors to consider potential solutions facilitated by Amazon in the past. Nevertheless, we reaffirm our offer to assist FRL within the framework of our rights under the agreements. In this regard, Amazon confirmed that based on FRLs letter dated January 21, (Samara) has reiterated to Amazon that it remains committed to lead and take forward the term sheet dated June 30, 2020, signed among Samara, FRL and the promoters of FRL, which contemplates a purchase consideration of Rs 7,000 crore with the assistance and cooperation of the independent directors. Pertinently, the Samara Term Sheet provides for an acquisition of all retail assets of FRL, including the small store formats comprising the Easy Day, Adhaar and Heritage brands, through an Indian owned and controlled entity structure led by Samara and supported by Amazon, said Amazons letter. Queries to Amazon and Future Group remained unanswered until the time of going to press. ALSO READ: Telenor partners with Amazon to modernise systems, offer services Amazon, further in the letter, said its engagement shall, in no manner, affect the binding nature of the injunctions passed in the arbitration proceedings and by Indian courts, including in relation to the alienation/ transfer/ encumbrance/ disposal of FRLs retail assets. Such engagement will be consistent with Amazons rights under the agreements. The transaction (impugned transaction) with the Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani (Reliance Industries Limited) group (MDA Group) will not proceed and not be acted upon, said Amazon in the letter. All assistance would be done through legally compliant structures. According to sources, as early as June 2020, the Amazon-backed private equity firm had signed a non-binding term sheet with FRL that entailed a Rs 7,000 crore investment. This was two months before Kishore Biyani-led Future Group announced its Rs 24,713 crore (or $3.4 billion) merger deal with Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries (RIL) at the end of August 2020. Amazon has told FRL that the transaction envisaged in the Samara term sheet would ensure the availability of funds in FRL at the earliest, through an asset sale and an equity infusion, which would be a direct antidote to FRLs indebtedness. As regards compliance of any structure with Indian law, Amazon said this structure is also similar to the proposed acquisition of the retail and wholesale undertaking of Future Group (which includes FRLs retail assets) by Reliance Retail and Fashion Lifestyle Limited. We understand that this entity has negligible business operations and whose parent entity Reliance Retail Ventures Limited has received at least Rs 47,265 crore from various foreign investors, said the letter. We also understand that this amount is proposed to be utilised to fund the acquisition of FRLs retail, wholesale and logistics assets. In fact, the transaction involving FRL and constituents of the MDA Group, viz, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited and Reliance Retail and Lifestyle Fashions Limited, follow a strikingly similar structure. A comparison between the transaction structure under which Amazon made its investment and the structure involving Reliance Retail Ventures Limited and Reliance Retail and Lifestyle Fashions Limited is set out at Schedule I of the letter. Amazon said it looks forward to independent directors implementing the provisions set out in the Samara Term Sheet immediately, including by providing Samara with the opportunity to conduct due diligence of FRL. If access can be provided in relation to all financial, tax, regulatory, operational, licenses, assets, encumbrances, material contracts, material liabilities, material litigations, material investigations and similar data which was shared with the MDA Group, Samara is ready to commence the due diligence exercise from Sunday, January 23, 2022, and complete it in an expedited manner. Given your request that we assist on an urgent basis, in order to expedite the process further, it will help if all the existing due diligence report(s) prepared by or on behalf of FRL, are made available to Samara by Sunday, January 23, 2022, said Amazon. As in the past, Amazon said it remained available to facilitate discussions with Sumeet Narang, managing director at Samara. Further, as indicated vide its letter dated January 19, 2022, Amazon will facilitate the meeting with Narang on Sunday, January 23. Please let us know the name and contact details of the authorised representative of FRL, who will attend the meeting and lead the engagement on behalf of FRL with Samara such that binding commitments can be arrived at within the shortest possible time, said Amazon. We also trust that you will cooperate in obtaining any regulatory approvals as may be needed, it further said. FRL had set conditions to accept Amazon's proposal in a letter sent to the US e-commerce firm dated January 21. It said FRL is required to pay its lenders Rs 3,500 crore by January 29 and asked Amazon for its willingness to pay the amount by Monday, January 24. It asked if Amazon has the authority to act on behalf of to finalise the transaction on its behalf. It said the management of Samara Capital should be owned and controlled by resident Indians to avoid any regulatory scrutiny. Amazon needed to confirm by January 22 to accept the conditions including funding. FRL wanted written confirmation by Amazon about how FRL can service its dues and repay its lenders the total amount of about Rs 9,119.31 crore by March 2022. It told Amazon that its proposed infusion (of Rs 7,000 crore) for FRL in the letter is significantly less. FRL alleged that Amazon is making attempts to block Future to monetise its assets and repay lenders. Amazons letter noted that the MDA Group was allowed to conduct due diligence in preparation for its transaction from April 23, 2020, although the impugned transaction was finally entered into on August 29, 2020. Amazon said while it understands that the impugned transaction did not result in any immediate infusion of funds into FRL, it may be noted that if the Samara term sheet were implemented and the transactions as contemplated therein were consummated, FRL would have received up to Rs 7,000 crore as contemplated in the Samara term sheet in the middle of September 2020 itself (i.e., within 2 months of executing the Samara term sheet), thereby obviating any imminent financial crisis or funding requirement purportedly faced by FRL. We reiterate that FRLs retail assets cannot be alienated/ transferred/ encumbered/disposed of in any manner without Amazons consent, said Amazon. Pertinently, the circular issued by the Reserve Bank of India dated August 6, 2020, does not mandate or require any sale of any assets of FRL. Amazon has also requested FRL to consider to recover/generate up to Rs 4,303 crore by unwinding the transactions relating to outstanding advances and security deposits as per the audited financial statements of FRL. The Confederation of All India (CAIT), which represents about 70 million traders, said it has sought a meeting with Ashok Kumar Gupta, Chairman Competition Commission of India (CCI) to impress upon the need of early investigation and consequent action against e-commerce firms and in the matter of predatory pricing, capital dumping through the preferred sellers through the vertical arrangement. said it is learnt that CCI has transferred the officer midway who was investigating Amazon, which has irked the business community of the Country. On Febriary 13, 2020, said that CCI had ordered its Director General (Investigation) for investigation against and and submit the report within 60 days. However, both and challenged that order in the High Court of Karnataka and got it stayed. said Karnataka High Court vide its order dated July 23, 2021 passed the final order in favour of CCI and against Amazon and Flipkart and allowed the investigation to continue. It said the Supreme court also did not find any merit in the challenge by Amazon and Flipkart and while dismissing their SLP (special leave petition) on 9-08-2021 had ordered the investigation to continue. While we are eagerly waiting for an early closure of the investigation, to our utter surprise they have learnt from reliable sources that CCI has decided to change the investigating officer of the case, Sh Rajinder Kumar, that in our view will further derail the investigation and will cause further hardship to the small traders, said CAIT National President B C Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal. In our opinion, a change of investigating officer at such a crucial stage of the investigation will send the wrong signal and show the Indian authorities in a poor light that they are playing under the pressure of Amazon and Flipkart. Therefore, instead of making any change, CCI must close his investigation asap (as soon as possible)." Therefore, CAIT along with its delegation has sought a meeting with Chairman CCI to appraise him about the anger and anguish of small retailers on the delay in investigation and subsequent action against Amazon and Flipkart. It alleged that the anti-competitive behaviour of these e-commerce firms has led to the closure of millions of Kirana shops and taken away their livelihood and the latest development which may derail the investigations. shook up the top ranks of its security team this week with the termination of the head of security and the exit of the chief information security officer, the company told employees on Wednesday, as its new chief executive reorganizes the social media service. Peiter Zatko, the head of security, who is better known within the security community as Mudge, is no longer at the company, confirmed. Rinki Sethi, the chief information security officer, will depart in the coming weeks. The changes followed an assessment of how the organization was being led and the impact on top priority work, according to a memo from Parag Agrawal, Twitters chief executive, that was sent to employees on Wednesday and obtained by The New York Times. Mr. Agrawal said the nature of this situation limited what he was allowed to share with employees. Ms. Sethi and Mr. Zatko did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Mr. Agrawal, who was appointed Twitters chief executive in November, has shuffled the companys executives since taking over from Jack Dorsey, a founder. In December, Mr. Agrawal reorganized the leadership team and dismissed Dantley Davis, the chief design officer, and Michael Montano, the head of engineering. Mr. Zatko joined in late 2020. He is a well-known hacker and has had a long career in government and private industry. Before taking on his role at Twitter, he held roles at DARPA, Google and Stripe. He began his cybersecurity career in the 1990s, when he was a member of the hacking group Cult of the Dead Cow. Twitter recruited him after teenagers compromised the companys systems in July 2020 and took over the accounts of prominent users. Ms. Sethi also joined Twitter after the hack and, alongside Mr. Zatko, was charged with improving the companys security and protecting its user data. She was previously a vice president of information security at IBM and had worked in security at Intuit and Walmart. Lea Kissner, Twitters head of privacy engineering, will become the companys interim chief information security officer, according to current and former employees. They previously held security and privacy leadership roles at Google and Apple. After several users complained about issues with logging back to their accounts on Crypto.com after the platform was hit by a $34 million hack, its CEO Kris Marszalek has been forced to respond on how best they can get back their accounts. Thousands of people took to to complain that they could not get back into their accounts, begging for help. In a tweet thread, Marszalek finally responded, saying if you can't get back into our app following access reset this week, "in 95/100 cases you are simply using the wrong email to login". "We don't allow duplicate accounts with the same phone number, so you will get stuck if you are using the wrong email," Marszalek posted late on Saturday. "We are helping users with these cases one by one, but it takes time given the scale of our platform," he added. Leading platform Crypto.com last week admitted that 483 users on its platform lost almost $34 million in various digital coins owing to a compromise in two-factor (2FA) authentication. Overall, the unauthorised withdrawals had over $15 million worth of ethereum, $19 million worth of Bitcoin and $66,200 in "other currencies". Marszalek said in a latest tweet: "Rest assured your funds are safe and waiting for you to log back in.. with the right email." Crypto.com, which is endorsed by famous Hollywood actor Matt Damon, had said it revoked all customer 2FA tokens, and added additional security hardening measures, which required all customers to re-login and set up their 2FA token to ensure only authorised activity would occur. --IANS na/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.) Germany's is set to buy a 40% stake in state-owned Alitalia's successor ITA Airways and a deal could be unveiled next week, Italian daily Il Foglio reported on Saturday. ITA Airways started flying on Oct. 15 with nearly 2,300 employees and a fleet less than half the size of that operated by Alitalia, the 75-year old former national carrier which passed through a dizzying succession of restructurings and changes of ownership. The newspaper did not give a price for any deal, but said the two were very close to agreeing over some key terms, such as the role of Rome's Fiumicino airport as a hub for direct flights to Africa and some routes to the Americas. An ITA spokesperson said on Saturday that the airline's top management would present a strategic plan to the company's board on Jan. 31. A data room would be opened in the following days, he added, allowing a potential bidder or partner to have access to key financial documents to assess the value of the company. declined to comment. The report comes after sources told Reuters on Jan. 12 that ITA was in contact with Lufthansa, British Airways and United States-based Delta Air Lines for an equity partnership, saying that formal talks could start by the end of March. A spokesperson said at that time that the German carrier was open to the possibility of a partnership with ITA. Delta denied it planned to invest in ITA. The German government currently holds 14% of Lufthansa shares following a bailout at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and aims to sell its stake by October 2023 at the latest. The group was saved from bankruptcy by Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Belgium with 9 billion euros ($10.21 billion) in financial support approved by the European Commission. A German economy ministry spokesperson declined to comment on the Italian newspaper report. A deal with ITA would be subject to a European Union competition approval, Il Foglio said. ($1 = 0.8818 euros) (Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro; Additional reporting by Michael Nienaber and Ilona Wissenbach in Frankfurt; editing by Louise Heavens and Clelia Oziel) (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.) HDFC Capital, a wholly-owned subsidiary of HDFC Ltd, has achieved the initial close of its third fund of USD 1.88 billion (about Rs 13,500 cr) focused on affordable housing. HDFC Capital's target is to finance the development of one million affordable homes in India through a combination of innovative financing, partnerships and technology, whilst focusing on sustainability, the company said in a statement. In order to achieve this objective, the company is in active discussions with leading global investors to raise additional funds to be invested in affordable housing in India. The Affordable Real Estate Fund-3 (H-CARE-3) is one the largest funds raised to invest in the residential real estate sector in India with investors committing in excess of USD 1.22 billion towards the first close. It combined with potential reinvestments by the fund creates an estimated total fund corpus of USD 1.88 billion, it said. The primary investor in H-CARE 3 is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), it said adding that the fund will provide long-term, flexible funding across the lifecycle of affordable and mid-income housing projects, including early-stage funding. In addition, it said H-CARE 3 will also invest in technology (construction technology, fintech, cleantech, etc.) engaged in the affordable housing ecosystem. " has been one of the pioneers of investing in affordable and mid-income housing projects in India. "With support from marquee global investors like ADIA and partnerships with leading developers, the platform is well on its way to ensuring many more Indians become homeowners," HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh said. At HDFC Capital, the vision is to finance the development of the affordable housing ecosystem in India and provide a seamless platform for all stakeholders including global investors, developers, and vendors to access financing and technology innovations, the company's Managing Director Vipul Roongta 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.) Italian super luxury carmaker Automobili is bullish on India to rank higher in its top 10 markets in the Asia Pacific region going forward, buoyed by strong consistent performance over the years, according to a senior company official. In 2021, India with 69 units sold at a growth of 86 per cent was in the top 10 markets in the Asia Pacific region for but was way behind the top three markets -- China, Japan and South Korea. China was also the second ranked market globally for the company in 2021 with 935 units sold. The third ranked market in Asia Pacific (APAC), South Korea, clocked 354 units last year. Thailand with 75 units was also ahead of India. "In the top 10 countries for Asia Pacific in 2021 we have India as one of them just following Thailand...Of course in the future we believe that India has a strong potential to rank higher in the top 10 markets for APAC," Automobili Asia-Pacific Regional Director Francesco Scardaoni said in an interaction. Apart from the top three, the company hasn't disclosed the rankings of the top 10 markets. Lamborghini, which sells a range of super luxury cars with prices starting from Rs 3.16 crore in India, recorded its best ever sales in the country in 2021, beating its previous best record in 2019 when it sold a total of 52 units. It had sold 37 units in 2020 in the country. "In terms of market you can see how India is growing and of course this growth will also be projected in the next few years...We are projecting really good and positive numbers, it means we have a really positive outlook for 2022 and 2023," Scardaoni said. The growth in India is expected to be driven by new products along with the SUV Urus, which apart from accounting for 50 per cent of sales in the country has also brought in many first time buyers of Lamborghini. Stating that globally, the super luxury SUV Urus has 70 per cent of customers who are new to the Lamborghini brand, he said India also has a similar trend with the model able to bring attention of customers that were not considering the brand before. Urus has been able to attract ultra luxury customers who would like to go out with family and friends on a drive. "In a market like India, it is a perfect car and the results are showing us that we are on the right track. We are ready to let India grow even more...we are able and ready to support new customers that are joining the Lamborghini family," Scardaoni said, adding Lamborghini is looking for consistent growth in the market in the coming years. He said Lamborghini has also embarked on EV journey starting from "the celebration of the current engine to hybridization and then electrification" but in the short-term future, in 2022 the company will have launches of new cars in new segments and will continue "redefining the segment and the future of the automotive". (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.) IPO-bound firm is expecting to close the current financial year with 100 per cent revenue growth, a top company official said. chairperson and chief operating officer Upasana Taku told PTI that the company's initial public offer (IPO) is a monumental opportunity for the company and will not like to hit the market when it is behaving erratically but wait for the market condition to stabilise. The company, which posted a narrowing of loss to Rs 111.3 crore and revenue of Rs 302.25 crore in the financial year 2021, expects to double the revenue by the end of current financial year. Talking about the path to profitability of the company, Taku did not mention any definite timeline but said that if the company is able to increase revenue and keep control on the cost then losses can be covered over in a few quarters. "In just two quarters we have already achieved the revenue number of last year. Any investor can calculate what will be business performance for the full year. It will look like that the company has doubled the revenue and EBITDA losses are the same or lower. If you have crossed Rs 300 crore till Diwali, then you have a clue on where you are going to land," Taku said. She said that the company has been doubling revenue every year since the last 4 years and has been controlling losses. The company in its draft document for IPO mentioned that it was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and the BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) segment gross merchandise value decreased by 38.22 per cent to Rs 299.94 crore in 2020-21 from Rs 4,85.49 crore in 2019-20. Taku said the business has now crossed to pre-Covid levels and the company has had good performance during the current financial year. "Our BNPL business has grown 22 times compared to last year and the payments business has grown three times," she said. The company plans to raise Rs 1,500 crore from the IPO. When asked about the timelines for the launch of IPO, Taku said the company has permission to hit the market till November 2022 and it will go for listing once the market conditions become stable. "I think that it is common sense that if the markets are acting erratically then why do you want to risk the outcome of something for which you worked so hard? We have been working very hard for the last 12 years to get to this stage. I cannot think of any internet company which has reached over 10 crore users, having spent only Rs 700 crore. We have reached this stage after hard work so the IPO should be a bumper. We will fight for this only," Taku said. Mobikwik's competitor in the payments segments, Paytm's shares hit an all time low of Rs 952.95 and closed at Rs 959.90 apiece on Friday. The closing price of Paytm shares was about 55 per cent lower than the subscription price of Rs 2,150 apiece. Paytm's Founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma during a webinar last week said that shares of the global peers of the company declined in the range of 38-51 per cent in the last six months and South American firms have seen up to 70 per cent dip. Taku said that the company will wait for the market to become stable for the IPO and till that time it will communicate to people about capital efficiency, the company and other unique selling propositions of . (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has asked PTC India Financial Services Ltd (PFS) to file an action taken report (ATR) within four weeks on corporate governance matters and issues raised by resigning directors. The capital market regulator director directed the company to address these issues before holding board meetings. PFS, in late night filing with BSE, said the company has received a communication dated 22nd January, 2022 from the informing that the company is directed to address the CG issues and all other issues raised by the resigning IDs and ex-Chairperson first. A meeting of the Board of Directors was scheduled to be held on 22nd January, 2022. However, the same could not be held as the company does not have quorum required under Regulations, the company said in filing. Further, the Company said it has filed an application with seeking exemption from relevant provisions of regulations to hold the board meeting to appoint Independent Directors. The company has already begun the process of selection and induction of three independent directors on the board. On 19th January 2021, all three independent directors - Kamlesh Shivji Vikamsey, Thomas Mathew T. Santosh B. Nayar - resigned citing several corporate governance-related issues. PFS said these directors resigned mentioning corporate governance issues which were raised by the Ex-Chairman in PFS board meeting held on August 05, 2021. It was pertinent to mention that PFS MD & CEO addressed all the concerns of the Ex-Chairman in the same board meeting. Also, on the same date the board, including Ex-Chairman and outgoing independent directors, provided a clean corporate governance report in the board report for the financial year, the company said. Meanwhile, rating agency CARE said it will continue to monitor the outcome of the internal probe and also any possible impact of the resignation of directors on PFSs financial performance and its liability franchise. The company continues to have a comfortable liquidity profile. As on date, PFS has Rs 410 crore of fixed deposit against payment obligations of Rs 400 crore till March 2022. The company also has undrawn credit lines of Rs 2,000 crore, which provides further support to liquidity. Also, as per the asset liability maturity statement dated September 30, 2021, there were no negative cumulative mismatches, CARE said. Ltd's plan to set up a USD 10 billion fund to acquire state-owned firms has attracted interest from sovereign wealth funds and the corpus will be floated once the government invites price for firms such as BPCL or Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), its chairman said. Metals and mining magnate Anil Agarwal's group has expressed interest to acquire government stake in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and SCI, worth over USD 12 billion. "We are creating a USD 10 billion fund," Agarwal said in an interview. The fund will be made of Vedanta's own resources and outside investment. "We have a tremendous response for this, especially from the sovereign wealth funds," he said. The idea is to create a fund with a 10-year life span that will use a private equity-type strategy, buying into and boosting their profitability before seeking an exit. Agarwal had previously stated that Vedanta would team up with London-based firm Centricus to create a USD 10-billion fund that will invest in stake sale of public sector undertakings. Centricus oversees USD 28 billion in assets. "They all want me to be the chairman," he told PTI in the interview. While Vedanta has completed due diligence of BPCL, the government earlier this month postponed invitation of the price bid for sale of its stake in SCI. The government has not indicated any date for invitation of price bids for BPCL or SCI. "As soon as the government starts coming out with a disinvestment programme, in no time we can raise. Nobody wants to put in money and pay fees and other costs. All is ready and as soon as the government activates the bidding process, we will move forward. Money will not be a problem," he said. Agarwal, who turned a tiny scrap metal business into London-headquartered Vedanta Resources, made a fortune buying state and fixing them. In 2001, it acquired Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd (BALCO), followed by the acquisition of the loss-making Hindustan Zinc in 2002-03. In 2007, it acquired a 51 per cent controlling stake in Sesa Goa Ltd from Mitsui & Co and in 2018 Vedanta snapped up Electrosteel Steels Ltd (ESL), pipping suitors like Tata Steel. He is now seeking to repeat that success, betting he can spot gems among the dozens of being put on the block by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to raise record proceeds. The entrepreneurial dynamism in India "can be harnessed to unlock incredible transformation in the public sector", Agarwal said. "We believe that this strategy can, and will, play a crucial role in the country's ongoing industrialisation." Vedanta is also exploring opportunities for zinc, gold and magnesium mines in Saudi Arabia. (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.) After affecting normal life in Karachi, Pakistan, a massive headed towards and south and may continue to have an effect till the next 12 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. No impact likely over Delhi in coming days, it added. Karachi was caught off guard on Saturday morning when a that travelled from west disturbed the normal life there with visibility reduced to less than or about 500 metres. "The Saurashtra coast has been getting dust rising winds from Saturday afternoon. Dwarka station reported 400 metre visibility, at Porbandar the wind speed was more than 10 km per hour with visibility of less than one kilometre," the IMD said. Winds carrying dust blew from south areas and adjoining Arabian Sea towards Kutch and Saurashtra towards evening. " or dust raising winds in association with surface winds at a wind speed of 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph, is likely over many places of Saurashtra and Kutch, and at isolated places over adjoining region and south Rajasthan," said IMD's senior scientist R.K. Jenamani, adding, "This is valid till Sunday morning for next 12 hours." Fortunately, the dust storm will have no impact on Delhi in view of the western disturbance being very active for the next 36 hours in northwest India. "Its (dust area) forward part interacts with high moisture and intense cloud zone currently located over southwest . The dust layer is over Saurashtra, very far, southwest of Delhi," Jenamani said. The 'Sand and Risk Assessment in Asia and the Pacific' report for 2021 published by the Asian and Pacific Centre for the Development of Disaster Information Management, which is a regional institution of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, had said more than 500 million people in India and more than 80 per cent of the population of Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Iran are exposed to medium and high levels of poor air quality due to sand and . Lahore, Karachi and Delhi are the three most affected cities, the report had said. Dust storms, if severe, and over a longer time, also adversely affect agriculture, especially cotton. --IANS niv/khz/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after Covid-19 cases scaled a new high above 48,000 mark, infections set a new record with notching the maximum cases of the variant and deaths remained in double-digits, health officials said here on Saturday. After the previous record high of 48,270 (January 21), the number of daily Covid infectees cooled and returned to the 46,000 level, 46,393 on Saturday -- a drop of 1,877 new cases compared with Friday. As the spread continued in Pune, the government has dropped plans to reopen schools in the district from January 24, said Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The fatalities also came down from 52 a day earlier to 48 on Saturday, and the mortality rate fell from 1.91 per cent to 1.09 per cent. After notching a peak of 238 cases (January 14) the state infections of the variant catapulted to a new record -- from 144 a day earlier to a staggering 416 on Saturday. The government is continuing the intensive surveillance of passengers arriving at the three international airports - Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur - since December 1. A total of 307,966 travellers have landed here, including 48,505 from the "high risk" countries from where 579 have tested positive and another 670 from other countries, with all their reports sent for genomic sequencing to confirm if they are afflicted by . Another staggering 6,090 positive samples from field surveys conducted since November 1 have been sent for genomic sequencing with the results of 103 are awaited, the officials said. Omicron has spread extensively across several districts in the state, and out of the 2,759 cases till date, 1,225 have recovered. Pune district remains at the top with 1,182 cases of the variant, 1,009 in Mumbai, 178 in Nagpur, 134 in Thane, 59 in Sangli, 31 in Amravati, 20 each in Raigad and Aurangabad, 19 in Kolhapur, 15 in Satara, 13 in Wardha, 11 each in Osmanabad and Akola, 7 in Palghar, 6 in Buldhana, 5 in Nashik, 4 in Ahmednagar, 3 each in Nanded, Latur, Jalna, Parbhani and Gondiya, 2 each in Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Jalgaon and Bhandara, 1 in Beed, besides one from another state. Of the 46,393 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, Metropolitan Region showed a decline from 10,493 a day earlier to 8,471 infections, while city also fell sharply from 5,008 to 3,568 fresh cases. The next is Pune Circle's 18,729 infectees, Nagpur Circle 6,394, Nashik Circle 4,958, Aurangabad Circle 2,170, Latur 2,102, Kolhapur Circle 2,053, and Akola Circle's 1,516. The number of people sent to home quarantine declined sharply - dropping from 23,87,593 on Friday to 21,86,124 now, and another 3,382 have been shunted to institutional quarantine. Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Raigad and Palghar remain at the top with the highest number of aactive cases' currently in the state, with the afflictions shooting up from 264,388 a day before to 279,930 on Saturday, and the recovery rate again dropping 94.47 per cent to 94.03 per cent. The state's cumulative figures of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic in March 2020 now stands at 74,66,420 cases and 142,071 deaths, while a total of 70,40,618 patients have fully recovered till Saturday. --IANS qn/pgh (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.) Paying tributes to founder on his 96th birth anniversary, Prime Minister said on Sunday that he will be remembered forever as an outstanding leader who always stood with the people. A hardline Hindutva leader, Thackeray was born in 1926 and founded the Shiv Sena, which was a BJP ally for a long time before it severed ties in 2019. Thackeray died in 2012. Modi tweeted, "I pay homage to Shri Balasaheb Thackeray on his Jayanti. He will be remembered forever as an outstanding leader who always stood with the people. (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.) China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Sunday conveyed to the Indian Army that they have "found a boy" in their territory, across Arunachal Pradesh, and will hand him over soon, days after an MP had claimed that a teenager was abducted by PLA personnel. Security sources, however, said the PLA has not confirmed the identity of the boy and it is believed that the person is Miram Taron, who was allegedly taken away by the Chinese forces on January 18 from Upper Siang district. After the incident came to light, the Indian Army had sought assistance from the PLA to trace the boy. The sources said that the PLA informed the Indian Army that they found a boy and due procedure is being followed to hand him over to the Indian side. Tapir Gao, a member of Parliament (MP) from Arunachal Pradesh, also told PTI that he got the confirmation from the Indian Army that the boy is in PLA's custody and will be handed over soon. On January 19, Gao had claimed that Taron was abducted by the PLA from Lungta Jor area under Siyungla area (Bishing village) of Upper Siang district. Taron's friend Johny Yaiying informed the authorities about the kidnapping by the PLA. Both are local hunters belonging to Zido village. The incident occurred near the place where Tsangpo river enters India in . Tsangpo is called as Siang in and Brahmaputra in Assam. On January 20, China's Foreign Ministry said it was not aware of the incident but said the PLA controls the borders and cracks down on "illegal entry and exit activities." In September 2020, the PLA had abducted five youths from Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Subansiri district. The youths were released about a week later by the PLA. The latest incident came at a time when the Indian army continues to be engaged in a stand-off with the PLA in Ladakh since April 2020. India shares a 3,400 km-long Line of Actual Control(LAC) with from Ladakh to . (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.) Weekend and odd-even rule have hit the businessmen hard in the city with many of them struggling to meet break-even. Some of the traders PTI spoke to contemplated mortgaging jewellery to meet the rising expenses or even cutting down on meals to save money. Lalit, a grocery shop owner in Khari Bawli area of Old Delhi, said odd-even has impacted them specially as most of the customers are would not know which days the shop would be open. "There is no business at all. We are facing 100 per cent losses. Ours is a wholesale and customers come here to buy in bulk. But they are keeping away due to the odd-even rule, Lalit said. They would not know which shop is open on which day. More than the weekend the odd-even rule for opening of shops has been responsible for losses." Businessmen have urged LG Anil Baijal to consider removing curbs. On January 21, the government had proposed the LG to withdraw weekend and the odd-even system but the proposal was rejected. Ashok Randhawa, president of Sarojini Nagar Mini Traders' Association, expressed worry over the unsold garments due to lack of customers. "Curbs should be eased for us. Shopkeepers have bought winter stuff and with no customers now to buy them, where will they keep the stuff till next year? They don't have money to afford rent for a godown." He said the situation has forced workers at these shops to return to their hometown. "Most workers at these shops come from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They stay here on rent but with shops opening on odd-even basis, shopkeepers are forced to pay them for the number of days the shop opens, like say for 10 days. Many of them have left for their home since they were unable to make ends meet," Randhawa said. He said the government should at least allow those markets to open that have received the fully vaccinated' certificate from the district authorities. Mohan Kapoor, a shopkeeper in Tilak Nagar of West Delhi, rued the lack of business and said he has cut down on meals to save some money. "I have stopped having lunch and eat only a single meal during the day. My wife and I ensure that our child eats three meals but we have cut down on our meals," he said. Kapoor said just when he had begun to recover from the losses from the two previous lockdowns, the current curbs brought him down. A shopkeeper, who sells cosmetics items for women in Tilak Nagar, said he might be forced to mortgage his wife's jewellery to pay bills. "My shop is on rent. I have to pay EMI for my house I bought before the 2020 lockdown. All my savings were exhausted during the last two lockdowns, he said. If the curbs are not eased soon, I might have to mortgage by wife's jewellery to meet the expenses," he added. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has been saying that the hospitalisation rate has stagnated in the capital, indicating that the current wave has reached a plateau. The number of daily cases and the positivity rate has also shown a decline in the last few days. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Prime Minister was conferred with the Netaji Award 2022 by Netaji Research Bureau on Sunday. Consul General of in Kolkata Nakamura Yutaka received the honour on behalf of Abe at a function at the Elgin Road residence of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary. Japanese Ambassador to India Satoshi Suzuki addressed the programme virtually from New Delhi. Sugata Bose, the grand-nephew of the legendary freedom fighter and Director of Netaji Research Bureau, described Abe as a great admirer of Netaji. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Prime Minister of Japan was on Sunday conferred with the Netaji Award 2022 by the Netaji Research Bureau on the 125th birth anniversary of the legendary freedom fighter. Consul general of Japan in Kolkata, Nakamura Yutaka, received the honour on behalf of Abe at a function organised by the bureau at the Elgin Road residence here of the icon. Abe expressed his gratitude in a message read out by the consul general. "As former Prime Minister of Japan and in my capacity as a member of the House of Representatives, I am determined to do my utmost to continue contributing to the development of bilateral relations," he said. Abe said he sincerely hoped that Japan and India's friendship and global partnership will be further strengthened in wide-ranging areas including political, economic and cultural fields. Prof Sugata Bose, the grandnephew of Subhas Chandra Bose, and Director of the Netaji Research Bureau, described Abe as a great admirer of the freedom icon. Japan's ambassador to India Satoshi Suzuki addressed the function virtually from Delhi. Sugata Bose later told reporters that he wants the new generation of the country to take lessons from the great patriot's ideals. "Several beautiful programmes have been held since morning on the occasion of Netaji's birth anniversary, including the one at the Netaji Bhavan here," he said. Sugata Bose, who also attended a ceremony where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee garlanded the statue of the freedom fighter, said Netaji's 125th birth anniversary celebrations have gained international prominence. He welcomed the central government's decision to install a statue of Netaji at India Gate in the capital. "The greatest tomb to remember a great man is to propagate his legacy, and in case of Netaji, it is his ideal of equality and unity; he brought together Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christians, men and women, people of different regions by giving them equal rights," he said. "Netaji's life and work are transparent like glass," Sugata Bose added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The tableau at the parade this year will depict the massacre of Pal and Dadhvav villages of Sabarkantha in which 1,200 tribal people were martyred in 1922 while protesting against the British rule. Led by Motilal Tejawat, a number of tribal people had gathered on the banks of Her river to protest against the land revenue system and laws related to Jagirdar and Rajwada imposed by the British rulers on March 7, 1922. Following a firing order issued by Major H.G. Sutton, around 1,200 tribals were reportedly martyred on that fateful day. It is also said that wells in the area were filled with the bodies of the tribal people. The tableau on will depict the 1922 incident. It will have a 7-foot statue of Motilal Tejawat, besides a statue of the British officer and others. A total of six artistes will perform on the tableau. The two wells named Dhekhadiya Kuva and Dudhiya Kuva, said to be the graveyards of the martyrs, will also be a part of the tableau. A representation of two earthen horses will be made on both sides of the tableau. Traditional 'Ger' dance and music will be performed by the tribal artistes of Poshina taluka of Sabarkantha. --IANS amc/arm (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has written to Prime Minister demanding a complete ban on the movie "Why I Killed Gandhi" as the film glorifies Nathuram Godse the traitor and killer of the Father of the Nation . "All Indian Cine Workers Association demands a complete ban on the movie Why I Killed Gandhi which is to be released on OTT Platform in India on January 30, 2022, as this movie glorifies Nathuram Godse the traitor and killer of the father of nation Mahatma Gandhiji. Gandhiji is someone who is admired by entire INDIA and the world, Gandhiji's Ideology is a symbol of Love and Sacrifice for each and every Indian," the letter reads. The association further said that if this movie releases the entire nation will be shocked and devastated by the display of the heinous crime. "Nathuram Godse is (the Traitor and Assassin of Gandhiji) doesn't deserve an inch of respect by anyone in this country, the actor who played the role of Nathuram Godse (the traitor and the killer of Gandhiji) is a sitting MP in Lok Sabha and is under the oath of Indian Constitution, if this movie releases the entire nation will be shocked and devastated by the display of the heinous crime which occurred on January 30, 1948," it said. It further said that India has never forgotten and will never forget the contribution of Mahatma Gandhiji towards this democratic nation. "On behalf of the entire nation and all the movie associations, we are demanding that 'Why I Killed Gandhi' has to be Banned from the release on the OTT platform," the association added. 'Why I killed Gandhi' which is set to release on Limelight OTT on January 30 - Gandhi's death anniversary. Amol Kolhe was previously in Shiv Sena and a leading Marathi actor since 2008 and has acted in many period and played many roles of historic figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Kolhe joined Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 2019 and defeated Sena's Shivajirao Adhalarao Patil in the Shirur Lok Sabha election. (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 weekly lockdown clamped by the government on Sundays has hit the flow of tourists coming into Puducherry. Several tourist centres in the Union Territory that would normally be buzzing with activities on Saturdays and Sundays presented a forlorn look. The municipal bus terminal here also presented a deserted look as the arrival of buses from districts in the neighbouring state was totally absent. Normally, private vehicles from states like and Karnataka would be zooming around in the former French colony on the weekends. An auto-rickshaw driver said the flow of tourists to Puducherry was absent Saturday and Sunday which has led to almost zero demand for rickshaw services. Tourist centres, including establishments run by the Puducherry government, had very less inflow of people. Puducherry has not adopted total lockdowns but has put in stringent curbs. Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan had told newspersons earlier in the day that if a lockdown was announced in Puducherry on the lines of several states then the livelihood sources of many people would suffer a setback. She said the territorial government was adopting measures with several 'reasonable relaxations.' Congress leader and former Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy had said on Saturday that the UT government was being 'unbearably lax in implementing curbs' and has been 'contributing to the rise in the number of fresh cases of COVID-19'. Narayanasamy, who has himself tested positive for the infection and has been in home isolation over the last few days, wanted the government to tighten curbs even further. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister on Sunday appealed to the Central Government to declare Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary as a national holiday. The Chief Minister highlighted that, if this appeal comes into effect, it will allow the entire nation to pay homage to the national leader and celebrate 'Desh Nayak Dibas' in the most befitting manner. In a series of tweets, Banerjee said, "Homage to Deshnayak Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary. A national and global icon, Netaji's rise from Bengal is unmatched in the annals of Indian history." "He is an epitome of patriotism, courage, leadership, unity and brotherhood. Netaji has been and will continue to be an inspiration for generations," she said. "GoWB is celebrating his 125th Birth Anniversary as #DeshNayakDibas in a befitting manner all over the state following protocols," the Chief Minister added. "We again appeal to the Central Government that Netaji's birthday be declared a National Holiday to allow the entire Nation to pay homage to the National Leader and celebrate #DeshNayakDibas in most befitting manner," she tweeted. The Chief Minister recalled some long-term initiatives to commemorate Netaji Bose. "Among some long-term initiatives to commemorate Netaji, a National University with international collaborations, Jai Hind University, is being set up with 100 per cent state funding," she said in a tweet. Banerjee added, "Drawing inspiration from Netaji's thoughts on National Planning Commission, a Bengal Planning Commission will be set up to help the state in its planning initiatives." The Chief Minister said that this year a tableau will be displayed on the Republic Day Parade on 'Netaji' and will also feature other eminent freedom fighters from Bengal to commemorate the 75th year of Independence of our country. Born on January 23, 1897, Netaji played a crucial role in India's freedom movement. Subhas Chandra Bose had also established the Azad Hind Fauj. (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 COVID-19 tally in reached 8,94,159 on Sunday after the detection of 11,253 cases, while the toll increased to 10,570 with eight deaths reported in the last 24 hours, a health department official said. The positivity rate was 13.4 per cent for the second consecutive day, he pointed out. The recovery count stood at 8,16,453 after 5,497 people were discharged from hospitals during the day, leaving the state with an active tally of 67,136, he said. Indore and Bhopal, the two worst coronavirus-hit cities of Madhya Pradesh, registered 3,372 and 1,910 cases, respectively, during the past 24 hours, he said. With 83,365 samples examined on Sunday, the number of tests in MP went up to 2,53,14,005, the official added. A government release said 10,86,29,916 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the state, including 20,749 on Sunday. figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 8,94,159, new cases 11,253, death toll 10570, recoveries 8,16,453, active cases 67,136, number of tests so far 2,53,14,005. (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 National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has asked the Kolkata bench of to decide over the plea of against the rights issue of its subsidiary Trinity Alternative Investment Managers. Ltd (SIFL), which owns 51 per cent equity in the fund management firm Trinity Alternative Investment Managers Ltd, is anticipating dilution of its shareholding in the subsidiary after its right issue. The remaining 49 per cent shareholding is owned by Payaash Capital Singapore Pte Ltd. A two-member bench, while disposing of Ltd (SIFL) petition observed that the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has ordered a status quo and is yet to pass any order over the plea filed by the non-banking financial company. The appellate tribunal has directed to take up the matter on February 18, 2022, as scheduled, without any further adjournments and deal with all issues. SIFL is presently going through the Insolvency Resolution process after the had admitted a plea by the Reserve Bank of India. An administrator has been appointed in October last year and SIFL is presently under moratorium as per the provisions of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC). SIFL had approached NCLT on November 18, 2021 against the right issue process alleging oppression and mismanagement under sections 241 and 242 of the Companies Act. It had also initiated the process of removal of directors from the board of Trinity. In this matter, passing an interim order, the Kolkata bench had on December 6, 2021, directed to maintain a status quo until the hearing of the petition. However, the said order to maintain the status quo was challenged by SIFL before contending that NCLT has restrained it from using its statutory rights under Section 100 (calling extraordinary general meeting) and Section 169 (removal of directors) of the Companies Act. "The impugned order effectively restrained the appellant (SIFL), the 51 per cent shareholder from exercising its statutory rights and following a prescribed procedure to remove an appointed director, despite there being no request or prayer wheresoever. The impugned order is passed in respect of issue which is not even remotely connected with the pending matter before NCLT i.e., the right issue," submitted Solicitor General Tushar Mehta representing SIFL before . The NCLT order also interferes with the functioning of the administrator of SIFL and has the effect of derailing the timelines under IBC. However, counsel representing Trinity said NCLT has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the matter and when a Petition is filed under Sections 241 and 242, NCLT has the power to pass any Interim order which it thinks fit. Consenting with it, NCLAT said aforenoted Section empowers the tribunal to pass any Interim Order on an Application made by any party to the proceeding, which it thinks fit for regulating the conduct of the companies affairs upon such terms and conditions as appear to it to be just and equitable. "On a careful consideration of the contentions projected by both sides, and the pleadings put forward, this Tribunal, keeping in mind the ingredients of Section 241 and 242 of the Act, arrives at the resultant conclusion, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter, also not delving deep into the case, as allegations of 'oppression and mismanagement' consist of mixed questions of fact and law, which cannot be decided at this interim stage, directs the NCLT Kolkata Bench to take up the matter on February 18, 2022," said the NCLAT. (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.) is in community transmission in India and has become the dominant variant in multiple metros where new cases have been rising exponentially, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) has said. In its latest weekly newsletter dated January 10, the genomic consortium said that while most cases have so far been asymptomatic or mild, hospitalisations and ICU cases have been increasing in the current wave. The threat level remains unchanged, the consortium has cautioned. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines community transmission as outbreaks with the inability to relate confirmed cases through chains of transmission for a large number of cases, or by increasing positive tests through sentinel samples routine systematic testing of respiratory samples from established laboratories. In other words, a pandemic reaches the community transmission stage when it is not possible to trace the source of infection in a large part of the population back to any carrier who might have caught the virus through another contact or by travelling to an affected area. This means, anyone can catch the contagion. While the health ministry has not used the term community transmission to describe the stage of infections in India, INSACOGs statement means that utmost precautions in terms of mask wearing, social distancing and avoiding crowding have to be enforced. For instance, Delhi, which currently has weekend curfew in place, had requested the Lieutenant Governor to lift these restrictions as the number of cases is falling and hospitalisations are low. The request was rejected. Globally, the Omicron variant has been seen to have a lower rate of hospitalisation compared to the second wave caused by Delta due to intrinsically reduced severity with lesser propensity to cause pneumonia as also due to higher population immunity. INSACOG, however, noted in its newsletter that due to the very high number of cases, the absolute number of hospitalisations has crossed previous highs in many countries and is creating stress on healthcare systems. It also said that global data so far suggests that the majority of severe cases and deaths have been in unvaccinated subjects, with high protection associated with vaccination or previous infection. While deaths have been much lower during the new wave, compared to previous waves, there have been Omicron-associated deaths, INSACOG said. The consortium also said that tests suitable for RT-PCR-based screening applicable to all Omicron lineages have been approved for use. Meanwhile, the recently reported B.1.640.2 lineage, identified in France, has not been detected in India so far. It has not been classified as a variant of concern yet. Scientists at INSACOG have said that the variant is being monitored and while there is no evidence of rapid spread, this mutation has features of immune escape. So far, 72 per cent of all samples sequenced through INSACOG have been found to be of a Covid-19 variant Pangolin lineage, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron. Rising cases and the positivity rate in six states Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh have been of concern. The variant of Covid-19 has been identified in 171 countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. In its latest technical brief, the global health body said that is soon set to replace Delta globally as a result of its immunity evading potential. It stated that has been found to have a significant growth advantage, higher secondary attack rates, and a higher observed reproduction number compared to Delta. "As of January 20, the Omicron variant has been identified in 171 countries. The variant has rapidly outpaced Delta in most countries, driving an upsurge of cases in all regions. "Omicron has a substantial growth advantage over Delta, and it is rapidly replacing Delta globally," the brief said. The global health body said there "is significant evidence" to show that immune evasion contributes to the rapid spread of Omicron. However, the WHO said further research is needed to better understand the relative contribution of intrinsic increased transmissibility and immune evasion in explaining transmission dynamics. Although the infection caused by the highly contagious strain is touted to be mild, the WHO said that current evidence shows that the overall risk related to Omicron remains very high and its spread in the community is much more than during previous Covid variants. Despite a lower risk of severe disease and death following infection than previous SARS-CoV-2 variants, the very high levels of transmission have also resulted in significant increases in hospitalisation. It continues to pose overwhelming demands on health care systems in most countries, and may lead to significant morbidity, particularly in vulnerable populations, the global health body said. The WHO also found "evidence that the Omicron variant infects human bronchus tissue faster and more efficiently than Delta". However, it has shown a predominance of viral replication in the upper respiratory tract, unlike Delta. Moreover, the technical brief also noted the increasing presence of Omicron sub-variants. While the BA.1 lineage has previously been the most dominant, recent trends from India, South Africa, the UK, and Denmark suggest that BA.2 is increasing in proportion, the WHO said. It added that the drivers of transmission and other properties of BA.2 are under investigation, but remain unclear to date. "Studies are needed to better understand the properties of BA.2, including comparative assessments of BA.2 and BA.1 for key characteristics such as transmissibility, immune escape and virulence," the WHO brief said. --IANS rvt/vd (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The plays an important role in the journey towards net zero as bulk of the come from industries and it has already woken up to this reality, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Sunday. Speaking virtually at a private event, the minister said several companies have announced net-zero ambitions over the past year. "The plays an important role in our journey towards net zero. Since bulk of the come from industries, any climate action will need to reduce or offset that emerge from the industrial and commercial activity. " players have already woken up to this reality and are already playing a key role in this climate fight. Rising number of companies have announced net-zero ambitions over the last year. Climate action will not only transform industries, but also likely reshape how investment choices are made and where money flows," Yadav said at an event to mark 27 years of a private equity firm. The minister said India's announcement of net zero at COP 26 in Glasgow in the UK is a major step considering the country is not the cause for climate change and has not been a historical contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions." "We are committed to the sustainability agenda but also assertive that in order to reach net zero globally, developed countries should take the lead initiative as per the provisions of the Paris Agreement. "We have used COP26 and other multilateral platforms to urge developed countries having capacities, high per capita emissions as well as historical responsibilities, to undertake more aggressive steps to reach net zero, he said. At the COP 26 held last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had enhanced India's climate commitments by giving out five elixirs, including India becoming net zero by 2070. However, UK COP 26 President Alok Sharma had later said that the summit kept alive the ambition to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius but it was a "fragile win", and he called for rapid global action. Now, in a bid to take forward the Glasgow pact of the 26th climate summit held in November last year, Sharma will be visiting India from February 10-13, 2022, official sources said on Sunday. Sources said that the British High Commission has informed the Ministry of External Affairs about the date of Sharma's arrival and requested its assistance in arranging his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and several other ministers. Sharma will be visiting New Delhi and Mumbai, sources said, adding that the ministry has been requested to grant the COP 26 president and his delegation exemption from any COVID-19 quarantine requirements. It also sought exemption for the delegation from the seven-day quarantine following the receipt of their negative test result, sources said. The Commission has also requested that in the event that the COP President or a member of their delegation were to test positive upon arrival in India, the affected member would be allowed to self-isolate on the British High Commission compound for the required period of isolation, a source said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The has set aside a Green Tribunal (NGT) order directing compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the heirs of the victims of a firecracker factory blast in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district last year in which 19 workers were killed. A bench of justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari noted that the proceeded ex-parte and directed the tribunal to reconsider the case afresh. "Accordingly, in the interest of justice, we deem it appropriate to set aside the impugned judgment and order and relegate the parties before the Green Tribunal for reconsideration of the entire matter afresh after giving an opportunity to the parties concerned, including the appellants, and to pass appropriate orders in accordance with the law," the bench in a recent order said. The parties appearing through counsel before the apex court were asked to appear before the tribunal on February 14, 2022, and the was directed to proceed with the matter on that day or assign a suitable date for hearing, as may be convenient to it. The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by Tamil Nadu Fireworks And Amorces Manufacturers Association challenging the NGT's order dated June 11, 2021. The tribunal had directed Tamil Nadu through District Magistrate, Virudhunagar to pay compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the heirs of deceased victims. It had directed the State Legal Services Authority to provide legal aid to ensure that payment is made to genuine heirs of the deceased and to the injured without undue hassle. The had formed a committee headed by a former high court judge and directed it to submit a report on the firecracker factory blast in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district. The explosion occurred on February 12, 2021 when some chemicals were being mixed to produce fireworks at the unit in Acchankulam village. The green panel had said that to secure credible facts, it is constituting an eight-member committee including former high court judge Justice K Kannan and representatives of the Union Environment Ministry. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a three-tier structured level of public health care, the district hospital forms an integral and vital part of the health care delivery system. A total of 810 district hospitals across India provide critical services to the population. When patients reach any given district hospital, they expect a doctor in the required medical specialty to be available at the outpatient department to diagnose and treat health disorders and prescribe tests and medicines, which can then be obtained at the pharmacy in the hospital. If the doctor orders diagnostic tests, the patient can get them done at a laboratory by a technician at that particular point of care. If the doctor recommends admission, the patient can get a bed at the hospital. If a higher-level medical intervention, such as surgery, is suggested, the patient can be operated upon within a reasonable period of time. During the patients stay at the hospital, he/she is cared for by on-duty nurses. After surgery, the patient should recover without any infection. The hospital ecosystem is expected to maintain acceptable levels of hygiene and cleanliness. These are standard expectations of any patient visiting a district hospital anywhere in the world. All these essential components form links in a delicate health care chain that determine the patients experience. Inefficiencies and inadequacies in any of the departments can frustrate the patient and adversely impact the health outcomes and the overall reputation of the hospital. Based on Indian Public Health Standards, NITI Aayog prepared a ranking of district hospitals. Listed alongside are the top scorers and Uttar Pradeshs score as it goes to polls. Source: Niti Aayog (UN) World Food Programme (WFP) hoisted a multi-stakeholder interactive and consultation session on in on digital mode, in which more than 80 policymakers, government actors, NGO partners, academicians, and corporate houses deliberated together. "The objective of the long session was to take feedback input from different sectors to make the WFP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 for more inclusive and effective," said the state government in a press statement. Initiating the deliberation, Mr Bishow Parajuli, Country Director WFP India said, "We are glad for our partnership with as the State is very much focused on ensuring to all. Odisha has been a centre of innovative pilots and schemes for improving food and nutrition security. The world has taken note of the innovative programs launched by Odisha, and how these schemes provided a lifeline during the current pandemic times. Application of biometric technology in making TDPS error-free, rice fortification, nutritious food in MDM and Anganwadi centres, State food security programme, women-led take-home ration production model are some such interventions in Odisha". Chief Secretary, Suresh Chandra Mahapatra said, "Government of Odisha is fully committed to reducing poverty and malnutrition. During last years, there has been a significant reduction in rural poverty, and food security has improved to great extent". He added that "partnership between WFP and Odisha has been very effective since last two decades, and six more partnership agreements in new areas have been initiated in the last year alone". Mahapatra asked WFP to undertake more technological applications for enhancing the outreach of the food security net and improving access to food security, more particularly for poor and vulnerable sections. He emphasized aligning the strategic plan towards SDG targets and making it more outcome-oriented. Mahapatra assured that the Government of Odisha would continue working with WFP in the coming years for the implementation of the strategic plan. Development Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Jena advised to target the specific areas and communities that are more vulnerable for food and nutrition security and bring them at par with the rapidly improving state parameters. He emphasized on expeditious achievement of SDG-2 through partnerships. The Country Director WFP Mr Parajuli said that the Strategic plan would be finalized soon in collaboration with the Government of Odisha incorporating the inputs availed from today's interactive session. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Xi'an expected to clear all high, medium-risk areas on Jan. 25 Xinhua) 09:50, January 23, 2022 A rainbow appears in the water mist of a sprinkler near Yongning Gate in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Tao Ming) XI'AN, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The northwestern Chinese city of Xi'an is expected to clear all areas classified as high and medium-risk for COVID-19 on Jan. 25, provided no special circumstances arise, a government official said on Saturday. Zhang Fenghu, deputy secretary general of the Xi'an Municipal Government, told a press conference that the prediction was made after careful expert study and evaluation. Should the prediction become a reality, the ancient city, home to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, will resume regular prevention and control in most areas, Zhang said. There are currently two medium-risk areas and one high-risk area in Xi'an. As of 12 p.m. Saturday, the city had reported 2,053 confirmed local cases, with 1,667 recovered. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) 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 Ahead of the first-phase polling in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP MLA from Agra's Fatehabad constituency, Jitendra Verma, resigned from the party and said that he has joined the Samajwadi Party. Verma's name did not figure in the list of candidates released by the BJP for the first phase of elections. He was replaced by Chhotelal Verma. In his two-line resignation letter sent to BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh, Verma wrote, "I am resigning from the primary membership of the BJP. Kindly accept it." Speaking to PTI, he said, "There are many reasons why I left the BJP. Even 15 days after I was denied ticket, the party leadership did not talk to me. I have joined the Samajwadi Party and I will not contest this election." He claimed that BJP workers and MLAs have no say in the party. "If you are not able to provide fertiliser to a farmer, what are you an MLA for? Not only me, a number of MLAs will be leaving the BJP," he said. Earlier, ministers Swami Prasad Maurya, Dara Singh Chauhan and Dharam Singh Saini had tendered their resignations and joined the Samajwadi Party. A number of other legislators have also quit the party recently. They are Brijesh Prajapati (Tindwari in Banda), Roshanlal Verma (Tilhar in Shahjahanpur), Bhagwati Prasad Sagar (Bilhaur in Kanpur Nagar), Vinay Shakya (Bidhuna in Auraiya), Digvijay Narayan alias Jai Chaube (Khalilabad) Madhuri Verma (Nanpara in Bahraich) and Rakesh Rathore (Sitapur). In the first of the seven phases, polling will be held in 58 assembly constituencies spread over 11 districts on February 10. The districts which are going to poll in the first phase are Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura and Agra. The final-phase polling will be on March 7 and the results will be declared on March 10. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The on Saturday released its first list of 53 candidates for the Assembly elections. president Ganesh Godiyal will contest from the Srinagar seat while Leader of Opposition in the outgoing assembly Pritam Singh has been fielded from the Chakrata (ST) constituency. The names of former chief minister Harish Rawat and Harak Singh Rawat, who joined the party only on Friday, do not figure in the first list of the party. Yashpal Arya, a former BJP minister who had recently joined the Congress, has been fielded from his Bajpur (SC) constituency. Sumit Hridayesh, the son of senior leader Indira Hridayesh who died in June last year, has been fielded from Haldwani assembly seat. The Congress is seeking to wrest power back from the BJP in the hill state. Elections will be held for 70 assembly seats in on February 14 and the results will be out on March 10. (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.) US President held a meeting with his national security team, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, a day after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Geneva, the press pool informs. "Today President Biden met with his national security team in person and virtually at Camp David to discuss continued Russian aggressive actions toward . President Biden was briefed on the current state of Russian military operations on Ukraine's borders and discussed both our ongoing efforts to de-escalate the situation with diplomacy and our range of deterrence measures that are being coordinated closely with our Allies and partners, including ongoing deliveries of security assistance to Ukraine," the said on Saturday. According to the release, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Counselor Steve Ricchetti joined Biden in person at Camp David, while other national security officials joined by secure video. "President Biden again affirmed that should further invade Ukraine, the United States will impose swift and severe consequences on with our Allies and partners," the said. On Friday, Lavrov and Blinken met in Geneva with the US secretary promising to provide a written response to Moscow's proposals on security guarantees next week. Western countries have been accusing of allegedly deploying troops near the Ukrainian border in preparation for "aggressive action." Moscow has repeatedly denied these accusations, pointing to NATO's military activity near the Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security. Russia has also affirmed that it has the right to move forces within its own territory. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three separate incidents of human occurred over the last one month near the US/ border, where authorities this week arrested seven Indian nationals and found the bodies of four more, according to court documents. A criminal complaint filed on Thursday in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota said that US Patrol had reported three separate incidents of human recently that occurred at the same location where American national Steve Shand was arrested. The estimated dates of the events were January 12, 2022, and December 12 and December 22 last year. Related to the December 12 event, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported that a backpack was found at what was believed to be the drop-off point for the illegal crossers. Inside the backpack was a price tag showing a price in rupees (Indian currency), the complaint said. Giving details of the previous smuggling attempts, the complaint said that US Patrol agents had observed boot prints in the snow made by three individuals who had walked across the US/Canadian border on January 12, 2022." The complaint added that the three sets of boot prints are made by the same brand of boots, and the prints match the brand of the type of boots worn by five of the seven Indian nationals arrested in the current smuggling event in which Shand was arrested. Agents said the boot prints appeared to be the same tread style as the boots being worn by the arrested Indian nationals. The two previous human smuggling events were discovered by Border Patrol agents observing footprints in the snow. Two groups of four appear to have walked across the border into the US and were picked up by someone in a vehicle, the complaint said. Shand, 47, of Florida was charged with human smuggling on Thursday after he was found transporting two Indian nationals, illegally present in the US, near the US/ border. Five Indian nationals illegally present in the were also identified and arrested around the time Shand was arrested. A family of four Indian nationals - an adult male, adult female, teen male and an infant, were found frozen to death just inside the Canadian side of the border as they attempted to cross over onto the US illegally. Authorities have said the weather in the area where Shand was arrested near the US/ border was severe, with high winds, blowing snow and temperatures well below sub zero. The area is also known by Border Patrol as a high incident area for human smuggling. The criminal complaint against Shand said that the investigation into the death of the four individuals in Canada is ongoing along with an investigation into a larger human smuggling operation of which Shand is suspected of being a part. The complaint said that one of the Indian nationals apprehended provided limited information to Border Patrol. He reported that he paid a significant amount of money to enter Canada from India under a fraudulently obtained student visa." "He did not intend to study in Canada but rather to illegally enter the . He had crossed the border into the on foot and had expected to be picked up by an individual who would drive him to his uncle's residence in Chicago, according to the complaint. All the seven Indian nationals arrested spoke Gujarati. Most had limited or no English language speaking ability, the complaint said, adding that there are significant Gujarati populations outside of India, including in Canada and the US. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The head of the German navy resigned late Saturday after coming under fire at home and abroad for comments he made on and . Speaking at an event in India on Friday, vice admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach had said would not regain the Crimean Peninsula, which annexed in 2014. Schoenbach also said it was important to have on the same side against China, and suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin deserved "respect." His comments, captured on video, caused anger in Ukraine, which summoned the German ambassador to complain. They also sparked consternation and a swift rebuke back in Berlin. By late Saturday, Schoenbach had asked for his dismissal, saying he wanted to prevent further damage resulting to and its military from his ill-considered statements." In a statement, the German navy said Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht had accepted Schoenbach's resignation and appointed his deputy as interim naval chief. The German government has insisted that it stands united with its NATO allies on the issue of Russia's military threat to Ukraine, warning that Moscow will pay a high price if it makes any military moves against its neighbour. But unlike many other NATO countries, Berlin says it won't supply with lethal weapons, arguing that it doesn't want to inflame tensions further. (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 paid its dues to the UN with the country's funds frozen in in a move to immediately restore its voting power, Seoul's Finance Ministry said on Sunday. made an emergency request to on January 13 for the use of Tehran's funds in Seoul to pay its dues after being informed by the UN it would immediately lose its voting rights for the arrears, reports Yonhap News Agency. has more than $7 billion in funds for oil shipments frozen at two South Korean banks -- the Industrial Bank of Korea and Woori Bank -- due to U.S. sanctions. The US reimposed the sanctions on Tehran in 2018 when former President Donald Trump pulled out of a 2015 landmark nuclear agreement with Iran and five major world powers. The Ministry of Economy and Finance said $18 million, part of the delinquent fees, was paid to the UN on Friday, using the Tehran assets frozen in after consultations with related organisations, including the US Office of Foreign Assets Control and the UN Secretariat. "Iran's right to vote at the General Assembly is expected to be restored immediately with the payment," the Ministry said in a statement. It marks the second time for Iran to use its funds held in South Korea to pay the UN fee following a similar case last year. --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.) does not consider an interim deal in ongoing negotiations in the Austrian capital of aimed to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, a source close to the Iranian negotiating team told Tasnim News Agency. "The Iranian team seeks to achieve a lasting and credible agreement," the source was quoted as saying on Saturday. The NBC News network reported on Saturday that Russia has discussed a possible interim nuclear deal, which includes limited lifting of anti- sanctions and re-imposition of certain restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities, with in recent weeks as part of efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear pact, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Xinhua news agency reported. --IANS int/khz/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Germany's flagship carrier is in talks to buy a 40% stake in state-owned Alitalia's successor ITA Airways, two people familiar with the negotiations said on Sunday, following a newspaper report that a deal could be unveiled next week. The talks about a tie-up between Germany's partly state-owned and ITA Airways are still ongoing with all outcomes possible, one of the sources said on condition of anonymity, adding the stake price was still under negotiation. The second source said and ITA were in talks over a 40% stake sale, but it could take longer than a few days to reach a comprehensive deal. A Lufthansa spokesperson declined to comment, but reiterated an earlier statement that the German carrier was open to the possibility of a partnership with ITA. An ITA spokesperson, when asked for comment by Reuters on a potential investment by Lufthansa, did not mention Lufthansa but said that the airline's top management would present a strategic plan to the company's board on January 31. A data room would then be opened in the following days, he added, allowing a potential bidder or partner to have access to key financial documents to assess the value of the company. Italian daily Il Foglio reported on Saturday that the two could present a deal on a 40% stake next week as they were very close to agreeing over some key terms, such as the role of Rome's Fiumicino airport as a hub for direct flights to Africa and some routes to the Americas. Sources told Reuters on January 12 that the Italian carrier was in contact with Lufthansa, British Airways and United States-based Delta Air Lines for an equity partnership, adding that formal talks could start by the end of March. Delta said on January 13 it has no plans to invest in ITA. The German government currently holds 14% of Lufthansa shares following a bailout at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and aims to sell its stake by October 2023 at the latest. The group was saved from bankruptcy by Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Belgium with 9 billion euros ($10.21 billion) in financial support approved by the European Commission. A German economy ministry spokesperson declined to comment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Korean exports of red pepper paste soared nearly 63 per cent in the past four years thanks to the global popularity of Korean pop (K-pop) culture, data revelaed on Sunday. Overseas shipments of red pepper paste, called "gochujang" in Korean, came to $50.93 million in 2020, up 62.6 per cent compared with 2016 and 35.2 per cent from 2019, according to the data from Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp and the Agriculture Ministry. Exports of red pepper paste seem to have soared in recent years as more foreigners became interested in Korean food after watching K-pop stars, such as BTS, as well as increasing exposure to Korean culture on over-the-top services, Yonhap News Agency quoted the state company as saying. Experts said the Korean Wave generated by K-pop and TV dramas could turn fans in foreign countries into active consumers of South Korean products. The US was the top market with a share of 26.4 per cent, followed by China with 17.3 per cent and Japan with 10.3 per cent. Exports to the Philippines and Canada accounted for 6 per cent and 4.3 per cent, respectively. Outbound shipments of soybean paste "doenjang" also jumped to $11.72 million in 2020, up 44.8 per cent from 2016, the data showed. --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.) Inc Chief Executive Albert Bourla has said that an annual Covid-19 vaccine would be preferable to more frequent booster shots in fighting the pandemic. Pfizer/BioNtech's Covid-19 vaccine has shown to be effective against severe disease and death caused by the heavily-mutated Omicron variant but less effective in preventing transmission. With cases soaring, some countries have expanded Covid-19 vaccine booster programmes or shortened the gap between shots as governments scramble to shore up protection. In an interview with Israel's N12 News, Bourla was asked whether he sees booster shots being administered every four to five months on a regular basis. "This will not be a good scenario. What I'm hoping (is) that we will have a vaccine that you will have to do once a year," Bourla said. "Once a yearit is easier to convince people to do it. It is easier for people to remember. "So from a public health perspective, it is an ideal situation. We are looking to see if we can create a vaccine that covers Omicron and doesn't forget the other variants and that could be a solution," Bourla said. Bourla has said could be ready to file for approval for a redesigned vaccine to fight Omicron, and mass produce it, as soon as March. Citing three studies, the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday that a third dose of an mRNA vaccine is key to fighting Omicron, providing 90% protection against hospitalization. Former Nepal PM Oli tests positive for Covid Former Nepal Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has tested positive for Covid-19 and is currently in isolation at his residence. Chairman of our party CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli has tested positive and is taking rest at his residence, Bishnu Rijal, Deputy Chief of the party's Central Publicity department tweeted. New Zealand PM cancels her wedding amid curbs New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has cancelled her wedding as the nation imposes new restrictions to slow the community spread of the Omicron variant, she told reporters on Sunday. New Zealand will impose mask rules and limit gathering from midnight on Sunday. Omicron past its peak in US, deaths continue to rise New cases have started to fall nationally, signaling that the omicron-fueled spike that has infected tens of millions of Americans, packed hospitals and shattered records has finally begun to relent. More and more states have passed a peak in new cases in recent days, as glimmers of progress have spread from a handful of eastern cities to much of the country. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UK says it has information that Moscow is plotting to install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv, as fears of an invasion of persist. The assertions, offered without a timeline on the intelligence, were contained in a UK Foreign Office statement late on Saturday. Yevhen Murayev, a former Ukrainian member of parliament, is a potential candidate, according to the statement. In Washington, a National Security Council spokeswoman called the alleged plotting deeply concerning. President Joe Biden also met with his national security team on Saturday to discuss continued Russian aggression toward Ukraine, according to a White House official. The UK said it had information that the Russian intelligence services maintain links with numerous former Ukrainian politicians. It mentioned four by name who are already subject to Western sanctions. The men, who left in 2014, are believed to reside in . The assertions precede a UK drive to ramp up pressure on Russia, with the defense and foreign secretaries set to travel to Europe for talks. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will schedule calls with Group of Seven leaders next week to finalize additional sanctions on backers of President Vladimir Putin, according to UK government officials. At the meeting Saturday, Biden was briefed on Russias military buildup along the Ukrainian border and discussed the range of options for the US and its allies, the White House official said. President Biden again affirmed that should further invade Ukraine, the United States will impose swift and severe consequences on with our allies and partners, the official said. Last week, the U.S. said Russian actors were preparing potential sabotage operations against their own forces and fabricating provocations on social media to justify an invasion into . US military aid started arriving in Ukraine on Friday in the face of growing Russian aggression, the US Embassy in Kyiv said on Twitter. The UK is also sending supplies. A lawmaker from the US state of Wisconsin has introduced a bill aimed at increasing Taiwan's asymmetric defence capabilities against China's military aggression. Representative Mike Gallagher introduced the Arm Act, which would strengthen Taiwan's defences against a Chinese invasion by allocating USD 3 billion annually for a new Security Assistance Initiative. According to a press release, the act would also condition future conventional arms sales on Taiwan's progress in preparing its military and fielding the weapons required to defeat China's war plans. "General Secretary Xi Jinping has made the unification of with the mainland, by force if necessary, a key part of his legacy and the CCP is only growing more aggressive watching the Biden Administration's weakness in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Iran. Congress needs to step up to restore deterrence before it is too late. I am proud to join Senator Hawley in introducing the Arm Taiwan Act to provide Taiwan with the necessary resources and weapons to defeat an attempted invasion," said Rep. Gallagher. The Arm Taiwan Act urges the US Secretary of Defence to form the Taiwan Security Assistance Initiative and authorizes USD 3 billion annually for the initiative for fiscal years 2023 to 2027. The act specifies how funds authorized for the initiative should be used, with a specific emphasis on providing Taiwan with equipment, training, and other support required to accelerate Taiwan's deployment of the asymmetric defence capabilities required to delay, degrade, and deny a Chinese invasion against Taiwan. Gallagher said the funding will be conditional on the annual certification that Taiwan is matching US investments in its asymmetric defences, increasing defence spending, acquiring asymmetric defence capabilities as quickly as possible. "If the People's Republic of China were to invade and seize control of Taiwan, it would deal a severe blow to interests by destroying one of the world's leading democracies, casting doubt on the ability and resolve of the to uphold its security commitments; incentivizing other countries in the Indo-Pacific region to bandwagon with the People's Republic of China; and facilitating the formation of a regional order dominated by the People's Republic of China," the bill reads. Earlier in November 2021, Republican Josh Hawley, U.S. Senator for Missouri, introduced an identical Arm Taiwan Act. China continues to stake claims over Taiwan despite its self-governance for over seven decades.Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous country with political and economic relations with several other nations. (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 US State Department ordered families of personnel of the US Embassy in Kiev to begin evacuation from starting Monday, a Fox News correspondent said on Twitter, citing US officials. On Friday, CNN reported that the US Embassy in addressed the Department of State with a request to allow secondary staff to leave the country. "State Department orders families of U.S. embassy personnel in to begin evacuating the country as soon as Monday: U.S. officials," Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson tweeted. Meanwhile, a White House correspondent said citing a unnamed official that the US Department of State was likely to strongly recommend American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country next week. "Next week, the State Department is also expected to encourage Americans to begin leaving Ukraine by commercial flights, 'while those are still available,' one official said," Jacqui Heinrich wrote on Twitter. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former chief on Sunday alleged that over four crore people have been pushed into poverty in the country and that there has been development of only "Hamare Do". "'Vikas overflow' only for 'Humare Do'! While our 4,00,00,000 brothers and sisters are pushed into poverty," he said on Twitter. "Each of these 4,00,00,000 is a real person, not just a number. Each of these 4,00,00,000 deserved better. Each of these 4,00,00,000 is India!," Gandhi said, using the hashtag "BJPfailsIndia". Citing an Oxfam report, he put out a graphic alleging that the wealth two top businessmen has grown by billions of dollars during the year 2021 while over four crore people have gone below the poverty line in India during the pandemic since 2020. (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.) Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain may be arrested ahead of Punjab elections, Delhi Chief Minister said here on Sunday. He said, Jain may be arrested by the (ED). said that he has come to know that ED is planning to arrest in the next few days before the Punjab elections. "The central government conducted raids on Jain twice before, but nothing was found. If the ED wants to come again, they are most welcome, Kejriwal said. Kejriwal said that with the announcement of poll schedule, the central government's investigative agencies have become very active. "We have come to know from our sources that Satyendar Jain is going to be arrested before the Punjab elections," he claimed. Attacking BJP, Kejriwal said whenever BJP thinks that it is losing elections, it puts all its agencies to work. "So, obviously there will be raids and there will be arrests too. We have no fear because I think all these obstacles come when you walk on the path of truth," he added. "If the central government wants to send more agencies like CBI and Income Tax etc, it can do so. If they want to arrest more people, not only Satyendra Jain, they are welcome. We haven't done anything wrong, we've been raided before," Kejriwal said. Kejriwal said that 21 of our MLAs have been arrested in the past. Raids have also been conducted on Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. What will happen to Satyendar Jain if he is arrested? He will get bail in five to 10 days. Kejriwal said, "we will not whine like Channi ji, we will not get upset like Channi ji. We haven't done anything wrong, so we have no fear." --IANS gcb/skp/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said the people of his state and he himself wanted the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act to be lifted but added that it should be done with consent of the Centre. Underlining that security is top priority, Singh said, "We are a border state and share an international border with Myanmar. I have to see the interest as well." Ahead of the assembly election in the state, there has been a growing chorus for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or . "The people of Manipur, including me, want that should be lifted, but after a mutual understanding with the central government as security is the first priority for us," Singh told PTI in an interview. "It is not possible to do so without assessing the ground situation," he added. Talking about the law and order situation in the state, Singh said in the last five years, "no major unwanted incidents have been reported and insurgency has come down by 90 per cent." "Therefore, I believe can be lifted gradually with the consent of the central government. We must remember there is no political stability in Myanmar and we share the border with that nation," he said. He further said the government is also trying to have a meaningful dialogue with Manipuri insurgents living in Myanmar. Talking about the ruling BJP's prospects in the upcoming assembly polls in Manipur, Singh said, "Elections will show a massive change. We will double our seats and we are working hard to get two-thirds majority." On alliance, he said the BJP will not have any pre-poll alliance "but post-poll alliance can be forged, if required." "Peace, development and harmonious coexistence is our main poll planks this time," Singh said. The BJP had won 21 seats in the last assembly polls and later formed the government in alliance with the NPP and the NPF. Later its strength in the assembly increased to 30 after some MLAs defected from the Congress and other parties. The elections in will be held in two phases on February 27 and March 3. (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 domestic pharmaceutical industry is expecting an increase in the overall fund allocation for the healthcare sector, focus on policies that encourage R&D activities and continuation of tax concessions on various drugs in the upcoming . The industry is also seeking simplification of various processes in order to enhance ease of doing business for the private sector companies. "An increase in the budgetary allocation from the current 1.8 per cent of the GDP to 2.5-3 per cent, as envisaged in the National Health Policy 2017 along with a separate allocation for the bio-pharmaceutical sector R&D is imperative," Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) President S Sridhar told PTI. The industry saw significant momentum over the past year, especially in ensuring access to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines and this year's Budget will be crucial to accelerate sectoral growth and access to innovative health solutions across various diseases and not COVID alone, he added. Sridhar noted that the government should continue with the existing Customs duty concessions for medicines as any discontinuation thereof in the current scenario will impact the accessibility of such medicines at affordable price. Import duty exemptions for rare diseases innovator drugs developed globally, as proposed by the NPRD should also be taken into consideration, he added. "Additional measures towards improving ease of doing business in the with emphasis on simplification and making the process industry friendly, with specific provisions for eliminating bottlenecks will encourage investment, thus, contributing to the long-term growth of the industry, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) Secretary General Sudarshan Jain said adding that for the knowledge-driven pharmaceutical industry, innovation and R&D is critical. "This will help in meeting unmet patient needs in an affordable manner. We are looking forward to the budget that will help in fuelling innovation and advancing the Indian pharmaceutical industry from Make in India to Discover and Make in India," he added. Healthcare industry body NATHEALTH stated that in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to create and build infrastructural and linked integrated capabilities like telemedicine, home and senior care so that people can access quality and critical healthcare services equitably. "The pandemic has made us realise the need of providing hospitals in tier 2 and 3 towns with adequate infrastructure such as diagnostic centers, oxygen beds, ICUs and oxygen plants through increased budget outlay and greater investments. This will also help in creating employment opportunities and increase health system resilience," NATHEALTH President Harsh Mahajan said. The need of the hour is to allocate funds and introduce targeted skilling and medical education programmes which can address the shortage of skilled healthcare manpower in the nation, he added. "The sector has not been able to derive the benefits of the GST transition. In fact, the embedded taxes in the sector have increased in the post-GST regime compared to pre-GST scenarios. Therefore, it is vital to rationalize GST to unlock the embedded credit which is trapped in the healthcare value chain," Mahajan said. The Union will be presented on February 1 by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Alabama man went mad and used a samurai sword to kill his mom, then injured his brother and bedridden uncle for reasons unknown. The suspect Damien Winslow Washam, 23, attacked Helen Nettles Washam, 61, and stabbed her to death with the sword. He also hurt his bedridden uncle George Washam, 52, in the house located in Mobile County when the incident happened, and his brother, Desmon Washam, was among the injured. Man kills with Samurai in Alabama On Sunday, January 16, police arrested an Alabama man for apparently killing his mother with a large sword and placing his invalid uncle in serious condition, reported Meaww. His uncle, who was assaulted, had cerebral palsy. The police were forced to use a stun gun to arrest the perpetrator as he attempted to escape the law. The tasing of Washam led to getting treated for injuries, but his recovery is expected. When he is okay, he would be booked into the Mobile County Metro Jail on charges of murder, attempted murder, assault, and attempt to elude. Desmon was treated on the spot at Semmes, Mobile County's westernmost town. But George Washam, 52, his uncle, is still in serious condition after the unprovoked attack. This incident was only one of the recently reported violent attacks by children on their parents venting their rage. Brutal murder of the Haldersons One of these bloody and deadly murders was committed by Chandler Halderson, 23, in early 2021, which was heinously unspeakable to begin with. According to accounts, the killer Chandler went off the rails when his parents were slaughtered, and their bodies were chopped up with a saw and scissors before their heads were burned in a fireplace. Read Also: Son Lies About Parents Disappearance; Authorities Discovers Suspect Hacked the Bodies Apart With Bladed Tools in Shocking Cold-Blooded Murder Halderson lied about what he did and made a missing person's report about his murdered parents. No one can imagine how he was able to burn the hacked head of his parent in the first place. Even using a saw and scissors to chop their bodies to bits, cited the Sun UK. The police caught up with his lies after his brother caused doubt in his alibi when the police were informed, they might be in the cabin. His brother permitted them to check the place, and the hideous mutilated body parts and remains were found there. For the criminal charge, Halderson has two counts of supplying false information about a kidnapping, with two counts of dismembering a corpse, and two counts of hiding a corpse have been filed against him. It was found that in July 2021, the accused allegedly gunned down his 50-year-old father in the back, then murdered his 53-year-old mother and dismembered their remains. Teen shoots mother in the head A boy was booked with capital murder in November of last year after admitting to shooting dead his mother. Aime Salinas-Alvarado, 47, was allegedly shot dead by her teenage son, who would then run away. When his mother was clutching her grandchild, the teen reportedly murdered her. After the horrific murder, the defendant deposited the toddler off at his great-grandparents' residence and escaped. In April 2020, a teen killed his mother as she slept after she had forcibly removed his phone. Shawn Willis, aged 17 years old at the time, was accused of shooting his sleeping mom in the head inside their Rocky Top residence. That night, he shot her with the handgun she kept in the nightstand and fired at close range, noted NY Daily News. Related Article: Deadly Paradise: Psycho Indonesian Girlfriend Allegedly Stabs To Death Married British Boyfriend in Plotted Murder @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Women of menopausal age are less likely to go for cervical screenings, putting them at increased risk for the development of cervical cancer. That's according to a new HSE public attitudes survey published ahead of Cervical Cancer Prevention week, which runs from January 17 to January 23 this year. According to the survey, women of menopausal age face a number of barriers in accessing cervical screenings. This reportedly includes a fear of the process, finding the process more uncomfortable at their greater age, and finding screening embarrassing. Half of all women surveyed also said a fear of finding something wrong would deter them from getting screened, while 1 in 5 women said their concerns were due to Covid-19. Primary Care Clinical Advisor with CervicalCheck, Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon, said, "Once women have finished having periods they often feel, Screening is not for me, I dont have a period, why would I need a screening test? In fact, we do encourage women to continue attending screening up to the age of 65. "If women aged in their 50s havent ever had a cervical screen done through CervicalCheck, the programme is 'actively' encouraging them to take part. We are letting women know that just because you havent had a test done before, and youre 55 say, you absolutely can come in and have a test done. Once youre in the eligible age category, you can come any time, and to any registered screener." Women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 65 are entitled to free cervical screening every three to five years, depending on previous history and age. According to the HSE, a recent Australian study found women aged 50-59 who had an abnormal smear test (and who later had no test between 60-64 years of age) had a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. The risk of developing cancer for women who had no screening test in their 50s and one between 60-64 years of age was reportedly halved from 8.4 per 1000 people to 3.5 per 1000 people. Clinical Director of CervicalCheck, Dr Noirin Russell, is urging women to talk to their GP or practice nurse about any concerns they have about screening. She said, Cervical cancer is typically slow growing it typically develops over 10 to 15 years so it is important for women to continue to come for screening at regular intervals pre- and post-menopause. We know that for some women the screening test can be more uncomfortable after menopause, and this might put them off coming. However, there are things we can do to alleviate this. Wed ask these women to consult their GP on ways to make the test more comfortable for them." Elsewhere, the final review of revisions to CervicalCheck are nearly completed. The news was announced yesterday (January 18) by the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, who has asked Dr Gabriel Scally to conduct a final progress review. Minister Donnelly said, "Significant progress has been made in implementing Dr Scallys recommendations since his last progress review report in April 2020. Just 6 of the 170 actions arising now remain to be completed, and these are all in progress. I believe it is now timely and feasible to proceed with a final progress review, and Dr Scally has confirmed his availability to commence this work in January 2022. "Id like to acknowledge Dr Scallys continued commitment to this important work, and my department looks forward to engaging with him and key stakeholders in completing this review in 2022." RTE is seeking a reform of the television licence fee this week as the national broadcaster looks to bring in an extra 30 million a year. Reform is possible, RTE believes, with a move towards the implementation of a household broadcasting charge. The Irish TV licence fee is 160 per year, and was last increased in 2008. An increase of 2 was added at that time. The State broadcaster has increased to 65 million its estimate of the public broadcasting funding lost each year as a result of licence fee evasion. It also says it is losing out due to the growing number of no TV households that are ineligible to pay the charge. A submission is due to be heard at the Public Accounts Committee tomorrow. At this, RTE director-general Dee Forbes will stress: If there is no action, RTE will not be able to return to a stable financial position, will not be able to reinvent itself for future generations. The station will not be able to fulfil our remit or maintain much of what we do today, due to a fall in advertising revenue associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. "Commercial revenue fell sharply at the onset of the pandemic and, while there was some recovery towards the end of the year, it was still 11m lower than 2019, according to RTE. It says that 15pc of households no longer have televisions but still have no legal obligation to pay for RTE content they stream on their devices. The RTE submission comes just after it was announced that the UK TV licence fee is to be frozen for two years. The UK licence fee is 159 per year, which is about 190. Joe Biden is a bit too late sending an ambassador to Britain in denial of a free trade deal and pivoting to the EU while slamming the Northern Ireland Protocols (NIP) to show his sentiments to the UK. In the fishing rights row between London and Paris, the US president sided with Emmanuel Macron due to the AUKUS row that was a slight to the French. British politicians like Nigel Farage have called him feckless for all the harm done to the special relationship between the UK and the US, cites the Vox. Biden late to send an ambassador to Britain One user on Twitter posted that Biden 'sucks' due to apparent apathy to its ally. He announced that Washington had caused animosity as a former television executive and Democrat donor, Jane Hartley, was chosen to be the ambassador to Britain, reported the Express UK. She was not exactly the initial choice for the position, and sources say that it was the New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, but he declined the offer. During the Obama administration, Hartley was made ambassador to France after donating a total of 2million for his 2012 re-election campaign. Biden broke tradition by not sending one immediately when he took office on January 20. This action showed no urgency to guarantee the diplomatic bonds between Washington and Downing Street. Brett Bruen, a former US diplomat who was the White House director of global engagement under Obama, took a potshot at the US leader for not valuing the two nations' relationship by sending an ambassador in the UK immediately. Read Also: Joe Biden Abandons Britain in the North Ireland Protocol, Threatens Similar Appeasement in Favor of the EU Washington needs to get back lost credibility Bruen spoke to the Telegraph and said that Biden is making a mistake by not having a seasoned diplomat to soothe the strained relationship. Bruen mentioned that it is important to give back the credibility lost by the ill decisions made by the White House. It takes the right person to do it, making everything worse. If Washington makes a big mistake, one error in London that will be heard worldwide will be disastrous. After Donald Trump, there have been changes, some not for the better under Biden. He added that things have changed, and it's not Obama in the Oval Office anymore but his vice president, saying the current US administration has cost the reputation of the US by sending unprepared people will be an unmitigated disaster. One user posted on social media that the appointment is too late added the US is allowing a march of Ukraine to war. Stressing that the UK is there, not America, why should they care. NATO sees the buildup of Russian troops as a threat to Kyiv, with an alleged rollout of troops coming soon, noted CNN. To date, it's the UK that has sent more weapons to Ukraine for its defense, while Berlin has not sent firearms either. Politico said that Germany had ignored the US demands for sanctions which is a victory for Putin. Biden seems oblivious to his demands, demonstrating his ineffective in dealing with the UK and Russia. Related Article: Joe Biden's Cameo in TikTok Video With Jonas Brothers Fell Flat; White House To Push COVID-19 Boosters But Messes Things Up Instead @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A privately manufactured firearm (ghost gun) was found inside the school, which is believed to be the gun used by the suspect. The guns are 80 percent finished and have no serial number when they are sent to customers by mail-order companies that provide the tools necessary to make them operable. The system exploits a federal law that does not define them as a firearm under the Gun Control Act. Prior to joining Disney, Derrick spent a decade in the story department at Dreamworks Animation on titles including Megamind, Bee Movie, Flushed Away, How the Train Your Dragon, and Rise of the Guardians. He studied fine art at the University of Utah, and later, animation at Calarts. Osnat Shurer, who produced the original feature and is also producing the series, says of Derrick, [His] great story instincts, his visionary cinematic style, and his deep love and commitment to Moana and the Pacific Island cultures that inspired her world, make him a perfect director for the series. Derrick is Samoan from his grandmothers side and has spoken in the past about his interest in working on Moana. He told the Boulder Weekly in 2016: When the first Polynesians came to Utah, they were forced to they were segregated out to this place called Skull Valley, which they named Iosepa. [My grandmother] died there and I made a rubbing of her grave, and I put that up above my desk. [It] reminded me why I was making this film. It was both a thank you and an apology at the same time, thanking her for this rich heritage that most people dont fully understand and also an apology for the way she was treated. And all of Polynesia in general. The Moana series is expected to debut in 2024. Our second question: Can you describe how you developed your visual approach on the film? Why did you settle on this style/technique, and did you consider others? Alberto Mielgo (The Windshield Wiper): I developed my [personal] style over the years, and because I happen to always art-direct my own films, I couldnt choose another style. I never think too much about what sort of style or colors I want to use it comes to me while doing it. The Windshield Wiper took a long time, and during the process we had to stop many times as I jumped onto other projects such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. I wouldnt say the short is the conclusion of my style, but it has been highly influenced by many of these other projects and vice versa. Zach Parrish (Us Again): We felt that chasing a more naturalistic rendering style would help to ground the world and make the rain feel real. It would also give us a great opportunity to play with reflections, and the theatricality of the colored lights and neon in the city. For all aspects of the film, we wanted a feeling of past and present. The use of neon was used to evoke the feeling of the 1960s but also of vibrant cities today. Because we wanted the film to feel intimate for our main characters, we also tried to make it feel slightly miniature. Larger textures, bigger and simpler details, and shallower depth of field paired nicely with a slightly caricatured world in order for the film to feel real but personal. Weijia Ma (Step Into the River): The first versions of the characters were more realistic, because I thought that would make people take it more seriously. But then I tried to make it look more like old Chinese comic books, and propagandist wall paintings. The shapes are simpler easier for teamwork. The background was first painted all digitally. But I wanted the feeling of real textures, so we painted real pastel on paper, then modified digitally for lights and shades. I didnt make the style too experimental in this film; everything serves the story, contributes to the strong emotions. Bastien Dubois (Souvenir Souvenir): My first approach was to go with a very simple, refined style. I really wanted people to be affected by what the film says, and to leave effects to one side. But then I started working with the illustrator Jorge Gonzalez on a feature. I was so taken with our exploratory work on the project that I didnt want to wait a few years before starting. So I suggested he do a try-out on the short. Id also envisaged live action or even stop motion, but Jorge asserted himself! The decision to have two different styles came early. The cartoony style oscillated quite a lot between a more childish and a more punk look, before Gilles Cuvelier et Studio Train-Train eventually reappropriated it. Dan Ojari (Robin Robin): Illustrator Matt Forsythe, our character and production designer, infused the film with his unique bold and richly layered illustrative style. Matts designs were then translated into 3d by character sculptors and model makers, which was another hugely creative stage of the design process. We knew we wanted to use needle-felted wool as the main material. It has so many wonderful qualities, however its also something we hadnt used before, and neither had most of the crew. Fortunately, there was some r&d time. As for the look of the wider world, the art department initially explored rendering everything out of needle felt. But we finally settled on using a variety of materials, as we found that the particular way in which everything was hand-carved and painted unified the aesthetics of the world. Simone Giampaolo (Only a Child): Only a Child is an incredibly eclectic visual project that displays almost every animation technique in the book. I see each animation technique as a tribe (or nation), and really wanted the film to metaphorically symbolize different nations (and therefore different human beings) coming together to share a common, crucial message. In order to visually unify the film, we gave big importance to the visual transitions between the different sections, making them as dynamic and creative as possible, and to the color palette, which evolves throughout the short from cold blue hues to warm oranges and red (symbolizing global warming). Erick Oh (Namoo): My initial concept paintings were all watercolor. So I decided to capture that tactile hand-made feeling in the actual film as well, because this is a very poetic and warm story. Once we settled on this look, we took it to the next level by inviting high-end vr technology. We recreated everything in vr by using Quill, which enables the artists to draw, paint, and animate very intuitively with their own hands. So ironically, even though it seems like a very technically complicated process, it provided by far the most intuitive flexible creative experience to myself and the artists. As a result, we came up with a look and aesthetic which are very organic watercolor and very three-dimensional at the same time. Reza Riahi (The Musician): In all the films and animation projects Ive been involved in, I have tried my best to adapt not just the visuals but also the technique to the script. I believe that technique adds so much to a story. For The Musician, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to pay tribute to Persian miniature art and history and the roots of the resilience of the people from this region. To honor the richness of Persian miniatures, the incredible patterns and motifs, it seemed right to use traditional paper cut-out animation. I had never used this technique, and since I had imagined so many intricate details, I did a lot of research, testing almost all the papers and art supplies available. Hugo de Faucompret (Mum Is Pouring Rain): Apart from the story, hand-painted backgrounds were one of the main reasons I decided to make this film. Painting is for me so pleasant and deeply soothing, like a meditative state. At first, we mainly worked on the visual touch with Arthus Pilorget, the lead background artist, who has a wonderful vision of lights and atmospheres. We focused especially on the choice of colors and the way we wanted to use the natural patterns the brushes could offer to make wood or stone textures, for example. About the animation, I really wanted to keep this look of pencil-scratched line on paper. We worked with character designer Jules Rigolle and lead animator Eva Lusbaronian to find designs that best matched the spirit of each character. And finally, to simplify the lines to make them easier to animate. Sandra Desmazieres (Flowing Home): The film uses animation on paper, with digital work that recreates the pencil lines and the vibrations of the pencilled shading. I draw with colored grease pencils. I love the color and the textures of paint on paper, and the play of transparency. I did sketches during my trips to Vietnam, and I tried to recreate the mood as I remembered it the ambience at night, green tones by giving the shots in the film a painterly look. Id considered creating the storm sequence in painted animation directly on camera, and creating freer animations using sketchbook drawings, to convey the idea of a memory fading. But in the end, I abandoned those techniques. Anton Dyakov (Boxballet): The design crystallized over time. I am partial to a crude drawing style showcasing imperfections and individuality. Making the film at Melnitsa Animation Studio, with its extensive resources for producing hand-drawn animation in the academic style, helped to find and refine the aesthetic and overall look. When my vision of how the film should appear harmonized with where the production was, I knew we had the right design. This gradual uncovering was one of the most important stages for me in making Boxballet. Hugo Covarrubias (Bestia): Ingrid Olderock, the woman who inspired this film, had German parents with Nazi ideologies. She received an education based on that, which defined her as a person. It was also said that this woman in reality had almost no expression on her face and was a person of few words. Thats why we decided to use a German porcelain doll aesthetic for the character design. The coldness, hardness, and fragility of this material matched her psychological characteristics and personality. For the sets and props, we used a more precarious and less expensive material, which contrasted with the cleanliness and brightness of the faces. We used cardboard for its more textured and less shiny side. It received a color treatment based on watered inks, which allowed us to maintain the opaque and desaturated texture. Claude Cloutier (Bad Seeds): I use very different graphic styles from one film to the next. And in fact, its always visual exploration that leads me to my next project: I draw freehand in various styles, ranging from very minimalist to very realist representational drawings. At the same time, I explore different media. At a certain point, a particular image ends up being the trigger for my film, and from it, I develop the concept, characters, and narration, and fine-tune the visual style and the technique. Zacharias Kunuk (Angakusajaujuq: The Shamans Apprentice): The story is there we just follow the action. Working closely with the stop-motion animation crew, getting the costumes and set right, was the way to make this. Animation gives us freedom to properly show these spirits and traditions. I have seen other animators but these guys who work for Taqqut Productions do it right, and I like their style. Joanna Quinn and Les Mills (Affairs of the Art): Our films always focus on strong characterization and observation, starting with Less detailed character profiles based on observed people, their behavior, the space they inhabit, and particular incidents. Joanna interprets the profiles in sketchbooks, identifying visual characteristics and situations. She brings an energy and humor to the characters through her very distinctive drawn line, and the dynamism and energy of her animation. The animation is drawn on paper, then scanned and colored on TVPaint, and finally composited in After Effects. Joanna did animate on TVPaint for six months, but her animation lacked her hallmark liveliness and fluidity, so she admitted defeat and returned to pencil, paper, and lightbox. Some answers have been edited for length and clarity. Close Out Sale, the large portable sign posted alongside announced. Smaller signs, inside Save-A-Lot the grocery store that anchors the commercial property were even more explicit. STORE CLOSING, one declared. Everything is on sale, up to 50 percent off. Shelving and all. Employees, asked whats going on, were reassuring. The store is closing so that it can be remodeled, they said they have been told. It will it reopen in a few months, they added. At Red Bank Town Hall, however, a different story emerged. Officials with the City of Red Bank announced that the Jan. 26, special-called meeting of the Municipal Planning Commission has been cancelled. A new rezoning proposal for 2101-2119 Dayton Boulevard has been submitted and will be heard at the regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting in February. If approved, the rezoning would clear the way for a potential buyer to demolish the parking lot and the strip of commercial buildings at the rear of the property, and replace them with 38 multi-story townhouses. Further, the 26,165-square-foot Save-A-Lot building would be converted from a grocery to an office building. Opponents of the proposal, and the way it has been handled, have been vocal. This isnt a done deal, Davis Guedron reminded other Red Bank residents on Facebook, and wont be done without a lot of our input . . . The mayor and vice mayor walked the neighborhoods behind the proposed development to make sure residents and occupants were aware of the desired zoning change and proposed developments to follow. They were out there to make sure peoples voices were heard who would be most directly impacted. Around town, posters have been distributed urging people to get involved. Do we need town houses, or (do we need a) Save-A-Lot grocery store and other small retail/restaurant type businesses in Red Bank? one asked. Please join us at the next planning commission meeting on Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. at Red Bank City Hall. The topic has also been vigorously discussed on the Facebook site Red Bank Grapevine. Beautify Red Bank, Leslie Mitts commented. Dont turn it into another ugly East Ridge. We can do without the town houses and have Save-A-Lot to help the elderly in this area, Betty Fogg Smith said indignantly. They do a lot to help people other than sell groceries. I was told it was shutting down for two weeks for a total renovation! Its no secret that the current owners of the property have been trying unsuccessfully to unload it for several years. Attracting suitable potential buyers that were welcome in the community, however, has proven difficult. In 2020, for example, Immunotek Biocenters submitted a proposal to buy and transform the property into a plasma collection center. Town leaders ultimately rejected that idea, after residents complained that the proposed collection center would prey on poor people and create security and other problems in the area. The first hint of current efforts to transform the Dayton Boulevard commercial property appeared online on Dec. 6, when LoopNet.com announced that the shopping center which it said has 20,000+ daily traffic was for sale for $3 million. The shopping center is ready for the next owner to remodel or redevelop, according to LoopNet.com, which noted the property has new roofs and trim, and that Save-A-Lots exterior was painted in June 2021. The shopping center is located in the emerging retail corridor linking Northshore to Hixson, and drawing from the Signal Mountain population, LoopNet.com declared. . . . . The Save-A-Lot space is 26,165 square feet with 14-foot ceilings and two loading docks. Currently occupied by tenant has plans to relocate . . . The strip center has two short-term tenants, 19,200 square feet total space. Gas heat. Actor Danny DeVito has appeared in more than 90 films over the years. And with all those movie experiences come some pretty intense on-set stories. One of his most iconic films, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, also happened to be one of his most psychologically damaging. The 1975 film earned critical acclaim and a slew of Academy Awards. But it also had a profound effect on the actors during production. DeVito admits he spoke to an imaginary friend and sought out psychiatric help. The brutal conditions on the set Jack Nicholson & a relative newcomer to film, @DannyDeVito, from the 1976 Best Picture winner "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." #Oscars90 pic.twitter.com/g1ms0Wdklo The Academy (@TheAcademy) July 10, 2017 Directed by Milos Forman as an adaptation of Ken Keseys novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest set the story in a 1960s mental institution. Stars like Jack Nicholson, Michael Berryman, and Louise Fletcher brought legendary characters to life, including the frightening Nurse Ratched. If you havent seen this historic top pick, the plot revolves around a criminal who pleads insanity and finds himself in an insane asylum where he rebels against his nasty nurse and rallies the other patients. It might sound like a scary environment. In fact, the filming of this hit movie took place in an actual institution, where the lights go out at 3 p.m., and real patients participated in the films production. The Oregon hospitals director, Dr. Dean Brooks, even appeared as Nicholsons characters supervisor. This made a brutal environment for the actors, who werent aware that some of the patients involved were violent criminals. In fact, some of the cast even slept in the wards. In an interview with The Guardian, producer Michael Douglas shared that they filmed some scenes without the actors knowledge, including mock group therapy sessions, to inspire organic character development. Danny DeVito questioned his sanity during One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest Danny DeVito | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic Several reports convey the effects the production of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest had on the cast. And DeVito, who is also a producer and director, was no exception. He was the first actor cast, playing the character Martini. It didnt take long for the brutal on-set environment and the job of playing a person with a mental health condition to impact the Twins actor. History By Day wrote the rigorous shooting schedule kept DeVito 3000 miles away from his then-future wife, Rhea Perlman. Needing a coping mechanism, DeVito reportedly developed an imaginary friend with whom he held nightly chats. As production continued, DeVito became increasingly concerned about his mental health. He sought out the advice of the real-life Dr. Brooks to help him not blur the lines between reality and his Martini character. Sydney Lassick experienced behavioral changes, too A reminder to all of you struggling financially in the film industry: Sydney Lassick (whose 86 acting credits include ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST and CARRIE) kept a 40-hour-a-week job as a radio dispatcher for a trucking company for his entire 42-year career. Keep at it. pic.twitter.com/92xgD0lc47 Ted Geoghegan (@tedgeoghegan) November 8, 2020 DeVito and his acting colleagues all experienced a degree of mental uncertainty during filming. But some said Sydney Lassick actually had the crew worried. Dr. Brooks even expressed his concern for Lassicks mental stability. Lassicks role as Charlie Cheswick remains one of the most notable of his career. Lassick demonstrated a growing unpredictability with his emotions on-set. When he was in character, he often experienced tearful outbursts. And one of the most concerning moments occurred when filming the final scene. Lassick began sobbing to the point that he had to be physically removed from the set altogether. Method acting and developing characters organically is a common practice for professionals on-set. But looking back at the conditions of the production environment for One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest proves such methods could have adverse effects. DeVito had to seek psychiatric help and talk to an imaginary friend to get through filming. And it reminds fans that acting can sometimes be a pretty terrible job for even the biggest stars. RELATED: How Danny DeVito Almost Died On Its Always Sunny In 2021, General Hospital welcomed a new actor: Nicholas Chavez. The 22-year-old plays Spencer Cassadine, who had returned to Port Charles after a few years away at boarding school in Europe. When Chavez first joined the cast, he had to get acquainted with the way General Hospital operates. Like many newbies, he made a few mistakes, including a goofy one. Avery Pohl and Nicholas Chavez on General Hospital | Craig Sjodin via Getty Images General Hospital is Nicholas Chavezs first big acting gig Chavez grew up in Denver and got into acting in high school. After graduating, he attended an acting conservatory in New Jersey before trying to pursue a career in Hollywood. In the spring of 2021, he was staying in Florida, where his family lives, when he got the chance to audition for the role of Spencer. As he shared with Soap Opera Digest: There were 12 to 15 guys there and they were all gorgeous. They were all just stunning! And so Im looking around and Im like, Jeez, this is some stiff competition! Fortunately, the next day, Chavez got the news that he had been selected to play Spencer. It was one of the happiest moments of my entire life, he said. I think I screamed! I completely freaked out. I had no cool about myself; there was no composure anywhere in this! I called my family and my dad kept smacking himself on the forehead. He couldnt believe it. He was like, Am I dreaming? When am I going to wake up? It was really cute. Chavez had plans to travel back to Florida, but he decided not to get on that return flight. Instead, he quickly settled down in Los Angeles to begin his new job. Nicholas Chavez made 1 goofy mistake during his first day on set RELATED: General Hospital: Nicholas Chavez Says He Gets a Masterclass Whenever He Works With 1 Co-Star When he first started working at General Hospital, Chavez had a lot to learn about the process of filming a soap opera. I made home movies and a couple of independent things with my family and friends when I was a kid, but other than that, I had never been on camera, he told the Dishing With Digest podcast. I had pretty much done all theater training. He continued, I had an idea in my mind of what it might be like. And the idea in my mind was Alright, were filming in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Action! And none of that happened. Because of his preconceived notions, Chavez shared that he made some goofy mistakes. The countdown thing is such a silly thing, Chavez said. They dont say 1. They count down to 2 and then youre just supposed to start the scene. So they go, 5, 4, 3, 2, and Im still standing there. Im like, Do Ido I go? So it was a lot of really, really goofy technical mistakes. Nicholas Chavez has been getting close to other cast members This just about sums it up good thing theyre both angels in real life @SydneyMikayla @averykpohl hope everyone is excited for new GH episodes! pic.twitter.com/2wP0JADyQR Nicholas Alexander Chavez (@nicholasachavez) December 18, 2021 After joining the cast, Chavez also got the chance to meet other actors on the show. For example, he has become friends with fellow young actors with whom he has many scenes, such as Sydney Mikayla (Trina Robinson), Eden McCoy (Josslyn Jacks), William Lipton (Cameron Webber), and Avery Pohl (Esme Prince). Chavez also told Dishing With Digest that he hangs out with Johnny Wactor (Brando Corbin) and Marcus Coloma (Nikolas Cassadine), who both introduced him to rock-climbing. I feel very blessed to have those kinds of friendships and relationships when I show up to work, Chavez said. RELATED: General Hospital: Nicholas Chavez Says 1 Female Co-Star is Great to Go Out With In Bob Hearts Abishola, Shola Adewusi plays Auntie Olu. However, the actor had a winding path that led her to star on the Chuck Lorre sitcom. While working at a law firm, she reflected on continuing as a lawyer or chasing an acting dream. Ultimately, she became an actor, starting with small appearances before building into the fan-favorite CBS star we know today. Shola Adewusi | Bruce Glikas/WireImage Bob Hearts Abishola Shola Adewusi said that acting was in her blood Bob Hearts Abishola cast real Nigerian actors for the show, but like co-creator Gina Yashere, many of them came from England. Adewusi studied law at De Montfort University, London, before turning her attention to acting. I reached a crossroads. I was working at a law firm where I would either go full pelt into law or go for something that I always wanted, Shola Adewusi told Forbes. It didnt leave me. Adewusi noted that her parents had powerful storytelling talents. They immigrated to England from Nigeria, where the sitcom filmed Bob and Abisholas wedding in season 3. I knew this was for me. Its in my blood, she said. I thought, if I can get into drama school, I know Im on the right path. She set her sights on Academy Drama School in East London, and before long, her new path was set. I auditioned on my birthday, got in, and never looked back, she said. And as of joining the Chuck Lorre sitcom, she held to that. The Auntie Olu actor appeared in episodes of Bad Girls, Family Affairs, and more After graduating at 37, the future Bob Hearts Abishola actor Shola Adewusi hunted for roles in TV, theater, and anything to further her new career. It was an episode of this here. An episode of that there. A bit of theater there, Adewusi said. I just believed I would work. I dont know what made me so convinced because I had no background in drama. But I just knew that I would work. She guest-starred Bad Girls in 2001 and Family Affairs in 2002. The actor would star in films like Paddington 2 and Cristopher Robin before joining fellow Nigerian actors Folake Olowofoyeku and Yashere in Bob Hearts Abishola. Shola Adewusi said she recognizes people from her own life in Auntie Olu from Bob Hearts Abishola Shola Adewusi spoke about why she loves her Bob Hearts Abishola role as Auntie Olu opposite Barry Shabaka Henley. I recognize her in people I know. She is all heart and three-dimensional. She may come across as very stiff and unforgiving, but she loves Abishola. And essentially, she loves people and wants them to be happy, Adewusi told her interviewer. #BobHeartsAbishola but we also Auntie Olu and Uncle Tunde. Get to know @SholaAdewusi_ and Barry Shabaka Henley, then watch them in new episodes Mondays at 8:30/7:30c on CBS. pic.twitter.com/eZPVsK5qpG CBS (@CBS) November 9, 2019 Shola Adewusi recalled something someone told her as she built her acting career. You are really brave. You are brave to switch professions when you could just have a decent career as a lawyer, she recalled a man she was seeing at the time said. But I never thought of that back then. Now my advice to people is, be brave and never give up. At drama school my co-principal said, the ones who fail are the ones who give up, so just dont give up. You can catch Bob Hearts Abishola on Monday nights at 8:30 pm EST, or on streaming platforms. RELATED: Bob Hearts Abishola: 4 Places Actor Folake Olowofoyeku Almost Lived and Missed Out on the CBS Sitcom The Jonas Brothers rose to fame in the 2000s thanks to their many appearances on Disney Channel. They starred in the Camp Rock film series and even had a short-lived show called Jonas. Additionally, the Jonas Brothers have also released hit songs such as Burnin Up and Sucker. In addition to being entertainers, the Jonas Brothers are now husbands and fathers. Read on below to learn about how many kids they each have with their respective partners. (L-R) Kevin Jonas, Nick Jonas, and Joe Jonas | Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic Kevin Jonas has 2 kids with wife Danielle Jonas Kevin Jonas is the oldest Jonas brother. He was the first to get married and start a family. In 2009, Kevin married his wife Danielle Jonas (nee Deleasa). The couple met two years earlier during a family vacation in the Bahamas. Kevin and Danielles family life before they had kids was shown on the reality show Married to Jonas, which aired from 2012 to 2013. In 2014, they welcomed their first child, Alena. Then, in 2016, they had another daughter named Valentina. Many fans have wondered whether Kevin and Danielle will have more kids in the future. Danielle has opened up about how much work it is for her to raise two children, but it seems the couple has not entirely said no to having more kids. We are always kind of talking about [having more kids], but Im just not sure yet of what to do. Still up in the air, Danielle told People in 2021. Joe Jonas has 1 child with Sophie Turner RELATED: Did Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas Ever Break up Before Getting Married? In 2019, Joe Jonas married actor Sophie Turner, whom he started dating in 2016. The couple welcomed a daughter named Willa in June 2020. Before becoming a father, Joe was a busy musician. However, he is grateful for all the time he now spends at home with his family. He told CBS This Morning in 2021, Its been forced time at home Im always on the go, Im always moving and traveling and touring. To be in one place for a solid amount of time and having my feet on the ground and be with my family, my immediate family, is time I dont think Ill get back. Im so thankful and grateful. Nick Jonas welcomed a child via surrogate with Priyanka Chopra Baby Jonas is here. Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her husband Nick Jonas announced on their Instagram pages that they welcomed their first baby together. She said a surrogate gave birth to the couples baby on Jan. 15. https://t.co/3gPVxb6sst The Associated Press (@AP) January 22, 2022 The youngest brother, Nick Jonas, got married in 2018 to actor Priyanka Chopra. The couple started dating in the spring of that year and tied the knot in December. Since getting married, Nick and Chopra had talked a lot about their desire to have kids. For example, Chopra talked about her reason for wanting children in an interview with InStyle in 2019: My big endgame is creating a formidable career and legacy for myself, but at the same time I want to have moved something. I want my existence to have meant something. I want my kids to turn around and be like, Yeah, that was my mom. Chopra also once shared that they are not putting a limit on how many kids they want to have. In January 2022, Nick and Chopra announced they had welcomed their first child via surrogacy. RELATED: Priyanka Chopra Reveals 1 Incredibly Thoughtful Move Nick Jonas Would Make When They Are Living Far Apart A pregnant woman was convicted of murder after she stabbed her boyfriend to death and showed no remorse for the crime due to abuse. She was screaming invectives at the court when she was sentenced to life in jail, not caring while on trial at Basildon Crown Court. The convicted killer, Hannah Sindrey,24, stabbed Paul "Dod" Fletcher, 31, with a bladed weapon on New Year's Day, seen in the act by her petrified children. Pregnant woman gets life for killing After getting convicted by the judge, she was indignant at the sentence given to her, screaming F********m! The court gave her a sentence for life and a minimum of fourteen and a half years, then only will parole be allowed if it will be granted to her, reported the Sun UK. At one point, the woman made an alibi for Fletcher's murder by framing her pal, Kelly Blackwell, 26. Prosecutors added that she was absolved of any involvement in the killing. According to sources connected to the case, Blackwell and Sindrey had personal differences before the victim's death. It was determined that his girlfriend was the one who killed him. During the trial, Judge Samantha Leigh was told the couple was in a toxic and unstable relationship. The victim was taking drugs that caused him to think the accused pregnant woman was cheating. Everything took a nosedive as Fletcher told his girlfriend to pass a lie detector test to prove her honesty. She has since given birth to a son while waiting for the trial to begin, cited Daily Mail. Victim was abusive Judge Leigh agreed that the victim was very physical and threatened the pregnant woman, and he was in jail for previous offenses, which later resulted in her stabbing her boyfriend. Read Also: Boxer Woman Kills Two Men: Rapes One With Shovel Handle , Kicks Another to Death Several facts were learned during the trial of the accused, which somehow gave reason for her actions. At some point, she must have snapped. According to the Independent, when one of Mr. Fletcher's friends was interviewed about his character, they had to say the victim was seen as very jealous and also overpowering his girlfriend trying to deal with him. Furthermore, the victim would send messages to monitor her that was too much. Though the accused killed her partner, one incident related told how the pregnant woman would be struck by the victim violently. The man was in a state of mind that believed she had been disrespected to his nan, resulting in her getting a black eye because of him. Judge determines murder case During the sentencing, once the trial was finished, Judge Leigh gave her reasons for determining the murder case. She said that Sindrey's boyfriend thought that cheating was happening, later explaining that the accused had been faithful, and Fletcher was on the deep end. Everything in the relationship went wrong due to the victim's drug-taking habits and ADHD, which only made the paranoid tendencies driving him cuckoo. From there, the toll is taken from a highly toxic relationship from getting struck physically called a liar though not. Add how he reacted due to drug-taking while she was delicately pregnant, as he was physically abusive while she was verbally abusive to him. The pregnant woman stabs her boyfriend to death after the mounting abuse could not be taken anymore, and the man had a loose screw that made their relationship toxic. Related Article: Jealous Boyfriend Kills Fiancee Because She Exposed Her Body on the Beach @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Oscar-nominated actor Jessica Chastain has been a busy lady in the last year. The Eyes of Tammy Faye has garnered many awards for makeup as well as Chastains acting in the starring role. In 2021, her TV mini-series Scenes from a Marriage with Oscar Isaac debuted, receiving rave reviews. The 355, a thrilling spy drama and her latest film, was released earlier in January. Chastain recently appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to promote The 355. While she was there, she told a story about her beloved grandma who was excited to meet Bradley Cooper. Jessica Chastain has a special relationship with her grandma (L-R) Director David O. Russell, Jessica Chastain, and Bradley Cooper in 2013 | Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Chastain has a great relationship with her grandmother, Marilyn Herst. According to the Wall Street Journal, Herst moved in with Chastain in April of 2020. As the Mollys Game star describes, Herst approaches life bravely with open arms. Chastain explained that Herst is one of her favorite people in the world. When the global coronavirus pandemic began, Chastain was in Morocco working on a film. She recalls texting Herst and asking her not to go to the grocery store for her safety. The 44-year-old explained to DeGeneres that in the past, her grandmother was thrilled to meet her co-stars. According to Insider, Herst has met Al Pacino (who was in the 2013 film Salome with Chastain) and Matthew McConaughey (who starred in Interstellar with Chastain) among others. Chastain told DeGeneres that shes been trying to find dates for her grandmother for the last 15 to 20 years. Shell even post photos of Herst on dating sites like Match.com. Chastains grandma horrified Bradley Cooper Herst, according to Chastain, is now at an age where she really just doesnt care. Once, at a house party Chastain was hosting, Herst decided she wanted to meet Oscar-nominated actor Bradley Cooper. Herst went up and sat on the actors lap. Chastain explained to DeGeneres that during the party, Herst just walked over to Cooper and sat on his lap. According to the Zero Dark Thirty star, Cooper looked horrified. The Hangover actor had never met her grandmother and didnt know who she was. Chastain said she watched it happen as if in slow motion; she was like, Nooo! Chastain rushed over to defuse the situation, clarifying for Cooper that the mystery woman on his lap was her grandmother. At that point, Cooper said, Okay, OK. Hi, grandma! Jessica Chastains upcoming projects Chastain is currently filming George & Tammy, a limited television series about the relationship between iconic country musicians George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Filming for six episodes began in December 2021 in North Carolina; Michael Shannon is her co-star. Deadline reported that both Shannon and Chastain will sing in the series, just as Chastain did for her role in The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Wynette was best known for the hit country song Stand by Your Man. Based on Jones and Wynettes daughters book, The Three of Us: Growing Up with Tammy and George, the show will premiere exclusively on Spectrum. It will appear on Paramount+ and the Paramount Network later. Chastain just received the Best Actress nomination from the Screen Actors Guild for The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Shes allegedly on the shortlist for an Oscar nomination, too. (She was also nominated for a Golden Globe for the role.) Will Herst get the opportunity to meet Chastains other co-stars, like Sebastian Stan (The 355), Andrew Garfield (The Eyes of Tammy Faye), and Shannon? It remains to be seen. Chastain admires her grandma and others who just do it. Like them, she wants to be a problem-solver. RELATED: Jessica Chastain Rejecting 2 MCU Roles Was a Wise Career Decision Actor Lily Collins has been in the spotlight for quite a while now. Shes received some of that attention because of her father, renowned musician Phil Collins. However, shes come into her own as the star of the Netflix series Emily in Paris. Collins revealed her famous dad helped nurture her dream of acting without even knowing it while she was growing up. Lily Collins father encouraged her to become an actor Actor Lily Collins, left, with her father musician Phil Collins | Jim Spellman/WireImage Collins was born in 1989 to English musician Phil Collins and Jill Tavelman, his second wife. After her parents divorced, Collins and her mother moved to Los Angeles, where she attended the University of Southern California, majoring in broadcast journalism. Collins acting debut came at a young age when she appeared in Growing Pains. In 2009, she had a two-episode guest-starring role in 90210 before appearing in The Blindside alongside Sandra Bullock. The film was her commercial breakthrough into the acting industry. In 2011, Collins appeared in Priest alongside Paul Bettany and followed it up with roles in Abduction and Mirror Mirror. Collins went on to land projects like The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Love Rosie, Rules Dont Apply, To the Bone, and Okja. In a 2020 Elle interview with her Emily in Paris co-star Ashley Park, Collins noted she always loved telling stories and playing dress-up when she was young. I think it really stemmed from when my parents used to read me books when I was little before bedtime, she said. Collins added her parents would always do different voices for each character they read to her, leading her to want to be able to do that for other people. Lily Collins is proud of her surname Growing up with a famous parent or two can create unnecessary pressure for performers trying to establish themselves independently. Some actors like Nicolas Cage had to drop their famous last names to thrive in the industry. However, Collins preferred to keep her famous last name. While she began acting at a young age, she always was overshadowed by her father. However, as she took on more roles, she earned recognition in her own right. Im so incredibly proud of what my surname represents, for what my dads done, she told Glamour UK. And Im an incredibly proud daughter. Emily in Paris was renewed for two more seasons Collins went from working actor to a household name with Emily in Paris. She plays the title character who experiences culture shock when she moves to Paris. The series came under fire for its depiction of Frances capital, specifically its lack of diversity. Additionally, viewers called out the shows writers for making Collins character too cheery, calling it a bit much. Collins herself reasoned that Emily could sometimes be annoying as she always looks at the bright side of things. However, Emilys cheery attitude is what attracted Collins to the character. The star told Nylon that she admires the character calling Emilys qualities beautiful. She said, to have someone be optimistic, bright and bubbly- its sad to think that people would look and go, thats a lot. Theyre such beautiful qualities. Despite the criticism, Netflix renewed the show for more seasons. The streamer dropped the shows second season on December 22, 2021. RELATED: Emily in Paris: What Lily Collins Loves Most About Her Character After watching or hearing about that riveting ending to Mayor of Kingstown Season 1, viewers want to know how many episodes season 1 of the Paramount+ series is. Will there be a season 2? Yellowstones co-creator, Taylor Sheridan, produced the crime series with Hugh Dillon. It features a stellar cast with Jeremy Renner at the forefront as Mike McLusky. Mayor of Kingstown: Emma Laird and Jeremy Renner | Marni Grossman/ViacomCBS 2021 MTV Entertainment Group, Inc. What does the Mayor of Kingstown do? Instead of asking what the Mayor of Kingstown is about, many viewers want to know what the towns mayor does? First off, hes not the official mayor of the city. The McLusky family serves as power brokers in Kingstown, Michigan. They try to keep order in Kingstown through their personal and professional connections, influencing people to do what they want. In the first episode of the crime drama, theres a Big Sky-like twist. The Mayor Mitch McLusky (Kyle Chandler) dies, and Mike takes over. The first episode clues viewers into the job of the Mayor. He keeps the peace between the police, criminals, inmates, correctional officers, and even politicians by leveraging the familys connections and, of course, money. RELATED: Mayor of Kingstown Star Jeremy Renner Calls Taylor Sheridans Work Violent But Equally Beautiful How many episodes is Mayor of Kingstown? Sadly, there is no Mayor of Kingstown Episode 11; season 1 is only 10 episodes long. The series premiered on Nov. 14, 2021, with the first two episodes and continued each Sunday for eight more weeks. The Mayor of Kingstown Season 1 finale aired on Jan. 9, 2022. Below is the complete list of remaining episodes after the premiere. Mayor of Kingstown Episode 3, Simply Murder Nov. 21, 2021 Mayor of Kingstown Episode 4, The Price Nov. 28, 2021 Mayor of Kingstown Episode 5, Orion Dec. 5, 2021 Mayor of Kingstown Episode 6, Every Feather Dec. 12, 2021 Mayor of Kingstown Episode 7, Along Came a Spider Dec. 19, 2021 Mayor of Kingstown Episode 8, The Devil Is Us Dec. 26, 2021 Mayor of Kingstown Episode 9, The Lie of the Truth Jan. 2, 2022 Mayor of Kingstown Episode 10, This Piece of My Soul Jan. 9, 2022 RELATED: Is Mayor of Kingstown Based on a True Story? Will there be a Mayor of Kingstown Season 2? Although Paramount+ did not announce the renewal of Mayor of Kingstown for season 2, it looks like a sure thing. According to Variety, the new crime thriller opened to 2.6 million viewers, Paramount Networks largest premiere since 2018. Its also the number one scripted series for the network since the rebranding of Paramount+. Although critics did not give Mayor of Kingstown stellar reviews, the audience rated it 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. Between Yellowstone fans and Jeremy Renners following, the show hit big right out of the gate. Although the series concluded its first season run on Jan. 9, it continues to gain viewers through streaming. Mayor of Kingstown is currently available for streaming on Paramount+. Check back for an update on the official renewal for season 2. Showbiz RELATED: Mayor of Kingstown: How to Watch the Crime Drama Viewers Cant Stop Talking About Teen Mom OG supporting cast member Zach Davis, who is engaged to regular Cheyenne Floyd, was arrested at the airport after returning from a vacation with his family. The logo for Teen Mom OG | MTV Why was Zach Davis arrested? Zach Davis, 31, and his finance, MTV reality star Cheyenne Floyd, enjoyed a five-day vacation in Mexico for New Year 2022. Along with her child, Ryder, their son, Ace, and her nephew, Baz, the family visited the beach and spent time at a water park. TMZ reported when they returned on Jan. 3, Zach Davis was arrested while going through customs at LAX airport. Are there wedding bells in the future for Cheyenne and Zach? See where they land on tonight's episode of @TeenMom OG, at 8p on MTV! pic.twitter.com/WOxTZBK0aB MTV (@MTV) March 16, 2021 RELATED: Teen Mom: Farrah Abraham Wants to Come Back and Cheyenne Floyd Is Furious Law enforcement took him into custody due to outstanding warrants for violating probation in connection with previous arrests for petty theft and driving under the influence of alcohol. After booking and a brief hold, the OG supporting cast member was released. Cheyenne is seemingly sticking by his side as she posted several pictures of him for his Jan. 19 birthday. What does Zach do for a living? During an October 2020 episode of Teen Mom OG, Cheyenne revealed to her father that she and Zach were living, blindsiding him. Unsettled about the news, he claimed his love had conditions, upsetting his daughter. However, the two have since mended things, and Zach wanted to ask his permission for Cheyennes hand in marriage. Even though he liked Zach, her father wanted to know how he could financially provide for his soon-to-be wife and kid. There's no way Cheyenne is letting Zach off easy when he decides to pursue a new career path before Baby Ace is born. She puts his multi-tasking skills to the ultimate test. Will he succeed? #TeenMomOG pic.twitter.com/GeqzYp71Dl Teen Mom (@TeenMom) October 18, 2021 At the time, the California native referred to himself as an entrepreneur but didnt provide details beyond that. Many fans have speculated that he has a wealthy family. In March 2021, Zach revealed he started the process to become a realtor. In November of that year, the couple announced they began building their dream home and showed the construction site. He recently updated his followers on the house, revealing the established framework on his Instagram story. Zach and Teen Mom star Cheyenne Floyd have a son together As seniors in high school, Cheyenne and Zach had a relationship. However, it didnt work out, and she appeared on the MTV dating series, Are You the One? 3 (2015) at the age of 22. Although she found her perfect match in Tyler Johnson, the two seemingly never had a romantic interest in each other. However, her appearance on the show landed her a spot on the competition series The Challenge for Rivals 3, with former housemate Devin Walker. She finished third. Cheyenne's life has been a whirlwind since the birth of baby Ace, co-parenting with Cory, and getting engaged to her boo Zach. She sits down at the reunion to talk about it all! Part 1 of the #TeenMomOG + #YoungandPregnant reunion airs tonight at 8/7c on @MTV! pic.twitter.com/vHXK0wzFWp Teen Mom (@TeenMom) November 30, 2021 Following her time on the show, Cheyenne had a short-lived romance with co-star Cory Wharton that resulted in the birth of their daughter, Ryder. Around the time of her pregnancy, she rekindled her relationship with Zach. After calling it quits, she briefly dated Matt Walker before dumping him following an argument about asparagus. Cheyenne and Zach have since gotten back together and welcomed a son together, Ace, in May 2021. Shortly before his birth, Zach proposed to Cheyenne. Fans have speculated the couple has already secretly wed as hes referred to her as his wife on social media. They havent confirmed or denied the rumors. Teen Mom: Family Reunion airs Tuesdays on MTV. RELATED: The Challenge Veteran Cory Wharton Announces Break From the Show: I Wanna Have That Fight In the first season, Jeremy Renners character, Mike McLusky, becomes the new Mayor of Kingstown, but where was the Paramount+ crime drama filmed? Kingstown is a real town; however, it is not in Michigan. Yellowstones co-creator, Taylor Sheridan, produced the crime series with Hugh Dillon, who grew up in a town full of penitentiaries. Take a look at all of the Mayor of Kingstown filming locations. Mayor of Kingstown prison yard | Marni Grossman/ViacomCBS 2021 Paramount+, Inc. Where does The Mayor of Kingstown take place? The Mayor of Kingstown episodes takes place in the fictional town of Kingstown, Michigan, so evidently it wasnt filmed there. The story follows the McLusky family, including Mike and his brothers, Mitch (Kyle Chandler) and Kyle (Taylor Handley). The youngest brother, Kyle, works for the Kingstown Police Department and attempts to stay out of his brothers business dealings. Throughout Mayor of Kingstown Season 1, viewers see Kingstown Prison, the police department, and various other locations around the town. The penultimate episode raised the stakes. Catch up now before the season 1 finale drops tomorrow. #MayorOfKingstown #ParamountPlus pic.twitter.com/a5Sl1sK8Z7 Mayor of Kingstown (@kingstown) January 8, 2022 RELATED: Mayor of Kingstown: How to Watch the Crime Drama Viewers Cant Stop Talking About Mayor of Kingstown filming locations Although Kingstown, Michigan, is not a real place, Kingston, Ontario, is a thriving city with nine penitentiaries. Co-creator Dillon took the inspiration for the crime drama from his hometown of Kingston. The Mayor of Kingstown production team filmed from May to October 2021. Filming locations included Hamilton, Burlington, and Kingston, Ontario. A central filming location included the now-closed Kingston Penitentiary and the downtown of Kingston. Kingston, Ontario, has nine prisons in the area, so it was the perfect backdrop for a drama series about the business of incarceration. According to CTV News, Delta Kingston Waterfront Hotels General Manager Stephanie Quick said the influx of the cast and crew of the Mayor of Kingston brought an economic boost to the city at a time when they truly needed it. They hope that viewers see the historical sites of Kingston and opt to travel there in the future. RELATED: Mayor of Kingstown Star Jeremy Renner Calls Taylor Sheridans Work Violent But Equally Beautiful Hugh Dillons hometown inspiration for Mayor of Kingstown In an interview with Newsweek, co-creator Dillon described growing up in Kingston, with so many penitentiaries surrounding the area. I can tell you this, I grew up in a town with nine penitentiaries, a maximum, a medium and a womens [penitentiary], minimum security, Dillon explained to the outlet. You know, as a kid, my mom was a teacher, my friends parents were prison guards, one was a warden, other friends were convicts, and it was, you know, in this perfectly cultivated civilized world theres this brutality and these institutions. Dillon described seeing the guard towers as a kid, thinking they looked like Disneyland; however, it was very different. It also was the perfect place for Dillon and Sheridans production team to film Mayor of Kingstown. And as I got older, you see these things that happen in our society, child killers to serial killers to murderers to whatever horrific thing were seeing in the news, and theyre coming to your town, he continued. Wherever in the country, theyve been captured, theyre coming to your town. So, I dont know how that bleeds into my psychology or how that works, but thats what I brought. Although Dillon and Sheridans stories for Mayor of Kingstown are fictional, there are roots of the truth sprinkled throughout it. Sorry Netflix and Hulu subscribers, Mayor of Kingstown is only available for streaming on Paramount+. RELATED: Is Mayor of Kingstown Based on a True Story? You Wont Be Alone is powerful and deeply effective storytelling. Writer/director Goran Stolevski breathes life into a dark fairy-tale world in his feature debut. Audiences will inevitably draw comparisons to Robert Eggers The Witch, but Stolevskis film is radically different. You Wont Be Alone is a haunting slow-burn with unshakable horror. You Wont Be Alone explores a fairy-tale world Noomi Rapace as Bosilka | Courtesy of Sundance Institute/Branko Starcevic Maria (Anamaria Marinca) is a horribly scarred witch haunting an isolated mountain village in 19th-century Macedonia. Nevena (Sara Klimoska) is a young girl who is kidnapped by Maria and turned into a shape-shifting witch, as well. However, they dont bond, and Nevena doesnt naturally take to Marias teachings. Nevena is left to venture into the wild alone without any knowledge of the outside world. She accidentally kills a woman named Bosilka (Noomi Rapace) and assumes her body. The newly-turned witch decides to live among humans to observe and learn from them behind various faces. However, the ancient spirit never wanders too far. Writer/director Goran Stolevski depicts a lonely world for witches You Wont Be Alone incorporates many fairy-tale elements. Nevena loses her voice, which serves both a narrative and figurative purpose. Stolevskis screenplay depicts a coming-of-age story of sorts but through other peoples skin. It takes Nevena becoming a shape-shifting witch to truly make sense of the world and learn what it means to be human. Stolevski addresses the theme of loneliness in fascinating ways. You Wont Be Alone shows how solitude morphs a person. Maria views humanity as a prison, yet Nevena still yearns to dive into it with both feet. Theyre both taking chances in their own ways with potentially huge consequences. However, this horror drama emphasizes the truth behind ones exterior. You Wont Be Alone incorporates gender and sexual politics. Nevena must learn more than what it means to be human, but also what it means to be a woman in this time period. She perceives behavioral differences in how she must act around women compared to men. Nevena begins to understand sexuality as both a man and a woman, constructing a character that unapologetically digs into both the masculine and the feminine. You Wont Be Alone provides a nuanced look at what it means to be alive Noomi Rapace est ensorcelante dans la bande-annonce de You won't be Alone https://t.co/xhROSlFU5V pic.twitter.com/cHzpgjWd0C Premierefr (@PremiereFR) December 17, 2021 You Wont Be Alone includes humans, shape-shifting witches, and animals. However, they all contribute to the message of loneliness and what it truly means to be alive. Stolevski paints his debut feature with a refined brush that provides multiple layers for each of the lead characters. He accomplishes this feat with little dialogue. Matthew Chuangs gorgeous cinematography elevates every frame. The rural locations natural beauty is an excellent backdrop for the dark places that You Wont Be Alone never shies away from. There isnt a single weak performance here, although Marinca, Klimoska, Alice Englert, and Rapace are particular standouts in what consistently feels like deeply personal filmmaking. You Wont Be Alone is certainly brutal and doesnt pull its punches with targeting animals and children with its violence. Nevertheless, Stolevski is the next fresh voice in horror, where the films dramatic stakes take the spotlight. He crafted a meaningful feature about loneliness that is nothing short of unshakable. You Wont Be Alone hits theaters on April 1. RELATED: Lamb Movie Review: Earnest and Intimate Folk Horror [Beyond Fest] Laughlin Town Advisory Board Chair Kathy Ochs speaks about the bill to designate Avi Kwa Ame, the Mojave name for Spirit Mountain and its surrounding landscape, as Nevada's newest National Monument during a news conference at Springs Preserve on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, in Las Vegas. 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 Burkina Faso's ruling party headquarters torched as 1.5 million displaced by jihadi violence Violence broke out in Burkina Fasos national capital, Ouagadougou, Sunday, as the headquarters of President Rock Kabores political party was burned and looted by protesters upset with his administrations inability to thwart extremist violence that has run rampant in recent years. Amid protests over insecurity in the country, soldiers staged revolts at barracks to demand that top military leaders be fired due to the failure to stop violence committed by extremists affiliated with Al Qaeda and the Islamic State that has led to the displacement of over 1.5 million people in recent years in the former French colony, according to France 24, Reuters and AFP. Additionally, reports suggest that gunshots rang out at military bases. A government spokesperson denied that there was an army takeover. Information on social media would have people believe there was an army takeover, Spokesperson Alkassoum Maiga said in a statement. The government, while acknowledging that there was gunfire in some barracks, denies this information and calls on the public to remain calm. Security forces are also said to have fired tear gas at hundreds of protesters demonstrating against the governments failure to stop the terrorists. Protesting soldiers called for adequate resources for the battle." They want top generals replaced in addition to improved care for wounded soldiers and better support for the families of fallen troops. Hundreds of people walked through Ouagadougous downtown area, calling for President Kabore to resign, according to The Associated Press. The protests came as nearly 12,000 people were displaced in the West African nation in just two weeks in December, according to the United Nations. The jihadists are hitting [the country], people are dying, others are fleeing their homes, protester Amidou Tiemtore said, according to the newswire. We want Roch and his government to resign because their handling of the country is not good. We will never support them. Although Burkina Faso was once known as a relatively peaceful country, it has suffered an exponential rise in terror attacks committed by radical groups since 2016. The increase in terror in the Sahel region has coincided with a rise in Islamic State fighters fleeing from the Middle East into Africa. The rise of extremism has caused international concern, with the U.N. vowing in 2020 to step up its response after displacement in Burkina Faso rose 1,200% in 2019. The U.S. State Department created a special envoy position to maximize U.S. diplomatic efforts to address the terror threats in the region, which have also impacted countries like Cameroon, Mali and Niger. Burkina Fasos national security agency appears to be preparing to negotiate with the jihadis, just as the government negotiated secret ceasefire talks with them around the 2020 presidential elections, which had subsided fighting for a few months, AP reports. In its Persecution Trends 2022 report, Release International said, The situation facing Christians in Burkina Faso is now similar to Nigeria, where terror groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have killed thousands and displaced millions. In 2021, jihadis targeted Christians in the north of Burkina Faso, forcing churches to close and meet in secret, the report pointed out. The attacks ranged from bombings, killings, kidnappings and school burnings to assaults on religious leaders and places of worship. Pressure in the region is likely to continue in 2022, particularly following the drawdown of French troops in the area, Release International warned. Last May, suspected jihadists ambushed a baptism ceremony and killed 15 Christians in northern Burkina Fasos Oudalan province near the Mali border. In June, 160 civilians, including children, were killed and 40 others wounded in a violent raid on a village in the Yagha province, marking the countrys deadliest attack in years. Extremists in the northeastern region that borders Niger reportedly assaulted and shot civilians, burned down homes and a market. In October 2020, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom released a report highlighting rising attacks against houses of worship and religious leaders in Burkina Faso. USCIRF noted that Burkina Faso has found itself at the epicenter of several global crises, which have contributed to the devolution of religious freedom conditions in the country. Attacks on both Muslim and Christian houses of worship and religious leaders have spiked as jihadist and other militia groups expand their area of influence throughout the country, USCIRF states. The government is struggling to rein in the violence, and poor performance and misconduct by government-affiliated forces are exacerbating the situation. Burkina Faso witnessed decades of military coups after its 1960 independence. Blaise Compaore remained president for 27 years from 1987 until widespread civil unrest toppled his regime in 2014. After about a year of transitional government, Kabore won the election in 2015. In recent years, Burkina Faso has found itself at the epicenter of several interrelated and rapidly evolving crises that are engulfing much of West Africa, the USCIRF report states. These compounded security and humanitarian crises are testing the limits of Burkinabe religious tolerance and intercultural harmony as conflicts over land, jobs and scarce resources have begun to erode social cohesion and overwhelm existing mechanisms for conflict resolution. After visiting Burkina Faso last year, Barbara Manzi, U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator, wrote that donors and development partners should know there is hope, despite all the terrible things that are happening. I think we have a collective responsibility to make sure that this hope does not fade away, Manazi stated. We need to be ready for some setbacks. Its likely to happen, considering the situation, but this should not discourage us from continuing to focus on the people, trying to bring them to the forefront of discussions, supporting the State in what theyre doing, and ensuring that all levels of the traditional community systems are involved. Burkina Faso is ranked as the 32nd-worst country globally when it comes to Christian persecution on Open Doors USAs 2022 World Watch List. Jihadist violence has been rapidly increasing in recent years, and extremists have exploited the governments weakness during the COVID-19 crisis to gain control of the countrys infrastructure, the watchdog group that monitors persecution in over 60 countries reports. This has led to hundreds of church closureswhile many Christians are among those whove fled their homes because of extremist attacks. 12 years after Haitis earthquake: Remembering Haitian lives have value I dont think its any coincidence that we honor Sanctity of Life month in January the same month we mark the anniversary of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti that claimed more than 250,000 lives and injured an additional 300,000 victims. The ongoing impact has continued to disrupt many lives, with people dying of starvation every day in this island nation only a few hundred miles from Floridas southern tip. However, unless Haiti makes the news for something such as an earthquake, a missionary kidnapping or the assassination of its president, the ongoing loss of life doesnt seem to garner the global community's attention in the same way that other value-of-life issues do. For those concerned about babies in the womb, individuals who are being trafficked or the elderly who live in fear of being euthanized, we tend to see much higher death rates in nearly all of the above categories in Haiti right now than we ever would in the United States. My family has been serving in Haiti for more than a decade now to combat these issues on behalf of suffering Haitians. Other missions groups have been working in similar capacities all of us desperately trying to rescue orphans, feed starving children and prevent mothers and babies from dying in childbirth. We are seeing some success, but there is still much work to do. The earthquake shattered an already-shaky infrastructure. The political instability that has remained ever since signifies that few repairs have been made. Roads still contain craters, buildings continue to lay in ruins, there is little-to-no access to electricity or clean water and what little food is available is unaffordable to the average Haitian. Gangs control the streets to the extent that people would rather starve and die at home than risk kidnapping and torture to try and find work or food. Without international intervention, we will lose more and more of these precious lives every day. We have shown that a small investment of time and resources can make a world of difference. We established our LiveBeyond compound in a more rural area of Haiti, a couple of hours outside of Port-au-Prince, and by training and equipping locals giving a hand up more than a handout we have seen Haiti become more self-sustaining and mortality rates in this area have plummeted. Since coming to Haiti 11 years ago, weve been progressing with our goal to provide healthcare, clean water and nutritional support to all people of need in our area. More importantly, weve established hope that these resources could be accessed in a sustainable, Haitian-led manner into the future. In addition, we are providing American-quality education and jobs to the people who need it most. It has been incredible to witness the growth and blessings that have happened in just one part of Haiti, and we believe this could be replicated all over the country. As we recognize the Sanctity of Life this month, will you join me in also praying for and advocating for international intervention in Haiti so that hundreds of thousands of lives there might be spared? Reach out to your elected representatives and to the United Nations and indicate your support for sending peacekeeping forces back to Haiti. And if you are in a position to give, research missions groups such as ours that are working in Haiti to continually provide sustainable solutions not just a handout that is often stolen right out of the mouths it was intended to feed. In addition to LiveBeyond, I can recommend organizations we work with such as Food for the Poor and Convoy of Hope. Together, we are helping ordinary Haitians learn agricultural skills so that they can feed their communities and employ their neighbors. We are educating and equipping small business owners so that they can contribute to the economy. We are keeping workers healthy so they can continue to bring food home to their families. And most importantly, we are sharing the love of Jesus Christ so that these precious, vulnerable children of God can look forward to spending an eternity in Heaven, which is much closer for them than it is for most of us. Boris Epshteyn, one of Donald Trump's strongest allies during his 2020 presidential campaign, has just been subpoenaed by the panel investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Even though Epshteyn didn't attend the Capitol riot per se, he was accused of spreading unfounded election fraud lies with the help of Trump and his other supporters. During a recent interview after the committee subpoenaed him, Epshteyn said that he's standing by his belief that whatever they did to try and certify that Trump won in select states wasn't illegal. Boris Epshteyn says alternate electors different, not fraudulent The former Trump adviser added they looked for alternate electors and not fraudulent electors, contrary to what the committee suggested. "Yes, I was part of the process to make sure there were alternate electors for when, as we hoped, the challenges to the seated electors would be heard, and would be successful," he said via CNN. Epshteyn also confirmed that Rudy Giuliani, Trump's former lawyer, supervised their efforts. The latter was also subpoenaed by the committee last week. The scheme reportedly involved helping pro-Trump supporters access the Capitol building, draft languages for fake electoral certificates, send these certificates to the federal government, and find replacements for electors who refused to go onboard with their plot. Read Also: Donald Trump's Records Pertaining to Jan. 6 Capitol Riot To Be Released After Supreme Court Rejected His Request To Keep Them Private Donald Trump ally copied the 1960 presidential election Despite the lack of credibility for their efforts, Epshteyn still insisted that they did was legal because it is similar to what happened in 1960 between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. At the time, Nixon led the presidential election with over 141 votes. But following a recount, Kennedy was declared the winner of the 1960 election. However, this was simply because the recount showed different results. In Trump's case, on the other hand, the ex-POTUS asked some of the states to recount their votes during the 2020 election. So far, no state has shown a different vote count. Some states even confirmed that Biden should've received higher votes than what was initially reported. According to the Daily Beast, Trump's supporters submitted the fraudulent election certificates to Congress and the National Archives in at least five states, including Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada, and New Mexico. And just last week, the case was handed over to the federal prosecutors saying that documents show a conspiracy to overthrow the United States government. Donald Trump continues to spread election fraud lies After two years, Trump still believes that he should've won the 2020 election. And he also continues to spread election fraud lies. Following Joe Biden's statement about the election possibly being fraudulent, Trump twisted the ex-POTUS's words by saying that Biden confirmed that there was indeed fraud two years ago. "President Biden admitted yesterday, in his own very different way, that the 2020 election may very well have been a fraud, which I know it was," he said via The Independent. But Biden really said that the increase and prospect of the 2022 midterm election are illegitimate are proportionate to Democrats' inability to get their voting rights reforms passed. Related Article: 4 Donald Trump Allies That Helped Spread Election Fraud Lies Subpoenaed by the House Select Committee Investigating the Capitol Riot @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 'Free to vote' should not mean 'free to cheat' The bedrock of the American republic is that elections must be free, fair, accurate and trusted. So states Mollie Hemingway in her important book, Rigged: How the Media, Big Tech, and the Democrats Seized Our Elections (2021). I spoke with Mollie on the radio when her book came out. She told our audience, I found after 2020 the way that you werent allowed to talk about [the election] to be completely suspicious. We all lived through it. It was the weirdest election of our lifetime but then you werent allowed to notice that in any way. Nothing to see here move along. In order to secure voter integrity, Georgia passed a law after the irregularities of the 2020 election. And this voting law has been viciously attacked by the left. But Tim Head, executive director of the Faith and Freedom Coalition (based in Atlanta), argues that in reality, this law makes it easier to vote. Despite the lies of the media, Hollywood, the woke corporations, and the liberal politicians, including President Joe Biden (who called the law Jim Crow 2.0), the law is a good step toward restoring voter integrity. Tim Head told me: The crux of the issue really comes down to: Do Americans and do voters have confidence that we as citizens and as voters have a voice, a meaningful voice, in our government? We need to have confidence that all of our voices are heard and otherwise, we can start moving closely, more closely towards almost a banana republic status. Last week Joe Biden visited Georgia and tried to peddle the lefts own voter overhaul bill, the Free to Vote Act, which would have the effect of federalizing all elections going forward, and would remove crucial vote-security measures. And yet, Article I, Section 4, the U.S. Constitution says: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof. Biden asserted that opposition to the bill to federalize elections was essentially racist: At consequential moments in history, they present a choice. Do you want to be on the side of Dr. King or George Wallace? Do you want to be on the side of John Lewis or Bull Connor? Do you want to be on the side of Abraham Lincoln or Jefferson Davis? But critics note that this bill would loosen common-sense voter photo-ID restrictions. Heritage Foundations Hans von Spakovsky, co-author (with John Fund) of Our Broken Elections: How the Left Changed the Way You Vote, told me in an interview: Those laws have been in place now for more than eight decades. We have years of turnout data in states with voter ID laws, that data clearly shows it does not suppress votes. It does not keep people out of the polls. It certainly does not keep minority voters out of the polls. Ken Blackwell, a senior fellow with the Family Research Council, notes, If it was difficult to get a voter ID, you could say it was a restraint to participation. Well, its not difficult and you just think whether its taking out a library book, getting on an airplane, buying certain adult beverages, you have to show an ID. Interestingly a new survey of likely Michigan voters found: [M]ore than 75% of participants supported a requirement to show a government-issued photo ID in order to vote, while support among Black residents was even higher at 79%. Another security measure requires updating voter registration rolls so that no vote is cast by say, a person who died 10 years ago. Veteran journalist Bob Knight says, The question I always ask is, How can you be against accurate voter rolls and say thats somehow racist or suppressing the vote, when everybodys treated the same? Some critics believe that the porous border, where hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens are pouring into America, is a strategy by the left to sustain political power by getting these people to vote and vote for the left. Recently, New York City has approved letting 800,000 illegal aliens vote in elections local ones, for now. Critics note that this is why the Biden administration has not lifted a finger to close our southern border. And then, theres ballot harvesting a system where third parties can collect mail ballots. Critics note this is rife with potential for voter fraud. And on it goes. And now Biden and the left want to completely overhaul our election system to make sure they always retain their power. Going forward, we must make sure that elections are fair and just that it is easy to vote, but difficult to cheat. And the place to do that is in the state legislatures according to the Constitution Joe Biden swore to uphold. The concept of 'first fruit' offering and its abuse The concept of first fruits can be traced back to biblical times when people lived in an agrarian society. It came into being during a harvest time when farmers went to harvest their crops. It was a time of joy as farmers reaped the produce of their hard work. There is a biblical injunction saying that the Israelites should bring their first-fruit offering to the priest as a demonstration of their recognition that it was God who gave them the land which yielded the fruits. When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest (Leviticus 23:10). The application of this concept in this present age has created a doctrinal divide among some Christians. Some say that this biblical injunction is not for present-day Christians, while others say that it is biblical and should therefore be observed by every Christian with an income. For our purposes here, we recognize that it would be ideal if Christians who believe that the first-fruit offering should be observed by every income earner would give freely and cheerfully to their churches. It is a thanksgiving offering after all. The Apostle Paul gave the church in Corinth the guidelines on how Christian giving should be conducted: Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). The decision to give is the sole prerogative of the giver and it must come from the giver's heart, not from external influence. People should not be pushed or manipulated to give. When people are compelled to give, they are reluctant and uncheerful, which defeats the purpose of giving in the first place. I know of a church in Nigeria that does not pay its staffers in January because it is compulsory for every staff member to bring his or her salary to God as a first-fruit offering. Why should a church compel its staff to forfeit their January salaries for first fruit without the consent of the workers? Shouldn't the people be allowed to determine whether they are giving or not? And how can such givers be cheerful when they did not give willingly but were forced to give by their employer. This is colossal abuse. It is not the way the biblical priests collected the first fruits. When people are psychologically manipulated to do the bidding of the preachers who underscore this message repeatedly, they are dishonoring God. There should be liberty in the presence of the Spirit, and worshipers should be allowed to serve God freely and honor God freely with their gifts. As many are preparing to give their first fruits at the end of the month, Christians should be mindful that it is not only about giving money. First-fruit offerings also involve the giving of our first sons to God: You are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord (Exodus 13:12). This is the aspect of the first-fruit offering that many churches do not remember to emphasize to worshipers. Imagine how glorious it would be if every first male of every Christian home becomes God's own. Unfortunately, many of them have been influenced by peer groups and demonic forces. The annual first-fruit program of churches should include a time of calling prodigal first sons back to God with the understanding that their destiny should not be allowed to be truncated by the devil because they all belong to God. Let intercession be made for every first son who has wandered away from God. Handing over and rededicating first sons to God this year will be a good way of obeying the concept of the first-fruit offering. 160 killed, 40 injured in Burkina Faso's deadliest attack in years amid rise in Islamic extremism As many as 160 civilians, including children, were killed and 40 others wounded in a violent raid on a village in Burkina Faso, marking the African countrys deadliest attack in years. Jihadists assaulted and shot civilians, and burned down homes and the market in Solhan village in the Sahel country's Yagha province on the night of June 4, according to The Associated Press. Yagha is in northeastern Burkina Faso and borders Niger. Hundreds of people fled to a nearby town to escape. No group has claimed responsibility, but terrorism analysts have predicted the attack was likely carried out by al-Qaeda-linked group Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, which has strengthened its presence in the troubled Sahel region. The attacks were allegedly a response to volunteer fighters in the area who fight alongside the Army as community volunteers, which makes their area a more significant target. The attack comes as Burkina Faso's military has struggled to stifle the exponential rise of Islamic extremism that has taken root in recent years and displaced thousands of people. Agence France-Presse reports the military had virtually deserted the area in recent months. After the attack, Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Christian Kabore called for three days of national mourning, condemning the civilian slaughter as barbaric and despicable. The U.N.'s Peacebuilding Commission released a statement Monday saying that it's "profoundly saddened by the killing of over 160 civilians" by "unidentified armed assailants in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso." Echoing statements issued earlier by the United Nations secretary-general, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, and other friends and partners of Burkina Faso, the commission condemns in the strongest terms the atrocious attack and expresses heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones, to the people and to the government of Burkina Faso, the statement continued. In the face of this attack and other recent grave incidents that jeopardize peacebuilding and development gains, the commission calls for strengthening the bonds of solidarity and intensifying support to Burkina Faso and the Sahel region. It underlines the need to bring the perpetrators to justice. Like many neighboring countries, Burkina Faso faces a security crisis due to armed raids and kidnappings across the region. The U.N. estimates that more than 1.1 million people are internally displaced in Burkina Faso. According to the U.N., clashes between armed groups and security forces and attacks against communities prompted further displacement in recent months in northern and eastern Burkina Faso. A spokesperson for the U.N. secretary-general said he is outraged by the killing and strongly condemns the heinous attack and underscores the urgent need for the international community to redouble support to member states in the fight against violent extremism and its unacceptable human toll. This deadly attack in the middle of the night gave citizens no time to seek safety, a source said. The slaughter of over 100 civilians, the highest number of casualties from a single attack in recent years in Burkina Faso, marks a shocking escalation in the violence that has engulfed the country since 2015," Manenji Mangundu, country director for the Norwegian Refugee Council in Burkina Faso, said in a statement. "Killed in the middle of the night by armed assailants, the victims include women and children who were given no choice to flee, no chance to live." Open Doors USAs World Watch List ranks Burkina Faso at No. 32 among countries where Christians face the most severe persecution due to a very high level of Islamic oppression. Out of Burkina Fasos population of 20.9 million, around 4.9 million are Christian, and many Christians in the country are internally displaced persons. Attacks on both Muslim and Christian houses of worship and religious leaders have spiked as jihadist and other militia groups expand their area of influence throughout the country, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom stated in a report last year. The government is struggling to rein in the violence, and poor performance and misconduct by government-affiliated forces are exacerbating the situation. Suspected jihadists in Burkina Faso killed 15 Christians at a baptism ceremony last month. In March, over 130 people were killed in a series of suspected Islamic extremist raids in neighboring Niger. Indian bishops urged to take a stand as violence against Christians continues to rise A group of Catholic clergy and laity in India has said that the complete silence of Indias bishops despite a rise in attacks on Christians and other minorities is shocking and urged the Catholic Bishops Conference of India to speak out. The Forum of Religious for Justice and Peace wrote a letter to CBCI President Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai calling for Indian bishops to do more to advocate for religious minorities facing a rising trend of persecution in India at the hands of Hindu extremism, Crux reports. In the year 2021, there were 486 incidents of violence against the Christian community in India, according to the United Christian Front. What shocks us is the complete silence on the part of the official Church, the CBCI, the letter reads. The letter specifically cited seven "well-planned attacks on Christian institutions" between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2021. The letter was sent weeks after a United Christian Front report that showed 2021 was the most violent year for Christians in the countrys history. The violent acts against the Christian community and Muslim community or any other minority group are in complete violation of the law of the land and the Indian Constitution, the letter states. If we do not respond to such acts, the secular fabric of India will be lost causing irreparable damage to the people of India, and an inclusive, democratic and pluralistic India as envisioned in the preamble of the Indian Constitution could be lost forever. In its report, the United Christian Front noted that in nearly all cases reported nationwide, vigilante mobs composed of religious extremists have been seen to either barge into a prayer gathering or round up individuals that they believe are involved in forcible religious conversions. The organization attributed the high incidence of Christian persecution to impunity, saying such mobs criminally threaten, physically assault people in prayer, before handing them over to the police on allegations of forcible conversions. The Forum of Religious for Justice and Peace contends that Catholic leaders cannot remain silent spectators when the drama of violent attacks against the minorities is unfolding before us. The forum argues that Indias Catholic leaders need to act and fulfill our prophetic role before it is too late. The forum calls on the bishops conference to send a letter to President Narendra Modi, urging him to call on governments in states where such attacks are occurring to prevent attacks in the future and hold those responsible accountable. The forum also wants the national bishops' conference to urge regional conferences to send memorandums to government leaders in their states urging them to protect Christians from attacks and open cases against perpetrators. Additionally, CBCI is urged to respond quickly after attacks on Christian institutions and individuals by state actors or Hindu nationalist groups and provide legal assistance to help victims seek justice in the courts. Sister Dorothy Fernandes told Crux that the forum was motivated to send the letter because of "well-planned actions that took place around Christmas. She said she is often asked why Catholic leadership is silent and wants the leadership of our Church to wake up. We have also suggested a number of doable actions which is inclusive and will sustain the secular fabric of our beautiful nation," she was quoted as saying. "We would believe that our inclusiveness will reach out to the Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits, Tribals, women and children. This is our prophetic calling, and we can no longer afford to sit on the fence and wait till they come for us." Christians make up just over 2% of Indias population and Hindus comprise nearly 80%, while Muslims account for just over 15%, according to the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project. Rights groups have warned there has been an increase in Hindu radical mob attacks on Christians and other religious minorities since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party came to power with the election of Modi in 2014. In recent years, Christian groups and leaders have been accused by Hindu nationalists of violating laws barring forcible conversion and detained. Several Indian states have enacted anti-conversion laws barring the use of financial benefits or other forms of allurement to encourage Hindus to convert to Christianity. Hindu nationalist groups often abuse these laws and make false charges against religious minorities. Earlier this month, a mob of some 200 Hindu nationalists attacked a house church during its worship service in the Odagoan village of Kondagaon District in Indias eastern state of Chhattisgarh, according to the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern. The pastor was reportedly injured along with two other Christians, and a Christian woman was allegedly converted to Hinduism. This month, police in Madhya Pradesh reportedly arrested nine Christians, including pastors, in the villages of Padalya and Bisoli located in the Jhabua district on accusations of illegal conversions. Open Doors USA, which monitors persecution in over 60 countries, again ranked India as the 10th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution on its 2022 World Watch List, which was released last week. The group warns that Hindu radicals often attack Christians with little to no consequences. The persecution of Christians in India is intensifying as Hindu extremists aim to cleanse the country of their presence and influence, Open Doors stated in a factsheet on India. The driving force behind this is Hindutva, an ideology that disregards Indian Christians and other religious minorities as true Indians because they have allegiances that lie outside India, and asserts the country should be purified of their presence. ICC warns that the pace of Christian persecution only seems to be accelerating with the arrival of 2022, and adds, Whether 2022 will be as violent of a year as 2021 is yet to be seen. This week in Christian history: Missionary who was confidant to FDR, Gandhi dies; 2K killed in battle 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 Jan. 23 to Jan. 29 marks the anniversary of the birth of a prominent Welsh Methodist preacher, the death of a renowned American missionary and a significant battle in Europe that likely inspired the creation of the hymn We Gather Together. 1 2 3 4 Next Religious beliefs shouldn't be subject to verification,' Justice Neil Gorsuch says in dissent A pair of ministers seeking a tax-exempt status shouldnt be subject to a government verification process, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch argued Tuesday. The Supreme Court denied a request for oral argument in the case of New Life in Christ Church v. City of Fredericksburg, which centered on whether Josh and Anacari Storms can claim a tax exemption for their residence. The couple are college ministers who minister to students at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and host Bible studies and worship events. City officials had concluded that they could not claim tax-exempt status for a parsonage, contending that the Storms family does not fit the exact classification of a minister according to the Presbyterian Church in America, which includes a requirement to be ordained and a prohibition on female ordination. Gorsuch took exception to the nations high court denying the appeal in a written dissent, arguing that the Storms should have been eligible for the tax-exempt residence. The church tried to explain that the City misunderstood its traditions and practices. The church responded that, yes, women can and do serve as ministers, wrote Gorsuch. It acknowledged that in order to deliver sermons a minister in its tradition must be ordained but nothing in its rules or the Book of Church Order prohibits a particular church from hiring ministers to serve as messengers and teachers of the faith without ordination. Gorsuch, who was nominated to the court by former President Donald Trump in 2017, lamented that the city continues to insist that a churchs religious rules are subject to verification by government officials. I would grant the petition and summarily reverse. The First Amendment does not permit bureaucrats or judges to subject religious beliefs to verification. About this, the Court has spoken plainly and consistently for many years, he added. The Framers of our Constitution were acutely aware how governments in Europe had sought to control and manipulate religious practices and churches. They resolved that America would be different. Gorsuch concluded that while he considered the New Life case a small one, he would correct the earlier decision. He stressed that state-sponsored efforts to subject religious beliefs to verification have no place in a free country. Last August, the First Liberty Institute, Christian Legal Society and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLC filed a petition to the Supreme Court on behalf of New Life in Christ Church after the Virginia Supreme Court refused to hear the complaint against the city for denying the tax exemption status. For over 150 years, the Court has confirmed that civil authorities may not second-guess religious organizations on questions of discipline, or of faith, or ecclesiastical rule, custom, or law, stated the petition. It is a foundational premise of our constitutional system that religious organizations enjoy power to decide for themselves, free from state interference, matters of church government as well as those of faith and doctrine. Attorneys representing the city argued that the precedent for legally defining a minister has been individuals who are ordained and heads a congregation. This is not a case about who may be a minister of the petitioners church or about the free exercise of religion, stated the citys legal brief. Instead this case is about the authority of a court to make a determination of relevant facts, based on the evidence, when adjudicating a churchs application for Virginias tax exemption for the residence of the minister of the church. Supreme Court questions Boston's refusal to fly Christian flag at City Hall The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday on whether Boston city officials wrongfully denied a request to fly the Christian flag at City Hall. The nations high court heard arguments in the case of Harold Shurtleff, et al. v. Boston, MA, et al., with the justices expressing skepticism of the arguments on both sides. Shurtleff runs an organization called Camp Constitution, which exists to enhance understanding of our Judeo-Christian moral heritage and runs Constitution Day and Citizenship Day events at City Hall. Shurtleffs request to fly the Christian flag (which features a cross) outside of City Hall on Constitution Day 2017 was denied based on a policy that gives the city discretion on which flags it can fly on the City Hall flagpoles. Liberty Counsel Chairman Mat Staver, a prominent Christian conservative lawyer whose organization helped represent Shurtleff, was the first to present arguments before the justices. After 12 years, with 284 flag-raising approvals, no denials, and usually no review, one word caught the attention of a Boston official: the word Christian on the application. The flag itself was not the problem. Had it been called anything but Christian, the same flag would have flown for an hour without incident, Staver argued. The city, by an unbroken history and practice and policy, expressly declared that the flagpoles are one of its public forums open to all applicants. In doing so, the city long ago crossed the line from government speech to private speech. Justice Elena Kagan, one of three justices appointed by a Democrat president, asked Staver if the city would have to fly a Nazi flag at City Hall due to it being a public forum. Staver replied that the city would have to fly such a controversial flag since it designated the flagpole as a public forum. So, really, what youre saying is that a city cant possibly have a kind of open policy like this because no city is going to want to put up a swastika or a KKK flag or something like that, Kagan reasoned. The citys brief tries to indicate certain limitations on categories of subject matters, Staver replied. But thats nowhere to be found in the 12-year or 13-year policy, and its not in the 2018 codification of that policy, anyway. If the city wants to open up a forum but limit it to certain kinds of subject matters or speakers, certainly, the city is capable of doing so, he added. Sopan Joshi, the assistant to the U.S. solicitor general, argued in support of Shurtleff as a representative of the federal government. Like any private property owner, the government is entitled to use its own property for whatever lawful purpose it likes, including for expressive purposes, Joshi told the court. But this Court has said that, unlike a private property owner or a private speaker, when the government chooses to open up its own property for use by third parties to express their messages, the government cannot restrict access based on viewpoint, including religious viewpoints. When Justice Neil Gorsuch asked if the city could limit speech to reject religious viewpoints, Joshi responded that the Supreme Court has said that even in a non-public forum, viewpoint discrimination is impermissible. Representing the city, lawyer Douglas Hallward-Driemeier told the justices that groups cannot commandeer the citys flagpole to send a message the city does not endorse. Its not any individual flag. Thats the citys message. The citys statement of its goals is clear. Its the collective. Its the diversity of the flags, stated Hallward-Driemeier. Shurtleffs legal team had argued that the city has flown other flags with religious imagery in the past, including Turkey's flag, which depicts the Islamic star and crescent, and the Portuguese flag. Additionally, the Boston city flag includes Latin words meaning God be with us as he was with our fathers. We also want to raise awareness in Boston and beyond about the many countries and cultures of the world, Hallward-Driemeier said. Our goal is to foster diversity by celebrating the communities within Boston. Justice Clarence Thomas, one of the courts most conservative judges, asked Hallward-Driemeier why the apparent definition of diversity appeared to exclude Christians. The city chose not to start down the road of speaking on the subject of religion from the flagpole, responded Hallward-Driemeier, who added that Boston would not exclude religious groups from raising a flag at city hall. In fact, in connection with Constitution Day, the city said it was willing to raise a flag of Camp Constitution in celebration and recognition of Constitution Day. Thomas pressed the attorney on if the city was only celebrating limited diversity. Theyre celebrating a particular kind of diversity, national origin diversity, he said. In February 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper, an Obama appointee, ruled in favor of Boston. She argued that the City Hall flagpoles constituted government speech and made flying a Christian flag an unlawful government endorsement of religion. There are no additional facts in the record that would suggest any improper preference for non-religion over religion or selective treatment of any person or group based on religion, ruled Casper. In January 2021, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit unanimously upheld the lower court ruling, with Reagan appointee Judge Bruce Selya writing the panel opinion. Selya argued that the three flags flying in close proximity communicates the symbolic unity of the three flags, and therefore, it strains credulity to believe that an observer would partition such a coordinated three-flag display. Shurtleff appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, gaining the support of the progressive legal nonprofit the American Civil Liberties Union. Last November, the ACLU filed an amicus brief supporting the Christian group. We have long expressed concern about government endorsement of religion, and have sued often to enforce the Establishment Clause, stated ACLU National Legal Director David Cole. But when the government opens a forum to private speakers generally, as Boston did here, it cant turn away a speaker simply because it is religious. Women facing violence in prison deserve better Every social movement has advocates on each side of the issue offering critiques and ideas that could change the tide of public opinion. This is certainly true of the women's movement in the United States. Regardless of your ideals and what side of the debate you take, it is undeniable that this movement has informed and educated our society on issues of trauma, domestic violence and abuse. In 1968, one in five Americans surveyed in a Harris poll said that they would approve of slapping one's spouse "on appropriate occasions." At the same time the national poll captured this attitude, the battered women's movement was emerging and bringing awareness to some of the horrors going on behind closed doors in some American households. This movement succeeded in creating domestic violence shelters, hotlines and crisis services all over the nation to advocate on behalf of abuse survivors. As a result, the polling responses given in 1968 would be difficult to replicate today, if for no other reason than the answer in favor of slapping one's spouse would no longer be a socially desirable response. Another outcome of the women's movement was the acknowledgment that there are real differences in victimization rates based on biological sex. While no abuse is acceptable, these differences should not be ignored. According to the CDC, roughly 44% of women have experienced a form of sexual violence in their lifetime, compared to an estimated 25% of men. Twenty-one percent of American women 25.5 million have experienced a completed or attempted rape, compared to 2.6% of men. Despite these documented differences, we live in a time when some policymakers are seemingly indifferent to the current statistics and the social conditions that staged the battered women's movement. In recent days, states like Washington and California have allowed biological male prisoners to identify as female and receive a transfer to a women's prison regardless of the nature of their crimes. What happened to the concept of malingering? In clinical psychology, malingering is defined as "falsification or profound exaggeration of illness (physical or mental) to gain external benefits" (e.g., getting out of work, seeking attention, leaving school). We certainly don't hear about these states making any effort to screen prisoners for malingering or to better understand their motivation for their request to be moved to a women's prison. If a screening process exists, how is it that convicted serial killers and rapists can be housed with women who have a high probability of being abuse survivors? How can anyone in policy or prison leadership claim to have familiarity with a trauma-informed perspective even as they insist on housing biologically male prisoners with a population known to experience higher levels of interpersonal trauma (i.e., sexual abuse, physical violence) than the general population? As one recent study noted, incarcerated women have much higher prevalence rates of adverse (traumatic) childhood experiences and exposure to trauma throughout their lives than women in the general population. This study also cited research that found the rate of childhood trauma and victimization among incarcerated women was higher than incarcerated men. Preferring the newly-minted trans identity of a few biological males at the expense of a large number of women who likely have a history of abuse and trauma is an example of how the "system" can be an enabler of victimization. This is not to project innocence where women have committed crimes. However, most Americans don't want the price of justice to include inhumane conditions in which women are being held in cells with biological males whose crimes are the same as their childhood nightmare. As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Biden administration, the president seems more focused on pushing the transgender agenda wherever he can rather than dealing with the many crises engulfing our country and our globe. Thankfully, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., has recognized the harm these policies would bring to women, and has proposed a bill that would halt the Biden administration's proposal to transfer biological males to women's prisons. Cotton's bill would also cut off funding to states that do not comply with this basic protection. It is a welcome bill that should be supported. Allowing biological men to request transfers to women's prisons is a misogynistic policy and yet another attempt at the erasure of biological women. This harmful policy must be opposed wherever it arises. Originally published at the Family Research Council. The British government recently made surprising claims regarding the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia but could not provide proof of support. According to reports, the British government's predictions were based on an intelligence assessment. They are convinced Russia is trying to replace Ukraine's government with a pro-Moscow administration. More specifically, the British government thinks that Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev is the country's potential candidate. Murayev happens to be the head of the small pro-Russian party Nashi, which doesn't have any seats in Ukraine's parliament. British foreign secretary warns Russia against attacking Ukraine Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said that the information shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine and is an insight into Kremlin thinking, according to the Huffington Post. Truss also previously urged Russia to end its campaigns of aggression and stressed that any military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive mistake and would merit grave consequences. Read Also: Ukrainian President Grateful to Joe Biden's Support; POTUS, Vladimir Putin Exchanged Threats Over Russia's Invasion Plans Britain has also sent anti-tank weapons to Ukraine as part of its efforts to bolster its defense against a potential Russian attack. According to CNN, Russia has deployed troops on the borders of Ukraine, heightening fears that the country could launch an attack anytime. However, Russia has vehemently denied planning an attack but stressed that NATO's support for the country's increased weapon supplies and military training is a growing threat to Russia's western flank. As of press writing, around 100,000 troops are currently stationed on Ukraine's border despite warnings from world leaders like Joe Biden. Last week, the POTUS said that Russia would be held accountable for launching an attack. "There are differences in NATO as to what countries are willing to do, depending on what happens. If there are Russian forces crossing the border. I think that changes everything. What you're going to see is that Russia will be held accountable if it invades and it depends on what it does. It's one thing if it's a minor incursion, and then we end up having to fight about what to do and not do, etc.," Biden said via the BBC. However, White House press secretary Jen Psaki was forced to clarify Biden's stern comments about the situation. She said that if Russia attacks Ukraine, the move will be met with a swift, severe, and united response from the United States and the country's allies. Russia, Ukraine issues not resolved The issues between Russia and Ukraine escalated in 2013 over a landmark political and trade deal with the European Union. At the time, pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych suspended the discussions under Moscow's pressure. His decision to do so resulted in countless protests in Kyiv that killed several individuals. Months later, Russia annexed Crimea, an autonomous peninsula in southern Ukraine with strong Russian loyalties. They said that they were defending their interests and the interests of Russian-speaking citizens. Pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk then declared independence from Kyiv, resulting in months of heavy fighting. Since then, Russia and Ukraine have not resolved their issues. Related Article: Kamala Harris Weighs in on Russia-Ukraine Tensions, Says the United States Won't Back Down Against Vladimir Putin @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Immortalized as statues in the little park memorializing the site of the founder of Huntsville, Pleasant Grays, headquarters off Huntsvilles main street, the Bidai Indians were the wonder of original Texas. Documented as the builders of the Great Caddo Mounds of East Texas, for instance, their claim was leaders of original Texas. To the Bidai, nature moved in grand cycles of time, everything in its proper place. Particularly significant was the time of the waning of the moon in May. Hear now a Bidai legend, set in Mays waning cycle. It is a legend which swelled the imagination of this writer in his youth. In the western fringes of Montgomery County are the remaining trickles of a once robust lake. Known as Patterson Lake, it is part of Lake Creek, a tributary of the San Jacinto River. At mid-19th century, on its banks was the last truly Bidai village, so designated by researchers from Texas A&M University. Abiding there were the vestiges of a few hardy souls who had survived the forced exodus to Oklahoma Territory to be fused with the Caddo. So, the legend goes, only two members of the tribe were of child-bearing age, a young man whom old timers dubbed John Eagle and a beautiful young maiden, a shaman, called Deer Flower. With the potential union of this young couple rested the last hope for the preservation of the tribe as a viable unit. Deer Flower, indeed, loved John Eagle. The youth, however, was ambivalent in his feelings, having tasted the fruit of a saloon girl beauty in the nearby community called Long Street. Long Street is now identified only by a voting precinct building off FM 149 with that name. At the time of our story, however, Long Street was a wild and dangerous town with gunfights in the street a normal scene. The most dangerous of the many desperados was a man called Rick Hay. Most unfortunately, Rick was enamored of the same fetching female as was young John Eagle. So it was that the inevitable came to pass. Happening upon John Eagle wrapped in the arms of the coveted saloon girl, a shout of anger burst forth from the lips of the gun-fighter, followed by a blast from his pistol of doom. That fatal shoot snuffed the life out of both John Eagle and the Bidai Tribe once hailed as the leaders of Texas. So distraught was Deer Flower, the lovely shaman, at the ignoble end of any chance of continuing the lineage of her people, that for many days, she wondered through the forest, engaging her inner spirit seeking succor of her gods. Alas, feeling betrayed by those very gods, she returned to her village, that site of the once last hope of her tribe. There, in the swirling waters of Patterson Lake, she surrendered her lovely body, soul and spirit, to the mysterious quarters of shaman eternity. Ever since, at the waning of the moon in May, old timers claimed that she surfaced to sing mournfully, sending ghostly echoes from those beautiful lips rippling across the waters. In my youth, I was privileged to visit with a few of those old timers who swore to have witnessed the scene. Uniformly, they claimed, she sang to the tune of the hymn, Nearer my God to thee. In the distraught maidens annual song, the Bidai yet live in our imaginations. Dr. Robin Montgomery is a native of Montgomery County, a retired professor, author and columnist for The Courier. As a result of wrestling with the fact that Laredo has been deemed medically underserved, Laredo City Council approved of hiring an external consultant to review and assess the citys overall health challenges and medically underserved needs this week. Mayor Pete Saenz brought forth the item, as he believes a consultant could find solutions to the ongoing issues plaguing Laredo and its residents. This matter has been ongoing for quite some time now. We were kind of working with the county, for whatever reason they had, they decided not to join us, and thats fine, I think, said Saenz as he called on Laredos health staff to answer some questions about the designation. Before Laredo Health Authority Dr. Victor Trevino spoke, Saenz acknowledged the city needs help and has needed help for years. Bringing in a consultant to review the situation as well as gathering hospital leaders, the city and the community would be a start to remedy the situation and create a solution plan. However, Trevino said through his experience and knowledge, addressing the issue of the lack of medical personnel had a straightforward solution. In regard to the medically underserved situation and lack of medical personnel, its always been the same thing, Trevino said. We try to identify it, we try to look at different angles, but the main thing is we need to attract more medical personnel here, and one of the best ways to do it is by incentives. In speaking to some of the doctors that newly came here, I asked them Why did you come here. You are not even from here? And the answer is uniformly about the same: its the money. The incentive was there. As some doctors deal with monumental student loans, incentives would entice them to move to an area that may not be as convenient or close to their hometown, according to Trevino. He added that in finishing his residency, he would have gone to Alaska if the incentive was right. Councilmember Vanessa Perez cited the Gateway Community Health Centers residency programs and how they can help bring new doctors to the city. Trevino added that some of these programs specifically help doctors pay their student debts and be given space for their residency, which he said was an enticing incentive. At the beginning, we are low on funds when we are starting off, Trevino said. We are looking for places that would create that incentive and paying off the student loans all of it or part of it. (That) is one of the incentives that I think would work. Given what was said at the meeting, it would all become a part of the solutions plan once the city hires the consultant, which the council approved unanimously. Laredo has been deemed medically underserved for decades, a result from numerous issues including the discussed lack of medical staff. Between the high percentage of the uninsured population to the lack of hospital capacity for the citys population, the root cause has been said to be a multitude of factors that have already been discussed amid the pandemic. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services most recent data from Friday, Laredos total hospital capacity to serve that area is dead last of all hospital regions in Texas at 446 total beds per the 262,491 population. In contrast, Midland-Odessa sits just above Laredo in population at 269,372 people yet has a total hospital capacity of 1,770 beds, and Lubbock is right below Laredo at 258,862 people while having 1,395 beds. As of Jan. 18, the omicron variant has been the dominant strain of COVID-19 and with its higher transmissibility, reported cases have skyrocketed. According to Trevino, if a small percentage of the total cases become severe, local hospitals could be overwhelmed despite the omicron being a milder strain. As it stands, the city health leaders have sent state staff requests to help with the increasing number of cases and to ensure that hospital staff does not get overwhelmed. cocampo@lmtonline.com The United States has begun sending military support to boost Ukraine's defense capabilities amid rising tensions with Russia, which moved around 100,000 troops at the border following the visit of US Secretary State Antony Blinken. Military Equipment From US Arrives in Ukraine The US embassy reported that the first shipment of the $200 million security support approved in December has arrived in Kyiv. According to its Facebook post, the military aid is part of the US' commitment to assisting Ukraine's armed forces in defending the European country's "sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russian aggression." Moreover, the Baltic nations of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia will send military equipment such as anti-aircraft and anti-tank to Ukraine as endorsed by the United States government. I expedited and authorized and we fully endorse transfers of defensive equipment @NATO Allies are providing to Ukraine to strengthen its ability to defend itself against Russias unprovoked and irresponsible aggression. https://t.co/wFOLv0Wi2V Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 22, 2022 "I expedited and authorized and we fully endorse transfers of defensive equipment NATO Allies Estonia Latvia Lithuania are providing to Ukraine to strengthen its ability to defend itself against Russia's unprovoked and irresponsible aggression," Blinken said on Twitter. Ukraine's defense minister expressed gratitude to the United States for its assistance, as per Al Jazeera. The arrival of military equipment in Ukraine came after the meeting of Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday, which the US Secretary of State described as "extreme" but "frank and substantive." Read Also: Russia Warns US Is Oblivious to Ukraine Issue as Officials Set To Discuss War Games, Missile Deployments US, Russia Open To Future Talks In the meeting on Friday, both top officials acknowledged they were open to further discussion, and Blinken found reasonable cause to believe that their mutual security concerns could be addressed. After the earlier talks in Geneva, Blinken warned Russia that it would get a "severe" response if it pursued to invade Ukraine. Lavrov denied allegations of Moscow's plans to invade Kyiv and said that the Kremlin is waiting for a written response from Washington to its demands, as per CBS News. Is Russia Trying to Install Pro-Russia Leadership in Ukraine? Meanwhile, Britain said that it holds information that Moscow is trying to install a pro-Russia leader in Ukraine's government. The British Foreign Ministry alleged that Russian intelligence officials had been in contact with past Ukrainian lawmaker Yevhen Murayev to be its candidate to lead a pro-Russian government in connection with Moscow's invasion plot. But the ministry declined to disclose further details, as per Reuters. "We will not tolerate the Kremlin plot to install pro-Russian leadership in Ukraine. The Kremlin knows a military incursion would be a massive strategic mistake & the UK and our partners would impose a severe cost on Russia," Liz Truss, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, said on Twitter. According to a foreign ministry source, sharing intelligence information is not a common procedure, and the specifics were only declassified after careful deliberation to avert Russian escalation. Murayev, 45, is a pro-Russian politician opposing Ukraine's Western integration. In a survey conducted by the Razumkov's Centre think tank in December 2021, he placed seventh among presidential candidates for the 2024 election with 6.3 percent support. But Murayev earlier denied such accusation, saying it is not "very logical" because he is "banned" from Russia. "Not only that but money from my father's firm there has been confiscated," he said. Related Article: Ukraine Government Websites Hit by Cyberattack That Warns To "Expect The Worst" as Russia Moves More Troops @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Laredo Economic Development Corporation (LEDC), under the direction of Gene Lindgren, has teamed up with several community and education leaders to organize a Healthcare Advisory to address the underserved needs of the Laredo Community. The Healthcare advisory is spearheaded by LEDC board members, Dr. Rolando (Rolly) Ortiz, Killam Development Chief Operating Officer, and Mr. Elmo Lopez, Jr., Gateway Community Health Center CEO. Dr. Ortiz stated, The original idea was to organize the advisory to investigate how to best attract medical companies to Laredo but soon shifted to a more pressing priority of addressing the understaffed skilled healthcare workforce. Mr. Elmo Lopez applauded the current efforts between Laredo College, TAMIU, and UIW Residency programs but stated, It is simply not enough. All of us are tapping into the same few professionals and skilled healthcare workers being produced every semester and we are still short staffed. Mr. Lindgren said the steering committee invited a representative from all contributing stakeholder agencies starting with the City of Laredo. Councilwoman Alyssa Cigarroa and Councilman Dr. Marte Martinez both provided insight on how to best address this issue as a whole and the need for good data. Dr. Melissa Martin, UIW Family Medicine Residency Program Director shared feedback she received during the exit interviews of residents who complete the program and said, Often the loan forgiveness program is not attractive enough to secure a permanent commitment from residents graduating. Many of our residents want to go back home and for others, the cultural dynamics do not meet their needs, so we lose them to other cities. Mr. Elmo Lopez, Jr. expressed The goal is to grow our own so the medical and healthcare workforce we are producing, stays in Laredo. Currently, the ISD Career and Technical Education programs are creating opportunities for the students by introducing them to some of these career opportunities and working closely with the Laredo College and TAMIU. However, other challenges like a students age, work-based learning/internship/apprenticeship opportunities,and teacher shortages are still uphill battles. This is another reason why the Laredo EDC is making the commitment to this cause. The LEDC is working to bridge the participation between the ISDs, higher education (College and University), the City, County, and the private sector. Ms. Montes-Ewing, CEO of Doctors Hospital Laredo, pledged, Our hospital is willing to allow use of their sites and equipment to help further educate our community and if needed even investigate having some of our staff educate, but this would require further research. Mr. Leal, CEO of Laredo Medical Center, said he too was open to such support. Ms. Montes-Ewing continued, Of course, all of our system policies and logistics need to be addressed for approval first but this is something we are willing to entertain in light of how desperate the situation is. Dr. Rolly Ortiz reminded the committee, We need to come up with a pipeline, an intentional pathway, that starts with the ISDs, transitions into higher education, and ends up in our skilled healthcare workforce with ALL of the stakeholders on the same page working together on the same goal. This implementation will not happen alone and must be data-driven, with intention and purpose supported by the City of Laredo, County of Webb and community partnerships. Once we develop this Healthcare Workforce Template and Pathway Implementation, then the Laredo EDC can move to the other three areas of regional need: government, transportation/logistics and education. With the Health Care strategy in place, we will repeat the template and implementation again. Mr. Lindgren is excited about the LEDCs Healthcare Advisorys commitment to the Laredo community. This advisory is so important in addressing the healthcare shortage and also in securing support from LEDC membership and community leaders. It has to be a synergetic partnership of dedicated individuals. We are witnessing this effort first-hand with this committee. These contributions cannot come fast enough. For more information about the LEDC Healthcare Advisory, contact Mr. Gene Lindgren at 956-722-0563. About Laredo Economic Development Corporation Laredo Economic Development Corporation (formerly LDF), is a private non-profit corporation dedicated to the economic and industrial development of Laredo, Texas. The Laredo Economic Development Corporation is an Accredited Economic Development Organization, 1 of 66 in the U.S. Maria Luisa Silva, RN, was selected to receive the Nursing Excellence Award at Laredo Medical Center. The award was established in 2020 during the Year of the Nurse to recognize the critical role nurses continue to play throughout the COVID pandemic. Behind this award are hundreds of stories, late nights and hard work. Maria Luisa Silva has lived to not only become a Registered Nurse, but to be recognized by her peers with this award. Before a great achievement comes a great trajectory of work. Silva didnt start off as a nurse, she actually began working as a waitress. She recalls waitressing for the longest time, however, she wanted to be a different role model for her kids so she decided to go back to school. My start as a nursing student was tough. I was a single mom of three kids, Silva said. With English as my second language, it was even harder to study, understand and comprehend the topics I was learning. Nursing itself even though I have been a nurse for 11 years, every day is a learning experience. It has been very fulfilling in my life, it has given me a lot of great moments. For me, the best thing I can get throughout my day or every time I work is the blessings I get from my patients. Silva said it is very rewarding for her when her patients and their families are thankful to her for the work she does. Although some days are stressful, she strives to be the most caring she can be for her patients and advocate for them and their help. Silva said under her care are not only her patients but all their families as well. She never forgets what her vocation means to herself and how to serve her patients from the heart. I was very surprised. I was not even aware the magnitude of what receiving this award is, she said. Silva was nominated for the award by a patient of hers who she remembers fondly, and she admits it was the first patient she got very attached to. This patient of hers, a COVID survivor, spent six months in her care. Being able to see positive changes in him, for me, was very rewarding, she said. It was a struggle some days, others were happy days. Silva says it was not only her effort but a group working together to care for this special former patient and his very supportive family as well. She says her patients have impacted her life a lot, especially this patient who taught her so much. The way he struggled, the way he survived, the way he tried to get better for his family and for himself were talking about a patient who was walking, doing his usual activities on a daily basis to a patient not being able to get up, not being able to eat, not being able to talk, Silva said. Silva admits that she cares very much about her patients and works to get the best outcome for them even when her feelings may come into play. Being a nurse in ICU care is a challenging task for her and her colleagues every day, especially in the recent pandemic years. Our role is very important because we are the ones that see the minimal changes, so absolutely patients do impact our lives on a daily basis a lot, she said. After receiving this Nursing Excellence Award, Silva said she feels now more responsibility to do better at her work, especially as a bedside nurse. Though she feels qualified to be a charge nurse, she believes she helps her patients more as a bedside nurse. Silva also plans to get her certification for Critical Care ICU Nurse and also her bachelors degree. As one of her daughters is now at a university at San Antonio, she believes it is a good time to continue her studies and maybe in the future pursue a masters degree. Sometimes its very hard to do a 12-hour shift here in the hospital for many reasons, especially when the patients are very critically ill. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, she said. Besides the stress that we get and the pain in my feet, I go home with the feeling that I did something positive for my patient, that I did something that is changing my patients outcome. While preparing other nurses at Laredo Medical Center, Silva always reminds them it is nice to do something out of their scope for their patients, this way they can also help them at a personal level, which will then help patients recover faster. Its not about just following directions to keep medication then charge whatever you have to charge and go home, she said. Sometimes you need a little bit of extra care and extra touch at a personal level so they can feel like theyre not just in the hospital care, but make them feel a little bit more secure, more comfortable. Even though this way of caring for her patients may result in Silva working after hours, when she finishes her shifts, she goes home feeling she did something nice for her patients. cecilia.trevino@lmtonline.com 956-728-2543 A Nuevo Laredo boy has gone viral in Mexico and Latin America recently as he took on his mother's trade to help pay for the medical bills of his younger brother. Gabriel Aaron Quimbar, 10, recently started to use his own talents to help at his mother, Blanca Guzmans, nail salon in effort to gather money for the medical surgeries his younger brother needs. Guzman is the owner of Nuevo Laredos Satr Nails. Since beginning to do nails at his mothers salon, he has gathered the attention of both people from both Laredos wanting to get their nails done. His efforts have caught the attention of both the Mexican and international media as his work is being considered masterful. On TikTok alone, Gabriel has more than 175 million views on all of his videos, where he can be seen doing nails for the clients of the salon. People who visit now want to get their nails done by the young prodigy even though Guzman is a nail salon instructor and has various other employees working for her. We are honestly going through a very difficult time as my youngest son is very delicate in terms of his health as he has to undergo three different surgeries, Guzman said. Even though his father and myself we do work, we never really expected for this to happen, so it only made us work much harder to make his surgeries a reality as soon as possible. However, after one day I finished my hectic work schedule from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., when I noticed many of my nail salon students telling me that they were really in awe and fond of the work that Gabriel was doing. And that is how I found out about him also doing nails while I taught in efforts to help collect money for his brothers surgeries. Guzmans son is currently waiting for surgery as he is suffering from a delicate hernia condition. Guzman says doctors are still not sure how many surgeries in total might be needed to alleviate what her child is facing. Once Gabriel saw this, he immediately took it upon himself in effort to help his parents and used his talents and used his mother to teach him various techniques of the trade in effort to offer his services to his mothers growing clientele. When my mother arrived to the house with the news that my little brother did have a delicate problem with a hernia and needed a surgery, (I) knew that my parents do not have all the money to pay for that, Gabriel said. I began putting some nails on people coming and willing to let me put their nails on them in efforts to collect all the possible money by working. Gabriel says he was actually not nervous at all when he was allowed to put on his first nails as he is very well versed and had learned a lot by seeing his mother over the years do the trade. In fact, after just a short time learning from his mother and being allowed to work with several models to survey his talent, he was allowed to put nails on any of the clients who walked into the nail salons door. Once my mother knew that I had the talent, she began teaching me more stuff by teaching me a finger at a time and then doing nails in a fake hand to learn until I finally became more versed in the different techniques, Gabriel said. The clients that come in and get my work now always tell me that their nails are very beautiful, that I do a very good job on them and that I have a big heart. Guzman says now Gabriel has become the center of attention as people go to their business and even people who never got nails with them are going to just to see the young prodigy showcase his skills. All of my clients now when they come in they ask about Gabriel, and they all tell that they are not surprised about this as they always knew that this would happen because he is a very talented child, Guzman said. Amid the fact Gabriel has gone viral due to this great talent and for what he is doing, Guzman says the heightened attention can sometimes be stressful as the family still has to maintain their business open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. while also working with the different media outlets who go to the salon. Honestly, my son going viral was not expected at all, and I feel extremely proud of my son but also very stressed as we constantly get a lot of people from the media, from the news and other shows around the country, Guzman said. It makes me nervous even though several of my students tell me that I am already accustomed to public speaking as I teach, it is still not the same. Guzman says she has also seen an increase in younger students attending her nail salon courses as she has seen young girls around the age of 10 attend her courses as they want to begin to put nails on just like Gabriel does. However, Guzman says she continues to be surprised at the fact that her son continues to be the only little boy to this point she has trained on putting on nails. Guzman said it was a surprise for her as she never expected for her son to like the trade even though her two other daughters who are 13 and 17 years old also help the family business whenever they have the time to after school and other activities. Guzman says the business is very family oriented as her husbands parents recently died and she has no family in Nuevo Laredo, and they are the only ones who find support within the community. Even after they hit their financial goal for the surgeries, Gabriel says he wants to continue in the nail salon business for good. Once we get to our mission, I still want to continue putting on nails and better my techniques and everything else in efforts to become an instructor as well like my mother, Gabriel said. I also wish to have my own business as well in the future. I also have to thank my mom a lot because without her I would not be here right now. Even though the business has been getting many more customers and attention thanks to her sons talent, the family says they are still very far away from reaching their goal in efforts to pay for the surgeries needed for their youngest son. Financially, we are still not at our goal, Guzman said. Even though my son has generated much attention and there has been a lot of interviews and shares and a lot of positive and beautiful messages, in reality, we have not received much financial help. However, we are also not asking for it, as we just want people to come to our business and check out the service we have to offer. On Sunday, Jan. 16, Guzman says she, Gabriel and her entire family and group of students hosted one of the first large events where they put all kinds of nails on clients who visited their nail salon for just $200 Mexican pesos, or approximately $10. Star Nails is located in Nuevo Laredos Campestre neighborhood at Aquiles Serdan 4411, and the nail salon can be reached by calling +52 (867) 285-9569. I really thank all of the people who are supporting me and our cause, and I really hope people come by and get their nails done here with us, my sisters or with some of the students as we help out my brother get through this, Gabriel said. jorge.vela@lmtonline.com A Maryland student is being held without bond for shooting one of his younger schoolmates inside the school bathroom. According to reports, Steven Alston Jr., an 11th grader from Magruder High School in Rockville, will be tried as an adult even if he's just 17 years old. He's facing multiple charges, including attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and three weapons-related counts. Teen student's motives remain unclear As of press writing, it's still unclear why Alston Jr. shot his 15-year-old schoolmate. But sources believe that the suspect didn't have any other victim in mind when he brought his deadly weapons to the school. The 10th grader that was shot was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he underwent surgery. Initial reports revealed that he was in critical condition. He and Alston Jr. reportedly had a dispute, but the details remain unknown. Magruder High School student brings ghost gun to school According to WTOP, Alston Jr. used a ghost gun to perform the attempted murder of his classmate. But authorities do not know how he managed to bring the weapon inside the school. Following the incident, the school went on a brief lockdown to ensure that no one else would get injured, and after police officials cleared the premises, the students were sent home, according to ABC News. Read Also: Kyle Rittenhouse Receives Standing Ovation at an Event; Republican Party Calls Him a 'Cultural Symbol' Dr. Monifa Knight, the interim superintendent of schools, released a statement thanking the teachers, staff, and students for keeping each other safe. Knight also acknowledged that the situation must have been tough for everyone. To help ease the tensions and trauma that the students may be experiencing, a crisis management team will be deployed to the school over the weekend and into next week. As of press writing, authorities have not spoken to Alston Jr's parents. But conversations are already being arranged to get to the bottom of the incident. US school shootings increased last year School shootings in the United States are not something new. There have already been four shootings across the country in 2022 alone. And there have been 98 school shootings in the United States since 2018. On Jan. 19, a school shooting at the Oliver Citywide Academy in Pittsburgh occurred after a 15-year-old boy waiting to go home was shot and killed by one person who opened fire. On the same day, another shooting at Seminole High School in Florida also took place after an 18-year-old male student injured his schoolmate. Authorities later revealed that the shooting happened following a dispute between the two teenagers. Five days earlier, two students were also shot and wounded while sitting in the parking lot of Auburn High School in Rockford, Illinois. Last year, a total of 31 school shootings took place across the United States. According to Ed Week, the shooting at a school in Michigan on Nov. 30 was the deadliest incident of a similar caliber that took place since 2018. The shooting saw the death of four people, and seven others were also injured. The majority of last year's school shootings also took place after August 2021. Related Article: Georgia Pastor Operates an Unlicensed Personal Care Facility, Keeps Disabled Patients in His Basement @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Located in northwest Connecticut, the oldest home to hit the market on Realtor.com is priced well below the national median and was around during the Revolutionary War. For a buyer in search of a history on a budget, just make your way to the Nutmeg State! This vintage dwelling is located in the town of Winchester, which is known the "Gateway to the Berkshire Mountains." The quaint area is known for its period architecture and also boasts one of the state's largest lakes. Other highlights from the 18th century this week include a Pennsylvania stone home that is now surrounded by an events business, an updated beauty on the Connecticut River, and a Colonial-Federal style farmhouse in the town of Roxbury, CT. For more antique home dreams, have a look at all 10 of this week's oldest homes. Price: $349,900 Year built: 1700 Revolutionary War history: This antique Colonial in northwest Connecticut survived the Revolutionary War and has centuries of tales to go along with it. There are four fireplaces in this spacious home, which has historical charm everywherefrom the built-ins to the high ceilings. Updates over the years include an eat-in kitchen with a gas stove, a primary suite with a whirlpool tub, and updated windows. Winchester, CT Realtor.com Price: $3,250,000 Year built: 1739 Bear Mill Estate: A stone Colonial from 1739 is only one part of this compound, designed for big parties. In East Cocalico Township, the parcel also comes with a two-story events facility, currently being used to host weddings for up to 150 guests, as well as a flower shop and a separate home for the owners. This Colonial's classic history is preserved in its formal walkways, covered porches, slate roof, beamed ceilings, and its stone fireplace. Modern appointments in the main residence include an updated kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and granite countertops, walk-in showers, and a soaking tub. The event spaceformerly the first gristmill in Lancaster Countyhas a two-story glass elevator. Denver, PA Realtor.com Price: $495,000 Year built: 1750 Antique charm: This classic wood-frame structure with clapboard cladding was renovated in 2015, and now features a custom kitchen with quartz countertops. Charming elements of this Colonial's history can be seen in the exposed post-and-beam ceilings, built-ins, natural woodwork, wide pine floors, and corner cabinetry. The primary bedroom is located on the first floor and features radiant flooring, while the second and third floors offer three more bedrooms and a full bathroom. Deerfield, NH Realtor.com Price: $1,450,000 Year built: 1750 Old World charm: This classic Colonial combines Old World charm with modern amenities like a custom chef's kitchen, whole house generator, marble en suite primary bath, and a detached garage with loft. Well-preserved original details include wide-plank hardwood flooring, four fireplaces, traditional millwork, and hand-notched, beamed ceilings. All the bedrooms are located on the second floor, and the spacious primary suite has a separate dressing area and office, while the third floor features a great room with a wet bar. Thornwood, NY Realtor.com Price: $345,000 Year built: 1760 Riverfront location: At this delightful home, which has been carefully maintained throughout the centuries, the bathrooms have been updated, a new roof was installed last year, and a ductless central air system has been added. In the historic district of North Cromwell, this waterfront Colonial is just steps from the Connecticut River, with views that can be enjoyed from the enclosed porch. Its historic charm can still be found in the exposed beams, hardwood floors, and five fireplaces. A modern kitchen has been updated to include a double-oven, stainless-steel range, granite countertops, a farm sink, and modern cabinetry. Cromwell, CT Realtor.com Price: $200,000 Year built: 1772 Westville Recreation Area: This historic four-bedroom farmhouse was relocated several years ago from the Westville Recreation Area to a private hillside lot across the street. Its proximity to the Recreation Area means easy access to hiking, fishing, and boating. Heating and electrical systems have been updated, but the budget-friendly structure needs a new owner to transform it into a home. Southbridge, MA Realtor.com Price: $1,275,000 Year built: 1780 Ideal location: With a coveted Monk Road address, this 18th-century stone farmhouse is complemented by a modern addition. There are two fireplaces, a covered balcony, and original pine floors in this four-bedroom home. Inside are a mix of Old World details and modern updates. Highlights include a lovely kitchen with a side-by-side Sub-Zero refrigerator and a primary suite with a covered balcony and separate dressing area. If a buyer wants to create a compound, the adjacent lot is also available. Gladwyne, PA Realtor.com Price: $3,565,000 Year built: 1789 South of Broad home: This classically elegant, five-bedroom house features luxe amenities like a built-in refrigerator, six-burner Thermador gas stove, and a primary suite with a marble bathroom. A covered outdoor porch just off the kitchen lends itself to hosting a big party, and a den space at the back of the house has a bar. For comfort, central HVAC units and ductwork were installed recently on the second and third floors. A spectacular primary suite has a private screened-in porch and a spacious, dual walk-in closet. Charleston, SC Realtor.com Price: $379,900 Year built: 1790 John Clark Homestead: This notable home is listed in the "Houses of Essex, Vol. II," for its ties to the piano-making Comstock family. A separate cabin on the property with private access could be used to accommodate visiting family and friends or alternatively, rented out for additional income. The main house has been updated with softwood flooring, new paint, and stainless-steel appliances in the kitchen. For even more space, it has a two-story heated barn in the private backyard. Essex, CT Realtor.com Price: $2,785,000 Year built: 1790 Colonial-Federal style farmhouse: This four-bedroom home sits on nearly 24 acres and features a 19th-century former smokehouse, an English, U-shaped barn, and a stream that runs through it. Abutting Roxbury Land Trust, the residence, only 90 miles from New York City, is close to nature trails and preserves. Its period details include exposed beams, four fireplaces, and original hardwood flooring. Modern amenities are evident in the country kitchen, with a butler's pantry and a formal dining room with a cathedral ceiling. Roxbury, CT Realtor.com The post Built in 1700, an Affordable Connecticut Classic Is The Week's Oldest Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Thunder Bay Police Chief Sylvie Hauth, right, is pictured with Holly Walbourne, lawyer for the police service, at a police board meeting in 2020. Hauth has been under pressure over inquiries into police handling of Iindigenous matters and, lately, allegations of harassment from several officers and a member of the police services board. Local 'Quality takes time' at the Florida Holster Company mattbeck / Photos by Matthew Beck / Chronicle photo editor Russ Kocher hand makes custom gun holsters, gun belts and other items from high-grade cow leather. Above, Kocher cuts a pattern for a holster to fit a small pistol for a customer order. If its not a handmade, made-to-order leather holster, it didnt come from the Florida Holster Company. Personalization to me is everything, and I personally hand build each one, owner Russ Kocher said while creating a customers cross draw holster from scratch at the company shop next to his Inverness home. This thing will last forever if you take care of it. Having this traditional and detailed standard is what separates Kochers holsters from the inexpensive yet unreliable firearm gear available on store shelves. The quality of the $49 holster is: you get what you pay for, Kocher said. Theyre all machine-made, people dont touch the leather, theres zero customization. Kocher, a former cross-country trucker of 15 years whos lived in Citrus County since 1986, builds the orders of his current full-time job himself with occasional help from an assistant. Right now, he said, the money that comes in supports me and my family. Kocher doesnt just cut, stain, glue, stitch and mold holsters from leather straps. He also crafts wallets, knife sheaths, arrow quivers, rifle slings, patches and much more from tanned animal hides. Anything leather, except for purses, Kocher said before laughing. I cant build a damn purse to save my life. Florida Holster Company products can be customized in a variety of ways from staining patterns to thread colors and can be laser engraved with messages, names or initials. mattbeck / Matthew Beck Chronicle photo editor A wide variety of colors of thread is available when ordering products. Belts, gun holsters and other products use the heavy-duty thread as one component of piecing the products together. Gun belts, which have stronger dexterity than flimsy single-layer belts, are also popular. My belts are two layers of six-to-seven ounce leather, Kocher said, so that makes it 14 ounces, which is almost a quarter-inch thick. Want to know more about the Florida Holster Company, visit floridaholsterco.com or dial 352-601-0807. Kocher also offers concealed-firearm courses. Kocher has around 250 dummy handguns to design and fit a holster around, but hell sometimes ask clients to send photographs of their firearm if it has attachments, like an optic sight. Kocher, who tries to be more affordable than other leatherworkers, said his holsters start at $115 and can go up to $250, depending on what type of materials and add-ons go into an order. A handguns size doesnt affect the price of its holster. Orders take between four to six months to fulfill due to high demand, and local customers are encouraged to call Kocher to make the process easier. Its custom, its handmade, and quality takes time, Kocher said. Kocher uses regular cattle hide and embossed, gator-patterned leather in most of his work. While leather is somewhat forgiving to work with, Kocher said he wont ship his customers order if its not perfect in his eyes. If I mess it up, I start all over, he said. Theres probably 10 holsters in that garbage bag. While the Florida Holster Company began roughly three years ago first out of the Kocher family dining room and then its garage Kochers passion to craft from leather started around seven years ago. Back then, Kocher owned another holster company, which dealt in mostly plastic holsters, and a friend asked him to make a leather holster for their father-in-laws birthday. Kocher agreed to the task, which was made all the more challenging because Kocher had to hand stitch hundreds of holes through the thick layers, a process that took Kocher a few days. It was horrible, he said. Kocher uses a walking-foot stitcher to sew the pieces of leather together. The heavy thread used along with another compound holds the pieces tightly together. The machine is specially designed to stitch leather. Nonetheless, Kocher pursued the leather trade after completing his first custom order. I only wanted to do the one, and I was going to walk away ... but after I built that one for him, it kind of just started snowballing, he said. I enjoy doing it, and I get to work with guns. Since then, and after a couple positive YouTube reviews, Kochers set of tools has grown and hes built a workshop outside his house. He still uses his mothers old dining room table as the main workbench. Kocher also bought a pedal-powered, walking-foot stitcher a sowing machine on steroids with a needle strong enough to pierce bonded nylon thread through half an inch of leather with ease. It now takes Kocher around an hour to make a holster from cutting, staining and sanding its traced leather pieces, to framing and etching them with bone around a guns shape, trigger guard and sight channel. Kocher dunks his holster in water to make the molding process easier. He also binds and stitches a leather overlay to the front of every holster to act as both a cosmetic and structural feature. It helps keep the throat of the holster secure, he said, that way, it doesnt fold in. After its molded to the dummy or real gun for 24 hours, the holster is coated in clear, water-resistant acrylic resin to stiffen and seal the leather along with its threading and coloration. No Florida Holster Company product leaves Kochers shop without his logo. While hed like to keep growing the Florida Holster Company brand, and one day pass on his talents, Kocher doesnt want to expand his business too fast. Do I want to get bigger? Sure, he said. Do I want to be the biggest in the world, in the country? No. One day, before he dies, Kocher wants to make a saddle for him to look at as a reminder about his handiwork and its accomplishments. I dont know when that will be, he said with a chuckle. Once I die, I dont care what happens to it. Florida, US (34429) Today Mostly sunny skies this morning will give way to occasional showers during the afternoon. Thunder possible. High around 90F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. A Statistics Canada study shows that international students have been a growing source of labour in the Canadian economy over the past decade. PGWP holders entering Canadian workforce on the rise A Statistics Canada study shows that international students have been a growing source of labour in the Canadian economy over the past decade. PGWP holders entering Canadian workforce on the rise A Statistics Canada study shows that international students have been a growing source of labour in the Canadian economy over the past decade. PGWP holders entering Canadian workforce on the rise A Statistics Canada study shows that international students have been a growing source of labour in the Canadian economy over the past decade. Alexandra Miekus Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A The significant increase in the number of international students arriving in Canada in recent years has resulted in increased participation in the PGWPP, according to a recent Statistics Canada study. Over the past decade, the number of first-time study permit holders in Canada has continued to rise, from around 75,000 in the mid-2000s to 250,000 in 2019, the study says. Consistent with this trend, a greater proportion of international students have moved on to participate in the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) and obtained a work permit after they graduate. Get a Free Canadian Immigration Evaluation The PGWPP is a temporary worker program that offers international students who graduate from Canadian post-secondary institutions the possibility of obtaining an open work permit to stay and work in Canada. To be eligible for the program, candidates must have completed a program of study of at least eight months at an eligible institution in Canada. The duration of the permit is then based on the length of the completed study program, up to a maximum of three years. As an open work permit, the post-graduation work permit allows international graduates to work in any occupation anywhere in Canada and to change employers at any time. According to the study, over the period 2008 to 2018, the annual number of new Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders increased six-fold, from 10,300 to 64,700. This increase was observed for both men and women, although men accounted for a higher proportion of PGWP holders over the same period. China and India have been the countries of origin of 51% of all PGWP holders since 2008, but by 2018 these two source countries accounted for 66% of all issued PGWPs. In addition, international students from India saw their share increase by more than four times, from 10% in 2008 to 46% in 2018. The reverse trend was observed for China, with a decrease from 41% to 20% over the same period. Ontario attracted the largest share of international students as a work destination in 2008 at 44%, and this has increased over time to 56% in 2018. The share of those intending to go to British Columbia and Quebec, the other two most popular destinations, has decreased between 2008 and 2018. In terms of labour market participation of PGWP holders, the study notes that in 2008, a total of 10,300 PGWP holders submitted positive T4 tax returns. This grew to 135, 100 by 2018. Over that period, the median earnings of PGWP holders with employment income also increased from $14,500 (in 2018 dollars) in 2008 to $26,800 in 2018, indicating greater input in the labour market, according to the report. Also notable, the study found that close to three-quarters of all PGWP holders transitioned to permanent residence within five years of obtaining their PGWP. Transition rates among PGWP holders for college and masters level programs were the highest, especially among the more recent cohorts. These findings, the study concludes, highlight the importance of the PGWPP to both international students and the Canadian economy. On the one hand, the PGWPP allows international students who have graduated from a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution to gain work experience in Canada and can provide the necessary job experience required to apply for some permanent residence streams. The PGWPP allows to bridge the gap between a Canadian education and in-country work experience and thus can improve the chances of obtaining Canadian permanent residence through the federal Express Entry system. Having a Canadian degree and work experience allows Express Entry candidates to score higher on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), thus increasing their chances of obtaining permanent residency status. Other programs such as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), for those who have studied in Quebec, are also among immigration streams that favour candidates with a Canadian degree and work experience. And in a broader sense, as the study also notes, the PGWPP facilitates international students contribution to the Canadian labour market, increases the pool of qualified candidates for eventual immigration and serves to make Canada a more attractive destination of study. Get a Free Canadian Immigration Evaluation CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was forced to cancel her wedding as the government enforced new restrictions as infections of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 virus in the country were reported. The Prime Minister announced the restrictions on Sunday that will attempt to control the spread of the virus through the wearing of masks and limited gatherings, as per Reuters. Ardern told the media that nine persons in Motueka got infected with Omicron. According to a New Zealand Herald report, the infected individuals attended a wedding in Aukland on January 13. They also went to a funeral, an amusement park, and the Sky Tower. Authorities estimate that over 100 people were present in the events. Prime Minister Ardern confirmed that Omicron, a highly contagious but mild variant of COVID-19, has spread in Auckland and possibly the Nelson area, which prompted the decision to impose restrictions, the New Zealand Herald reported. Under its COVID-19 protection structure, New Zealand will impose a red setting that will increase mask-wearing, while bars, restaurants, and other indoor events will be limited to 100 people. If venues do not require vaccine passes, the cap will be downsized to 25 people. Read Also: New Zealand Aims To Reopen International Border in 2022 After Adapting New Coronavirus Strategy Gayford-Ardern Wedding Cancelled Due to the necessary restrictions, Ardern announced that she would postpone her wedding with her longtime partner and show host Clarke Gayford. "My wedding will not be going ahead," she told the press, followed by the acknowledgment of the "more devastating impacts" of the ongoing pandemic to many New Zealanders, especially those who cannot be around with a seriously ill loved one. "That will far, far outstrip any sadness I experience," said Ardern, who did not disclose the new possible date of her wedding. No Lockdowns for New Zealand Earlier, New Zealand announced that it would not implement lockdowns that it imposed in previous outbreaks of COVID-19's previous variants. However, Ardern said, the government is open to changes. "That is going to make it harder to keep it out, but it will also make it more challenging to control once it arrives. But just like before, when COVID changes, we change." Ardern stated that New Zealand would go into "red" status within 24 to 48 hours after Omicron was detected in the population. Businesses would continue to operate, domestic travel would stay open, but schools would require students to wear protective masks, and crowds would be limited to 100 people, as per AP News. During the outbreak of the Delta variant, the nation has managed the spread of the disease with an average of 20 new cases daily per day. Though, the number of Omicron-infected individuals arriving in New Zealand has increased. They were placed under mandatory quarantine. However, Opposition leader Christopher Luxon criticizes Ardern for planning poorly in managing the impact of the pandemic in the country and for the low distribution of the COVID-19 test. But Ardern believes that the best thing that people could do to protect themselves from Omicron was to get a booster shot to bring down the risk of a severe case of infection and hospitalization. Being vaccinated also allows most people to recover at home instead of getting admitted to a medical facility. Related Article: COVID-19 Pandemic Could End This Year If People Would Get Vaccinated, WHO Says @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. You will receive 5-day a week delivery of the Citizen Tribune newspaper to your home or business, plus full, ad-free access to CitizenTribune.com as well as full access to the Electronic Edition of the newspaper. ONLY $13.99 per month for the first 3 months! Only $16.00 per month after promotional period. Or ONLY $169.99 for a full year Only $192.00 per year after promotional period. Gail Marsha Malitz, age 83, of Beachwood, was born June 11, 1938, in Cleveland, and passed away on May 2, 2022. Arrangements under the direction of Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23) The Department of Labor and Employment on Sunday ordered the resumption of nationwide inspection of establishments. Under Administrative Order No. 11, Series of 2022, routine, complaint, and special inspections, as well as occupational safety and health standards investigation, may take place until Dec. 31 "unless earlier revoked." A total of 500 labor inspectors and 126 technical safety inspectors were authorized to resume the survey. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III also directed DOLEs regional directors to issue the corresponding authority for the inspection and investigation of workplaces. Some 115 regional office personnel were tasked to act as sheriffs, "who will take charge in the enforcement of issued writs of execution, implementation of decisions, and performance of final orders." Bello reiterated that only the 485 designated hearing officers shall conduct mandatory conferences for those with "noted violations," particularly of general labor and health standards, occupational safety, and contracting or subcontracting rules. In December 2021, Bello ordered DOLEs regional directors to suspend the inspection to "dispose of pending labor standards cases and prepare the inspection program for 2022." At least 90,327 establishments with 3.7 million workers were inspected last year, DOLE said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23) The National Capital Regions COVID-19 reproduction number, or the number of people that can be infected, decreased to 1.20 on Jan. 19 from 2.95 a week ago, the OCTA Research said on Sunday. Medical experts said the reproduction number should be at one or less to say that community transmission of COVID-19 is decreasing. OCTA also noted that the one-week growth rate in NCR decreased to -42%, indicating a clear downward trajectory in new cases, OCTA Research fellow Guido David tweeted. Metro Manila recorded 6,646 new COVID-19 cases on Jan. 22. Comparing the number of new cases with the projections made on Jan. 20, the figure shows that new cases are tracking slightly below projections, David added. Meanwhile, the average daily attack rate (ADAR) in NCR, or the number of confirmed cases in a certain area or population, decreased to 72 per day per 100,000, which is still at very high level. Residents of NCR are advised to continue to practice extreme caution and strictly comply with health protocols in public areas, David said. Provinces record new highs OCTA also said some provinces recorded new highs in COVID-19 cases. Based on their ADAR, Baguio City and Iloilo City are under the severe outbreak classification. Baguio City and Iloilo City have ADARs of 152.39 and 82.38, respectively. Rizal and Bulacan also recorded negative one-week growth rates of 28% and 38%, respectively. However, OCTA said the two provinces are still considered at very high risk because of their ADAR. Rizal and Bulacan have ADARs of 43.91 and 29.80, respectively. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23) The One COVID-19 Allowance (OCA) proposed by the Department of Health is "discriminatory" as it involves unequal distribution of benefits among health workers, the Alliance of Health Workers said on Sunday. It said the DOH should do away with the risk stratification and distribute benefits to all health workers evenly. "Nakakagalit kasi discriminatory ito sa mga health worker, at the same time, divisive sa mga health worker. Wala sanang pinipili kung low, medium, or high kasi ang virus wala naman pinipili," said AHW president Roberto Mendoza. [Translation: It is disappointing because it is discriminatory and divisive to health workers. We hope they would do away with the low, medium, or high risk classification because the virus does not choose who to infect in the first place.] The DOH earlier said the OCA will replace the special risk allowance. Instead of receiving it in tranches, the OCA will be given to hospital employees on a monthly basis. Risk, meal, transportation, and accommodation allowances are included in the OCA. But for the health workers' group, these are "not enough." Mendoza expressed hope that their proposed benefits, including the special risk allowance of 15,000 and active hazard duty pay of 5,000, would still be granted. "Ang problema sa Department of Health, tinipid ang ating health workers. Sana iparamdam naman ng gobyerno ang pangangalaga at pagmamahal nila sa ating health workers dahil matagal na (silang) dismayado," he said. [Translation: The problem with the Department of Health is that it's not providing enough for our health workers. We hope they will do something about this because our frontliners have long been dismayed with the government.] The DOH said it is up to the hospitals to identify employees who are at low, medium, or high risk. "This will be given on a monthly basis. It depends on the risk or stratification of the risk they are having for COVID. Different administrations, or the hospital directors, (will clarify) who the health workers in the low-risk category are, who will receive 3,000, and the medium-risk category to receive 6,000, and the high-risk category to receive 9,000," said Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega. He also said non-medical workers, such as janitors and security guards, of hospitals will receive the OCA. "Pwede sila makatanggap as long as they are employed by the institution on a contractual basis," said Vega. [Translation: They are also entitled to benefits as long as they are employed by the institution on a contractual basis.] The agency said it allocated 50 billion of its 2022 budget for the OCA, but only 7.9 billion is "for later release." Groups such as the AHW urged the government to give the appropriate amount of benefits to medical workers, who are on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19. They also hoped the distribution of the promised benefits will be on time. CNN Philippines' Currie Cator contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23) The Department of Health on Sunday reported 29,828 more COVID-19 cases, with the countrys total hitting 3,417,216. The DOH said 29,237 (98%) of the new cases occurred within the last 14 days. Metro Manila was the top contributing region during the period with 5,178 (18%), followed by Calabarzon with 4,227 (14%), and Central Luzon with 2,787 (10%). There are now 273,580 active cases, which make up 8% of the overall tally. This is lower than Saturdays count of over 280,000. The drop in the number of active cases came as the DOH listed 36,763 new recoveries, which raised the survivor count to 3,090,164. The DOH also reported 67 more deaths, of which 49 occurred this month. The other 18 occurred from June to December last year and were encoded late. Nationwide, the total lives lost to COVID-19 reached 53,472. According to DOH, around 69,000 tests were reported on Jan. 21, with the positivity rate, or the percentage of infected people out of all those tested for COVID-19, remaining high at 41.8%. This marked the 17th consecutive day the positivity rate was at 40% or higher. The DOH said two testing laboratories did not submit data on time. It added that the two laboratories contributed an average of 0% of samples tested and of positive cases over the past 14 days. After final validation, the DOH also removed 136 duplicate entries from its data, including 78 recoveries and a fatality. Meanwhile, it reclassified as deaths 22 cases it previously declared as recoveries. This trade route from China created 400,000 jobs for the US: Ambassador Qin Gang Global Times) 10:07, January 23, 2022 Photo: Courtesy of the Chinese embassy in the US China and the US have no better choice than solidarity and cooperation facing multiple challenges from fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, restoring growth, stabilizing industrial and supply chains, to addressing climate change, according to Chinese Ambassador to the US Qin Gang. Qin made the remarks during a ceremony on Friday (US time) where he accepted the plaque of recognition and a commemorative jacket from Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) and the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA). "The honor you present to me belongs to Chinese companies. It is also shared by all those devoted to cooperation between COSCO Shipping and the Port of Boston," he said. In March 2002, COSCO Shipping opened a direct vessel service from the Chinese mainland to the Port of Boston upon agreement of the two sides. Over the past 20 years of successful operation, it has not only saved 9,000 jobs in the Port of Boston, but also created another 400,000 jobs in the US, winning praise from the local government and people across the US. Massport maritime director Michael Meyran said at the ceremony that "the 20-year partnership has been the perfect model of how to do business between the US and China. We look forward to continuing this partnership of business cooperation for the long future." COSCO's cooperation with the Port of Boston is an example of the win-win economic and trade cooperation between China and the US, the ambassador said. More than 70,000 American companies have invested in the Chinese market, of which 97 percent made profit over the past year, and 64 percent saw their revenues increase. China and the US have long been bound together by shared interests. The US is one of the biggest sources of foreign investment for China, and China is the No.2 holder of US' treasury bonds. Data from China's General Administration of Customs showed that in 2021, trade between China and the US soared by 28.7 percent and amounted to $755.6 billion - maintaining strong growth momentum and contributing 12 percent to China's record $6 trillion foreign trade for the year despite tariffs and bruising political tensions between the world's two largest economies. "Our trade has provided many quality but inexpensive products for American consumers, and supported 2.6 million American jobs," Qin noted. He called on the two countries to follow the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation and bring bilateral relations back on track, which will give the world some long-awaited stability and certainty. "China-US cooperation can deliver many things good for both countries and the whole world; it can also bring tangible benefits and opportunities to places like the Port of Boston, to our longshoremen, and to all of us. If China and the US enter into conflict and confrontation, if we fight a trade war or a new 'Cold War,' it will be a political tragedy that benefits no one. It will cause unbearable cost to each of us, to people like you and me," he said. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) A spokesman said Arnold Schwarzenegger was fine after being involved in a car crash that sent a woman to the hospital with minor injuries. The 74-year-old actor and former California governor was driving a GMC Yukon that was among four vehicles involved in Friday's wreck in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles. A woman was taken to the hospital for an abrasion on her head, police said in a statement. The statement from the LAPD said neither alcohol nor drugs are suspected as a factor in the collision, but did not mention the cause of the crash. Schwarzenegger was not injured and stayed at the scene, spokesman Daniel Ketchell said Saturday. (AP) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23) Authorities seized 5.2 million worth of ecstasy at the Port of Clark, the Bureau of Customs reported on Sunday. In a statement, the BOC said the shipment from Zaandam, the Netherlands arrived on Jan. 20 at the Port of Clark and it was declared as solar lights for home use. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency's K9 unit inspected the shipment and they found "positive indications of possible presence of illegal drugs." "Further examination on six plastic pouches revealed 3,054 pieces and more or less 10 grams of broken pieces of blue and pink tablets suspected to be ecstasy," the BOC added. Testing proved it was ecstasy with a street value of 5.2 million. The shipment's consignee was arrested in Quezon City during a controlled delivery operation on Jan. 22. "The subject illegal drugs were turned over to PDEA for proper disposition and the claimant will be subjected to inquest proceedings," the BOC said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23) Aspirants for senatorial seats in the coming polls say they want more for the country's healthcare workers -- not just monetary compensation, but also enough rest to make sure they can take on the challenges of the pandemic. Former Senator JV Ejercito, Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero and Senator Richard Gordon, who took part in CNN Philippines' second Senatorial forum on Sunday, were one in saying that the country's healthcare workers deserve better. Include temporary, contractual workers Escudero said existing laws cover only permanent healthcare workers and employees. "Kung may batas na gagawin, dapat isaklaw o isama ang temporary, job order, at contractual workers dahil sa totoo lang...sa pananaw ko, pareho lang ang ginagawang trabaho ng contractual, ng job order, at permanente," he said. [Translation: If there is a law that should be made, it should cover temporary, job order and contractual workers because in my opinion, they do the same work.] The governor said the country has been left behind by its Asian neighbors when it comes to wages for healthcare workers. He said this was the reason why so many have left to work overseas. Escudero says proper recognition and compensation must be given to all health workers for their work and sacrifice, especially during the pandemic. He also said he does not believe there are no funds availble to fund his proposal. "Kung may pera para bumili ng ilang kagamitan na hindi kailangan, may pera din dapat sila para magbigay ng pagkilala't kumpensasyon sa tunay na naaasahan sa panahon ng pandemya," he said [Translation: If there are funds to buy some unnecessary items, there should be funds to recognize and compensate those who can be relied upon during the pandemic.] RELATED: Health group: One COVID-19 Allowance 'discriminatory' Give them due allowances Ejercito, on the other hand, said while the country may not be ale to pay its healthcare workers as well as other countries, proper PPE supplies, food, and transportation allowances should be provided to them. The former senator said he could also see no reason why funds cannot be released to raise their salaries when it was done for uniformed personnel. "Ngayon, sa giyerang ito ang ating foot soldiers ay ang health workers," he said. [Translation: Now, in this war, health workers are our foot soldiers.] They should be allowed sufficient rest Senator Gordon, meanwhile, said it should not just be about pay health care workers should be given enough rest to recover from the stresses of their jobs. "Hindi dapat ibababad doon. Meron dapat tayong mga 'bubble' na kung saan nilalagay ang mga nurses na nagpapahinga para hindi sila lalabas. Kahit ilagay mo sila sa hotel, tinatamaan pa rin sila," he said. [Translation: They should not stay long there. There should be "bubbles" where they can go and rest so they don't have to go out. They can still get infected even if they stay in hotels.] He also stressed that funds must be given to those who need them the most. Watch the CNN Philippines' second Senatorial Forum: Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23) Veteran lawmakers running in the 2022 senatorial polls emphasized the need for the country to forge miltary alliances with neighboring Southeast Asian countries and first-world nations to defend its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. Former Senator JV Ejercito said that while the country must send its most modern military equipment in the disputed waters, they cannot match what China has. Beijing refuses to honor Manila's victory in the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling, which nullified the Asian superpower's expansive claims in the South China Sea. Ejercito added that military alliances with the country's Southeast Asian neighbors and nations like the United States, Australia, and Japan are vital in maintaining South China Sea as a zone of peace and free travel. "We won the arbitration in The Hague. It is enshrined in our Constitution that we have to protect and fight for our territorial integrity at all costs," Ejercito said during CNN Philippines' Senatorial Forum on Sunday. The son of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada also said the country must emulate Vietnam's strong stance against Chinese vessels entering their territorial waters. Several Filipino vessels have been involved in incidents with Chinese ships, which entered areas that are within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Also in the forum, reelectionist Sen. Richard Gordon explained the country needs those military alliances as it is risky to have a "one-on-one" confrontation with China. "China has a very big influence, kaya tagilid tayo dyan [that's why we can't win]. Ang attitude natin [Our attitude should be] we cannot deal with China one-on-one," Gordon said. Gordon said the country's assertion of its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea will help preserve our aquatic resources, boost food security, and protect the livelihood of Filipino fishermen. Sorsogon Gov. Francis "Chiz" Escudero also said Manila must demand the inclusion of the 2016 arbitral ruling victory in the South China Sea code of conduct between Southeast Asian countries and Beijing. Escudero said the Philippines is having a hard time asserting the international tribunal ruling because it also affects the interests of other claimant Southeast Asian nations in the South China Sea. "Hindi man natin kayang ipatupad ang arbitral ruling laban sa China, dahil malayong mas makapangyarihan ang China kumpara sa atin, dapat hindi natin bitiwan o pakawalan ang interes at karapatan natin sa mga karagatan at islang iyan," Escudero said in the televised forum. [Translation: We may not be able to enforce the arbitral ruling against China, because China is more powerful than us, but we should not let go or relinquish our interests and rights in the seas and islands.] The country has filed a number of diplomatic protests against Beijing's incursion in areas inside the archipelago's EEZ. On Jan. 21, 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gathered a crowd of 8,000 at Penn States Recreation Hall as a part of his nonviolent protest campaign during the civil rights movement. Years later, State College community members gathered to take photos at the same spot as part of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza Committees first MLK Day local legacy search event on Saturday. Martin Luther King came to our community and spoke at Rec Hall the history of his work and nonviolent protest is here, State College Mayor Ezra Nanes said. Its important to recognize that we share the history of that movement with the whole country. Participants hunted to solve seven clues about local history knowledge in relation to MLK in the local State College and Penn State community. After solving the clues, community members ventured to the Downtown State College Improvement Districts office to submit their response in hopes of winning one of three prizes. For Amy Grubb, who has worked for the borough for six years, solving the clues with her group of four participants was very exciting, and she was the first participant to submit her results. The whole process took about two to three days, but when it was crunch time, we got working on it really fast, Grubb said. Participants were able to start working on the search earlier than Saturday because the clues were released prior, Grubb said. First, we took a picture of the stones, then we drove around the campus and took the photos we needed from there, Grubb said. Then, we took the photos we needed of the murals, which was great, and then the one that was a real big stumper was the six steps, but we figured it out. For Nanes, its an honor to be mayor for a community where theres a lot of people who have already started this important work. Its great to feel the energy of the community coming around MLK Day and this holiday, which is really important, Nanes said. Nanes said he anticipates this being a popular event in the future because theres so much to learn, and you can discover parts of the community. Kevin Kassab, State College community engagement manager and five-year MLK Plaza committee member, said the events purpose had an educational aspect and brought the community together for a common good. For Kassab, the event served to educate the community that the MLK Plaza is here since the committee found that a lot of people don't really know it's here. It's near and dear to the hearts of our community, the mayor, the council, the borough manager and our staff, so we do everything we possibly can do to support the MLK Plaza, Kassab said. Another committee member, Jonathan Friedman, said the event strived to bring out more information regarding MLK and his connection to the area. It's important to be inclusive in the community, which really drives us to hope to make the community a better place through inclusivity, Friedman said. He said the turnout is variable because of the weather, but these kinds of events will grow over time, as the committee will make new clues for future MLK searches. Carol Eicher, another committee member, said the committee searched through the archives about Kings visit in 1965 and did a lot of research to create an educational opportunity for the community. Eicher, also co-chair and founder of the Community Diversity Group a nonprofit based in Centre County said working for the community is part of [her] DNA, and this is just one event the committee planned to showcase the plazas impact. In 2012, the State College Borough Council passed a resolution to rename Fraser Plaza downtown in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for whom the plaza serves as a memorial, according to Eicher. Our goal is to create awareness of the cultures in the community, celebrate them and educate people on what a wonderful, diverse community we have and for individuals to learn the benefit of that, Eicher said. Charles Dumas, Penn State professor and inaugural member of the MLK Plaza Committee before there was a plaza committee, said they have never done this event before. Dumas said the search is a brilliant idea from Penn State professor AnneMarie Mingo because it combines adventure, education and fun as well as a little money for the winners. I think the success is we got it together and found something that is compatible with the weather and is something that can go on throughout Black History Month and the year, Dumas said. Even though it was colder than heck outside, Dumas said the event was educational, even for himself, as someone who teaches African American studies and knew King and his wife. If you came here for an education, the biggest education you are going to have to learn is through interacting with people, Dumas said. Its the people in this community the people who have built this plaza you can learn from. For Dumas, staying involved in the local community and advocacy is vital because it keeps you going. Dumas said to stay active means to keep contributing to the community and learning, and he said he is proud of the people who are trying to make things better. If there's going to be positive change in our country and our community, it's going to come from people who are doing these kinds of things. MORE BOROUGH COVERAGE NEW MEXICO Company says gigawatt wind project completed ALBUQUERQUE A California-based renewable energy company says work is complete on four wind farms in New Mexico that total more than a gigawatt of capacity. Pattern Energy officials announced on Jan. 6 that the Western Spirit Wind project has started commercial operations. The company had billed it as the largest single-phase construction of renewable power in the U.S. The wind farms span three counties in central New Mexico and while electric consumption varies by state and the size of homes, company officials have that Western Spirit's generating capacity can provide enough electricity to meet the needs of about 365,000 homes. Power purchase agreements already are in place to serve several California utilities, including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the city of San Jose. Some of the electricity will also serve customers in New Mexico. Western Spirit is projected to provide nearly $3 million per year in new property tax revenues for Guadalupe, Lincoln and Torrance counties and the two school districts that encompass the area over the next 25 years. Pattern Energy also plans $6 billion in wind energy and related infrastructure projects in New Mexico over the next decade that will net more tax revenues. Pattern CEO Mike Garland said in a statement that the Western Spirit project generated over 1,100 construction jobs during the 15 months that work was underway. More than 50 workers will operate and maintain the wind facilities going forward. High court upholds deal on coal-fired power plant SANTA FE The state Supreme Court has upheld provisions of an environmental law that provides financial arrangements for an electric utility to abandon investments in a coal-fired power plant in northwestern New Mexico. In a unanimous opinion announced on Jan. 10, the court upheld a finance order from state utility regulators that helps end the use of the San Juan Generating Station by Public Service Company of New Mexico. The order allows the investor-owned utility to bill $361 million to utility customers as it moves forward with plans to abandon the power plant and raise money to shore up local employment. Two advocacy groups for utility customers challenged the financial arrangements and the constitutionality of the 2019 Energy Transition Act that aims to phase out electricity sources linked to heavy emissions of climate-warming gasses. An opinion from Justice David Thomson says that advocacy groups were unable to show that the new law results in unreasonable charges on utility bills. The court rejected arguments that the state legislature overstepped its constitutional authority or infringed on the utility commission's responsibility for regulating utility companies. The opinion was applauded by a long list of environmental advocacy groups, including the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council and Western Resource Advocates. WYOMING Judge questions Yellowstone bison species decision YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revisit part of its decision not to protect Yellowstone National Park's bison as an endangered species. The Buffalo Field Campaign and Western Watersheds Project groups have been fighting since 2014 to have Yellowstone's bison declared endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. They have argued that two separate groups of bison in the park are genetically distinct. Rather than set a population limit of 3,000 animals for the entire park, they said, the limit should be 3,000 for each herd, or 6,000 overall. The Fish and Wildlife Service, citing a different study, has argued that the herds are not genetically distinct and rejected the listing petition in 2019, the Billings Gazette reported. The federal agency failed to articulate why it chose one study over the other, District of Columbia U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss wrote in an opinion. Moss set no deadline for the Fish and Wildlife Service to respond but will require both sides to update the court on the case within 90 days. NAVAJO NATION Booster required for tribes government workers WINDOW ROCK Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez has signed an executive order requiring all government workers on the tribe's vast reservation to have a booster shot. Nez also said tribal health officials have changed how the term "fully vaccinated" is defined by making it two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine plus a booster shot. The actions come after a record number of COVID cases have been reported on the reservation that covers 27,000 square miles and extends into parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Tribal health officials reported 525 new cases on Jan. 14, the most in a single day since the pandemic began almost two years ago. That number topped the 405 cases reported the day before. The Navajo Nation has reported more than 45,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,600 deaths since the start of the pandemic. OKLAHOMA Death row inmates choose firing squad in delay attempt OKLAHOMA CITY Two men on Oklahoma's death row at the prodding of a federal judge agreed to choose execution by firing squad as a way to delay their upcoming lethal injections, one of their attorneys told the judge. The two inmates, Donald Grant and Gilbert Postelle, want U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot to grant them a temporary injunction that would halt their upcoming executions until a trial can be held over whether Oklahoma's three-drug lethal injection method is constitutional. A trial on the issue is set to begin before Friot on Feb. 28, but the judge has said in order to be added as plaintiffs, inmates must select an alternative method of execution. Grant, who is scheduled to die on Jan. 27, and Postelle, who has a Feb. 17 execution date, hadn't previously selected an alternative method. "While it may be gruesome to look at, we all agree it will be quicker," attorney Jim Stronski told Friot on Jan. 10 after a daylong hearing in Oklahoma City. More than two dozen death row inmates who are plaintiffs in the challenge agreed previously to provide the court with an alternative method of execution, including the use of different drug combinations or firing squad, which is one of several execution methods authorized under Oklahoma law. Oklahoma has never used firing squad as a method of executing prisoners since statehood, but current state law does allow for its use if other methods, such as lethal injection, were determined to be unconstitutional or otherwise unavailable. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections does not currently have execution protocols in place for any method other than lethal injection. Retail investors of SillaJen protest in front of the Korea Exchange in Seoul on Jan. 18, calling for the resumption of its stock trading. Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung Korea's biotech stocks are facing widening uncertainty amid weakening investor sentiment due to major large-cap players' involvement in a series of scandals. According to data from the Korea Exchange, the profitability of KODEX bio exchange-traded funds (ETF) dropped by 16.49 percent on Jan. 20, compared to the beginning of the year. This was attributable to the stock fall of the scandal-tainted bio and healthcare companies such as Osstem Implant, SillaJen and Celltrion. Osstem shares have been suspended from trading since the start of this year, after one of its employees allegedly embezzled 220 billion won. It remains to be seen whether the exchange operator will resume the trading of its shares, but even if trading is resumed, Osstem's corporate value will likely plummet after losing trust from investors due to its poor internal supervision system. Last week, the Korea Exchange also decided to delist drugmaker SillaJen from the secondary Kosdaq. About 170,000 retail investors cried foul over the exchange's decision. Even if the decision is confirmed next month, it has ended up weakening investor sentiment on biotech stocks here. The company was the second-most valuable company in the secondary stock market, with a market capitalization of around 7 trillion won back in 2017. But with its management indicted on embezzlement charges, SillaJen shares have been suspended from trading since May 2020. Market analysts said bio stocks will face a bumpy road ahead this year amid planned rate hikes from the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Korea. Bio stocks had been enjoying a strong rally after the start of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020, but failed to extend the growth momentum last year due to weak exports. "The rate hikes come as a risk to growth stocks represented by ones in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry," SK Securities analyst Lee Tae-mi said. "As the interest hikes will continue throughout 2022, the monetary issue will pose a negative impact on the sector, but investor sentiment will recover if uncertainties on the rate hikes and other issues are cleared away." Pricemedsupp.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 16 Jul 2015, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the pricemedsupp homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the pricemedsupp homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the pricemedsupp homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if pricemedsupp has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the pricemedsupp homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the pricemedsupp homepage on Twitter + the total number of pricemedsupp followers (if pricemedsupp has a Twitter account). 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Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. During the 1500s, the Catholic church was busy murdering and assimilating indigenous people in the New World. Some of these newly baptized Catholics liked bringing their sacred tobacco into church, as incense and snuff. (Snuff is essentially tobacco ground into a powder for snorting purposes.) The Church tried to ban tobacco, but it was too ingrained in indigenous culture, and then quickly became way too popular in Europe to stop. Jan van Scorel This is the same reason Pope Hadrian VI legalized doggy style. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Snorting snuff and inhaling tobacco smoke became commonplace in Catholic churches, among clergy and parishioners alike. It was allowed at first, but then the tobacco smoke was drowning out the incense cones, and some people didnt like that. The cigarette butt that broke Joe Camels back was when a particular priest took a too-big blast of snuff during Communionthen sneezed so hard he puked up his sacred wafer of Jesus flesh. The pope at the time then banned tobacco from churches, but that just made it so all the cool kids were hanging out back puffing away instead of sitting in their seats for Mass. After a while, the pope gave up and said it was just the priests who couldnt partake while in church. People were puffing in pews for centuries thereafterby the 1700s, even the popes were smoking and snuffing it up. By the 1800s, the Church was deeply involved in growing and selling tobaccothey had established a monopoly on tobacco sales within the Papal States. Parker Brothers Pictured: Pope Gregory XVI. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Just like with coca leaf, the Churchs motto when it comes to tobacco is apparently: Hic iocus est de mentula tua. Spero tibi placet.If you cant beat them, join them and make a profit while youre at it. During the late 1800s, Pope Pius IX was such a renowned tobacco-snorter that he had to change his white robes several times a day because they kept getting dirty with snuff dust. In 1871, he even put up his beloved holy golden snuff-boxexquisitely carved with two symbolic lambs in the midst of flowers and foliageas the grand prize in a worldwide lottery to raise money for the church. Sue B. Donnelly, 87, of Crossville, passed away at her home on April 26, 2022. She was born on May 18, 1934, in Crossville, Tennessee, daughter of the late James T. Brandon and Clara (Hamby) Brandon. Sue was the owner of Boats and Harbors and of the Baptist Faith. She is survived by her chil As Thursday mornings rain turned to light snow, school districts across Connecticut weighed the decision whether to cancel classes or start late. Some opted for a two-hour delay, while others including Norwalk, Fairfield, Danbury, Greenwich, Stamford and four districts in the Naugatuck River Valley decided to cancel. School superintendents said the decision was prompted by concerns around the timing of the weather event and dropping temperatures that could cause freezing rain and slick roads. It comes on the heels of an ice storm this month that led to numerous accidents across the state and prompted widespread criticism on how officials prepared and responded. It was just too risky with the ice, Seymour Superintendent of Schools Susan Compton said about Thursdays storm, explaining the district didnt want to send buses out and have them stuck in a situation like the ice storm. Ahead of the Thursdays storm, the National Weather Services New York office issued a winter weather advisory for southern Connecticut throughout the morning and early afternoon. The advisory said up to 2 inches of snowfall is expected for southern parts of Connecticuts shoreline counties, but drivers should plan on slippery road conditions during the morning commute. Seymour schools, along with the Ansonia, Derby and Oxford districts, originally agreed they would have a two-hour delayed opening, she said. The superintendents had been up since 5 a.m. discussing the weather and talking with public works personnel. She said the Valley superintendents then made a joint decision to cancel school. Part of Seymours decision was because a two-hour delay would have seen students at the high school arriving around 9:20 a.m., when district officials were unsure of what the weather conditions would be, Compton said. Norwalk schools also cited the potential for freezing rain and ice in their decision to close. While the storm is not expected to bring a lot of snow, this weather system is complicated, the district spokesperson said in a statement. Along with other school districts in our area, we consulted early this morning with our weather service. The meteorologist reported on the expected morning timing of snow and freezing rain, as well as the potential for flash freezing conditions during travel times. The ice storm earlier this month led to widespread crashes throughout the state and hundreds of police calls including one fatality. In the wake of that weather event, Norwalks superintendent issued an apology to parents for not delaying schools that day. Mike Cummings, Fairfield schools superintendent, said his district shared similar concerns as Norwalk on Thursday. He said the district had predictions of freezing road conditions during both normal and delayed arrival times, so they decided to cancel school for the day. Compton said she understood there would be parents upset by the decision, but said it was a really tough call made in the interest of student and staff safety. Our students and staff are our most precious assets and we never want to endanger lives, with not being able to totally predict the weather, she said. Police departments around the state expressed their condolences after one New York Police Department officer was killed, and another injured, in a Friday night shooting. NYPD Officer Jason Rivera, 22, was shot and killed while responding to an incident in Harlem on Friday. Another officer, identified as Wilbert Mora, 27, was also shot and remains in critical condition, the Associated Press reported Saturday. Many Connecticut police departments took to social media to offer their condolences and share their support. The loss of such a young and bright Officer is felt across all of law enforcement. Despite the recent violence you have endured as a department you still answer your calls with unwavering fortitude. We continue to pray for your Officer who is fighting for his life and extend our deepest condolences for your fallen brother, the Connecticut State Police said in a statement. The Stamford Police Department sends our prayers and condolences to our brothers and sisters with the NYPD, Stamford police wrote on social media. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Officer Jason Rivera, Trumbull police said in a Facebook post. The men and women of the Darien Police Department hold our sisters and brothers of the NYPD close to our hearts tonight, and forever, Darien police said in a statement. Police departments in Bethel, Wilton, Norwalk and beyond posted similar messages. Middletown Police Chief Erik M. Costa wrote an open letter that was posted online by the Middletown Police Department on Saturday afternoon. Im sickened by the fatal shooting of Officer Jason Rivera and critically injured Officer Wilbert Mora of the New York City Police Department. Last night they responded to a domestic incident in Harlem where they were ambushed by a 47-year-old suspect with a firearm, Costa said. He offered his condolences to the victims, and prayers for the officers in his own department. We must value the mission of all law-enforcement officers and the officers themselves as they answer the calls of service across our nation, where behind any closed door could be a life changing event, Costa said. We must start to change the culture of violence to a culture of awareness and community. According to reporting from the Associated Press, Rivera and Mora were responding to a reported domestic dispute between a woman and her adult son in a Harlem apartment. The man that reportedly shot the two officers has been identified as Lashawn J. McNeil, 47. He is also currently hospitalized in critical condition, authorities told the Associated Press. He was on probation for a 2003 drug conviction in the city, and also had several out-of-state arrests. Rivera joined the NYPD in November 2020. A person is tested for COVID-19 at a makeshift testing station in front of Seoul Station, Sunday. Yonhap Experts warn gov't to take action over Omicron, as 7,000-plus confirmed cases reported for second consecutive day By Bahk Eun-ji Korea added 7,630 new COVID-19 infected cases on Saturday, including 7,343 locally transmitted, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The figure shows that the nation has seen over 7,000 confirmed cases for the second day running, following Friday when 7,008 people tested positive for the virus. Infectious disease experts called on the government to shift to a new medical response, as the country's daily infections soared to 7,630, the second-largest figure recorded here during the two-year COVID-19 pandemic. As the highly transmissible Omicron variant is feared to become the dominant strain here, epidemiologists warned that damage to high-risk groups could increase, as was the case last month, in case the new medical response system is not implemented promptly. Health authorities, in order to manage the pandemic more effectively, have announced a plan for a new medical response system, which will take effect in the event of average daily cases exceeding 7,000. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, the detection rate of the Omicron variant in local communities from Jan. 16 to 19 stood at 47.1 percent, nearly double from 26.7 percent on Jan. 15. In general, if a specific variant detection rate exceeds 50 percent in all confirmed patients, the variant is considered dominant. The KDCA predicted that the daily infections will hover around 7,000 for the next week, and that the detection rate of Omicron could be 80 percent to 90 percent within two weeks, including the five-day Lunar New Year long weekend, which starts Jan. 29. Health authorities have announced plans to implement the new medical system in four local governments South Jeolla Province, Gwangju and the Gyeonggi Province cities of Pyeongtaek and Anseong on Wednesday, where Omicron has spread widely. These four local governments will conduct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests only for high-risk groups, and people showing suspected symptoms will be first tested with a self-test kit at a screening center. The authorities plan to expand it nationwide when the average number of daily infections exceeds 7,000 as it initially planned. However, epidemiologists pointed out that the government was slow in responding to Omicron as it has already become dominant. They warned that the government could repeat the same mistake it made last year when the bed occupancy rate in intensive care units exceeded 75 percent. "The average weekly number of 7,000 infections is a figure that requires 7,000 to 9,000 infections throughout the week," said Kim Woo-joo, a professor of infectious medicine at Korea University Guro Hospital. "This means that we will be able to switch to the new system after next week. The plan has already come out and should be implemented soon, but the authorities have not been able to respond faster. This is no different from the situation in December." Experts warned that Omicron is known to have a transmission speed two to three times faster than Delta, which indicates that this year's situation could be far worse than last year's. If this epidemic is not handled properly, the daily infections could surge to more than 10,000 next week, according to experts. Jacob Lee, a professor of infectious diseases at Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, said on a radio show, Wednesday, "In the worst case, the daily infections could rise to 90,000 by the end of February." "Since the daily infections are increasing rapidly, the government should shift to the new system across the country promptly," Lee said. As Gov. Ned Lamonts executive authority is set to expire, hes asking state lawmakers to extend 11 orders beyond next month. In a letter Friday sent to the state legislature, Lamont also asked lawmakers to extend Connecticuts public health and civil emergencies beyond when his executive power expires Feb. 15. Weve come so far in the pandemic, theres a bit of a playbook in place now, said Anthony Anthony, a senior press secretary for Lamont. Theres no need for the 300 executive orders that were originally in place. Weve dialed it back to this limited amount. We really want to collaboratively work with the legislators to determine whats best for the state moving forward, Anthony added. Here is a look at the 11 executive orders Lamont wants to extend: Social distancing and masks in schools The commissioners of the Department of Education and Early Childhood can implement binding guidance, rules or orders on schools or child care settings to respond to the pandemic, according to the order. These rules could include mandatory masks and social distancing. Read Executive Order 9-1 here. Vaccine requirements for hospital workers State hospital employees need to be vaccinated, and receive a booster, if eligible, by Feb. 11, Lamonts order states. This does not apply to those with religious or medical exemptions. State hospital employees cannot test out of the requirement, according to the order. State hospitals can no longer hire or maintain contracts with people who are not fully vaccinated, not begun vaccination or do not have an exemption, the order states. The order originally applied to teachers, child care providers and state employees. Anthony said the order at first prompted many to get vaccinated. But now, weve hit a plateau, he said. However, Lamont wants to maintain the requirement for state hospital employees to protect vulnerable populations, Anthony added. Read Executive Orders 13G and 14C. Vaccine requirements for nursing home visitors People wishing to visit nursing homes need to submit proof of vaccination, and a booster vaccine, if eligible, or a negative COVID test, the order states. The state will also help provide rapid antigen tests to nursing homes to quickly test visitors. Read Executive Order 14F here. Vaccination requirements for long-term care staff This requires long-term care facility staff to be vaccinated. Facilities cannot hire or employ staff or contractors who are not fully vaccinated and boosted by Feb. 11, or who have not started the vaccination process, the order states. This does not apply to those with medical or religious exemptions. There is no testing out option for this group, Lamont said in his letter. Facilities who dont comply could face civil penalties. Read Executive Order 14B here. Mask mandates Unvaccinated people 2 years or older need to wear a mask when indoors and when they cannot socially distance, the order states. This does not apply to those with a medical exemption. The commissioner of the state Department of Public Health can order mask wearing in facilities, venues and other locations regardless of someones vaccination status. The order also allows municipalities, as well as private and public entities, to issue their own mask orders. Read Executive Order 13A here. Hospital staff shortages State officials can waive certain licensing requirements to increase the number of health care workers available to treat patients, the order states. This can include respiratory care practitioners, registered nurses, clinical nurse specialists and other health care workers. These are highly trained individuals who can provide needed assistance now, Lamonts letter stated. This also modifies regulations so the Office of Health Strategy can increase the licensed bed capacity to treat COVID-19 patients. Read Executive Order 14D here. Temporary nurses aides program The DPH commissioner can change the training, competency, scope of practice and temporary hiring policies for temporary nurse aides to make up for staffing shortages caused by the pandemic, according to the order. Read Executive Order 13E here. Fund non-communal housing for people at risk Various state agencies can provide non-congregant housing for people who are at increased risk of exposure or transmission of COVID-19, the order states. This could include people experiencing homelessness or survivors of domestic violence. The order also allows the state to seek reimbursement for this housing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Read Executive Order 7P-1 here. Emergency procurement of essential goods and services This allows the heads of state contracting agencies to waive several state statutes that require competitive solicitation of supplies, materials and equipment, as well as contracts for essential services, the order states. The agency head needs to have in writing why the waiver is necessary to expedite the goods or services to respond to the pandemic, according to the order. Read Executive Order 14A, Section 4, here. COVID-19 vaccination database The state Department of Public Health can disclose a persons vaccination status to their health care provider, school nurse or local health director, according to the order. This makes a persons vaccine information readily available even if they have misplaced their vaccine card. School nurses and local health directors can also look up a persons vaccination status to respond to any COVID outbreaks, the order states. Read Executive Order 13C here. Out-of-network COVID-19 vaccines If a person who is insured can go to an out-of-network provider to get a COVID vaccine, the out-of-network carrier needs to reimburse the provider at 100 percent the Medicare rate, according to the order. This does not affect the person getting the vaccine, as the CARES Act requires the COVID vaccine be provided free of charge, the order states. Without this, out-of-network providers could bill carriers above the Medicare rate, making the carrier cover the cost difference, according to the order. Read Executive Order 9Q-3 here. File/Daily Citizen-News Bob Caperton, president and managing partner of Dalton's Barrett Properties, said he thinks the historic train depot at 110 Depot St. in downtown Dalton, which has been closed since 2015, can once again become a vital part of the city. Barrett Properties bought the depot from the city in 2018. Iran has paid its dues to the United Nations with the country's funds frozen in South Korea in a move to immediately restore its voting power, Seoul's finance ministry said Sunday. Iran made an emergency request to South Korea on Jan. 13 for the use of Tehran's funds in Seoul to pay its dues after being informed by the U.N. it would immediately lose its voting rights for the arrears. Iran has more than US$7 billion in funds for oil shipments frozen at two South Korean banks the Industrial Bank of Korea and Woori Bank due to U.S. sanctions. The U.S. reimposed the sanctions on Iran in 2018 when then U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of a 2015 landmark nuclear agreement with Iran and five major world powers. The Ministry of Economy and Finance said $18 million, part of the delinquent fees, was paid to the U.N. on Friday, using the Tehran assets frozen in South Korea after consultations with related organizations, including the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control and the U.N. Secretariat. "Iran's right to vote at the General Assembly is expected to be restored immediately with the payment," the ministry said in a statement. It marks the second time for Iran to use its funds held in South Korea to pay the U.N. fee following a similar case last year. (Yonhap) Who wants to pull Al Johnson down, and why? Im no friend of the Prime Minister and would gladly have seen him fall in March 2020 when he launched his Maoist plan to close the country, trash our liberty and wreck the economy. But at that time, and for months afterwards, I had almost no allies at all. Gosh, if someone had called me in May 2020 and said Downing Street is holding boozy parties while Johnson is ordering the nation into strict isolation, Id have welcomed the leak and used it to try to destroy a policy I always saw as wrong and out of proportion. But nobody did call me, even though lots of people must have known then. It is only now, when Johnson has finally stood up to the panic-mongers and begun to liberate the country, that the leaks have come. Who wants to pull Al Johnson down, and why? Im no friend of the Prime Minister and would gladly have seen him fall in March 2020 when he launched his Maoist plan to close the country, trash our liberty and wreck the economy. But at that time, and for months afterwards, I had almost no allies at all And for once there is an actual difference between Labour and the Tories. And in one official tweet by the Labour Party, you can see what it is. The tweet was issued by the Labour Party on January 13 and has attracted remarkably little attention. In truth, it should have led every bulletin and been on every front page, for it takes you directly into the mind of Sir Keir Starmer and all the other lockdown fanatics, in a way never previously possible. It approvingly quotes a nurse, whose name is given as Jenny, NHS nurse. She says: I remember May 20, 2020 vividly. I spent hours on the phone to a man who was in the hospital car park, utterly desperate to see his wife. He begged, wept, shouted to be let in but we said no for the greater good of everyone else. She died unexpectedly and alone, as the Government had a party. The tweet was issued by the Labour Party on January 13 and has attracted remarkably little attention. In truth, it should have led every bulletin and been on every front page, for it takes you directly into the mind of Sir Keir Starmer and all the other lockdown fanatics, in a way never previously possible I feel sorry for Jenny, because she was deluded by fear propaganda and did not really know what she was doing. But I still think that what she did was terribly wrong. If I had prevented a husband from seeing his dying wife for the greater good of everyone else, while the poor man begged and shouted for mercy, I might now keep quiet about it. Even more, I might feel a deep sense of regret and shame that my self-righteous officiousness had so utterly blinded me to the simple human necessity for kindness above all. God knows we are all capable of appalling cruelty, but it is never worse than when we think we are doing it for a good reason. This is why all Utopias end with the idealists arresting and then killing those who will not conform to the new paradise. The fanaticism of the Covid authoritarians is frantic mainly because they think that what they are doing is unquestionably right. And it is these zealots who now seek to destroy Johnson because he has finally deserted them and begun to rediscover the world of proportion, reason and kindness, in which a man who wishes to see his dying wife is not left howling in tears, alone in the car park, but is granted his wish. For that simple difference between the two sides in this row, I back Johnson against Starmer because I have to and if you are wise, you will too. You dont want people like Jenny running the Government. Poke the bear and this is what happens If Vladimir Putin is stark, staring mad, then he will invade Ukraine. But I have seen little evidence he is. He is nasty, cruel, sinister, intolerant and many other things. But you do not remain in power in Moscow for so long if you are a lunatic. If there is one single action which would be bound to destroy his regime and wreck Russias long-term hopes of recovering its position in Eastern Europe, it is an invasion of Ukraine. So why are so many yelling that such an invasion is about to take place? In many cases it is because they know nothing of the issue, could not find Odessa on a map and are joining the crowd because they feel safe doing so. For these days, if you dont join such crowds you will be accused of being a Putin apologist and worse. In other cases it is because of the tragic spread of Munich Syndrome. Sufferers from this incurable complaint believe every foreign crisis is an exact repeat of September 1938: a certain chosen foreign despot is Hitler (last time this was Saddam, now it is Putin). Anyone who proposes a peaceful way out is a modern version of the doddering weakling, Neville Chamberlain. And the politicians who want war are modern versions of Winston Churchill. Such simple-minded piffle. Ukraine is not Czechoslovakia. Putin is not Hitler or Stalin. He has no ideology, racial or social. He has been complaining for years, using every peaceful means, against the expansion of Nato into Eastern Europe. He has asked, quite reasonably, who it is aimed at. Nato was set up to deter aggression by the USSR, an empire which ceased to exist 31 years ago. Russia is not the USSR. Keeping Nato in existence is like maintaining an alliance against the Austro-Hungarian or Ottoman Empires, which vanished a century ago a job-creation project. He rightly points out that Moscow (mostly without violence) let go of vast tracts of Asia and Europe, and unwillingly permitted the reunification of Germany something Margaret Thatcher was pretty reluctant about as well. In return, the then leaders of the West said they would not expand Nato to the east (a huge archive of documents at George Washington University in the US confirms this). The greatest anti-Soviet diplomat of the era, George Kennan, warned against doing any such thing. He said: The expansion of Nato right up to the Russian borders is the greatest mistake of the post-Cold War period. So did Russian liberals of the sort we claim to support. Yegor Gaidar, admired in the West for his economic reforms, contacted Canadas ambassador, Chris Westdal, in Moscow in 2004, to say he had come to beg, to plead to advise Ottawa against further Nato expansion which would, he warned, bring out the worst of Russian instincts. And so it has. If you poke a bear enough with a sharp stick, he will attack you. When he does, you should perhaps not blame the bear. Have I got news for you... Nadines heart isnt in BBC reform I do wish people would stop calling the BBC Auntie. It hasnt been Auntie for decades. It is a gaunt, unfriendly body with a mental age of about 22. And it fights hard and dirty. And I guess Nadine Dorriess licence-fee freeze will not lead to very much. Her hearts not in it, and nor is Johnsons (remember, the BBC made him a star, on Have I Got News For You). One of many reasons why the Tories dont want to take on the Corporation is that they owe their revival in 2010 to the BBC. The BBC decided that David Cameron had accepted Blairs revolution and would not reverse it. After that, the Tories started getting fair treatment from BBC news and current affairs for the first time in decades. On all the key issues break-up of the country, sexual revolution, destruction of education in the name of equality and diversity the Tory Party has stayed on the side of Blairism. And during the Corbyn years, the Tories were much more Blairite than Labour. Only now that the Blairites are back in charge of the Labour Party is the BBC beginning a switch to supporting Starmer. If you want to comment on Peter Hitchens click here Leadership hopeful Penny Mordaunt was on resignation watch from her job as Trade Minister last week after she spoke out against a proposed 1.2 billion underwater electricity cable project backed by an oligarch and major Tory donor. Mordaunt opposed plans by Aquind, co-owned by Alexander Temerko, to construct the interconnector under the Channel between Normandy and Portsmouth (the city where she is an MP). Temerko, who previously ran a firm producing weapons for Russias military, and Aquind have given more than 1 million to the Tories and the oligarch has regularly featured in photos at fundraisers with Prime Ministers and their Cabinets. Government sources said Mordaunt was ready to quit if the cable was approved. Mordaunt opposed plans by Aquind, co-owned by Alexander Temerko, to construct the interconnector under the Channel between Normandy and Portsmouth (the city where she is an MP) Although the project was rejected on Thursday, her #StopAquind tweet hasnt gone unnoticed. There goes her leadership campaign! quipped a Tory MP whos no stranger to the Temerko rouble adding that Mordaunts leadership campaign war chest will now be a little lighter. This is in contrast to Jeremy Hunt, who is also on manoeuvres and a regular recipient of Aquind largesse which, like Temerkos, is pure, selfless magnanimity. Speaking of MPs on manoeuvres, a surprise name joined the Blue Collar Conservatives last week. The WhatsApp group, which, according to a source, mostly consists of Red Wall MPs campaigning for working-class issues, welcomed Tom Tugendhat, the privately schooled, Cambridge-educated son of a High Court judge and nephew of a peer. Hes more ermine than blue collar, one ragged-trousered member said of 48-year-old Tugs, who, cynical minds might think, was expanding his support base ahead of a leadership contest. Partygate, the new Us and Them Government scandal, didnt stop the spinners wheeling out a Tory Party donor-made-peer to defend Boris Johnson on BBC2s Newsnight. Lord Marland described Downing Street as the most oppressive place on Earth. Adding, apparently oblivious to the Carrie Antoinette No 10 refurb brouhaha: You wouldnt want to live there. The orchestrated intervention by the peer, who lives in a Wiltshire manor, was followed by an item about rising energy bills, with an interview with a woman who said her family had gone without food to keep their house warm. It sounds like Winter is Coming to the House of Johnson. The opening salvo in the internal Tory battle for a place in The Dictionary Of Quotations came from ex-SAS man David Davis, who invoked Oliver Cromwell via Tory MP Leopold Amery when telling Boris: In the name of God, go. The PMs allies responded by deploying words used by Margaret Thatcher (borrowed from Roosevelts daughter) to slap down Michael Heseltine. They said Davis always wants to be the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral. Wholl end up the political corpse DD or double-D fan Boris remains unclear. Congratulations to Katharine Braddick, until recently head of financial services at the Treasury, who has been given the all-clear to start a new job at Barclays Bank. Acoba, the toothless watchdog, accepted there was a risk [she] has privileged insight and influence that could be seen as offering an unfair advantage, but dismissed concerns one of the Treasurys most senior officials was involved in policy areas directly affecting her new employer. Braddick had many meetings with Barclays while in charge of City-related policy. She was also heavily involved in the post-Brexit regulation of financial services. The former mandarin turned money-maker left her director general post in September and the Treasury on December 31 and will join Barclays in March. Acoba argued this passage of time would resolve any unfair advantage worries and, in any event, has warned her she mustnt lobby the Government. As if thats why Barclays hired the Treasury insider... A busy mum who quit her full-time finance job to pursue her small business selling biodegradable dermaplaning blades has turned over $1million in just one year. Ali Clarke, from Melbourne, launched Bondi Blades in May 2020 after noticing a gap in the market for the DIY blades that removes the minuscule 'peach fuzz' hairs from your face. Six months prior in 2019, she had a salon dermaplaning facial and quickly noticed the benefits, but with treatments costing more than $150 she couldn't afford regular visits. 'After the appointment I had a lightbulb moment and started researching how dermaplaning can be done at home to save money,' the 39-year-old told Daily Mail Australia. Since last year the business has grown exponentially with the help of TikTok and Instagram influencers, and the affordable pink blades are now stocked in 500 retail stores across the country. Dermaplaning is a type of facial treatment that helps exfoliate the skin by using a small but safe medical-grade blade. Scroll down for video Ali Clarke, from Melbourne, launched Bondi Blades in May 2020 after noticing a gap in the market for the DIY blades that removes the minuscule 'peach fuzz' hairs from your face Six months prior in 2019, she had a salon dermaplaning facial and quickly noticed the benefits, but with treatments costing more than $150 she couldn't afford regular visits At the start of her business venture, Ali said she invested a whole $50 for a box of 25 sample blades and named the brand after her 'favourite place' in Australia Bondi Beach. She also used the name to disassociate it with herself because she was 'so nervous' about starting a business with a lack of experience. 'I wanted to ensure nobody knew the brand was mine to begin with, given I am in Melbourne, as I was so nervous and unsure about starting the business - but the name had a ring to it that I liked!' she said. Since 2020 the business has grown exponentially with the help of social media and the affordable pink blades are now stocked in 500 retail stores across the country The demand of managing full-time work, the business and being a mum was overwhelmingly demanding, and so Ali decided to leave her finance role of 20 years to focus solely on Bondi Blades. She dubbed Melbourne's harsh ongoing Covid-19 lockdown was a 'golden opportunity' to market and grow the business on social media. But despite the success, the business hustle hasn't been an easy road and has required ongoing dedication. To get the business where it is today, Ali wakes up at 5am to do answer emails and reply to social media messages, then she takes her daughter Mia up and ready for childcare three days a week. 'Daycare is my saving grace with no family close by to help us. I am and always have been a very organised person and make sure the house is tidy before working from home - if your house is messy, so is your mind!' she said. 'I consider myself to be an underdog in business, because I've worked in finance for the last 21 years and it's all I've known.' Dermaplaning offers a range of benefits including the removal of dead skin cells and small microfibre hairs that can often trap unwanted dirt inside pores (Bondi Blades pictured) The safe treatment will also allow the skin to absorb skincare products more efficiently, resulting in a brighter looking complexion Dermaplaning offers a range of benefits including the removal of dead skin cells and small microfibre hairs that can often trap unwanted dirt inside pores. The safe treatment will also allow the skin to absorb skincare products more efficiently, resulting in a brighter looking complexion. 'It helps remove the tiny 'peach fluff' hairs on your face and allows makeup to look flawless as a result,' Ali said. When using dermaplaning blades, it's essential to slide the blade away from the face at a 45-degree angle. Since a selection of the Bondi Blades products are made from biodegradable materials, customers can use the products knowing they aren't harming the environment. What is dermaplaning and what are the benefits? What is it? Dermaplaning uses a small medical-grade surgical blade to remove dead skin and hair from the surface of the face The blade gently glides along the skin in a 45-degree angle away from the face and is able to remove up to three weeks worth of buildup It's a pain-free and non-invasive process What are the benefits? Dermaplaning effectively provides a safe and effective exfoliation, resulting in smoother skin As it removes dead cells, the skin is able to absorb skincare products more efficiently The treatment also works to remove facial hair that can trap dirt and oils As a result, the face will look brighter and makeup will look more flawless Source: Skin Expert Advertisement The fear of failure and possibility of losing money is often what prevents people from starting businesses, but Ali said this wasn't the case for her and considers herself to be 'risk averse'. What are Bondi Blades top 3 business expenses? 1. Australia Post services - $35,000 2. Influencer costs - $25,000 3. Social media ads - $20,000 Advertisement 'I was never afraid of it not working out because I took a calculated risk when leaving my role ensuring I had savings aside should it not work out,' she said. 'I also surrounded myself with other small business owners in the same boat so we could share tips with each other, which helped guide me through this new world of e-commerce.' The experience of starting the business from scratch was a 'work in progress' for Ali, who was learning new ways to market her product gradually over time. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and state-wide lockdowns that took place in Victoria throughout 2020, Ali saw a huge spike in sales as more people were stuck at home with no access to salons. 'Selling the products on Shopify and posting on TikTok has been a game changer for me, because customers feel like they are watching behind the scene videos - the positive response has been huge,' she said. One video of a woman dermaplaning her boyfriend's eyebrows using a Bondi Blades product has been viewed more than 300,000 times. In another TikTok video, Ali revealed her top three quarterly business expenses to give her followers a taste of how much it costs to run a business. The most expensive cost is the price for Australia post services, which was $35,000, followed by Influencer fees at $25,000 and lastly social media advertisement costs at $20,000. The Bondi Blades dermaplaning blades can be purchased from the brand website, but the pack of six and nine are currently sold out Ali said those wanting to start their own business should have faith in themselves, the brand and products. 'It's cliche, but you really do need to believe in yourself; research the product, throw yourself in the deep end and don't quit,' she said. Aldi also recommended surrounding yourself with other 'like-minded' individuals who will give you helpful advice. The Bondi Blades dermaplaning blades can be purchased from the brand website. A woman who would splurge on fast fashion at least once a week has revealed she's now saving thousands by purchasing almost everything she wears second-hand. Becky Hughes, 24, who has been working in the sustainable fashion sector in London for three years, explained that she was spending a 'ridiculous' amount on fast fashion before making a decision to shop entirely pre-loved. She admitted to receiving at least 60 Amazon orders a year, while also splurging at least 20 a week on clothes to wear for nights out. Becky told My London that she now buys everything second-hand including underwear and shoes, saying: 'I've been known to buy second-hand bras, I feel like it's no big deal. I just give them a wash, and there are some gorgeous bras that you can find second-hand. Becky Hughes, 24, from the West Midlands, has revealed she purchases almost everything that she owns second-hand. Pictured: Becky wearing t-shirt from a charity shop, denim corset from Vinted, skirt from Primark and bag her mother owned in the noughties Becky would purchase from charity shops, before she became a fan of websites and apps that give clothes a new lease of life. Pictured left: Outfit from Vinted, Right: Top from Roasyb and other pieces from FassionUK 'I actually brought a bra on [second-hand clothing app] Vinted the other day, it's in really good condition, hardly worn, and it's from Ann Summers. It's gorgeous and it fits me perfectly.' Becky explained that shopping second-hand has made her more mindful as each item is purchased with the intention of being repeatedly worn. At first, she would look for fashionable pieces in charity shops and volunteer in her local store to get first pick of the first donations, however she now shops from home from a range of websites and apps. Believing she is now saving thousands of pounds with the method, the sustainable fashion enthusiast said the process is more enjoyable than purchasing from fast fashion brands as she doesn't feel pressure to keep up with trends and focuses on her individual style. She said her most impressive vintage buys have included 20 boots from the 1990s and a 1970s blouse bought for just 3. Becky said she is saving thousands of pounds as her purchases are now made with the intention of wearing the items repeatedly. Pictured: Top from Bird Song London Becky said buying second-hand is more enjoyable than purchasing fast fashion because she doesn't feel the pressure to keep up with trends. Pictured: Jumper and trousers from Vinted, Zebra top is secondhand and bag from a friend Becky said she also purchases from independent designers who create clothes from recycled materials. Pictured: Top from Oxfam and blazer from We Are Nuw Becky explained that second-hand clothes are often better quality than the items listed on fast fashion websites and it's unlikely she'll ever see someone else wearing the same item while walking down the street. She has made more than 2,000 by selling off her own wardrobe using Vinted, the app is designed to give clothes a new lease of life. The conscious fashion shopper has racked up almost 16,000 Instagram followers from sharing her vintage purchases and advice for shopping second-hand. Becky claims 98 per cent of her purchases are second-hand, while the remaining two per cent are from independent designers who create clothes from recycled materials. Advising people to make meaningful purchases, Becky said: 'Think about things like: "What other things have I got that go with this?". If you know you're not going to wear something, don't buy it - you're not going to waste your money.' Becky said she has sold over 2,000 of her own wardrobe on second-hand app Vinted. Pictured: Sunglasses from BlooBloom, top from Vinted and jeans from Cancer Research shop She adds that it's important to be honest and use good quality photos when listing your own items for sale online. Becky frequently receives comments from people praising her for being an advocate for sustainable fashion. One person wrote: 'Consuming less is definitely more. Less on social media is more. More freedom, better feels. Fashion is very complex, but growing up without fast fashion, I luckily never spent any money there. Making my own clothes has made me realise the value. Let's hope more people will buy less fast fashion.' 'We love that Becky! It's all about making conscious slow choices and only buying what you truly love! We also love this outfit, it's so groovy,' another said. A third added: 'Yes! Overconsumption in the fashion industry is so prevalent! We are taught that we need to be constantly buying in order to be fashionable, which is truly not the case.' A foodie has shared a recipe for cookies and cream Weet-Bix topped with a white chocolate ganache that is high in protein and can be made gluten free. Miranda Brady, from Perth, demonstrated how to make the breakfast dish in a video posted to her popular TikTok account, Clean Treats. The viral chef and cookbook author shared the recipe after her previous clip showing the tasty breakfast idea attracted more than 1.3million views and hundreds of comments from people asking how to make it. Scroll down for video Perth foodie, Miranda Brady shared her recipe for cookies and cream Wee-Bix that is high in protein in a video posted to TikTok Miranda starts by mixing together two Weet-Bix, almond milk, sweetener and sugar free drinking chocolate. In a separate bowl, she combines vanilla yoghurt, protein powder and some crushed Oreo crumbs and layers it over the top of the Weet-Bix mix. For the ganache, Miranda melts white chocolate, mixes in a dash of almond milk and pours over the top of the yoghurt mix. Miranda starts by mixing together two Weetbix, almond milk, sweetener and sugar free drinking chocolate, then in a separate bowl, combines vanilla yoghurt, protein powder and some crushed Oreo crumbs She layers the cream on top of the Weet-Bix then, for the ganache, mixes melted white chocolate with a dash of almond milk, spoons it on top of the cream and puts the dish in the fridge for at least one hour She tops with more crushed Oreos and places it in the fridge for at least one hour or overnight. The Perth foodie said the serving has 31 grams of protein and only 396 calories. The recipe can be easily adjusted for the gluten intolerant by using gluten-free Weetbix and Oreos or biscuits. Recipe: Cookies and Cream Weetbix with vanilla and white chocolate ganache Ingredients For the base: 2 Weetbix, crushed (or gluten free Weetbix) 125ml almond milk 1 tbs sweetener (maple syrup or Natvia) 5g sugar-free drinking chocolate (optional) For the cream: 160g vanilla yoghurt 15g vanilla protein 1-2 Oreo, crushed (or gluten free biscuit) For the ganache: 10g white chocolate 1 tbs almond milk Method 1. Crush the Weetbix in a bowl and mix in the almond milk, sweetener and chocolate powder 2. In a separate bowl, mix together yoghurt, protein powder and one crushed Oreo and spread the mixture over the Weetbix 3. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave, mix in the almond milk and spread over the top of the yoghurt 4. Sprinkle over the rest of the crushed Oreo and place in the fridge at an hour minimum or overnight Advertisement Miranda's recipe video has drawn in hundreds of responses from foodies keen to try the recipe for themselves. 'My work breakfasts are about to get an upgrade,' one woman wrote. 'Just made this version but slightly different for tomorrows breaky. It look like a bowl of heaven!!' said a second. Andre Leon Talley, the fashion journalist and commentator who died last week, was one of the industrys great characters. At 6ft 7in, he was, quite literally, larger-than-life. Swathed in his Tom Ford kaftans and floor-length furs, with a booming Southern US accent and shrieking laugh, he was exactly the kind of exotically mannered figure most people imagine when they think of the fashion world. Unlike many of those on fashion magazines, however, he was friends with the designers he reported on. The big beasts Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs, Donatella Versace were all close acquaintances (though as Andre details in his memoir The Chiffon Trenches, he was hurt when some of these friendships turned out to be less deep than he had thought). Andre Leon Talley, the fashion journalist and commentator who died last week, was one of the industrys great characters Just as unusual for a fashion journalist, his death has been covered extensively by the worlds media. Because as well as writing the story, Andre and his massive persona became the story. It makes sense that the fashion world contains an unusually high number of exaggerated characters like Andre. Appearances are central to its workings. It relies on a huge element of smoke and mirrors to conjure desire for expensive clothes that are basically just a pile of fabric. So while there are naturally plenty of low-key grafters in the business (and very successful ones at that), they dont engender the same fascination. They are less famous. And fame is a powerful selling tool. In a world where image rules, Andre is not alone in using his bold persona to stand out. Lagerfeld, one of the most successful fashion figures of his generation, became a mega-star in part by becoming a larger-than-life figure. His powdered hair, high collars, fabulous jewellery and leather gloves and the black-clad entourage that accompanied him like a cloud of gnats constantly reinforced his own myth. Marc Jacobs has his pearl necklaces, diamond studs and silver nail polish. Donatella, her blonde mane and perma-tan. Anna Wintour, the immaculate bob and sunglasses. Theyre all as instantly recognisable as a Coca-Cola can. As well as a kind and sensitive man, Andre Leon Talley was just such a fabulous creation. There was only one Andre and at 73, he died too young. A fitting tribute to trailblazer April My Instagram feed is currently full of RIP messages Andres death provoked hundreds of them. But there is plenty of the usual social-media fare mixed in with the tributes. I always feel a little disconcerted when I see what are in effect death notices juxtaposed next to an interior designers enviable sitting room, an influencer prancing around in their newest look, or an ad for some kitchen utensil. I know Im shown whatever the algorithm deems will interest me. But it seems somehow a little disrespectful. By contrast, I felt quite differently about the bottle of champagne popped open above the coffin of trailblazing transgender model and party-lover April Ashley as she was lowered into her Liverpool grave last week. An unusual spectacle, yes, but also a fitting tribute. Some consolation in lockdown bubbles I wonder when it was that champagne became the tipple of celebration? Is it simply that the fizzy bubbles have always been the universal symbol of having good time? Surely not. In any case, last year champagne sales rose by 32 per cent. Since causes for celebration werent landing thick and fast in 2021 and for much of that time parties (other than at Downing Street) were forbidden could it be that champagne is now becoming the drink of consolation? Bared-faced Vicky is keeping it real In pre-publicity for the tonights new ITV drama Trigger Point, Vicky McClure reveals she is appearing without any make-up. In the name of authenticity, she decided her character ex-military bomb disposal operator Lana Washington wouldnt make a big deal about how she looks. Im sure a bare-faced Vicky still looks better than most people in full slap, but her announcement will certainly make her appearance a bigger deal than it would be if she hadnt told us in advance. Now many of us will be peering at the screen just as much to examine her skin tone as her acting. In reality, the military have relaxed the rules around womens appearance. You can wear inconspicuous nail polish and lipstick. And this year the hair rules have changed to include all manner of stylish braids and intricate plaits. Still no false lashes allowed, though. And men have to remain bare-faced other than the daubs of camouflage. Politicians dont get rules of succession One of the hallmarks of a robust business is having a succession plan. In politics, the idea of a succession plan appears to be total anathema. When has a Prime Minister ever considered the question of a successor anything but a threat? If Boris Johnson keeps his job, it will be in great part thanks to the fact that there is no obvious successor which is nothing new. Looking back over recent decades, there has never been a triumphant transfer of power within political parties. Tony Blairs handover to Gordon Brown was short-lived. David Cameron was replaced by Theresa May in a chaotic leadership battle that led us to the faltering Johnson of today. Invariably, a total change of government seems to be the ultimate result. Which is surely the last thing any prime minister wants when their time is up. Ukraines identity is worth defending A few years ago I visited Kiev, which I had always imagined a somewhat downtrodden, drab city. How wrong I was. It has wonderful architecture, delicious food, a delightful cafe life and a great appreciation of style. Theres a large, young, optimistic, culture-loving population determined to make the best of their lives. All the young people I met thought of themselves as Ukrainian, often born just before they gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The older people I came across, who had lived years under Soviet rule, had a more complicated relationship with their Ukrainian identity. Despite seemingly endless conflict with Putin, they all seemed utterly determined to remain positive about their countrys future a spirit they will need today as much as ever, with 100,000 Russian troops amassing on the border. Prince Harry has 'reached out to his father' to have 'friendly video calls' ahead of the Queen's Jubilee, a source has claimed. The Duke of Sussex, 37, who lives in a $14million mansion in Montecito, California, with his wife Meghan Markle, 40, and their children was expected to come to the UK for the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service in the spring and the Queen's Jubilee in the summer. However, a recent row over the Metropolitan Police providing their security has called their return into doubt. But, the royal is said to have contacted his father for 'friendly chats' and hopes to visit the UK later this year. 'There has been a definite thaw in relations between Harry and Charles. They are on much better terms and have been having friendly chats and video calls. It has been suggested to Harry he may live to regret any lingering family bitterness, and he has taken that on board. 'There is a feeling he is coming back more into the fold and wants to be closer to his family,' a source told the Sun. Prince Harry has 'reached out to his father' to hold secret talks with Prince Charles ahead of the Queen's Jubilee, a source has claimed. It comes as Harry's refusal to return without a substantial level of security from the Met Police is said to have put the reunion in doubt. Prince Harry faced outrage over his threat of legal action against Her Majesty's Government. He is seeking a judicial review of the decision to strip him of his UK police protection team, claiming it is too dangerous to visit without Scotland Yard bodyguards. A former head of royal protection warned the royal 'cannot pick and choose' when he wants to visit the UK and receive protection. Dai Davies pointed out Princess Anne was nearly kidnapped and her protection officer was shot - but she does not get full time protection. His comments came as sources suggested the Queen will not help her grandson in his demand for security personnel when he comes to Britain. The Duke of Sussex, 37, who lives in a $14million mansion in Montecito, California , with his wife Meghan Markle, 40, and their children was expected to come to the UK for the Duke of Edinburgh 's memorial service and the Queen's Jubilee in the spring. The insiders claimed the Monarch has no intentions of 'caving into his demands' for protection from the Met and Home Office. Meghan and Charles were previously close and are said to have shared a bond of love of culture, art and history. Charles is also said to be 'desperate to see his grandchildren'. A source told the Mirror last week: 'The Prince of Wales has been saddened that he hasn't had the opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren, which he really does miss. 'He is a fantastic grandfather and loves playing the role immensely and it's certainly fair to say he feels there is something missing from his life without the ability to get to know Harry's children. 'This is something he is hoping to remedy which is why he made the gesture for Harry, Meghan and the children to stay with him if they wanted to, whenever they may come home for a period of time. Serial killer Joanna Dennehy told her prison fiancee she was a 'fully committed psychopath' in a harrowing love letter. Dennehy, 39, who was jailed in 2014 after killing three men during a 10-day spree, was engaged street robber Hayley Palmer while they were both behind bars. The pair both were incarcerated at the privately-run HMP Bronzefield in Middlesex, but they split after being moved to separate prisons. Palmer, who is now a free woman after serving 16 years, has opened up about their romance with the killer, revealing Dennehy had 'no regrets' and would 'laugh' about her crimes. In a letter seen by the The Sun on Sunday, Dennehy wrote: 'You have a fully committed psychopath. Joanna Dennehy, 37, (pictured) was jailed for life in 2014 after killing three men during a 10-day spree Dennehy was reportedly engaged street robber Hayley Palmer (pictured), who has been released after serving 16 years 'Together we will travel a path so beautifully dark, so mentally and physically dangerous we will cease to know where I begin and you end.' Mother-of-two Dennehy is one of only two women in Britain serving a whole-life prison term - the other is Rose West. She stabbed three men to death whose bodies she dumped in ditches outside Peterborough, where she lived before knifing two more men in Hereford. Dennehy's first victim was a Polish man, Lukasz Slaboszewski, 31, who had come to believe Dennehy was his girlfriend. She lured him to a property with suggestive texts, then stabbed him through the heart. Dennehy then used a pocket knife to kill her housemate John Chapman, 56, stabbing him once in the neck. Serial killer Dennehy is currently serving a full life sentence - one of only two women to be doing so in the country The third victim was her landlord, Kevin Lee, 48, who she lured with the promise of sexual favours. Excited by the police manhunt for her, she then stabbed Robin Bereza from behind in Hereford on April 2, 2013. Nine minutes later, she knifed John Rogers. Both men survived and Dennehy was caught after two days on the run. 'She laughed at the situation and had no regrets at all', said Palmer. Palmer met the killer at HMP Bronzefield but were later moved to separate prisons, with Palmer going to HMP East Sutton Park in Kent while Dennehy now resides in HMP Low Newton in Durham. In May 2021, friends told the Mirror Palmer was seeking legal advice on arranging the wedding to Dennehy despite her life tariff for murdering three men. 'It's a very strange relationship. It's very weird to say but they seem good for each other', said the friend. 'Hayley speaks about Joanna like she's her high school sweetheart. They talk every single day and fully intend to get married. 'Hayley joked that they would not be allowed to cut their wedding cake because there's no way that they'd let Joanna have a knife.' The couple reportedly wanted to be married by the end of the year - however Dennehy is said to have broken off contact with Palmer two months ago. Dennehy, who was brought up in a stable family home in the Home Counties, carried out her horrific attacks to gratify her 'sadistic love for blood'. The Old Bailey was told the killer had a 'sexual and sadistic motivation'. Later she told a psychiatrist: 'I killed to see how I would feel, to see if I was as cold as I thought I was. Then it got more -ish.' Dennehy (pictured) told psychiatrists she killed 'to see how it would feel' and found it more-ish Low Newton prison near Durham where the Joanna Dennehy is currently serving her sentence Experts said Dennehy craved notoriety and wanted to humiliate her victims through sick sex games. Before the killings she had boasted she had already killed four times. When the three bodies were found, police launched a high-profile murder investigation. Meanwhile Dennehy travelled to Hereford and started scouring the streets with accomplice Gary Stretch for more men to kill. She told him: 'I want to have my fun.' The pair randomly selected two dog walkers, retired fireman Robin Bereza, 64, and John Rogers, 56. Dennehy stabbed them in frenzied knife attacks. Both survived the horrific attacks only because of swift medical intervention. During her search for further victims, Dennehy posed for photos with a huge serrated knife and bragged that she and Stretch were 'like Bonnie and Clyde', whose gang killed nine policemen in 1930s America. A woman who was told by doctors told her to 'lose weight' to fix her chronic fatigue has revealed her illness was actually caused by a melon-sized cancerous tumour in her ovaries. Hannah Catton, 24, from Faversham, Kent, visited a doctor after suffering from stomach bloating and repeated urinary infections, but was told she was 'fine' and it was probably stress related and that she should slim down. The veterinary nurse moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2019 before becoming increasingly concerned about her health. She undergoing life-saving chemotherapy in Australia and is unable to be joined by her family because of Covid travel restrictions. Hannah Catton, 24, (pictured), who lives in Melbourne, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after initially being told by doctors that her symptoms were stress-related After being told she was okay by doctors, events took a dramatic turn when she collapsed in severe pain while out horse riding in October last year. She was later diagnosed with ovarian cancer after being taken to Melbourne's Mercy Hospital for Women where surgeons removed a 20cm tumour from her ovaries. 'I was so angry, because for well over two years, I had been suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections and having so many antibiotics thrown at me to fix it,' she said. 'For more than a year I'd been going to different doctors trying to find a GP who would listen when I was telling them my periods are irregular and something is wrong. 'The response from them all was "you're stressed, you're fine, give it time, lose weight".' 'I was living with period pain, chronic fatigue, UTI-like symptoms and being bloated. I knew something was wrong but no doctors seemed concerned.' Hannah said doctors didn't seem concerned that she was living with period pain, chronic fatigue, UTI-like symptoms and bloating. Pictured: Hannah before she was ill Hannah, who studied veterinary science at Canterbury College, was planning a 'new life' in Australia, but wanted to come home every year to visit her family in Faversham. What is ovarian cancer? Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumour in one or both ovaries. The ovaries are made up of three main kinds of cells epithelial cells, stromal cells and germ cells. Each of these cells can develop into a different type of tumour. The average age of women when they are diagnosed with ovarian cancer is age 64. It is mainly diagnosed in women over the age of 50; however, there are cases diagnosed in younger women. Advertisement 'Unfortunately, Covid threw a spanner in the works and then I got this horrific diagnosis in October last year,' she said. 'The last time I saw my parents and brother was when I said goodbye to them at the airport to travel to Australia almost three years ago so it's been incredibly hard for all of us.' Despite undergoing emergency surgery to remove the ruptured tumour, Hannah's odds of recovering are high. She said: 'Due to the size of the tumour and the fact that it had ruptured I am now having chemotherapy. 'But I'm lucky that my prognosis is good because many in my situation are not.' Hannah hopes her story will help other women voice their concerns, even if their GP's think otherwise. She said: 'I have had fantastic support from my friends here in Australia, including my boyfriend Kyall, as well as my many friends back home who have all been incredible. 'It's incredibly tough for them because all they want to do is jump on a plane to be with me but they're not allowed.' Her friends have rallied to help her raise funds for daily costs, as her medical insurance is covering the treatment. Hannah is now having chemotherapy with a high chance of recovery after having emergency surgery to remove the ruptured tumour (pictured) Hannah said her friends have been supportive, but it's 'incredibly tough' for those back home in Faversham because they aren't allowed to visit. Pictured: Hannah with her parents before she was ill Hannah said she has plans for an 'emotional reunion' back home once she's well enough to travel. Pictured: Hannah undergoing chemotherapy An online quiz night is being organised by one of her best friends, Hazel Frost, on Wednesday 26 January. In Australia, friends have also set up a GoFundMe page which has already raised more than $3,000 (1,589) from supporters. Hannah added: 'Everyone has been amazing in their support for me for which I am so grateful. 'And as soon as I am well enough, I'll be flying home for what will no doubt be a very emotional reunion.' Roh Tae-moon, president and head of MX Business at Samsung Electronics / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics By Baek Byung-yeul Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note series, which skipped release in 2021, is returning to the market next month with the Galaxy S22 Ultra. With the merging of features from both the S series and the Note series, Galaxy S smartphones are expected to appeal to consumers in the first half of this year with a variety of models ranging from a large-screen device with an S Pen stylus to a small but high-performance smartphone. Roh Tae-moon, president and head of Samsung's MX (mobile) Business, hinted Friday that the company will release the Galaxy S22 Ultra equipped with the S Pen, at Unpacked, scheduled in February. "We know many of you were surprised when Samsung didn't release a new Galaxy Note last year," Roh wrote about the product on its website. "You loved the unparalleled creativity and efficiency of the Galaxy Note series, which enabled you to switch from gaming nirvana to high-octane productivity in the blink of an eye," he added. He also wrote, "At Unpacked in February 2022, we'll introduce you to the most noteworthy S series device we've ever created. The next generation of Galaxy S is here, bringing together the greatest experiences of our Samsung Galaxy into one ultimate device," adding "Get ready for the ultimate ultra experience." His article is interpreted as a message that Samsung has all but confirmed that it will include the S Pen in the Ultra model, in response to demand for a new Galaxy Note. In 2021, Koh Dong-jin, then head of Samsung's IT and Mobile Communications division, said it wouldn't release a new product in the Note line that year saying, "It is not that we do not release new products. The timing may vary, but next year we are preparing to continue to do so." Instead of the Note series, which was historically launched in the second half of the year, Samsung came out with new foldable phones: the Galaxy Z Fold3 and the Galaxy Z Flip3. Although the S Pen was supported for the S21 Ultra and the Z Fold3, it was only available when purchasing a separate case, not embedded in the device's body. For that reason, there had been calls for a new Note series. Roh also revealed that the new S22 series will be able to deliver improved features such as a camera that can take bright and clear photos and videos in low light, a longer-lasting battery and a processor with high-speed data processing. The characters in the upcoming British adaptation of French cult hit Call My Agent! will only be 'loosely' based on their French counterparts because UK workplaces are 'more polite'. The English-speaking remake of the acclaimed comedy series, created by writer Fanny Herrero, is set to premiere in the UK and Ireland on Amazon Prime Video later this year. But there will be slight differences in the two shows' characters, with Herrero telling The Sunday Times there are 'fundamental differences' in what French and British audiences find funny. Christian Baute, the new show's executive producer, believes the same type of 'exuberant' humour used by some of the character's wouldn't 'quite work culturally' for a UK audience. The characters in the British make-over of French cult hit Call My Agent! will only be 'loosely' based on their French counterparts. Pictured, Camille Cottin who plays Andrea in the cult show Lydia Leonard will take on a character resembling the French show's linchpin Andrea while Jack Davenport will take on a similar role to partner and agent Mathias 'Camille is very exuberant. In a workplace, you wouldn't necessarily find that exuberance in the UK', she told the publication. 'They are not the same.' 'They wouldn't be as candid in their judgment. It would be more polite. You wouldn't say things in the same way as the French character. Andrea, if she doesn't like something, she would just say she doesn't like it.' Herrero, the writer and creator of the original series, added British humour tends to be more self-depreciating than French comedy. The original French cast includes Thibault de Montalembert as partner and agent Mathias Barneville and Camille Cottin as sexually liberated firecracker Andrea Martel. Meanwhile, in the English-speaking adaptation, British stage actress Lydia Leonard will take on a character resembling the French show's linchpin Andrea, while Jack Davenport will take on a similar role to Mathias. The adaptation retains the essence of the French series, where a Parisian talent agency's employees must scramble to keep their star clients happy and their business afloat after the sudden death of their founder. However, the remake will incorporate writer/director John Morton's unique British sensibility and introduce some new storylines. In May last year it was announced that Line Of Duty 's Kelly Macdonald - who took on the role of DSI Jo Davidson in the BBC police drama series - had signed up for the series. In May last year it was announced that Line Of Duty 's Kelly Macdonald - who took on the role of DSI Jo Davidson in the BBC police drama series - had signed up for the series She is set to play herself in the remake of the French series, which sees A-list stars cameo as exaggerated versions of themselves. Other series regulars will include Maggie Steed, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Hiftu Quasem, Fola Evans-Akingbola, The Crown's Rebecca Humphries, Harry Trevaldwyn, Notting Hill star Tim McInnerny, Natasha Little, Edward Bluemel, Eleonore Arnaud and Jim Broadbent. John told Daily Mail: 'I'm thrilled, startled and daunted to be given the chance to re-create such a wonderful show as 'Call My Agent!' for an English language audience.' In a statement, John also added: 'It's great to be working with Amazon Prime Video who support creativity and gives us the freedom to put our own distinctively British stamp on the series. 'It's a privilege to be working with an extraordinary cast, along with some star-studded cameos, who together represent the best of Britain's talent.' Anxiety. Thats this years childrens word of the year, according to research conducted by Oxford University Press. Not laughter, or playtime, or adventure. Anxiety. Lets take a moment to let that sink in. Childhood should be a time of wonder and excitement. It should be a time of carefree joy and happiness. Its a time to explore and learn. Instead, our children have had instilled in them a sense of horror and fear, worry and concern so profound that the word they choose to define an entire year of their precious young lives is anxiety. What a dreadful indictment of Project Fear. The scientists and advisers, with their wonky projections and heavy-handed approach to restrictions, have left a nation quaking in fear over death rates that never materialised and hospitals that werent overwhelmed. Children must go mask-free in school to help their mental health, says Dr Max Pemberton (File photo) All along, those at least risk children had to contend with appalling, damaging disruption to their lives for literally no discernible benefit. How can those at the helm of Project Fear sleep at night knowing this is what they have done to the younger generation? Their playgrounds were closed, they were banned from seeing their friends. Their schools shut up shop. When schools did eventually return, lessons were virtual so they were condemned to staring at a screen for hours on end, day in and day out, in order to learn. Thats if they logged on at all. Even now they are physically back in the classroom, they must muzzle themselves with masks in the corridors. Im particularly furious with the teachers unions who should be utterly ashamed of themselves and the way they have played politics with this national crisis. Rather than focusing on what is best for the children, calling for calm and trying to find ways to ensure children can be supported and keep learning, theyve weaponised the debate at every turn. I was horrified at the way they obstructed attempts to get kids back in the classroom the effects this alone had on their education and development will reach far into the future. It has exacerbated existing inequalities among children as those from wealthier families will have had at least some elements of home schooling, while reports suggest some of the poorest went for months with none at all. The gap between rich and poor has widened and puts at risk all the social advancements made over the past 50 or so years. And now children dont have to wear masks in the classroom, some teachers are refusing to follow the government guidelines. A hundred head teachers wrote to parents last week warning that children must continue wearing face coverings in classrooms, despite there being very poor evidence that masks do any good and a mountain of evidence to suggest how important it is for childrens development to be able to see a face and communicate clearly. In his latest column, the 'mind doctor' NHS psychiatrist Dr Max Pemberton looks at mask-wearing in schools, citing that although the virus has killed people, lockdown has had a tremendously negative impact, and children are suffering most In fact, I feel so strongly on this issue I think parents should be able to insist their children dont wear masks in the classroom. Im astonished that we have all been so compliant in this regard. Particularly galling is that I, along with others including many doctors and health professionals who questioned the sense of a national lockdown and the restrictions that were being put on our lives, were pilloried. I raised concerns about the effect our response to the virus was having on childrens lives, yet I was accused of being callous, uncaring, cruel and wanting people to die. People said I was reckless, ignorant and unprofessional for merely pointing out that restrictions werent without their own set of costs and that children, who are at the lowest risk from the virus, would suffer most. While there is no doubt the virus has killed people, and its effects have been devastating, lockdown has also had a tremendous negative impact, too. Referrals to mental health services have gone through the roof, particularly for children. An analysis of data conducted by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in autumn last year found that in just three months nearly 200,000 young people had been referred to mental health services almost double pre-pandemic levels. Children became the conduit for all our fear and anxiety. They absorbed our worries and concerns, and goodness knows what this will do to their long- term mental health. Children have not only been robbed of the stability of school, many will have been in damaging environments at best unstimulated; at worst, witnessing violence, drug use and abuse. Just last week, an inquiry was launched to find 100,000 pupils who have vanished. These young people have been dubbed ghost children because they have failed to enrol back in school and have apparently disappeared. Thats 100,000 young people who no one can find! I feel sick to the pit of my stomach to think what has happened to some of these children. I suspect that in years to come well look back on our response to Covid and hang our heads in shame at the way we disrupted our childrens lives. Stacey is right about stalking Dr Max says Stacey Dooley's latest BBC documentary on stalking makes for a 'chilling viewing', especially regarding the mental cost for the victims featured Have you seen Stacey Dooleys latest BBC documentary on stalking? It makes chilling viewing, especially regarding the mental cost for the victims. Its shocking to think that too often the police refuse to pursue concerns until something actually happens. They are not interested until the perpetrator breaks the law, such as by breaking into someones house and even then, its easy to lump it together with other crimes and not see it for what it is a symptom of a pathologically intense focus on an individual. Make no mistake, real stalking is terrifying. Its not only the fact that it could escalate into something tragic. Its the emotional toll it takes on the victims. I was stalked by a former patient. Stacey Dooley's latest BBC documentary on stalking, pictured. Dr Max says to make no mistake, real stalking is truly 'terrifying' because it could escalate into something tragic She had used social media to find out all manner of things about me and had contacted friends and family members. She had even worked out where I lived. When I told my manager, it transpired that she had stalked another doctor but nothing had been done about it. It is true that many stalkers have mental health problems but their behaviour can devastate lives. It must be taken seriously by the police and the criminal justice system. Ive often thought how ageism is the last bastion of acceptable intolerance. But are things changing? In Milan Fashion Week, Hollywood actors Jeff Goldblum, 69, and Kyle MacLachlan, 62, modelled for Prada, which led some to argue that attitudes towards older bodies are evolving. Please! Firstly, these two are men the fashion world is less forgiving when it comes to older women. But I cant help thinking this is a cynical ploy. Young people are cash-strapped, unlike the older generation. Its not so much a change in attitudes about the old, rather its money talking. Another study has shown the harmful effects of cannabis. The University of Montreal found it damages memory and decision making. Daily, I see its negative effects on the wards where I work. While theres an argument to legalise it, be under no illusion that this drug is harmless. Dr Max prescribes... A watercooler moment Dr Max Pemberton prescribes a watercooler moment this week, as we return to the office, to start reconnecting with colleagues - to ultimately help our mental health As we return to the office, lets do our best to reconnect with our colleagues. Yes, they can be irritating but we are gregarious animals interacting with each other is incredibly important so we can foster friendships and build trust. Standing around the water cooler is the modern equivalent of sitting around the campfire, chatting and telling stories. It is about forming connections. This, in turn, is vital for our mental health. Imitating the innate sense of effortlessly chic style possessed by all French women is now easier than ever thanks to Parisian-influenced label, Aurelie. Having lived in Paris in her 20s, Lucy Robinson always dreamed of having her own clothing boutique. She launched her brand in early 2020 when her travel PR business was affected by the pandemic. Alexandria Dale's new label of the week is Aurelie, and although based in the UK, each piece is designed and sourced in Paris Despite being based in the UK, each piece is designed and sourced in Paris. The collections released twice a year are full of Breton-striped knits, cream boucle shackets and floral print blouses. And this year will see the introduction of dresses, skirts, trousers and jewellery, too. Prices range from 45 to 65. Chewing gum made from mushroom extract can protect against Covid-19, scientists say. Laboratory studies have shown that chitosan a type of sugar derived from shellfish and mushrooms can interfere with the viruss ability to latch on to healthy cells and cause infection. Laboratory studies have shown that chitosan a type of sugar derived from shellfish and mushrooms can interfere with the viruss ability to latch on to healthy cells and cause infection [File image] Now, scientists in Germany have created GoBeDo Immune Boosting Peppermint Gum, which they claim may prevent infection. Studies have shown that after 30 minutes chewing, Covid-fighting chitosan stays abundant in saliva. Achy joints drug agony revealed Three-quarters of arthritis sufferers stop taking medication due to unbearable side effects, according to a new survey. The gold-standard treatment, methotrexate, has long been associated with nausea, headaches and fatigue. And, according to the poll of more than 500 rheumatoid arthritis patients, half skip medication for days at a time, and about 70 per cent stop taking it. Three-quarters of arthritis sufferers stop taking medication due to unbearable side effects, according to a new survey. [File image] The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Societys research found that 40 per cent of patients feel their concerns are ignored. Only nine per cent said their doctor had explained all the ways they could take the treatment by injection, pills or liquid medicine. Clare Jacklin, the societys chief executive, said: Knowing all the options and feeling involved in decision-making is shown to result in better adherence and improved relief. Children gained more weight in the first three months of the pandemic than in any other similar period in 15 years, says a new study. Researchers analysed body mass changes in 270,000 children between March and May 2020, and compared this with the same three months every year since 2005. Overall, they found children gained up to 40 per cent more in the spring of 2020, against previous years. Children gained more weight in the first three months of the pandemic than in any other similar period in 15 years, says a new study. [File image] Writing in the Journal Of Obesity, the authors described the results as alarming and blamed a lack of exercise and more snacking during lockdowns. While the new research was conducted on German children, previous studies have shown a similar trend in British youngsters. Japan delivers the best healthcare in the world, according to a new analysis, while Sweden is second best and Finland third. The UK ranks 28th three places above the US says the study by Healthcare Transformers, a website. Separate figures from the United Nations (UN) Population Division suggests Britain's overall life expectancy across ages and sexes is 81-and-a-half. It means the UK has the 29th highest life expectancy in the world, with Hong Kong topping the chart at 85.3 years. For comparison, the US ranks 46th, with an expectancy of 79.8 years Researchers based their findings on statistics such as the number of healthcare staff per 1,000 people, health spending, prevalence of mental health problems and average life expectancy in 168 countries. Life expectancy in Japan is 84.6 years, compared with 81.3 in the UK How can they say that? I devote my life and every penny to my animal This was my New Year break. New Years Eve, New Years Day and the Bank Holiday, Nic was off sick. Which meant I not only had my horses, but hers as well. It took four and a half hours to muck out each day. I then poo-picked the fields, filled hay nets, water buckets, made feeds, saw to the farrier, brought in and turned out, changed endless rugs. Not easy in a storm with my Swirly, who does a lot of head waggling and prancing and tries really hard to scrape me off in a bramble. I didnt have time to get shopping or make dinner as I was also working as normal on the day job: writing. I would get back to the cottage and feed my happy, exhausted dogs. Teddy the new rescue collie has settled in beautifully, enjoying his organic human food, hours and hours of exercise with the horses, and never being left. I had just sat down, feeling liberated that I had blocked my ex. In the immortal words of Mary J Blige: Broken heart again. Another lesson learned. Better know your friends. Or else you will get burned No more pain (no more pain) No drama (no more drama in my life) I do wonder why Mary isnt far richer than Adele and Ed Sheeran combined. Then, just now, I got a text, forwarded to me by Stef, the woman who organised the rescue of Teddy from Romania. It was from a man. Andrew G Doe. His real name, I wonder? He wrote Dear Stef. can I ask, when you arranged for Liz Jones, the Mail on Sunday journalist, you were aware of her past history of having such animals. One eviscerated a sheep. Her dogs are so badly house trained, they are barely trained at all. Shes given to leaving them in cars on a hot day He went on. And on. I was so upset that I could lose Teddy. Isnt it interesting how people twist things? Sam did kill a sheep: the farmer who owned him before chucking him out to starve had kept him on a chain. As he was abandoned, there was no history. Gracie does chew and, yes, she does stress wee. This is the fault of the farmer who abused her mother so badly, no one could get near her. She passed her terror on to her puppies. I have never left my dogs in a hot car. Ever. I devote my life and every penny I earn to animals. When Lizzie, my rescued racehorse, attacked me, I didnt retaliate. No. I walked away, and I hired an equine behaviourist, who is still working for me to this day: Nic. I once took in a 40-year-old thoroughbred mare, whose owner had been evicted from her livery yard. I asked only that the owner paid any vet bills, and the cost of her horse being put to sleep at home and cremated when the time came. She agreed. When the horse started to go down in the field, Nic watched her 24 hours a day. Shed creep round the field after her, using the light from her phone. The woman refused to visit, saying she had to do the school run. When the horse had to be put down, the woman refused to pay up, offering only her filthy old rugs, which she said I could sell on Ebay. She posted online that I kill horses. Nothing was done! A woman wrote on Mumsnet that she saw me take cocaine at a party. I wanted to take her to court but was advised by my managing editor it would be too expensive. Goodness, if Id written that lie about a celebrity, Id have been sued, then sacked. I was taken to the Press Complaints Commission by the Hearing Dogs For Deaf People charity when I wrote my collies hear for me. I won, but the case kept me awake for months. The endless calls, emails, threats. A fellow newspaper columnist wrote on Twitter that I have sex with my cats. She swiftly deleted the tweet, which made the news pages of the Evening Standard, but luckily I had kept a screen shot. I say luckily: she still has her column, in a family newspaper, to this day. So now Im worried I will lose Teddy when he has been so brave and trusting. I have no idea where to turn, because no one ever helps me! No one sticks up for me! No one is on my side! 8 1/2 Stone, Liz Jones's debut novel, is available as an audiobook on Amazon and Audible. Coming soon to Spotify, Apple Books and all usual outlets Contact Liz at lizjonesgoddess.com and stalk her @lizjonesgoddess Everyones talking about Liz Joness Diary: The Podcast! Join Liz and her trusty (long-suffering) assistant Nicola as they dissect her weekly YOU magazine diary and delve into the archives to relive the bust-ups, betrayals, bullets and much more in this brilliant podcast. Theyre outspoken, outrageous and utterly hilarious. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and mailplus.co.uk As a new exhibition reveals the heartbreaking untold personal stories from the so-called Ship of Dreams, Kate Thompson discovers why, 110 years on, the Titanic still holds us in its thrall The ship in 1912 Screams. The pounding of feet. An ominous creaking. Four-year-old Louise Kink cant make sense of what is happening. Her mother, also called Louise, and father Alfred have shaken her awake in the dead of night, hastily put on her boots and swept a blanket around her. Up on deck, it is icy cold. She feels her mothers arms tightly wrapped around her as they are lowered down into a lifeboat. Papa, she calls. He is being held back by a crowd of seamen who have formed a protective chain around the lifeboat. Her mother screams hysterically. At the last minute, he breaks through the human chain and leaps aboard. They are then rowed away on Lifeboat Number 2, and can only watch, mute with horror, as 30 minutes later, at 2.20am, the mighty hulk of RMS Titanic slips beneath the black waters. Eighty years later, when Louise, aged 84, dies in her bed in Wisconsin, her daughter Joan Randall finds a dusty box in the loft. An old pair of boots. A moth-eaten blanket. It is all that remains of the terrifying ordeal her mother survived but rarely spoke of. Louise Kink (front left, her mother behind) in the boots she wore as she escaped the Titanic Today, you can see those shoes at Titanic: The Exhibition in Londons Docklands, one of 200 exhibits on display, alongside full-size re-creations of rooms in the ship, built to give visitors a more immersive experience. It is a tantalisingly tangible link to the past. The sinking of the unsinkable ship undoubtedly still grips our imaginations so much so that an old pair of childrens shoes worn on board is now estimated to be worth 10,000. This year marks 110 years since the Titanic hit an iceberg on 15 April 1912, and in that time the doomed vessel has spawned countless myths, hundreds of books chronicling the disaster and, of course, James Camerons 1997 Oscar-winning film Titanic with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. In our quest to get to get closer to the so-called Ship of Dreams it is important not to overlook the deep human tragedy at the heart of its story. There were 2,208 people on board (1,309 passengers, 899 crew). Out of that total, 1,496 perished, 51 of them children. Are we turning a disaster into a Disney experience? Passengers Edvard and Elin Lindell. When the Titanic began to sink, they fell into the water, but while he managed to get into a lifeboat he couldnt pull his wife in. She froze to death Titanic historian Claes-Goran Wetterholm, 69, from Stockholm, who curated the new exhibition, disagrees. It is important to look again at the tragedy and dispel some of the myths, he says. For example, the idea that most of the passengers were British, Irish or American. The fifth largest passenger group were Arabs, he says. They came from Syria and Lebanon in search of new lives, travelling by boat to join the Titanic at Cherbourg. The long-held narrative of women and children first in the lifeboats doesnt always bear resemblance to the truth either, according to Wetterholm. While the story goes that those who survived were women and children, its not true: 323 men survived, 80 per cent of them got on lifeboats from the starboard side. They survived because first officer William Murdoch, who evacuated that side, didnt prevent them from getting in. On the port side, second officer Charles Lightoller had the rule of women and children first and he took it literally. One boat that could take 65 people rowed away with 28, leaving men behind. Over on the starboard side, it was a different story. On the last boats to leave, the majority were men. As Elin disappeared into the icy depths, her wedding ring slipped off Another perception the exhibition shatters is that the third class accommodation was grim. Actually, says Wetterholm, it was clean and freshly painted. The food was excellent and they even had flushing toilets, unheard of for 1912. The stewardesses in third class had to teach people how to use them. And contrary to the gut-wrenching scenes in the film Titanic, those in third class werent locked in. However, such was the difficulty in navigating the vast ship from the lower levels, he says, most couldnt find a way out as they hadnt been shown how to get up on deck. Wetterholm has spent decades studying the story of the Titanic, delving deep into archives around the world and interviewing survivors. Sadly there are no more opportunities to capture these stories; the last survivor of the Titanic, Millvina Dean from Hampshire, died in 2009 aged 97. Millvina was just nine weeks old when she was placed in a canvas mail bag and lowered into a lifeboat. Her mother and two-year-old brother survived, but sadly her father didnt. When I interviewed her shortly after the film Titanic was released I found a woman astounded by the interest in her life. I refuse to see the film, Millvina told me, despite being invited to its premiere. It would have made me think, did [my father] jump overboard or did he go down with the ship? When I visited her in the street named after her in Southampton, she asked: Why do people look at me as a sort of celebrity? Wetterholm believes our fascination with the Titanic stems from the fact that we identify with the people on board. It could have been me or you and we ask ourselves, Where would I have been sipping champagne in first class, or bunking down below decks in third class? Would I have died or survived? Walking through the exhibition, every object connects you to a person who was on that voyage. Like the wedding ring of Swedish third-class passenger Elin Gerda Lindell, 30. She and husband Edvard, 36, had been planning new lives in Connecticut. However, when the ship began sinking theyd struggled up the sloping deck and slid into the water. Edvard managed to get on to a lifeboat and reached for his wifes hand but, explains Wetterholm, as he tried to pull her in without capsizing the boat, tragically, he dropped her and Elin disappeared into the icy depths [its estimated that 90 per cent of those who died didnt drown, but with the temperature of the water a perishing minus 0.5 degrees, they froze to death]. Because it was so incredibly cold and her fingers so frozen, her wedding ring slipped off her finger and dropped into the boat. According to the lifeboats survivors, Edvard died of pneumonia that night and his body joined his wifes in the water. After being left to float adrift, when the boat was recovered a month later, alongside three decomposing bodies was the ring. Wetterholm tracked down Elins surviving family and persuaded them to allow him to display the ring, which had been returned to her parents in Stockholm all those years ago, and to tell its tragic story. Its these tiny personal objects salvaged from the Titanic that pack the biggest punch. A cigarette tin. A postcard. A third-class ticket that cost 8, the equivalent of a years wages for a working-class person. A ticket that would have been grafted for with dreams of a new life in America, but which tragically in so many cases ended before it had even begun. There is a saying that you die twice. Once when your heart stops beating and then when someone says your name for the last time, says Wetterholm. By telling the story of these people, we are keeping their memory alive. The real-life Jack and Rose Henry Morely and Kate Phillips are believed to be the inspiration for Jack and Rose's characters in the Oscar-winning film Titanic. Believed to be the inspiration behind lovers Jack and Rose, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the Oscar-winning film Titanic, Henry Morley, 39, and Kate Phillips, 19, began an affair when she worked for his confectionery firm in Worcester. Despite the age gap, they ran away together, boarding the Titanic under fake names with dreams of a new life in California. However, only Kate survived the sinking and when she arrived in New York she found she was pregnant with his child, conceived on the ill-fated voyage. For the rest of her life she treasured the pendant given to her on board by Henry. The pendant Henry gave to Kate Reminders of that tragic night Some of the pieces of Titanic history than can be seen at the new exhibition Most large companies are conservative, hierarchical organisations, run by late middle-age men who are floundering in the world of woke. Some pay grudging lip-service to millennial sensibilities. Others, like an embarrassing Dad at a disco, join in far too enthusiastically. Mocking the corporate vanity that can ensue is just too tempting, even if the cause is a good one. When a company like Unilever claims it is 're-inventing food for humanity' with Knorr stock cubes, it's impossible to suppress a snigger. But beyond the silliness and vanity, there are serious points at stake. A sign of the times: Businesses face new ethical challenges that require finely balanced decisions Larry Fink is no woolly-minded activist, but one of the most successful asset managers. As the boss of Blackrock, he is the custodian of 7.5billion of savers' cash. Going green and allowing staff to work flexibly is not wokery, he argues in his annual letter to CEOs, but dynamic capitalism. Businesses must re-invent themselves in line with the times or risk losing customers and be starved of the finance to grow. Some find the spectacle of a billionaire like Fink lecturing firms on social responsibility highly hypocritical. But as he implies, some causes branded woke today will be viewed in future as right and just. The idea of having more women on boards was once seen as dangerously militant feminism. Only when a distinguished male banker, Lord (Mervyn) Davies, took up the cudgels did everyone realise business performance was being harmed by the exclusion of talented females. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, students agitated for Barclays to pull out of apartheid South Africa. It took 16 years of boycotts before it did, but those protesters were on the right side of history. Few would deny nowadays that the golliwog mascot on Robertson's jam was a racial stereotype, though shockingly, it did not disappear until as late as 2001. So perhaps 20 years from now it will seem equally amazing that shops sold sweets named Midget Gems. Marks & Spencer and other chains are renaming the pastilles after protests about hate speech to those with dwarfism. Companies are much quicker than they were to respond to protests partly because of social media and partly because ESG environmental, social and governance has become de rigueur in the City. Some business leaders are behaving like activists themselves. Paul Polman, the former boss of Unilever, has been protesting volubly about the Government's new policing bill, describing it as anti-democratic and bad for business. He has no shareholders to please so can do as he wishes. These rows take place against a highly politicised backdrop. The financial crisis caused a loss of trust in businesses and governments, which has deepened in the pandemic. Societies are becoming more polarised and new fault-lines have emerged, including the vilification of Big Pharma by the anti-vaxxers. Businesses face new ethical challenges that require finely balanced decisions. Along with pharma, the tech sector, which is adept at staying one step ahead of regulation, is the new ethical frontier. Social media has already spawned a myriad of questions over child protection, fraud, privacy and the use of our personal data. The next big thing is the metaverse, an immersive virtual world, populated by avatars, which will throw up more challenges. Companies could use tiny cameras and sensors to harvest data about our facial and eye movements, and exploit this to bombard us with 'hyper-targeted' advertising. Misleading cryptocurrency adverts finally face a crackdown after the watchdog revealed plans to take over their regulation. The Mail on Sunday has been warning for months of the dangers of some of the adverts, which can lead investors to take on more risk than they realise. The number of UK consumers holding cryptocurrencies rose last year to 2.3million, outpacing understanding of how these assets work. Adverts for cryptocurrencies will be treated in the same way as other financial promotions, the Financial Conduct Authority now says. Decision: Adverts for cryptocurrencies will be treated in the same way as other financial promotions, the Financial Conduct Authority now says This will remedy the contradiction whereby adverts for regulated financial products faced tighter rules than high-risk, unregulated cryptocurrencies. The FCA also revealed it is looking into replacing the banal 'your capital is at risk' warning on adverts with wording that is more effective. In a study, it compared the effectiveness of this standard warning with others such as: 'This is a high risk investment. You could lose all your money and are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong.' It found risk warnings which are more prominent and with messages designed with investor behaviour in mind were more effective. 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 C.W. writes: Please help you are my last hope before possibly losing my first property purchase. In 2019, I lost my purse containing bank cards and my driving licence. Some months later I found that a loan had been taken out in my name with Hillingdon Credit Union, and after much correspondence this was cancelled. Recently, I found my dream home, but when I applied for a mortgage, NatWest said my credit record was unacceptable. A 750 loan had been taken out in my name, from the Thamesbank Credit Union, which has given me a bad credit rating as the loan was not repaid. Debt: Graham Tomlin, of Credit Union Solutions, suggested repaying a Thamesbank loan taken out fraudulently Tony Hetherington replies: Sometimes the readers' problems and complaints that land on my desk turn out to be not quite as bad as they appear. Yours turned out to be far, far worse, with Thamesbank Credit Union throwing up obstacles at every turn, rather than treating you as a victim of identity theft. Incredibly, when you said to Thamesbank that you were not the real borrower of the missing 750, you were told: 'One simple solution of course would be to repay the debt.' This, you were assured, 'would immediately resolve your credit history.' Thamesbank is fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, yet it is suggesting a victim of ID theft takes responsibility for a fraudulently obtained loan, and Thamesbank will in return clean up their credit agency file. Blackmail? Or bloody-minded stupidity? The suggestion to pay up came from Graham Tomlin. He is not even a boss of Thamesbank. He runs a company called Credit Union Solutions, which provides administrative back-up to a number of credit unions. But Thamesbank's real directors allowed him so much power that he felt he could do as he wished. In November, he twice told you that Thamesbank was far too busy to deal with your problem, as Thamesbank's members were his priority. He even told you that removing the adverse credit record would involve applying for a County Court Judgment. This is garbage, as a CCJ against your name would be even worse than defaulting on a loan repayment. However, a court case would at least have let you file a defence, so you asked whether Thamesbank would go down this road. Tomlin replied: 'We did not apply for a CCJ as it tended to be too expensive for such a small loan.' Reading this, I did wonder how expensive it might be for them if you sued Tomlin and Thamesbank for defamation! One obstacle thrown up by Tomlin, to you and me, was his demand that you must report the loan fraud to the police. You did, only to be told quite correctly by the head of Action Fraud that the report had to come from Thamesbank, which had lost money. You, of course, had only lost your good name, which is not a crime. So did Tomlin and Thamesbank report the fraud to the police? Did they heck. And yet the evidence is in their files. You were told the loan involved the use of a Virgin Money account, pay evidence from an engineering firm and a National Insurance number. All were clues to the real identity of the borrower, but it was easier to blame you. Thamesbank's complaints procedure is slipshod. You complained on November 1, but Thamesbank learned of the complaint from me on December 24. Tomlin kept it in the dark. The man most in the dark was Paul Oppe, the Thamesbank director responsible for looking into complaints. He took just over a fortnight to decide on January 12 to apologise and ask credit agencies to remove the debt warning from your record. By last Wednesday, your credit rating had shot up to 'Excellent.' So is this a happy ending? Maybe not. Oppe drew my attention to the 'coincidence,' that you had 'on two occasions misplaced ID which resulted in a fraudulent loan application to a credit union'. He also told me his board is 'confident that Graham Tomlin and CUS (Credit Union Solutions) perform their operation roles.' But hang on. Why did Oppe think you lost ID twice, each time followed by a fraudulent loan application? He said: 'CUS found out in investigations, and it does seem unusual.' The implication is clear, and Tomlin pressed the point, telling me: 'I have contacted the Association of British Credit Unions, who shared my suspicions. I am on the executive of the London region of the association and will raise this experience with them.' I think Tomlin has lost the plot. He seems to be treating the original fake loan from the Hillingdon Credit Union as if it resulted from a different loss of ID, not that some crook simply used your ID twice. This means he has reported you as a suspicious character to his national organisation. This could come back to bite you. Fears over funeral money Ms T.P. writes: My partner was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and passed away two months later. He had paid 3,239 to Rest Assured Funeral Plans Limited. However, the hospice arranged for a local funeral company to collect and store his body. They told me that RAFP said there was not enough money in the plan to pay for the funeral. RAFP did contribute 1,100, but I cannot see how the balance was spent. Concern: Ms T.P.'s partner had paid 3,239 to Rest Assured Funeral Plans Limited Tony Hetherington replies: Funeral plans can be tricky. The Financial Conduct Authority will regulate the industry from July, but funeral plans now are only overseen by an industry body providing voluntary rules. That said, your partner's own plan with RAFP looks flawless. Knowing he was dying, he wanted to spare you his funeral expenses, and despite the short time left, RAFP helped, even offering a 360 discount. The 1,100 was just part of the funeral bill, covering payments to third parties for the service and cremation. The local funeral firm used by the hospice billed RAFP directly for the rest, and in total the plan paid out 2,900. 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. Luxury car firm Aston Martin Lagonda may have to tap shareholders for fresh funds for a fourth time, a top City analyst has said. James Congdon, who runs the Quest research unit at broker Canaccord Genuity, said Aston Martin's equity does look 'vulnerable.' 'We increasingly can see a scenario where the company would need to raise capital again,' he added. In the slow lane: Since the float, Aston Martin's stock price has collapsed almost 90 per cent Congdon was the sole City analyst to highlight that Aston Martin which now has its own Formula 1 team would need to raise fresh funds several times after the business floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2018. Since the float, the company's stock price has collapsed almost 90 per cent, leaving the maker of James Bond's favourite automobile with a valuation of just 1.4billion. One reason that Aston Martin's shares have performed so poorly is because it has been forced to raise cash several times over. In 2020, for example, the company raised 540million through a rights issue as part of a deal that saw Lawrence Stroll, the billionaire retail tycoon, become chairman of the business. Then Aston Martin raised another 152million in June 2020 and a further 125million four months later, both via equity placings. Earlier this year, Aston Martin unveiled a profit warning as part of an unscheduled trading statement. It said operating earnings would be about 15million about 10 per cent lower than expected after Aston Martin failed to deliver as many as 2.5million worth of the Valkyrie hypercars it had promised. The company said it had as much as 420million in cash at the year end. However, Congdon said: 'Despite the increase in sales of the DBX in 2021 and the company receiving customer deposits for their Valkyrie hypercar, consensus estimates on Bloomberg forecast that the company will continue to burn cash in 2022 and 2023. 'The company did have 506million of cash at hand (but importantly gross debt of 1.3billion) in July but this has already fallen to 420million in those six months an annualised cash burn of 172million. 'Capital expenditure commitments are climbing at a time when the company is switching to manufacturing electric models.' Congdon added: 'With the growing capex [capital expenditure], rising costs, the current cash burn rate and a balance sheet not strong enough to shoulder any more debt, we wouldn't be surprised if the company sought to raise equity in the near term.' The number of shares held by short sellers investors betting the company's stock price will fall increased to 2.8 per cent last week after Parvus Asset Management Europe emerged as the latest hedge fund with a position. Two other hedge funds that have disclosed short positions are Blackrock and Gladstone Capital Management. Aston Martin, founded in 1913, has had a turbulent history. Its cars became a British cultural icon after a DB5 was used as one of James Bond's vehicles in the 1964 film Goldfinger. But the company has reportedly been through seven bankruptcies. A spokesperson for Aston Martin said: 'Aston Martin Lagonda has no requirement or plans to raise additional funds.' Meanwhile, a potential strike has been avoided. The threat of industrial action emerged last month over plans to close a defined benefit pension scheme. Unions said it could have led to workers losing 100,000 in retirement income. But a deal to provide employees with cash payments and shares in Aston Martin has paved the way for changes in the scheme. National Election Commission (NEC) standing commissioner Cho Hai-ju, right, poses with President Moon Jae-in in Cheong Wa Dae after receiving his certificate of appointment in January 2019. Cho submitted his intention to resign to President Moon after Moon rejected his initial resignation offer and suggested that he be reappointed as a non-permanent NEC commissioner. Korea Times file By Kwon Mee-yoo National Election Commission (NEC) standing commissioner Cho Hai-ju submitted his resignation which was accepted by President Moon Jae-in, Friday. According to the NEC, Cho said that he is "quitting the NEC completely," leaving the future of the NEC in the hands of the current staff. "I could endure political attacks from the opposition party and media, but I could not look away from the possible controversy over bias (for having me on the NEC) and the appeal of the staff members," Cho said. Cho's three-year term was to expire today, but when he expressed his intention to resign to the President, Moon did not accept it, citing the stability of the organization, with there being a major election around the corner. Legally, a standing commissioner can act as a non-permanent commissioner after the termination of their term. The main opposition party has criticized this move as holding a post for the current commissioner on the NEC, which should be a neutral organization. Rick Baldridge is on a mission worthy of a James Bond plot: to convince Her Majesty's Government he can safeguard state secrets. The head of US satellite company Viasat is closing in on a $7.3billion (5.4billion) takeover of British rival Inmarsat, seen as the jewel in the crown of the UK space industry. This week he flies into London for a charm offensive with media and officials examining the deal, which is its biggest ever takeover. 'We're a growth company. The Government should think, 'Here's a technology company going to invest in high quality UK jobs in the area of space,' Baldridge says as he finesses his pitch in his first British newspaper interview since agreeing the deal in November. Space man: Rick Baldridge, the head of US satellite company Viasat Viasat needs to persuade officials in Whitehall that it can be trusted with the highly sensitive information transmitted by Inmarsat: from locations of tanks in war zones to identities of hackers trying to take control of ships. 'We have procedures to ensure classified information is protected and operate that way in the US, where only limited people have access to certain pieces of information,' Baldridge says, speaking via Zoom from California. The issue is of particular significance as Inmarsat is a bidder for a 6billion contract to upgrade the UK military's secure communications network. Inmarsat, the London-based satellite stalwart founded in 1979, handles communications for the military, ships and commercial airlines. Baldridge, 63, says the takeover is not contingent on Inmarsat winning the 6billion contract. But he adds: 'I like to win every contract we bid on so we're big cheerleaders for the Inmarsat team. That's a very, very important contract. I think they have a really good chance.' Baldridge says Viasat's skill in handling sensitive data is evidenced by its receipt of America's James Cogswell award for careful protection of intelligence, bestowed on a tiny fraction of firms. Baldridge's assurances will form part of a string of commitments Viasat will make to the British Government to secure the Inmarsat deal, along with pledges to invest further here. The sale of British defence firms to US bidders became a headline issue last year. The National Security and Investment Act was introduced this month to make it harder for UK firms of national importance to fall into foreign hands. The Government could refer Inmarsat's takeover for deeper scrutiny under these powers. The takeover of aerospace and defence giant Meggitt by Parker-Hannifin and the acquisition of Ultra Electronics by US buyout firm Advent are being assessed for threats to national security. Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, has written to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng calling for a review of the Inmarsat purchase and concerns about selling 'strategically important' UK companies to overseas counterparts. Viasat and Inmarsat already overlap on national security projects. Both work with the Ministry of Defence and have contracts on the US President's Air Force One plane. Inmarsat was snapped up before in 2019 by a consortium of private equity firms, including London's Apax and New York's Warburg Pincus, as well as pension funds. If this latest deal is not held up, it could be completed in the second half of this year. Baldridge says it would mark a bold step towards creating a new hub in Britain. Last spring, Viasat announced it would build a 300million cyber security base in Aldershot, Hampshire, to help fend off attacks on Britain's communications networks and satellites. As such, Baldridge says the swoop was not opportunistic: 'If we didn't see the value, we certainly would have backed away and let somebody else do it.' Viasat has identified $80million a year of 'synergies' cost cuts from overlaps at the two companies. So should staff at Inmarsat's HQ at London's 'Silicon Roundabout' in East London be concerned? Baldridge says: 'My message to employees is: we're going to hire really strong technical talent. If you're an engineer and want to work on cool things in the space area there's just enormous opportunities.' Viasat has 6,000 employees and is valued at $3.3billion. It has four satellites which hang about 22,000 miles above Earth in geostationary orbit to provide communications for the military as well as airlines. Industry watchers have claimed it is a golden age for investment in space. The Mail on Sunday revealed in November last year that Viasat beat off competition from Luxembourg's SES which made the first satellite for Sky TV to agree the deal to buy debt-laden Inmarsat. There is also a trend for tycoons to get involved, led by billionaire entrepreneurs Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. Baldridge, in the industry for 22 years, says the huge sums being poured into the space industry represent a 'frothy period' but Viasat is investing more prudently. Viasat is building a 300-strong Leo constellation that will compete with Musk's SpaceX and the UK Government-backed OneWeb when completed in the next four years. Baldridge says the Inmarsat deal can aid Viasat's mission to improve broadband communication especially in towns and cities amid unprecedented internet demand in the pandemic. Of the growing use of video calls, not to mention streaming shows from home, he says: 'Video is dominating demand for bandwidth growth, and demand is concentrated where people are.' Viasat hopes to improve wi-fi on planes too, cutting costs for airlines and passengers. And Baldridge also hopes that this week can help Viasat's global ambitions take flight. Fashion entrepreneur Kevin Stanford has been accused of lying about what he claims is his majority stake in high street brand All Saints, details of a bizarre court case reveal. Court documents show Stanford contacted private equity fund Lion Capital in August 2021 in a letter, claiming 'rightful ownership' of 62 per cent of the shares. Rejection: Kevin Stanford contacted Lion Capital in August 2021 claiming 'rightful ownership' of 62 per cent of the shares Stanford, who co-founded Karen Millen and was All Saints chairman until a decade ago, bought All Saints in 2005. He was declared bankrupt by HM Revenue & Customs in February 2019. Lion Capital, which brought All Saints for 105million in 2011, has rejected his claim. The fund has opted to pursue a court injunction in a bid to stop Stanford making such statements public. It says Stanford's 'false assertion' will prejudice any future attempt to sell All Saints, which reported turnover of 364.1million in 2020. Its lawyers have argued Stanford remains 'unwilling to accept he has no interest' in the company. Vodafone has approached the Hong Kong owners of rival mobile phone company Three UK about a merger amid rumours the FTSE 100-listed company itself could be a takeover target for a predator. Vodafone held talks late last year with Asian conglomerate CK Hutchison (CKH), owner of Three UK, about buying its rival. Separately, Vodafone has entered talks with rival Iliad to strike a deal to merge their businesses in Italy, which could make a 6billion (5billion) telecoms powerhouse. Talking the talk: Vodafone held talks late last year with Asian conglomerate CK Hutchison, owner of Three UK, about buying its rival Either deal could be crucial in fending off disgruntled investors amid a wave of speculation that the 32billion telecoms giant may itself be vulnerable to a bid. Speculation sent Vodafone shares jumping 5.3 per cent to 123.80p in morning trading on Monday. Rumours have been circulating in the City that a private equity firm, such as CVC Capital Partners, or an American telecoms group is eyeing Vodafone. Several telecoms operators have recently been pounced on by private equity firms, including a 33billion bid by US buyout giant KKR for Telecom Italia, Italy's largest telecoms group, late last year. Any takeover of Vodafone, which has debts of 44billion (37billion), would likely require more than one firm to combine their spending power. The talks with Vodafone were first reported by Bloomberg. Three's attempted merger with O2 was blocked by the European Union, with backing from Ofcom, in 2016. But O2 was later allowed to merge with Liberty Global's Virgin Media. Speculation had mounted last year that Three may itself attempt a takeover of a rival, most likely Vodafone. Vodafone has around 20million customers while Three has 9.3million, which could make it a formidable player across mobile, fixed line and broadband operations. City sources said Vodafone's attempts to snap up Three UK had been paused but discussions could be reignited if CKH can successfully convince regulators to approve a separate deal that would allow it to offload its UK mobile phone towers arm. Last month, the Competition and Markets Watchdog provisionally blocked the sale of CKH's 3.2billion UK towers arm, which is part of a 9billion sell-off of its 24,600 towers across Europe to Spain's Cellnex. A final assessment is due on March 7. Analysts said blocking the sale on grounds that CKH could have pursued a more competitive deal would be 'baffling' and that the company had a strong chance of a successful appeal. One City banker said: 'Vodafone buying Three is the most likely deal to happen in the UK telecoms market. If Three can convince regulators of the Cellnex deal, that could then reduce competition concerns around any Vodafone-Three combination as both have mobile phone towers.' CKH is run by Victor Li, son of the billionaire Li Ka-Shing, Asia's richest man. Any combination of Vodafone and Three UK would be scrutinised by regulator Ofcom. It has previously resisted deals that would see the number of main telecom operators reduced from four to three. However, telecoms executives across Europe have pushed regulators to allow consolidation to allow them to cut costs amid cut-throat competition. Vodafone chief Nick Read said in November that consolidation was needed in Europe, notably Italy, Spain and Portugal where 'all players are suffering'. Vodafone, Three UK and CVC all declined to comment. Support: Shawbrook backs Owen Farrell's Saracens Challenger bank Shawbrook has entered talks with pension funds and private equity firms about a 2billion sale. The lender, which is owned by BC Partners and Pollen Street Capital, has also started discussions with other investors about possibly taking a stake. It is unclear whether Pollen Street is looking to sell its entire holding in Shawbrook or retain part of it. Analysts said the bank could fetch a valuation of up to 2billion based on earnings forecasts. The moves come after it was revealed last month that Shawbrook, which offers personal and business banking, is also considering a stock market listing. Shawbrook emerged following the financial crisis as a digital bank focused on lending to smaller firms. It floated in London in 2015 with a price tag of 725million. However, just two years later, it was taken private again by BC Partners and Pollen Street for nearly 900million. The move to take Shawbrook private again in 2017 came after a surprise announcement that it had taken a 9million charge from bad loans in its asset finance arm. Its private equity owners have invested in its systems and technology to strengthen the bank. According to its last financial statement, Shawbrook, which sponsors Saracens rugby club, saw its loan book grow by 5 per cent in 2020 to 7.1billion. It is one of a group of specialist lenders including Aldermore and OneSavings Bank which target people and businesses underserved by the mainstream banks. Deal activity among challenger banks is heating up. Last year, the Co-op Bank made a bid of just over 1billion for TSB, which was rejected by owners Banco Sabadell. In December, The Mail on Sunday revealed TSB is expected to be put back up for sale this year after slashing costs. The chief executive of a company led by controversial housebuilding boss Jeff Fairburn is leaving less than a year after his takeover, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Mark Mitchell has resigned from his role running Northern builder Avant Homes, which was bought by Fairburn's Berkeley DeVeer with backing from powerful US hedge fund Elliott. Fairburn was ousted from Persimmon in 2018 after a furore over his 75million bonus, which was aided by the Government's Help to Buy scheme. Leaving: Mark Mitchell has resigned from his role running Northern builder Avant Homes Last month, the MoS reported that Avant had lost seven directors since the takeover. Fairburn became chairman at Avant on completion of the deal in April, with Mitchell stepping up from chief operating officer. Former Avant boss Colin Lewis, who retired, later voiced fears that Fairburn would strip higher specification features from Avant's new homes, 'dumbing down' the brand. Mitchell, 41, will leave this month after 21 years with the business. He began his career as a trainee quantity surveyor at Henry Boot Homes, before moving to Ben Bailey Homes. He rose to the role of commercial director before the business was sold to what is now Avant Homes. He was made managing director at just 27. Elliott has taken a stake in Avant rival Taylor Wimpey and is pushing for the builder to replace outgoing chief Pete Redfern with an external candidate. Avant thanked Mitchell for his service, adding: 'We wish him well for the future.' Is an eye-catching drug deal brewing? Industry sources say AstraZeneca is closing in on a contract with the Government to buy significant supplies of its drug Evusheld. The antibody cocktail could help Britons whose immune systems are unlikely to respond well to a Covid vaccine to fight the virus. The drug has yet to receive approval from UK regulators but Astra has already sold 1.2million doses to the US. Competition: Astra, one of the first out of the blocks with a virus vaccine, is up against GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Merck in the race to supply Covid drugs on a global level Astra, one of the first out of the blocks with a virus vaccine, is up against GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Merck in the race to supply Covid drugs on a global level. But it may be the first UK firm to secure a big order from the NHS, which has committed to large orders from the US's Pfizer and Merck. A clutch of other drugs, including ones from Japanese giants Takeda and Fujifilm, are being used in NHS trials, looking at everything from preventing mild illness becoming serious to treating long Covid. AstraZeneca declined to comment. Hunt for Warren East successor at Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce chair Anita Frew isn't hanging about. The hunt for a successor to chief executive Warren East has already begun four months after she took charge. She's also begun reshaping the rest of the top team. Chief people officer Harry Holt has left to join flying taxi firm Vertical Aerospace while chief technology officer Paul Stein has been moved across to become chairman of Rolls's small nuclear reactor business. Now The Mail on Sunday learns that strategy director Ben Story a former City banker who joined in 2016 headed for the exit door last month. He had been fronting Rolls's response to criticism from its biggest shareholder Causeway Capital Management. Time for a new Story, it appears. Spike in profit warnings Investors looking for stability in their portfolios: look away now. Research from EY shows a spike in profit warnings from listed companies at the end of 2021, with many citing rising costs and supply chain issues. Online retailers Boohoo and AO World were among those issuing profit alerts. Still, the total for 2021 was 203 profit warnings, down from a record-breaking 583 in the Covid chaos of 2020. Progress. Life's a beach, unless you're a travel boss Simon Cooper, founder and chief executive of online holiday specialist On The Beach, has spent the pandemic refunding cancelled flights and raising 92million from investors. The shares are down a quarter over the past year, and short-seller Ennismore Fund is betting against the stock. The firm's annual report now reveals that after sacrificing his salary for seven months in 2020 he's missed out on getting a bonus again too. There's a silver lining: he's been handed a pay rise. Cooper will receive 215,757 a 4 per cent hike in line with its workforce's rise, while finance chief Shaun Morton gets a 10 per cent rise to 275,000. More than enough for a jaunt to Lanzarote, then. Nicole* will never forget the sense of numbness she felt after her father raped her in December 2018. After returning home drunk at 15, having chugged alcohol her own dad, Richard*, had bought her, she was berated by him for getting into trouble at school earlier that day. As 'punishment', he threatened to rape her then forced himself onto his daughter in a sickening attack. When he was done, he waltzed into the kitchen of their western Sydney home and poured himself a drink. Nicole ran to the shower. 'I felt disgusting,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I was scrubbing my skin because I didn't feel clean. Nothing I did would make me feel clean.' *Nicole (pictured), from Sydney, was subjected to sickening sexual attacks by her father *Richard. She has given Daily Mail Australia written permission to share her story A year ago, aged 17, she bravely faced him in court as he was sentenced to 12 years behind bars for his crimes. Now, she is sharing her story to inspire other sexual assault survivors to speak up The assault was the first of a horror six month campaign of abuse Nicole would suffer at the hands of her father - her sole guardian, after her mother's death six years earlier. But the hurt and betrayal from Richard - the one man in the world who was supposed to protect her - was, devastatingly, all too familiar. While precise figures are hard to ascertain, Australian Bureau of Statistics data from 2005 estimates 15 per cent - or up to 20 per cent for females - of the population will suffer familial child sexual abuse. Sadly, Nicole is an example of this disturbing - and unfathomable - trend. Here, she bravely breaks her silence and tells her story to empower other sexual abuse survivors to speak up - and to let them know they are not alone. Nicole pictured as a child. She describes her childhood as 'fun' - but says behind closed doors, it was an 'abusive' household Bittersweet upbringing Growing up in Colyton, in Sydney's western suburbs, Nicole had a 'fun' childhood, regularly going on fishing trips with her mother, father, and two brothers. However, the happy memories were spliced with bouts of turmoil inside an 'abusive' household - plagued by her father's alcoholism and aggressive outbursts. Behind closed doors, Nicole was also unknowingly harbouring her father's dark secret. Up until she was six, the twisted paedophile had been sexually abusing her - and others - while she was too young to realise the seriousness of his depraved acts, which, to her, had become so normal. Starting from an age she was too young to remember, he subjected her to sickening assaults multiple times a week. 'He would take me away on little holidays, just me and him, to Wollongong,' Nicole recalled. 'That is when it would happen more frequently.' The heinous abuse was finally uncovered when another little girl, who was a family friend, reported both her and Nicole's abuse to her parents. After the parents told Nicole's mother, she went straight to the police and kicked Richard out of the house. Nicole was sexually abused by her father from an unknown age until she was six. She is pictured as a child with her mother and grandmother He was arrested and hit with five charges including, sexual intercourse with person under the age of 10 years, and indecent assault person under 16 years of age. 'Mum was very upset when it came to light,' Nicole said. 'I hadn't really understood the gravity of it up until then.' While relieved the abuse had stopped, the six-year-old girl felt 'guilty' as though she was the reason her family had split apart. Although relatives on her father's side refused to accept his guilt, Nicole's devoted mother became her strongest ally - rallying to support her daughter as her young mind came to terms with her traumatic ordeal. With Richard remanded in custody awaiting trial, the family breathed a sigh of relief and tried to begin re-building their shattered lives. Tragedy strikes Two years later, on 24 May, 2012, Nicole's world was torn apart when she found her then 32-year-old mother dead on the front lawn of their Rooty Hill home - a day after her ninth birthday. Just a child, Nicole thought she was sleeping. 'We still don't know how she died,' Nicole said, 'Some relatives have told me it was alcohol poisoning, my dad said it was suicide. 'I completely broke down. I was absolutely shattered. I felt like I had lost my whole world. My mum was my rock, my best friend. When I lost her, I lost my everything.' *Richard (pictured) is currently in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing his daughter. He will be eligible for parole in June 2028 Now orphans, Nicole and her brothers moved in with their maternal grandmother in western Sydney as they waited for the verdict of their father's trial. In August, Richard was sentenced to four years and six months behind bars with a non-parole period of two years, six months in Penrith District Court. As soon as the court case ended, Nicole's grandmother relocated the family to Bairnsdale, in Victoria's East Gippland, hoping to give the three children a fresh start. Father returns Life settled down for a few years, but in 2015 her life was rattled yet again when she received a phone call from her father, who had been paroled from jail and tracked down her number. After she realised who it was, she hung up the phone and ran home afraid as a wave of pain she experienced in his clutches came crashing down over her - triggered by the sound of his voice. She did not hear from him again until 2018, when he sent her a message over Facebook apologising for his perverted crimes and claiming he had 'changed'. Although sceptical at first, the pair continued to talk and he convinced Nicole, still yearning for a relationship with a father, that he was no longer the person he used to be and suggested she move back to Sydney to live with him and his new partner. Nicole is pictured inside her father's home around the time the second bout of abuse began At the time, Nicole, then in her teen years, found herself constantly in fights with her grandmother and had grown discontent at home. After voicing her desire to move during a heated argument, Nicole's grandmother arranged with Richard for him to regain custody and Nicole was sent to Mount Druitt in October 2018. 'I was really excited at the beginning when the idea came up - but then when it was actually happening I became worried and nervous,' she said. 'I was really scared because I didnt know what was going to happen. I didnt know if he had changed or not. I just got upped and moved.' At first, the transition was fine and Nicole was happy living with her dad and step mother as she adjusted to a new school - but the situation rapidly descended into a nightmare. A month later, he started blackmailing his daughter with threats of starvation and homeless if she did not send him sexually explicit photos of her body, demanding three or four images a day. To Nicole's dread, he broke up with his partner in December and the pair moved into a new home. Alone with his daughter, the abuse escalated into rape - starting out as once or twice a week for the first month, until becoming daily by January. Nicole became suicidal while suffering daily sexual abuse from her father. She is pictured at the end of 2018 while the abuse was happening 'I really bad suicidal thoughts. At one point I considered killing myself. I felt like I had no other options,' she said. 'If I refused to do stuff with him, he would get angry and start yelling. Then he would buy me pets, marijuana, and give me rewards. 'He made me feel like if I didn't do it, I wasnt going to eat, I wasnt going to be in a happy home, I wasnt going to be safe.' As the abuse continued, Richard began trying to widen his victim pool by making sexual advances towards Nicole's friends. Determined to protect them, Nicole knew she had to speak out. One night at a sleepover her friend, sensing something was wrong, asked her what was going on. That was when she decided it was finally time to open up. 'I was terrified. I didn't know what they would think of me, but they were so supportive,' she said. 'They said "no matter what you say, we will always be here. We will never judge you". 'We went to my friend's mother and I told her - then we went straight to the police station to make a report.' While speaking to officers, Nicole became scared for life, fearing Richard knew she was speaking to police after he started bombarding her with texts demanding she come home. The teenager made the brave decision to speak out when she felt her friends were under threat After leaving the station, she went into hiding at a friend's house after they were forced to flee another's when her uncle turned up searching for her. But hours later, at 1am on June 9, 2018, Richard's reign of terror came to an end when he was arrested and charged with persistent sexual abuse of a child. Two years later, on November 23, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to his crimes. He will be eligible for parole in June 2028. In court, Nicole tendered a powerful victim impact statement to the man who has filled her heart with 'pure hatred' as she detailed the effects of his sickening crimes. 'Because of my father I can no longer live a normal life,' it reads. 'I can no longer do day to day activities without having the constant reminder of him. I cant look in the mirror at my body. I constantly scrub my body in the shower until I turn red because I feel dirty. 'I have anxiety attacks when I see people who look similar to him. I have anxiety, depression, and PTSD. My PTSD attacks mostly happen in my sleep and I cant snap out of it. 'He has taken my life from me, my happiness, my innocence, my family and my freedom. I put a face on to hide the pain that I feel from him each day. 'I will never be able to get over the trauma you have given me, but hopefully I will learn how to move forward.' Nicole (pictured right) is now living with her father's former partner and has ambitions of one day becoming a criminal psychologist New beginnings After Richard's arrest, Nicole moved in with the friend she confided in and tried to focus at school, eventually leaving halfway through Year 11 as she grappled with sleep-depriving PTSD and the court case. While she still has down days, Nicole says she is now doing well and tries to remind herself that what happened was not her fault. She is now living with her stepmother and is working towards training to work with youths to help them through similar situations. She also has a goal to become a criminal psychologist, to work with offenders like her father to figure out what makes their brains 'tick'. Nicole credits the unconditional support of her friends and stepmother as the reason she was able to cope with her awful ordeal. She hopes sharing her story will help empower other sexual assault survivors to speak up and to know they are not alone. 'My support network are the only thing that has got me through it. If I didnt have those people. I would not be alive right now,' she said. 'There will be days [the abuse] will get you down, but it will be OK. 'Find those people that support you and believe you. They will help you get through it.' For confidential support, contact call Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyondblue 1300 22 4636. *Names have been changed for legal reasons Quick wit and brutal put-downs have been a longstanding feature of Australian politics - and thank god for that, because they're often the only thing that makes Question Time watchable. MPs from all parties have let fly with jibes, slights and barbs that would see ordinary Aussies told to front HR if they used them at their workplace - but in the bearpit that is parliament, it seems anything goes. Secure in the knowledge that parliamentary privilege gives protects them from being sued for defamation, our politicians have trotted out quips that range from the hilarious to the appalling - as this list shows... Paul Keating - 'like being flogged with a warm lettuce' Think parliamentary invective and the first name that comes to mind is Paul Keating, who served as treasurer and then prime minister during Labor's time in power from 1983 to 1996. Just beneath the urbane image of Zegna suits, Mahler classical music and antique clock collecting lay a political warrior who revelled in the cut and thrust of Question Time. Paul Keating had a black belt in the art of the insult during his time in parliament. The Labor stalwart was able to cut opponents down to size and raise gales of laughter at the same time Frequently deriding those on the opposite benches as 'dimwits', 'blockheads' and 'intellectual hoboes', Mr Keating said 'the Opposition could not manage a tart shop'. Leading Liberals came in for his harshest treatment, referring to then opposition leader John Howard as a 'little desiccated coconut', future long-serving treasurer Peter Costello as a 'low-altitude flyer', and two-time election loser Andrew Peacock as a 'painted, perfumed gigolo' and a 'gutless spiv'. But it was his clashes with John Hewson that live longest in the memory, as Keating turned Question Time into a must-watch piece of political theatre, when he was treasurer during an era of 17 per cent interest rates. 'It was the limpest performance I have ever seen ... it was like being flogged with a warm lettuce. It was like being mauled by a dead sheep,' he told parliament after the then shadow treasurer had moved a motion in 1989. Paul Keating famously told former opposition leader John Hewson (pictured) he would refuse to call an early election because 'I want to do you slowly' Most famously Dr Hewson, who later became opposition leader, walked into a punch when he asked Mr Keating why he was refusing to call an early election in 1992, with the Prime Minister grinning and replying: 'The answer is, mate - because I want to do you slowly.' At the time, the Liberal Party had a Fightback! plan for a 15 per cent Goods and Services Tax - a policy that would see them lose the March 1993 election despite Labor then presiding over 11 per cent unemployment after a decade in power. Near the end of his time as PM, Keating's quick wit struck again during a heated debate with his more formidable opponent Howard, in 1995, when he asked the speaker Stephen Martin to help calm the opposition down. 'He's wound up like a thousand-day clock! One turn and there'll be springs and sprockets all over the building,' he announced. 'Mr Speaker, give him a Valium.' Keating was long out of parliament when he went after then treasurer Peter Costello in 2007 - but he'd lost none of his flair for put-downs. 'The thing about poor old Costello, he's all tip and no iceberg,' Keating said. 'He doesn't have the ticker for it.' Mark Latham (pictured) didn't hold back when he told ex-immigration minister Philip Ruddock to 'hand in your badge, Adolf' Mark Latham - 'hand in your badge, Adolf' Paul Keating may be Labor's master of the put-down but former ALP leader Mark Latham is no slouch either as another political creature of south-west Sydney. Latham led the party from 2003 to 2005 before switching his allegiance to One Nation, being elected as a New South Wales upper house MP in 2019. Latham infamously told former immigration minister Philip Ruddock to 'hand in your badge, Adolf.' However Latham reserved his best remarks for when the Coalition wanted to support America in going to war in Iraq. 'There they are a conga line of suckholes on the conservative side of politics,' he warned after the Coalition expressed their support of the war. Peter Garrett (centre) was quick to laugh when Peter Costello mocked his singing and dancing in parliament announcing 'you've failed the audition' Peter Garrett - 'you've failed the audition' Peter Garrett, as former environment minister and political musician, proved he knew how to have a laugh when former treasurer Peter Costello mimicked the trademark dancing style of the former Midnight Oil frontman. Once Costello had finished his performance, Garrett announced to parliament the Treasurer's talent didn't quite cut it. 'You've failed the audition,' Garrett said. Julia Gillard was quick to put Tony Abbott back in his place when he tried to lecture her on misogyny and sexism when she said he only needed 'a mirror' to know what misogyny in modern Australia looked like Julia Gillard - 'If he wants to know what misogyny looks like...he needs a mirror' In a parliamentary debate with combative opposition leader Tony Abbott, Australia's first female prime minister Julia Gillard delivered a powerful speech about misogyny in modern Australia and put him back in his box as she did. 'I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man,' she said. 'The leader of the opposition says that people who hold sexist views and are misogynists are not appropriate for high office. 'Well I hope the leader of the opposition has got a piece of paper and is writing out his resignation. 'Because if he wants to know what misogyny looks like in modern Australia he doesn't need a motion in the House of Representatives, he needs a mirror.' Leeane Enoch (pictured) said her rival puts on 'his little foil hat' while making policies Leeane Enoch - 'his little tin foil hat' Luckily politicians are still proving hilarious insults aren't a thing of the past. The Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Leeane Enoch and Member for Callide Colin Boyce were at each other's throats in 2019. Debate stemmed over 'Great Barrier Reef outlook report 2019' Mr Boyce worked on and tensions boiled when Ms Enoch made fun of the members work. 'I know he prefers to sit in dark rooms with his little tin foil hat on and draw out his policies,' she told parliament. Bruce Atkinson (pictured) shocked parliament by declaring 'there is a village short of an idiot' Bruce Atkinson - 'there is a village short of an idiot' Former President of the Victorian Legislative Council Bruce Atkinson tore into Member for Central Highlands Victoria Robert Mitchell in 2004. 'One of the problems with Mr Mitchell is there is a village short of an idiot.' Tanya Plibersek - 'taxpayer-funded nong' Liberal MP Craig Kelly, now a member of Clive Palmer's United Australia Party, and Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek were at each other's throats over Covid misinformation when Ms Plibersek took it upon herself to call him out. 'We're spending $24 million on a campaign to tell people to get vaccinated and we've got a taxpayer-funded nong running around telling people not to,' she said. It was a scene from hell, a filthy drug-infested laneway strewn with heroin addicts shooting up at an insane pace on a hot January morning. Just a few hundred metres away kids in uniform were catching the train, heading off for their first day back at school. Blood and vomit streaked the fetid alley, an old night soil cart thoroughfare between the backs of two rows of old terrace houses. Many of the users jacking an arm with a strap to find a vein in which to stick their syringe were only kids themselves. The pace of the drug injecting going on around was absolutely hectic, the youth of the shooters was heart-breaking and the number of indigenous kids busily ruining their lives was tragic. A needle van was parked helpfully at one end of the lane providing a partial barrier for the shooting gallery. One Aboriginal man standing in the lane where he'd been a regular intravenous heroin user there for two years because 'it was too f***ing easy' summed up the spectacle. 'There's no other place on earth like this, I reckon' Jackson said. Andrew Johnson shoots up with help from a friend in drug-infested Caroline Lane in January 1999, in an image which would shock the nation and make headlines around the world Caroline Lane (above, today) in 1999 was Australia's dirty secret, the biggest open air heroin shooting gallery and 'like nowhere else on earth' Andrew (right) with his injecting kit from the needle van waits as his mate injects heroin while standing up, and a young Aboriginal girl shoots herself up sitting among the discarded drug kits in the filthy lane LIKE NO OTHER PLACE ON EARTH The place was Caroline Lane, a 200m long strip slightly wider than a car on a squalid piece of turf known as The Block, an indigenous social housing precinct bounded by four streets around 2.5km from Sydney's CBD. A Whitlam Government-funded project in the 1970s, it was meant to provide a safe community for inner city Aboriginal people dispossessed by encroaching development. But by the late 1990s, Sydney was in the grip of a heroin epidemic and a unique set of circumstances had linked Redfern to the drug's epicentre at Cabramatta. In Sydney's prison yards, Vietnamese drug offenders had met Aboriginal inmates and on release from jail they had set up a heroin highway via the train line from Cabramatta to Redfern. A market swamped with cheap, highly pure heroin was fuelling a surge of new heroin users. With the NSW Government syringe exchange program paying for a never-ending supply to the needle van parked there daily just 50m from the police station, Caroline Lane was Sydney's busiest open air drug-shooting gallery. On Thursday, January 28, 1999, another sordid day of frenetic heroin injecting was progressing in the lane. The number of Aboriginal children shooting up was distressing, but there was the occasional young white man in a business shirt and women dressed for work. Over three days in the lane, it was sometimes hard to sidestep a user standing menacingly close with a needle and a promise to shoot you up 'for twenty bucks'. Just after 11am on that day, a young boy strolled in among the heroin shooters queuing up to mainline. He seemed out of place in the drug-infested alley, looking only about 12, and neatly dressed, in a clean, striped shirt, baggy shorts with socks and sandals. Andrew Johnson (above, as a boy) was dyslexic and falling through the cracks by 8th grade, leading him into a lifelong addiction to the drug heroin Andrew Johnson's front page photo in a filthy Redfern shooting gallery injecting heroin shocked the state premier into addressing the rampant drug problem during Sydney's heroin epidemic HEROIN BOY He was around 1.5m tall, a pale and skinny, blond-haired boy who looked like he should be buying an ice cream from Mr Whippy, not collecting an injection kit from the Newtown Needle Exchange van parked across the filthy alley. We were yet to know his name, but it would later prove that Andrew Johnson was no new kid on The Block, and had already survived his first heroin overdose. He was blissfully unaware that he was about to make history. The scandal about to unfold in Redfern that day belied the truth that the suburb has been awash with heroin for months. By the end of 1999, the steep increase in heroin overdose deaths in Australia peaked at 1116 for people aged between 15 and 54. Neighbours were anxious and afraid and had complained to police and politicians, and nothing had happened apart from the occasional arrest at The Block. The Aboriginal men, who just a few years earlier had drunk cans of VB and yarned on corners of The Block in the summer sunshine, were now strung out on smack. Andrew couldn't find a vein in either of his skinny arms so his friend helped him shoot up in his wrist after which the boy staggered down the dirty lane and made his way home to western Sydney Andrew Johnson and his partner Coral-Lee Jones have both suffered decades of heroin addiction and lost their children because they are on methadone The Block at Redfern (above, today) is an oasis of calm compared with the hectic heroin shooting gallery it was in 1999 at the peak of a glut of cheap smack By the end of 1999, the steep increase in heroin overdose deaths in Australia peaked at 1116 for people aged between 15 and 54. In the heart of Indigenous territory, at that time The Block was like a catastrophic bushfire well underway. Andrew Johnson walked back up Caroline Lane from the needle van and waited politely with his syringe behind a young, but older, Indigenous teen who seemed to be his friend. Without bothering to sit down, the older teen deftly stuck a needle into the crook of his arm and injected. Sitting below on the slender kerb, a young Aboriginal girl was also shooting up among the rubble of used syringes, bloodied swabs and water vials. Andrew sat down beside her and mixed heroin powder with the sterile water in the spoon from his kit, loaded the syringe and held it up to look for air bubbles. He tried each of his thin arms poking from his shirt, but couldn't seem to find a usable vein. The other teen crouched down to make a close perusal of the boy's arms, as Andrew clenched the orange syringe cap between his teeth. Around them, others were arriving at the needle van or leaving, throwing their used syringes into the lane. There was a safe needle disposal box in an alcove by the van, but no one seemed to use it. Now just a back alley between terrace houses in Redfern, Caroline Lane (above) was a squalid haven for intravenous drug users with plentiful supplies of fresh needles from a syringe exchange service Finally, the teen found a vein in the boy's wrist and as Andrew grimaced, biting down on the syringe cap, the older boy plunged the in the syringe down to the stopper. Andrew Johnson's head slumped back onto the rusty corrugated iron lining the laneway. The older youth chucked the needle away and himself sagged onto the ground, his eyes rolling back in his head. After a few seconds, Andrew tried to stand but half fell out of his sandals and reeled around. He began staggering up the lane, shouting at imaginary police, 'f***in' pigs, I done nuthin'!' Three teenage Aboriginal girls took Andrew's spot in the lane next to the needle van and hastily prepared their fits. Blood spurted from one girl's arm as the needle went in, and the van worker looked the other way. SYDNEY'S DIRTY SECRET IS OUT Later that day, a phone call was made to the NSW Premier Bob Carr and a meeting arranged to show him and his health minister Andrew Refshauge the photographs from Caroline Lane. Sydney's dirty little secret was about to be blown apart, putting Redfern on the world map. Phones were soon running hot between aghast politicians who were eight weeks out from an election, and government bureaucrats scrambling for answers. By late Friday, January 29, 1999, the Caroline Lane shooting gallery was deserted although in reality, drug use would continue there for years to come. Caroline Street (above) backs on to the once fetid lane which was packed with drug users shooting up heroin in the late 1990s before it took the photo of Andrew to move politicians into action The lane (above, today) is now overshadowed by development of the Aboriginal Housing Corporation which has angered some indigenous locals who believe it's about money not their community Police swarmed into houses down The Block and arrested suppliers, the needle van was driven off as the government axed its syringe exchange program. Policy was made on the run and by Saturday evening, just when the front page image of Andrew was hitting the streets in a first edition of The Sun-Herald newspaper, NSW had a forthcoming drug summit. And Bob Carr was forced to admit Sydney was in the throes of a drug crisis and the image of the boy in the lane summed it up. Andrew Johnson was identified by NSW Children's Services and within a week had been publicly named. He was in fact 16 years old and he lived with his brother and their parents, a Scottish immigrant and his wife in the family home at Whalan, in western Sydney. LIFELONG BATTLE Andrew's drug use had already blighted their blameless life, having overdosed on heroin in the bathroom of his parents' Whalan home the previous year. In June 1998, days after Andrew's 16th birthday, his younger brother was forced to take an axe to the bathroom door and, not for the last time, paramedics brought him back to life. Andrew Johnson and Coral-Lee in the yard of the Whalan home where he shot up on his 16th birthday and had to be rescued by paramedics after his brother cut the door down with an axe Early this year, Andrew revealed that he had started falling through the cracks even before starting high school because he was functionally illiterate due to a type of dyslexia. Now aged 40, Andrew Johnson's memory of that day is clouded by a torturous life on drugs. The photograph of him that would change the course of social and political history in NSW was also meant to change the course of his life and help him get off drugs, but it did not work out that way. 'After that photo, they were supposed to put me in rehab but they just came and got me and put me in Cobham (juvenile justice centre).' The NSW Drug Summit, held just weeks after Bob Carr's government was returned to power in 1999, made plans for the Kings Cross Medically Supervised Injecting Centre. More than two decades later but at the same Whalan house, Andrew Johnson spoke to Daily Mail Australia about what happened when he was captured shooting heroin in Caroline Lane, and his troubled life since. 'I've overdosed and died 11 times,' Andrew said, standing in the yard of the house with his partner, Coral-Lee Jones. 'After that photo, they were supposed to put me in rehab but they just came and got me and put me in Cobham (juvenile justice centre).' Once considered slum dwellings, the houses along the streets of Redfern which formed The Block are now selling for more than $1m and are considered desirable residences This iconic old burnt out terrace on The Block has been kept as a cultural reference to the tenement housing established in the 1970s and funded by the Whitlam government 'They opened that injecting room on my behalf supposedly. Nah, never been there.' Andrew spent time in Bathurst prison, and 'as soon as I came out of jail, I was back into heroin'. 'Mum and Dad didn't speak to me for years,' he said. Andrew Johnson has now been on heroin or methadone for more than half his life. He remembers the Caroline Lane day as his first taste of heroin, although the records tell things differently and Andrew admits the events in his life mean he doesn't always remember. Straight after his first overdose in his parents' Whalan bathroom, he resisted counselling, vowing the shock of his near fatal encounter would keep him clean. But at 16 he was already through with school, having dropped out of Mt Druitt High School before the end of year 8. 'I can't read or write,' Andrew told news.com.au, 'That's why I couldn't do school.' Andrew suffers from Irlen syndrome, where a person cannot read text on a white paper background, though he seems to manage with basic texting. Coral-Lee handles all the paperwork in Andrew's life. Five years after Andrew's photo brought world attention, Redfern was again in the news with the 2004 riots in which locals threw fireworks, bricks and bottles at police injuring 40 officers The Redfern riot was sparked by the death of indigenous teen TJ Hickey who was chased on his bike by two police paddy wagons before becoming impaled on a fence Andrew Johnson and Coral-Lee Jones met when they were aged 10 and nine, respectively, and are still together today. All seven of their children have been taken from them, 'because we're on methadone,' Andrew said. Coral-Lee said she had started taking heroin when she was a young teenager, but that the two of them had been on methadone and clean from heroin for a decade. 'When our son died in 2010 we started taking (heroin) again,' Coral-Lee said. Records say Andrew's troubles with drugs continued until at least seven years ago, when he appeared in Mt Druitt Local Court in 2014 after a heroin-fuelled episode at the Whalan house. Homeless and hooked on heroin, Andrew was, his mother Roseanna Johnson told media, 'beyond help now', although she and her husband John had never given up hope that their son might turn his life around. 'The police say we would be better off trying to forget we had a son,' she said back then. At the time, Coral-Lee had given birth to four of the couple's seven children. This Caroline Lane terrace sold in November for $1.352m, described by real estate agents as 'bespoke' and having an 'effortlessly chic vibe' CCTV video cameras were in 24 hour operation after police cleared Caroline Lane of drug taking, but the practice lingered on there for years In April 2013, court documents said, John Johnson had returned home from seeing Roseanna in hospital to find Coral-Lee 'with a needle in her arm' and Andrew 'passed out' on a sofa in the living room. The court heard Andrew threatened to poison his father, ripped the landline from the wall and tampered with the fuse box, leaving John Johnson in darkness. When police found Andrew and Coral-Lee, they were so drug affected they were 'unable to understand basic questions'. They arrested Andrew and charged him with destroying or damaging property and stalking with intent to cause fear or physical harm. His record showed at least 10 charges of larceny, shoplifting, assault, attempted self administration of a prohibited drug and having goods in custody suspected of being stolen. He was eventually convicted after failing to appear in early 2014. In November 2013, Andrew also suffered another overdose but survived. THE INFAMOUS BLOCK In 2004, five years after Andrew Johnson's iconic photo made headlines, The Block was back in the news when it came to a flash point. Aboriginal teenager TJ Hickey was thrown from his bicycle and impaled on a fence while fleeing two police paddy wagons, the 17-year-old dying in hospital the next day. His death provoked the Redfern riot in which locals hurled bricks, bottles and fireworks at police, injuring 40 officers, and resulting in 25 arrests. A coroner ruled TJ's death was 'a freak accident', causing more unrest and another stand-off in nearby Waterloo during which indigenous youths threw rocks at police armed with riot shields. Caroline Lane was the perfect heroin alley, with a dog leg at one end obscuring sight and the Newtown Needle Exchange van at the other protecting drug shooters from view Today the lane has no sign of drug use, just rubbish bins for the houses which back onto the alley that was a hectic drug shooting gallery 26 years ago The Block itself is now partly demolished and half-developed. The Aboriginal Housing Corporation is building affordable accommodation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, although the inclusion of a 24-storey student accommodation tower has divided locals. Some were angered because it was 'social engineering' and 'erased the community footprint' of indigenous locals, or said the development was 'not for Aboriginal people, it's to make money'. The small terrace houses that still line Caroline, Vine, Louis, Hugo and Eveleigh streets in the precinct now sell for up to $1.8m. One Caroline Street house, that once backed onto the old heroin shooting alley and which sold last month for $1.352m, was described as 'bespoke' and having an 'effortlessly chic vibe'. Andrew Johnson has never been back to Redfern. He and Coral-Lee have now moved from the Johnson family home at Whalan into housing in a neighbouring suburb. In May last year, Andrew was due to appear in court on a charge of common assault against his younger brother, Adam. Court documents reveal Andrew and Coral-Lee were in bed around 8am at the Whalan house when Adam Johnson visited to help his father John clean up for Roseanna Johnson's return home after a long hospital stay. Adam knocked on Andrew's bedroom door to yell 'come help clean the house', and Andrew yelled back 'get f***ed', police facts tendered to the court said. When Adam went to call police on the home phone, Andrew 'came out of the bedroom and ripped the phone from the wall causing no damage'. He then 'used his closed fist to punch (Adam) in the mouth'. Police charged Andrew with common assault and took out an AVO on behalf of Adam Johnson. Magistrate Stephen Corry said Andrew twice sought an adjournment on medical grounds, for urgent dental work, and then said he was waiting for a hip replacement. He convicted Andrew in his absence, fined him $1000 and installed the AVO for two years. Andrew told Daily Mail Australia he had lost teeth over the years and he had 'bugs inside my hip' and cellulitis from stepping on a dog bone. 'We have our methadone every day and that has kept me off drugs,' he said He said he had mended the relationship with his parents, but that both were suffering from ill health. Of his life since Caroline Lane, Andrew said he had been 'in and out ' of every juvenile institution, then adult jail, but had no major convictions since the armed robbery. 'Because of that photo, I lost my family,' he said. A woman who had ten miscarriages and three stillbirths is determined to become single mum using a surrogate in Greece - months after she 'cried herself to sleep' because her relationship broke down while they were losing their 13th baby. Samantha Rowe's eight-year nightmare began in 2014 when she gave birth to her son Cooper, who was born on Valentines Day at just 21 weeks - too early to survive outside the womb. Hudson was stillborn at 19 weeks, identical twins Emma and Zoe tragically passed away in 2015 because they were tangled in their umbilical cords, and in 2018 little Noah came into the world too soon at 22 weeks. Each year was dotted with miscarriages, so the Melbourne woman and her ex fiancee forked out $40,000 to use donor eggs in what they thought was a 'miracle solution' to their problem, but were left heartbroken when that pregnancy lasted only a week. The now 42-year-old told Daily Mail Australia she was overjoyed when her pregnancy test came back positive for the 13th time in November 2020 but, eight weeks later, she began to bleed. Samantha Rowe is pictured holding her son, Noah. The little boy was born at just 22 weeks in 2018 Ms Rowe was pregnant with Cooper in 2014, but the baby died because he was born too early, at 21 weeks As she lost her baby, her relationship with her fiancee broke down. 'I was heartbroken,' she said. Ms Rowe said the breakup was possibly worse than losing a baby because, even after losing so many babies, they still had each other. 'I thought we were a team, but then I lost him as well and I was alone.' Unable to afford the rent for their home on her own, the devastated woman was forced to pack the house up, including eight years' worth of baby items, and move into a small two-bedroom apartment. Samantha Rowe (pictured) moved out of the home she shared with her ex financee and moved into her own apartment Samantha is pictured with baby Noah in 2018. She still buys him birthday presents each year and donates the gifts to charity It was during one of Melbourne's Covid-19 lockdowns and, while she managed to hold on to her job as an executive assistant at a disability service during the pandemic, she cried herself to sleep for three months. 'I thought long and hard about how willing I was to have a baby, and about whether I was OK not to pursue it, and for this to be my life,' she said. 'But longer I sat with that, the more unhappy I became.' While using a surrogate as a single woman wasn't the life she dreamed about, Ms Rowe thought 'if I had $120,000 in the bank to pay for a surrogate baby, I'd do it'. Surrogacy Australia put her in touch with a group of couples and single parents who used a program in Greece, which is designed to help women who are unable to have their own children. Samantha asked her best friend Eleni (pictured left, with Samantha) to develop biscuits for her boxes Samantha donates money, time and gifts to charities. She is pictured volunteering to help compile NICU cheer packages for parents with premature babies 'They had a meetup and I met these families who all went to Greece and came back with their bundles of joy and had no regrets,' she said. 'It reignited the fire in my belly, even though it costs a truckload.' Ms Rowe bought an investment property before she met her ex, and has to refinance it to pay the $120,000 surrogacy fees. The prospective mum will use donor eggs and sperm, which means the child won't genetically be hers, but 'I'm pretty confident I'll love it anyway,' she added. Her application could be processed by the Greek courts as early as February, which mans she could finally have a baby in her arms in little more than a year. In the meantime, Ms Rowe still celebrates the birthdays of her five children who were stillborn. Samantha bought her twin girls Emma and Zoe bikes and helmets for their birthday. She donated them to charity Pictured: Gifts for children in need. Samantha buys items on sale throughout the year and donates them to charity She buys them birthday presents, depending on how old they would be turning, and donates the gifts to children in need. 'It feels very special to be able to buy Noah his first bike and then know that it will go to someone who really needs it,' she said. 'It doesnt take away the pain but it does heal my heart a little.' The hopeful mum also spends about $1000 each year on toys and gifts to donate to kids whose families can't even afford shoes or school uniforms, at Christmas. 'I try to buy as much as I can when its on sale. Each time I go to a store, I check what they have on sale and I buy as much as I can afford of the sale items at that time, and it all goes into a tub until Christmas.' To help other families who have experiences infant loss, Ms Rowe set up her business Memories of an Angel. Pictured: A sample of the products included in the gift boxes. She carefully selected each item Her company has provided ribbons all over the world for stillbirth organisations, she was contacted by a cemetery in South Australia that wanted to send thousands of ribbons to every family who had lost a child, and ships globally every week. The company website is also being redeveloped to include an online store with mementos and keepsakes for deceased infants. But her biggest achievement will be launching a care package for parents who lose a baby. 'It's the nation's first pay-it-forward program for people who experience infant loss,' she said. Pictured: One of the biscuits her best friend developed to be included in the gift boxes for parents who experience infant loss 'People can either buy a gift box to donate to a hospital, or they can nominate an individual to send the box to.' Ms Rowe explained the box will include a note with the name of the baby who dies, 'because parents who experience loss often don't get to see their child's name in writing'. 'Mums who go home without a baby often leave the hospital with nothing, so I wanted to focus on that - the box needed something that will bring them comfort and acknowledges them as a mother. Ms Rowe said the launch has been delayed because of Covid, but she hopes to launch it early next year. By Kim Sun-ae Do we need a new airport in this era of climate crisis? The government is trying to construct an airport on Busan's Gadeok Island. However, to limit global warming, we need to reduce the scale of the aviation industry because airplanes emit a lot of carbon. Moreover, the sea, forests and wetlands of Daehang-dong, the site for Gadeok Airport, are carbon sinks, absorbing more carbon than they release, according to a report by a civic group that is against the proposed airport development. Environment Minister Han Jeoung-ae said that the government would try to make the airport a carbon-neutral one. However, at a time when we should be conserving the existing carbon sinks of Gadeok Island, why is the government trying to destroy them? Gadeok Airport is not even economically feasible, due to its high construction costs, according to the 2016 preliminary study on the feasibility of a new airport in the southeastern region of Korea by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The budget needed for building the airport is estimated to be about 7-28 trillion won, depending on the number of runways and how the existing Gimhae Airport is used. We should spend this enormous amount of tax money to enable a just green transition in Busan and the nearby area, not on constructing an airport. This airport plan has problems regarding safety too. The airport will be built on the open sea, not surrounded by islands or land. Thus, in the case of a typhoon, the airport could face great damage. Furthermore, Gadeok Island is at the mouth of the Nakdong River, an important habitat for over 200 species of migratory birds in Korea. So airplanes have a risk of colliding with the birds, which will also be dangerous for passengers. Constructing an airport will destroy the ecosystem of and around Gadeok Island. The runway is planned to be built by cutting into the mountains of the island and using them to fill the sea near it. In this process, numerous living beings will die and lose their natural habitats. In the sea around the island live finless porpoises. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies them as an endangered species. The large-scale land reclamation for the construction of the airport will reduce their marine habitat as well. The various animals that live on Gadeok Island also include Eurasian otters, a near threatened species that is on the IUCN Red List. If the airport is built, their habitat will be destroyed too. The government must stop pushing ahead with the construction of Gadeok Airport. Imagine how we would feel if the government suddenly said, without listening to our opinions, that a new airport will be built in our neighborhood, and that we must leave where we have lived for a long time. Let all the living beings of the island be able to continue living in their habitats. Let the sea be the sea and let the mountains be the mountains. Kim Sun-ae (blog.naver.com/dancinglf) wrote "Old Potato, New Potato" and translated "Little Lord Fauntleroy." Lying bloody and helpless after a jailhouse stabbing in 2019, Tony Mokbel must have thought he actually might die behind bars. But the once feared kingpin of Melbourne's underworld had been taken down before, and he had never been one to lay down without a fight. Just days before Christmas, Mokbel again proved he was in for the long game in his battle to walk free from jail on the back of the Lawyer X scandal. Tony Mokbel (right) is hoping to be released from jail. He was represented by Lawyer X, Nicola Gobbo (left) Melbourne gangland identity Faruk Orman walked free after having his murder conviction overturned because of the Lawyer X scandal Tony Mokbel after being stabbed in jail in 2019. He survived the attack and now continues to fight for freedom The 56-year old is serving a 30-year jail term on drug convictions he claims have been tainted by the notorious police informer Nicola Gobbo. During a directions hearing on December 21, Supreme Court of Victoria Justice David Beach ruled that Mokbels next major hearing on February 2 be held in a closed court. It is an interesting development considering the Lawyer X scandal had of course raged on for years behind the doors of closed courtrooms before it exploded into the public view. By now, those with half an interest in the scandal know the ins and outs of it. On Monday, the court heard police had yet again delayed handing over documents required by Mokbel's high priced legal team, prompting his barrister Ruth Shann SC to accuse the chief commissioner of undermining the court's authority. Criminal lawyer Nicola Gobbo was exposed as police informer superstar Lawyer X in March 2019. Tony Mokbel after his arrest in Greece in 2007 She had acted for many of Melbourne's crooks, including Mokbel and the now deceased gangster Carl Williams. Williams was bludgeoned to death in jail before he even got a chance to see his former lawyer implicated in the grubby scandal. Mokbel got lucky and survived after Teira Bennett and Eldea Teuira, both 22, bashed and stabbed him with makeshift shivs about eight times at Barwon Prison on February 11, 2019. Appearing in court during December, Mokbel appeared fitter than he ever looked waltzing in and out of courtrooms anytime before. Sources have told Daily Mail Australia Mokbel continues to freely engage with minions on the outside. In 2014, the former 'racing identity' was moved into isolation after being busted laying huge bets through coded messages inside Barwon Prison. Gobbo had claimed it was the behaviour of Mokbel in the 90s that drove her to snitch on her clients to police. He, like many others, is among a who's who of Melbourne criminals now clogging up Victoria's justice system for a shot at freedom. Just over a year ago Mokbel had a 12 year conviction quashed due to Gobbo's meddling. Faruk Orman is already back on the streets after having his murder conviction quashed due to Gobbo's informing. Nicola Gobbo worked as an informer for Victoria Police. Her involvement in snitching on her own clients has now seen one convicted killer walk free Calabrian mob boss Pasquale Pat Barbaro has lodged an appeal over his conviction because of Nicola Gobbo. Rob Karam (right) is eight years into his 37-year prison sentence for several drug crimes, including his role in the Calabrian mafia's attempt to smuggle in 15 million ecstasy pills Last month, Mokbel's appeal against a 2006 drug trafficking conviction that sees him stuck behind bars took leaps towards a resolution. It had been the original prosecution that saw him flee Australia while on bail, sparking an international manhunt that ended in Greece a year later in 2007. When the matter returns to court in February, only court staff and lawyers who have signed confidentiality undertakings of crucial Lawyer X documents will be allowed to appear. Police prosecutor Sashi Maharaj had earlier argued there was 'no legitimate forensic purpose' for Mokbel and his legal team to view the sensitive documents. Justice Beach assured her it would be a 'career-ending decision' if anybody appeared in the next hearing who had not signed the confidentiality undertaking. Ms Shann, who worked alongside Cardinal George Pell during his initial trial over child sex allegations, claimed she, if not Mokbel himself, ought be privy to the information. As the legal game of cat and mouse continues, police indicated they might attempt to cast doubt over Mokbel's actual legal relationship with Gobbo. It is a suggestion sure to be strongly rebuffed by Mokbel. Tony Mokbel arrives at court in melbourne in 2000 Nicola Gobbo could yet face criminal charges over her notorious stint as 'Lawyer X' Zlate Cvetanovski (centre) poses for a photograph with his lawyers outside the Supreme Court of Appeal in Melbourne in October last year upon his release Prosecutors have already disputed Gobbo was working as Mokbels lawyer in 2007 and 2008, when police contact reports at the time indicated she had sent him invoices for legal work while he was fighting extradition. After the Supreme Court quashed Mokbel's earlier drug conviction, Justice Chris Maxwell said Mokbels case and other appeals launched as a result of the Lawyer X scandal was a matter of profound importance, describing Gobbo's behaviour as 'disgraceful'. Gobbo had been Mokbels junior barrister in that trial while also snitching on her clients to police. Upon Mokbel's return to Australia, he pleaded guilty to a swag of drug trafficking charges and was sentenced in 2012 to at least 22 years jail. Mokbel had continued to get advice from Gobbo while on the run, which rises claim that his extradition was also unlawful. The gangster claims he only fled in 2006 - mid trial - because Gobbo warned him police were looking to charge him with murder. Police later charged him with the murders of Lewis Moran and Michael Marshall at the height of Melbourne's underworld war. Killer Carl Williams roamed the streets a free man in 2003. He would be killed years later in jail not knowing that he was dead right about his thoughts on Nicola Gobbo A letter Carl Williams wrote from jail fearing that his lawyer, Nicola Gobbo, was a rat Nicola Gobbo and killer Carl Williams. Williams died in jail, but not before calling out his former lawyer as a rat Charges were later dropped on the Marshall case and he was cleared by a jury on the Moran murder. The Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants, handing down its findings in November, revealed more than 1000 crooks could be released or earn retrials because of Gobbo's unlawful informing to Victoria Police Commissioner Margaret McMurdo AO concluded that the convictions or findings of guilt of 1,011 people may have been affected by Victoria Polices use of Ms Gobbo as a human source. 'She told police about Mr Mokbels properties, finances, contact numbers, associates, and the vehicles and code names he used,' Commissioner McMurdo said. 'She divulged the defence strategies and tactics used by Mr Mokbels legal team, both in his criminal trial and his extradition proceedings.' Mokbels bid for freedom will be heard by three Court of Appeal judges between April and June. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton rejected a prosecutor's demand for records of his appearance at Donald Trump's January 6 rally outside the White House preceding the riot at the Capitol. The Travis County district attorney's office in Texas set a four-day deadline for Paxton last week to turn over the records involving the Save America rally. In a letter to the district attorney's office on Friday, Paxton's office denied any violations and rejected the office's demands for documents. By refusing to turn over the documents, the attorney general now faces a lawsuit accusing him of violating the state open records law by repeatedly balking media requests for his communications around the time of the January 6 rally. Paxton and his wife, state Senator Angela Paxton, appeared at the pro-Trump event in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021. At the rally, the Texas attorney general gave a speech touting failed legal pushes to overturn Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election. Several news organizations have requested Paxton's communications from around that time under the Texas Public Information Act. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton could face prosecution under his state's open information laws after repeatedly refusing to turn over documents related to several media open information requests. Paxton speaks as his wife Angela stands on at a rally in support of Donald Trump's 'Save America Rally' in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021 Six news outlets jointly published a story in March 2021 questioning whether the attorney general was breaking open records laws. Earlier this month, top editors at five Texas newspapers - the Austin American-Statesman, The Dallas Morning News, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News - filed a complaint asking the district attorney to investigate the alleged violations. Subsequently, the district attorney gave Paxton's office a few days to hand over the documents, but the attorney general's office called the claims 'meritless', and claimed there is 'no violation to cure.' 'Frustrated that they have failed to uncover anything worth reporting following 'numerous records requests to AG Paxton('s) office for various documents,' complainant newspaper editors have sought to leverage your office's authority to further their fishing expedition, or worse, manufacture a conflict between our respective offices that will give rise to publishable content for the complainants' media outlets,' Paxton's general counsel Austin Kinghorn wrote. Paxton is up for reelection this year and faces several high-profile GOP primary challengers in his reelection bid. Among the challengers are current Congressman Louie Gohmert, who represents Texas' 1st congressional district, and Jeb Bush's son George P. Bush, who serves as commissioner of the Texas General Land Office. The Texas attorney general primary election will take place on March 1, 2022. In 2020, eight of Paxton's top deputies accused him of bribery, abuse of office and other crimes in the service of another supporter, an Austin real estate developer who employs a woman with whom the attorney general allegedly had an extra-marital affair. The FBI is investigating those allegations. Paxton has also spent most of his time in the attorney general's office under a separate felony indictment. He pleaded not guilty in 2015 to three state securities fraud charges but is yet to face trial. The siege ended after the last hostage ran out of the synagogue and an FBI SWAT team rushed in. Akram was killed by multiple gunshot wounds Authorities say Malik Faisal Akram, a British national, took the four people who were at Congregation Beth Israel last Saturday hostage Meanwhile, Jewish leaders around the country marked the first Sabbath since last weekend's hostage-taking at Congregation Beth Israel She said she told her daughter 'if she doesn't take me, I'll go by myself, because I feel I belong there. I am Jewish, and this is my faith, and I am supporting it' The Shabbat service comes just a week after a gunman voicing antisemitic conspiracy theories held four worshipers hostage for ten hours On the eve of her 100th birthday Saturday, Ruth Salton joined worshipers Friday night for Shabbat services at Beth Israel in Colleyville A Holocaust survivor celebrated her 100th birthday at Texas synagogue a week after terrorist took four Jewish congregants hostage A Holocaust survivor celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday at the Texas synagogue where a lone terrorist took four Jewish congregants hostage last week. On the eve of her milestone birthday, Ruth Salton told her daughter she was going one way or another to Friday night Shabbat services at Beth Israel in Colleyville, just a week after a gunman spewing anti-Semitic conspiracy theories held four worshipers hostage for ten hours at the Fort Worth-area synagogue. 'I want to support my people,' said Salton, a Holocaust survivor. She said she told her daughter 'if she doesn't take me, I'll go by myself, because I feel I belong there. I am Jewish, and this is my faith, and I am supporting it.' During Shabbat services on Friday evening - which were livestreamed on Zoom from Beth Israel Synagogue - and with Salton among the congregants, the temple's rabbi, Charlie Cytron-Walker, said 'Tonight is truly a night of survivors.' Cytron-Walker was among the four hostages held captive for more than ten hours by Malik Faisal Akram, a British national, demanded the release of terrorist Aafia Siddiqui - known as Lady Al Qaeda SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Pictured: Ruth Salton, a Holocaust survivor, turned 100 and celebrated the occasion at Sabbath services at Beth Israel in Colleyville, the site of last weekend's act of terrorism Saturday services were livestreamed on Zoom from Beth Israel Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, and led by Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, pictured Shortly after 5 pm, local time, authorities escort a hostage out of the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, Saturday, January 15, 2022 Malik Faisal Akram, 44, a British citizen, was identified as the hostage taker Salton, born in 1922 in Berlin, Germany, moved in 1939 to Warsaw, Poland, to live with her aunt, where she was eventually hidden by a Polish railway worker for six weeks once wartime deportations of Jews began. Salton was caught by Nazi soldiers after going to Ukraine. She would ultimately escape back to Poland, and after World War II ended in 1945, she intended on immigrating to Israel. However, she ended up moving to the United States and marrying a television repairman. Salton and her daughter, Anna Salton Eisen, were among the founding members of Congregation Beth Israel. Eisen, co-author of books about her fathers Holocaust experience and her own as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, said synagogues in Nazi-controlled Europe 'were attacked, and people were attacked and killed, because of the same kind of hatred' that was shown last Saturday by the hostage-taker. Jewish leaders made a show of defiance against last weekend's act of terrorism and other acts of anti-Semitism. Many called for a strong turnout to show unity among the faithful, and rabbis, public officials and others spoke out during the Friday night and Saturday services against acts of violence, hatred and intimidation aimed at Jews. At Beth Israel's service Saturday, Rabbi Cytron-Walker and the three other people who were taken hostage last weekend stood in front of the congregation, linking arms as they sang the ritual blessings before and after the weekly reading of the Torah. And at Friday night services marking the start of the Sabbath, or Shabbat, Cytron-Walker said: 'The words Shabbat Shalom, to be able to offer that to each and every one of you, those words have never, never felt so good.' 'While we have a lot of processing to do, God willing, the worst is over ... and we can have a Shabbat of peace.' Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker of Congregation Beth Israel addresses reporters during a news conference at Colleyville Center on Friday Law enforcement teams stage near Congregation Beth Israel while conducting SWAT operations in the 6100 block of Pleasant Run Road on Saturday, January 15, 2022 Law enforcement continue the investigation to the hostage incident at Beth Israel, where four hostages were held by a gunman for ten hours on Saturday before the gunman was killed The Congregation Beth Israel synagogue is shown, January 16, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas Viewers of Beth Israel's Facebook Live broadcast of its Saturday service sent greetings from Jerusalem, Florida, North Carolina and elsewhere. 'A terrorist tried to steal Shabbat from us last week. Claiming it this week is an act of resistance,' Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, of Central Synagogue in New York City, said during Friday night's service. During the standoff, the hostage-taker forced Cytron-Walker to call Buchdahl in a bid to win Siddiqui's release, according to authorities. She then reported the call to law enforcement. Siddiqui, a Pakistani-born neuroscientist who got her degree from MIT, was convicted of trying to kill US troops in Afghanistan and is serving a life sentence in a prison in Fort Worth, about 15 miles southwest of Colleyville. Similar observances took place at other congregations around the country. Christian and Muslim clergy joined in at New York City's Central Synagogue's Friday service in a show of solidarity, linking arms and swaying with Buchdahl and Mayor Eric Adams as the congregation sang a song of thanksgiving. 'Once again, we are facing the terror of all of the things that are happening in our city and country,' Adams said, recalling how New Yorkers rebounded after the September 11 attacks. 'In New York, this is our obligation: to get up again to make sure that people know that we are resilient, were loving, we're kind.' In Pittsburgh, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life Congregation struck a similarly defiant tone. On October 27, 2018, a gunman killed 11 worshipers from three congregations meeting at Tree of Life's synagogue in what authorities said was the deadliest antisemitic hate crime in US history. Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker of Congregation Beth Israel, left, shakes hands with Matthew J. DeSarno, Special Agent in Charge, during a news conference at Colleyville Center on Friday SWAT team members deploy near the Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, some 25 miles west of Dallas, on January 15, 2022 'I, for one, did not survive October 27 to become a professional victim for the rest of my life,' Myers said, adding that the response to antisemites is to engage more deeply in Jewish practice. 'We cannot let terrorists determine our Jewishness,' he said at Friday night services. 'We did not let the alleged shooter at the Tree of Life do that, and we will not let the hostage taker in Texas do that.' Akram stormed the Texas temple, believing that Jews could wield power over President Joe Biden to have Siddiqui released. The siege ended after the last hostage ran out of the synagogue and an FBI SWAT team rushed in. Akram was killed by multiple gunshot wounds. Many Jewish leaders have said the hostage standoff was an example of a larger rise in anti-Semitic acts. The Anti-Defamation League said such incidents have reached their highest levels since it began tracking them decades ago. Anna Eisen, Salton's daughter, said that the supportive response of local police and the FBI has made her 'feel safer in my community and my country,' but that its also important to confront anti-Semitism. Added Salton: 'It's nothing new to me. I hate anti-Semitism. I don't understand why people feel that way about us.' At the same time, having survived the Holocaust and much else, she said she was ready to celebrate her centennial. 'I would very much like to be 18, but since I'm 100, I'm grateful that I came to a point to live to 100 years,' she said. A man who stumbled down the street while carrying his own severed arm Friday morning was saved by two public workers who saw him and happened to be trained in the use of tourniquets, authorities in Maine said. The man's arm was cut off near the shoulder by a band saw - whose blade is positioned between two wheels, and is generally used to cut metal - while he worked at the AK Market store in Lewiston. Police arrived at the scene at about 9.20am and followed a trail of blood from Maple Street back to the business, where several people said the man had been operating a band saw. Lewinston police have not determined how the man lost his arm, beyond describing the gory amputation as a 'workplace incident'. Lt. Derrick St. Laurent told DailyMail.com that police is not identifying the man 'at this point' but that he's expected to survive. 'It had to be divine intervention because two of my best guys just happened to be there sanding sidewalks,' said Mary Ann Brenchick, director of Lewiston Public Works. 'It couldn't have been better guys for this kind of situation.' Police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which establishes federal workplace safety rules, are investigating the incident. A man was found stumbling down the street in Lewiston, Maine while carrying his own arm Friday morning. Investigators followed a trail of blood to AK Market, above Several people at the store said the man had been operating a band saw Witnesses said the man's arm was cut off in an apparent workplace accident, the Sun Journal reported. The members of the public works crew applied a tourniquet while waiting for an ambulance to arrive, according to Lewiston Police Lt. Derek St. Laurent. 'That probably saved his life,' St. Laurent said. The market appears to sell general wares like clothing, makeup and kitchen supplies Investigators followed a trail of blood back to the market and OSHA was alerted. The injured man was taken to Central Maine Medical Center, where he underwent surgery, according to WGME. It is unclear whether surgeons were able to reattach his arm. The AK Market did not respond to messages or calls from DailyMail.com. Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla said on Saturday that an annual COVID-19 vaccine would be preferable to more frequent booster shots in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Pfizer/BioNtech's COVID-19 vaccine has shown to be effective against severe disease and death caused by the heavily-mutated Omicron variant but less effective in preventing transmission. With cases soaring, some countries have expanded COVID-19 vaccine booster programmes or shortened the gap between shots as governments scramble to shore up protection. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla says people getting COVID-19 booster shots every four to five months is 'not a good scenario' In an interview with Israel's N12 News, Bourla was asked whether he sees booster shots being administered every four to five months on a regular basis. 'This will not be a good scenario. What I'm hoping (is) that we will have a vaccine that you will have to do once a year,' Bourla said. 'Once a year - it is easier to convince people to do it. It is easier for people to remember. 'So from a public health perspective, it is an ideal situation. We are looking to see if we can create a vaccine that covers Omicron and doesn't forget the other variants and that could be a solution,' Bourla said. Bourla has said Pfizer could be ready to file for approval for a redesigned vaccine to fight Omicron, and mass produce it, as soon as March. Citing three studies, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday that a third dose of an mRNA vaccine is key to fighting Omicron, providing 90% protection against hospitalization. A preliminary study published by Israel's Sheba Medical Center on Monday found that a fourth shot increases antibodies to even higher levels than the third but was likely not enough to fend off Omicron. Nonetheless, a second booster was still advised for risk groups, Sheba said. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, 52, announced that the organization would 'pivot the language' on COVID-19 vaccinations, lining it up with other vaccines Meanwhile, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it will 'pivot' its language when it comes to COVID-19 vaccinations, meaning that all who are eligible will need booster shots to be considered fully 'up to date.' CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, 52, announced at a White House press conference on Friday that the organization is working on 'pivoting the language' to match those of other vaccines. 'What we really are working to do is pivot the language to make sure that everybody is as up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines as they personally could be, should be, based on when they got their last vaccine,' Walensky said on Friday. 'We really want to make sure people are up to date. That means if you recently got your second dose, youre not eligible for a booster, youre up to date. If you are eligible for a booster and you havent gotten it, youre not up to date and you need to get your booster in order to be up to date.' Walensky pointed out on Friday that the definition of 'fully vaccinated' will not change, as 63 per cent of Americans have received the complete series of shots, but patients will be considered 'out of date' if they do not get the booster shot when it's available to them, much like the flu shot Coronavirus cases have been declining in the US, despite the number of deaths still on the rise Walensky compared the COVID-19 vaccine to the flu shot, where patients aren't considered 'up to date' until they receive a yearly shot. Those who do not receive a flu shot are not considered 'up to date.' 'In public health, for all vaccines, weve talked about being up to date for your vaccines. Every year, you need a flu shot; youre not up to date with your flu shot until youve gotten your flu shot for that year,' the director said. However, the flu shot is voluntary, while COVID vaccinations have been mandated in much of the country in order to participate in most daily activities. As for the definition of 'fully vaccinated,' the director said that isn't changing. As long as a person has received one or two doses - depending on the vaccine received - a person can consider themselves fully vaccinated. 'Individuals are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if theyve received their primary series. That definition is not changing,' she said at a January 5 White House press conference. Later in the day, Dr. Anthony Fauci, 81, tried to clarify Walensky's comments. Dr. Anthony Fauci, 81, backed up Walensky later on Friday, and said Americans need to stop 'fixating' the terminology and that 'it's more of, are you up to date on your vaccinations' 'She meant keeping up to date, as opposed of getting rid of that terminology and fixating on what "fully vaccinated" means. It's more of, are you up to date on your vaccinations,' he told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. 'One of the things that we're talking about from a purely public health standpoint is how well you are protected, rather than what a definition is to get someone to be required or not required.' Around 210million Americans are fully vaccinated, or roughly 63 percent, by the current definition, while 83million have received a booster shot, or roughly a third. COVID-19 deaths are continuing to rise in the US, even as cases have begun to fall. The nation recorded 3,564 new deaths on Friday - the fourth consecutive day where over 2,000 COVID-19 deaths were added to the ledger, the first time that has happened since Christmas, according to Johns Hopkins University data. A 17-year-old boy is being held without bond on Saturday for charges including attempted second-degree murder for allegedly shooting a fellow student with a 'ghost gun' in the boys bathroom of a Maryland high school, authorities said. Eleventh-grader Steven Alston Jr., 17, was taken into custody about two hours after officers were called to Magruder High School in Rockville - 40 miles outside of Baltimore - on Friday afternoon and is facing charges as an adult, Montgomery County police said. Alston is also facing a charge of first-degree assault and three weapons-related counts. Alston will be tried as an adult, a press release stated. Police said school security found a 15-year-old male student in a bathroom with a gunshot wound after Friday's shooting. The wounded student, a tenth-grader who hasn't been identified, underwent surgery at a hospital and was in critical condition on Saturday, the news release said. Scroll down for video Eleventh grader Steven Alston Jr., 17, was taken into custody on Friday by a SWAT team after allegedly shooting a tenth grader in the head The Magruder High Schooler was found in the bathroom by a school security officer around 1pm on Friday and was taken to the hospital The shooting reportedly happened at 12.53pm and the school went into full lockdown by 1.05pm. Police said officers found Alston in a classroom around 3pm on Friday and a gun was recovered near Alston's location. The exact location was not released and the police said they 'slowed down' arresting Alston since they didn't believe he was a threat to others. Authorities also believe the teen was armed with a ghost gun - a weapon assembled from parts, making it untraceable. Montgomery County and Maryland officials recently met to discuss creating new laws to safeguard against these weapons, where parts can be ordered online or 3D printed. Several ghost guns have been found in Montgomery County. A student, who asked to remain anonymous, told NBC Washington, that a SWAT came into the classroom to grab Alston around 3pm. 'They went to the back of the classroom where the kid was. They kind of pushed him to the ground. They didn't use too much force, but obviously a little bit, so they cuffed him and they brought him outside,' he said. Saturday's press release said there's no evidence suggesting the suspect was targeting anyone else within the school of about 1,700 students. The victim and Alston allegedly had a dispute before the shooting. The shooting led to an hours-long lockdown before authorities deemed the school safe between 5pm and 6pm and dismissed students on Friday. Parents are now slamming the school for the lack of information as many waited near the school until lockdown was over. Some parents found out about the shooting on the news and social media. 'I just know I just heard it in the news, that there are helicopters there, and just, drove all the way from Frederick,' an unidentified mother told NBC Washington. 'This is just something we don't need to deal with. School's supposed to be a safe place for children.' However, Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones told NBC Washington that authorities and the school deliberately choose not release much information in case the student had access to a cell phone. Authorities believe Alston was armed with a ghost gun - a weapon that can be assembled through parts bought on the internet. They extracted him from a classroom around 3pm and he is being held without bond and is expected to appear in court on Monday. Alston will be tried as an adult The victim was taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery and is said to be in critical condition The school was on lockdown until around 6pm 'The suspect may have had a cellphone and if we are tweeting out information that might be beneficial to that suspect that could be dangerous in its own right,' he said. 'We came up with a way to strategize to actually get the student and those individuals who were in the class out of that room safely.' Counseling will be offered to students throughout next week for anyone that needs it, including parents. Alston is expected to appear in court on Monday, according to the Washington Post. DailyMail.com has contacted the Maryland's Attorney's Office, which is in charge of the case.. Last year, the US passed its highest number of school shootings at the K-12 level with 42 shootings, up from 30 in 1999. Despite classrooms being shut for the majority of the first two months of 2021, 34,000 students were exposed to gun violence, the Washington Post reported. Almost 300,000 students have been exposed to gun violence during regular school hours since 1999. Growing concerns - especially in Montgomery County - over ghost guns is on the rise, as children have access to parts on the internet and use them to build their own weapons. Montgomery States Attorney John McCarthy, a democrat, said in a recent meeting that the only way is to 'effectively ban ghost guns.' 'Kids can buy them. Kids can build them. Kids can distribute them. And kids can use them,' McCarthy deadpanned. Police have seized an increased number of ghost guns from 'young people' in 2021 and not just in schools. In addition, the number of police officers in school have decreased in recent years. For many television viewers, Phillip Schofield is a bit like Marmite they either love him or hate him. But his fans got a treat last weekend. Not only was he co-presenting Dancing On Ice, he also featured in two of the adverts. We Buy Any Car, the second-hand motor company which Schofield is paid more than 1 million per year to endorse, is also the official sponsor of the show. Its advert was shown five times around the hour-long episode once before it started and during each of the four breaks. For many television viewers, Phillip Schofield is a bit like Marmite they either love him or hate him. But his fans got a treat last weekend. Not only was he co-presenting Dancing On Ice, he also featured in two of the adverts While Schofield doesnt physically appear on it, his voice does. But during the second break, viewers saw him for an additional 90 seconds when he spoke to a boss of Lloyds Bank in a separate commercial. Schofield is paid 750,000 to front ITVs weekday show This Morning, and is understood to earn another six-figure fee to host Dancing On Ice, which is also on ITV. Schofields deal with Lloyds, which is part of This Mornings Money Matters campaign, is also described as lucrative. A source told The Mail on Sunday: It doesnt seem that he or ITV are doing anything wrong here but it is without a doubt extremely advantageous to Phillip. It is most definitely a very profitable hour for him. He rules things at ITV and will most likely have been involved in bringing We Buy Any Car to Dancing On Ice. While ITV and Schofield are laughing all the way to the bank, fans arent quite so taken with his television takeover. One Twitter user wrote: Phillip Schofield must make a shed ton of money, in the same hour he was on Dancing On Ice, the sponsor of DOI We Buy Any Car, and he was in another ad during the ad breaks. Another said of the 59-year-old: Please tell me Im not the only one sick of seeing Phillip Schofield on the TV. Schofield, who announced he is gay in February 2020 after being married to wife Stephanie for 27 years, is one of the most marketable faces on TV. Along with Stephanie, he was the face of Princess Cruises but that came to an end in 2020 during the pandemic. However, a year ago he was named ambassador of the Craft Gin Club and the adverts appear daily on ITV at times during This Morning. The father-of-two, who last year bought a 2 million house in Chiswick, West London, is reportedly worth 9 million. Australian tourists could be banned from Europe or forced into quarantine as the European Union declares Down Under a 'Covid danger zone' amid surging cases. Travelling to parts of Europe could become near-impossible following Australia's classification as a virus hotspot and the tightening of restrictions. The EU announced Australia had been removed from the white list of countries for which Covid travel restrictions 'should be lifted'. 'New testing and self-isolation requirements may apply depending on which EU member state you're travelling to, regardless of whether you're considered fully vaccinated or not,' it said. Australian tourists could be banned from travelling to Europe or forced into quarantine as the European Union declares Down Under a 'Covid danger zone' (pictured, Bondi beach-goers) Travelling to European destinations could become near impossible following Australia's classification as a virus hot spot and the tightening of restrictions (pictured, Heathrow airport) Omicron cases continue to multiply across Australia with the EU noting there had been 511,267 infections in seven days earlier this month. Australia is noticeably absent from the 'white list' that recently added countries from outside the Schengen Area to travel to some EU states. Tourists from countries including New Zealand, Indonesia, Chile, South Korea and China will enjoy eased travel restrictions, however Australia has been excluded. This means citizens could be slapped with a total or partial ban from entering some European countries, with increased quarantine and testing requirements. The European Council has also labelled Canada and Argentina as Covid danger zones with the list to be reviewed every two weeks. The official directive comes after the US State Department and Centres for Disease and Prevention updated their travel advice for Americans on Wednesday. Down Under is noticeably absent from the EU 'white list' which recently approved travellers from outside the Schengan zone (pictured, passengers arrive at an airport near Paris, France) Australia on Wednesday was slapped with a Level 4 'Do Not Travel' rating - the same as war-torn nations including North Korea, Afghanistan and Syria (pictured, testing in Bondi) NEW DESTINATIONS WITH 'DO NOT TRAVEL' BY THE US Albania, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bermuda, Bolivia, British Virgin Islands, Cape Verde, Egypt, Grenada, Guyana, Israel, Panama, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Sint Maarten, Suriname, Turks and Caicos, and Uruguay. Advertisement Australia was slapped with a Level 4 'Do Not Travel' rating - the same as war-torn nations including North Korea, Afghanistan and Syria. American citizens are being warned to avoid all travel to Australia, declaring the risk of contracting Covid-19 is too 'severe'. Even with the highest number of Covid cases in world since the pandemic began, the US administration warned Americans to avoid a trip Down Under, with countries such as China and Japan still considered Level 3. Under the threat system Level 1 means there is low risk, Level 2 signifies a moderate threat, while Level 3 urges US residents to avoid unnecessary travel. During the pandemic, the marker for a nation to be given a Level 4 warning by the CDC is 500 new Covid cases per 100,000 people over the past 28 days with 22 new nations surpassing that threshold this week. 'Do not travel to Australia due to Coivd-19-related travel restrictions,' the travel advice said. 'The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Australia due to Covid-19, indicating a very high level of Covid-19 in the country. Canada reported 48,964 new infection for January 17 - earning it a place on the EU's danger list 'Your risk of contracting Covid-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine. 'There are restrictions in place affecting US citizen entry into Australia.' Australia's Covid death toll has been relatively low throughout the most of the pandemic, but Omicron is creating challenges with more than 60,000 new daily cases since December. Australia will be be regarded as unsafe by both the US and EU at least until the Omicron wave passes and cases fall. Since the beginning of the pandemic Australia has recorded 1.8 million cases of Covid and 2,750 deaths from the virus. This means about 6.9 per cent of the population has been infected with Covid, with a death rate of just 0.01 per cent. In NSW - the state that continues to record the bulk of the nation's infections - 36 people died with Covid on Thursday (pictured, traffic marshals at a Bondi Beach testing clinic) Since the beginning of the pandemic Australia has recorded a total of 1.8 million cases of Covid and 2,750 deaths from the virus. By comparison, about 21 per cent of France's population has been infected with the virus since the beginning of the pandemic and 0.18 per cent died. Australia has banned international tourists since March 2020, the month the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic. But international students and those with a working visa have been allowed back into Australia since December 2021. Australians were banned from travelling overseas for a holiday in March 2020 but that restriction was lifted just before Christmas for vaccinated citizens and permanent residents. Progressive Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon is firing back at a railroad company that has taken shots at him for not doing more to stop train burglaries in the area, despite the company's pleas for his office's assistance. This comes after Governor Gavin Newsom was disgusted by a ravaged rail depot - full of visible cardboard and other debris due to the thefts - in the Lincoln Heights area of the city that he visited and helped cleaned up. In December, rail company Union Pacific - which holds jurisdiction over crime on the rails - sent a letter to DA Gascon asking for more aggressive prosecutions for cargo thieves and an end to the no-bail policy for some defendants that Gascon wants to reduce overcrowding at jails during the pandemic. 'These individuals are generally caught and released back onto the streets in less than twenty-four hours. Criminals boast to our officers that charges will be pled down to simple trespassing - which bears no serious consequence,' the letter from UP's California director of public affairs Adrian Guerrero said. UP said it experienced a 160 percent increase in criminal rail theft in LA County over the past year. Gascon's office had previously said it was 'committed to working with law enforcement to ensure collective safety across Los Angeles County's sprawling infrastructure, whether it's at our ports or on railroad tracks.' 'Some cases presented to our office by Union Pacific have been filed, such as burglary and grand theft, while others have been declined due to insufficient evidence. We make charging decisions based on the evidence. Our office takes Union Pacific's concerns seriously and hopes to discuss this issue more in the coming weeks,' said Alex Bastian, Special Advisor to Gascon. However, on Friday, Gascon wrote a strongly-worded letter back to Union Pacific saying they filed fewer criminal cases to his office than in 2019 and 2020. Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon is taking shots at a railroad company that begged for his help to stop train thefts The shots were fired two days after Governor Gavin Newsom visited to help clean up the area Thursday California Governor Gavin Newsom visits a Union Pacific railroad site on Thursday. Newsom promised statewide coordination in going after thieves who have been raiding cargo containers aboard trains nearing downtown Los Angeles for months, leaving the tracks blanketed with discarded boxes Stolen and discarded packages litter the tracks close to a freight rail depot in Downtown LA. California Highway Patrol said it was expanding its own retail theft task force that will allow it to beef up patrols and better coordinate with police, the sheriff's department and Union Pacific's security force to prevent further thefts and littering Workers bag cardboard and other discarded items at a Union Pacific railroad site on Thursday Newsom wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty in front of the cameras Men look over a railing at a Union Pacific railroad site on Thursday in Los Angeles. Stolen packages can be seen discarded between the rails Newsom and officials from the California Department of Transportation toured the site in addition to cleaning up 'In 2019, 78 cases were presented for filing. In 2020, 56 cases were presented for filing. And in a sharp decline, in 2021, 47 such cases were presented for filing consideration, and over 55 percent were filed by my office,' Gascon said in his letter to UP. Gascon then turned to bashing Union Pacific's own security. 'According to LAPD Deputy Chief Al Labrada, UP does little to secure or lock trains and has significantly decreased law enforcement staffing,' he wrote. 'It is very telling that other major railroad operations in the area are not facing the same level of theft at their facilities as UP.' The California Highway Patrol said Thursday it was expanding its own retail theft task force that will allow it to beef up patrols and better coordinate with police, the sheriff's department and Union Pacific's security force. Union Pacific and other railroad firms employ their own police forces accredited by the state to protect its rail lines. Union Pacific has about 1,600 employees in Los Angeles County and its own police department which has priority jurisdiction over crimes committed on the railroad. Newsom visited and helped clean up some of the trash Thursday, saying he could no longer bear to look at it. Caltrans workers were helping the effort to clear the tracks before Newsom arrived The tracks Newsom surveyed and cleaned up were transporting FedEx, Amazon and UPS parcels A California Highway Patrolman watches over the cleanup effort from Newsom and the other workers California Governor Gavin Newsom, center, speaks to reporters wile visiting the site The Democratic lawmaker exclaimed: 'It looked like a third world country, these images, the drone images that were on the nightly news.' 'I took off the suit and tie and said I'm coming because I couldn't take it,' he added. 'I can't turn on the news anymore. What the hell is going on?' Gascon is under fire for failing to crack down on a recent spike in violence. He won over voters last year with promises of sweeping criminal justice reforms that critics say put the interests of criminals before the safety of the community, Fox News reported. Gascon said of rising crime rates: 'The reality is that we go through these cycles, and we go through the cycles for a variety of reasons In many ways we cannot prosecute our way out of social inequalities, income inequalities, the unhoused, the desperation that we have.' Gascon is currently embroiled in a dispute over a transgender woman who has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl, with the DA saying she could be allowed to serve her sentence under house arrest. Separately, Gascon is facing another scandal after his own cops went over his head to ask federal prosecutors to charge the alleged killers of an off-duty LAPD officer. LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva sought out the federal prosecution for the four gang members accused of killing Officer Fernando Arroyos, 27, on January 10 over fears pursing them through Gascon could lead to lighter sentencing. Last year, Gascon axed sentencing enhancements - such as membership of a gang - meaning that Arroyos' alleged killers would likely be eligible for parole in 25 years if convicted on state charges. Gascon previously announced he had decided to no longer pursue sentencing enhancements in cases involving gangs as part of an increasingly controversial prison reform policy aimed at boosting 'equity.' Newsom took time out to take a selfie with a California transit worker while on site Newsom believes many of the packages are from stolen Christmas presents that never made their destination Men look over a railing at the site, which is loaded with cardboard boxes and other decay along the tracks CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, 52, announced that the organization would 'pivot the language' on COVID-19 vaccinations, lining it up with other vaccines The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that it will 'pivot' its language when it comes to COVID-19 vaccinations, meaning that all who are eligible will need booster shots to be considered fully 'up to date.' CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, 52, announced at a White House press conference on Friday that the organization is working on 'pivoting the language' to match those of other vaccines. 'What we really are working to do is pivot the language to make sure that everybody is as up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines as they personally could be, should be, based on when they got their last vaccine,' Walensky said on Friday. 'We really want to make sure people are up to date. That means if you recently got your second dose, youre not eligible for a booster, youre up to date. If you are eligible for a booster and you havent gotten it, youre not up to date and you need to get your booster in order to be up to date.' Walensky compared the COVID-19 vaccine to the flu shot, where patients aren't considered 'up to date' until they receive a yearly shot. Those who do not receive a flu shot are not considered 'up to date.' 'In public health, for all vaccines, weve talked about being up to date for your vaccines. Every year, you need a flu shot; youre not up to date with your flu shot until youve gotten your flu shot for that year,' the director said. However, the flu shot is voluntary, while COVID vaccinations have been mandated in much of the country in order to participate in most daily activities. Walensky pointed out on Friday that the definition of 'fully vaccinated' will not change, as 63 per cent of Americans have received the complete series of shots, but patients will be considered 'out of date' if they do not get the booster shot when it's available to them, much like the flu shot Coronavirus cases have been declining in the US, despite the number of deaths still on the rise Roughly 83million Americans have received their booster shots As for the definition of 'fully vaccinated,' the director said that isn't changing. As long as a person has received one or two doses - depending on the vaccine received - a person can consider themselves fully vaccinated. 'Individuals are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if theyve received their primary series. That definition is not changing,' she said at a January 5 White House press conference. Later in the day, Dr. Anthony Fauci, 81, tried to clarify Walensky's comments. Dr. Anthony Fauci, 81, backed up Walensky later on Friday, and said Americans need to stop 'fixating' the terminology and that 'it's more of, are you up to date on your vaccinations' 'She meant keeping up to date, as opposed of getting rid of that terminology and fixating on what "fully vaccinated" means. It's more of, are you up to date on your vaccinations,' he told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. 'One of the things that we're talking about from a purely public health standpoint is how well you are protected, rather than what a definition is to get someone to be required or not required.' Around 210million Americans are fully vaccinated, or roughly 63 percent, by the current definition, while 83million have received a booster shot, or roughly a third. COVID-19 deaths are continuing to rise in the US, even as cases have begun to fall. The nation recorded 3,564 new deaths on Friday - the fourth consecutive day where over 2,000 COVID-19 deaths were added to the ledger, the first time that has happened since Christmas, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Friday's grim toll was the highest single-day total since 3,864 died from COVID-19 on January 28, 2021, barely a month after the first vaccines were rolled out in the U.S. The all-time single-day mark of 4,422 was set on January 20, 2021, according to Johns Hopkins. Deaths have lagged behind cases during the pandemic, with trends in mortality often trailing a few weeks behind cases. The U.S. logged 879,877 new infections on Friday, dropping the seven-day average to 734,302 - down six percent over the past week. The virus has slowly moved across the US, leaving some of the more populated regions along the east coast and causing cases to rise in the Midwest and Great Plains. It has been a trend for more than a week now, as case growth slows in the east while states west of the Mississippi start to suffer. 'The trajectory is kinda baked in right now,' Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and current board member at Pfizer, said. 'You are seeing cases rapidly decline in the East Coast and Florida. You are also seeing cases come down in California and seeing hospitalizations fall. But the infection is spreading to the Midwest.' Nearly 9million people called out sick with COVID-19 in the early part of January States like New Jersey, New York and Maryland, that were hit hard and fast by the Omicron variant at the end of 2021 and now seeing cases begin to rocket upwards. New Jersey is leading the nation in case decline, with daily infections dropping 54 percent over the past two weeks - now recording 159 cases per every 100,000 residents. Just behind is its neighbor New York, which has seen cases fall by 49 percent over the last 14 days. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Friday morning on Twitter that the state's test positivity rate has dropped below ten percent for the first time since December 20. 'Were in the single digits, New York! For the first time since December 20, our COVID-19 positivity rate is under 10 percent,' she wrote. In total, 12 US states are recording declining cases over the past two weeks. All of them, sans Illinois, are along the east coast. While Illinois is squarely in the mid-West, its case trajectory often matches that of east coast states due to its massive population center in Chicago. America's workforce has been hit hard by Omicron, with 8.8million people calling out of work in the first two weeks of January. It is nearly three times the number in early December, before Omicron struck, with sat at 3million. Meanwhile, unemployment claims rose by 55,000 to 286,000 for last week, the highest level since mid-July as Omicron drives new rounds of layoffs. NTS didn't even know its website was breached for days Significant security issues arose on the website for the simplified year-end tax settlement service opened by the National Tax Service on Jan. 15. Aside from the existing public key and financial certificates, the NTS introduced simple authentication methods already in use by private companies as of last year. However, the tax agency exposed a security loophole this year while adding another simple certification method. As annual tax return data contains personal information, such as income, family relations and medical records, this security loophole leaves individuals' private data vulnerable to illicit access. For four days, anyone could reportedly look up other people's year-end tax adjustment data by just connecting to the simplified service, inputting another individual's name and resident registration number and then presenting a simple certificate not related to them. As there are many names and resident registration numbers traded secretly on the internet, cybercriminals here or abroad could steal as much personal data as they wanted. Moreover, the NTS did not even discover these security breaches on its website by itself, but rather was told by online security experts who had found them. State tax agencies that hold taxpayers' income data are one of cybercriminals' primary targets. In 2015, the website of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service was compromised, leading to the leaking of information on 700,000 taxpayers and erroneous tax refunds worth $50 million. The number of cyberattacks on the NTS also jumped 2.7 times in 2020 from the previous year, to 6,106. The NTS' security network, which withstood all these external attacks, exposed its flaws in the process of upgrading its system. NTS officials said that they checked the system quickly and solved the problem on the evening of Jan. 18. Nevertheless, the NTS should confirm what information was compromised during the four days, disclose the results transparently and take all the necessary steps to protect individuals. It also needs to overhaul its security system to ensure that there is no easing of the vigilance required at such an agency that handles sensitive taxpayer data. A judge has described the crimes of a man who tricked young girls into sending him nude photos before threatening to spread them as 'abominable'. Ranpati Amarasinghe, 24, was arrested by Australian Federal Police at his home in Melbourne in September 2020, after two years of his cruel sextortion scheme. The student convinced multiple young girls as young as 13 to send him nude photos or videos after striking up a conversation online. Amarasinghe would then threaten to send the photos to the women's friends, family or boyfriends if they didn't submit to more of his depraved requests. In some instances even when his victims complied, the Sri Lankan citizen would send the images anyway because 'whores deserve to be exposed'. On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to to 25 charges of obtaining, publishing, possessing, or transmitting child porn or abuse material. Ranpati Amarasinghe, 24, (right) was arrested by Australian Federal Police at his home in Melbourne in September 2020, after two years of his cruel sextortion scheme Eight of those counts were using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material and one count of publishing child pornography material online. Officers who busted Amarasinghe seized his iPhone and hard drive and demanded he hand over passwords to his social media accounts. Police found 42 pictures and two videos considered child abuse material on his hard drive and nine images and one video on his phone. The student used multiple fake personas to trick his victims into sending lewd photos including the pseudonyms 'Emma Law' and 'John',' News Corp reported. One young girl was just 13 when she first sent naked images and videos of herself to 'John' on Snapchat in November 2018. After she declined to send Amarasinghe more lewd content he threatened to send the nude photos to her family and friends. He also messaged a few of the girl's social media contacts and asked them to inform her 'this was just the start'. Another victim's mother took screenshots of a conversation Amarasinghe had with her daughter to the police after she complied with his demands for nude photos. The student (right) used multiple fake personas to trick his victims into sending nude photos including the pseudonyms 'Emma Law' and 'John' He threatened to send the images to her Instagram followers if she didn't send more material, even after she begged him not to. 'Get ready to be ruined,' he told his young victim and 'want me to send these vids to ur friends or no?' Amarasinghe promised the girl that if she sent photos once more he would leave her alone and get rid of the compromising images. 'I am ruining your life and you don't give a s**t. You are a f**king whore,' he said. A recipient of one of the lewd videos in Amarasinghe's possession told him he could get in 'serious trouble' for circulating the child abuse material. 'If they wanna hoe around let them. You need to chill,' they said. 'They don't know what they are doing, and you could ruin the rest of their life if you spread this s**t. You can get in serious trouble too. I have close friends doing years for this s**t.' A 17-year-old girl from the US made a statement to police that a user named 'John' had threatened her over Snapchat. After the pair exchanged photos he said he would tell her boyfriend they were speaking and demanded photos of her face, breasts, and vagina. 'I'm not feeling very nice today so you're going to send me nude body pics or I'm going to send these to your boyfriend and he'll break up with you,' he said. He uploaded a photo of one of his 19-year-old victims to an adult pornography website with their full name and social media accounts. The student labelled the photo 'hot teen' and sent a chilling message to the woman he had demanded it from, saying: 'you are going to be on porn'. Going off a tip from jurisdictions in the US and the UK, the Australian Federal Police searched Amarasinghe's home in June of 2020 and found the child abuse material. He was arrested in September and charged with 25 child abuse material crimes with Judge Douglas Trapnell labelling him a 'brutal coward'. 'Your crimes are absolutely abominable,' he told the court. ' It was brutal. It was bad enough to compromise these girls sexually but to carry through with threats. 'You're a very horrible person. It's really serious. This is as bad as it gets. I have never seen anything as bad as this in my career.' Amarasinghe is likely to be deported to Sri Lanka after serving a lengthy prison sentence. He is due to face court to learn his fate on February 24. Alicia Kearns (pictured) was accompanied by her 11-month-old baby daughter and a nanny on the three-day foreign affairs committee visit to Ukraine The Tory MP said to be at the heart of the plotting against Boris Johnson last week took her baby and nanny on a Commons committee trip to Ukraine. Alicia Kearns was accompanied by her 11-month-old baby daughter and a nanny on the three-day foreign affairs committee visit to the country fearing an invasion by more than 100,000 Russian troops. The fact-finding trip included a visit to the eastern Ukraine front line that had apparently been shelled by Russian-backed forces two weeks earlier. However, it is understood that the baby and nanny stayed safely behind in a hotel about 90 minutes from the front. Ms Kearns, 34, has in the past has been an outspoken critic of MPs taking babies into the Commons Chamber. She said: Babies have no place in the chamber. Ive asked to leave debates to feed my child a few times I have never been turned down. It is understood Ms Kearns, who is still breast-feeding her baby, offered to pay any extra costs but the Commons footed the bill in line with its rules. It is not the first time an MP has taken her baby on a Commons committee trip overseas. In 2019, then MP Luciana Berger took her six-month-old child and her mother on an overseas visit on health committee business. Teenagers will be able to get Covid passes for holidays abroad and testing requirements for fully jabbed travellers will be dropped early next month. In a double-boost for half-term holidays expected to be announced tomorrow, 12- to-15-year-olds will be able to download the digital proof of vaccination, making travel in countries that require Covid certification easier. The changes will come in early February. There will no longer be any requirement for a Covid test for passengers flying into Britain, provided they have had their jabs. While under-18s remain exempt from showing Covid passes in the UK, venues in France, Switzerland, Greece, Germany, Austria and Cyprus require children over 12 to show proof of vaccination, a recent negative Covid-19 test or proof of recovery from the virus. Teenagers will now be able to download their pass either through the NHS app or website. In a double-boost for half-term holidays expected to be announced tomorrow, 12- to-15-year-olds will be able to download the digital proof of vaccination, making travel in countries that require Covid certification easier. A Government source said it will save families an administrative nightmare, while dropping the testing requirement will make holiday admin much more manageable. At present, fully jabbed travellers have to book and pay for a Covid latest flow test which they take on arrival. Unvaccinated travellers will still need to take a test after arriving in Britain. Earlier this month, testing rules introduced as a result of the Omicron variant that required a PCR test on arrival were scrapped, as well as self-isolation requirements for fully jabbed travellers. In an additional boost for half-term and Easter breaks, Ministers are pushing to safeguard those with pre-booked holidays from being required to show proof of a booster vaccine in order to avoid the restrictions on the unvaccinated. Earlier this month, testing rules introduced as a result of the Omicron variant that required a PCR test on arrival were scrapped, as well as self-isolation requirements for fully jabbed travellers It is understood Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is the lead advocate for this exemption It is understood Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is the lead advocate for this exemption. Boosters are expected to be included in the definition of fully vaccinated to fly in the spring, although a final decision has not yet been made on the timing. The third shots will show up automatically in the NHS digital Covid Pass. A source familiar with the talks said Ministers wont want to do anything to ruin peoples existing holiday plans. More than 36 million people in the UK have had their booster jab. Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs that people need to appreciate the value of vaccination for ease of travel, particularly boosters. He added: I think its very important everybody in the country understands that getting your booster, wherever you want to go in the world, is going to be a pretty crucial thing to do. Long before it lost all meaning by overuse in yoga and wellness circles, 'namaste' was the most beautiful word one young Australian had ever heard. It was also the first word spoken to him after 43 days lost in the frozen Himalayas, without food and sometimes even bereft of hope. It was February 2, 1992 and James Scott, an adventurous 23-year-old medical student from Queensland, had been missing for six weeks. An aerial view of snowcapped Himalayan peaks in Nepal. Thirty years ago, Australian James Scott was rescued there after spending 43 days lost, alone and without food James Scott (pictured), 30 years after being rescued from the Himalayas after being lost for six weeks 'I was pretty fit and lost about 25kg my body just ate itself but I had abundant fresh water through snow, a strong faith and the determination not to let my loved ones grieve,' he told the Sunday Mail. 'I survived by maintaining a sense of perspective, knowing there was always someone worse off than I was like the Australian soldiers in prison camps in World War II and the patients I'd seen in the burns ward during my medical training.' His family has been warned by the Department of Foreign Affairs not to travel to Nepal, to let local authorities handle it. But in early January his older sister, veterinarian Joanne Robertson, did go to Nepal, thinking 'no one will care as much as a family member'. Her brother's best friend, Andrew Ross, went with her. They raised $70,000 - from family, friends and strangers - for a rescue mission. 'Dead or alive, James had to be somewhere; the only thing worse than finding a body was to find nothing,' she said. The front cover of the book (pictured) written by James Scott and his sister Joanne Robertson about his dramatic rescue in the Himalayas in Nepal A month and a half into his ordeal the Ice Man, as he became known, had almost lost all hope. 'In those very last 72 hours, hope escaped me and I had really suicidal intent, but then I had a vivid dream of being home with my family and when I woke it reminded me of how much I had to live for,' he said. CHOCOLATE BARS James Scott famously had two bars of Cadbury milk chocolate with him when he got lost in the Himalayas. But they were not of that much use. He had eaten both of them within the first 48 hours. 'I would have done just fine without the chocolate bars as they brought me a lot of headaches,' he said. Advertisement He heard a helicopter in the sky and, mustering whatever strength he had left, he crawled out from under the rock where he was sheltering and waved his blue sleeping bag. Those in the helicopter, including fellow Australian Tom Crees, waved back. They thought they would be looking for a body. A air rescue was not possible because of the weather, so the helicopter flew back to Kathmandu and a search party was sent on foot, reaching him by nightfall. 'I heard muffled shouting coming up the valley but I wasn't sure if I was hallucinating, then a voice called out 'namaste' (hello) and I screamed back,' he said. 'When they reached me and asked if I was James Scott from Australia, they burst into tears. 'They sat marvelling at me, stroking my hair and face, and managed to convey no one had survived more than 10 days in the mountains.' The guides stayed with him overnight until the helicopter could return and winch him off the mountain. When they got him to the village of Talu, James saw Joanne and said, 'Thank you, I can't believe you are here.' While James spent 11 days in Patan Hospital and suffered neurological and eyesight damage, Joanne phoned home to Brisbane. 'I called Dad and said, 'It's Joanne, I've found James and he's alive',' she said. 'Dad repeated what I'd said and I could hear mum sobbing in the background.' Dr Joanne Robertson (pictured with a furry friend) flew to Nepal to look for her missing brother James Scott in January 1992 PR guru Harry M Miller (who died in July 2018) was brought on board to advise the family on how to handle the resulting media storm. James' story was sold to a television station for $250,000. His mother had kept the details of all the donations and through the family's share they returned every cent, and those who didn't want the money back, it was instead given as a donation to the Patan Hospital. Thirty years on, James knows he had decades of time that, on the balance of probabilities, he should not have had. He put all those bonus years to great use. Dr Scott, as he now is, is a child and youth psychiatrist. 'Every week I am seeing young people with very serious problems and one of the key learnings from my misadventure in Nepal is that if you give things time to sort out they generally do,' he said. 'It is important to have hope, draw on the support of loved ones and keep a sense of perspective; you don't have to look far to find someone worse off than you.' Billionaire businessman John Caudwell today reveals how he feared his son might take his own life after catching Lyme disease. In an emotionally charged edition of Desert Island Discs, the Phones 4u founder fights back tears as he describes the impact of his son Rufuss diagnosis in 2014. The infection can lead to a range of debilitating conditions including severe headaches and heart palpitations. I was devastated because my brilliant son, who was the most confident person youve ever met, turned into this anxious wreck, says the father-of-six. He adds: Here I am now with my own son, a brilliant young man with an amazing life ahead of him who is struck down and I was completely powerless to help. 'There were many, many, many times when we thought wed lost him. We used to have to have 24/7 people in his bedroom in case he tried to kill himself. Hes many times since said the only thing that kept him alive was because we were fighting so hard for him and loved him so much. He is doing brilliantly now Its never ever too late. You can come back from the most horrendous situation in life. In an emotionally charged edition of Desert Island Discs, Phones 4u founder John Caudwell fights back tears as he describes the impact of his son Rufuss diagnosis in 2014 Rufus is now 26 and Mr Caudwell, 69, also recalls his own troubled youth and an occasion when his father took grave offence at his Beatles haircut. I grew this Beatles cut and my dad eventually said when he realised what it was, We are not having the Beatles anywhere near this house, and lopped it all off with his shears and my hair actually never grew back properly after that, he says. So it was also the end of my hair-growing days and the end of my Beatles days and a sort of example again where my father just overreacted really. Mr Caudwell suggests that his difficult relations with his father may have been linked to his wartime experiences, saying: Unfortunately, I didnt really from him get the love or the fairness that I would have really liked. In the very early years when I was five or six, I used to wet the bed and hed be very, very angry about me doing that and I think looking back he probably had PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] because he treated me quite badly. Mr Caudwell became a father again last year when his partner Modesta Vzesniauskaite, 38, a former Olympic cyclist from Lithuania, gave birth to a son, William. Mr Caudwell became a father again last year when his partner Modesta Vzesniauskaite, 38 (pictured together in May 2021), a former Olympic cyclist from Lithuania, gave birth to a son, William The Birmingham-born entrepreneur, who reportedly once paid himself in gold bars and fine wines to minimise his National Insurance contributions, admits he once did everything he could to avoid paying tax. At the time I was scratching my way forward, this is not sort of an excuse its a reality Every pound that I could save, I could reinvest in the business, he says. So, paying as little tax as we possibly could was really important. But I think all of these tax fiddles, even though they were legitimate, need stamping out. 'Would I do that again? No, I absolutely wouldnt, but I know why I did it at the time. Scott Quiner, 55, died from COVID-19 on Saturday morning after battling the virus since October An unvaccinated Minnesota father of three who contracted COVID and was moved to a Texas hospital during a legal battle over whether his ventilator should be turned off died Saturday. Scott Quiner, 55, of Buffalo, was transferred to a Houston hospital last week after doctors in Minnesota refused his wife's request to keep the severely ill man on a ventilator. The wife, Anne Qunier, had won a restraining order to keep him on life support on January 13 and moved her husband to Texas. He had been showing some signs of improvement before suddenly succumbing to the virus. 'We're absolutely devastated,' said family lawyer Marjorie Holsten. 'We ask for privacy for Anne and the children as they grieve the loss of Scott, a wonderful husband and father.' The lawyer said she did not know when he lost consciousness, but he was aware while on a FaceTime call with his daughter two days ago. Quiner (pictured on January 8) had lost 30 pounds while on a ventilator in Minnesota Mercy Hospital in Minnesota wanted to switch his ventilator off but he was moved to a Texas facility in order to keep him alive after his wife won an injunction Quiner, 55, who was unvaccinated, with his wife and three kids Quiner was a patient at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, where he was set to have his ventilator shut off on January 13, despite his wife's insistence that he should remain hooked up to the device. He had been in the hospital since October 31, but doctors had decided to end his treatment after he suffered lung failure. He required deep sedation, a breathing tube, and a ventilator after his oxygen levels got dangerously low. But Anne sought an injunction against the hospital to prevent them from switching off his ventilator, and a judge ruled in her favor. Last weekend, he was flown to Mercy Hospital in Houston, the family's attorney said, where treatment continued. The family had said they didn't think Quiner had lost 30 pounds while on a ventilator. Quiner's wife, Anne, (left) went to court in Anoka County a day before his machine was due to be switched off, seeking an emergency restraining order to prevent Mercy from disconnecting Scott's ventilator Quiner, shown with his family, was an operations manager in Delano, Minnesota Quiner, enjoying time on a boat with his family, had three kids and was married for 35 years Quiner, who was an operations manager at GW Transportation Services in Delano, Minnesota, had been married to Anne for 35 years, Holsten said They had two adult children and a teenager. His case drew widespread attention this month after Mercy Hospital said it would disconnect the ventilator on January 13. Quiner had been at the hospital's intensive care unit since November 6 with critically low oxygen levels and had shown little signs of improvement since his arrival, the Star Tribune reported. A picture of his chart that was included in his wife's court filing noted on January 12 that his 'care plan' called for ventilator support to come to an end on January 13. 'Family would be able to be present at the bedside,' the chart reads. Anne went to court in Anoka County court a day before his machine was due to be switched off, seeking an emergency restraining order to prevent Mercy from disconnecting the ventilator. Quiner said the decision by the hospital would 'end my husband's life' and appealed for a restraining order against the hospital. 'If you're telling me he's dying, then why can't you try these things, at least try? What can it hurt?' Anne told CBS Minnesota. Without a judge's decision, 'my husband will die,' Anne wrote in her petition to the court. 'I have advised the doctors that I vehemently disagree with this action and do not want my husband's ventilator turned off,' court papers said. Anoka County Judge Jennifer Stanfield ruled in favor of Anne Quiner's request and had set a hearing to be held online February 11. 'I don't think the judge wanted to be on the wrong side of saying, "Well, of course, you should be able to pull the plug,"' Holsten said. A GoFundMe page set up on the Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo has raised nearly $150,00. 'Any donation would help take the financial stress off the family. Thank you for your continued outpouring of love, prayers and support during this difficult time,' the family said the site. Former education secretary Gavin Williamson has been accused of threatening an MP with withdrawing funding for a school in his constituency. Tory defector Christian Wakeford claimed he was told funding for a new school in his Bury South constituency would be withheld if he did not back the Government in axing free meals for pupils. The Bury South MP, 37, did not say who was behind the alleged comments, which he made after defecting from the Conservatives to Labour on Wednesday. But speaking to the Sunday Times, Mr Wakeford has now claimed that Gavin Williamson, a former chief whip, was responsible. Responding to the claims, Mr Williamson told the publication that he did not remember any such conversation taking place with Mr Wakeford. Christian Wakeford (pictured) claimed he was told funding for a school in his constituency would be withheld if he did not back the Government in axing free meals for pupils Mr Wakeford had alleged that Mr Williamson pulled him out of the House of Commons dining room and told him to 'consider' what he was doing. He said he was told: 'It's not very helpful to back an opposition (motion) against the department where you're wanting an extremely large favour from said department, so do consider what you're doing.' Mr Wakeford added: 'I know the maxim is "once a whip, always a whip", but yeah, that one was Gavin.' Following the alleged incident, Mr Wakeford chose to abstain in the free school meals debate in October 2020, and funding for the school went through as planned the following February. But Mr Williamson insisted that he does not have 'any recollection' of any such conversation taking place with Mr Wakeford. 'I don't have any recollection of the conversation as described but what I do remember is working tirelessly with Christian and others in order to be able to deliver this school, which I did,' he said. The Bury South MP, 37, did not initially say who was behind the alleged comments, but he has now claimed that Gavin Williamson (pictured), a former chief whip, was responsible It comes as William Wragg (pictured), the senior Tory who raised concerns about the alleged intimidatory tactics used by the whips against MPs, is set to meet police to discuss the issue 'Such major investment decisions are made after close analysis of the benefits that the investment will bring and certainly not something that can be decided in a brief conversation like the one described.' Ministers have sought to dismiss the allegations, insisting the whips had no role in the allocation of public funding. It comes as William Wragg, the senior Tory who first raised concerns about the alleged intimidatory tactics used by the whips against MPs calling for Boris Johnson to resign, is set to meet police to discuss the issue. Mr Wragg, 34, said he will be meeting a detective from the Metropolitan Police in the House of Commons early next week to discuss his allegations, raising the prospect police could open an investigation. He said on Friday that next week, he plans to tell the detective 'several' examples of bullying and intimidation, claiming some cases involved public money. He told The Telegraph: 'I stand by what I have said. No amount of gas-lighting will change that.' Downing Street said it would not be mounting its own inquiry into the claims, despite calls to do so by both Conservative and opposition MPs. A No 10 spokesman said it would only open an inquiry if it was presented with evidence to back up Mr Wragg's assertions. But Mr Wragg, the Chair of Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, said he believed an investigation should be left for the 'experts' in the police. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'As with any such allegations, should a criminal offence be reported to the Met, it would be considered.' But Tory MP Tom Tugendhat (pictured) has insisted that he has never experienced or witnessed his party's whips use blackmail following the allegations from Mr Wragg But on Saturday, Adam Holloway, the Tory MP for Gravesham, dismissed the 'blackmail' allegations, saying he has 'never known' such behaviour to happen during his time in the Conservatives or Government, adding it 'doesn't ring true to me'. Responding to the allegations while visiting the 'Jabs with Kebabs' project at V's Punjabi Grill in Gravesend, Mr Holloway, 56, said: 'I can only speak for myself and I've never known anything like that. 'I've never known any sort of link with my behaviour in Parliament and resources coming into my constituency, so I suspect it's complete bulls***. 'That's what happens in American politics, I've got no sense of that here, ever in 16 years. It just doesn't seem to work that way.' Tory MP Tom Tugendhat has also insisted that he has never experienced or witnessed his party's whips use blackmail following the allegations. The MP for Tonbridge and Malling, 48, was asked on BBC Breakfast if he had ever been blackmailed by his party's whips. He responded: 'No, I haven't, and as you may well know, I've not always been the Government's biggest supporter. I have voted against the Government on occasions when I thought it right. 'I have to say I've always had a very close relationship with the chief whip and indeed a very productive relationship with whips, so I'm waiting to hear more about this because it's not something I've seen or been told about.' Mr Johnson insisted on Thursday he had 'seen no evidence' to support the claim made by Mr Wragg that his critics were facing 'intimidation'. Schools and daycares across Victoria will be given 14 million free rapid antigen tests and 51,000 air purifiers as part of the state's back-to-school plan. Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Education James Merlino announced on Sunday that pupils and teachers would be encouraged to take a test twice a week for the first four weeks of Term 1. Students and staff at specialist schools are recommended to take five tests each week due to the higher risk of severe illness for medically vulnerable children. School and daycare staff must receive a third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by February 25, or within three months and two weeks of receiving a second dose, if they want to continue working in education. Victoria saw 13,091 positive test results overnight on Sunday, and 14 deaths. Schools and daycares across Victoria will be given 14 million free rapid antigen tests and 51,000 air purifiers as part of the state's back-to-school plan Dan Andrews wants kids back in the classroom, but says school system will be under strain Mr Merlino explained that air purifiers would be prioritised in high-risk settings like music rooms, staff rooms, indoor canteens, sick bays, and where there was poor ventilation. 'More than 1800 schools have applied for a shade sail [funding], because we are encouraging, of course, outdoor learning, as much as practicable - particularly in these warmer months, as we start term one,' he said. Students in Year 3 and above would be required to wear masks indoors, and teachers at all times - even when not actively teaching or communicating with students. When asked what would happen when a child tests positive, Mr Merlino said parents will have to inform the school and the Department of Health. Pictured: Firbank Grammar student receives a RAT at school in Brighton, Melbourne Minister for Education James Merlino said some schools have applied to erect shade cloths because outdoor learning is encouraged 'When it is time to isolate, we will continue to provide our suite of online resources for students in prep right through,' he said. 'The way that we usually support students, if they have got glandular fever, if they are away for a significant period of time, there will be tasks that they are to complete, they will be supported by the school.' Mr Andrews also said he would not shut schools down if there was a Covid case, and acknowledged rapid antigen tests would not be able to detect every case, 'given the amount of transmission that is in the community'. He said the recommended testing would enable schools and health authorities to 'find as many cases as we can and shutting down those chains of transmission'. More than 29 per cent of children between five and 11 have now had one dose of the Covid19 vaccine. Pictured: RAT tests being administers at a school in Melbourne School students above Year 3 are required to wear face masks. pictured: Kindergarten students in Melbourne The government invested $7.5 million in early childhood services to improve ventilation, alongside another $7.4 million to support kindergarten services to implement safety measures. More than 29 per cent of children between five and 11 have now had one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and the government was working to ensure all children in this cohort have access to two doses by the end of Term 1. There are 66,000 appointments available for primary school-aged children in state-run centres over the next 30 days, and many more through primary care. In light of potential significant but short-term staffing challenges in schools and early childhood services in Term 1, the government classified education staff as critical workers. Household contacts will be allowed to voluntarily continue working if they are asymptomatic and return daily negative rapid antigen tests. A former British soldier fighting in Ukraine has spoken about the Russian invasion threat, insisting: We will fight them, make no mistake about that. Shaun Pinner is one of at least ten UK nationals who have travelled to the countrys wartorn eastern region, known as the Donbas, to take on pro-Moscow separatists. The 48-year-old, originally from Bedfordshire and married to a Ukrainian woman, has been in Donbas for the past four years. Shaun Pinner (pictured) is one of at least ten UK nationals who have travelled to the countrys wartorn eastern region, known as the Donbas, to take on pro-Moscow separatists Mr Pinner, who previously served in the Royal Anglian Regiment, said he fought with the Ukrainian army as a contract soldier. Speaking from a trench ten miles outside Mariupol, he said: I am here defending my family and adopted city. Russia started this war its funded by Russia and driven by Russia. But we will fight them, make no mistake about that. Mr Pinner said fighting in the trenches was like Hell, with snipers less than 600m away. He added: Separatists are now using drones to drop bombs and mortars along with automatic grenade launchers and RPG rockets. Snipers are always present and theres small arms fire almost daily. Ukrainian forces respond if we deem our lives to be threatened whereas separatists seem to shoot whenever they fancy. Sometimes its very scary no matter how used to it you are. Sometimes you hear it [explosions] start further down the contact line, then it ripples through your position. Pictured: An instructor trains members of Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces, volunteer military units of the Armed Forces, in a city park in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, January 22, 2022 'Thats why you get time to dive into cover and sometimes you may get a warning beforehand. Snipers are less than 600m away. The veteran British soldier faces life-and-death situations regularly, but one incident three years ago stands out. I had an artillery strike on my position in 2019. I didnt think I was going to get out of that alive. Over the course of three days, six people died on my position. I was jumping from crater to crater with another guy, moving between shots and explosions while on a changeover. Only after I managed to get back to a position on the rear we realised our men had died. It took a while to sink in. Mr Pinner, who previously served in the Royal Anglian Regiment, said he fought with the Ukrainian army as a contract soldier Mr Pinner added: This is my ninth war tour. Death has been a part of my life for so long. You cant go into each day thinking you will be killed or injured. I fear for my life. The Russians will treat us differently if we are captured because we are British. This is always on my mind that I will be captured. Im not just another war junkie. I have excelled better than most Ukrainians. I am the first Westerner to complete all aspects of parachute training as a Ukrainian soldier. More than 14,000 people have been killed over the past eight years of conflict since Kremlin-backed forces seized large areas of eastern Ukraine alongside the border with Russia. They include the Donbas region which is currently run by Vladimir Putin stooges in their own mini-fiefdoms from the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. Meanwhile, with more than 100,000 Russian troops camped on Ukraines northern, eastern and southern borders, the US has sent 90 tons of lethal aid to the country. The military aid package, worth 147 million, included ammunition for front-line defenders. It arrived a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned of a tough US response if Russia invaded. This weekend, Ukraines intelligence service accused Russia of sending weapons and fuel to pro-Russian militia on the frontline in Donbas. The Russians sent 7,000 tons of fuel, several tanks and self-propelled artillery units to the frontline regions, it said. It was announced yesterday that Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has accepted an invitation for talks with his British counterpart Ben Wallace in London early this week to try to defuse tensions. Britain's wokest university is facing claims that its staff objected to the use of the word maternity and allowed men identifying as women to use its campus swimming pool. The allegations against Bristol University emerged as PhD student Raquel Rosario-Sanchez prepared for an imminent sex discrimination and negligence case against the institution. She claims its bosses failed to tackle transgender activists who subjected her to a two-year hate campaign for attending feminist meetings that opposed allowing men who identify as women into female-only spaces such as toilets and domestic violence refuges. Ms Rosario-Sanchez said she had been contacted by several female academics, including one responsible for writing staff policy related to families who claims that despite removing the words woman, she and her from the maternity policy, she was told by diversity chiefs that the term maternity was now problematic and exclusionary. The whistleblower asserted that when she pointed out that only a biological woman can give birth, she was reported to human resources bosses for being transphobic, investigated by the university and ordered to apologise. A female lecturer contacted Ms Rosario-Sanchez alleging that Bristol dismissed her complaint about men being allowed in the female changing rooms at the pool. The woman said she had written to the universitys director of sport to say that she and her eight-year-old daughter had come across men who were male-bodied and wearing mens clothes in the changing area. PhD student Raquel Rosario-Sanchez (pictured) is preparing for an imminent sex discrimination and negligence case against Britain's 'wokest' university The University of Bristol is is facing claims that its staff objected to the use of the word maternity and allowed men identifying as women to use its campus swimming pool She claimed that when she spoke to the pool staff, she was told that people could use the changing room they were comfortable in, whatever their sex. The director of sport, she said, backed this approach. Ms Rosario-Sanchez says her ordeal began when she agreed to chair a meeting for the feminist organisation Womans Place UK (WPUK) in February 2018. Trans activists have branded WPUK a hate group for opposing Government proposals to allow people to self-identify as the opposite sex. After she filed a bullying complaint, the university launched a disciplinary hearing against one of the trans activists, but dropped the proceedings, prompting Ms Rosario-Sanchez to start legal action. Raquel Rosario-Sanchez claims its bosses failed to tackle transgender activists who subjected her to a two-year hate campaign for attending feminist meetings that opposed allowing men who identify as women into female-only spaces such as toilets and domestic violence refuges Last night, she told The Mail on Sunday: I always thought my case was an anomaly, but then I started to be contacted by more women saying they are being targeted by trans activists or they are being punished by the university for standing up for their feminist views. Dr Nicola Williams, spokeswoman for Fair Play For Women, which campaigns for the rights of women and girls, said: This is surely the wokest university in Britain. A university spokesman said: Ms Rosario-Sanchez has chosen to take legal action. Given this, we will not comment further. Ms Rosario-Sanchez has launched am online fundraiser to fund her case. You can find out more details here. By Jason Lim Last November, Se-woong Koo wrote an interesting piece for Korea Expose titled, "What Makes Life Meaningful in Korea? Not Much, It Seems." It was his take on the Pew Survey that had just come out, that showed that, out of 17 advanced countries, Korea was the only country that put material wellbeing as the #1 contributing factor to making life "meaningful, fulfilling or satisfying." This result was all the more striking when viewed against 14 other developed countries that chose "family" as the top source for life's meaning. Predictably, this situation led to a slew of handwringing headlines by the Korean press decrying the breakdown of the traditional social fabric in favor of Korea's "look out for #1 only" culture, characterized by the selfish pursuit of material satisfaction. Depending on your political slant, this reality is the fault of the baby boomers, Millennials, men, women, the current administration, past military dictatorships, etc. Anyways, Koo ends with a rather depressing, poignant, conclusion: "In comparison to the populations of the other 16 countries, Koreans are less likely to find meaning of life in anything. There is no enthusiasm for much, and when it can be mustered at all, it's about money and personal well-being. What the Pew survey shows isn't that Koreans are far more materialistic than their counterparts in other developed economies. It's that Korea suffers from an absence of existential purpose." The last part about existential purpose stood out for me. What does that even mean for a society? I see the Seoul skyline littered with red, glowing crosses from every street corner if Koreans were looking for an existential meaning in their lives, there isn't a shortage of supply. Also, others have pointed out in the past when a Christian cult leader was accused of masterminding the Sewol Ferry sinking, Korea has more than its share of self-styled gurus offering enlightenment and meaning. So, that can't be it. I think that what Korea lost is its mojo. It lost its mojo because it lacks an overriding societal narrative that imbues its citizens with a certain, common direction, unity of purpose and sense of togetherness. Maybe this is what Koo meant about existential purpose. The power of such a narrative is foundational. It's what makes humans evolutionarily successful. In his talk, titled, "Why Humans Rule the World," Yuval Noah Harari argues that humans rule the world because we are able to "cooperate flexibly over large numbers." He goes on to explain how: "The answer is our imagination. We can cooperate with numerous strangers because we can invent fictional stories, spread them around and convince millions of strangers to believe in them. As long as everybody believes in the same fiction, we all obey the same laws and can thereby cooperate effectively. This is something only humans can do. You cannot convince a chimpanzee to give you a banana by promising that after he dies, he will go to Chimpanzee Heaven and there receive countless bananas for his good deeds. No chimp will ever believe such a story. Only humans believe such stories. This is why humans rule the world, whereas many chimps are locked up in zoos and research laboratories. So, what happens when you take away that unifying story or when there is no longer a story that people can believe in? That's exactly what's been happening to Korea for the last twenty years since the IMF crisis: there hasn't been a story to replace the old societal story that John Armstrong called the "Yushin Deal." It basically says that "if the people will keep their heads down, work hard first in their education and then in their workplace, and don't ask questions, the powers that be (particularly the partnership of the chaebol and the government) will ensure that they will gain status, money and security in return for their efforts." The Yushin story became ascendant because it proved itself to be true for the majority of Koreans from the 1960s to the 1990s. Then it outlived its fidelity because it couldn't hold in the changing socioeconomic environment that Korean found itself in as the IMF crisis hit. This isn't a fault of the story. It's happening to all advanced economies that settle into minimum growth, which mostly goes to the top 1 percent, with success and prestige quickly becoming something that you inherit rather than can work toward. But as one story dies, another one needs to take its place to sustain the cohesion. But that hasn't happened. In the absence of a new story, Korea has been mired in a frustrating stasis in which the nostalgia over the Yushin story is fighting against the nostalgia over the democracy story for control. Left out in this fight are those of the MZ Generation, who grew up in a fractured world without an overriding story to guide their values and efforts. So they came up with their own that is the story of Hell Joseon. Jason Lim (jasonlim@msn.com) is a Washington, D.C.-based expert on innovation, leadership and organizational culture. The White House has warned of 'swift and severe consequences' to a Russian invasion of Ukraine after a British intelligence assessment accused Moscow of plotting to install a pro-Kremlin administration in Kiev. President Joe Biden met with his national security team at Camp David on Saturday to discuss 'continued Russian aggressive actions toward Ukraine,' the White House said in a statement. 'He affirmed that if Russia further invades Ukraine, the United States will impose swift and severe consequences on Russia with our Allies and partners,' the statement added. Earlier on Saturday, the British government said former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate to lead a pro-Russia puppet government in Kiev. Murayev is head of the small pro-Russian party Nashi, which currently holds no seats in Ukraine's parliament, and the UK assessment did not specify what means Russia might use to install him. President Joe Biden met with his national security team at Camp David on Saturday to discuss 'continued Russian aggressive actions toward Ukraine' Russian tanks T-72B3 take part in drills at the Kadamovskiy firing range in the Rostov region in southern Russia, near the border with Ukraine The British government said Putin is considering former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev (right) as a potential candidate to lead a pro-Russia puppet government in Kiev The White House called the U.K. government assessment 'deeply concerning' and said it stands with the duly elected Ukrainian government. 'This kind of plotting is deeply concerning,' said National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne. 'The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine.' The new assessment comes as Russian troops mass on the border with Ukraine and fears of an imminent invasion rise, with the US State Department reportedly preparing to evacuate the families of embassy personnel in Kiev. The U.S. has mounted an aggressive campaign in recent months to unify its European allies against a new Russian invasion of Ukraine, which increasingly appears imminent. It its assessment, Britain's Foreign Office named several other Ukrainian politicians it said had links with Russian intelligence services. The UK government made the claim based on an intelligence assessment, without providing evidence to back it up. Russia has rejected Western complaints about its troop buildup (above) near Ukraine, saying it deploys them wherever it deems necessary on its own territory British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the information 'shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking.' Truss urged Russia to 'de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy,' and reiterated Britains view that 'any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs.' Britain has sent anti-tank weapons to Ukraine as part of efforts to bolster its defenses against a potential Russian attack. Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis, U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to meet Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for talks in Moscow. No timing has been given for the meeting, which would be the first U.K.-Russia bilateral defense talks since 2013. Civilian participants in a Kyiv Territorial Defence unit train on a Saturday in a forest on Saturday. Across Ukraine thousands of civilians are participating in such groups to receive basic combat training and in time of war would be under direct command of the military While Ukrainian officials have acknowledged the country has little chance to fend off a full Russian invasion, Russian occupation troops would likely face a deep-rooted, decentralized and prolonged insurgency. Ukrainian civilian volunteers are seen above in training People rallying in patriotic support of Ukraine walk with a 500 meter long ribbon in the colors of the Ukrainian flag on Unity Day on Saturday in Kyiv, Ukraine. Speakers at the rally demanded Ukrainian membership in the European Union and the NATO military alliance Russia has denied it is planning an invasion, but Putin has issued demands to the West which he says concern Russias security, including not allowing Ukraine to join NATO. He also insists that NATO abandon military exercises in the region and to stop sending weapons to eastern Europe. The assessment came as Biden spent Saturday at the presidential retreat Camp David outside of Washington huddling with his senior national security team about the Ukraine situation. In another development, the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania plan to send U.S.-made anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, a move that the United States fully endorsed Saturday amid Kyivs escalating tensions with Russia. The defense ministers of the three Baltic states said in a joint statement that they 'stand united in our commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in face of continued Russian aggression.' U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a tweet that Washington saluted the NATO nations and former Soviet republics 'for their longstanding support to Ukraine.' 'I expedited and authorized and we fully endorse transfers of defensive equipment @NATO Allies Estonia Latvia Lithuania are providing to Ukraine to strengthen its ability to defend itself against Russias unprovoked and irresponsible aggression,' Blinken said in another tweet. Russian tanks are seen massing near the Ukrainian border earlier this month A Russian Su-35S is seen leaving for Belarus for drills near the Ukrainian border Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier this week described the West supplying arms to Ukraine as extremely dangerous and said the shipments 'do nothing to reduce tensions.' Moscow has massed tens of thousands of troops near the Russia-Ukraine border, leading to fears of an invasion. The West has rejected Moscows main demands - promises from NATO that Ukraine will never be added as a member, that no alliance weapons will be deployed near Russian borders, and that it will pull back its forces from Central and Eastern Europe. A meeting Friday between Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ended with no breakthrough. Amid the uncertain security situation, the U.S. State Department has been considering a range of options to ensure the safety and security of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv and its employees by moving to reduce its diplomatic presence there. The defense ministers of the Baltic states said in their statement that Estonia would provide Javelin anti-tank weapons while Latvia and Lithuania were sending Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and other related equipment to bolster Kyivs defensive military capabilities. It wasnt immediately clear when the weapons and equipment would be sent to Ukraine. 'Today, Ukraine is at the forefront of separating Europe from the military conflict with Russia. Let's face it, the war in Ukraine is ongoing and it is important to support Ukraine in every way we can so that they can resist the aggressor,' Estonian Defense Minister Kalle Laanet said. Estonia also is seeking Germany's approval to send Soviet-made howitzers, which once belonged to East Germany, to Ukraine. Estonia acquired the howitzers from non-NATO member Finland, which in turn had bought them from Germanys military surplus supply in the 1990s. The German government said Friday that it was considering Estonias request to pass the howitzers on to Ukraine but gave no timeline for a decision. Berlin said it planned to coordinate the issue with Finland, which has received a similar approval request from Estonia. Berlin routinely demands a say when German-sold weapons are transferred to third countries. But some recent media reports suggested German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Cabinet could block Estonias transfer of weapons to Kyiv, highlighting divisions in the Wests response to the Ukraine crisis. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba alleged Saturday that Germany was not showing adequate support for Ukraine. Kuleba said in a Twitter post that the weapons transfer issue and remarks by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressing skepticism about cutting off Russia from the SWIFT global payments system 'do not correspond to the level of our relations and the current security situation.' Also Saturday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador to object to recently circulated video in which the head of the German navy said that Ukraine would not regain the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin deserved 'respect.' A convoy of Russian armoured vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea, Tuesday, January 18, 2022. Ukraine today condemned Germany for its refusal to supply weapons to Kyiv, urging Berlin to stop 'undermining unity' and 'encouraging Vladimir Putin' amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace will meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in Moscow for talks to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis as the country's servicemen (pictured, Russian troops take part in military drills in Rostov in southern Russia, less than 70 miles from the Ukrainian frontier) take part in drills along the border amid fears of an invasion The comments by vice admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach sparked consternation and a swift rebuke back in Berlin. By late Saturday, the German navy chief had tendered his resignation, saying he wanted to prevent further damage resulting from his 'ill-considered statements' in India. The U.S. State Department is currently warning U.S. citizens not to visit Ukraine due to the coronavirus pandemic but is also advising them to reconsider travel there due to potential Russian aggression. Speculation that an announcement about the U.S. diplomatic presence in Ukraine may be imminent has increased since the embassy in Kyiv announced it would hold a virtual town hall meeting about the security situation with U.S. citizens in Ukraine on Tuesday. Discussions on the matter have been underway for some time, but Blinken went over the contingency plans with the embassys security team when he visited Kyiv on Wednesday, officials said. The officials stressed that no decisions had yet been made and that an outright evacuation is not being considered. One possible scenario would be to order the families of American personnel to leave the country while allowing non-essential staffers to depart voluntarily at government expense, they said. British intelligence has discovered a plan by Russian President Vladimir Putin to install a pro-Moscow puppet leader in Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss revealed yesterday. As Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of a large-scale war after Moscow massed more than 100,000 troops, tanks and artillery pieces along his border, Ms Truss said that Yevhen Murayev was being lined up to run the country as a satellite of Moscow. Former Ukrainian MP Mr Murayev has defended Russias annexation of Crimea. It came as Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu agreed to meet his UK counterpart Ben Wallace in Moscow for emergency talks after Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood warned an invasion of Ukraine was imminent and that President Putin was exploiting Western weakness. Ms Truss said the Foreign Office had established that the Russian government was looking to install a pro- Russian leader in Kiev as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine, and that Russian intelligence officers involved in the planning for an attack were in contact with sympathetic politicians in the country. Former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev is being lined up to run the country as a satellite of Moscow, MI6 intelligence has warned As Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of a large-scale war after Moscow massed more than 100,000 troops, tanks and artillery pieces along his border, Liz Truss said that Mr Murayev was being lined up to run the country as a satellite of Moscow The Foreign Secretary added: The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking. Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy. As the UK and our partners have said repeatedly, any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs. Mr Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, warned that Mr Putin was redrawing the map of eastern Europe and its so important that we step forward. Russia has denied it is planning an invasion, but Vladimir Putin has issued demands to the West which he says concern Russias security, including not allowing Ukraine to join Nato Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu (left) has agreed to meet UK counterpart Ben Wallace (right) in Moscow for emergency talks over the Ukraine crisis. A senior defence source said Mr Wallace 'has been clear that that he will explore all avenues to achieve stability and a resolution to the Ukraine crisis' during the talks and that his office was 'in communication with the Russian government' Russia has denied it is planning an invasion, but Mr Putin has issued demands to the West which he says concern Russias security, including not allowing Ukraine to join Nato. He also wants Nato to abandon military exercises in the region and to stop sending weapons to eastern Europe. Boris Johnson is expected to ramp up the pressure on Russia this week by calling for European countries to join forces with the US in the face of increasing aggression and pushing for a gear change on the Ukraine situation. British intelligence analysts, officials and ambassadors have been tasked by No10 with driving forward a package of economic measures to debilitate Russias economy should the situation deteriorate further. It follows the delivery of lethal aid to Ukraine this week, including 2,000 missiles and a specialist team of military trainers. A No 10 source said: The Prime Ministers view is that the situation in Ukraine is the biggest test to the unity and resolve of the West and Nato in decades. 'It would be frankly naive to assume that Russia could be mollified by changes to the European security architecture the Kremlins behaviour has made that consistently clear. A convoy of Russian armoured vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea, Tuesday, January 18, 2022. Ukraine today condemned Germany for its refusal to supply weapons to Kyiv, urging Berlin to stop 'undermining unity' and 'encouraging Vladimir Putin' amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace will meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in Moscow for talks to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis as the country's servicemen (pictured, Russian troops take part in military drills in Rostov in southern Russia, less than 70 miles from the Ukrainian frontier) take part in drills along the border amid fears of an invasion The UK is working through Nato and in lockstep with the US to enact a policy of dialogue and deterrence, pursuing the diplomatic track but readying a package of sanctions that will pierce the heart of Russias economy should that fail. He is very clear that countries must be free to choose their own futures. The PM regards the situation as gravely dangerous. His resolve has hardened since the last call with President Putin in December, but he regards Western unity as key. The whole of Whitehall is ramping up preparations. Ms Truss also warned that China may use a Russian invasion of Ukraine as an opportunity to act aggressively against Hong Kong and Taiwan. She said: I dont think we can rule that out. Russia is working more closely with China than ever. Aggressors are working in concert, and its incumbent on countries like ours to work together. The Grenadier Guards are believed to want Kate Middleton to replace Prince Andrew as their new colonel. The Duke of York lost his honorary position after the Queen stripped him of his HRH title and military and charitable affiliations. The role of colonel was returned to Her Majesty by default, but senior officials are understood to want the Duchess of Cambridge to take on the position. A senior source in the Grenadier Guards told The Sunday Times: 'From straw polling through the ranks, they would all love it to be Kate. 'We all admire the way she has fitted in and behaved, she never seems to put a foot wrong.' The Grenadier Guards are understood to want the Duchess of Cambridge (pictured) to take on the honorary role of colonel after the Duke of York was stripped of his remaining military titles A military source told the publication the name of the new colonel was due to have been announced on Monday but it was delayed. The source said it 'wasn't the Duchess of Cambridge', but claimed the fact that the announcement was not made means they 'have been thinking about it again'. The new colonel is decided by the regiment and the Queen, 95, who took on Andrew's role by default. Formed in 1656 by King Charles II, the Grenadier Guards have fought in almost every major campaign of the British Army, including the Napoleonic, Crimean, Boer, First and Second World Wars. Andrew, 61, inherited the honorary role with the Grenadier Guards from his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, when he retired from public life in 2017. It was one of the positions that he clung to when he first stepped back from official duties in 2019. But Andrew lost his honorary role when he was stripped of his military titles amid a sex assault lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre in the United States. Ms Giuffre claims she was trafficked by convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to have sex with the prince three times when she was a teenager. The Duke of York vehemently denies the allegations. Prince Andrew, 61, (pictured) inherited the role with the Grenadier Guards from his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, when he retired from public life in 2017 If Kate were to take on the role, she would be the first appointed female colonel in regiment's 366-year history. Pictured: Members of the Grenadier Guards at Buckingham Palace He must now fight claims of rape and sexual assault in the US courts as a private citizen. Meanwhile, it was revealed that Andrew could lose his round-the-clock police protection as early as next month after he was exiled as a frontline royal. Sources said a full review of his security is being carried out by the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office. Andrew, who remains ninth in line to the throne, has so far been allowed to keep his taxpayer-funded police bodyguards at a cost to the public purse of an estimated 2-3million a year. This has sparked intense public debate, particularly because his nephew, Prince Harry, was stripped of his police protection when he quit as a working royal in 2020 and moved to the United States. 'Although no-one will comment on it publicly, this is an issue that is now actively being discussed by the Met's Royal and VIP Executive Committee,' a source told the Daily Mail. 'The situation [as regards Harry] is awkward and may prompt a decision sooner rather than later. If Harry, who is no longer a working royal, does not get security in the UK, then why should Andrew?' Andrew, who lives in 30-room Royal Lodge on the Queen's Windsor estate, will always benefit from the round-the-clock protection that comes with living in proximity to a royal residence. It comes after Prince Andrew was stripped of his military titles amid a sex assault lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre (pictured) in the United States But it is the security that accompanies him away from the estate that will be under discussion. His children, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, had their official royal security taken away several years ago following public outrage at their globe-trotting antics, which saw officers regularly follow them on trips abroad. His ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, who still lives with him, has not officially had any taxpayer-funded security since they divorced in 1996. Other royals including Princess Anne and Prince Edward have had their security scaled back, while royal grandchildren including Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips have never had it as adults. Neither the Metropolitan Police nor the Home Office would comment at the time, nor would a representative for Andrew. Dai Davies, a former head of royal security at Scotland Yard, said of Andrew possibly losing his bodyguards: 'It is a big step, although the likely risk is small, and there would be strong arguments to be made that he does not require "PPO" [personal protection officer] status if he is no longer a working royal.' Scientists have accused a global health charity of cherry-picking facts to bolster its argument that drinking even small amounts of alcohol is bad for the heart. The World Heart Federation (WHF) last week published a hard-hitting pamphlet on the dangers of drinking in which it warned alcohol use increased the risk of all the major categories of cardiovascular disease. It cited a 2018 study, published in The Lancet, quoting figures on how much higher researchers had found the risks of various cardiovascular conditions to be among drinkers compared to what WHF called non-drinkers. Scientists have accused a global health charity of cherry-picking facts to bolster its argument that drinking even small amounts of alcohol is bad for the heart But Cambridge University statistician Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter said this was not an accurate portrayal of the study. This WHF report makes extensive use of The Lancet study...but seriously misrepresents, and selectively reports, their findings, he said. The WHF report claims that in moderate drinkers, the risk of stroke is 1.14 times greater than for non-drinkers. But [the 2018 study] did not make any comparison with non-drinkers. In fact, their study compared mortality rates and cardiovascular disease in 600,000 people who drank differing amounts of alcohol. Non-drinkers were excluded. The WHF criticised studies that found light to moderate drinking could benefit the heart, saying these tended to be observational rather than gold-standard randomised controlled trials. But Dr Richard Harding, who helped review sensible drinking messages for the UK Government in the mid-1990s, said: This campaigning document misrepresents the science and is not evidence-based. Cambridge University statistician Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter said the WHF's representation of The Lancet study was not an accurate portrayal of the work People shouldnt drink alcohol for its potential health benefits, but those who choose to drink alcohol have a right not to be misinformed about the health consequences. Beatriz Champagne, of the WHF, said it had updated the document to more clearly articulate our conclusions, adding: Our position is that studies showing a significant cardio-protective effect of alcohol consumption have by-and-large been observational, inconsistent, funded by the alcohol industry, and/or not subject to randomised control. Any potential cardio-protective effect is negated by the well-documented risks and harms no amount of consumption can be considered good for heart health. An alleged serial sex attacker has made a tearful apology to a magistrate who labelled him an 'extreme risk to the safety of women' after he was charged thanks to cutting-edge DNA technology. Food delivery driver Ujwal Shrestha, 25, was arrested on Friday after he was linked to two random late-night attacks in Sydney's North Shore years apart. In the first, a woman grabbed and sexually touched while walking on an Artarmon street in December 2018 and the second involved a woman in Mosman at 2.30am in November 2021. A police strike force was established in December to investigate links between similar attacks in the area. The 25-year-old was arrested at a Cremorne residence on Friday (pictured) and fronted Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday Court documents allege detectives were able to link Shrestha to the crimes after DNA from the clothing of the first victim matched DNA from the skin of the second victim. The Nepalese citizen was arrested at his Cremorne residence on Friday and faced Parramatta Bail Court via videolink on Saturday. 'These were random attacks... any woman could be in potential danger,' magistrate Sharon Holdsworth said, The Daily Telegraph reported. 'The accused is a person who presents a very extreme risk to the safety of women... [he is] employed as a Door Dash driver, which also gives him further opportunity to come into contact with women.' Ujwal Shrestha (pictured) is employed as a food delivery driver and has been arrested over the alleged attacks Further to the DNA evidence, police said the two victims gave descriptions that were consistent with Shrestha. Detectives also alleged his red Dodge Caliber was caught on CCTV doing a U-turn and following the second victim before she was attacked. Shrestha did not enter a plea but told the magistrate: 'I'm so sorry, your Honour'. New technology for DNA analysis is being used by NSW Police that can find DNA links to crimes even when the alleged perpetrator's information is not in police databases. The technology can identify an alleged attacker's eye colour, hair colour, and heritage based on information from historical populations. The Nepalese national (pictured centre) will return to court on March 24 Shrestha's request for bail through a Legal Aid Lawyer was denied and the investigation is ongoing. He is charged with two counts of detaining a person with intent to commit a serious indictable offence, two counts of sexually touching, and sexual assault. He will return to court on March 24. Prince Andrew should be subject to a bullying probe over 12 complaints made by Buckingham Palace staff because of his overbearing and verbally abusive behaviour, a former royal officer has said. Paul Page has claimed he personally made three separate complaints to the Palace during the time worked in the Royal Protection Command from 1998 until 2004. And speaking to The Sunday Mirror, be said that he is aware of 'at least a dozen' other reports made by colleagues about the Duke of York. 'The Palace have a problem because there are instances and evidence of Prince Andrew being overbearing and verbally abusive,' he told the newspaper. Prince Andrew should be subject to a bullying probe over 12 complaints made by Buckingham Palace staff because of his overbearing and verbally abusive behaviour, a former royal officer has said. Pictured: Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson seen driving together today Paul Page has claimed he personally made three separate complaints to the Palace about Adnrew during the time worked in the Royal Protection Command from 1998 until 2004. Pictured: Mr Page speaking in ITV documentary ' Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile' that aired on Monday Mr Page alleged his complaints during his time working for the Palace were ignored because senior courtiers wanted to avoid agitation, and called on officials to launch an investigation into the complaints in the same way they did with Meghan Markle. 'Buckingham Palace launched a bullying investigation against Meghan last year after she was accused of wrongdoing,' Mr Page, whose revelations in an ITV documentary this week sparked a string of complaints about the duke, said. 'If it's a fair organisation that looks after its staff, an investigation should be started to confirm whether or not Andrew is guilty of being a bully and of intimidating staff.' Earlier this week, Mr Page claimed that Andrew had a bed with '50 or 60' stuffed toys and maids were given a laminated picture so each bear could carefully be put back in its original position. The former constable, who left the Metropolitan Police in 2007, was part of the elite Royal Protection Squad and had access to the Duke of York's private residence. He told The Sunday Mirror that Andrew's bullying was 'well known' at the palace, but no investigation was conducted by officials. Mr Page claimed Andrew called his colleague a 'fat lardy-a***d c***' when he stopped a woman at the gates who had not been correctly invited as a guest. His outburst, Mr Page says, resulted in even the woman going 'bright red' and apologising profusely. His comments came in an ITV documentary: 'Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile' that aired on Monday. 'It had about 50 or 60 stuffed toys positioned on the bed and basically there was a card the inspector showed us in a drawer and it was a picture of these bears all in situ,' he said. 'The reason for the laminated picture was if those bears weren't put back in the right order by the maids, he would shout and scream.' Mr Page's comments prompted Charlotte Briggs - a former Buckingham Palace maid who worked there in 1996 when Andrew was in his 30s - to come forward with her own allegations. Charlotte Briggs began working at Buckingham Palace in 1996 when she was 21, but within six months was tasked with being Andrew's maid; a job that 'nobody wanted,' she said. Pictured: Andrew in 1996 Ms Briggs claimed on Thursday that she was 'left in tears' by Andrew's foul-mouth rants, and on one occasion faced his wrath over a tiny gap in his curtains. Speaking to The Sun, Ms Briggs said the prince yelled at her: 'Can't you f***ing do anything right?' as she ran up and down the stairs to fix the curtains, some of which he was sitting a matter of yards away from. 'This man fought for his country in the Falklands but couldn't stand up to close his own curtains,' the 47-year-old mother of two told the newspaper. 'It was utterly ridiculous but spoke volumes about him,' she added. Ms Briggs, 47, said she had no regrets about speaking out over the Duke's 'demanding and entitled' foul-mouthed rants, which she claimed left her in tears. Speaking to MailOnline in her hometown of Halifax, West Yorkshire, she said: 'I don't give a toss what Prince Andrew feels he is a horrible, nasty man.' She added: 'It has been more than 26 years and I did sign (a privacy agreement) under the official secrets act. 'But my husband and I saw the TV programme during the week when his teddy bears were mentioned and he said it was a good time for me to speak about what happened to me too.' The mother of two said she had been criticised in her hometown today after her revelations made front page news. Charlotte Briggs (pictured), 47, said she had no regrets about speaking out over his 'demanding and entitled' foul-mouthed rants Ms Briggs began working at Buckingham Palace in 1996 when she was 21, but within six months was tasked with being Andrew's maid; a job that 'nobody wanted,' she said Ms Briggs called the Duke of York (pictured right in 2019 with The Queen) 'demanding and entitled' Ms Briggs, from Halifax, broke her silence to The Sun after Prince Andrew was stripped of his military titles amid a sex assault lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre in the United States. The Duke of York vehemently denies the allegations 'When I was in the supermarket someone accused me of cashing in on him, but I'm entitled to speak about what happened to me even though it was so long ago. 'I am not sorry at all. But I have been hurt by some of the remarks against me.' She said despite the Duke of York's arrogant attitude towards her, she never witnessed or heard of any improper behaviour by him. The Prince faces a sex abuse trial and details of his angry outbursts are likely to cause him further embarrassment as he prepares to give sworn testimony against claims by Virginia Giuffre. She has accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17 which he vehemently denies. Diplomat Simon Wilson, who hosted the duke in Bahrain, has previously claimed Andrew was 'rude' and 'boorish' and had 'childish obsessions'. He was even nicknamed HBH (His Buffoon Highness) by staff. Former maid Janette McGowan, 65, has claimed she was the one who had to check a polaroid of the teddy bears to make sure they were in the correct position. The revelations about the Duke's outbursts will likely cause him even more embarrassment as he prepares testify against the claims made by Ms Giuffre. It also comes after The Queen - his mother - stripped him of his royal titles, and as he is facing calls to be evicted from the Royal Lodge in Windsor where he currently lives with his ex-wife Ferguson - whom he was pictured driving with on Saturday. Advertisement Mandatory vaccines for NHS staff could be pushed back by half a year, it was revealed last night, following nationwide protests over the requirement and amid demands by Tory backbenchers to drop the rule entirely. Boris Johnson is said to be considering 'kicking it down the road' to avoid another potentially humiliating Tory revolt, reported the Telegraph. It comes just two weeks before medical workers will be required to prove their vaccination status - with February 3 marking the last day they can book in for a jab. On February 4, those without jabs will face dismissal warnings. They will then be asked to work out their notice periods until March 31. Despite the threats to their career and several booster campaigns, more than 80,000 NHS staff six per cent of the workforce remain unvaccinated. Many of them joined anti-vaxxers across the country on Saturday as they protested against the mandatory vaccine rules. In London, dozens of health workers were seen throwing their scrubs at police officers outside Downing Street, while others laid down their uniforms in Trafalgar Square. Notorious anti-vaxxer Piers Corbyn was among the crowds as they gathered outside BBC Broadcasting House, where one protestor donned a Squid Game mask and biohazard suit, complete with a blow-up syringe. One Ambulance worker's uniform was left hanging in Regent's Park, with a message written on the back, reading: 'Paramedic 9 years, clapping on Thursday, spat out on Monday.' The so-called 'freedom rallies' were also held in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Newcastle, where protestors held up signs reading: 'No vaccine mandate' and 'heros to zeros - from clapping to sacking'. Although the UK's mortality rate has dropped massively as more people have been vaccinated, some anti-vaxx nurses maintain the life-saving jab is an 'experimental drug'. The demonstrations Saturday came as the Royal College of GPs called on the Government to extend the deadline to prevent mass staff shortages in the health service. Chairman Martin Marshall said compulsory vaccination for health professionals was 'not the right way forward' and about ten per cent of staff at some hospitals and GP surgeries had not had the Covid jab. Protesting in London, ambulance worker Christabelle Gregory, 32, said: 'People were once clapping for us but there's no appreciation any more. I'm young and I've got antibodies from working on the frontline, so I don't want the vaccine.' In London, dozens of health workers were seen throwing their scrubs at police officers outside Downing Street (pictured), while others dumped their uniforms on the ground by Trafalgar Square NHS 100k dump their scrubs in Trafalgar Square in Central London during 'March for Freedom' protest against mandatory vaccines All frontline workers who have not received a jab will be called into formal meetings from February 4 and given a warning that they face dismissal (Pictured: NHS scrubs dumped on Trafalgar Square in protest) Emergency care assistant Victoria Kesserwan, 36, from Oxford, added: 'I am going to lose the job I love because I don't want the vaccine. It is too new and we don't know enough about it.' The march was joined by more than 1,000 anti-vaxxers and other groups, including activists spouting conspiracy theories that the jabs are part of a global plot to kill and control the population. Many of the NHS protesters wore blue hoodies produced by the NHS100k campaign group, formed to oppose the NHS mandate. The group claims up to 100,000 health workers may lose their jobs if the Government doesn't do a U-turn. But The Mail on Sunday can reveal the group has disturbing links to anti-vaxxer conspiracy theorists and Far Right politicians. The NHS100k website urges supporters to join Rebels On Roundabouts, an anti-vaxxer group whose supporters stand on roundabouts holding yellow signs claiming vaccines are killing children. On its website, the group claims the vaccine rollout 'is a sinister control and depopulation agenda'. After it was contacted by this newspaper, NHS100k said it had removed any reference to Rebels On Roundabouts from its website, adding: 'This type of misinformation is dangerous and definitely not a view NHS100k agrees with.' Placards from NHS 100K members discarded outside Downing Street following today's demonstrations in London. NHS workers protested across the country today at the move to ensure all staff are fully vaccinated against Covid NHS uniforms outside Downing Street. Although the UK's mortality rate has dropped massively as more of the population has been vaccinated, some anti-vaxx nurses maintain the life-saving vaccine is an 'experimental drug' Discarded NHS uniforms outside Downing Street in London following today's demonstrations. More than 80,000 6 per cent of the workforce remain unvaccinated despite repeated efforts to boost take-up Protesters with placards saying 'NHS - 100K Heroes to Zeroes' standing outside Downing Street, along discarded NHS uniforms. All frontline workers who have not received a jab will be called into formal meetings from February 4 and given a warning that they face dismissal A woman holds a placard promoting NHS 100k, a group of anti-vaxx ambulance workers who 'stand united in favour of freedom of choice, bodily autonomy and informed consent'. More than 150,000 people have died from Covid in Britain but the death rate plummeted after people started taking vaccines A man smiles as he holds a flare and a drum during a march in London for NHS staff against vaccine mandates for workers in the organisation The infamous anti-vaxxer Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour leader Jeremy, gathered with other protesters outside BBC Broadcasting House, London, to demonstrate against vaccine mandates A person wearing a Squid Game mask and a biohazard suit holds a blow-up syringe and they protest against the vaccine A woman jokes as a person in a mask with a blow-up syringe injects her rear. More than 5.5 million people have died from Covid worldwide Many NHS workers who have worked decades for the organisation face being sacked if they cannot prove their vaccination status NHS workers holding up signs, from the newly formed group 100K, gather at Regent's Park in London before joining the demonstrations today An NHS worker leaves a uniform shirt saying 'paramedic 9 years, clapping on Thursday, spat out on Monday' on a railing in Regent's Park in London today NHS workers holding up signs saying 'NHS-100K Heroes to Zeroes' and 'no vaccine mandate' as they march through London today NHS100k has also urged its tens of thousands of followers to join the Workers of England Union, which is run by leaders of the Far-Right English Democrats party. The union claims it is not affiliated with any political party, but its leader is Stephen Morris, who is also national party secretary of the English Democrats. The union's legal adviser is Robin Tilbrook, leader, founder and chairman of English Democrats. Mr Tilbrook welcomed former BNP members into his party and has met the English Defence League and Britain First in the past. In December 2020 he appeared on an online video channel run by a neo-Nazi named Mark Collett, once leader of the BNP youth wing. Mr Collet is leader of the Hard-Right group Patriotic Alternative. NHS100k said it was 'not aware of any allegations that the Workers of England Union is run by people who identify as 'Far Right' '. It added it had 'no alignment' with any party or other organisation. Mr Morris said: 'Workers of England Union will undoubtedly have members from various political parties. However, the Workers of England Union is politically neutral, we don't have a political fund and don't fund any political party. We are an independent trade union.' NHS managers have been advised they can move unvaccinated medics from the frontline into roles which do not involve direct patient contact. Bosses won't have to help staff find 'suitable alternative employment' and redundancy payments will not be made to those who are dismissed. NHS workers join the protests bearing signs and flares as they march across streets in London. A Covid 'no jab, no job' policy for the NHS is to be implemented by the Government in April 2022 A protester holds up their uniform top saying 'RIP NHS' in Trafalgar Square during the protests in London today. All frontline staff are required to have both doses of the Covid jab by April 1, meaning that by February 3 the first must have been given Demonstrators, including some NHS staff, hold up signs against the vaccine at Portland Place in London today. Managers have been advised they can move unvaccinated medics from the frontline into roles which do not involve direct patient contact NHS staff with balloons hold up signs saying 'medical apartheid is wrong' in Trafalgar Square as they join the protests in London today An NHS worker from the newly formed group NHS100K holds up a sign saying '2020 clapped, 2022 sacked' as protesters gather at Regent's Park in London today The demonstration is part of a national campaign calling on healthcare staff to be given 'freedom of choice'. A Yorkshire NHS nurse has said she has chosen to walk away from the job she has been in for 30 years rather than have the Covid vaccine. Cara Barnes, from West Yorkshire, has worked as a specialist nurse for three decades. But she is set to lose her job as she is refusing to have the Covid-19 jab, which she claims is an 'experimental drug'. Trafalgar Square saw a large protest as well, as hundreds gathered to demonstrate against vaccine mandates in the UK Demonstrators descended on the BBC's London offices as NHS nurses and key workers joined forces with anti-vaxxers Many of the signs suggested NHS staff who are not vaccinated shouldn't be sacked because they were clapped during the pandemic NHS nurses protest against vaccine mandates that will make it compulsory for nurses to have the life-saving drug Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of London with flags and placards decrying Covid measures in the UK But Cara, who attended the 'World Wide Rally For Freedom' in Leeds city centre today, says she plans to stand firm. Speaking to Leeds Live, she said: 'I am not prepared to be injected with an experimental drug. 'Coercion is not a choice. It is not the fault of the NHS but I am disappointed - this is not how I saw my 30-year career-ending.' Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the town hall in Leeds for today's protest. NHS staff were seen hanging their uniforms up outside the entrance to the hall to symbolise what they have described as being 'left out to dry'. David Hesford, 52, has worked in the NHS for 26 years and is currently a senior health care support officer. Lovely to see @mattletiss7 out in support today. Such a strong voice throughout. A wonderful atmosphere out here today We hope it gets the coverage it deserves @BBCBreaking @GBNEWS @itvnews @SkyNews @Channel4 pic.twitter.com/IOx64n6M2j Together (@Togetherdec) January 22, 2022 More than 52 million people have taken at least their first dose of the vaccine, which protects people from dying of Covid The Covid death rate in the UK plunged massively from January 2021 when Britain's population started to get vaccinated A woman holds up a sign that says 'I love my job'. More than 80,000 people in the NHS remain unvaccinated and as such face the sack NHS staff protest against the coronavirus disease vaccine rules as they face losing their jobs if they don't take the vaccine Army veterans salute in support of NHS staff marching in a protest against the coronavirus disease vaccine rules in London He said he has been told he will be sacked if he does not have the jab but that he has chosen not to disclose his vaccination status. David said: 'If the government are going to sack me then they obviously do not care about me. 'Freedom is the first choice. I have chosen not to divulge my vaccination status - it is about choice.' People held signs protesting against the BBC, COVID vaccinations and NHS vaccine mandates. Health Secretary Sajid Javid last week told the Commons the Government remained committed to the plans. MrJavid previously expressed his disagreement at NHS workers who are against mandatory vaccination and urged the public to get boosted. He said: 'I understand it, and obviously we have to weigh all that up for both health and social care, and there will always be a debate about it.' However, he said the government was taking advice 'from people who are actually experts'. A man dressed at the grim reaper with a syringe merged with a scythe. Just 1,645 people out of a total 52 million who have taken the vaccine in the UK have died as a result of it, amounting to a minute 0.003 per cent Demonstrators with signs reading 'the media is the virus' and 'we do not comply' protest against vaccine measures in the UK Anti-media protesters and anti-vaxxers joined to make their displeasure known against the coronavirus pandemic and vaccines A woman smiles as she holds a cardboard sign that says 'jobs over jabs'. NHS staff without all their jabs will lose their jobs at the start of April Mr Javid has stuck by the move, saying it was the 'duty' of NHS workers to get the jab in order to protect patients, and insisted that he does 'not want to see anyone have to walk away from their job'. 'This is all about patient safety, we know vaccines work, we know that they reduce the risk of you being infected, so it reduces the spread of an infection,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'People whether they are in care homes or a hospital bed, they are particularly vulnerable to this virus, it could be fatal. It is our duty to everything we can to protect them.' A 'Worldwide Rally For Freedom' protest march takes place in Newcastle this afternoon outside the BBC's offices in the city A man with a placard attacking vaccines for teens takes part in an anti-vaxx protest in Newcastle. It is unclear where the man has sourced his claims from Mr Javid said the public would have questioned why they did not introduce the policy, when other countries around he world have. 'I think you'd have me on the show saying 'why didn't you do anything about it?',' he said. Covid cases were down 6 per cent from 81,713 to 76,807 this week, while deaths stayed at a fairly similar level, up from 287 to 297. More than 52.2 million people in the UK have had their first dose, with 48.1 million having their second and 36.8 million having their third. SWEDEN: A group marching as people demonstrated against vaccine passes in the Swedish capital Stockholm today. More than 3,000 attended SWEDEN: Hundreds of protesters gather to protest vaccine passes, which in the country are required for indoor events with more than 50 people, in Stockholm SWEDEN: Thousands of protesters in Stockholm gather, some holding placards, to protest the Swedish government's rules regarding Covid SWEDEN: Demonstrators gather to protest against Covid-19 restrictions and requirements during a rally 'for a free Sweden without vaccine pass' SWEDEN: The protests in Stockholm were organised by Frihetsrorelsen (Freedom Movement). Swedish media said some neo-Nazi groups also attended with a banner (not pictured) SWEDEN: Demonstrators in Stockholm march with a banner saying 'no to vaccine pass'. Another placard translates 'don't be children' GREECE: People hold banners, one of them reading, 'Money for health and education-stop military spending', as they demonstrate against the government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in Athens GREECE: GREECE: GREECE: Protesters take part in a rally at the Syntagma square in Athens. Hundreds gathered to demonstrate against staff shortages in the state's heath sector as well as compulsory vaccinations GREECE: Hundreds marched across Athens today to protest against mandatory vaccination's and the government's handling of the pandemic Some NHS chiefs have hit out at the rule to ensure all NHS workers are vaccinated as they say it may fuel a staffing shortage. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) called for the policy for NHS staff to be 'delayed with immediate effect' to avoid similar shortages among key workers. It said the NHS 'cannot afford to lose experienced and skilled staff'. FRANCE: Crowds march in Paris as demonstrators, some bearing the French flag, protest against vaccine passes and vaccinations against Covid FRANCE: A protester holds a sign saying 'no to the vaccination pass' as people protest against the country's Covid policies in Paris today FRANCE: A protester holds a 'stop' sign as crowds march through Paris to demonstrate their opposition to vaccine passes and vaccines FRANCE: A man wearing a Donald Trump cap holds a mask depicting French President Emmanuel Macron during a demonstration called by French nationalist party 'Les Patriotes' (The Patriots), to protest against the country's vaccine pass FRANCE: Protesters hold up signs saying 'freedom', some waving French flags while another holds up a US flag, in today's demonstration in Paris SPAIN: A protester wearing a costume walks down the street during a demonstration against Covid passport rules in Barcelona today SPAIN: A man holds up a badge saying 'the health dictatorship is modern Nazism' and a sign calling for the stopping of vaccine passports in Barcelona today SPAIN: A protester in costume holding a prop syringe during a demonstration against Covid restrictions, including vaccine passports, in Barcelona today SPAIN: Protesters holding placards, one saying 'unvaccinated sperm, new bitcoin' following demonstrations in Barcelona today And medical trade unions said the policy should be pushed back to give hospitals more time to persuade staff to come forward for an injection. The Royal College of Nursing said the move 'looks set to backfire' and is 'an act of self-sabotage', while the Royal College Midwives warned compulsory vaccines will 'only see staffing levels fall further' and have a 'catastrophic impact'. And the NHS Confederation, which represents NHS trusts in England, said hospitals' frontline staff will be pushed out of their roles, leading to 'more gaps in capacity at a time of intense pressure and patient demand'. But Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, said vaccines are 'the best protection against the virus' and the 'overwhelming majority' of medics have already been double-jabbed. 'NHS employers will continue to support and encourage staff who have not yet been vaccinated to take up the offer of the first and second doses ahead of the April 1, when regulations come into effect,' he said. Women are missing out on promotions and pay hikes because of taking time off to get through the menopause, a study has found. Researchers discovered many see their careers derailed or even ended just as they reach the peak of their working life due to absences caused by debilitating menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, insomnia, anxiety and heart palpitations. The report's authors found that women suffering normal menopausal symptoms, between the ages of 50 and 55, take an average of two months off work, but those who go through an early menopause, before they reach 45, take off about four months. Researchers at the Social Research Institute at University College London (UCL) estimated that women who face early menopause lose about 20,000 in wages and pension contributions from missing out on better jobs, while those who go through a more typical menopause face a 10,000 loss. Previous studies have found that up to 90 per cent of women suffer menopausal symptoms of varying intensity, but about a quarter of those describe them as severe and debilitating. Researchers discovered many see their careers derailed or even ended just as they reach the peak of their working life due to absences caused by debilitating menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, insomnia, anxiety and heart palpitations Professor Alice Sullivan, the study's co-author, said: 'Menopause results in millions of days lost through absenteeism, and some women may choose to leave employment rather than ask their employers for support. 'You're looking at women who would be at the peak of their careers, so this has implications for getting women into the most senior positions. They are losing out on top jobs, getting paid less and reducing their pension pot.' Last week The Mail on Sunday revealed that the menopause was also responsible for preventing many women even trying for top jobs. A survey of 2,400 women by feminist campaign group the Fawcett Society found that half were less likely to apply for a promotion because of what they were going through. The UCL paper is the first of its kind to quantify the effects of the menopause on employment rates among women. Its findings are based on an analysis of more than 3,000 women from the university's nationally representative 1958 National Child Development Study (NCDS). The NCDS documents the lives of 17,415 people born in England, Scotland and Wales in a single week of 1958 and is considered to produce 'gold standard' data. The sample of 3,405 women whose health and work histories were analysed for the menopause research had not undergone hormone replacement therapy, nor surgery to remove their womb or ovaries. Prof Sullivan said the Government must urge employers to put in place policies that give affected women more opportunities to manage their working patterns and hours. Caroline Nokes MP, chairman of the Women and Equalities Committee, said: 'This research backs up previous surveys and studies which have made it very clear there is a significant financial cost to women from menopause symptoms. 'The work the Select Committee is doing at the moment has identified the impact on both career progression and even the ability of women to stay in the workplace. That means there are promotion opportunities lost, pension contributions lost and, in too many cases, direct income lost as women feel unable to continue in work.' Advertisement A cruise ship with 700 passengers and crew has diverted from its scheduled port call in Miami to flee from a warrant to impound the vessel over $1.2 million in unpaid fuel bills. The Crystal Symphony, which was scheduled to return to Miami on Saturday to end a 14-day Caribbean cruise, instead veered off to Bimini in the Bahamas, where it docked on Saturday night. Elio Pace, a British musician performing aboard the Crystal Symphony, told DailyMail.com that there were about 300 passengers aboard the ship as well as 400 crew, a staffing ratio that reflects the struggle of cruise lines to attract passengers in the pandemic. Crystal Cruises' parent organization, Genting Hong Kong, had filed to wind up the company, warning that it will 'imminently be unable to pay its debts as they fall due.' Now, the passengers are scrambling to re-book their onward travel after their arrival in south Florida was delayed by at least a day, and the crew are facing the grim prospect of losing their jobs as the cruise line's parent company faces liquidation. 'Every one of these people are trying to reschedule their flights,' said Pace, who said that the crew had done their best to keep guests informed and comfortable as the bizarre events unfolded. 'There's no panic, there's no tantrums going on, they're taking it in their stride.' The Crystal Symphony is seen docked in Bimini on Saturday night after diverting from its scheduled call in Miami to avoid an arrest warrant under admiralty law over unpaid fuel bills of $1.2 million Elio Pace, a British musician performing on board the Crystal Symphony, told DailyMail.com that there are currently about 300 passengers aboard the ship, which can carry up to 900, as well as 400 crew Instead of returning to Miami as scheduled, the cruise ship diverted to Bimini, where passengers will take a ferry to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday morning The Crystal Symphony left Miami on January 8 for its two-week cruise, and everything unfolded smoothly until Wednesday, when Crystal Cruises unexpectedly announced that it was suspending operations at least through April. Malaysian tycoon Lim Kok Thay controls the Genting Group 'This was an extremely difficult decision but a prudent one given the current business environment and recent developments with our parent company, Genting Hong Kong,' said Jack Anderson, Crystal's president, in a statement on the decision to cease all cruises. Pace told DailyMail.com that the news stunned the passengers and crew, but that operations continued as normal, and that he even delivered his musical performance as scheduled. 'That was quite extraordinary, to be in a position to have to perform to people, with them knowing the cruise line has gone into liquidation,' he said. 'This was a shock to everybody when we got the announcement on Wednesday.' Nearly concurrent with Genting Hong Kong's filing to unwind, fuel supplier Peninsula Petroleum Far East filed a complaint in Florida seeking an arrest warrant for the Crystal Symphony under US admiralty law. Crystal Cruises' parent organization, Genting Hong Kong, has filed to wind up the company, warning in the filing that it will 'imminently be unable to pay its debts as they fall due' Peninsula alleged that Genting's subsidiaries had reneged on a total of $4.6 million in fuel payments, with $1.2 million alone attributed to the Crystal Symphony. On Friday, Judge Darrin Gayles of the U.S. District Court in Southern Florida approved the warrant, and the Crystal Symphony now faces impoundment if it enters any US port. Instead of continuing to Miami as planned, the ship veered east to Bimini. The Genting Group owns Resorts World Bimini, and the Crystal Symphony is flagged in the Bahamas. The diversion came as a shock to passengers, said Pace, who boarded the ship on Tuesday and had expected to continue delivering guest performances through next month. Now, the passengers are waiting overnight for a ferry to arrive at 8.30am on Saturday, to take them on a two-hour trip to Fort Lauderdale. 'For me it's a headache, but for the crew, for the staff, the brilliant staff of this gorgeous luxury liner, I feel more sorry for them,' Pace said. 'I'm put out, but they've lost their jobs for the foreseeable future.' Pace put the blame for the fiasco squarely on the Genting Group, which is part of a bigger conglomerate that also includes Genting Malaysia and Genting Singapore. The company, controlled by Malaysian tycoon Lim Kok Thay, has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. But Pace questioned why the ownership group couldn't pay what they owed or face the consequences in Miami, in order to avoid the massive inconvenience to their guests. 'They can afford to look after these people,' he said. 'On a human level, why do people behave like this, why can't they help?' 'I can't understand why these multi-billionaires don't care, they just don't care,' he added. The Genting Group owns the Resorts World leisure park chain as well as 30 casinos across the U.K. The company's finances were tipped into ruin after the German government this week rejected its request to draw a $88 million backstop facility related to the MV Werften shipyard in northeastern Germany. German officials blamed Genting for refusing to contribute 10 percent to a $678 million bailout plan that would protect 1,900 jobs at the shipyard. The shipyard filed for bankruptcy, and the events triggered the insolvency application Monday of another shipyard it owns in Germany, Lloyd-Werft in Bremerhaven. Genting reported a $238 million net loss for the period ending June 2021, as compared to a $742.6 loss million for the same period in 2020. Genting Hong Kong reportedly halted payments on debts of almost $3.4 billion in 2020. 'The Company and the Group have no access to any further liquidity under any of Group's debt documents and the Company's available cash balances are expected to run out on or around end of January 2022 according to the Company's cashflow forecasts,' Genting said in its Wednesday filing. A notorious assassin serving three life sentences for murder was allegedly conned out of $15,000 by a woman he met in jail while she was visiting another prisoner. Siar Munshizada and Abuzar Sultani were sentenced in the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney by Justice Des Fagan last month, who described them as having a 'depraved gratification for killing'. The pair gunned down mafia kingpin Pasquale Barbaro and feared bikie bosses Michael 'Ruthless' Davey and Mehmet Yilmaz in three hits in 2016. Munshizada held up a piece of paper after the three life sentences were handed down, which read 'bias dog'. A court heard 'dog' and 'slut' were also painted on Helya Yousefi's car while it was parked in her parents' driveway after she enraged Munshizada by allegedly telling him she needed money for medical expenses, then spending it on a butt lift. Siar Munshizada (pictured left) being arrested in 2016. In 2021 he was found guilty of three brutal executions of gangland leaders He struck up a relationship with Ms Yousefi after meeting her in Silverwater jail's visiting room while awaiting trial, police allege in documents submitted to Sutherland Local Court, the Sunday Telegraph reported. They allegedly began texting through WhatsApp on one of three illegal phones Munshizada had access to in jail. Last July, police took out a restraining order against Munshizada on Ms Yousefi's behalf as they fear for her safety. The police allege Munshizada threatened Ms Yousefi in texts found on one of the phones. WHAT IS A BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT? A Brazilian butt lift is a cosmetic procedure involving the transfer of fat to help create more fullness in a person's bottom. A surgeon uses liposuction to remove fat from other areas of the body, such as hips, stomach and thighs. Those fat stores are purified and readied for injection into the buttocks. The fat is injected into specific areas of the buttocks to create a more rounded, full look. Source: healthline.com Advertisement In his statement tendered to the court opposing the restraining order, Munshizada said he arranged for Ms Yousefi to be be given $15,000 in mid-2021 after she claimed to have large medical bills after a car accident, and having her wisdom teeth removed. But Munshizada claimed that on June 15 last year one of Ms Yousefi's friends told him that was not true. 'I became aware through Ms Yousefi's friend that Ms Yousefi had not been in a car accident or had her wisdom teeth removed,' he wrote in his statement. 'Ms Yousefi had undergone an elective cosmetic procedure, namely a Brazilian butt lift. Ms Yousefi also used the funds to get veneers' - a layer of material placed over teeth. Munshizada statement went on to say that 'it was further disclosed that Ms Yousefi commenced a relationship with another male who was also in custody'. The police documents allege this relationship with a man named Ahmed 'angered' Munshizada. 'When u see Ahmed(s) house on the news tomorrow u will see this ain't no game no more,' Munshizada allegedly wrote in a text. Police allege in the documents that Munshizada also texted: 'Yeah, (you) will see my pull on the streets from a jail cell.' It is also alleged in police documents that in a message on June 13 Munshizada told an associate to go past Ms Yousefi's house and send a photo. Munshizada's phone received a video on June 16 showing the word 'SLUT' being spray painted in red onto Ms Yousefi's car, it is alleged. Siar Munshizada (pictured left) is led by a Corrective Services Officer to a prison transport vehicle at Burwood Local Court in Sydney on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. In December 2021 he was convicted of three murders The same day, Munshizada allegedly texted 'Go f**k yourself u (sic) cheating slut' and 'get ready for this war' to Ms Yousefi. Ms Yousefi was also allegedly warned that 'Someone is coming to ur (sic) house Sunday, have 50k ready' and 'u (sic) will see this ain't no game no more'. Munshizada denies threatening Ms Yousefi and wrote in his statement that 'I will not, and have not, stalked or intimidated Ms Youssefi'. When he was sentenced in December, Munshizada reacted by saying, 'Triple life. Are you serious?' The beauty of Mount Halla in June 1989 Korea Times Archive By Robert Neff When Charles Chaille-Long, the secretary of the American Legation in Seoul, traveled to Jeju Island in 1888, he toyed with the idea of climbing Mount Halla, but the island's governor quickly made it clear that it was a bad idea. According to Chaille-Long, the governor who was fairly new to his post complained that the islanders were "rude and very ungovernable," and would be incensed if he tried to climb the mountain. "The mountain is sacred and the traditions require that one hundred days of sacrifices must be performed before attempting the ascent. Without this, great ills fall upon the people and the island and the crops would be certainly ruined by the rains which would surely follow." He then cautioned, "Halla-san is sacred and in the bosom of the mountain dwell the gods of [Jeju]." In his report to the State Department, the American wrote: "I felt sorely disappointed at this unexpected state of affairs, but when the Governor asked me not to insist upon going to the mountains, I felt that there was nothing else to do. I had to submit to what was inevitable." Prevented from climbing the mountain, he sought out additional information from the people he interacted with especially from an elderly islander. Rather than include the rough version he provided to the State Department, here is the polished version he published in his book several years later: "Halla-san is the god of [Jeju]. Halla-san is the home of a great spirit. No one can ascend to the top of the mountain, it is the home of a fairy goddess whose face no one can see and live. Halla-san is the beginning of creation. There man was first created. Three men sprang up from the mountain-top Yang-ulla, Ko-ulla, and Po-ulla and stood in each other's presence. When they had recovered from their surprise they descended to the seashore, discussing serious things. Arrived there, lo! there appeared in the distance borne swiftly upon the waves, a huge box which fell at their feet. Three beautiful women stepped out. Yang, Ko, and Po married them, returned to Halla-san, and found there fruits, grains, fowls and animals. Thus the creation of the world, men, and beasts." Seogwipo in the foreground with Mount Halla in the background in September 1989 Korea Times Archive When Henry William Wilkinson, the British vice-consul, traveled to the island in mid-August 1895, his initial impressions of Jeju and especially Mount Halla were negative. As the Korean government steamer approached the island, he wrote: "Here the land rose smoothly from the sea like the back of a monstrous cachalot studded with huge bosses, grey cones that seemed like ghosts of, what in truth they are, dead craters. Over Mount Auckland [Halla], whose mass might have broken the spell of this gruesome procession, hung a thick pall of clouds. The island, in its silence and awesomeness, appeared indeed such as we imagine to be, at closer quarters, the scenery of the moon." He later added that it was not till he got ashore that this irrational horror began to lift and he was able to examine the city and its inhabitants. Wilkinson met with the island's prefect and over dinner expressed an interest in the mountain. The Korean official graciously explained some of the "abundant traditions cluster[ed] round" the mountain and claimed the mountain was so sacred that "not more than one or two in 10,000 would have the courage to ascend to [its] top. In the past there had been Koreans brave enough to do so but "the few who returned came down in a tempest of thunder and rain." Hiking the trails of Mount Halla in the spring of 1983 Korea Times Archive When Wilkinson suggested that Westerners were not afraid of these superstitions and would be willing to ascend the mountain the Korean official acknowledged that they might escape the wrath of the gods, but his demeanor made it perfectly clear that such an attempt would not be tolerated and the climber might not escape the wrath of the people. Wilkinson seemingly conceded this point. In his report, he wrote: "[There] should be little natural difficulties in climbing [Mount Halla's] sloping sides. The woods with which they are clad would probably be the chief hindrance, and the superstitious fears of the people." Two missionaries who visited in 1899 also took an interest in the mountain. They wrote: A $26 million contract with a major supplier of rapid antigen tests is evidence the federal government diverted supplies from essential workers, a Labor MP claims. But Health Minister Greg Hunt doubled down on denials any tests were requisitioned by the Commonwealth, saying that contract isn't in effect until February 7. Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey on Friday published a letter from a supplier claiming the federal government 'commandeered' 34,000 rapid antigen tests originally destined for the state's rail staff. He shared a screenshot in another post on Saturday, which appeared to show an agreement between the federal Health Department and supplier Motion One for $26.29 million. Greg Hunt (pictured) said the federal government has not requisitioned any rapid antigen tests Queensland Transport Minister Mark Baily posted details of a $26million contract between the government and Motion One (pictured) but both Mr Hunt and the supplier say that contract doesn't start until February 7 with no test kits yet supplied 'Either the Morrison govt has commandeered the stock using emergency powers, or they've swooped in late with a big money procurement offer of $26.29 million that a supplier couldn't refuse given the massive profit margin offered,' Mr Bailey tweeted. But Mr Hunt denied the kits were diverted from essential workers in Queensland. 'The claims that were made about the Commonwealth are false. They had been referred to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission because they are false,' he told reporters. 'I have confirmed with the Department of Health, the Commonwealth has not received and is not expecting to receive any supply from that supplier until at least February 7.' Motion One also denied any tests were commandeered, saying it was yet to supply a single kit to the federal government. The company supplies Orawell saliva rapid antigen tests that are manufactured by Jiangsu Well Biotech, which is in turn owned by Chinese conglomerate Jinsheng Group. Queensland MP Mark Baily is fuming over claims the federal government 'commandeered' 34,000 rapid antigen tests from Queensland Rail Mr Hunt said the federal government is providing 200,000 rapid antigen tests to Queensland on Saturday, and rejected suggestions it did not plan well enough to meet surging demand amid the Omicron wave. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said the government was warned months ago of the need for widely available rapid antigen tests. 'This government simply didn't prepare properly,' he said in Launceston, before visiting a local chemist to talk about the rapid test shortage. Australia has moved to scrap the requirement for international arrivals to show a negative PCR test and will instead accept a rapid antigen result within 24 hours of boarding. The rapid antigen test kits are in short supply with many stockists sold out and huge markups for the tests common (pictured: a Sydney chemist in January) The change is consistent with domestic measures, where rapid antigen tests are accepted as a diagnostic tool. The period a person can enter the country after testing positive to Covid has also been cut in half, from 14 days to seven, bringing it in line with domestic isolation requirements. But quarantine requirements upon entry remain subject to state and territory restrictions. Mr Hunt said the changes were 'important steps' to help bring Australians home. Former President Donald Trump reappeared during Saturday Night Live's cold open played by James Austin Johnson, who again perfectly depicted a Trumpian-style ramble as he played Wordle during an appearance on a mocked-up Fox News Channel interview hosted by Laura Ingraham, played by Kate McKinnon. 'Talk of the 2024 Republican Primary is already heating up, so let's talk to the svelte, muscular, 230-pound gorilla in the room, Donald Trump,' McKinnon's Ingraham said, introducing him. 'It's wonderful to be here. I'm back, just like Tiger King II. You had fun the first time, and now you're like, "How are more people from this not in jail yet?"' Johnson's Trump joked. Former President Donald Trump reappeared during Saturday Night Live's cold open played by impressionist James Austin Johnson Trump, played by James Austin Johnson was a guest on a mocked up Laura Ingraham Fox News show "Let's get today's Wordle, could we do that please" Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/eUY25MYmKY Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) January 23, 2022 'Now, Mr President, you're out on the trail again creating controversy with your typical whacko stuff and uncharacteristically reasonable takes on booster shots. Would you like to give our viewers a taste?'' McKinnon's Ingraham said, referring to how Trump has been heard publicly promoting vaccines among his base, even after being booed for it. Johnson's Trump then proceeded to play Wordle, the five-letter guessing game that has recently taken the world by storm. 'I sure would. Let's get today's Wordle. Can we do that please?' Johnson's Trump responded, before launching head-long into a minute-long rant with a Wordle puzzle as his riff. His puzzle featured words including Boost, Mayer, HIMYF, Momoa and Prada, before ultimately ending up at the final word of, what else, 'Trump'. Trump went on a rambling stream of consciousness rant using the addictive word game Wordle as a riff 'I got the booster, okay. Because I made the vaccine. It's a wonderful vaccine. But it's very unfair what is happening with the covid treatment, okay. White people are being told to get in the back of line. It's really awful,' Trump began. 'Speaking of white people, John Mayer. Okay, John Mayer hasn't had a hit in so long, but we love Mayer, okay? Body wonderland. Come on, I thought it was tremendous music. 'With Body wonderland,' Johnson's Trump said, as he discussed the word Mayer, 'I'd rather be mayor of anything, than be Governor Ron DeSantis. I'd beat him so bad if he went against me, just like I beat Hillary because the only Hilary we like is Duff from How I Met Your Father.' 'It really doesn't have the charm and sparkle of, frankly, mother. Okay? But we love Duff. You know, she got her teeth fixed. And "Lizzie Mcguire," you know, they wanted to do a Lizzie with Hulu, but they said no sex, they didn't want sex. So they went their separate ways just like Lisa and Jason Mamoa. 'And "The devil wears Prada." "Daughters" is by John Mayer. And I've got to run through the halls of your high school in 2024 when you re-elect Trump. Wordle!' Ted Cruz, played by Aidy Bryant appeared to be interrogated over recent comments he made about last year's Capitol siege in Washington D.C. Ingraham began the segment with Ted Cruz, played as usual by cast member Aidy Bryant, complete with full greying beard 'Beard still going strong, huh, Ted?' McKinnon's Ingraham asked. 'Oh, yeah. My beard is like January 6th. Shocking at first, but sadly it's been normalized,' Bryant's Cruz responded. It opened the way for Ingraham to further interrogate Cruz over recent comments he made about last year's Capitol siege in Washington D.C. 'Speaking of January 6th, you recently had to apologize for calling the Capitol rioters terrorists,' Ingraham posed. 'I agree with you 100 percent,' Cruz responded. 'I never should have called them terrorists. The truth is, they are big, burly men with big 'D' energy. In fact, I actually like them a lot. They are my cool friends,' he ranted. The sketch referred to the a moment earlier this month when Cruz branded the Capitol riot 'a violent terrorist attack.' He later apologized for describing it as such after being called out by Tucker Carlson, calling it 'sloppy phrasing' and stressing that what he was 'referring to are the limited number of people who engaged in violent attacks against police officers. 'I wasn't saying the thousands of peaceful protesters supporting Donald Trump are somehow terrorists,' added Cruz. 'I wasn't saying the millions of patriots cross-country supporting trump are terrorists, that is what a lot of people misunderstood.' On the comedy show, Cruz was asked why he apologized for calling the January 6 riot a 'violent terrorist attack'. The show also mocked his unwavering loyalty to Trump Please welcome Ted Cruz to The Ingraham Angle pic.twitter.com/h2nPgwnfWc Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) January 23, 2022 In Saturday's SNL sketch, the faux-Cruz continued to display his loyalty for former President Trump. 'And Donald, if you're watching, I love you, baby. You are the king. Honestly, hit me,' Cruz said, referring to the former president. 'Did you just ask Trump to hit you?' Ingraham asked. 'Oh, I don't know. Hit me, choke me, spit in my face. I just want to stay in the mix,' Cruz explained. 'Oh, and one more thing. I like to remind all my fellow Texans watching at home that February's going to be a cold one, so you might want to book your vacay to Cancun now. Live mas, everybody!' Cruz joked, a reference to last years scandal when he left the Lone Star State to head to a Mexican beach resort after a winter storm slammed the state. Throughout the cold open, McKinnon's Ingraham thanked the sponsors she still had including a pretend company that made negative covid tests Throughout the cold open, Ingraham thanked the sponsors she still had. 'I'd like to take a moment to thank my few remaining loyal sponsors. Covid negs, the covid test that's guaranteed to be negative even if you have it. Covid negs, I'm going to your wedding. Actor Will Forte hosted this week's episode - the second of 2022, with Maneskin as the show's musical guest. Forte made reference as to how he is the last of his former SNL colleagues to be asked to host the show. SNL creator and producer Lorne Michaels appeared stating that he had made a mistake in asking Forte to be the host, joking that he had meant to text Willem Dafoe, who also made a cameo appearance. During SNL's Weekend Update, cast members Pete Davidson and Colin Jost referred to their purchase of an old Staten Island Ferry earlier this week. Davidson was spotted on the same day bundled up to bear the freezing temperatures in his hometown of New York City 'We're boat people, Colin.' Davidson joked. The pair purchased a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry boat for $280,100 with plans to turn it into New York's hottest club. Jost and Davidson teamed up with comedy club owner Paul Italia on Wednesday's winning bid for the John F. Kennedy, a 277-foot vessel that shuttled commuters between the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island from 1965 until it was taken out of service last August. The boat was auctioned by New York City's Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and other city departments will have to sign off on operating it as a floating nightspot. Jost, far right, and Davidson, far left, teamed up with comedy club owner Paul Italia on Wednesday winning a $280,100 bid for the John F. Kennedy Staten Island Ferry A Georgia pastor and his wife were arrested for reportedly 'imprisoning people against their will' after eight disabled residents were found in the basement behind a deadbolted door - when medics climbed through a window to reach one person who had suffered a seizure. Pastor Curtis Keith Bankston, 55, and his wife Sophia Simm-Bankston, 56, of Griffin, were arrested for false imprisonment after authorities found eight people who were suffering from a mental or physical disability between the ages of 25 and 65 inside the basement of their home. Curtis has disputed the claims that One Step of Faith 2nd Chance - their unlicensed group home - was holding people against their wills and 'they were free to come and go as they please.' Authorities said 'the 'caretakers' have been leasing this property for approximately 14 months, using the basement as a personal care home for the individuals, which essentially imprisoned them against their will.' Police in Griffin, located about 40 miles south of Atlanta, reported that they found a deadbolt on the basement door that was used to lock the patients in during certain parts of the day. Curtis Keith Bankston, 55, was arrested on January 13 for false imprisonment after paramedics had to climb through a window to reach a patient who had suffered a seizure. The patient was one of the eight people found inside the basement behind a deadbolted door who was reportedly a resident at the pastor's non-profit group home His wife Sophia Simm-Bankston, 56, was arrested on Thursday for false imprisonment as well Authorities found the door deadbolted after arriving at the Valley Road residence to assist a patient who had suffered a seizure and said 'access had to be gained by climbing through the window to reach the patient.' EMS and the Fire Department notified the police department of their discoveries. Police also alleged that the couple controlled the patients' 'finances, medications, and public benefits' and that they were often 'denied their medications' and 'medical care.' The pastor has denied the claims against him The couple ran One Step of Faith 2nd Chance - an unlicensed group home - inside the basement of their Georgia home for 14 months, according to police, and one resident had a key to the deadbolt, but reportedly not home at the time EMS arrived On Thursday, Curtis held a press conference inside his home, just hours after his wife was arrested, to deny the claims, with his lawyer Dexter Wimbish stating: 'At no time was anybody held against their will. There was no kidnapping.' It is unclear when Curtis was released from jail after being arrested on January 13. The lawyer did confirm that the basement door was locked daily at 8pm, but claimed it was a safety measure. The resident who had a key to the door was not on the premises when paramedics arrived on January 13. 'That is poor judgment, it is unfortunate, it is likely a violation of a local ordinance, but it is not kidnapping, and it's not false imprisonment. And that's what the narrative is,' Wimbish said. Wimbish also told reporters that the patients were fed three meals a day and many of the patients had conservators that sent room and board checks to Curtis' church. In addition, the Bankstons' nonprofit was registered in August 2020, but it failed to be licensed with local ordinances, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Griffin PD reported that the eight residents have been safely moved to other housing Several people in the local church community who spoke on behalf of Curtis said the pastor and his wife routinely fed the poor and ran a shelter for disabled patients. The residents have been moved to proper housing and five are now 'wards of the State,' according to police. Wimbish said there is no need for a 'plea' as they 'have not done anything wrong.' 'We're going to fight it with everything that we have,' he said on Thursday. 'There is no intention to have a plea. They have not done anything wrong. Their community is standing behind them. Their family's standing behind them.' The Western Australian Government admits Omicron cannot be eliminated, despite slamming the borders shut for months at a time in a fruitless bid to keep the state Covid-free. Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson made the surprising admission at a press conference on Sunday, as 24 cases were recorded - the largest daily leap ever recorded in the state. 'I think it's clear that we're not going to eliminate Omicron, it's now about how we suppress and manage Omicron,' she said. 'There is Omicron in our community, this is serious and high levels of testing and quarantine is our best chance to help minimise the spread and to manage this outbreak.' Pictured: People wearing face masks in Perth. WA recorded 24 new cases on Sunday Premier Mark McGowan (pictured) axed his vow to reopen WA to the rest of the country on February 5 - with no new date for free travel to resume There are now 90 cases, all linked to known infections in Perth. Ms Sanderson urged locals to get tested if they have symptoms , regardless of whether they have been to an exposure site. She also said there was an investigation underway after a woman who was suspected of having Covid-19 and her child, who has tested positive, were triaged incorrectly at Fiona Stanley Hospital on Saturday. They were sent to the emergency department with people who did not have the virus. The woman alerted hospital staff to her child's positive test result and did not do anything wrong. Everyone in the department is now a casual contact. Ms Sanderson said additional training would be given to emergency workers, and the situation was a 'wake-up call' for front-line workers Health minister Amber-Jade Sanderson (pictured) admitted health officials could not contain Omicron The spike comes after a woman and her Covid-positive child were incorrectly triaged in hospital. Pictured: A woman in a face mask in Perth There were 4,743 tests were conducted on Saturday, but the health minister said that wasn't high enough. 'It's a bit of a wake-up call for the broader community as well that we do have Covid in our community now and we really need to see those testing numbers higher,' Ms Sanderson said. The overdue admission that Omicron can't be eliminated was just three days after Premier Mark McGowan axed his vow to reopen WA to the rest of the country on February 5 - with no new date for free travel to resume. The long-term shutdown was confirmed after just four new mystery infections. Mr McGowan initially said the state would reopen its border when the vaccination rate hit 90 per cent. WA is now at 89 per cent. But the state Labor government now insists it won't rely on vaccination targets any more. Mr McGowan initially said the state would reopen its border when the vaccination rate hits 90 per cent. Pictured: A health worker testing people for Covid-19 in Perth Instead, the take-up of booster shots will determine when the state finally throws its doors open, with 70 per cent triple-vaxxed the new target. But this could take several months with only 27 per cent of the state's residents having received a booster. Mr McGowan said he understands the decision will disappoint many people hoping to return home to visit family. But he insisted the controversial call was in the best interests of WA given the soaring numbers of Covid cases in eastern states. However, if WA's own Omicron outbreak takes off like those in other states, there may be no point in keeping the border closed. Yvette D'Ath has unleashed an extraordinary attack on federal politicians calling for a Royal Commission into how the government handled the pandemic, blasting them as 'appalling and irresponsible'. The Queensland health minister slammed the conduct of some MPs in both houses of federal parliament as 'disgusting' as her state recorded another 10 deaths on Sunday. It comes after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson called for a 'honest and thorough' Royal Commission into Australian state governments' handling of the two year pandemic after the next federal election. Questions about whether Ms D'Ath would support the proposed inquiry sparked an explosive response. One National leader Pauline Hanson (pictured) has called for a Royal Commission into the Commonwealth and state governments' response to Covid-19 pandemic 'Maybe they should have a Royal Commission into the number of elected members who have anti-vax sentiment and what damage that's done in people coming out and getting vaccinated and believing these false truths out there about the safety of vaccine, whether Covid is real and where it's come from,' the minister saidf on Sunday. 'I'm just appalled about that whole debate and that we've got particularly elected representatives in the House of Representatives and the Senate who have done so much damage in this country to the perception of vaccine and Covid. 'They've got a lot to answer for.' Ms D'Ath also lashed out at Scott Morrison, describing the Prime Minister's response to federal MP George Christensen anti-vax comments as an 'absolute joke.' Mr Morrison was forced to distanced himself from the Queensland-based Coalition MP's comments last week after Mr Christensen urged parents not to get their children vaccinated during a podcast interview with US virologist Robert Malone. Senator Hanson's calls for a Royal Commission sparked a fiery response from Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath (pictured) Mr Morrison urged Australians not to listen to the controversial MP but stopped short of calling for Mr Christensen to be expelled from the party room. 'Just to ask him to stop it, George Christensen has been doing this for months and months now, so have others,' Ms D'Ath said. 'They've got assistant ministers, they've got ministers who have undermined mandatory vaccination they've had town hall meetings calling it segregation,' 'I think it's irresponsible and disgusting and the Morrison Government's going to have to take responsibility so if they want to do an inquiry into that, happy to contribute.' Earlier on Sunday, Senator Hanson issued a lengthy statement calling for a pandemic Royal Commission, claiming every Australian has been affected 'in some way' by the Commonwealth and state governments' handling of the health crisis. 'People have died. The economy was shut down. Schools were shut down. Entire cities were effectively shut down. Borders were closed. Vast quantities of taxpayers' money have been expended,' Senator Hanson said. 'Thousands of people have lost their job. Businesses have closed, in many cases permanently. Individual rights and freedoms have been curtailed or discarded. 'We need a Royal Commission not to lay blame or find scapegoats but primarily to learn which pandemic measures worked and which didn't so we are much better prepared for the next pandemic.' The Queensland health minister lashed out at 'irresponsible' federal politicians over the damage that's done in people coming out and getting vaccinated (pictured, people in Brisbane during the latest Covid wave) Ms Hanson said lessons from the last two years must inform how Australia manages the next pandemic. 'Those who fail to learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them,' Ms Hanson continued. 'I'm not going to pretend this will be an easy exercise. It will be a difficult examination and it will take a long time, but it is absolutely necessary.' Queensland recorded 11,947 new cases on Sunday with an unvaccinated man aged in his 30s among the 10 deaths recorded. A man in Florida has pleaded guilty to making threatening phone calls to prominent Democrats in Congress, including threats to behead them. Paul Vernon Hoeffer, 60, admitted to the charges in federal court in Fort Pierce on Friday, confessing to threatening House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Chicago prosecutor Kim Foxx. As part of the plea, Hoeffer admitted that in March 2019, he called Pelosi's office in Washington, D.C. and threatened to come a 'long, long, way' to 'rattle her head with bullets' and cut her head off. On the same day, Hoeffer also called Foxx, the Cook County state's attorney, telling her bullets were going to 'rattle her brain.' Hoeffer admitted that in March 2019, he called Pelosi's office in Washington, D.C. and threatened to come a 'long, long, way' to 'rattle her head with bullets' and cut her head off On the same day, Hoeffer also called Kim Foxx, the Cook County state's attorney, telling her bullets were going to 'rattle her brain' At the time, Foxx was in the news for dropping charges against actor Jussie Smollett, who staged a fake hate crime against himself. Smollett was later convicted of the hoax after Foxx was pressured into appointing a special investigator. Hoeffer also admitted that in November of 2020 he called Ocasio-Cortez's New York offices and threatened that he would 'rip her head off,' warning her to sleep with 'one eye open'. The plea agreement does not specify a motive for the sickening threats. In some of the calls, Hoeffer warned of an 'all-out war' and a 'civilian army,' according to the plea deal. Hoeffer also admitted that in November of 2020 he called Ocasio-Cortez's New York offices and threatened that he would 'rip her head off' Hoeffer's criminal record in Florida shows only a charge for violating the protection of manatees, as well as a long list of traffic violations. No prior booking photos for Hoeffer could be found and he did not appear to have any social media profiles. U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon is scheduled to sentence Hoeffer on April 1. Hoeffer faces up to 15 years in federal prison. Sydney's highly controversial lockdown laws did little else than ruin the Harbour City's most famous venues and defer violence into surrounding suburbs, new statistics show. A report from the Journal of Addiction show a decrease in violence in the popular nightspot and Sydney's CBD have coincided with increased numbers in fringes just a walking distance from the precincts. A 10-year period from 2009 to 2019 in the years pre-dating the pandemic show the city's controversial mandates have had little to no impact, instead deferring the violence issues into other suburbs. The manipulation of Sydney's lockdown statistics have reared its ugly head after figures showed depleted assaults in Kings Cross have spilled into surrounding areas The lockout laws were instituted following the high profile deaths of Thomas Kelly and Daniel Christie, which occurred in July, 2012 and December, 2014 respectively. The laws were established less than two months after Christie's death, but assaults had already started plummeting well before the rules were introduced. Assault incidents had decreased from 42 incidents in July, 2012 to 31.5 in December, 2012 following the tragic death of Kelly due to an unprovoked one-hit punch from Kieran Loveridge. Christie was killed on December 31, 2013 after a fatal coward punch from Shaun McNeil, which saw assault incidents drop from 34 in January of 2014 to 24 in June. Lockout laws were established at the end of January in 2014, but the numbers had already been in two years of decline. The lockout laws were instituted following the high profile deaths of Thomas Kelly (pictured) and Daniel Christie, which occurred in July, 2012 and December, 2014 respectively Don Weatherburn, a professor at the University of NSW's National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, told SMH lockout laws were doing nothing but shifting the burden to surrounding suburbs. 'Right now no one notices that because COVID is around and we've got endless lockouts, but when and if nightlife returns to the city, I'd expect this to reappear,' said Professor Weatherburn, the former head of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, which provided the data. 'I'm totally sympathetic to the idea of wanting nightlife to return it's a balancing act. But if they imagine that we've got this balance right now, I think they're making a mistake because I think it's COVID that's holding the line.' Data shows a rise in assault charges coincided with lockout laws imposed in 2014, with higher numbers in the nearby Surry Hills, Chippendale, Darlinghurst, Ultimo and Pyrmont. However, Bondi, Coogee, Newtown and Double Bay didn't see an increase in assault incidents despite being a short taxi or ride-share drive away. Kings Cross was once the bustling centrepoint of Sydney's nightlife, but instead now is virtually deserted after lockout laws saw its famous establishments closed The government brought in a demerit system in January, 2021 that awarded points to 'violent venues' which included 'three strikes' mandates and 'minor sanctions' systems, The city's 24-Hour Economy Commissioner said the rules weren't about 'policing' the Harbour City but instead 'working' to ensure people could get into venues 'safely'. 'Public safety isn't just about policing,' Michael Rodrigues said. 'It's also working with Transport to make sure people can get to and from places safely; it's working with Planning to design safe, well-lit streets and working with Liquor & Gaming to make sure regulation strikes the right balance.' They are looking to follow in the footsteps of London's successful 'Purple Flag' program which sees popular areas rewarded with laws based on their management of incidents in vibrant destinations for partygoers. Mr Rodrigues says the pandemic has helped de-centrilise the city's nightlife areas and that has helped the control of previously troublesome spots. Defence chiefs finalising plans to bring 1,000 Britons back to the UK Defence chiefs are finalising plans to bring back 1,000 Britons from Ukraine as fears over a Russian invasion continue to rise. Officials are said to be considering sending troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade, the unit that assisted with the rescue mission in Kabul last year, to mount an evacuation of UK nationals. Defence sources say troops would fly to Ukraine in RAF transports and help pull out expats, The Mirror reports. A defence source said: 'If Russia invades, the situation will deteriorate rapidly. 'British nationals will need help to escape. Ideally, this will happen prior to an invasion but we must be prepared for anything.' Advertisement Dominic Raab has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin there will be 'very serious severe consequences' and economic sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine or put in place a pro-Kremlin leader after MI6 uncovered a plot to install a puppet Government. The Deputy Prime Minister said there would be a 'robust and concerted' response after British intelligence discovered Ukrainian politician Yevhen Murayev, who has previously defended Russia's annexation of Crimea, was being lined up to run the country as a satellite of Moscow. Mr Murayev said he was 'amused' by the revelations, made public by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, before dismissing them as 'stupidity'. But Mr Raab today warned Mr Putin of 'serious consequences' if Russia invades Ukraine as troops continue to amass on the border. Appearing on Sky News, he said: 'We are standing shoulder to shoulder [with European countries, Nato and the US], saying there will be very serious consequences if Russia takes this move to try and invade and also install a puppet regime. 'We wouldn't telegraph all of the measures we would take, but it is important that this very clear message, not just from the UK but from all Nato and other interested countries around the world who want to uphold the rule of law, that there will be very serious, severe economic consequences. 'It will obviously involve a range of financial and economic sanctions. We wouldn't telegraph those in advance, but you can rest assured that the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary will be liaising with all of our partners and engaging, as we have done for many months, to make sure the response is robust and concerted.' Mr Murayev, 45, owns a television channel and founded his own political party after breaking away from Ukraine's most prominent pro-Russian party. He told The Telegraph: 'I have a hard time digesting stupidity and nonsense: Maybe someone wants to shut down yet another independent TV channel. 'As someone who has been under Russian sanctions for four years, barred from Russia as a national security threat and whose father got his assets frozen in Russia, I find it hard to comment on the Foreign Offices statement.' Russia's Foreign Ministry has also rejected the claims as 'disinformation' and called for the British Foreign Office to 'stop spreading nonsense'. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: 'The disinformation spread by the British Foreign Office is more evidence that it is the Nato countries, led by the Anglo-Saxons, who are escalating tensions around Ukraine. 'We call on the British Foreign Office to stop provocative activities, stop spreading nonsense.' It comes as the US embassy in Ukraine has requested the full evacuation of non-essential staff amid rising tensions. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office reused to say if it was following suit, but said the situation was 'under close review'. A statement added: 'The safety and security of our staff and British nationals is our top priority. We are keeping the situation under close review.' Former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev has denied claims he is being lined up to run the country as a satellite of Moscow Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said British intelligence had discovered Yevhen Murayev was being lined up by Russia Russia has denied it is planning an invasion, but Vladimir Putin has issued demands to the West which he says concern Russias security, including not allowing Ukraine to join Nato People rallying in patriotic support of Ukraine hold a 500 meter long ribbon in the colours of the Ukrainian flag on Unity Day (January 22) German navy chief resigns for saying Putin wants 'respect' and giving it to him would be 'low cost' after nation was condemned for refusing to supply weapons to Kiev The head of the German navy yesterday night resigned for saying Putin wants 'respect' and giving it to him would be 'low cost' after the nation was condemned for refusing to supply weapons to Kiev. Speaking at an event in India on Friday, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach said Ukraine would not regain the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014. Mr Schoenbach said of Russia's president: 'It's easy to give him the respect he wants, and probably deserves as well.' The Vice Admiral's comments were captured on video and caused anger in Ukraine with the foreign ministry summoning the German ambassador Anka Feldhusen to complain. This was to stress 'the categorical unacceptability' of the comments by Mr Schoenbach in which he also called Russian plans to invade Ukraine 'inept', the foreign ministry said. Later, Mr Schoenbach announced his resignation. 'I have asked Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht to relieve me from my duties with immediate effect,' vice-admiral Schoenbach said in a statement. A spokesman for the Defence Ministry in Berlin said that the Admiral's words were not reflective of the country's own position on the Ukraine crisis. Advertisement Ms Truss said the information 'shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking'. The White House also called MI6's assessment 'deeply concerning' and said it stands with the duly elected Ukrainian government. National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said: 'This kind of plotting is deeply concerning. The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically elected partners in Ukraine.' President Joe Biden spent Saturday at the presidential retreat Camp David outside Washington discussing the Ukraine situation with his senior national security team. A White House official said the discussions included efforts to de-escalate the situation, with diplomacy and deterrence measures being coordinated closely with allies and partners, including security assistance to Ukraine. It comes as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of a large-scale war after Moscow massed more than 100,000 troops, tanks and artillery pieces along his border. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has also agreed to meet his UK counterpart Ben Wallace in Moscow for emergency talks after Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood warned an invasion of Ukraine was imminent and that President Putin was exploiting Western weakness. Analysts, though, are understood to have been surprised by Ms Truss' allegations that Mr Murayev had been selected as the Kremlin's preferred leader, with some describing his as a 'marginal' figure. Ms Truss said the Foreign Office had established that the Russian government was looking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kiev as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine, and that Russian intelligence officers involved in the planning for an attack were in contact with sympathetic politicians in the country. The Foreign Secretary added: The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking. Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy. As the UK and our partners have said repeatedly, any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs. Political analysts have pointed to more obvious choices to Mr Murayev, including Viktor Medvedchuk - a tycoon and friend of Mr Putin. Volodymyr Fesenko, a political expert in Kiev, said: 'Medvdevchuk is definitely much closer to the Kremlin, and they treat him as one of their own. He added that Mr Murayev 'could be one of the people to seek roles in a new Government' if Russia was to invade Ukraine, describing him as one of many who could form a 'fifth column in Ukraine'. Asked about the proposals for him to be installed as a puppet leader, Mr Murayev said: 'Unless Ive missed something, they [Russia] have another candidate and theyre not even hiding it. Im a patriot of my country.' It is believed he may have been referring to Mr Medvedchuk, who is currently under house arrest in Kiev amid suspicions he was funnelling profits from his businesses to Ukraines Kremlin-backed separatists. He denies any wrongdoing. Dominic Raab has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin there will be 'very serious severe consequences' and economic sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine or put in place a pro-Kremlin leader during an appearance on Sky News today Civilian participants in a Kyiv Territorial Defence unit train in a forest on Saturday, with thousands of civilians receiving basic combat training A convoy of Russian armored vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea last week Across Ukraine thousands of civilians are participating in such groups to receive basic combat training and in time of war would be under direct command of the Ukrainian military A Russian rocket launcher fires during military drills near Orenburg in the Urals, Russia, last month Servicemen stand guard as local residents gather to lay flower during a memorial ceremony to honor the memory of civilians who died during shelling at a crowded bus stop in 2015, in Donetsk, on Saturday People with Ukrainian flags attend a patriotic rally at Sophia Square on Unity Day. Speakers at the rally demanded Ukrainian membership in the European Union and the NATO military alliance and derided Russian President Vladimir Putin UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace will meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in Moscow for talks to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis as the country's servicemen (pictured, Russian troops take part in military drills in Rostov in southern Russia, less than 70 miles from the Ukrainian frontier) take part in drills along the border amid fears of an invasion A convoy of Russian armoured vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea, Tuesday, January 18, 2022. Ukraine today condemned Germany for its refusal to supply weapons to Kyiv, urging Berlin to stop 'undermining unity' and 'encouraging Vladimir Putin' amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine The Ukrainian Government also closed three television channels linked to Mr Medvedchuk, claiming they were spreading pro-Russian propaganda. The tycoon, 67, is a friend of Mr Putin, who is the godfather of his daughter. His legal troubles are said to have upset the Russian President. Mr Murayev, meanwhile, is a Russian speaker from Kharkiv, close to the Russian border, and first entered parliament in 2012 under the leadership of pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych. Mr Yanukovych was later toppled and fled to Russia in 2014. Mr Murayev, though, remained in Ukraine and has called for closer ties with Russia, despite the tensions created by its annexation of Crimea in 2014. He ran for president in 2019, but pulled out of the race early in favour of backing another Putin-friendly candidate. Mr Murayev owns one of only few pro-Russia television channels, named Nash. He appeared on the channel week and accused the US of using Nato to 'occupy Europe after the Second World War', adding that Ukraine has become stuck in a crossfire between Russia and the US. Despite being hit with Russian sanctions in 2018, he has maintained that the conflict with neighbouring Russia 'needs to be stopped' and points to 'a common history going back several centuries'. Russia has denied it is planning an invasion, but Mr Putin has issued demands to the West which he says concern Russias security, including not allowing Ukraine to join Nato. He also wants Nato to abandon military exercises in the region and to stop sending weapons to eastern Europe. Boris Johnson is expected to ramp up the pressure on Russia this week by calling for European countries to join forces with the US in the face of increasing aggression and pushing for a gear change on the Ukraine situation. Ghani v Spencer: Tories pick sides in 'Muslimness' row Team Ghani Nadhim Zahawi: 'There is no place for islamophobia or any form of racism in our Conservative party. Nusrat Ghani is a friend, a colleague & a brilliant parliamentarian. This has to be investigated properly & racism routed out.' Sajid Javid: 'This is a very serious matter which needs a proper investigation. I would strongly support her in making a formal complaint - she must be heard.' Caroline Nokes: 'I was very proud when Nus was the first female Muslim minister to speak at the despatch box and I thought it was evidence of how far our parliament and my party had come and to hear of the challenges that she has subsequently faced, is horrific.' Steve Baker: 'That Nus could be treated like this is completely intolerable. I value (her) as a great colleague and I'm appalled. We must get to the bottom of it.' Team Spencer Mark Spencer: 'These accusations are completely false and I consider them to be defamatory. I have never used those words attributed to me.' Dominic Raab: 'If there are any claims like this they should result in a formal complaint which allows a formal investigation to take place. As the chief whip has pointed out, Nus hasn't made a formal complaint. She was asked to do so. In the absence of doing so there will be no specific investigation into this.' Downing Street: 'After being made aware of these extremely serious claims, the Prime Minister met with Nusrat Ghani to discuss them. He then wrote to her expressing his serious concern and inviting her to begin a formal complaint process. She did not subsequently do so.' Advertisement Boris Johnson was mired in a deepening Islamophobia row today after trying to slap down a former minister who claimed she was sacked because of her 'Muslimness'. Downing Street tried to close down the row involving Nusrat Ghani after the former transport minister alleged the chief whip Mark Spencer said her faith got her the boot in 2020. No10 claimed she had made the PM aware of the allegation at the time but declined an invitation to ask for a full investigation. But Ms Ghani contradicted their version of events, saying the PM refused to get involved and tried to fob her off. Additionally she also received the backing of Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Education Nadhim Zahawi, the two most senior Muslims in the Cabinet. Both took to Twitter to support her and demand a full investigation into her claims against Mr Spencer. He outed himself as the whip concerned last night, and branded Ms Ghani's comments 'false' and 'defamatory'. Justice secretary Dominic Raab also lined up to defend the party, claiming she had decided not to call for an investigation at the time. But Mr Javid said Ghani was 'a credit to the Conservative Party', adding: 'This is a very serious matter which needs a proper investigation. I would strongly support her in making a formal complaint - she must be heard.' His intervention claim after Mr Zahawi tweeted: 'There is no place for islamophobia or any form of racism in our Conservative party. Nusrat Ghani is a friend, a colleague & a brilliant parliamentarian. This has to be investigated properly & racism routed out. #standwithNus' . Ms Ghani, who was the first Muslim woman to be elected as a Tory MP in 2015, told the Sunday Times she was told by a party whip she was being axed in February 2020 because her status as a Muslim woman and a minister was 'making colleagues feel uncomfortable'. She also claimed she was warned that if she continued to raise the issue then her 'career and reputation would be destroyed'. Mr But this morning Downing Street revealed that Ms Ghani had complained directly to the PM in 2020. A spokeswoman said: 'After being made aware of these extremely serious claims, the Prime Minister met with Nusrat Ghani to discuss them. 'He then wrote to her expressing his serious concern and inviting her to begin a formal complaint process. She did not subsequently do so.' After that statement was released, Ms Ghani said: 'When I told the Prime Minister in June 2020 what had been said to me in the Government Whips' Office I urged him to take it seriously as a Government matter and instigate an inquiry. 'He wrote to me that he could not get involved and suggested I use the internal Conservative Party complaint process. Nusrat Ghani (pictured), the Tory MP for Wealden in East Sussex, was sacked as transport minister in February 2020 as part of a mini-cabinet reshuffle The allegation in the Sunday Times prompted demands for an investigation from Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi, the most senior Muslim in the Government. Chief whip Mark Spencer (pictured) took to Twitter to identify himself as the person MS Ghani's claims were made about and claimed they were 'false' and 'defamatory' Justice Secretary Dominic Raab rowed in behind the chief whip today, saying that Ms Ghani would have to make a formal complaint to trigger a 'specific investigation'. Former education secretary Gavin Williamson accused of threatening MP with school funding axe Former education secretary Gavin Williamson has been accused of threatening an MP with withdrawing funding for a school in his constituency. Tory defector Christian Wakeford claimed he was told funding for a new school in his Bury South constituency would be withheld if he did not back the Government in axing free meals for pupils. The Bury South MP, 37, did not say who was behind the alleged comments, which he made after defecting from the Conservatives to Labour on Wednesday. But speaking to the Sunday Times, Mr Wakeford has now claimed that Gavin Williamson, a former chief whip, was responsible. Mr Wakeford had alleged that Mr Williamson pulled him out of the House of Commons dining room and told him to 'consider' what he was doing. He said he was told: 'It's not very helpful to back an opposition (motion) against the department where you're wanting an extremely large favour from said department, so do consider what you're doing.' Mr Wakeford added: 'I know the maxim is 'once a whip, always a whip', but yeah, that one was Gavin.' But Mr Williamson insisted that he does not have 'any recollection' of any such conversation taking place with Mr Wakeford. 'What I do remember is working tirelessly with Christian and others in order to be able to deliver this school, which I did,' he said. 'Such major investment decisions are made after close analysis of the benefits that the investment will bring and certainly not something that can be decided in a brief conversation like the one described.' Advertisement 'This, as I had already pointed out, was very clearly not appropriate for something that happened on Government business - I do not even know if the words that were conveyed to me about what was said in reshuffle meetings at Downing Street were by members of the Conservative Party.' And Justice Secretary Dominic Raab rowed in behind him today, saying that Ms Ghani would have to make a formal complaint to trigger a 'specific investigation'. The row opens a new front in the increasingly bitter conflict between Boris Johnson's embattled administration and Conservative MPs. The row, fuelled by Partygate revelations, descended into open warfare last week when backbenchers led by committee chairman William Wragg went public with claims of heavy-handed behaviour from the whips they say went as far as blackmail. Bury South MP Christian Wakeford, who defected to Labour last week, today used a newspaper article to accuse the PM of having 'poisoned the Tory Party from top to bottom'. Ms Ghani, the Tory MP for Wealden in East Sussex, was sacked in February 2020 as part of a mini-cabinet reshuffle. She told The Times she felt 'humiliated and powerless' after the alleged conversation, saying: 'It was like being punched in the stomach.' A government source close to the whips' office strenuously denied the allegation. Following the allegations, chief whip Mark Spencer took to Twitter to identify himself as the person Ms Ghani's claims were about. The MP for Sherwood, 52, claimed he had 'never used those words'. He wrote: 'To ensure other Whips are not drawn into this matter, I am identifying myself as the person Nusrat Ghani MP has made claims about this evening. 'These accusations are completely false and I consider them to be defamatory. I have never used those words attributed to me.' He also claimed Ms Ghani 'declined' to refer the matter to the Conservative Party for a formal investigation, claiming he gave evidence about it to an Islamophobia inquiry. He added: 'It is disappointing that when this issue was raised before Ms Ghani declined to refer the matter to the Conservative Party for a formal investigation. 'I provided evidence to the Singh Investigation into Islamophobia which concluded that there was no credible basis for the claims to be included in the report. Tory defector: Boris has 'poisoned' the Conservative Party The former Conservative MP who defected to Labour has accused Boris Johnson of having 'poisoned the Tory Party from top to bottom' as he said the Prime Minister was 'living on borrowed time'. Christian Wakeford crossed the floor in protest at the PM's leadership and the row over Downing Street parties. He has also said he was threatened about the loss of a school in his constituency if he did not toe the line. Writing in the Sunday Mirror, Mr Wakeford said: 'Boris Johnson is living on borrowed time. He has poisoned the Tory Party from top to bottom.' The Bury South MP said the investigation into No 10 by civil servant Sue Gray would show Downing Street was 'hosting parties while the rest of us were obeying the rules'. 'The PM attended and then lied about it. He showed no respect for the Queen while she was in mourning for her husband,' Mr Wakeford wrote. 'His behaviour has been an insult not just to Her Majesty but to the whole nation. 'His lack of honesty and integrity has poisoned the once great party he leads.' Mr Wakeford added he had 'too much respect for the people who voted me into Parliament to stay silent in the face of such intimidation'. Advertisement 'These claims relate to a meeting in March 2020. 'When Ms Ghani raised them she was invited to use the formal CCHQ complaints procedure. She declined to do so.' But Mr Zahawi's call for a probe was echoed by influential backbencher and former minister Steve Baker this morning. He said: 'That Nus could be treated like this is completely intolerable. I value (her) as a great colleague and I'm appalled. We must get to the bottom of it.' Ms Ghani, vice-chairwoman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, is understood to have said that she considered whether she wanted to continue being an MP after the alleged incident. Speaking about the reshuffle, she claimed that she had asked the whips in a post-reshuffle meeting why she was being fired, which is when she alleges she was told her 'Muslimness' was raised as an 'issue'. Ms Ghani, who previously served as Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury, claimed she was told there were concerns that she wasn't 'loyal' to the party because she didn't do enough to defend it against Islamophobia allegations. She said: 'It was very clear to me that the whips and No 10 were holding me to a higher threshold of loyalty than others because of my background and faith.' In March 2020, the politician claimed she had a second meeting with a whip where she alleged she was told there was 'no Islamophobia' within the party. In the same meeting, she claimed she was told by the whip that she had been fired for saying to Boris Johnson that they had a 'women problem', in attracting female voters. Ms Ghani claimed she raised the issue through official party channels but said she was warned that if she continued to do so, she would be 'ostracised' by her colleagues and her 'career and reputation would be destroyed'. After the 'threats', she said she followed procedure but was eventually left with 'no choice' but to continue with her career from the back benches. Lord Sheikh, president of the Conservative Muslim Forum, has said he was 'horrified' by the claims. Speaking on Times Radio, he said: 'If these allegations are true then it's totally inappropriate, in fact I was horrified to hear that she was sacked in 2020 because of her faith. Bury South MP Christian Wakeford, who defected to Labour last week, today used a newspaper article to accuse the PM of having 'poisoned the Tory Party from top to bottom'. 'I'm really, really disturbed by these comments, and what we need to do is to undertake an investigation into what really happened. 'Mark Spencer has denied that this has happened, so somebody is not telling the truth. 'An investigation must be carried out by an independent person. This is very, very important. 'I've been a member of the Conservative Party for over 15 years and I'm president of the Conservative Muslim Forum, and any Islamophobia, any discrimination in the party is totally unacceptable, and I think we need to get to the bottom of what happened.' An inquiry into Islamophobia in the Conservative Party, which was carried out two years ago, found no evidence that the Tory party is 'institutionally racist' but was critical of comments made by Boris Johnson. The Prime Minister was cleared by a majority on an independent panel over a complaint he broke the party's code of conduct following a Daily Telegraph column in 2018 which described Muslim women who wear the burkha as looking like 'letterboxes' and 'bank robbers'. He later apologised for his comments. The inquiry carried out by Prof Singh, a former commissioner at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, was established by the party following a series of allegations about Islamophobic behaviour in the party and was widened to consider all forms of discrimination. From 2015-2020, the party's central database recorded 1,418 complaints relating to 727 incidents of alleged discrimination an average of 237 complaints about 122 incidents a year in a party of 200,000 members. More than two-thirds of the incidents 496 cases related to Islam and 74 per cent of all the cases involved social media activity. The report concluded that an allegation of 'institutional racism' against the party was 'not borne out by evidence available to the investigation as regards the way the party handled the complaints process'. But it acknowledged that 'anti-Muslim sentiment remains a problem' within the Conservative Party. Ms Ghani's allegations come after rebel Tory William Wragg accused government whips of 'blackmailing' backbenchers seeking to oust the Prime Minister amid fears of a no-confidence vote. Ms Ghani (picutred), 49, alleged she was told by a whip her 'Muslimness was raised as an issue' at a post-reshuffle meeting and that her faith was 'making colleagues feel uncomfortable' It comes as rebel Tory William Wragg (pictured) accused government whips of 'blackmailing' backbenchers seeking to oust Boris Johnson amid fears of a no-confidence vote Mr Wragg, 34, said he will be meeting a detective from the Metropolitan Police in the House of Commons early next week to discuss his allegations, raising the prospect police could open an investigation. Mr Wragg said on Friday that next week, he plans to tell the detective 'several' examples of bullying and intimidation, claiming some cases involved public money. He told The Telegraph: 'I stand by what I have said. No amount of gas-lighting will change that.' Downing Street said it would not be mounting its own inquiry into the claims, despite calls to do so by both Conservative and opposition MPs. A No 10 spokesman said it would only open an inquiry if it was presented with evidence to back up Mr Wragg's assertions. But Mr Wragg, the Chair of Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, said he believed an investigation should be left for the 'experts' in the police. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'As with any such allegations, should a criminal offence be reported to the Met, it would be considered.' However, Adam Holloway, the Tory MP for Gravesham, dismissed the 'blackmail' allegations, saying he has 'never known' such behaviour to happen during his time in the Conservatives or Government, adding it 'doesn't ring true to me'. Responding to the allegations while visiting the 'Jabs with Kebabs' project at V's Punjabi Grill in Gravesend, Mr Holloway, 56, said: 'I can only speak for myself and I've never known anything like that. 'I've never known any sort of link with my behaviour in Parliament and resources coming into my constituency, so I suspect it's complete bulls***. 'That's what happens in American politics, I've got no sense of that here, ever in 16 years. It just doesn't seem to work that way.' Tory MP Tom Tugendhat has also insisted that he has never experienced or witnessed his party's whips use blackmail following the allegations. Tory MP Tom Tugendhat (pictured) has insisted that he has never experienced or witnessed his party's whips use blackmail following the allegations from Mr Wragg The MP for Tonbridge and Malling, 48, was asked on BBC Breakfast if he had ever been blackmailed by his party's whips. He responded: 'No, I haven't, and as you may well know, I've not always been the Government's biggest supporter. I have voted against the Government on occasions when I thought it right. 'I have to say I've always had a very close relationship with the chief whip and indeed a very productive relationship with whips, so I'm waiting to hear more about this because it's not something I've seen or been told about.' Mr Johnson insisted on Thursday he had 'seen no evidence' to support the claim made by Mr Wragg that his critics were facing 'intimidation'. Meanwhile, Christian Wakeford, the Bury South MP who defected to Labour, claimed the Tory whips had warned him over funding for a new school in his constituency if he rebelled in a vote over free school meals. Ministers have sought to dismiss the allegations, insisting the whips had no role in the allocation of public funding. Five teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Manchester. Officers were called to Thirlmere Avenue, in Stretford, shortly before 7pm last night to reports of a boy, who has been named locally as Kennie Carter, found to have suffered stab injuries. Paramedics and police attended the scene where the boy was treated before being taken to hospital where Kennie later died, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed. Four boys, aged between 15 and 17, are being held on suspicion of murder. Police have also confirmed that a fifth teenager handed himself in at a police station and has also been arrested on suspicion of murder. Officers were called to Thirlmere Avenue, in Stretford, shortly before 7pm last night to reports of a boy, who has been named locally as Kennie Carter, (pictured) found to have suffered stab injuries Four teenage boys, aged between 15 and 17, were arrested on suspicion of murder last night and a fifth teen, who handed himself in at a police station, has also been arrested Paramedics and police attended the scene where Kennie was treated before being taken to hospital where he later died, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed Superintendent Caroline Hemingway said: Four males were arrested last night on suspicion of murder. However, I can report today a fifth male handed himself in and has been arrested on suspicion of murder - and has been detained. Further cordons are also in place in relation to police activity overnight as investigators continue with their enquiries. His family have been informed and will receive ongoing support from our specially-trained officers. Further cordons are also in place in relation to police activity overnight as investigators continue with their enquiries Tributes have been paid to Kennie by devastated friends following last night's fatal attack. Close family friend Beckiee Carol-Jadee McCabe, said: 'I grew up with his family, my family are very close with his, they are like family to me. 'I'm absolutely heartbroken. That such a beautiful young soul has been taken far too soon at the age 16, he was such a quiet boy growing up wouldn't do any harm to no one. 'Loved by so many people It's so devastating that he's had to lose his life, because of knife crime, He's going to be deeply missed by all that knew Kennie. 'There will always be a place in my heart for him.' A woman who lives locally said Kennie was a friend of her son and was a 'lovely boy'. She told MEN: 'He was just a lovely boy. 'He didn't cause problems or harm to anybody. He was funny, he made everyone laugh and had a cheeky smile.' Speaking outside Stretford police station this afternoon, Superintendent Caroline Hemingway of Greater Manchester Police said: 'Again, we see the utterly devastating consequences of knife crime - it destroys lives, families, and communities. Police have confirmed that a fifth teenager has handed himself in at a police station and has been arrested on suspicion of murder 'It's so heart-breaking to see such a young life lost, and such young people suspected of being capable of a horrendous act of violence. 'We will not relent in tackling this problem in our society, and we are doing all we can with partners and the community to stop more young lives being lost on our streets. 'It's vital the public give us any information or concerns, knowing we'll treat it with the strictest confidence. This can be done by contacting police/major incident room, or Crimestoppers anonymously. 'A family is today grieving the loss of a much-loved young soul. 'If you know someone carrying a knife, look out for them: think of how their actions could cost someone a life, ruin a poor family's life, wreck their own life, and wreck the lives of their loved ones.' Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101, quoting incident 2529 of 22/01/2022. Alternatively, details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111. Disneyland celebrates Chinese Lunar New Year with dynamic cultural activities Xinhua) 11:21, January 23, 2022 Actors perform a dragon dance during the Lunar New Year celebrations at Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim, the United States, on Jan. 21, 2022. Disney's California Adventure Park kicked off celebrations of the Year of the Tiger Friday, featuring a string of Chinese culturally-themed performances, art shows, lantern decorations and Asian-inspired dishes. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Disney's California Adventure Park kicked off celebrations of the Year of the Tiger Friday, featuring a string of Chinese culturally-themed performances, art shows, lantern decorations and Asian-inspired dishes. Visitors from around the world joined the special celebrations which run from Jan. 21 through Feb. 13, immersed in a festival atmosphere and sharing wishes for good health, luck and prosperity throughout the year ahead. The 2022 Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 1. It is based on a 12-year Zodiac cycle of characters, with 2022 being the Year of the Tiger. The colorful Chinese Lunar New Year theme has turned the park into a sea of red and gold -- the Chinese New Year's traditional colors -- and a wonderland of festive Asian holiday cheer. This year's Lunar New Year celebrations highlighted a new float for China's legendary warrior character Mulan, accompanied by traditional Chinese drummers performing powerful rhythms. Decorated in red and gold to symbolize good fortune and happiness, the float features bright bunches of red firecrackers that hang together with golden tassels, and delicate red and gold lanterns come aglow for after-sunset performances. During the procession, Mulan and her wisecracking dragon friend Mushu were surrounded by performers bringing cultural artistry and dance to life. Disney characters, including Tigger, Mulan and Mushu, Mickey and Minnie, and the Three Little Pigs, all dressed in Chinese festive attire, and greeted visitors. San Francisco-based musical group Melody of China performed a fusion of Chinese folk, classical and contemporary instrumentals. During Disney's Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, park visitors could enjoy traditional Asian fare, like Shrimp Fried Rice, Char Siu Pork Bao, and many others. They are also invited to try Chinese arts and crafts, such as Chinese calligraphy, and dragon's pearl coloring craft. "It is amazing to see Mulan float," Jailyn Mitchell, a local visitor, told Xinhua. "I love Chinese culture, and I like the different ways to celebrate it," said Mitchell, who has experienced Disney's Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations for several times. Alexa Garcia, a Disneyland Resort spokesperson, told Xinhua the Lunar New Year celebrations have been a "fan favor" for a few years, showing diversified cultures and offering a lot of fun things for visitors to do, to see, and to taste. People love to experience and engage in Chinese culture in different ways, she said. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) By Lee Kyung-min Shipbuilding, construction, machinery and parts manufacturing companies are deeply concerned about a new law set to take effect next week that will hold the heads of big businesses accountable for fatal industrial accidents, according to industry officials Thursday. Under the law, CEOs of large companies will be subject to a minimum prison term of one year or a fine of up to 1 billion won ($843,000) if fatal industrial accidents, including the deaths of workers, occur at smaller partner firms. The CEOs fear they may be held liable for on-site accidents involving small partner firm workers, regardless of immunity from supervision responsibilities, as granted under the contract between two firms to protect business secrets or due to the highly skilled nature of the work. "Corporate activities will be wildly undermined, I'm afraid," an official at a large shipbuilding firm said on condition of anonymity. "I think I speak for everyone in the key manufacturing industries. The public sentiment is more likely than not to demand severe punishment of larger firms in a country where large conglomerates have long been demonized and faulted more often than smaller firms." He said the shipbuilding industry is not treating any accidents lightly, but a minimum one-year prison term is too overwhelming a penalty. These concerns have been amplified in part by the recent groundswell of public fury over the death of and critical injuries suffered by construction workers at an apartment complex construction site in Gwangju supervised by Hyundai Development Company (HDC). Despite the resignation of HDC chairman Chung Mong-gyu, many are calling for stern punishment of those responsible for the fatal disaster. The land minister said the government can go as far as canceling the builder's construction license, given the severity of the accident. Choe Soo-young, a researcher at the Construction Economy Research Institute of Korea (CERIK), said the new law clearly differs from a similar one in the U.K. that served as a reference. The U.K. bill enacted in 2007, according to the institute, is primarily about whether accidents resulted from institutional failure including a lack of appropriate organizational, structural governance, unlike Korea's law which focuses primarily on individual negligence. "Article 18 of the U.K. law stipulates that individual members of the organization are not held liable for the death of victims, for example, a clear difference in approach in how the two countries treat people responsible," Choe said. He added that there was no significant correlation between the U.K. law and the decrease in the number of deaths at work sites. The number of deaths per 100,000 people in the construction industry in the U.K. declined 3.3 percent to 1.6 in 2017 from 2.04 in 2008. The year-on-year figure is hardly a substantial improvement from an average 2.6 percent decline from 1998 to 2007, before the law was enacted. The government should place greater emphasis on clarifying law provisions, instead of strengthening punitive measures, Seoul National University economist Lee In-ho said. The current law lacks clarity on who is responsible for accident prevention. It is unclear if it is the central government, the heads of municipal governments, the heads of state-run organizations, or business owners under contract with small partner firms, he said. "Other countries that introduced similar systems before Korea did not make individual punishment a prerequisite for effective law enforcement. An additional clear legal framework is needed to bolster corporate investment in safety enhancement, accompanied by safety protocols followed strictly by on-site workers," Lee said. The head of the German navy yesterday night resigned for saying Putin wants 'respect' and giving it to him would be 'low cost' after the nation was condemned for refusing to supply weapons to Kiev. Speaking at an event in India on Friday, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach said Ukraine would not regain the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014. Mr Schoenbach said of Russia's president: 'It's easy to give him the respect he wants, and probably deserves as well.' He also said Germany should partner with Russia as it is a Christian country. The Vice Admiral's comments were captured on video and caused anger in Ukraine with the foreign ministry summoning the German ambassador Anka Feldhusen to complain. This was to stress 'the categorical unacceptability' of the comments by Mr Schoenbach in which he also called Russian plans to invade Ukraine 'inept', the foreign ministry said. Later, Mr Schoenbach announced his resignation. 'I have asked Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht to relieve me from my duties with immediate effect,' vice-admiral Schoenbach said in a statement. The German navy confirmed in a statement that Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht had accepted Mr Schoenbach's resignation and appointed his deputy as interim naval chief. Mr Schoenbach apologised for his 'rash comments' made on Friday which were posted on YouTube and have been largely circulated on German media. A spokesman for the Defence Ministry in Berlin said that the Admiral's words were not reflective of the country's own position on the Ukraine crisis. The statement added that the admiral would be called to speak to the chief of defence on Monday. Speaking at an event in India on Friday, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach (pictured right) said Ukraine would not regain the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014 It comes as the German government has insisted that it stands united with its Nato allies on the issue of Russia's military threat to Ukraine, warning that Moscow will pay a high price if it makes any military moves against its neighbour. But unlike many other Nato countries, Berlin said it will not supply Ukraine with lethal weapons, arguing that it does not want to inflame tensions further. Germany has also blocked their Nato ally Estonia from supplying arms to Ukraine, according to the Telegraph. This is despite the US and Washington endorsing Baltic shipments of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Kyiv. It has led some to accuse Germany of failing to stand up to Putin as tension on Russia's border with Europe mounts. Mr Schoenbach (pictured) said of Russia's president: 'It's easy to give him the respect he wants, and probably deserves as well' Mr Schoenbach's resignation comes after the first portion of a $200 million (145 million) US security package for Ukraine arrived and the country faces the threat of invasion by at least 100,000 Russian troops at its borders. But Germany has refused permission for Estonia's government to send D-30 howitzers into Ukraine, relying on a veto which was a condition of the weapons export from Germany. Berlin's rejection, in contrast to Washington and London, has irritated Ukranian ministers. There are concerns that Germany's reluctance to provide arms could damage Nato efforts to protect the country from Russian invasion. The Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday accused Berlin of 'encouraging Vladimir Putin'. Putin has denied that he plans to invade Ukraine. Mr Kuleba said that German statements about the difficulties of supplying defence weapons to Ukraine were not in line with the current security situation. And he said that unity in the West when faced with Moscow was 'more important than ever.' The Ukranian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday accused Berlin of 'encouraging Vladimir Putin'. Putin (pictured) has denied that he plans to invade Ukraine Meanwhile, Oleksii Reznikov, the Ukranian defence minister, said that Germany are 'hesitating' to deliver arms to the country and said he hoped the country would change its mind. The German defence minister Christine Lambrecht yesterday said that Berlin would send a field hospital to Ukraine but confirmed again that the country would not send weapons to them. Ms Lambrecht said: 'Weapons deliveries would not be helpful at the moment - that is the consensus within the government.' It has long been the consensus in Germany to not export weapons to conflict zones. This policy is part of attempts by the country to make amends for their role in the Second World War. Despite Russia's insistence that it has no plans to invade Ukraine, it has imposed a series of security demands. This includes a ban on Ukraine joining Nato in exchange for de-escalation. Meanwhile, Oleksii Reznikov (pictured) , the Ukranian defence minister, said that Germany are 'hesitating' to deliver arms to the country and said he hoped the country would change its mind Members of Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces, volunteer military units of the Armed Forces, train in a city park in Kyviv, Ukraine yesterday (pictured) amid fears about Russian invasion It comes after the UK sent arms and troops to Ukraine earlier this week, a move which the country is grateful for. A senior MP in Ukraine said that the British support was 'effective and well-timed'. He said he was disappointed that Germany had chosen to block arms deliveries. Speaking to the Telegraph, Serhii Rakhmanin, a member of the Ukranian parliament's defence committee, said: 'For me personally, sadly, the German position was sorrowful. As we know Germany tells us it is a reliable partner, but Germany does not act like this.' The MP also believes that the country would benefit from more British arms shipments. These include anti-aircraft systems and anti-aircraft missiles, radio location systems, electronic warfare and heavy weapons. If Russia invades, Ukraine may have to resort to guerilla-style tactics, according to former defence minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk. This means that fast deliveries of light weaponry by allies from the West are crucial. If Russia invades, Ukraine may have to resort to guerilla-style tactics, according to former defence minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk. Pictured: Civilian participants train in a Kyviv Territorial Defence Unit train in a forest yesterday amid the Ukraine and Russia crisis Referring to the 2,000 anti-tank missile launchers and training from the British Army's Ranger Regiment he said the UK was 'very quick to move' and it is what Ukraine needs. He said the country needs a tactic similar to guerrilla warfare where armed forces work in smaller groups. This week, crunch talks between Washington and Moscow on the Ukraine situation did not find an agreement. However, there are due to be more talks between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany in Paris on Tuesday. It is hoped that the talks will end the conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukranian government forces and pro-Russian separatists. A source yesterday told the Telegraph that Russia's chief negotiator Dmitry Kozak will take part in the talks on the Russian side. There are due to be more talks between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany in Paris on Tuesday. Pictured: A convoy of Russian armoured vehicles moves along a motorway in the Crimea on January 18 Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are sending US-made anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. The US secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, said this reflected 'longstanding support to Ukraine.' He later added on Twitter: 'I expedited and authorized and we fully endorse transfers of defensive equipment @Nato Allies are providing to Ukraine to strengthen its ability to defend itself against Russias unprovoked and irresponsible aggression. But earlier this week, a spokesman for Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, said Western arms supplies to Ukraine are 'extremely dangerous' and they do not reduce tensions. In Ukraine, many members of the public are weary about the potential threat of Russia and are hoping NATO and the EU will come to the country's aid in the worst case scenario. Lisa Wilkinson has speculated Australia's 'bin fire' handling of the Omicron crisis is what prompted Jacinda Ardern to postpone her own wedding and plunge all of New Zealand into Covid 'red alert'. Thousands of Kiwis are living under the most serious level of restrictions, including vaccine passports and mandatory masks, after just 24 new cases were announced on Sunday. An outspoken critic of Australian governments' response to the pandemic, TV host Wilkinson speculated whether Ms Ardern's tough decisions were sparked by a fear of replicating what was happening across the Tasman. The New Zealand Prime Minister revealed on Sunday she would postpone her upcoming nuptials to television host Clarke Gayford because she 'was no different to other New Zealanders'. Among the new rules is that household contacts of Covid cases now must isolate for 24 days - despite most countries worldwide implementing a 14 day, and more recently, seven day isolation period. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (left) has been forced to postpone wedding pans several times since Clarke Gayford (right) got down on one knee during 2019 Easter break - with Lisa Wilkinson speculating she took decisive action after seeing the 'bin fire' across the ditch 'Wowee - 24 days!' The Project co-host said on Sunday night's program. 'If that doesn't give you an indication that Jacinda Ardern has looked across the "ditch" at our bin fire and gone, "Not doing that!" Wow.' Co-host Georgia Tunny added: 'It's just a reminder to keep up with or try - it's impossible to keep up with what the actual advice is. 'There's 24 days there, seven days here - what's the incubation period for Omicrons and what is it Delta? 'We work in the news cycle and it's still so convoluted and confusing.' Tommy Little pondered what the rules may mean for large families living under the same roof. 'If you've got a big family - say 10 in your family and you keep catching it 10 days after each other. Come to four years later and you're just getting out of iso!' he quipped. Lisa Wilkinson (right with co-host Georgia Tunny) expressed shock at New Zealand's new isolation rules, where household contacts of cases must self-isolate for 24 days Anyone infected with Covid is now required to isolate for 14 days, up from 10 days under the new interim rules. Household contacts must then stay in quarantine for a further 10 days, stretching the time alone out to three and a half weeks. Ms Ardern was planning to wed her television host fiance this summer in Gisborne on the North Island before a spate of Covid-19 threw plans into chaos, almost three years after he popped the question. She originally planned to walk down the aisle earlier but has been set back by a series of tragedies including the Christchurch terror attack, the White Island volcano eruption in 2019 and the coronavirus pandemic for the last 21 months. 'Such is life,' Ms Ardern said when asked about the delay on Sunday. 'I am no different to dare I say it thousands of other New Zealanders who have had much more devastating impacts felt by the pandemic. 'The most gutting of which is the inability to be with a loved one sometimes when they're gravely ill. That will far, far outstrip any sadness I experience. 'My wedding will not be going ahead, but I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic.' 'And to anyone caught up in that scenario, I'm so sorry.' Jacinda Ardern (left) has postponed wedding plans to partner of eight years Clarke Gayford (right) Ms Ardern raised New Zealand's Covid alert to red after the discovery of nine Omicron cases in the community with no link to the border. 'Red is not lockdown. At Red businesses stay open and you can do most of things that you normally do, including visiting family and friends and travelling around the country,' Ms Ardern said. 'One of the most important things that people can do is to make sure you and your family have a buddy like a neighbour or a friend - who can help you out by delivering things that you need if you do become unwell.' New Zealand reported 24 community cases and 47 new cases identified at the border on Sunday with eight people in hospital and none in ICU. At the red setting of New Zealand's traffic light system residents are still able to do most things, including travel and visit other households. Masks are now required in hospitality and retail, schools, airports, public transport, and public buildings. Hospitality can stay open, but a 100 customer limit will apply, with patrons needing to show their vaccine passport and stay seated. Capacity limits also apply for retail and public buildings, while offices are encouraged but not required to bring in work from home. Ms Ardern said both the North and the South Islands would be under the red alert setting for 'some weeks' as the country enters the start of a new wave of Covid cases (pictured, Kiwis line up for vaccines) New Zealand's vaccine passport, dubbed My Vaccine Pass, will be required by law to enter many venues. A cap of 100 vaccinated attendees and 25 non-vaccinated will also apply for public and private gatherings. There is no change to the start of the 2022 academic year, however, all students and staff above Year 4 need to wear masks indoors. Ms Ardern said there were no changes to the international border re-opening which is scheduled for February 28. She said both the North and South Islands would be under the red setting for 'some weeks' as the country enters the start of a new Covid wave. Kiwis will still be able to do most thing, despite a red Covid alert being issued (pictured, people in Auckland on Sunday) Jamie Oliver has revealed he employs 'offence advisers' to vet his recipes to avoid being accused of cultural appropriation. The celebrity chef, 46, said his 'Empire roast chicken' recipe from 2012 would probably not be acceptable today despite it being a 'bloody good recipe'. Talking about receiving accusations of cultural appropriation, he told the Sunday Times Culture magazine: 'Your immediate reaction is to be defensive and say, "For the love of God, really?" And then you go, "Well, we dont want to offend anyone".' As a result, Oliver said he has employed 'teams of cultural appropriation specialists' to avoid accusations of insensitivity. It comes after Oliver, who has sold 48 million books since 1999, previously sparked controversy with his own versions of traditional recipes. In 2018, he was accused of cultural appropriation by Labour's then shadow women and equalities minister Dawn Butler MP and other social media users for launching 'punchy jerk rice'. And in 2014, he enraged West Africans with a Jollof rice recipe on his website causing a huge backlash dubbed 'Jollofgate'. Jamie Oliver has revealed he employs 'offence advisers' to vet his recipes to avoid being accused of cultural appropriation French chef Raymond Blanc, the chef patron at Le Manoir aux QuatSaisons in Oxfordshire, said if he was to create a recipe from another country, he would speak to people from there first. 'It is for us professionals to do that in a manner that is not offensive,' he told the magazine, but also noted accusations of cultural appropriation should not always been seen as a negative, and rather regarded as 'cultural enrichment'. He said 'multiculturalism and cultures' have been taken around the world for thousands of years, resulting in 'foods and ideas' travelling. Georgina Hayden, a food writer and judge on The Great Cookbook Challenge on Channel 4, said it was 'essential' that chefs submerge themselves in a culture to ensure they are 'respectful and genuine'. Back in 2018, Dawn Butler, the MP for Brent Central in north west London, picked up on comments from social media about Oliver's 'punchy jerk rice' and joined in with her own criticism. She suggested Oliver was using the word jerk to increase the sales of his rice and his product was not faithful to the original Caribbean recipe which is usually a marinade for meat. The Labour MP also suggested the chef ask Levi Roots, the creator of jerk barbeque sauce Reggae Reggae sauce, to teach him about it. Ms Butler tweeted: '#jamieoliver @jamieoliver #jerk I'm just wondering do you know what #Jamaican #jerk actually is? 'It's not just a word you put before stuff to sell products. @levirootsmusic should do a masterclass. Your jerk Rice is not ok. This appropriation from Jamaica needs to stop.' Jerk can refer to a type of cooking which involves marinating meat in a jerk spice mixture, or the marinade itself. It originated in Jamaica. The spice mix itself primarily uses allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers - neither of which were listed on the ingredients list for Oliver's product - alongside others. Oliver defended the name of the ready meal in a statement after Caribbean chef Rustie Lee claimed the recipe had 'nothing to do with jerk'. In 2018, Oliver was accused of cultural appropriation by Labour's then shadow women and equalities minister Dawn Butler MP and other social media users for launching 'punchy jerk rice' In 2014, Oliver enraged West Africans with a Jollof recipe and was criticised for his use of cherry tomatoes on the vine, when Jollof rice is traditionally made with blended tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers. The Motley Musings blogger said at the time: 'We have to ask ourselves who actually benefits from Jamie Oliver's "appreciation" of Jollof rice. This doesn't necessarily translate into value for Africans. 'For so long, different African cultures have been appropriated without any direct benefit to Africans themselves, and people are particularly sensitive to this.' Critic Jonathan Meades previously said chefs should not fear offending 'the guardians of authenticity,' arguing, 'without cultural appropriation there is only stagnation.' Oliver is not the first chef to have been accused of cultural appropriation. In 2019, Gordon Ramsay became embroiled in a row with food writer Angela Hui, accusing her of a 'slew of derogatory and offensive social media posts' after she accused him of cultural appropriation over his 'fake Chinese' restaurant Lucky Cat in Mayfair. In 2019, Gordon Ramsay hit back at a critic after she accused him of cultural appropriation over his 'fake Chinese' restaurant Lucky Cat in Mayfair. In 2017 Nigella Lawson faced derision from Italian chefs when she unveiled her recipe for carbonara featuring cream instead of raw eggs. Writing for the London Eater website, she posted a scathing review calling his venture 'nothing if not a real life Ramsay kitchen nightmare', adding: 'I was the only east Asian person in a room full of 30-40 journalists and chefs.' But Ramsay took exception at social media messages allegedly sent by Ms Hui in which she targeted the partner of executive chef Ben Orpwood, calling her a 'token Asian wife'. Ramsay said: 'The slew of derogatory and offensive social media posts that appeared on Angela Hui's social channels, were not professional.' In 2017 Nigella Lawson faced derision from Italian chefs when she unveiled her recipe for carbonara featuring cream instead of raw eggs. Barnaby Joyce's fiancee has given a bombshell account of the tumultuous times after their affair was made public, with his secretly-pregnant former staffer fearing she would give birth alone and forced to 'walk away' from judgmental friends. Vikki Campion, who is 18 years the Nationals leader's junior, gave birth to their Sebastian in 2018 and second son Thomas a year later, after a very public affair that saw Mr Joyce forced to step down as deputy prime minister. Despite a rocky start, the pair got engaged last week at the Latitude 30 restaurant in Coffs Harbour, with Ms Campion comparing their relationship to a 'great love throughout history'. It hasn't always been smooth sailing, with Ms Campion, 36, admitting their romance 'wasn't perfect' - but insisting she doesn't regret the drama surround their infidelity. Barnaby Joyce (pictured right) proposed to his former staffer Vikki Campion (left with sons Sebastian and Thomas) last Sunday night at a restaurant in Coffs Harbour 'Even until the day he said in Parliament that I was his partner, I didnt believe it to be accurate. He said he would be there in the labour ward and I didnt believe that either,' she wrote in a column for the Daily Telegraph. The mother-of-two explained that after a whirlwind of 'twisted mistakes' and 'humiliation', she was forced to 'walk away' from friends before they could 'exile' her. 'You swap your job for harsh stares, paparazzi and paranoia, schoolyard rumours cooking up in Ultimo newsrooms, many without a yolk of truth and you stop answering the door,' she went on. 'He has asked me a thousand times: "Would you go through it all again?" And my answer has always been yes.' In December, 2017, Mr Joyce used the parliamentary debate on same sex marriage to confirm he was no longer with Natalie, his ex-wife of 24 years, with whom he shares four daughters. News of Mr Joyce, 54, and Ms Campion's relationship hit the headlines in February 2018 after photos emerged of his former staffer heavily pregnant in the Daily Telegraph. In December, 2017, Mr Joyce confirmed he was no longer with Natalie, his wife of 24 years, with whom he shares four daughters (pictured) Mr Joyce subsequently resigned as deputy prime minister and Nationals leader and moved to the backbench, amid pressure to quit due to the relationship and after an unrelated sexual harassment allegation was made against him, which he has strenuously denied. Then-PM Malcolm Turnbull described the affair as a 'shocking error of judgement'. As the scandal erupted, Ms Campion also left her position at Mr Joyce's office in April, the same month she gave birth to their first son. The couple welcomed their second son Thomas in June the following year. Ms Campion said her husband-to-be made her cry with his proposal last Sunday night during an intimate dinner. She explained how he pretended to drop his phone at the table, and then while down there, proposed on both knees. Ms Campion compared her relationship with Mr Joyce (pictured with their sons in June 2021) to the 'great loves throughout history' in a column for the Daily Telegraph Ms Campion said they had 'sacrificed' a lot for their 'great love', which led to the end of his 24 year marriage to the mother of his first three children. She then said other people give up this kind of love for a 'dull, safe, vanilla version of comfort.' Mr Joyce had been planning on proposing to Ms Campion in tropical north Queensland but was delayed after catching Covid during a trip to the US, with subsequent attempts also being thwarted by the pandemic. Following the revelations about the pair's affair, Mr Turnbull introduced bans on MPs having sexual relationships with their staffers. Mr Joyce and Ms Campion then appeared in an exclusive interview with Channel Seven, rumoured to have earned them $150,000. Mr Joyce and Ms Campion appeared in an interview with Channel Seven' Sunday Night back in 2018, rumoured to have earned them $150,000 (pictured) Mr Joyce accused people of acting 'unAustralian' in their pursuit of the story. 'I thought that's not who we are in Australia,' he told the network 'That's not the kind of people we are. I'm the public figure, go after me.' Mr Joyce said Ms Campion has made him a 'better person' but admitted if she'd said no he'd still be at the restaurant where he proposed 'getting smashed'. 'She is really happy, I am really happy and I guess the boys are happy, but they are just the same, no change there really,' he said. Advertisement Former Desert Island Discs host Kirsty Young has purchased a deserted island in the middle of a Scottish loch. The 53-year-old and her husband Nick Jones, 58, reportedly forked out 1.55million on Inchconnachan Island in Loch Lomond which is also known as Wallaby Island due to the colony of marsupials that live there. The island was owned by the the aristocratic Colquhoun family from the 14th century and has been uninhabited for the last 20 years. It is mostly covered in ancient woodland and features a derelict bungalow, boathouse and pier which were constructed in the 1920s. According to plans submitted to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, the couple plan to demolish the bungalow and replace it with a timber three-bedroom lodge and also replace the boathouse. A source close to the couple told the Scottish Sun on Sunday: 'It is modest accommodation in keeping with what is already on the island.' Former Desert Island Discs presenter Kirsty Young and her husband Nick Jones have purchased Inchconnachan Island (pictured), a deserted island in the middle of Scotland's Loch Lomond, where they plan to build a holiday home for themselves The couple reportedly paid 1.55million for the deserted island in the middle of Loch Lomond which measures 103 acres The source insisted that the purchase was for their own personal use and would not become part of the 1.4 billion Soho House empire. Nick Jones founded the private members' club chain in 1995 and it was floated last year on the New York stock exchange. The island went up for sale through estate agents Savills and Knight Frank last year with a starting price tag of 500,000. Plans submitted on behalf of the couple suggest they want to 'reverse the decline' of the island and are 'committed to immediate action and long-term environmental management'. The plans state: 'Nick and Kirsty are tremendously excited to have this unique opportunity to participate, to not only conserve the island, but to enhance the natural habitat and restore it to its natural state. 'The last few decades has seen the island fall into a neglected state and it will remain so unless there is a dedicated commitment and serious financial input. The couple plan to replace the island's derelict bungalow (pictured) with a timber three-bedroom lodge according to plans Deserted: 103-acre land sits between the islands of Inchtavannach and Inchmoan and has been vacant for around 20 years 'With the island of Inchconnachan, Nick and Kirsty's goal is to create a world class place for everybody to enjoy its unique natural beauty.' Young, from East Kilbride, and Jones are also planning to organise regular trips to the island for local schoolchildren and to install a defibrillator on their island for public use across the 22 islands and 27 islets of Loch Lomond. The spectacular 103-acre isle includes the derelict 1920s bungalow, a boathouse and pier, and comes with planning permission for a new four-bedroom lodge and a one-bedroom warden's house. The crumbling timber house was once the summer home of the Countess of Arran, Lady Fiona Gore, who became the fastest woman on water in 1980 at the age of 53 after reaching 102mph in a speedboat on Lake Windermere. The island has been in Lady Gore's family since the 14th Century and is now known for its colony of wallabies, which are thought to have been introduced in the 1940s. It is designated as an Area of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation and is accessible by boat from the village of Luss on the south side of the Loch. The island (pictured) allows for a range of activities including sailing, kayaking, mountain biking, angling and hill walking Young and Jones are planning to organise regular trips to the 103-acre island (pictured) for local schoolchildren History: The secluded island in Loch Lomond was once the summer retreat for the Countess of Arran, Fiona Gore (pictured in her speedboat in 1982), who became the unlikely champion powerboater at the 1980 Segrave Trophy Despite its seclusion, the island can be a base for all manner of outdoor activities including wake-boarding, sailing, mountain-biking, kayaking, angling and hill walking. Sitting between the islands of Inchtavannach to the west and Inchmoan to the south, the island is covered in ancient woodland, including oak, aspen, alder, Scot's pine, Douglas fir and larch trees. And it is visited by an array of wildlife throughout the year including deer, jays, coal tits, crossbills, collared doves and, occasionally, nesting ospreys. Young announced that she would be stepping down as host of Desert Island Discs in 2019 following '12 incredibly happy and fulfilling years' in the role, after she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Her interview subjects included Sir David Attenborough, David Beckham, George Michael and Dame Judi Dench. At the time, Young said the enforced absence due to her diagnosis had 'altered' her perspective and that it was now time for 'new challenges.' The programme is now hosted by 43-year-old 6 music presenter Lauren Laverne. A victim of Ghislaine Maxwell might not testify if the disgraced socialist is awarded a second trial because she does not think she could 'go through it again'. Lawyers for Maxwell, 60, launched an appeal for a retrial last week due to a juror's possible failure to disclose that he was sexually abused as a child before the trial. Her attorneys said they have filed a motion for retrial under seal, but referenced Juror No. 50, known as Scotty David, who opened up about his traumatic past. Maxwell, who was found guilty last month of five counts of child sex trafficking and faces up to 65 years in jail when she is sentenced in June, is currently in solitary confinement at New Yorks Metropolitan Detention Centre. She is on suicide watch, allowed only paper clothing and is not allowed books. If the motion for retrial is granted, though, prosecutors would have to put forward a case without one of four key witnesses, or find other alleged victims. A representative of one of the women, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she did not think she could 'go through it again', The Telegraph reports. Ghislaine Maxwell on Jeffrey Epstein's private jet. The picture was entered into evidence after being recovered by FBI during a raid at Epstein's mansion Maxwell turns to sketch court sketch artist Jane Rosenberg during her trial in New York last month Maxwell's lawyers said there were 'incontrovertible grounds' for a new trial after juror Scotty David (above) said he described being abused as a child during deliberations Maxwell, 60, was convicted on five federal charges related to sex trafficking last month for her role facilitating sex predator Jeffrey Epstein's abuse. She faces 65 years in prison She added: 'A lot of the trauma resurfaced for her, and all these women. 'It took so much for them to do it the first time, I think reliving it would be too much. The situation is very unfortunate.' Several women who gave evidence at the trial in New York did not come forward publicly until decades after the offences, with three agreeing to testify under pseudonyms to protect their identities. Carolyn Andriano, 35, waived her anonymity in an interview following the trial. She said she 'wanted people to know these terrible things have happened to me and that I am a survivor'. Her mother added that the case had taken a huge toll on the mother-of-four, who had been unable to look after her children. A second victim, who gave evidence under the name Jane, told the court she delayed coming forward with allegations over fears of repercussions for her acting career. Prosecutors, who have requested that US District Judge Alison Nathan conduct an inquiry into the juror's statements, will have until February 2 to respond to Maxwell's motion. Legal experts say that Maxwell would not be guaranteed a new trial even if the juror did not disclose his abuse on the questionnaire, noting that cases of juror dishonesty that led to verdicts being overturned generally involved jurors who deliberately lied in order to be selected. Maxwell was at one point Epstein's lover, but their complicated relationship evolved to her managing his household staff And one former prosecutor said the US Government could even mount a stronger case against Maxwell at a second trial. Brad Edwards, a lawyer who represented a number of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, echoed the view, saying: 'Since the verdict, more people have come for ward, willing to share their stories and testify, so I don't think a new trial would go any better for her.' According to former Federal Prosecutor David Weinstein, now a partner in Miami based law firm Jones Walker, all jurors may now be interviewed, specifically the two jurors who have shared their stories publicly. He said that the admissions would not necessarily be considered automatic grounds for a mistrial but that it would, at the very least, be 'an arrow in the quiver' for Maxwell's appeal. Maxwell has a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 28. The revolt against Boris Johnson appears to have spread to junior ministers today amid signs that the Partygate row means that even they could turn on him. The Prime Minister and his No10 team were slammed in a private meeting by a number of political private secretaries, the lowest rung on the ministerial ladder. One, Paul Holmes, is said to have told Dan Rosenfield, the PM's private secretaries that 'heads must roll' amid the chaos engulfing the Government. Jane Hunt, an aide to Cabinet Office Minister Steve Barclay, is alleged by the Sunday Times to have told him: 'I wouldn't p*** on you if you were on fire.' The comments suggested Mr Johnson could not reply on MPs on the Government payroll backing him if backbenchers trigger a confidence vote. Former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown also emerged to pour fuel on the fire this morning. Speaking to Sky News he warned that Mr Johnson's Government will likely end in scandal, former prime minister Gordon Brown has said. Speaking on Trevor Phillips On Sunday, Mr Brown said: 'We don't just have the scandal - and all the details will probably come out later this week about partying - we have the conflicts of interest, we have the dubious appointments, we have foreign money and question marks over that, who is paying the bills for what? 'And I don't think we are going to see this administration end in anything other than scandal.' The Prime Minister and his No10 team were slammed in a private meeting by a number of political private secretaries, the lowest rung on the ministerial ladder. One, Paul Holmes, is said to have told Dan Rosenfield, the PM's private secretaries that 'heads must roll', while Jane Hunt, an aide to Cabinet Office Minister Steve Barclay, is alleged by the Sunday Times to have told him: 'I wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire.' It came as the Tory civil war broke out into fresh conflict over alleged islamophobia today after a former minister claimed she was told she was being fired by Boris Johnson because of her 'Muslimness'. Nusrat Ghani, 49, alleges she was told by a party whip she was being axed as a transport minister in February 2020 because her status as a Muslim woman and a minister was 'making colleagues feel uncomfortable'. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has said Tory MPs are rallying behind Boris Johnson ahead of the expected publication this week of the report into Downing Street parties during lockdown. 'There is a rallying of support behind the Prime Minister, you could feel it in the chamber,' Mr Raab told the BBC's Sunday Morning programme. 'I think the reason is the booster campaign has been so successful, we are coming out of the lockdown measures, we are opening up the economy. These are all because of the calls the Prime Minister has made.' Mr Raab refused to be drawn of whether the findings of Sue Gray, the senior civil servant investigating the reports of lockdown breaches in Whitehall, would be published in full, although he insisted there would be 'full transparency'. 'The process for it will be for the Prime Minister to decide,' he said. He reaffirmed that Boris Johnson would have to resign if he was found to have misled Parliament over what he knew and when about a series of illicit parties in Dowenign Street. 'The code of conduct for ministers is very clear that if you mislead Parliament it is a resigning matter,' the Deputy Prime Minister said. He also appeared to suggest publication of the Gray report could take slightly longer than expected. 'If it takes a day or too longer - absolutely right. Sue Gray should determine that,' he said. Mr Brown added that 'attention has veered' away from other important issues like the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the rising cost of living in the UK, and Russia's aggression against Ukraine because of the Downing Street parties. Some secondary school children are only able to understand books intended for six-year-olds, teachers have revealed. Campaigners have warned of a 'reading crisis' across British schools which is believed to have been accelerated by lockdowns which saw children forced to learn from home. And secondary school teachers are now having to be trained in giving reading lessons. Campaigners have warned of a 'reading crisis' across British schools which is believed to have been accelerated by lockdowns which saw children forced to learn from home. Stock picture The president of the Association of School and College Leaders, Pepe Di'lasio, told The Times: 'This is a nationwide issue.' Research published last year found that one in five 11-year-olds at secondary school weren't able to read to the expected standard. The UK is 14th in international league tables for reading, according to Pisa tests which evaluates the reading of 15-year-olds in 70 countries. Despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson's promise to make children's reading take precedence he refused to give 15billion in funding to help children catch up. Will Millard, from the think tank Centre for Education and Youth, told the publication: 'Secondary schools are having to do remedial reading with 11-year-olds. We are working with ten schools and they all have a focus on reading and children's vocabulary. 'For the children who were most behind to begin with, we are facing a real crisis. It's a perfect storm including teachers still away and schools overstretched.' Former chief inspector of education, Sir Michael Wilshaw (pictured), has also warned it is a 'huge crisis' And former chief inspector of education, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has also warned it is a 'huge crisis'. Mr Di'lasio, who is the headteacher at Wales High School in Rotherham, says that 10 per cent of his students are more than a year behind the reading age they should be at and 20 per cent are six months behind. And most alarming, around 12 students are five years behind. He has resorted to trying to tempt children into reading by using apps so it feels more modern. The Department for Education said it was 'committed to raising literacy standards'. The former home of an ex-Russian spy poisoned by Novichok has been purchased by Wiltshire County Council. Sergei Skripal's two-bedroom Salisbury residence, which has been scrubbed clean of the nerve agent, has been sold to the authority for 260,000. The present-day value of the house is almost 390,000, but the Land Registry shows the council bought the house for the same price Mr Skripal paid for it in August 2011. Now the house will be used by the council under its 'shared ownership scheme and offered to local residents based 'on an agreed market value'. Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia were both found slumped on a bench in the city centre in March 2018 after the military-grade chemical Novichok was sprayed on the house's front door handle. Sergei Skripal's two-bedroom Salisbury residence, which has been scrubbed clean of the nerve agent, has been sold to Wiltshire County Council for 260,000 Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia (Pictured) were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury city centre last year after being poisoned by the nerve agent which had been sprayed on the house's doorknob The attack seriously injured police officer Nick Bailey and Salisbury resident Charlie Rowley, whose partner, Dawn Sturgess, 44, died after she found a perfume bottle containing Novichok and sprayed it on her wrist. The suspected assassins Russian intelligence officers Anatoliy Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin were caught on CCTV as they travelled from Moscow to the Wiltshire cathedral city. A third suspect, senior Russian agent Denis Sergeev, was believed to be the on-the-ground commander. All three fled back to Russia after their failed murder attempt. The house was returned to Mr Skripal, although Wiltshire Council refused to say if the sale was done with his consent or if he will get the proceeds. The nerve agent was sprayed on the property's doorknob (pictured). The two suspects - known by their aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov - were caught on CCTV in Salisbury the day before the attack They said: 'We cannot divulge personal information about any individual to a third party. It would be in breach of data protection legislation.' The council said it was going to buy the house on the third anniversary of the incident last year - but it took many months for the deal to be finalised. The house was finally declared safe in September 2019 following a huge clear-up by the authority after the letterbox was smeared with the deadly nerve agent. Yesterday Councillor Phil Alford - the Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Housing - added: 'Following agreement from DEFRA we have formerly competed the transfer of 47 Christie Miller Road in Salisbury and it will be made available again as a home in the community. Military teams spent months cleaning the two-bedroom property in Salisbury, and even removed its roof, back in 2019 before it was handed back to Mr Skripal 'It will be refurbished and will soon be brought back into use under our shared ownership scheme and offered to local residents based on an agreed market value. 'We're pleased that this property located in a lovely area, will once again become a place that a family can call home where new happier memories can be created. 'The community in Christie Miller Road has been through an awful lot over the last few years and we politely ask that their privacy is respected so that they can quietly live their lives in peace.' A stowaway has miraculously survived a brutal journey from South Africa to the Netherlands while hiding in the front wheel section of a cargo plane. The man was discovered squeezed into the wheel section under the fuselage of a Cargolux Boeing 747 freight plane at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport earlier today, according to Dutch military police. A flight from South Africa's largest city, Johannesburg, to Amsterdam is around 11 hours alone - but this plane also made a stop in Nairobi, Kenya, which made the journey even longer. A spokeswoman for the Dutch police said it was 'remarkable' that the man - whose identity, age and nationality have not yet been established - had survived the perilous conditions. 'Our first concern of course was for his health,' said Joanna Helmonds. 'This is definitely very unusual that someone was able to survive the cold at such a height - very, very unusual.' 'It is quite remarkable that he is still alive.' A stowaway has miraculously survived a brutal journey from South Africa to the Netherlands while hiding in the front wheel section of a cargo plane. The man was discovered squeezed into the wheel section under the fuselage of a Cargolux Boeing 747 freight plane at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport earlier today, according to Dutch military police (stock pic) According to Schiphol airport's website, a Boeing 747 cruises at an altitude of just over 35,000ft and a speed of over 550mph. Meanwhile, the standard ambient temperature at 35,000ft is around -54C, with around 25 per cent less oxygen in the air than at sea level - conditions which would typically result in hypoxia, frostbite, hypothermia and a host of other ailments. What's more, people attempting to cling onto the undercarriages of planes also risk being crushed by the landing gear as it is retracted following take-off - or falling to their deaths when the landing gear is deployed. Yet the stowaway somehow managed to survive these horrendous conditions for several hours. A police statement said: 'The man is doing well considering the circumstances and has been taken to a hospital.' A spokesperson for freight carrier Cargolux confirmed that the stowaway had been on a flight operated by Cargolux Italia. 'We are not in a position to make any further comment until the authorities and the airline have completed their investigation,' they said. The only Cargolux freight flight arriving at Schiphol on Sunday was a Boeing 747 freighter that travelled from Johannesburg and made a stop in Nairobi, Kenya, according to Schiphol's website and flight tracking data. A spokesperson for the airport declined to answer questions about the incident. A flight from South Africa's largest city, Johannesburg, to Amsterdam alone is around 11 hours alone - but this plane also made a stop in Nairobi, Kenya, which made the journey even longer Stowaways on flights to the Netherlands are rare, Helmonds added, noting that previous attempts had involved would-be migrants from Nigeria and Kenya. Last year, the body of a Nigerian man was found in the landing gear of a plane arriving at Schiphol airport. In November, US border officials in Miami apprehended a 26-year-old man who had stowed away in the landing gear of a plane arriving from Guatemala. Several people attempted to stowaway on US aircraft during the military withdrawal from Afghanistan last year, with many falling to their deaths as the planes took off from Kabul airport. Hyundai's Tucson Hybrid / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group Winston Churchill's rousing speeches inspired a nation and played a key role in maintaining Britain's morale during the dark early days of the Second World War. His defiant and powerful words allowed ordinary Britons, soldiers, sailors and airmen to feel hope. He replaced Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister on May 10 1940. Days earlier, the 'phoney war', the period of relative calm following the declaration of war on September 3, 1939, had ended with the German invasion of France, Belgium and Holland. Churchill's first speech as premier to the House of Commons, three days later, would go down in history as one of his most famous. Winston Churchill's rousing speeches inspired a nation and played a key role in maintaining Britain's morale during the dark early days of the Second World War He said: 'I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this government: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." 'We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. 'You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. 'You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. 'Let that be realised; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal. 'But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time, I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, 'Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.' ' Extract from his first broadcast as PM to the country on May 19, 1940. 'I speak to you for the first time as Prime Minister in a solemn hour for the life of our country, of our Empire, of our allies, and, above all, of the cause of freedom . . . 'It would be foolish . . . to disguise the gravity of the hour. It would be still more foolish to lose heart and courage or to suppose that well-trained, well-equipped armies numbering three or four millions of men can be overcome in the space of a few weeks, or even months... 'Side by side, unaided except by their kith and kin in the great Dominions and by the wide empires which rest beneath their shield side by side, the British and French peoples have advanced to rescue not only Europe but mankind from the foulest and most soul-destroying tyranny which has ever darkened and stained the pages of history. 'Behind them behind us, behind the armies and fleets of Britain and France gather a group of shattered states and bludgeoned races: the Czechs, the Poles, the Norwegians, the Danes, the Dutch, the Belgians upon all of whom the long night of barbarism will descend, unbroken even by a star of hope, unless we conquer, as conquer we must; as conquer we shall. 'Today is Trinity Sunday. Centuries ago, words were written to be a call and a spur to the faithful servants of truth and justice, 'Arm yourselves, and be ye men of valour, and be in readiness for the conflict; for it is better for us to perish in battle than to look upon the outrage of our nation and our altar. As the Will of God is in Heaven, even so let it be.' ' Extract from his Commons speech on June 4, 1940, after the evacuation of 338,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk. 'I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. 'At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty's Government every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. 'Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous states have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. 'We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.' Extract from his Commons speech on June 18, 1940. 'What General Weygand [the French Allied commander] called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. 'Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. 'Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. 'But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. 'Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour." ' A troubled teen who spent almost his entire life under state guardianship threatened to take his own life as he begged a child protection department supervisor to not return him to a residential care facility, an inquest has heard. Zhane Chilcott's school counsellor also repeatedly expressed grave concerns for the 13-year-old's welfare in four emails to the department, requesting the boy be referred to mental health support services. But pleas to help Zhane fell on deaf ears and the Adelaide teen tragically took his own life weeks later. Heartbreaking new details about Zhane's final months have emerged at the ongoing inquest into his death in July 2016. Zhane Chilcott (pictured) died less than two months after he told a child protection department supervisor he would self harm if he was returned to a residential care facility The inquest heard Zhane was in a distressed state during a call to child protection department supervisor Diane Longman in May 2016, claiming 'no one is listening to me' and threatened to 'kill himself', the Adelaide Advertiser reported. A referral later sent to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services didn't mention Zhane's threats of self harm. The inquest also heard Zhane's school emailed the department on May 30, June 7, June 30 and July 7, all requesting mental health assistance for Zhane. The teen took his own life at the residential care facility on July 12, five days after the school's final email - which went unanswered - inquiring why Zhane hadn't recently received therapeutic help. Ms Longman told the court an internal report written by unknown author concluded Zhane was 'happy' about being in care. 'The document speaks for itself,' Coroner David Whittle told the inquest. 'He indicates an extreme level of unhappiness and it is at odds with this document by whomever it was created and when. The boy, who says he would rather kill himself than go back to the unit, is not indicating that he is happy.' Zhane Chilcott's school counsellor also repeatedly expressed grave concerns for the boy's welfare to the department, an inquest has heard The inquest heard an email sent to a guardian stated Zhane would likely stay at the residential care facility for another five years until he turned 18. The Coroner's Court previously heard Zhane had been in some type of care or foster home since he was about 12 months old when the inquest began in November. Counsel assisting Sally Giles told the inquest his short life was marked by significant placement instability leading to minimal opportunity to develop meaningful and secure relationships with the adults who cared for him. Ms Giles added the 13-year-old had also suffered from a myriad of behavioural issues in care and at school, sparked by significant traumas and a lack of help at critical moments in his life. The Adelaide schoolboy (pictured) spent much of his life under state guardianship before his death An inquest into 13-year-old Zhane Chilcott's tragic death five-and-a-half-years ago continues The inquest was also told that between 2005 and 2011, Families SA conducted only six home visits to check on the boy's care. His early school years were marked by sporadic attendance and behavioural problems with the boy excluded at one stage for kicking a principal. At a later time, he was placed with an experienced foster carer in SA's mid-north where he was said to have flourished, had begun to attend school regularly and had been nominated for a leadership role. But when the carer said he could not continue to look after the boy without an increase in funds, authorities had refused to provide extra money. It resulted in him being placed in a residential facility at a greater cost over a three-month period than what the carer had asked for over a full year. The inquest continues. If you or someone you know needs confidential support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636. TikToker Jack Wright has accused fellow social media star Sienna Mae Gomez of sexual assault after video shows her apparently straddling, groping and kissing him while he was incapacitated. Wright, 18, shared a 17-minute video - titled What Sienna Mae Did to Me - on his YouTube channel Friday, detailing a string of alleged assaults by his former friend and online collaborator. He accused Gomez, a former high school friend, of four instances of assault, including one in Hawaii that was caught on video in May 2021. 'The Hawaii incident happened where I was passed out, unconscious almost like the whole night. She got on top of me, took advantage of me, groped me,' Wright claimed, adding he's 'so glad' his friends 'pulled her off' of him. One of Wright's friends, Lachlan Hannemann, posted a video saying he was the friend that pulled Sienna Mae off Wright, while condemning her behavior. Gomez, 18, denied the allegations in a statement provided to Yahoo, calling the claims 'fictitious' and an 'act of slander'. She claims she and Wright were in a 'consensual and cordial' relationship, and even blasted him for 'slut shaming' her. 'Not only are these attacks baseless and false, the release of his most recent video is indicative of the public narrative that Jack and some of his friends hope to use as a crutch to further their lies,' the statement said. 'Those who have collaborated, in this act of slander, did so with the motivation to further associate themselves with Sienna after their professional relationship, and therefore their claim to any portion of her substantial success, were terminated.' Gomez's agent did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. TikToker Jack Wright has accused fellow social media star Sienna Mae Gomez of sexual assault after video shows her apparently straddling, groping and kissing him while he was incapacitated Wright accused Gomez of several instances of assault, including one in Hawaii that was caught on video (left). He claimed he was 'passed out, unconscious (right) almost like the whole night. She got on top of me, took advantage of me, groped me.' Wright said his friends had to pull Gomez off of him 'I was at a party, like passed out on the couch,' Wright recalled. 'When they told me about what happened they said they pulled her off of me. 'Another friend got in an argument with Sienna saying, "you can't do that. Jack doesn't like you like that."' He continued: 'That night she posted a 15 part aggressive video gaslighting everything about what happened, how much she loved me and that I was using her for clout - which was all lies. It was [what] typical gaslighting to a victim is.' Wright's friend, Mason Rizzon, first brought attention to the alleged assault in a series of TikTok and Twitter posts on May 30, 2021. Gomez denied the allegations in a YouTube video dated June 1, claiming they were 'unequivocally false'. Two days later, TikTok user Lachlan Hannemann posted video of the alleged incident that appeared to show Gomez kissing and touching Wright while he was unconscious. Gomes again, on June 4, denied the accusations and said the footage was manipulated. Until Friday, Wright had never explicitly addressed the accusations, but now says Hannemann's account of the incident is correct. The teen alleged he was 'passed out unconscious' when Gomez 'got on top of me, took advantage of me, groped me' before his friends pulled her off him. 'Honestly I'm glad that they have evidence,' he said. 'After Sienna found out about the video she said sorry. She said if this got out she would be done, that it's horrible and she's working on boundaries and she was seeking therapy.' Wright, 18, shared a 17-minute video - titled What Sienna Mae Did to Me - on his YouTube channel Friday, detailing a string of alleged assaults by his former friend and online collaborator. Wirght and Gomez, also 18, are pictured together He then continued to outline at least three others instances where Gomez - whom he first met in high school four year ago but reconnected with after they both gained large followings on TikTok - allegedly assaulted him. He claimed Gomez once got 'completely naked' and straddle him while he was 'just chilling on the bed' despite his repeated request that she top. He said he was forced to physically remove her and leave the room. Wright, describing the situation as 'weird and random,' said Gomez would apologize for her alleged inappropriate actions but 'these types of things kept happening.' 'She would do something and I would forgive her and she said it wouldn't happen again,' he said. 'We would go on making fun videos after all those type of things kept on happening.' He accused her of angrily confronting him at a party because he was taking photos with other women. Wright said Gomez asked him to speak in another room and she 'pulled me in, and grabbed me and tried to make out with me' before he told her to leave. The teen also claimed Gomez would frequently 'break into his home' while he was asleep. 'She would constantly come to my house, remembering my door codes. It got to the point where I was screaming at her to get out of my house, because she was like, breaking into my house,' he said. 'I would wake up and see her car sitting outside at two in the morning. She would break into my house, and, when I was sound asleep, she would come to my room, and I would wake up to her hand in my pants. It wasn't the only time it happened, too. I was just so used to it.' He added: 'One night she started ripping off my clothes, touching my crotch area, trying to make out with me.' Wright claimed asked Gomez to stop repeatedly and ended up sleeping on the floor. Gomez (left) has denied the allegations, calling them 'fictitious' and an 'act of slander.' Her representatives allege that Gomez and Wright (right) had a 'consensual and cordial' relationship and that his 'false claims began after Sienna wished to end the relationship out of feelings of being used and misled through their time together' Wright, citing another alleged incident at a party, claimed Gomez asked to speak to him in a bathroom, sitting on a counter and wrapping her legs against him. Later that same evening, she allegedly picked the lock on his door and walked into the restroom while he was in the shower. 'Looking back now I don't know why I stayed friends with her, stayed around her. I truly thought she was going to change,' he added. Gomez's representatives called Wright's allegation a 'calculated action to hinder, hurt and harm not only Sienna's reputation and livelihood, but her as an individual human being as well. Sienna unequivocally denies these accusations.' They also noted that besides 'spreading falsehoods about Sienna online, Jack has taken no action.' 'There has been no police investigation not even a police report to our knowledge no charges, no private lawsuit and no contact between Sienna and Jack or their respective legal teams in many months,' the statement read. 'It was always Sienna's desire and intention to handle this privately vs in the court of public opinion, as she would never want to sensationalize or degrade the seriousness of sexual assault. Sadly, Jack's blatant disregard for the truth has left us with no choice but to address these claims publicly.' 'Jack and his collaborators have attempted to utilize blatant slut shaming culture to justify their fictitious claims and have effectively victimized a successful woman of color in a way that, regrettably, we have seen many times before, all in an effort to use her suffering as a catalyst for their own personal gain.' Gomez's representatives also alleged the two had a 'consensual and cordial' relationship. 'Jack's false claims began after Sienna wished to end the relationship out of feelings of being used and misled through their time together. While Sienna understands several personal reasons Jack may be engaging in this behavior, she holds true to her character and will not share details of Jack's personal life as she understands the type of hurt and harm it could cause him,' the statement reads. 'Once again, Sienna vehemently denies these claims. Moreover, she wants to publicly apologize to all victims of sexual assault for the manner in which Jack is attempting to use her for his own selfish reasons to exploit sympathy. Sienna has never wanted to engage in this narrative publicly or disrespect the insurmountable pain and trauma associated with credible claims of sexual assault and hopes they can be halted immediately to reduce further harm to sexual assault victim and survivor communities.' Scott Morrison's profile on China's largest social media website was blocked by WeChat and re-branded to push the Communist nation's propaganda in what has been dubbed a 'blatant' act of censorship. The Australian prime minister has recently seen his WeChat account turned into a pro-Beijing mouthpiece under the name 'Australian Chinese new life' which intelligence chiefs are calling 'foreign interference'. Mr Morrison's 76,000 followers on the 'super app' were sent a notification indicating they should opt out immediately or they'd be automatically signed up to the bizarre new account. Intelligence agencies are taking the latest attempt by China to inflame tensions with Australia extremely seriously, with one expert saying it is 'anti-democratic'. Scott Morrison's profile on China's largest social media website has been hacked and re-branded to push the Communist nation's propaganda (pictured before the hack) Scott Morrison (pictured with his wife Jenny) has been victim of a Chinese cyber hack, with his WeChat page now spouting propaganda Mr Morrison's page was renamed earlier this month, but his team have been locked out of the account dating back to July last year, according to The Daily Telegraph. Due to limits on users operating outside of China, the PM employed a locally-based operations unit to post information for Chinese Australians on the platform. After discovering they were unable to log in the team made several approaches to WeChat about regaining access, all which went unanswered. The most recent communication was an email sent by Mr Morrison's team on January 10, which also fell upon deaf ears. The account has since saw the Australian leaders' picture deleted and become a profile to 'provide life information for overseas Chinese in Australia', according to a translation. WeChat, which is owned by tech firm Tencent, is regularly monitored and censored by the Chinese Communist Party. The Australian prime minister has recently seen his WeChat account become a pro-Beijing mouthpiece under the name 'Australian Chinese new life' (pictured) Intelligence agencies are taking the latest attempt by China to inflame tensions with Australia extremely seriously, with one expert saying it is 'anti-democratic' (pictured: Chinese president Xi Jinping) Joint Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security chairman Senator James Paterson is asking all Australian politicians to boycott the platform in response. '(The CCP are) targeting our Prime Minister by seeking to shut down his ability to communicate with the Chinese Australians by banning him from the most widely used channel of communication in that community,' he said. 'We cannot allow a foreign authoritarian government to interfere in our democracy and set the terms of public debate in Australia.' He said the move was a direct attempt to target Chinese Australians and 'enforce censorship well beyond its borders and interfere in our democracy'. Anthony Albanese, who also uses the platform to communicate with Chinese Australians, recently posted a story accusing Mr Morrison of spreading 'lies' about rapid antigen tests, among other issues - with no such interference on his page. Pictured: Taiwanese Naval forces hold military exercises preparing for an invasion by the Chinese military Another post shared comments by Senator Penny Wong about the country's foreign policy. Peter Jennings, the executive director of the Australian Stategic Policy Institute, said it was a clear attempt at 'political interference' in a federal election year for the country, with Labor politicians not being targeted. 'It's very blatant, and it's overtly a pitch for those 76,000 subscribers,' he said. 'It's obviously intended to be regarded as provocative.' Australia's relationship with China has reached new lows since the onset of the Covid pandemic, when Mr Morrison called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the virus, which started in the Chinese city of Wuhan. As retaliation the communist country imposed billions of dollars worth of arbitrary bans and tariffs on key exports like barley, beef, cotton, timbre, seafood and wine in 2020. As part of an unprecedented pact with the US and UK, Australia has since signed an agreement for new nuclear submarines to combat China's military build-up in the South China Sea and nearby Papua New Guinea, sparking fears of war. Chinese soldiers march next to the entrance to the Forbidden City on May 21. China has stepped up its military activity in the Indo-Pacific region Shocking disparities between Australia and China's military power shows we would struggle in a war In recent years, Communist China has built military bases in the South China Sea and terrorised smaller Asian nations such as the Philippines and Vietnam with a series of naval exercises. There is also an increasing threat troops will invade Taiwan, with the US vowing to defend the area if China attacked. University of Sydney Associate Professor of Northeast Asian Politics, James Reilly, said the arms race between China on one side and Australia and the US on the other in this part of the Pacific could lead to war. 'I personally am deeply concerned about, what we call in international relations, security dilemmas where each two sides to a dispute keep taking more and more measures that they believe are reasonable and defensive but the other side responds in kind,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'We end up with spirals of increasing army, military build-ups, mistrust and increasing risk of war. 'The risk of war increases the more the countries are arming each other.' In November, Mr Dutton said it would be 'disastrous' for Australia if it did not support the US in a potential conflict with China. Advertisement Katie Price's family want her to seek help over her 'erratic' behaviour in the weeks leading up to her arrest on Friday, it has been reported. The reality TV star and ex-glamour model posted a defiant message on Instagram saying she 'still has her sparkle and drive' after she was released on bail from Worthing police station yesterday, as it was revealed she could face five years in prison for allegedly breaching a restraining order. The 43-year-old was arrested on suspicion of breaching her restraining order after she allegedly branded her ex-husband Kieran Hayler's fiancee Michelle Penticost a 'gutter sl*g' in 'abusive messages', MailOnline revealed yesterday. In her Instagram post, Price wrote: 'I still have my sparkle and drive, looking forward to this week big announcement coming so excited.' Police investigating the alleged offence have apparently confiscated Price's phone following a 12-hour interrogation before her release yesterday, The Mirror reports. A source close to her family told The Sun that they wanted her to go back into rehab, saying: 'Katies been having a tough time recently and her behaviour in the past couple of weeks has become slightly erratic. 'She has been lashing out on social media and even had a pop at Peter Andres wife Emily MacDonagh and claimed shed stopped her daughter from visiting her in rehab. 'Her family wanted her to go back into the Priory for a while to get past her demons as shes done so well previously when she had been there. 'However this isnt something Katie wanted to do. 'They know how lucky she was that she didnt go to prison. Her family is distraught. They want to do everything they can to help and protect Katie. But this time if the accusations are correct, she really hasnt helped herself and the situation is looking bleak.' Ex-glamour model Katie Price has been pictured today being driven around by fiance Carl Woods after her arrest on Friday In her Instagram post, Price wrote: 'I still have my sparkle and drive, looking forward to this week big announcement coming so excited' Price, who was handed a five-year restraining order forbidding her from contacting Ms Penticost directly or indirectly in 2019 after hurling a 'tirade of abuse' at her, could now face up to five years in prison if she is charged and found guilty. Sussex Police said a woman in her 40s was arrested at a property in Partridge Green, West Sussex at around 12.15am on Friday night. She has been released under investigation. A spokesman added a report had been made at 5.45pm on Friday in relation to an alleged breach of a restraining order. Later on Saturday, Katie Price was seen being driven out of Worthing Police station by her fiance Carl Woods and has been pictured being driven around again today. Price (pictured on Sunsday) was arrested on Friday after allegedly breaching a restraining order by texting her ex-husband's fiancee Price was released from a police station in Worthing on Saturday while inquiries into an alleged breach are ongoing. Pictured: Price was seen inside a car at a petrol station on Sunday Carl Woods is seen driving Katie Price around Sussex this morning for the first time since she was arrested for allegedly breaking a restraining order The 43-year-old was arrested on suspicion of breaching her restraining order after she allegedly branded her ex-husband Kieran Hayler's fiancee Michelle Penticost (pictured together) a 'gutter sl*g' in 'abusive messages', MailOnline revealed yesterday Messages were alleged to have called her vile names, as seen in mocked-up picture above She was seen on the back seat of a Mercedes, with her hand on the headrest, as her fiance drove the vehicle. Price, who lives in 'Mucky Mansion', is banned from contacting Mr Hayler's girlfriend Michelle Penticost either directly or indirectly under the terms of a five-year restraining order imposed in 2019 after she verbally abused her in a primary school playground. Price admitted in 2019 to verbally abusing Ms Penticost and her friend Andrea Quigley after young children and a teacher witnessed her hurling a 'tirade of abuse' including shouting 'f****** c***' multiple times at both women. According to the Sentencing Council the maximum sentence for breaching the protective order is five years in prison. Miss Penticost is understood to have contacted Sussex Police on Friday to complain that Price had sent Mr Hayler 'abusive' messages aimed at her. Sources claimed the messages branded Miss Penticost a 'gutter sl*g' and a 'c***ing we piece of s***', according to The Sun. They added: 'The words were absolutely vile.' Mr Hayler and his fiancee were understood to have been interviewed by police in their home before Price was taken into custody. She has been released under investigation. Miss Penticost, 39, was said to have been left 'devastated and threatened' following the alleged messages. Pictured: Katie Price's hand is seen on the headrest of a Mercedes, driven by Carl Woods, as she left the station yesterday Katie Price (pictured in December) was arrested after she allegedly branded Kieran Hayler's fiancee a 'gutter sl*g' On Saturday, Katie Price was seen leaving Worthing Police station, as she was driven out of the premises by Carl Woods Sussex Police said that a woman in her 40s was arrested. Pictured: Katie Price is driven out of Worthing Police station Price, who lives in 'Mucky Mansion' in Partridge Green, is banned from contacting Mr Hayler's girlfriend Michelle Penticost (pictured with Mr Hayler) under the terms of a five-year restraining order imposed after she was convicted of verbal abuse A spokeswoman for Mr Hayler told The Sun: 'We can confirm that an incident took place on Friday after which Michelle was left distressed by a tirade of abusive insults and threats.' Ex-glamour model Price, 43, has accused her estranged husband, 34, of sexually assaulting a person. Mr Hayler, a former stripper, has angrily denied the 'false' allegations' and vowed to co-operate with police. 'At 5.45pm on Friday (21 January) police responded to a report that a suspect had breached their restraining order,' a force spokesman said. Sussex Police (station pictured) said that a woman in her 40s was arrested at a property in West Sussex at around 12.15am 'Officers arrested a woman in her 40s who has been released under investigation while inquiries continue.' MailOnline has approached representatives for Price and Mr Hayler for comment. Mr Hayler's fiancee Miss Penticost, 39, shared a cryptic message on Instagram which read: 'Normal people don't go around destroying other human beings.' She also shared the hashtag 'restrainingorder'. Price claims that she went to police before the divorce but suggests that the alleged victim has now come forward herself. Sussex Police says Mr Hayler has not been arrested and described the alleged victim as a 'girl', who was under the age of 16 in 2016. The force confirmed that they had received allegations of a sexual assault which they are investigating Price's ex Kieran Hayler pictured for the first time since allegations that he assaulted a woman on three occasions in 2016 Pictured: Katie Price seen leaving Worthing police station today Police are to question Price's ex-husband Mr Hayler over historic rape allegations relating to another woman they both knew 'No arrest has been made at present. The girl is receiving support from specially trained officers'. Mr Hayler's spokesman previously told the Mirror: 'Kieran is absolutely devastated by these untrue allegations and has requested to meet the investigating officer as soon as possible to clear his name. 'He is certain that these allegations are false and have been fabricated by a third party in an act of revenge. 'He will fight to clear his name and moreover for those responsible to be brought to justice.' A source close to Mr Hayler added to The Sun: 'Police have been in touch with Kieran regarding an allegation from 2016, which is believed to have been made by Katie. It relates to someone they knew while they were married. 'Kieran is co-operating and insists he has done nothing wrong but he's happy to speak to the cops about it. 'He just wants to move on from his marriage to Katie.' Angela Rayner's romance with fellow Labour MP Sam Tarry was thrust out into the open today as they were spotted leaving her London home together. Ms Rayner, 41, is believed to have become close to the 39-year-old Ilford South MP after he ran her campaign to become Labour's deputy leader. She separated from her husband Mark in 2020 and Mr Tarry, a father of two, is also understood to have now parted from his wife. They were pictured by the Sun on Sunday leaving her taxpayer-funded home, with Mr Tarry showing what looked like a toothbrush in his coat pocket. Mr Tarry is something of a rarity, a leftwing Labour MP with a shadow ministerial post, as shadow public transport minister. He entered Parliament at the 2019 election with the backing of Corbynite grassroots group Momentum, after the previous Labour MP for Ilford South, Mike Gapes, defected to Change UK. While the pair have been quiet about their relationship, they may have to open up about it in future if Ms Rayner, a grandmother, decides to run for the Labour leadership. Ms Rayner, 41, is believed to have become close to the 39-year-old Ilford South MP after he ran her campaign to become Labour's deputy leader. She separated from her husband Mark in 2020 and Mr Tarry, a father of two, is also understood to have now parted from his wife. Mr Tarry is something of a rarity, a leftwing Labour MP with a shadow ministerial post, as shadow public transport minister. The plain-talking Mancunian said it would be 'an absolute honour' to enter Downing Street as a former single mum from a council estate. But she told US broadcaster CNBC she planned to do it as deputy prime minister, with Sir Kier in the top job. Last week she made clear her designs on Labour's top job - before pledging her support to Sir Keir Starmer. The plain-talking Mancunian said it would be 'an absolute honour' to enter Downing Street as a former single mum from a council estate. But she told US broadcaster CNBC she planned to do it as deputy prime minister, with Sir Kier in the top job. However, she declined to rule out running to replace him as party leader one day, saying: 'Never say never'. 'At the moment, I can't wait to get into number 10 With Keir and be his deputy prime minister as a girl from my background, who grew up on the, you know, a council estate very poor background to left school pregnant at 16, with no qualifications to become deputy prime minister would be an absolute honour,' she said. 'And I never forget the trust that the people of my constituency put in me at the moment. And that's what spurs me on to keep going. And they deserve better than what they've got currently. And I want to keep fighting to get that farther.' It is not the first time Ms Rayner has talked openly about taking over at the top Last September she positioned herself as a future leader on the first day of the party conference in Brighton, boasting: 'If Boris Johnson can bluster his way as PM, I know for an absolute certainty I can do a lot better than that.' The Queen has arrived in Norfolk after making a special pilgrimage ahead of the 70th anniversary of her father's death as she stays in Prince Philips's beloved Wood Farm cottage for the first time without him. The monarch, 95, usually spends the festive period at Sandringham, but has remained at Windsor Castle since the autumn as a Covid precaution and held muted Christmas celebrations with close family last month. In preparation for the anniversary of her father George VI in 1952, though, the Queen has made a special trip by helicopter followed by a short drive by car to Norfolk. The monarch, 95, usually spends the festive period at Sandringham, but has remained at Windsor Castle since the autumn as a Covid precaution A source told the Mail on Sunday: 'Everything is being put in order for the Queen's visit. 'We've been told that she will stay at Wood Farm, rather than the main house, which is nice as that always had a special place in his heart.' The Queen has stayed in the cottage before, but it will be the first time since Philip died in April last year. She last visited the estate in early November and would normally have spent the weekend after Halloween at Sandringham with Philip and did not want to miss the occasion. In preparation for the anniversary of her father George VI in 1952, though, the Queen has made a special trip by helicopter followed by a short drive by car to Norfolk She is expected to spend Accession Day, on February 6, with her family during an extended break at the cottage and will mark her Platinum Jubilee in private The Queen, when she wasn't on duty in London, would travel up to stay with Philip at the cottage and it was there that the two could live more like a 'normal' couple than at any other time of her reign The Queen has made a special trip to Norfolk via a short helicopter ride and drive from Windsor The Queen pictured in the backseat of a vehicle as she arrives in Sandringham on Sunday While the Queen has visited the Sandringham estate since the death of her husband, it will be the first time she has stayed at the Wood Farm cottage since the death of Philip The Queen will mark the 70th anniversary of the death of her father George VI during an extended break at the cottage The Queen has stayed in the cottage before, but it will be the first time since Philip died and thus very fitting that she should return now. (Above, the royal couple at the Sandringham estate in 1982) On visits to Sandringham, the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret would cycle around the estate and join their mother and father overseeing the harvest. (Above, Elizabeth with her father, George VI, at Sandringham in 1943) The Queen pictured leaving Windsor Castle to head to Sandringham in Norfolk on Sunday morning However, just a week later, Buckingham Palace aides were forced to announce that 'with great regret' that the Queen would not be able to attend the Remembrance Sunday parade at the Cenotaph due to a 'back sprain'. She is expected to spend Accession Day, on February 6, with her family during an extended break at the cottage and will mark her Platinum Jubilee in private. Four days of public celebrations will be held nationwide in June. When Philip retired from public duties in 2017 at the age of 95 the age of the Queen today Sandringham was the place he called home. With typical enthusiasm, he set about improving Wood Farm as a retirement bolt-hole. He oversaw a project to install a new kitchen and spent his days reading, writing and painting. When Philip retired from public duties in 2017 at the age of 95 the age of the Queen today Wood Farm cottage was the place he called home At Sandringham, there will be plenty of fond memories of 'we four', as the Queen's father used to refer to his happy nuclear family himself, his wife (the Queen Mother), Elizabeth and her sister Margaret - all pictured, along with Philip In 2020, on the anniversary of VE Day, the Queen gave a national broadcast recalling her father's address to the nation 75 years earlier The Queen, when she wasn't on duty in London, would travel up to stay with Philip at the cottage and it was there that the two could live more like a 'normal' couple than at any other time of her reign. Dispensing with liveried servants, Philip had insisted that Wood Farm staff a page, housekeeper, chef and footman wore ordinary clothes. Whether by helicopter or by car, the 140-mile journey from Windsor to Sandringham is one to be endured rather than enjoyed particularly for a 95-year-old. So the decision to travel will not have been made lightly and must be taken as a sign that, if she is not robust, she is in reasonable health. A seven-year-old girl was allegedly sexually touched by a stranger while travelling on a regional train with her grandmother. The 64-year-old woman boarded a train at Wagga Wagga bound for Sydney on Friday at 1.10pm along with the little girl. The pair were then approached by an unknown man, who police say started speaking to them before assaulting the girl and leaving the carriage. The pair reported the incident to police when they arrived at Central Railway Station in Sydney. The young girl was travelling with a 64-year-old woman on a train from Wagga Wagga (pictured) to Sydney when the alleged incident occurred Following a police hunt, a 55-year-old man was arrested on George Street in Haymarket on Sunday afternoon. While searching the man, police allegedly found fake ID documents. He has since been charged with intentionally sexually touching a child under 10 years, procuring a child under 14 for unlawful sexual activity, and three counts of theft. The man, from Haymarket, was refused bail and will appear at Central Local Court on Monday. Federal prosecutors in New York have obtained more than 3,000 of Rudy Giuliani's communications from 18 devices seized by the FBI last spring as part of their probe into the former New York City mayor's dealings in Ukraine, it was reported on Friday. There were more than 25,000 communications on the devices in total dating back to 2018, retired federal judge Barbara S. Jones said according to the Washington Post, the same year he signed on as then-President Donald Trump's personal attorney. FBI agents raided Giuliani's home and office on April 28, 2021 and took multiple phones and computers. Jones had submitted a four-page report to a judge overseeing Giuliani's bid to block the federal probe. The communications she decided should be handed over to the Southern District of New York were part of a lawsuit Giuliani filed seeking to block their release, asserting they contained privileged information. Jones had been appointed to conduct an impartial review of those items. Jones granted Giuliani's request to keep hidden 40 of 96 communications he sought attorney-client privilege. He withdrew his bid for 19 of them, and Jones said 37 were 'not privileged.' Jones granted Giuliani's request to keep hidden 40 of 96 communications he sought attorney-client privilege The former NYC mayor's lawyers did not seek attorney-client privilege on more than 3,000 items from between December 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019, which were handed over to prosecutors on Wednesday. It's not clear what any of the communications contained. Giuliani, once a well-respected national GOP figure, has been probed by feds over whether he had acted as an unregistered foreign agent when dealing with officials and other influential figures in Ukraine for Trump. He has denied any wrongdoing in the probe thus far, and his lawyer told multiple outlets that Jones' decision to keep 40 of 96 of Giuliani's requested materials private is evidence of that. 'Totally expected and in fact we want the prosecutors to see the material as it makes our consistent point that he did not do anything illegal,' his lawyer Robert Costello told The Hill. Costello told the Washington Post that none of the items seized included exchanges between Giuliani and Trump. The latter is known to not rely on electronic messages, the Post noted. He's being investigated by the Southern District of New York, the office he once ran before becoming mayor of New York City 'Theres no [Foreign Agents Registration Act] violation. Rudy Giuliani didnt do anything illegal or unlawful,' he claimed to the outlet. Privilege reviews like Jones' are a normal part of the legal process. An attorney's communications with their client are generally protected unless the demonstrate a level of criminal activity. Also last week, Giuliani associate Igor Fruman was given a year in prison for an unrelated campaign finance case that allegedly saw foreign cash go to key Republican candidates. Fruman had helped Giuliani in his quest to seek damaging information on then-candidate Joe Biden in Ukraine during the heated 2020 presidential campaign cycle. Giuliani's legal woes also continued last week when he was subpoenaed by the House committee investigating the Capitol riot. The Democrat-led bipartisan panel wants to hear from Giuliani about his claims that the 2020 election was rigged against Trump. Those claims got him slapped with a defamation suit by Dominion Voting Systems last year, which is seeking more than $1 billion in damages from the former mayor. A Tennessee megachurch pastor was discovered half-naked with a married co-worker by stunned worshippers - only to claim that they'd innocently been cooking chili, and had stripped down after accidentally spilling it. Last November, volunteers at the Venue Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, paid a surprise visit to Pastor Tavner Smith at his house - but discovered the pastor wearing only his boxers, with a married church employee in a towel. The unnamed woman was married to another worker at Venue Church. Video circulating online is said to show the blonde woman - seen only from the rear - looking cozy with Smith, who divorced his wife last year, at a local restaurant. Speaking of the chili incident, an unnamed worshipper told the Daily Beast: 'I don't think none of us was that dumb. If she dropped chili on her clothes, why are you in your boxers? Was y'all like, throwing chili at each other?' Rumors of the pastor's alleged affair had been swirling for months. One former church member told the Daily beast she had given Smith the benefit of the doubt for quite awhile. Pastor Tavner Smith, pictured, is said to have been caught half-naked with a married co-worker. He was also filmed getting cozy in a restaurant with an unidentified female, said to be the same woman Smith was filmed leaning in for a kiss with the woman. He divorced his wife Danielle Lancia in 2021 The pastor, who started Venue church in a former Sam's Club warehouse in 2012, was well-respected and made a good name for himself and his family. Multiple people who spoke to the Daily Beast credited the church with turning their life around. But he is said to have begun to spend more time with the co-worker in 2020, and surprised worshippers by getting a tattoo, and a piercing. As the rumors began to circulate, some church members began asking questions. One church member said she spoke to the the pastor and the church employee who was allegedly having an affair with, and they both denied having an affair. But something still felt off, she said. Then she received a video from another church member. It showed smith and the female employee sitting together for a bit when it appears they go in for a kiss. 'At that point we were just kind of like, 'OK that's the physical evidence,' the former attendee told the Daily Beast. 'That was the moment that we were like, 'That's what we needed. Locals say Smith began preaching about relationship issues around the same time his own is said to have fallen apart. His church is said to be so cult-like - with locals repeatedly pestered to join - that people who avoided it would joke 'Don't drink the orange Kool-Aid,' a reference to the color of its logo. Smith is pictured with Danielle. No reason for their split was given - but worshippers have long suspected an affair with a female co-worker, who is married to yet another worker at Smith's Venue Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee Smith preaches what is known as 'prosperity gospel,' where worshippers are encouraged to donate part of their income to the church to get them closer to heaven Smith founded venue church in a former Sam's Club warehouse in 2012, with the worship group now in possession of assets worth millions of dollars Smith called a meeting to address the video, which had circulated online. He refused to answer questions directly and denied any affair took place. The church, once on Outreach Magazine's list of fastest-growing churches in the country, by 2020 had campuses in two states and pulled in nearly 2,000 people on a given Sunday. 'Everyone used to say, 'Venue is a cult, Venue is a cult,' and I was like, 'No, it's not,' the volunteer who witnessed the chili incident told The Daily Beast. 'And now as I look back I'm like, 'I don't think I was in a Godly place.' Rumors began circulating about an alleged affair and in 2021 Smith and his wife filed for divorce. The split was finalized Dec. 22, the same day the Chattanooga Free Press reported that eight Venue employees had quit. The pastor made his announced on Instagram that he would be taking a 'sabbatical' in order to 'fill up, spend time with God, and get some counseling.' The flag of Samsung hangs in front of a building in the Samsung Town office park in Seocho District, Seoul, in this 2020 file photo. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han By Park Jae-hyuk Samsung Electronics is on the brink of settling the first-ever collective bargaining agreement over wages in its 52-year history. A representative from one of four Samsung Electronics unions said Sunday that the conglomerate's unionized workers started voting a day earlier on the management's final proposal for 2021 wages, submitted last Friday to the four unions. "The result of the vote is expected to come out Monday afternoon," he said. Although the details of the proposal remain yet to be known, company management reportedly refused to accept the request for an additional salary hike, citing the completion of last year's annual spending and investing. Instead, the management is said to have promised to give employees more days off and to reform its peak wage system, which refers to a wage system that cuts salaries gradually for senior workers several years before retirement. If the offer wins support votes from the majority of unionized workers with a voter turnout of at least 50 percent, union and management will be able to sign a final agreement following three months of wage negotiations. "The final decision will be made after listening to the opinions of the workers," the union representative said. Representatives from Samsung Electronics' union and management pose after signing a collective agreement at the company's factory in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, in this August 2021 file photo. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics An anti-vaxxer who carried out a series of bomb hoaxes against a school and an NHS centre and repeatedly vandalised a Covid-19 vaccination tent was jailed this week. Rodney Stuart Peasley, 66, caused the evacuation of a secondary school and sparked a major NHS incident as part of his hoax terrorism targeting people promoting life-saving Covid vaccines. The bomb hoaxer also slashed the tent of a vaccination centre set up by a GP surgery and sprayed graffiti on it that read, 'No Vax 4 Kids'. Peasley, of Scorrier, Cornwall, was sentenced to 21 months in jail at Truro Crown Court on Friday. Rodney Stuart Peasley, 66, (pictured) carried out a series of bomb hoaxes against a school and an NHS centre and repeatedly vandalised a Covid-19 vaccination tent He pleaded guilty to four counts of criminal damage between October and November last year, as well as making three bomb hoax threats on November 19. Covid vaccines reduce the likelihood of people dying from the virus and have helped reduce the UK's death rate massively. The court heard Richard Lander School in Truro was evacuated after Peasley left a voicemail and suggested to a receptionist there were explosive devices within the school. It was heard that the school had been due to give Covid vaccinations to students. The anti-vaxxer then went called Kernow Health, also in Truro, which was responsible for the administration of Covid vaccinations in the area. Peasley claimed there were multiple bomb devices planted on service vehicles that would detonate randomly over the following hour. Richard Lander School (pictured) in Truro was evacuated after anti-vaxxer Peasley left a voicemail and suggested to a receptionist there were explosive devices within the school This call was also taken seriously, leading to a number of NHS venues locking down and the NHS and police declaring a major incident. Peasley was later tracked down by police through his mobile phone number and arrested. The court heard in addition to bomb threats, Peasely was filmed on CCTV damaging a marquee at Mount Hawke surgery being used for Covid vaccination clinics. This happened on four separate occasions between October and November 2021, causing total damage worth 16,000. He slashed sections of the marquee, sprayed graffiti, set off a smoke pellet and spray painted CCTV cameras. Robin Smith, defending Peasley, said the defendant did not see himself as an 'anti-vaxxer' and claimed he been concerned with the safeguarding of young people for decades. The court heard in addition to bomb threats, Peasely was filmed on CCTV damaging a marquee at Mount Hawke surgery being used for Covid vaccination clinics. Pictured: Richard Lander School, Truro Mr Smith said: 'He is against the unilateral, uninformed, mass vaccination of young people, without them and their parents being given information. 'This is a man who genuinely and sincerely cares about the safety and wellbeing of young people.' He said Peasley had written to both the school and Kernow Health apologising for his actions a few days after the bomb threats. Sentencing Peasley, Judge Garnham said: 'It is clear to me [the criminal damage] was part of a coordinated attack on premises involved in the vital work of providing Covid vaccinations to the people of Cornwall. 'Bomb threats are a pernicious type of offence. They cause ordinary people going about their ordinary, lawful activities to be put in fear for their lives. 'Here it is all the more serious because it involved a school and those in the provision of healthcare.' However, he noted the bomb hoaxer's 'genuine remorse' and his early guilty pleas, which reduced his sentence. Peasley was sent to prison for 20 months for each bomb hoax, to run concurrently, with a further one month for each criminal damage offence, again to run concurrently to each other but in in addition to the first sentence. This amassed to a total of 21 months in prison, half of which will be spent behind bars and the rest on licence. Advertisement Belgian police resorted to firing powerful water cannons and using tear gas to control mass demonstrations in Brussels against the EU nation's Covid-19 restrictions earlier today. Today's protest saw up to 50,000 people demonstrating in the capital of the European Union, including many who had travelled from France, Germany and other European countries to take part and voice their anger. Protesters yelled 'Liberty!' as they marched through the streets of Brussels and clashed violently with police, while videos emerged of black-clad protesters attacking a building used by the European Union's diplomatic service, hurling projectiles at its entrance and smashing windows. White-helmeted police riot officers later sought to disperse protesters, who ignored instructions broadcast over loudspeakers that the demonstration was finished and that they should leave. Police water cannons fired powerful jets at protesters, while thick clouds of smoke and snaking trails of tear gas filled the air in the Belgian capital. The demonstration called for an end to the country's tough Covid rules as the nation battles an Omicron 'tsunami' which has seen the number of daily infections rise to over 60,000. Brussels police said 70 people were detained and three officers and 12 demonstrators required hospital treatment. The protests followed demonstrations in other European capitals on Saturday against vaccine passports and other requirements that European governments have imposed as daily infections and hospitalisations have surged. People take part in a protest against Belgium and European anti-coronavirus measures, in Brussels, Belgium, 23 January 2022. Tens of thousands of people protested against the way governments imposed restrictive Covid rules and implemented Covid health passes Police officers stand guard during a demonstration against the Belgian government's restrictions imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Brussels, Belgium, January 23, 2022 Rioters erect burning barricades for clashes after a protest against European anti-coronavirus measures, in Brussels, Belgium, 23 January 2022 Demonstrators destroy the entrance of the European External Action Service (EEAS) during a demonstration with tens of thousands of people who demonstrate against health measures in the street on January 23, 2022 Police set off tear gas against protestors during a demonstration against COVID-19 measures in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. Demonstrators gathered in the Belgian capital to protest what they regard as overly extreme measures by the government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, including a vaccine pass regulating access to certain places and activities and possible compulsory vaccines Recent days in Belgium figures of the number of people getting infected with the omicron variant have been peaking, reaching new record amounts every day. Despite this, protestors have clashed violently with police over Belgium's coronavirus measures Today's protest was no different, with demonstrators clutching signs slamming Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and the Covid Safe Pass. The Covid Safe pass proves that citizens are vaccinated or have tested negative and is required for entry into numerous venues Police confront protestors during a demonstration against COVID-19 measures in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 23. A protest leader broadcasting over a loudspeaker yelled, 'Come on people! Don't let them take away your rights!' as police officers faced off against demonstrators who hurled projectiles and insults What are people protesting about in Belgium? Demonstrators gathered today in the Belgian capital to protest what they regard as overly extreme measures by the government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Belgian citizens are currently required to hold a vaccine pass to access most public venues. The vaccine pass regulates who can and can't access a variety of venues and activities and has been criticised for marginalising a considerable proportion of the population. From March 1, a booster jab will be required for people to retain their valid health pass, even if they have received two doses of the vaccine more than five months ago. There are also fears that Belgium will follow Austria in implementing a vaccine mandate for all citizens not medically exempt. Advertisement The sprawling crowd paraded through the Belgian capital in a protest much larger than previous demonstrations - though there have been multiple protests in Brussels in recent months which also saw participants clash with the police. The most recent protest on January 9 saw groups of demonstrators walk through the Belgian capital holding banners and chanting: 'Freedom, freedom!' Today's protest was no different, with demonstrators clutching signs slamming Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and the Covid Safe Pass. The Covid Safe pass proves that citizens are vaccinated or have tested negative and is required for entry into numerous venues. A protest leader broadcasting over a loudspeaker yelled, 'Come on people! Don't let them take away your rights!' as police officers faced off against demonstrators who hurled projectiles and insults. The World Wide Demonstration for Freedom and Europeans United for Freedom, organisers of the protest, had called for people to come from other EU states. This meant there were flags from Poland, the Netherlands and Romania in the crowd. Francesca Fanara, who travelled from Lille in France, told AFP: 'What has been happening since 2020 has allowed people to wake up to corruption.' And Adolfo Barbosa said: 'It's a health dictatorship. It warms the heart to see these people here.' Belgium has seen daily infections surge to over 60,000 in the past week but the milder variant and high rate of vaccine means the country is not under the same strain. Prime Minister De Croo said on Friday at a press conference: '[The Omicron variant] is true to its reputation. It's not a wave, but a real tsunami.' But he said: 'There is good news, Omicron is making people less sick. First of all because more and more Belgians are being vaccinated or have been infected.' Nearly 77 per cent of Belgium's population has been fully vaccinated, and 53 per cent have had a booster dose, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Belgium has seen more than 28,700 virus deaths overall. A man is detained during a demonstration against COVID-19 measures in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. Demonstrators gathered in the Belgian capital to protest what they regard as overly extreme measures by the government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic Rioters erect barricades for clashes with police after a protest against European anti-coronavirus measures, in Brussels, Belgium, 23 January 2022 Pictured: Police confront protesters at today's huge demonstration against coronavirus restrictions in Brussels, Belgium BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: Massive crowds clutch signs slamming Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and the Covid Safe Pass which proves that citizens are vaccinated or have tested negative and is required for entry into numerous venues Pictured: A protester clad in a skeleton costume holds a sign saying 'Where is my freedom?' as thousands of demonstrators descended on Brussels today for a protest against coronavirus restrictions BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: One protester wore an iceberg costume with 'We are the tip of the iceberg' written on it and perched the character Olaf from Frozen on the top of their outfit, as they attended today's mass anti-Covid restrictions protest today The organisers of the protest The World Wide Demonstration for Freedom and Europeans United for Freedom, had called for people to come from other EU states so there were flags from the Netherlands, Poland and Romania in the crowd as it weaved through the streets of Brussels (pictured) BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: Riot police detain a protester during clashes on the sidelines of the protest against European anti-coronavirus measures today De Croo announced at the press conference that restaurants and bars could extend their opening hours but nightclubs still remain closed. He also said that the country is introducing a coronavirus 'barometer' which will come into force next Friday to gauge the seriousness of the pandemic, according to Politico Europe. The barometer will be colour-coded and allow Belgian authorities to link coronavirus measures and restrictions to hospitalization numbers and ICU capacity. Belgium will begin on Code Red which is used when the health system faces a severe threat. Code Red corresponds to 150 new daily hospital admissions and bed occupancy in ICU of more than 500. There is Code Orange for when the system is under pressure, facing 65-149 hospitalisations and ICU bed occupancy of 300-500. Then there is Code Yellow for when hospitals face less strain which translates to fewer than 65 daily hospitalisations and bed occupancy in ICU of fewer than 300. Mr De Croo said that the barometer will help officials with decision-making but the Consultative Committee decides which code level the country is in and what measures or restrictions the country will face based on it. BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: Police set off a water cannon against protesters during today's demonstration against COVID-19 measures Police officers stand guard as protesters hold banners during the demonstration against the Belgian government's restrictions imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus in Brussels, Belgium today BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: A protester holds a banner with the words 'STOP DE CORONA DICTATUUR' written on it (Stop the Corona Dictator) at today's demonstration Balloons, banners and flags were hoisted in the air by huge groups of demonstrators who took to the streets of Brussels to denounce coronavirus restrictions in Belgium today (pictured) Belgian riot police stand behind a barbed wire blockade today as a demonstrator dressed as Jesus clutches a crucifix which says: 'The truth: We're being lied to!' One protester holds a sign alluding to George Orwell's 1984 at the large-scale demonstration in Brussels today In further developments announced in Belgium on Friday, public venues such as cultural centres can have up to 200 visitors with health passes and sport stadiums can host outdoor events. And from March 1, a booster jab is required for people to retain their valid health pass if they had their second dose more than five months ago. The country has reported a steady increase in COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions in January according to Belgium's health institute. There have been more than 30,000 daily cases between January 11 and 17 and 255 daily hospitalisations between January 14 and 20. Belgium's latest coronavirus protest comes as some governments seek to ease restrictions despite the fast-spreading Omicron variant causing a surge in infections. On Friday, the EU's health agency said that Omicron had become the dominant variant circulating in the bloc and neighbouring countries. France has said it will begin a gradual lifting of Covid restrictions from February 2 after authorities said there were 'encouraging signs' that the wave of infections due to the Omicron variant was ebbing. The wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas spoke at a conservative symposium featuring the founder of the Oath Keepers, an extremist militia group that prosecutors said planned the Capitol riot. Virginia 'Ginni' Thomas, an activist and attorney, co-hosted a Remember the Ladies Banquet at the Liberty XPO & Symposium in 2010, which since been called the 'largest conservative training event in history'. The line-up of speakers at the DC symposium also included Stewart Rhodes, who founded Oath Keepers in 2009, the New Yorker reported. The militia group leader was arrested earlier this month and charged with seditious conspiracy in connection to the January 6 insurrection. He has pleaded not guilty. Rhodes is just one of several ties Ginni has to the riot. The magazine's report comes as Ginni last week signed an open letter calling on House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to 'act immediately to remove' the two Republican members of the House Select Committee on Jan. 6 from GOP conference 'due to their egregious actions' as part of the committee. Meantime, Justice Thomas is facing backlash after he allegedly refusing to recuse himself from 'politically charged' cases Ginni has been openly involved with, including the insurrection. 'When Thomas is the lone dissenter on these issues where his wife literally may be implicated in a plot to overthrow the government and the man doesnt recuse, like, make that make sense,' Supreme Court expert Elie Myal told MSNBC. 'You cant make that make sense.' Virginia 'Ginni' Thomas (left), wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas (right), spoke at a 2010 conservative symposium featuring the founder of the Oath Keepers, an extremist militia group that prosecutors said planned the Capitol riot Ginni, an activist and attorney, co-hosted a Remember the Ladies Banquet at the Liberty XPO & Symposium in 2010, which was called the 'largest conservative training event in history' Justice Thomas was the sole dissenting vote Wednesday when the Supreme Court rejected a bid by former President Donald Trump to provide more than 700 pages of presidential documents - including presidential diaries, visitor logs, speech drafts and handwritten notes dealing with Jan. 6 from the files of former chief of staff Mark Meadows - for the House committee's investigation into the insurrection. 'Now, maybe he dissented because Clarence Thomas entire brand is to be wrong all the time. There is that possibility,' Myal said. 'But the appearance here is that the reason why he dissented is because his wife Ginni Thomas is all up in January 6th. She posted on Facebook encouraging those people on January 6th on their special Clarence Thomas Listserve that they have, shes been in the Listserve pushing January 6th conspiracy theories.' On January 6, before Stop the Steal rally turned violent, Ginni made a Facebook post that linked a news article about protest and captioned it: 'Love MAGA people!!!!' Shortly thereafter she made a post about former President Ronald Reagan's A Time for Choosing speech and made a status reading: 'God bless each of you for standing up or praying.' Supreme Court expert Elie Myal (pictured on MSNBC Friday) blasted Justice Thomas after he allegedly refusing to recuse himself from 'politically charged' cases Ginni has been openly involved with, including the insurrection Two days later she clarified that her posts were written 'before violence in US Capitol'. The social media updates have since been made private. Ginni also served on Turning Point USA's advisory board. The organization, which touts itself as a pro-Trump student group, allegedly sent 'busloads of protestors' to Washington DC on the day of the insurrection. It is unclear if Ginni was on the board at the time of the insurrection. The event's line-up featured Stewart Rhodes (pictured), who founded Oath Keepers in 2009. Rhodes was arrested earlier this month and charged with seditious conspiracy in connection to the January 6 insurrection. He has pleaded not guilty Meanwhile, Ginni's 2010 symposium co-host, Moms for America president Kimberly Fletcher, is also accused of inciting the insurrection. Fletcher allegedly gave two speeches on January 5, 2021 and 'spread the false claim that the 2020 election had been stolen' from Trump. She does appear to face charges in connection to the riot. Ginni's political activism has prompted controversy for years, the magazine reported. It has often been dismissed as the 'harmless action of an independent spouse,' but some argue the it could be used to help her allies in 'highly polarizing cases'. 'In the twenty-first century, theres a feeling that spouses are not joined at the hip,' Bruce Green, an ethics professor at Fordham, said, arguing 'the appearance' of Ginni's political pursuits 'is awful'. 'They look like a mom-and-pop political-hack group, where she does the political stuff and he does the judging.' Ginni's political activism has prompted controversy for years. It has often been dismissed as the 'harmless action of an independent spouse,' but some argue the it could be used to help her allies in 'highly polarizing cases' (Pictured: Ginni and Clarence Thomas as seen last October) He added: 'Shes got the ear of a Justice, and surely they talk about their work.' 'I think Ginni Thomas is behaving horribly, and shes hurt the Supreme Court and the administration of justice. Its reprehensible. If you could take a secret poll of the other eight Justices, I have no doubt that they are appalled by Virginia Thomass behavior. But what can they do?' argued New York University law professor Stephen Gillers. The New Yorker also alleged that Ginni is involved with people whose cases have been presented before her husband in the Supreme Court. However, she has not been named as a 'a party to the proceeding' or 'an officer, director, or trustee of an organization' in any case of the Supreme Court's docket, nor is she litigating any such cases. While some may argue her activism toes the ethical line for her husband, she has not put him in a situation where he has been required to recuse himself. A thrill-seeking British student who had to be evacuated from Kabul after he went there on holiday as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in August is planning to travel to Ukraine. Miles Routledge, 21, told MailOnline he hoped to go to Kharkiv, Donetsk and Crimea, all of which the Foreign Office advised against travelling to. Ukraine is on the brink of war with Conservative MP Tobias Elwood saying a Russian invasion was 'imminent'. Mr Routledge, from Birmingham, admitted it was 'self-destructive behaviour' but joked he had only bought a one-way flight to save money in case he died. He told MailOnline: 'I've been to Ukraine before so I'm hoping to see something new. 'I want to see the war. I want to see the feelings of both sides, their opinions and hopefully I'll see the critical point of the conflict, if it is to come.' Miles Routledge, 21, told MailOnline he hoped to go to Ukraine, which is on the brink of war as Russia seems set to invade Mr Routledge has spent time in Kazakhstan (pictured), South Sudan and Afghanistan The youngster has been to Ukraine before, when he visited Chernobyl. He told MailOnline: 'I've been Ukraine before so I'm hoping to see something new' Mr Routledge had to be evacuated from Kabul after he went there on holiday as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in Augus The former Loughborough physics student dismissed people who disapprove of him travelling to dangerous places. He said: 'I'd say I wish them all the best but truthfully they were never my audience and for every seething comment made against me, behind it was my friends and I eating popcorn and laughing at them. 'I'll continue to travel regardless of their opinions, I'll even go back to Afghanistan and there's nothing they can do about it.' Mr Routledge says he came across two armed convoys during the Taliban insurgency, and took a selfie on one of their gun emplacements Members of the Ukrainian army inspect the vehicles entering and leaving the city at the points they strengthen with concrete blocks, on January 23, in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine A service member of the Ukrainian armed forces walks at combat positions near the line of separation from Russian-backed rebels near Horlivka in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on January 22 A convoy of Russian armored vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea, on January 18, 2022 Mr Routledge has also been in war-torn South Sudan (pictured) according to his Twitter profile The Birmingham youngster was invited to the country by a Sudanese local who followed his escapades in Afghanistan. He spent several weeks hiking in Uganda before crossing into Kenya to visit a fan Mr Routledge previously bragged of visiting Chernobyl, posting pictures in May 2021 saying it was two years since he visited the scene of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Ukraine He said he was hoping to arrive in Lviv, western Ukraine, on Thursday, after a flight from Luton via Gdansk, Poland. The Foreign Office advised against all travel to Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea yesterday. It advised against all but essential travel to the rest of Ukraine and urged British people to register their presence in Ukraine. Mr Routledge wrote on Twitter: 'The flight to Ukraine is cheap as chips. I'll also be applying for a Russian visa in the meantime, just in case Russia visits me in Ukraine.' Mr Routledge will fly to Lviv on Thursday before travelling to Kharkiv, Donestsk and Crimea The Foreign Office has advised against travel to the whole of Ukraine, in particular Crimea and Donetsk He said he avoided Covid isolation rules by claiming he was an 'essential journalist with regular international work'. Mr Routledge, who wears a large silver cross around his neck, has said took 'supplies' to rural communities while he was in South Sudan and handed out cash to people in the streets. The African country has been ravaged by civil war and violence since becoming independent in 2011. Combat training sessions with personnel of formations and military units of the Guards Tank Army of the Western Military District in the Moscow Region on January 12 Russia conducted military drills with tanks and explosives in an attempted show of strength A Russian tank T-72B3 fires as troops take part in drills at the Kadamovskiy firing range in the Rostov region in southern Russia, less than 70 miles from the Ukrainian frontier, on January 12 He was previously evacuated from Kabul after he went to Afghanistan 'because it was dangerous'. Mr Routledge has previously bragged of visiting Chernobyl, posting pictures in May saying it was two years since he visited the scene of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Ukraine. In posts to message board site 4chan and live streaming platform Twitch, he claims he was quizzed by armed Taliban militants while on his way to Kabul International Airport. They apparently asked him where he was from - to which he said Wales. He claims the fighters did not know where Wales was, and let him go. Mr Routledge says he later came across another armed convoy during the Taliban insurgency and took a selfie on one of their gun emplacements. According to UK defence experts, Vladimir Putin is on the brink of invading Ukraine for a second time having sent troops into the country's eastern regions and Crimea in 2014. His apparent intention is to prevent Ukraine joining Nato, the defensive alliance led by the US and the UK. As a precursor to conflict he issued a set of demands which he surely knew would be rejected, including the withdrawal of Nato troops from all former Soviet republics. Around 100,000 Russian troops are positioned in striking distance of Ukraine and in recent days military hospitals have been built often an indicator conflict is imminent. President Joe Biden and Boris Johnson have agreed a package of 'unprecedented' economic sanctions against Russia in the event of war. Ukraine doesn't belong to Nato so there will be no military response, at least not officially. Any military assistance provided by the UK or US will be covert and deniable.Putin wants to force a favourable diplomatic settlement. He may be able to do so if he restricts his offensive to the eastern regions already occupied by pro-Russian separatists. He could then call for that region to become independent from the rest of Ukraine, just as Crimea is. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it's possible Kremlin officials are just 'going through the motions' of diplomacy on Sunday after a week of intense international talks aimed at de-escalating Russian aggression on Ukraine's border. Even after meeting with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in Geneva on Friday, Blinken admitted on NBC's Meet The Press that Moscow could still invade the smaller former Soviet state despite the efforts of Western governments. The US's chief diplomat also would not rule out possible American military involvement in the worsening conflict, during a separate interview on CNN's State of the Union Sunday. 'It is certainly possible that the diplomacy the Russians are engaged in is simply going through the motions and it won't affect their ultimate decision about whether to invade or in some other way intervene, or not in Ukraine,' Blinken told NBC host Chuck Todd. 'But, we have a responsibility to see the diplomacy through for as, as far and as long as we can go because it's the more responsible way to bring this to a closure.' On top of those talks Blinken said the US and Europe were 'preparing massive consequences for Russia if it invades Ukraine again.' Officials in Ukraine have been sounding the alarm over Russia's lightening quick buildup of troops and military equipment at its eastern border, fearing an attack to be imminent. Blinken made a slew of Sunday news program appearances after returning from diplomatic talks in Europe over the crisis Blinken did not indicate when he thought a possible invasion would occur -- but also would not give a straight answer when asked if Kyiv 'appears safe, at least in the near term.' 'This is something again that were tracking intensely, hour by hour and certainly day by day,' he said. Blinken ratcheted up his warnings to Moscow during his interview on CNN, claiming it could take a single soldier crossing the border to trigger a global reaction. 'If a single additional Russian force goes into Ukraine in an aggressive way, as I said, that would trigger a swift, a severe and a united response from us and from Europe,' he told host Dana Bash. Vladimir Putin has placed more than 100,000 troops at the Ukrainian border, and last week Blinken warned that Russia had the capability to double that number in short order. Moscow has said it has no plans to invade Ukraine. Civilian participants in a Kyiv Territorial Defense unit train on a Saturday in a forest on January 22, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Across Ukraine thousands of civilians are participating in such groups to receive basic combat training and in time of war would be under direct command of the Ukrainian military While Ukrainian officials have acknowledged the country has little chance to fend off a full Russian invasion, Russian occupation troops would likely face a deep-rooted, decentralised and prolonged insurgency People with Ukrainian flags attend a patriotic rally at Sophia Square on Unity Day on January 22, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine The talks that ended in Geneva last week produced no breakthroughs, though American and Russian diplomats vowed to keep a dialogue up, averting the worst-case scenario. Lavrov said Moscow was still waiting for a written response to its demands for security guarantees, something which Blinken said he would not provide. He also called two of Russia's key demands aimed at curbing NATO expansion 'non-starters.' Blinken was asked on Sunday, 'Do you see any scenario in which more US service members become involved here?' His answer referred to the ongoing 'defense buildup' of NATO coalition forces but he did not say whether that meant American boots on the ground in Eastern Europe. 'One of the things that we have been very clear about, besides the massive economic, financial consequences that would befall Russia if it further commenced aggression against Ukraine, is the ongoing continued buildup of defense capacity in Ukraine, and, equally, continuing to build up NATO's defensive capacities, including on the so-called eastern flank, the countries near Russia,' Blinken said. "We've given Russia two paths. There's a path of diplomacy and dialogue... But there's also a path of its renewed aggression and massive consequences," says Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the threat of Russia invading Ukraine. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/txGKoEfhjV State of the Union (@CNNSotu) January 23, 2022 He also shot down the idea of sanctioning Russia at this point in the crisis, which Ukraine has called for, because it would 'lose the deterrent effect' of keeping them from invading. 'When it comes to sanctions, the purpose of those sanctions is to deter Russian aggression. And so if they are triggered now, you lose the deterrent effect,' Blinken explained. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly told a bipartisan group of US senators visiting Ukraine last week that sanctioning Russia after it invades would be useless, according to Axios. But Blinken was forced to defend rebuffing those calls again on CBS' Face The Nation. 'If you are focused on deterrence, why not do what Ukraine is asking you to do and sanction now, take action now? Why keep it as a punitive matter after the fact?' host Margaret Brennan asked. .@SecBlinken on why there hasn't been sweeping sanctions on Russia for its provocations in Ukraine: Once sanctions are triggered, you lose the deterrent effect. So what we're doing is putting together a whole series of actions that would figure into President Putin's calculus. pic.twitter.com/41NYN8xy31 Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 23, 2022 Blinken began defending the West's record: 'Well, first, we are, as I said, taking action now we built up across these many weeks a very strong coalition of countries that has made it very clear it will take very significant action if Russia commits renewed acts of aggression.' Brennan pressed again, reminding Blinken that the US's Ukrainian allies have called for 'stronger' action. 'Qe've provided very significant military assistance to Ukraine. We've been taking action against Russian agents in Ukraine. But as to the sanctions, the most important thing we can do is to use them as a deterrent, as a means of dissuading Russia from engaging in further aggression,' he said. 'Once sanctions are triggered, you lose the deterrent effect. So what we're doing is putting together a whole series of actions that would figure into President Putin's calculus.' GOP House Rep. Michael McCaul said in his own Sunday interview on Face The Nation that the 'noose is tightening around Ukraine' as time passes without any harsh economic penalties. 'I think this has been a passive deterrence. I don't see Putin changing his course of action. It is getting very aggressive,' McCaul said. 'The noose is tightening around Ukraine. President Zelensky says he wants the sanctions now. We can always remove the sanctions if it deters Putin's bad behavior.' He said he would forge a legislative path to showing the Russian president that the United States is 'serious' about taking on Moscow's aggression. McCaul also called for increased NATO military exercises in Eastern Europe as a show of force. 'We're getting key Democrats on board. It would be an assistance package of lethal aid to Ukraine. That's important. But what is also important is a message of deterrence,' he said. 'We need joint exercises in Poland, the Baltic States, Romania, Bulgaria - to show Putin we're serious. Right now, he doesn't see were serious, and thats why the build-up is taking place.' Bernie Sanders lauded on Sunday the Arizona Democratic Party for formally censuring Senator Kyrsten Sinema for her vote against ending the filibuster. NBC Meet the Press host Chuck Todd asked Sanders whether it was 'healthy' for Democrats to 'highlight the division in the party,' specifically with disagreements over tactics and not substantive policy. 'It was absolutely imperative that we change the rules so that we could pass strong voting rights legislation,' Sanders responded. 'All Republicans voted against us. Two Democrats voted against us.' 'That was a terrible, terrible vote and I think what the Arizona Democratic party did was exactly right,' the progressinve independent senator from Vermont said in reference to censuring Sinema. Democrats tried to get rid of the filibuster on Wednesday so they could force through more legislative agenda items without any Republican support. Under filibuster rules, there needs to be a 60-vote threshold to end Senate floor debate on a bill. With a 50-50 split Senate, that means Democrats need 10 Republicans to hop on board in order to end a filibuster and vote for legislation. In the event of a 50-50 result in the Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris would cast the tie-breaking vote. Specifically, Democrats want to end the filibuster now so they can pass voting rights legislation not supported by any Republican senators. Centrist Democratic Senators Sinema from Arizona and Joe Manchin from West Virginia are the two holdouts over the filibuster rule change, claiming a simple majority should not be able to end debate over a legislative matter. Senator Bernie Sanders said Sunday that the Arizona Democratic Party did the 'exactly right' thing by censuring centrist Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema for voting against eliminating the filibuster WATCH: It was "exactly right" to censure Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, @SenSanders says on #MTP. "That was a terrible, terrible vote. And I think what the Arizona Democratic Party did was exactly right." pic.twitter.com/dDngBxZn24 Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 23, 2022 Biden has met with Manchin on several occasions to try and persuade him to change course and vote in line with the rest of the party more often as they hold power in the House, Senate and White House, which could change in this year's midterms. Todd asked Sanders if Biden count count on him supporting compromises with Manchin. 'As perhaps the leading progressive voice in the Democratic coalition, can President Biden count on your vote in the Senate with almost any compromise he comes up with Manchin?' Todd asked Sunday morning. 'No, absolutely not,' Sanders said. 'You're going to have to look at what that so-called compromise is,' he clarified. 'If it's strong, if it protects the needs of working people, if it deals with climate, I'm there. But we have to look at the details of any proposal.' While Manchin is a Democrat, he represents a deeply red state in the U.S. Senate. West Virginia went 69.6 per cent for Donald Trump in 2020 compared to only 29.7 per cent who voted for Joe Biden. The Arizona Democratic Party formally censured Sinema over her inaction to end the filibuster in order to pass major voting rights reform. On Saturday, the state party made their decision to publicly condemn Sinema after she was one of two Democratic senators who joined with Republicans to vote against lowering the Senate's 60-vote threshold to 50 so that the Senate could pass voting rights bills without bipartisan support. Raquel Teran, the state party's chair, said in a Saturday statement that they supported Sinema's votes to pass legislation to provide more coronavirus relief and to improve the nation's infrastructure. 'However, we are also here to advocate for our constituents and the ramifications of failing to pass federal legislation that protects their right to vote are too large and far-reaching,' Teran said. 'While we take no pleasure in this announcement, the ADP Executive Board has decided to formally censure Senator Sinema as a result of her failure to do whatever it takes to ensure the health of our democracy.' The censure is mostly a symbolic move, but it does highlight criticism that Sinema has faced from members of her own party, with polling indicating that Sinema is facing a rising amount of backlash from Democratic voters. The package combined two separate legislative items that were already passed by the House - the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The bills would make Election Day a holiday, adjust the redistricting process and crack down on money in politics. The Arizona Democratic Party formally censured Sinema over her inaction to end the filibuster in order to pass major voting rights reform The censure was a 'result of her failure to do whatever it takes to ensure the health of our democracy,' Raquel Teran, (pictured) the state party's chair said Saturday Despite a day of piercing debate and speeches that often carried echoes of an earlier era when the Senate filibuster was deployed by opponents of civil rights legislation, Democrats could not persuade holdout senators Sinema and Manchin to change the Senate procedures on this one bill and allow a simple majority to advance it. Manchin and Sinema effectively tanked the Democrats' marquee bill Wednesday, joining Republicans in voting against a rule change that would have allowed the party's voting legislation to pass with a simple majority. Biden responded to Wednesday's loss and said he would not be deterred from continuing to push for getting voting rights legislation passed. 'My Administration will never stop fighting to ensure that the heart and soul of our democracy the right to vote is protected at all costs,' he wrote in a statement following the vote. 'We will continue to work with allies to advance necessary legislation to protect the right to vote. And to push for Senate procedural changes that will protect the fundamental right to vote.' The failure to pass the legislation was a major blow to voting rights groups, which had been fighting a slate of laws passed in Republican-controlled states that election experts have said were designed to suppress voting, especially among Black, Hispanic and poor voters. 'I am profoundly disappointed that the United States Senate has failed to stand up for our democracy. I am disappointed but I am not deterred,' the president wrote in a tweet Wednesday. Manchin and Sinema (pictured together) effectively tanked the Democrats' marquee bill Wednesday Experts and voting rights advocates say the states have passed the legislation largely to back former President Donald Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was marred by rampant fraud. In Sinema's home state of Arizona, state Senate Republicans contracted a private company called Cyber Ninjas to perform a so-called 'audit' of the 2020 election. Election officials discredited a report saying the election was secure and accurate and calling the review 'secretive and disorganized.' The company has since shut down after a judge ordered it to pay $50,0000 a day in fines, according to media reports. Sinema co-sponsored the Senate version of election overhaul legislation, but has publicly stated repeatedly she opposed changing filibuster rules. Sinema's office shrugged off the censure in a statement. 'During three terms in the U.S. House, and now in the Senate, Kyrsten has always promised Arizonans she would be an independent voice for the state - not for either political party. She's delivered for Arizonans and has always been honest about where she stands,' a spokesperson said. After more than 5,000 people contacted a lonely bachelor who advertised himself on billboards across Birmingham in the hope of finding a wife, many have been left disappointed after it was revealed it was all a publicity stunt by a Muslim dating app. Mohammad Malik, 29, took the bold step of picturing himself lying down on huge hoardings across the city with the words, 'Save me from an arranged marriage'. He also set up a website 'Findmailkawife.com' in order to catch the eye of a potential partner. But last week the Muslim dating app Muzmatch revealed it was behind the publicity stunt. Now, when users try to reach Mohammad's website, it has been rebranded to 'Find Malik a wife on MuzMatch', with hopeful suitors being directed to the dating app. Now, when users try to reach Malik's website, it has been rebranded to 'Find Malik a wife on MuzMatch', with hopeful suitors being directed to the dating app Mohammad Malik, 29, took the bold step of picturing himself lying down on huge hoardings across Birmingham with the words, 'Save me from an arranged marriage' The revelation has prompted mixed reactions online, with one user saying that it is the 'best marketing campaign' they had seen in ages, while others slammed the stunt as 'unethical' and 'misleading' for customers. Before it emerged that it was a publicity stunt, more than 5,000 hopefuls contacted him via his website and another 1,000 or so have slipped into his Instagram, Twitter and Facebook DMs. Mohammad, an innovation consultant and entrepreneur, told Radio Five Live how he intends to sort through the avalanche of interest. He said he has enlisted a few friends to create spreadsheets and will then 'audit' his way through all the messages. The columns will include age, location (ideally UK), hobbies and personality type but said he would not focus so much on looks.' Mohammad, speaking about the revelation that it was a publicity stunt, said Muzmatch's marketing team pitched the campaign to him late last year. Mohammad, who denied the campaign was disingenuous, told the Guardian: 'This was an idea that was presented to me and I thought: it's genuine, I'm 100% looking. 'But these guys just absolutely took it on steroids. I've always been a bit tongue in cheek. A bit quirky. I've done a bit of standup comedy. So I think it was quite in line with that.' Shahzad Younas, the chief executive of Muzmatch, told the newspaper: 'Malik was very keen to stress that there's nothing wrong with an arranged marriage. For a lot of people it works. 'The whole premise touches more upon how young Muslims are increasingly becoming empowered through Muzmatch to find their own partner, but still do it in a way that's respectful of their faith, their traditions, their culture.' Muhammad is originally from London, but describes Birmingham as 'a second home' thanks to the 'top quality food spots in the city centre, bustling Alum Rock and the incredible mosques' It comes as Muzmatch is being accused of 'riding on the coattails' of internet dating giant Match.com to improve its success in a High Court trademark claim. Match LLC, which owns the dating website and Tinder, is suing Muzmatch and its founder, former Morgan Stanley banker Shahzad Younas, over alleged trademark infringement. The court heard that Match had made four failed offers to acquire Muzmatch before bringing the legal action. In Mohammad's billboards he can be seen lying on his side pointing upwards with a big smile. He is from London but calls Birmingham his second home thanks to the 'top quality food spots in the city centre, bustling Alum Rock (and) the incredible mosques'. Hussein Kesvani claimed that the publicity stunt by MuzMatch was a way for the company to assert itself. 'The aim is to get people really invested in a character that you're not quite sure is 'real',' Kesvani told the newspaper. 'Muzmatch might argue that 'Malik' is more a representation of the kind of clientele of the platform. Which, in this case, seems to be middle-class, fashionable, metropolitan young Muslims for whom faith is a part of their identity and aesthetic. 'To me, this represents what MuzMatch is trying to assert itself as, now that it finds itself being the most successful 'halal dating' app It was always going to lead to some identity crisis as it expanded.' Mohammad said he considered himself 'more on the orthodox, conservative side' of Islam. He said: 'When going on dates, it's always a chaperone date. From a spiritual angle, the purity is intact in terms of there's no ulterior motives. What you're focused on is marriage.' He is currently being helped by Muzmatch to go through the thousands of responses he has received to far, with Mohammad saying he has responded to 100 so far. A Detroit drug dealer was granted a $5,000 bond despite allegedly setting fire to his girlfriend who was 27 weeks pregnant with twins, burning 60 percent of her body and leaving her critically-ill. Convicted drug pusher Devonne Marsh, 42, reportedly doused his 26-year-old girlfriend with lighter fluid and ignited her on fire after the pair had an argument. Police told the Macomb Daily the pregnant mom was being held against her will and tortured. She was afraid to come forward fearing retaliation from Marsh. She currently remains hospitalized in critical condition. It is unknown if her unborn babies will survive the attack. Marsh was charged with attempted murder, assault and battery of a pregnant individual, domestic violence, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, delivery/manufacturing of controlled substances, felony possession, felonious assault and felony firearm. Despite his at least two decades-long criminal record - which includes numerous violent crime and drug dealing charges - Marsh was awarded a $50,000 bail, meaning be could be released on a $5,000 bond. Veteran Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, a Democrat, previously said she supported bail reform for minor issues, such as traffic infractions, is now filing a motion to have his bail increased due to the severity of the crime. 'His original bond was woefully inadequate, and we will be seeking a more appropriate bond given these charges,' Worthy told WWJ 950 radio. Devonne Marsh, 42, (pictured) was granted a $5,000 bond after he allegedly set fire to his girlfriend who was 27 weeks pregnant with twins, burning 60 percent of her body Veteran Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy (pictured last August), who supports bail reform, is filing a motion to have Marsh's bail increased due to the severity of the crime. She said: 'His original bond was woefully inadequate, and we will be seeking a more appropriate bond given these charges' Detroit police responded to a residence on Packard Street on January 14 after receiving reports that a woman was being kept captive against her will. When officers arrived on scene, they found the pregnant mom lying on a bed in the basement with severe burns to her legs and stomach. She was taken to an area hospital and remains critical. It is unclear if her unborn babies will survive. Police, rallying behind the domestic violence survivor, have called the heinous crime 'unimaginable' and commend her for coming forward to responding officers. 'I want to applaud her for coming forward. I want to again let her know that she is not alone,' Detroit police Sgt. Kyla Williams, who supervises the department's domestic violence unit, told the newspaper. 'She has the men and women of the Detroit Police Department to support her.' 'How do you do this to another human being? It's unimaginable,' echoed Commander Michael McGinnis. ' Just incredibly traumatic injuries. I just can't imagine the pain she must be suffering.' District Attorney Kym Worthy's office initially charged Marsh with kidnapping/abduction, aggravated/felonious assault, and violation of the controlled substance act. However, after further investigation dismissed the original case and immediately issued new charges against Marsh due to the severity of his alleged crimes. Marsh (pictured) was charged with attempted murder, assault and battery of a pregnant individual, domestic violence, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, delivery/manufacturing of controlled substances, felony possession, felonious assault and felony firearm 'The evidence in this case will show that the defendant set his live-in girlfriend on fire after an altercation with her. She was six months pregnant with twins,' Worthy told the radio station. 'After receiving further evidence, we have dismissed our original charges and immediately reissued charges against him. His original bond was woefully inadequate, and we will be seeking a more appropriate bond given these charges.' Marsh has been convicted of violent crimes and dealing drugs multiple times over the past 20 years in Macomb and Wayne counties. He was booked into Macomb County Jail on Friday, according to jail records. Police say he had been hiding out since he absconded from probation in March 2020. He was sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty in 2019 to four counts of delivering more than 50 grams of cocaine. The convicted drug dealer also has a case pending in the Wayne County city of Livonia. Worthy has openly issued support for reforming cash bond, telling the Detroit Free Press last year she believes it should never be imposed for civil infractions or ordinance violations. She thinks it should be used sparingly for traffic offense and some misdemeanors. Worthy, however, did argue that domestic violence and stalking cases should be exceptions. The attorney also believes prosecutors cannot 'unilaterally change the cash bail system'. 'Prosecutors supporting legislation that changes the cash bail system is what works,' she argued. 'I have been a judge and had to make those tough, individualized decisions. No one should be denied bail simply because they are poor.' Former Attorney General Bill Barr has met with the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot, Chairman Bennie Thompson revealed on Sunday. The Mississippi Democrat appeared on CBS News' Face The Nation where he confirmed a report that Donald Trump was presented with an executive order during the last full month of his presidency which would have had the military seize voting machines in battleground states. 'Do you intend to go to the Attorney General, Bill Barr, to ask him about this? I mean, how do you follow up on this kind of allegation and the paperwork to back it up?' host Margaret Brennan asked. Thompson said they already had -- but did not elaborate on what the conversation was about. 'To be honest with you, we've had conversations with the former attorney general already,' he said, adding: 'We have talked to Department of Defense individuals. We are concerned that our military was part of this big lie on promoting that the election was false.' 'So, if you are using the military to potentially seize voting machines, even though it's a discussion, the public needs to know, we've never had that before. 'And so any of these individuals who are participating and trying to stop the election, the duly election of a president, and if we can document it, we will share it with the public.' He did not say whether Barr would testify again during the panel's upcoming public hearings, only vowing they would 'continue to engage' with people relevant to the probe into what led to the insurrection on January 6 of last year. Thompson revealed for the first time on Sunday that his committee has heard from former Trump Attorney General Bill Barr He didn't say what Barr, who left the administration at the end of December 2020, discussed (pictured in the Rose Garden with former President Trump in July 2019) Weve had conversations with the former attorney general already, Jan 6 Committee Chair @BennieGThompson tells @margbrennan when asked if he will speak with Bill Barr. pic.twitter.com/a4WZpHR04Y Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 23, 2022 Barr resigned from his post as attorney general in late December 2020, and has since publicly dismissed Trump's election fraud theories. Late last week Politico published the text of a draft executive order that would have forced the Defense Secretary to 'seize, collect, retain and analyze' voting machines in states that narrowly went to President Joe Biden in 2020. The order, dated December 16, 2020, would also direct the Department of Homeland Security to aid the military effort and called for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate baseless claims the election was rigged. Thompson on Sunday confirmed his committee had knowledge of such a draft. 'We have information that between the Department of Justice, a plan was put forward to potentially seize voting machines in the country and utilize Department of Defense assets to make that happen,' he said. The lawmaker said the next steps would be finding out 'how far' the defunct plan made it before it was killed. 'We do know that a potential person was identified to become the attorney general of the United States, who would communicate with certain states that election on their situation had been fraudulent and not to produce certified documents,' Thompson explained. The panel has credible information that Trump had reviewed a draft executive order that would have seized voting machines in battleground states, Thompson also revealed 'Well, we understand that. So, we will move forward on that investigation, and we will look and see specifically how far that plan went.' He gave an indirect answer when asked if that meant Barr or members of the Defense Department would be required to appear at the committee's future hearings. 'Well, part of our plan is to continue to engage all those individuals that we deem necessary and important to our investigation,' Thompson said. 'Some will talk to some we will do in deposition under oath. Others we will offer hearing opportunities. But I can assure you, as we develop this information, we will clearly present it to the public.' He said those public hearings are expected to occur 'sometime in the spring.' Last week the committee closed further in on Trump's inner circle, signaling that even members of the former president's own family were fair game. The Democrat-led bipartisan panel sent an 11-page letter to Ivanka Trump on Thursday seeking information on her father's actions ahead of and during the Capitol riot. Among other things, they are looking for details on a meeting that occurred the morning of January 6, 2021 during which then-Vice President Mike Pence told Trump he would not stop the certification of Biden's White House victory. Ivanka reportedly pleaded with her father multiple times to stop the riot as he watched it unfold on TV from the West Wing. The panel also sent subpoenas to former Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell and former Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn. A robot vacuum cleaner has been returned to a Travelodge after it made a clean break for freedom through the hotel's front door. The self-driving cleaner was reported missing from the hotel in Orchard Park, Cambridge, on Thursday. The hotel's assistant manager wrote: 'Today we had one of our new robot vacuums run for its life. 'They normally sense the lip at the entrance [to the hotel] and turn around, but this one decided to make a run for it.' Social media users were quick to make puns, with one saying they feared for the robot in the great outdoors, as 'nature abhors a vacuum'. Another commented: 'They're going to clean up if we dont watch out.' A robot vacuum cleaner made a clean break for freedom from a Travelodge in Orchard Park, Cambridge, on Thursday before being found the next day relaxing under a hedge The assistant manager at the Travelodge in Orchard Park, Cambridge, posted on Reddit to promise a free beer at the hotel bar for anybody who could reunite him with his 'lil buddy' One user decided to get political, writing: 'Hopefully that Vac does a better job at cleaning up the city than the council and police does.' The hotel's assistant manager posted on Reddit about his 'little buddy' and promised a 'free drink' at the Travelodge bar for anyone who could return the escapee. He added that, as the robot is not compatible with any other charger, it would be useless to any kidnappers once its battery had run out. On Friday, the wayward robot was found under a hedge. The AWOL device, having been recovered from its hideout on the front drive, 'is now back sitting happily on a shelf with the rest of its robot vacuum family', according to the hotel. By Park Jae-hyuk Samsung SDI and SK on are facing growing concerns over the possible impact of last Friday's fire at EcoProBM's factory in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, as they have relied on the Kosdaq-listed battery materials firm for cathode materials. According to firefighters, the blaze that broke out on the floors accommodating a staff lounge and a boiler room killed one factory worker and injured three others, who were inside the building. EcoProBM denied damage to the production line of the factory, which has the capacity of producing 30,000 tons of cathode materials annually. However, its stock price plunged 4.66 percent on the day of the fire, leading the company to lose its status as the largest Kosdaq-listed firm in terms of market cap. Industry insiders warned that Samsung SDI and SK on may face a supply shortage, unless EcoProBM resumes the factory's operation promptly. Last year, EcoProBM became the largest Korean producer of cathode materials, defeating L&F and POSCO Chemical. It has been supplying cathode materials to Samsung SDI and SK on through its factories in Cheongju and Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. The Pohang factory has an annual capacity of 60,000 tons of cathode materials. In 2020, EcoProBM established a joint venture named EcoProEM with Samsung SDI. Among the nation's three largest automotive battery makers, LG Energy Solution is the only company not purchasing cathode materials from EcoProBM. Although the automotive battery manufacturers have diversified their suppliers and stocked enough cathode materials to last for at least three months, industry insiders pointed out that firefighters may spend more time than expected on investigating the cause of fire and the amount of damage, making it difficult for the factory to resume its operation. Nearly 100 migrants attempting to cross the Channel from France were rescued off the coast of England and brought to Dover today. It came after a coastguard spotter plane flying over the Channel reported a sighting of several migrants in severe distress around midday. The pilots reported seeing migrants desperately trying to evacuate water and blow air back into their doomed dinghy which had sprung a leak. One group of migrants was saved by the UK Border Force vessel 'Hurricane' after air began to escape from the small inflatable boat they were using to make the perilous journey. Other migrants were transported to shore aboard a small rigid inflatable boat (RHIB) deployed by UK Border Force vessel 'Searcher' alongside the RLNI's Dover Lifeboat. It comes just one day after it emerged that Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly gave Home Secretary Priti Patel the green light to develop new powers that would allow male asylum seekers crossing the Narrow Sea to be held in immigration removal centres. The Government meanwhile was accused of 'cowardice' earlier this week after it was revealed that the Home Office plans to publish a running total of migrant crossings just four time a year, rather than on a daily basis. At least 28,381 migrants arrived in England after crossing the Channel in 2021 - treble the number that made the journey in 2020, despite considerable investment from both UK and French authorities to prevent crossings. Nearly 100 migrants attempting to cross the Channel from France were rescued off the coast of England and brought to Dover today (migrants pictured in a RHIB dispatched by the UK Border Force) It came after a coastguard spotter plane flying over the Channel reported a sighting of several migrants in severe distress around midday today (migrants pictured aboard Border Force RHIB) The migrants were transported to shore aboard a small rigid inflatable boat (RHIB) deployed by UK Border Force vessel 'Searcher', the UK Border Force vessel 'Hurricane', and the RLNI's Dover Lifeboat (pictured) Official figures show more than three times as many migrants have arrived in Britain so far this month than in the whole of January last year. UK authorities have intercepted more than 950 migrants so far this year more than three times the 223 in January 2021. Last year, 28,381 people were intercepted in the Channel, compared to just 8,410 in 2020 The Prime Minister is said to be clamping down on the number of migrants crossing into the UK via the Channel, after it was reported yesterday he had encouraged Priti Patel to proceed with a policy of detaining all male migrants. Though the Home Office has not published a breakdown of Channel migrants by age or gender, Miss Patel claims that seven in ten of all people who cross the Narrow Sea are single men under 40. Mr Johnsons new gung-ho attitude to border security is part of a series of populist policies which are intended to shore up his tottering premiership as the embattled Tory leader faces calls to quit over the Partygate lockdown scandal enveloping Westminster. Miss Patel is working closely with Attorney-General Suella Braverman to establish what current laws would allow on detention and what new powers would be needed to be approved by MPs, according to The Times. Currently only migrants who land on the UK coast are breaking the law and can be detained, rather than those intercepted in the Channel. An announcement is due next month as part of wider plans for the Royal Navy to takeover operational control of Channel crossings. These plans would be accompanied with powers to remove Channel migrants from the UK, including proposals to outsource asylum claims to third countries. Crew are pictured aboard a UK Border Force rigid inflatable boat (RHIB) on their way to rescue migrants from the perilous waters of the English Channel The UK Border Force Hurricane was tasked to rescue several migrants today who attempted to make the perilous Channel crossing aboard tiny vessels Priti Patel has been accused of 'burying bad news' after it emerged the Government plans to scrap the publication of daily Channel migrant figures. Though the Home Office has not published a breakdown of Channel migrants by age or gender, Patel claims that seven in ten of all people who cross the Narrow Sea are single men under 40 What happens when someone arrives in the UK after crossing the Channel? By Rory Tingle The vast majority of people crossing the Channel in small boats claim asylum, according to the Refugee Council. At this point the process for what happens varies depending on whether they are an adult, unaccompanied minor or a family unit. ADULT 1 - Immediately transferred to a short-term holding facility dotted around the country, generally in southern England. Fingerprints are taken and they have a screening interview where they provide their name, date of birth and nationality. This registers them into the asylum system. 2 - One or two days later the asylum seekers would usually be sent to a hostel run by the Home Office, but in the last few years these have become full so officials are using hotels. 3 - Two to three weeks later they are dispersed to a town or city anywhere in the UK into 'housing in the community' - although these time scales have stretched recent years. In addition, dispersal accommodation has often been full so the Home Office has relied on rented accomodation from three private providers. The asylum seekers receive housing and 39.63 a week as a cash allowance. 4 - The asylum seekers are issued with a form called a preliminary information questionnaire (PIC) where they are asked why they have a fear of persecution. At some point they are invited to the Home Office for substantive interview where they will be asked questions based on information from their screening interview and PIC form. 4 - If the initial decision is a refusal, the applicant can appeal to an independent tribunal. Their accommodation and support would continue. 5 - If they get an initial refusal and they don't appeal or their appeal is refused they become what's known in official jargon as 'appeal rights exhausted'. The Home Office will send them a letter saying they will be evicted and the weekly support will stop. 6 - They have the option of signing up to the Voluntary Return Scheme, under which the Home Office will pay for their flights. If they don't sign up they are liable to being picked up and detained by immigration officers and perhaps forcibly removed. But they are not enough detention spaces for people in that situation so they often become homeless and destitute, the Refugee Council said. CHILD Children (under 18) are sent to a short term holding facility for a much shorter amount of time and then transferred into the care of a local authority. They are allocated a social worker and accomodation. The Home Office cannot remove minors if they have been separated from their parents. However, if their asylum claim is unsuccessful they could be given a form of leave to remain until they are 17 and a half. FAMILY The only slight difference is that if a family become an 'appeal rights exhausted' case the Home Office wouldn't evict them from the accommodation or stop their financial support. Advertisement A Home Office spokesperson said: The British public have had enough of seeing people die in the Channel while ruthless criminal gangs profit from their misery and our New Plan for Immigration will fix the broken system which encourages migrants to make this lethal journey. UK authorities have intercepted more than 800 migrants so far this year more than three times the 223 who sailed across the Narrow Sea in January 2021. Last year, 28,381 people were intercepted in the Channel, compared to just 8,410 in 2020. Home Office officials have warned Miss Patel that 65,000 migrants could cross the Channel this year more than double last year's 28,300 record number. It comes after the Government was accused of trying to 'cover up' the migrant crisis after it was reported that the Home Office will soon stop issuing daily totals of migrant crossings in favour of announcing a running total at three-month intervals. The Home Office currently issues the data after arrivals have been processed by the UK Border Force, typically on the following day, but this could stop when the Ministry of Defence (MoD) takes over operations to intercept migrants. The move has drawn criticism from Tory MPs - with one saying it 'seems more like burying bad news than being transparent about crossings. Another anonymous Conservative said: 'It just looks like covering up, and no doubt journalists will come up with their own figures based on people arriving at Tughaven [the migrant processing centre in Dover] and Freedom of Information requests.' Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK which campaigns for tougher border controls, added: This is a cowardly act. It just shows the Government is running scared. Im very surprised at Priti Patel, and the British people deserve better from her. Do they really think they can hide the figures from the electorate when all this takes place in the open on our beaches and at our ports? The Home Office cant simply pretend this problem is not happening, and hope it will go away. Internal Home Office documents show officials are planning for a worst case scenario of up to 65,000 arrivals this year. Dovers Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke said: We need to continue with daily updates. 'To start reporting them on any other basis I dont think will be acceptable, particularly for such an important and immediate issue. Not having accurate daily figures risks misinformation being spread about the number of arrivals, and that would be highly damaging to the attempts to try to solve this long-standing crisis. Philip Hollobone, another Tory backbencher who is MP for Kettering, said: Any attempt to hide the scale of the problem will raise alarm bells among everyone who is concerned about this. 'Maximum transparency is demanded here. The public wants to know the daily arrivals figures. Until the daily figure goes down to zero, they will not be satisfied. Trying to cover up the scale of the problem is helping no-one but the Government. Mr Hollobone said he would raise his concerns formally with the Home Office. Its strategy to stop people trafficking across the Channel isnt working. Until we can take people back to France the numbers will keep on going up, he added. Meanwhile, activists have sparked fury after putting up 'safety at sea' posters in a Dunkirk migrant camp for people attempting to cross the English Channel. Activists have sparked fury after putting up 'safety at sea' posters (pictured) in a Dunkirk migrant camp for people attempting to cross the English Channel The posters, written in a variety of languages, advised migrants to 'stay seated' in crossing boats and 'point' to anyone who falls in the water. They are thought to have been put up by activists working for the Watch The Channel group. A QR code on the poster links to the group's website. Critics have condemned the posters for 'encouraging' migrants to make the dangerous crossing to England from France. 'This is dangerous and irresponsible communication being given out in the camps by social media and internet-based enablers,' Dover MP Natalie Elphicke said. 'The Channel crossings are incredibly dangerous and this puts lives at risk. The best advice for people is to stay safe on land in France.' Scientists have urged a university not to cut ties with one of its founding fathers after accusations of scientific racism were made by an independent history group. Imperial College is facing calls to remove a bust of 19th century biologist Thomas Huxley and rename a building named in his honour. But some of the countrys leading scientific figures including Prof Richard Dawkins and Nobel laureate Sir Prof Paul Nurse have taken up the baton to defend Huxleys reputation as a dedicated abolitionist against slavery, The Telegraph reports. The move comes after a report was published in October by an independent history group, formed in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, which has examined Imperial colleges links to colonialism. Their report argued that Huxley wrote an essay which espouses a racial hierarchy of intelligence, a belief system of scientific racism that fed the dangerous and false ideology of eugenics. Thomas Huxley (1825-1895) was a famed English biologist and a founder of the Royal College of Science, later Imperial College, the institution which is now examining its links with him Who was Thomas Huxley? Found father of Imperial College under spotlight Thomas Huxley (1825 to 1895) was an English biologist known for his advocacy of Charles Darwins theory of evolution, which led to his nickname Darwins Bulldog. In 1860, he engaged in the Oxford evolution debate with evangelist Samuel Wilberforce, which was widely seen as a crucial step in the public acceptance of human evolution. Huxley was instrumental in advancing scientific thought in Britain and coined the term "agnosticism" in 1869. In 1889, he expanded upon it as a means to assess what is knowable and what is not. He worked on invertebrates, examining the relationships between groups pf species which were previously only vaguely understood. Later, he worked on vertebrates, particularly the relationship between apes and humans. Advertisement The group concluded that Huxley might now be called racist and suggested the removal of his bust, as well as renaming the Huxley building. But a group of 39 leading scientists have risen up to object to the reports characterisation of Huxley, and they have asked Imperial College not to cut its links with him. Their letter stated: Huxley was an ardent abolitionist who fought the virulent pro-slavery scientific racism of his day and publicly welcomed the defeat of the Confederacy in 1865, they say. From childhood poverty, Huxley rose on merit to become President of the Royal Society and Privy Counsellor. Darwins Bulldog, he fought for the theory of evolution, and first demonstrated our evolutionary descent from an ape-like ancestor. Although the scientists admitted Huxley believed in a hierarchy of races, they stated that he became wary of racial stereotypes as he aged. They added that Huxley reformed Londons schools, was a principal of a working mens college, wrote volumes of journalism, gave lectures for working people and opened his classes to women. He was instrumental in founding the Royal College of Science, later Imperial College, the very institution that now seeks to disown him. Many staff were outraged' Huxleys early belief in a hierarchy of races is not ours. 'But, for his scientific accomplishments, his conviction that all men and women should be judged on their merits, civic-mindedness, and the reforming zeal he brought to British science and education, we remain in his debt. 'For these reasons we think his name should stay on Imperials walls.' An independent history group formed in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 has reassessed Huxley and suggested his bust should be removed from the campus, as well as renaming a building named in his honour Prof Armand Leroi, an expert in evolutionary developmental biology at Imperial College, described the history group's suggestions as 'frankly shocking' and said many members of staff were 'outraged' - especially the biologists. He added: 'Huxley was such a champion of egalitarianism, of access to science, of working class education. These are all things he worked for tirelessly in his life. 'By the standards of the day he was an extraordinarily enlightened man - he fought against the racist scientists of his day who were allied with slavery ideologues in the US. He should be seen in the context and the mood of his time.' Imperial College has been contacted by Mail Online for comment. Devin Nunes said Sunday that in a 'normal world' hundreds of people would be probing the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop, an issue close to the former top GOP member of the House Intelligence Committee. During an interview with Fox's Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo, Nunes lamented over social media sites banning and suppressing the spread of the New York Post story revealing the incriminating contents of the laptop belonging to President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden. The story was published just one month before the 2020 presidential election. Nunes' comments Sunday morning were part of his first interview touting his new title of Chief Executive Officer for former President Donald Trump's new media business Trump Media & Technology. 'Big tech and the fake news media complex in this country helped cover up evidence that clearly I mean, this was major evidence that sat on that laptop,' the former California Republican congressman said on Sunday. Former Rep. Devin Nunes debuted his new title as Trump Media & Technology Group CEO in an interview with Fox News on Sunday Nunes said in a 'normal world' hundreds of people would probe the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop. 'Big tech and the fake news media complex in this country helped cover up evidence that clearly I mean, this was major evidence that sat on that laptop,' Nunes lamented 'The FBI had it for over a year. Nothing was done with it,' he continued. 'So, in a normal world, unlike the one that we live in now with this dystopian media that we have in social media, you would have hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of media folks, reporters, investigative reporters, doing work on this.' Nunes announced in December that he would resign from his post in Congress to take on the leadership role with Trump's new venture. He assumed the new role on January 1, 2022. In joining Trump's media group, Nunes is hoping to help fight against Big Tech and social media suppression especially when it comes to users sharing right-leaning views. Nunes called it the 'battle of all battles' in an interview on his new role with conservative media site Breitbart published on Friday. Truth Social, which is a proposed social media platform by Trump Media & Technology Group, plans to launch by the end of March. Nunes assures that the goal of the new social media platform is not to compete with Parler and GETTR two other social media sites branded on anti-censorship by conservative and right-leaning owners. GETTR was created and run by former Trump spokesperson Jason Miller. As the former top GOP member of the House Intelligence Committee, the report revealing contents of Hunter Biden's (right) laptop just one month before the 2020 presidential election was of top interest to Nunes Social media sites, including Twitter and Facebook, banned and stifled sharing of an incriminating story about the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop, which included images of him engaging in nefarious activity like taking drugs (pictured above) Trump has previewed ever since getting booted of Twitter that he would come out with his own social media platform. When announcing his departure from Congress, the trump ally and 10-term member of Congress told his constituents that he was taking up a 'new opportunity to fight for the most important issues I believe in.' Trump Media & Technology Group released a statement calling Nunes 'a fighter and a leader' as they announced him joining the team. 'He will make an excellent CEO of TMTG,' Trump said. Nunes, in the TMTG statement, said it was time to 'reopen the Internet.' 'The time has come to reopen the Internet and allow for the free flow of ideas and expression without censorship. The United States of America made the dream of the Internet a reality and it will be an American company that restores the dream. I'm humbled and honored President Trump has asked me to lead the mission and the world class team that will deliver on this promise,' he said. Nunes, if he remained in Congress, would be next in line to chair the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which writes the nation's tax law, if Republicans win control of the House in next year's midterm election. Instead he decided not to even finish out his 10th term. They could, of course, have been holed up in Angela Rayner's south London flat discussing the finer details of some new hard-Left policy, or fresh campaign tactics to bring down Boris. Certainly, there was nothing suspiciously touchy-feely when Labour's deputy leader emerged from her 30,000-a-year taxpayer-funded property with married shadow minister Sam Tarry in tow one morning last week. Opting for a vibrant look, Angela, 41, who is known for her unique taste in clothes, mixed the unusual combination of blue leather, leopard print and fake fur for the outing. She donned a blue tonal outfit, wearing a ribbed blue top with a matching 249 Pure Collection pencil skirt, with a clashing pair of her trademark 95 vegan leopard print boots from Office. The MP added a touch of glamour by wearing a 65 Beaverbrooks pendant featuring a bee charm. The worker bee is known to be the symbol of the city having been added to Manchester's coat of arms in the mid 19th century and represents the industrial heritage of the region. Angela wrapped up against the cold in a vintage faux fur jacket as they set off for another day of political cut and thrust at Westminster. Meanwhile she could be seen clutching her face mask, as well as a 180 black Fossil backpack. Business as usual, unless perhaps you factored in Ilford South MP Mr Tarry's untied shoelaces, the fumbling with the buttons of his pink shirt, and what appeared to be a toothbrush poking out from his coat pocket. He also opted for a grey wool baker boy cap for the outing, which appears to cost 40 from Savile Row Company. Captured on camera together for the first time together in public away from Westminster or the campaign trail, the 'baseless' rumours that have dogged the pair's deepening friendship for months are today looking altogether rather more believable. So are they just good friends or are these pictures evidence of politics' secret new power couple? Angela Rayner and fellow Labour MP Sam Tarry were spotted leaving her London home together Ms Rayner, 41, is believed to have become close to the 39-year-old Ilford South MP after he ran her campaign to become Labour's deputy leader The pair have been quiet about their relationship, they may have to open up about it in future if Ms Rayner decides to run for the Labour leadership Mrs Rayner, now the most powerful woman in the Labour Party, was first reported to have grown close to Corbynite Mr Tarry, 39, her former campaign manager when she was running for the party's deputy leadership in 2020, three months after splitting from her husband of ten years, trade union official Mark Rayner. Shadow transport minister Mr Tarry, who was married in 2016 to Brighton-based paediatrician Julia Fozard, with whom he has two children, is now believed to have split from his wife, according to The Sun on Sunday. Both Mrs Rayner, who famously once called a rival Tory MP 'scum', and Mr Tarry have so far declined to confirm or deny any rumours that they are anything more than close colleagues. Last night, Mr Tarry's wife Julia also declined to comment on the status of their marriage. Mrs Rayner's husband, Mark, was not at the family home the couple still share with their two sons in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. Whatever the nature of this intriguing new Labour pact, it did not prevent Mrs Rayner from demanding the sacking of former health secretary Matt Hancock over his affair with aide Gina Coladangelo, with whom he was caught in a passionate clinch on CCTV at Whitehall in May last year. Both married with children, Hancock resigned and the pair subsequently left their spouses to become a couple. Mrs Rayner's letter to Boris Johnson demanding that he sack Matt Hancock was met with fury by Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who drew attention to her own close bond with Mr Tarry, which was already setting tongues wagging at Westminster. 'The public deserves the same transparency from Angela Rayner as she has demanded of Matt Hancock,' he declared at the time. 'She's taken the moral high ground on this matter on every occasion. You can always bank on the Left for their constant hypocrisy.' One of the most powerful figures in the Labour Party, she holds four titles including deputy leader, shadow first secretary of state, shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and shadow secretary of state for the future of work. Mrs Rayner doesn't take kindly, however, to her own private life being placed under scrutiny not least by her own Labour colleagues. In May last year, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's closest parliamentary aide, Carolyn Harris MP, resigned after facing allegations that she spread 'baseless' rumours about Mrs Rayner's private life. 'My personal life is my personal life,' Mrs Rayner said in an interview at the time. 'I don't think it's appropriate for anyone to be doing that. It's not good for any of us if we start putting ourselves in that gutter arena. It's gutter politics.' Ms Rayner, who was elected to Parliament as the Labour MP for Ashton-under-Lyne in 2015, married Unison official Mark Rayner (pictured together) in 2010 She separated from her husband Mark in 2020 and Mr Tarry, a father of two, is also understood to have now parted from his wife. Shadow transport minister Mr Tarry (left with Julia Fozard and right) was married in 2016 to Brighton-based paediatrician Julia Fozard Shadow transport minister Mr Tarry (left) had two children with his wife (right) Even so, she couldn't resist a low blow at the Prime Minister and, citing 'double standards', added: 'Boris Johnson gets celebrated by the fact that nobody knows how many kids he's got... I've not done anything wrong. I'm living my life like everybody else is. It's not relevant to what I do. But somehow Boris Johnson, it makes him a lad.' Mrs Rayner's personal life hasn't always, however, been such a closed book. She has spoken openly in the past about her rise to power within the Labour Party with a compelling narrative one very appealing to Labour voters that begins with a troubled childhood, growing up on a council estate in Greater Manchester. She has told interviewers about how she became a carer for her mother, who could not read or write and suffered from bipolar disorder. She recalled how her mum once came back from the shops with dog food, thinking it was stewing steak, because she couldn't read the label. A teenager when her parents divorced, she talked of having suffered years of dysfunctional home life marred by her father's affairs and her parents' 'explosive' relationship. She described her childhood existence as 'feral'. By the age of 13 she was clubbing in Manchester, looking for 'the wrong sort of affection from the wrong sort of people', and was pregnant at 16. The birth of her son Ryan, however, proved a turning point. Determined to provide for her son and become a role model to him rather than conform to the single teenage parent on benefits stereotype, Mrs Rayner trained as a Samaritan, then became a carer. Through her work, she discovered the trade union movement, becoming a rep, which gave her the introduction to politics. It was also through the trade union movement that she met her husband Mark, a Unison official. They married in 2010 and have two sons, one of whom is registered blind and has special educational needs. She has spoken movingly about how their eldest, Charlie, was born prematurely at 23 weeks, weighing less than one pound, and wasn't expected to survive. In a 2018 interview, she praised Mark for helping her through the ordeal, when all she wanted to do was 'curl up in a ball', saying: 'I'm normally the one who wears the trousers, but he took over. He said, 'We'll do what we have to do. I'll give up work if I have to, we'll do whatever it takes'.' Elected to parliament in 2015, Mrs Rayner became the first woman to represent the constituency of Ashton-under-Lyne and since then her rise within the party has been despite a few bumps in the road, such as the 'scum' comment that saw her forced to apologise meteoric. She is often tipped to be a future Labour leader. The Commons' youngest granny she was 37 when Ryan had his first child her appeal to Labour voters is centred on her no-nonsense, outspoken persona, quick to hold others to account; someone who takes no prisoners. So it is perhaps no surprise that Mrs Rayner might be a little coy about the man in the Peaky Blinders cap following her out of her London flat the other morning. Angela Rayner sits with fellow MPs during Prime Minister's Questions this month One of the most powerful figures in the Labour Party, she holds four titles including deputy leader, shadow first secretary of state, shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and shadow secretary of state for the future of work The plain-talking Mancunian said it would be 'an absolute honour' to enter Downing Street as a former single mum from a council estate But she told US broadcaster CNBC she planned to do it as deputy prime minister, with Sir Kier in the top job. Elected to the Commons in 2019, Sam Tarry described in various news reports as a 'golden boy of the hard left' and a bit of a 'hipster' is apparently no stranger to controversy. Best known as Jeremy Corbyn's leadership campaign director, in 2016, Mr Tarry hit back at allegations of electoral fraud after The Sunday Times claimed he was really living in Brighton with his wife when he was serving as a councillor in Barking, east London. To serve on a council, a councillor must sign an official declaration that they live or work in the area. The newspaper also reported that a trade union official, named Elly Baker, lived at the Barking flat owned by Mr Tarry and his wife. His lawyers said she was his lodger. 'This allegation is categorically untrue,' Mr Tarry said in response to the claims. 'The evidence irrefutably demonstrates I meet all residency requirements set out in electoral law to be a councillor in Barking and Dagenham. 'My wife, whom I married in June this year, lives in Brighton and works as a junior doctor. Like many people these days we try to strike a balance between our careers and our personal lives. 'Unfortunately this means we cannot live together as a husband and wife every day as we one day hope to do. 'When you serve people in the NHS or as a local councillor that's a choice that sometimes has to be made. 'Those promoting this story for political reasons tried to use the same false allegations against me before, and I was completely cleared by the police.' Similar questions about Mr Tarry's residency were raised in 2014, when he was first elected to the council, when it was claimed he had given inaccurate details on his nomination papers. Police later dropped the investigation. When Mr Tarry was elected to the House of Commons he had the backing of Corbynite grassroots group Momentum, after the previous Labour MP for Ilford South, Mike Gapes, defected to Change UK. The following year he became Mrs Rayner's deputy leader campaign director. At the time, he tweeted saying how proud he was to be working with her and posed photos of the pair of them together with beaming smiles and red rosettes on the campaign trail. What they have to say about these latest pictures might be rather more interesting. A Michigan school district is denying that litter boxes were provided to students who identify as 'furries' after a woman made the claim in a school board meeting last month. Video of the woman, Lisa Hansen, has since gone viral, racking up hundreds of thousands of views on conservative social media pages and even being shared by a state Republican Party official. 'So yesterday, I heard that a least one of our schools has - in one of the unisex bathrooms - a litter box for the kids that identify as cats, and I am really disturbed by that. And I will do some more investigation on that,' she told the the Midland Public Schools Board of Education during a meeting on December 20. On Thursday, Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow said it was 'unconscionable' that he had to address the issue in an email to parents that was also posted on Facebook. 'Let me be clear in this communication. There is no truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation! There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools,' Sharrow said. A Michigan school district is denying that it provided litter boxes to student who identify as 'furries' after Lisa Hansen, above, said they did at a school board meeting last month Midland Public Schools said 'there is no truth whatsoever' to the accusations in an email sent to parents and posted on Facebook on Thursday People who are furries 'create for themselves an anthropomorphized animal character (fursona) with whom they identify,' according to scientists who study them (file photo) Hansen said she heard that a school kept a litter box, above, in a unisex bathroom to appease a student's identity Hansen appeared overwhelmed with confusion as she addressed officials at the school district, about an hour northwest of Flint, last month. 'I'm still wrapping my brain around this a little bit. Yesterday I heard something and I was stunned, and today I am equally stunned and a little bit upset. Furious - I would even use that word,' she said. 'I want to talk about the fact that - and I know that this is going on nationwide, so its not just for this board - but the community needs to understand that the agenda that is being pushed through our schools is - just my opinion - but somewhat nefarious when it comes to some of the activities. 'Let's talk about furries. It was addressed by a child a couple months ago that theyre put in an environment where there are kids that identify as a fury - a cat or a dog or whatever. 'So yesterday, I heard that a least one of our schools has in one of the unisex bathrooms a letterbox for the kids that identify as cats. And I am really disturbed by that. And I will do some more investigation on that.' The Midland Public Schools Board of Education did not reply to her comments Hansen's comments were spread on social media by conservative pages and Michigan Republican Party Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock Most people who identify as furries 'create for themselves an anthropomorphized animal character, which they refer to as their 'fursona' with whom they identify and can function as an avatar within the community,' according to FurScience, a website run by a team of scientists studying the furry fandom. 'Some furries wear elaborate costumes or paraphernalia such as animal ears or tails, or represent themselves as anthropomorphic animals in online communities such as Second Life.' More than 75 percent of furries are under the age of 25, about 84 percent of them are male and 83.2 percent of them are white, according to the website. Maddock did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com 'Contrasting stereotypes that portray the fandom as being simply a fetish, the most-cited draw to the furry fandom is its sense of belongingness, recreation, and escape from the mundaneness of daily life, as well as its appreciation of anthropomorphic art and stories,' the website states. School board officials did not respond to Hansen's comments, which drew claps from some members of the audience. It is unclear if she is a parent at the school. Video of the meeting began spreading on social media this month. On the Twitter page Libs of TikTok, Hansen's comments have been watched 607,000 times and have garnered 9,373 likes. Michigan Republican Party Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock reposted the video on Thursday, writing: 'Kids who identify as "furries" get a litter box in the school bathroom. Parent heroes will TAKE BACK our schools.' Midlands Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow said: 'There is no truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation! There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools' At a conservative gathering last week, Maddock said she was one of 16 Republicans who signed a document to give Donald Trump all of Michigan's 16 Electoral College votes, even though President Joe Biden won the state by 150,000 votes. 'We fought to seat the electors,' she said, referring to herself and her husband, state Representative Matt Maddock, according to CBS News. 'The Trump campaign asked us to do that. I'm under a lot of scrutiny for that today.' Maddock did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com. In his message to parents, Superintendent Sharrow acknowledged that the 'false message/accusation' was 'gaining traction in the social media realm.' He denied Hansen's claims completely. 'It is such a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you. In this divisive/contentious world in which we currently find ourselves, I ask that if you hear wild accusations that don't sound like something in which your Midland Public Schools Board of Education, Administration, District would be part, take a moment to send an MPSConnect message to me.' The bizarre drama erupted as parents continue to wage war over gender neutral facilities in schools designed to make transgender and non-binary students feel more welcome. That type of policy has triggered heat in Loudoun County, Virginia, where a 14 year-old boy in a skirt who identifies as non-binary sexually assaulted a female student in a girl's bathroom. Ghani v Spencer: Tories pick sides in 'Muslimness' row Team Ghani Nadhim Zahawi: 'There is no place for islamophobia or any form of racism in our Conservative party. Nusrat Ghani is a friend, a colleague & a brilliant parliamentarian. This has to be investigated properly & racism routed out.' Sajid Javid: 'This is a very serious matter which needs a proper investigation. I would strongly support her in making a formal complaint - she must be heard.' Caroline Nokes: 'I was very proud when Nus was the first female Muslim minister to speak at the despatch box and I thought it was evidence of how far our parliament and my party had come and to hear of the challenges that she has subsequently faced, is horrific.' Steve Baker: 'That Nus could be treated like this is completely intolerable. I value (her) as a great colleague and I'm appalled. We must get to the bottom of it.' Team Spencer Mark Spencer: 'These accusations are completely false and I consider them to be defamatory. I have never used those words attributed to me.' Dominic Raab: 'If there are any claims like this they should result in a formal complaint which allows a formal investigation to take place. As the chief whip has pointed out, Nus hasn't made a formal complaint. She was asked to do so. In the absence of doing so there will be no specific investigation into this.' Downing Street: 'After being made aware of these extremely serious claims, the Prime Minister met with Nusrat Ghani to discuss them. He then wrote to her expressing his serious concern and inviting her to begin a formal complaint process. She did not subsequently do so.' Advertisement A thinktank has called on the Government to bring in the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to investigate the claims of former minister Nusrat Ghani, who says she was sacked because of her 'Muslimness'. The Runnymede Trust, a race equality thinktank, says the issue is too important to be left to a civil servant-led inquiry. Ms Ghani alleged that chief whip Mark Spencer said her faith was partly responsible for her getting the boot in 2020. No10 claimed she had made the PM aware of the allegation at the time but declined an invitation to ask for a full investigation. But Ms Ghani contradicted their version of events, saying the PM refused to get involved and tried to fob her off. Dr Halima Begum, chief executive of the Runnymede Trust, told the Guardian: 'This is an incredibly serious situation. At a bare minimum, the allegation that a minister of the crown was fired for her so-called "Muslimness" would represent a flagrant challenge to our equalities and labour laws. 'The facts and questions about the legality of what has happened here must be urgently investigated by the very highest authority. This cannot simply be left for another civil service inquiry. If the allegations are proven to be true, Nusrat would have been subjected to grossly discriminatory behaviour. '[Her] distress will be felt by every one of the 3 million Muslims in the country, as well as every member of our religious minority communities. All of the political parties need to do more to demonstrate zero tolerance for discrimination, and to prove that religious minorities in this country are respected regardless of their faith.' Caroline Nokes, chair of the Commons women and equalities committee, described the treatment of Ms Ghani as 'appalling'. She also backed calls for the EHRC to launch an investigation and told the Telegraph: 'Her faith has never made me (or any other colleague) "uncomfortable". 'At the very least EHRC should have a look at this.' An EHRC spokesperson stated the Commission is still examining the Conservative Partys handling of the Singh inquiry into Islamophobia complaints last year and suggested a full investigation may take place. The spokesperson added: 'If we are not satisfied with progress we will review our decision [not to begin an immediate review] and do not rule out the use of our legal powers.' Dr Halima Begum, director of the Runnymede Trust, said the incident 'must be urgently investigated by the very highest authority'. She added: 'This cannot simply be left for another civil service inquiry' Downing Street is fighting multiple battles - but will Boris survive? The Prime Minister is currently fighting wars on several fronts as he attempts to maintain his premiership. Though Sue Gray's inquiry into 'partygate' is believed to have dug up some extremely damning evidence, here are some of the other challenges facing Downing Street which could prove deadly to Boris' leadership. Allegations of Islamophobia Nusrat Ghani, the first Muslim woman to be elected as a Tory MP in 2015, said she was told by a party whip she was being axed in Feb 2020 because her status as a Muslim woman was 'making colleagues feel uncomfortable'. She also claimed she was told by the whip that she had been fired for saying to Boris Johnson that they had a 'women problem', in attracting female voters. Ms Ghani claimed she raised the issue through official party channels but said she was warned that if she continued to do so, she would be 'ostracised' by her colleagues and her 'career and reputation would be destroyed'. William Wragg's allegations of MP blackmail William Wragg, a backbencher who accused Downing Street of trying to blackmail rebel MPs, said yesterday he would meet police to discuss his allegations. Downing Street said it had not seen any proof of the behaviour he alleges, but Chris Bryant, chairman of the Commons Committee on Standards, said about a dozen Tory MPs alleged whips threatened to withdraw funding for their constituencies should they not show support for Johnson. Whips have also been accused of heavy-handed attempts to intimidate the rebels with the threat of revealing allegations about their sex lives. 1922 Committee William Wragg and Nusrat Ghani are joint vice-chairmen of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers. The committee's executive secretary Gary Sambrook has also expressed his desire for a new Tory leader, while treasurer Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown voiced frustration with the PM last year. If Johnson were to win a party confidence vote, he would be immune to another leadership challenge for a year - but the committee is considering cutting this immunity period to six months. Defectors Former Tory MP Christian Wakeford crossed the floor and joined the Labour party last week. Though defections are rare in Parliament, there are rumours that more Tory MPs may soon follow suit. Advertisement Elsewhere, a Tory MP sparked anger after he said Ms Ghani was 'hardly someone who is obviously a Muslim'. Michael Fabricant said the timing of the former transport minister's claim was 'very suspicious', and suggested it was linked to moves to get rid of Boris Johnson over the Downing Street lockdown parties scandal. Yesterday, Labour described Mr Fabricant's comments as 'shameful' and called for the Conservative whip to be withdrawn. Speaking on LBC, Mr Fabricant said: 'The timing is interesting. I think all this is because it's open season on Boris Johnson, putting pressure on him from the party trying to get him to resign. 'I think the whole thing actually stinks, the accusation being made by Nus Ghani. 'She's hardly someone who is obviously a Muslim. I had no idea what religion she is. It does seem rather a lame excuse to me that she was sacked because of that.' In response, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy tweeted: 'What an appalling, disgraceful thing to say. 'If the Tories wanted to show they were serious about tackling Islamophobia, they could start by removing the whip from Michael Fabricant.' Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds said the response of the the Tories to Ms Ghani's claims had been shameful. 'For a Conservative MP, Michael Fabricant, to go on the radio and make comments that reflect exactly the sort of unacceptable behaviour Nusrat has raised shows just how deep the problem in the Conservative Party goes,' she said. Ms Ghani has received the backing of Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Education Nadhim Zahawi, the two most senior Muslims in the Cabinet. Both took to Twitter to support her and demand a full investigation into her claims against Mr Spencer. He outed himself as the whip concerned last night, and branded Ms Ghani's comments 'false' and 'defamatory'. Justice secretary Dominic Raab also lined up to defend the party, claiming she had decided not to call for an investigation at the time. But Mr Javid said Ms Ghani was 'a credit to the Conservative Party', adding: 'This is a very serious matter which needs a proper investigation. I would strongly support her in making a formal complaint - she must be heard.' His intervention claim after Mr Zahawi tweeted: 'There is no place for islamophobia or any form of racism in our Conservative party. Nusrat Ghani is a friend, a colleague & a brilliant parliamentarian. This has to be investigated properly & racism routed out. #standwithNus' . Ms Ghani, who was the first Muslim woman to be elected as a Tory MP in 2015, told the Sunday Times she was told by a party whip she was being axed in February 2020 because her status as a Muslim woman and a minister was 'making colleagues feel uncomfortable'. She also claimed she was warned that if she continued to raise the issue then her 'career and reputation would be destroyed'. But yesterday morning Downing Street revealed that Ms Ghani had complained directly to the PM in 2020. A spokeswoman said: 'After being made aware of these extremely serious claims, the Prime Minister met with Nusrat Ghani to discuss them. Michael Fabricant has sparked anger after he said the timing of the former transport minister's claim was 'very suspicious' Nusrat Ghani (pictured), the Tory MP for Wealden in East Sussex, was sacked as transport minister in February 2020 as part of a mini-cabinet reshuffle Mark Spencer outed himself as the whip concerned last night, and branded Ms Ghani's comments 'false' and 'defamatory' 'He then wrote to her expressing his serious concern and inviting her to begin a formal complaint process. She did not subsequently do so.' After that statement was released, Ms Ghani said: 'When I told the Prime Minister in June 2020 what had been said to me in the Government Whips' Office I urged him to take it seriously as a Government matter and instigate an inquiry. 'He wrote to me that he could not get involved and suggested I use the internal Conservative Party complaint process. 'This, as I had already pointed out, was very clearly not appropriate for something that happened on Government business - I do not even know if the words that were conveyed to me about what was said in reshuffle meetings at Downing Street were by members of the Conservative Party.' And Justice Secretary Dominic Raab rowed in behind him today, saying that Ms Ghani would have to make a formal complaint to trigger a 'specific investigation'. Ms Ghani alleged the chief whip Mark Spencer said her faith got her the boot in 2020 The allegation in the Sunday Times prompted demands for an investigation from Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi, the most senior Muslim in the Government. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab rowed in behind the chief whip today, saying that Ms Ghani would have to make a formal complaint to trigger a 'specific investigation'. Former education secretary Gavin Williamson accused of threatening MP with school funding axe Former education secretary Gavin Williamson has been accused of threatening an MP with withdrawing funding for a school in his constituency. Tory defector Christian Wakeford claimed he was told funding for a new school in his Bury South constituency would be withheld if he did not back the Government in axing free meals for pupils. The Bury South MP, 37, did not say who was behind the alleged comments, which he made after defecting from the Conservatives to Labour on Wednesday. But speaking to the Sunday Times, Mr Wakeford has now claimed that Gavin Williamson, a former chief whip, was responsible. Mr Wakeford had alleged that Mr Williamson pulled him out of the House of Commons dining room and told him to 'consider' what he was doing. He said he was told: 'It's not very helpful to back an opposition (motion) against the department where you're wanting an extremely large favour from said department, so do consider what you're doing.' Mr Wakeford added: 'I know the maxim is 'once a whip, always a whip', but yeah, that one was Gavin.' But Mr Williamson insisted that he does not have 'any recollection' of any such conversation taking place with Mr Wakeford. 'What I do remember is working tirelessly with Christian and others in order to be able to deliver this school, which I did,' he said. 'Such major investment decisions are made after close analysis of the benefits that the investment will bring and certainly not something that can be decided in a brief conversation like the one described.' Advertisement The row opens a new front in the increasingly bitter conflict between Boris Johnson's embattled administration and Conservative MPs. The row, fuelled by Partygate revelations, descended into open warfare last week when backbenchers led by committee chairman William Wragg went public with claims of heavy-handed behaviour from the whips they say went as far as blackmail. Bury South MP Christian Wakeford, who defected to Labour last week, today used a newspaper article to accuse the PM of having 'poisoned the Tory Party from top to bottom'. Ms Ghani, the Tory MP for Wealden in East Sussex, was sacked in February 2020 as part of a mini-cabinet reshuffle. She told The Times she felt 'humiliated and powerless' after the alleged conversation, saying: 'It was like being punched in the stomach.' A government source close to the whips' office strenuously denied the allegation. Following the allegations, chief whip Mark Spencer took to Twitter to identify himself as the person Ms Ghani's claims were about. The MP for Sherwood, 52, claimed he had 'never used those words'. He wrote: 'To ensure other Whips are not drawn into this matter, I am identifying myself as the person Nusrat Ghani MP has made claims about this evening. 'These accusations are completely false and I consider them to be defamatory. I have never used those words attributed to me.' He also claimed Ms Ghani 'declined' to refer the matter to the Conservative Party for a formal investigation, claiming he gave evidence about it to an Islamophobia inquiry. He added: 'It is disappointing that when this issue was raised before Ms Ghani declined to refer the matter to the Conservative Party for a formal investigation. 'I provided evidence to the Singh Investigation into Islamophobia which concluded that there was no credible basis for the claims to be included in the report. 'These claims relate to a meeting in March 2020. 'When Ms Ghani raised them she was invited to use the formal CCHQ complaints procedure. She declined to do so.' But Mr Zahawi's call for a probe was echoed by influential backbencher and former minister Steve Baker this morning. He said: 'That Nus could be treated like this is completely intolerable. I value (her) as a great colleague and I'm appalled. We must get to the bottom of it.' Tory defector: Boris has 'poisoned' the Conservative Party The former Conservative MP who defected to Labour has accused Boris Johnson of having 'poisoned the Tory Party from top to bottom' as he said the Prime Minister was 'living on borrowed time'. Christian Wakeford crossed the floor in protest at the PM's leadership and the row over Downing Street parties. He has also said he was threatened about the loss of a school in his constituency if he did not toe the line. Writing in the Sunday Mirror, Mr Wakeford said: 'Boris Johnson is living on borrowed time. He has poisoned the Tory Party from top to bottom.' The Bury South MP said the investigation into No 10 by civil servant Sue Gray would show Downing Street was 'hosting parties while the rest of us were obeying the rules'. 'The PM attended and then lied about it. He showed no respect for the Queen while she was in mourning for her husband,' Mr Wakeford wrote. 'His behaviour has been an insult not just to Her Majesty but to the whole nation. 'His lack of honesty and integrity has poisoned the once great party he leads.' Mr Wakeford added he had 'too much respect for the people who voted me into Parliament to stay silent in the face of such intimidation'. Advertisement Ms Ghani, vice-chairwoman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, is understood to have said that she considered whether she wanted to continue being an MP after the alleged incident. Speaking about the reshuffle, she claimed that she had asked the whips in a post-reshuffle meeting why she was being fired, which is when she alleges she was told her 'Muslimness' was raised as an 'issue'. Ms Ghani, who previously served as Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury, claimed she was told there were concerns that she wasn't 'loyal' to the party because she didn't do enough to defend it against Islamophobia allegations. She said: 'It was very clear to me that the whips and No 10 were holding me to a higher threshold of loyalty than others because of my background and faith.' In March 2020, the politician claimed she had a second meeting with a whip where she alleged she was told there was 'no Islamophobia' within the party. In the same meeting, she claimed she was told by the whip that she had been fired for saying to Boris Johnson that they had a 'women problem', in attracting female voters. Ms Ghani claimed she raised the issue through official party channels but said she was warned that if she continued to do so, she would be 'ostracised' by her colleagues and her 'career and reputation would be destroyed'. After the 'threats', she said she followed procedure but was eventually left with 'no choice' but to continue with her career from the back benches. Lord Sheikh, president of the Conservative Muslim Forum, has said he was 'horrified' by the claims. Speaking on Times Radio, he said: 'If these allegations are true then it's totally inappropriate, in fact I was horrified to hear that she was sacked in 2020 because of her faith. 'I'm really, really disturbed by these comments, and what we need to do is to undertake an investigation into what really happened. 'Mark Spencer has denied that this has happened, so somebody is not telling the truth. 'An investigation must be carried out by an independent person. This is very, very important. 'I've been a member of the Conservative Party for over 15 years and I'm president of the Conservative Muslim Forum, and any Islamophobia, any discrimination in the party is totally unacceptable, and I think we need to get to the bottom of what happened.' Bury South MP Christian Wakeford, who defected to Labour last week, today used a newspaper article to accuse the PM of having 'poisoned the Tory Party from top to bottom'. An inquiry into Islamophobia in the Conservative Party, which was carried out two years ago, found no evidence that the Tory party is 'institutionally racist' but was critical of comments made by Boris Johnson. The Prime Minister was cleared by a majority on an independent panel over a complaint he broke the party's code of conduct following a Daily Telegraph column in 2018 which described Muslim women who wear the burkha as looking like 'letterboxes' and 'bank robbers'. He later apologised for his comments. The inquiry carried out by Prof Singh, a former commissioner at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, was established by the party following a series of allegations about Islamophobic behaviour in the party and was widened to consider all forms of discrimination. From 2015-2020, the party's central database recorded 1,418 complaints relating to 727 incidents of alleged discrimination an average of 237 complaints about 122 incidents a year in a party of 200,000 members. More than two-thirds of the incidents 496 cases related to Islam and 74 per cent of all the cases involved social media activity. The report concluded that an allegation of 'institutional racism' against the party was 'not borne out by evidence available to the investigation as regards the way the party handled the complaints process'. But it acknowledged that 'anti-Muslim sentiment remains a problem' within the Conservative Party. Ms Ghani's allegations come after rebel Tory William Wragg accused government whips of 'blackmailing' backbenchers seeking to oust the Prime Minister amid fears of a no-confidence vote. Ms Ghani (pictured), 49, alleged she was told by a whip her 'Muslimness was raised as an issue' at a post-reshuffle meeting and that her faith was 'making colleagues feel uncomfortable' It comes as rebel Tory William Wragg (pictured) accused government whips of 'blackmailing' backbenchers seeking to oust Boris Johnson amid fears of a no-confidence vote Mr Wragg, 34, said he will be meeting a detective from the Metropolitan Police in the House of Commons early next week to discuss his allegations, raising the prospect police could open an investigation. Mr Wragg said on Friday that next week, he plans to tell the detective 'several' examples of bullying and intimidation, claiming some cases involved public money. He told The Telegraph: 'I stand by what I have said. No amount of gas-lighting will change that.' Downing Street said it would not be mounting its own inquiry into the claims, despite calls to do so by both Conservative and opposition MPs. A No 10 spokesman said it would only open an inquiry if it was presented with evidence to back up Mr Wragg's assertions. But Mr Wragg, the Chair of Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, said he believed an investigation should be left for the 'experts' in the police. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'As with any such allegations, should a criminal offence be reported to the Met, it would be considered.' However, Adam Holloway, the Tory MP for Gravesham, dismissed the 'blackmail' allegations, saying he has 'never known' such behaviour to happen during his time in the Conservatives or Government, adding it 'doesn't ring true to me'. Responding to the allegations while visiting the 'Jabs with Kebabs' project at V's Punjabi Grill in Gravesend, Mr Holloway, 56, said: 'I can only speak for myself and I've never known anything like that. 'I've never known any sort of link with my behaviour in Parliament and resources coming into my constituency, so I suspect it's complete bulls***. 'That's what happens in American politics, I've got no sense of that here, ever in 16 years. It just doesn't seem to work that way.' Tory MP Tom Tugendhat has also insisted that he has never experienced or witnessed his party's whips use blackmail following the allegations. Tory MP Tom Tugendhat (pictured) has insisted that he has never experienced or witnessed his party's whips use blackmail following the allegations from Mr Wragg The MP for Tonbridge and Malling, 48, was asked on BBC Breakfast if he had ever been blackmailed by his party's whips. He responded: 'No, I haven't, and as you may well know, I've not always been the Government's biggest supporter. I have voted against the Government on occasions when I thought it right. 'I have to say I've always had a very close relationship with the chief whip and indeed a very productive relationship with whips, so I'm waiting to hear more about this because it's not something I've seen or been told about.' Mr Johnson insisted on Thursday he had 'seen no evidence' to support the claim made by Mr Wragg that his critics were facing 'intimidation'. Meanwhile, Christian Wakeford, the Bury South MP who defected to Labour, claimed the Tory whips had warned him over funding for a new school in his constituency if he rebelled in a vote over free school meals. Ministers have sought to dismiss the allegations, insisting the whips had no role in the allocation of public funding. Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas said a recent report that Donald Trump considered an executive order to have the military seize voting machines in 2020 battleground states 'very serious' during a Sunday television interview. Rep. Bennie Thompson, who chairs the House Select Committee investigating the Capitol attack, confirmed this morning that such an executive order was drafted. The top GOP lawmaker on the House Foreign Affairs Committee told CBS News' Face The Nation he hopes the 'truth will come out' in the Democrat-led investigation into the January 6 insurrection as well as the Justice Department's probes into the matter. It was a rare right-wing vote of confidence for the committee from a lawmaker whose re-election bid was endorsed by Trump as recently as November of last year. His tone puts him at odds with the former president, who has been known to lash out at Republicans who express support for the committee or dispute his claims that the 2020 election was rigged. It was also a stark departure from many of his colleagues in the House Republican Caucus, who routinely seek to undercut the committee and question its legitimacy. 'Well, you know my reaction, it was a dark day, January 6. I want the truth to come out,' McCaul said on Sunday. He echoed Republican concerns that the panel had been 'somewhat politicized.' McCaul's remarks appear to be a rare right-wing vote of confidence for the Democrat-led committee "I'm hopeful the truth will come out on this, the allegations are very serious," says @RepMcCaul while responding to Rep. Thompson's reveal that the Jan. 6 committee has documents that outlined a plan to seize voting machines using defense department assets in 2020. pic.twitter.com/dTbwrwixVz Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 23, 2022 'But the truth should come out, and I think the Department of Justice has been conducting an investigation. I worked at DOJ for almost 15 years, and I trust their investigation -- I in fact called upon them to investigate this, so I'm hopeful that the truth will come out on this,' McCaul said. He added of the reported executive order: 'The allegations are very serious.' Host Margaret Brennan asked if dealing with the report given Trump's support for his campaign was 'a little uncomfortable.' McCaul appeared to acknowledge that it was before attempting to point out that the military never ended up seizing any voting machines. 'Of course, I mean, when the executive-- commander in chief-- and these are allegations, I don't think the executive order was ever followed through with,' he said. Brennan pressed him, 'Right, it was a draft, but it was discussed in the Oval Office.' 'Right. I think it should come out, the truth, obviously. I always think the truth should come out,' McCaul said. It's not the first time the Texas Republican had a more critical tone about Trump. In the aftermath of the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, McCaul released a statement condemning Trump's 'rhetoric and behavior.' He has previously condemned Trump for the Capitol riot though he didn't vote to impeach him He'd said he would vote against impeaching Trump over the riot with a 'heavy heart' only because he felt the proceedings were rushed. Late last week Politico published the text of a draft executive order that would have forced the Defense Secretary to 'seize, collect, retain and analyze' voting machines in states that narrowly went to President Joe Biden in 2020. The order, dated December 16, 2020, would also direct the Department of Homeland Security to aid the military effort and called for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate baseless claims the election was rigged. Thompson on Sunday confirmed his committee had knowledge of such a draft. 'We have information that between the Department of Justice, a plan was put forward to potentially seize voting machines in the country and utilize Department of Defense assets to make that happen,' he said on Face The Nation just before McCaul's appearance. The Mississippi Democrat said the next steps would be finding out 'how far' the defunct plan made it before it was killed. McCaul was reacting to an earlier interview with the Democrat chair of the Capitol riot committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson, during which the lawmaker said his panel had knowledge of a draft executive order that called for the military to seize voting machines in states Trump narrowly lost to Biden in 2020 Weve had conversations with the former attorney general already, Jan 6 Committee Chair @BennieGThompson tells @margbrennan when asked if he will speak with Bill Barr. pic.twitter.com/a4WZpHR04Y Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 23, 2022 Trump has routinely blasted the investigation as a 'witch hunt' and mocked the panel as the 'unselect committee.' Most recently he took aim at the Democrat-led probe in a Friday interview published in the Washington Examiner, after it was revealed the committee sent a letter to his daughter Ivanka Trump asking for her cooperation. 'It's a disgrace what's going on. They're using these things to try and get people's minds off how incompetently our country is being run. And they don't care. They'll go after children,' Trump said. 'It's a very unfair situation for my children. Very unfair.' Trump made no mention of January 6 or McCaul's comments criticizing him in early November when he released a statement backing the Texas Republican. 'Michael McCaul is doing an incredible job for the great State of Texas,' Trump had said. 'He works hard to protect our Borders, defend our now under siege Second Amendment, and support our brave Military and Vets. He will fight for our America First agenda, stand up to China, and hold Joe Biden accountable for his incompetent failure in Afghanistan. Michael McCaul has my Complete and Total Endorsement!' Advertisement Influencer Sienna Mae Gomez fired back after her ex, TikTok star Jack Wright, released a 17-minute video accusing her of sexual assault by claiming his allegations painted her as the 'loud, crazy, and overly sexualized' stereotype of young Latina women. Gomez, 18, released an op-ed Saturday denying the allegations outlined in Wright's video, alleging he misconstrued several parts of their relationship while also accusing him of 'sl*t-shaming' her. 'As someone I loved and still love, Im devastated that he made me sound crazy and twisted so many things out of context in his most recent video, to the point of literally painting me into the loud, crazy, overly sexualized stereotype that people try to use on young, especially Latina, women,' she wrote. Wright, also 18, accused Gomez, a former high school friend, of four instances of assault, including one in Hawaii that was caught on video in May 2021 where he claims she was straddling, groping and kissing him while he was incapacitated. Gomez alleged there is a 'counterpoint for every point Jack made in his video' and admitted to doing 'some things wrong and sloppy as a 16/17 year old girl who felt love for a guy'. However, she asserts the accusations of assault are 'fictitious' and an 'act of slander'. 'All Jack and I ever did was kiss. I have never seen, felt or touched him naked. We spent several nights at the Hype House together but I never grabbed him asleep or awake. Yet Im still being called a rapist across the internet by those who dont understand the meaning of the word,' Gomez penned. 'I want this madness to end,' she added. 'I want people to think before they comment unnecessary, hateful things on my socials, on my friends socials and on Jacks socials. Im tired of seeing people that I dont know jump on the hate train and make up lies.' 'Im confused that people say arrest her when there has been no involvement by police, no investigations, and no legal action other than mine since this all began.' Gomez said her attorneys have threatened Wright with a defamation lawsuit because that it is 'the best next step to clear your name'. Influencer Sienna Mae Gomez (pictured) fired back after her ex, TikTok star Jack Wright, saying his 17-minute video accusing her of sexual assault was painting her into the 'loud, crazy, and overly sexualized' stereotype of young Latina women Gomez, 18, released an op-ed Saturday denying the allegations outlined in Wright's video, alleging he misconstrued several parts of their relationship. The teens are pictured together Wright accused Gomez of several instances of assault, including one in Hawaii that was caught on video (left). He claimed he was 'passed out, unconscious (right) almost like the whole night. She got on top of me, took advantage of me, groped me.' Wright said his friends had to pull Gomez off of him Gomez and Wright travelled to Hawaii in May 2021 after filing on their Netflix show Hype House had wrapped. She said the show included a storyline heavily focused on 'uncovering the truth behind our relationship'. Though they had travelled together before, Gomez alleged 'something on this trip was different'. 'Everywhere we went he introduced me as his girl but then take pictures and blatantly flirt with other people,' she said. 'I was jealous, but more than that I was confused why was I here? Why was he introducing me as his counterpart, telling me to wait patiently to be together, if he didnt really want any of it?' 'And then without producers and cameras around for the first time in months it really hit me. He liked me when he needed me for a video or for work, but he didnt like me otherwise.' Gomez said she asked Wright to make a video with her clarifying to the internet, which was reportedly invested in their alleged romance, that they were just friends. 'I told him that if he didnt have real feelings for me, I wanted to set the record straight publicly about our relationship,' she said. 'He told me we had brand partnerships riding on our fake one, and that it wasnt fair to him. I couldnt believe that someone who I had created with, laughed with, and cried with could so easily disregard my feelings for the sake of money.' Gomez claims he apologized to her and they agreed to take some time apart so they could 'think and heal'. She said she spent during their time apart Wright outreached to her several times but she ignored it, prompting his to start posting Instagram stories targeting her. 'Their friend Mason put up a tweet implying that I physically and mentally abused Jack. A few days after that their friend Lachlan released a video taken from a November 2020 party showing Jack and me kissing. He narrated the whole thing to make it look like it was something it wasnt,' she penned. 'To be clear, [Wright's brother] James took the video as a joke on his Snapchat seven months earlier and they decided to resurface it.' She continued: 'I would like to think that neither Mason nor James realized the impact that their tweets and the taken-out-of-context-video would have. Though they took it all down, it really didnt matter. The damage had been done.' Gomez claims her 'character' was a 'topic of public opinion' for months and the alleged-out-of-context video caused her to lose brand deals, friends and damaged her reputation. Gomez (right) alleged there is a 'counterpoint for every point Jack (left) made in his video' and admitted to doing 'some things wrong and sloppy as a 16/17 year old girl who felt love for a guy'. However, she asserts the accusations of assault are 'fictitious' and an 'act of slander Gomez (left) claims she and Wright (right) never did anything more than kiss. She said: 'I have never seen, felt or touched him naked'. Her attorneys have reportedly threatened Wright with a defamation lawsuit because that it is 'the best next step to clear your name' However, Wright paints a different narrative surrounding the video. 'The Hawaii incident happened where I was passed out, unconscious almost like the whole night. She got on top of me, took advantage of me, groped me,' Wright claimed, adding he's 'so glad' his friends 'pulled her off' of him. 'I was at a party, like passed out on the couch,' Wright recalled. 'When they told me about what happened they said they pulled her off of me. 'Another friend got in an argument with Sienna saying, "you can't do that. Jack doesn't like you like that."' Wright also outlined several other alleged incidents of sexual assault. He accused Gomez of breaking into his home to fondle him while he slept, wrapping her naked body on him without his consent, picking a lock and entering a bathroom while he showered, and more. Gomez has denied all the allegations, saying the couple never did anything more than kiss and that there is a counter argument to all of his accusations. 'I have never seen, felt or touched him naked,' she said. 'I never broke into Jacks house...I never stalked him. I never sat outside his house in the middle of the night.' She claims they both made mistakes, arguing: 'Teenagers do stupid things.' 'Did I do some things wrong and sloppy as a 16/17 year old girl who felt love for a guy? Yes, for sure. I admit to stepping out of a car, stopped at a stop sign, last New Years after we publicly fought. There was alcohol involved and Im definitely not proud of my behavior. After we kissed at Midnight he went and flirted with other people at least thats how I saw it. I got jealous. It was stupid and Im so ashamed.' She continued: 'But that said, he did some stupid stuff too. Like chasing after a car full of guys trying to start a fight with them because they cat-called me on the street. Or locking our mutual friend out of his rental house in Hawaii because he was flirting with me.' 'I dont know, chalk it up to being young and the fact that our brains arent even fully developed yet.' Her agents also issued a statement to Yahoo, denying the allegations. 'Not only are these attacks baseless and false, the release of his most recent video is indicative of the public narrative that Jack and some of his friends hope to use as a crutch to further their lies,' the statement said. 'Those who have collaborated, in this act of slander, did so with the motivation to further associate themselves with Sienna after their professional relationship, and therefore their claim to any portion of her substantial success, were terminated.' Gomez's representatives called Wright's allegation a 'calculated action to hinder, hurt and harm not only Sienna's reputation and livelihood, but her as an individual human being as well. Sienna unequivocally denies these accusations.' The sexual assault allegations were brought to light TikTok user Lachlan Hannemann posted video of the alleged incident that appeared to show Gomez kissing and touching Wright while he was unconscious. A screenshot of the video is seen above Gomez's representatives called Wright's allegations a 'calculated action to hinder, hurt and harm not only Sienna's reputation and livelihood, but her as an individual human being as well' They also noted that besides 'spreading falsehoods about Sienna online, Jack has taken no action.' 'There has been no police investigation not even a police report to our knowledge no charges, no private lawsuit and no contact between Sienna and Jack or their respective legal teams in many months,' the statement read. 'It was always Sienna's desire and intention to handle this privately vs in the court of public opinion, as she would never want to sensationalize or degrade the seriousness of sexual assault. Sadly, Jack's blatant disregard for the truth has left us with no choice but to address these claims publicly.' 'Jack and his collaborators have attempted to utilize blatant sl*t shaming culture to justify their fictitious claims and have effectively victimized a successful woman of color in a way that, regrettably, we have seen many times before, all in an effort to use her suffering as a catalyst for their own personal gain.' Gomez's representatives also alleged the two had a 'consensual and cordial' relationship. 'Jack's false claims began after Sienna wished to end the relationship out of feelings of being used and misled through their time together. While Sienna understands several personal reasons Jack may be engaging in this behavior, she holds true to her character and will not share details of Jack's personal life as she understands the type of hurt and harm it could cause him,' the statement reads. 'Once again, Sienna vehemently denies these claims. Moreover, she wants to publicly apologize to all victims of sexual assault for the manner in which Jack is attempting to use her for his own selfish reasons to exploit sympathy. Sienna has never wanted to engage in this narrative publicly or disrespect the insurmountable pain and trauma associated with credible claims of sexual assault and hopes they can be halted immediately to reduce further harm to sexual assault victim and survivor communities.' Gomez, who was from the same hometown as Wright, claims she reconnected with the TikTok star when she was 16 after one of her social media videos went viral. She claims Wright traveled with her to Los Angeles and introduced her to new friends whom she had been watching online for months. Gomez claims the pair 'instantly connected' and were 'thrown into a crazy, exciting relationship because the public demanded it.' 'He was my person. We got each other safely home after parties. We had each others backs,' she wrote. 'People noticed a spark between us and our videos together went viral. Suddenly, we were Americas favorite teenage ship and it all happened so fast that neither one of us really knew what it meant.' The pair were reported contacted for brand deals, with Wright allegedly switching his talent agency to 'make it easier for work opportunities'. In December 2020, four months after she became TikTok famous, the teen was contacted by the producers of Hype House, Gomez said. Both she and Wright were signed to the show which included a storyline heavily focused on 'uncovering the truth behind our relationship'. 'Somewhere along the way, and in a very confusing state of not knowing what was fake and what was real, I started to fall in love with him,' Gomez said. 'The more they pressed me on camera, the more emotional I got because I wasnt sure if we were friends or more. I didnt know what was being set up by producers and if it was real or fake.' She alleges the pair exchanged the words 'I love you' but Wright repeatedly declined to make their relationship official. Until Friday, Wright had never explicitly addressed the accusations, but now says Hannemann's account of the incident is correct. The teen alleged he was 'passed out unconscious' when Gomez 'got on top of me, took advantage of me, groped me' before his friends pulled her off him Wright also outlined several other alleged incidents of sexual assault. He accused Gomez of breaking into his home to fondle him while he slept, wrapping her naked body on him without his consent, picking a lock and entering a bathroom while he showered, and more Gomez said the allegations and the the out-of-context video have caused her to lose brand deals, friends and damaged her reputation (Pictured: Gomez and Wright along with other Hype House stars) The sexual assault allegations were first made public by Wright's friend, Mason Rizzon, who issued a series of TikTok and Twitter posts on May 30, 2021 describing the alleged abuse. Gomez denied the allegations in a YouTube video dated June 1, claiming they were 'unequivocally false'. Two days later, TikTok user Lachlan Hannemann posted video of the alleged incident that appeared to show Gomez kissing and touching Wright while he was unconscious. Gomes again, on June 4, denied the accusations and said the footage was manipulated. Until Friday, Wright had never explicitly addressed the accusations, but now says Hannemann's account of the incident is correct. The teen alleged he was 'passed out unconscious' when Gomez 'got on top of me, took advantage of me, groped me' before his friends pulled her off him. 'Honestly I'm glad that they have evidence,' he said. 'After Sienna found out about the video she said sorry. She said if this got out she would be done, that it's horrible and she's working on boundaries and she was seeking therapy.' He then continued to outline at least three others instances where Gomez - whom he first met in high school four year ago but reconnected with after they both gained large followings on TikTok - allegedly assaulted him. He claimed Gomez once got 'completely naked' and straddle him while he was 'just chilling on the bed' despite his repeated request that she top. He said he was forced to physically remove her and leave the room. Wright, describing the situation as 'weird and random,' said Gomez would apologize for her alleged inappropriate actions but 'these types of things kept happening.' 'She would do something and I would forgive her and she said it wouldn't happen again,' he said. 'We would go on making fun videos after all those type of things kept on happening.' He accused her of angrily confronting him at a party because he was taking photos with other women. Wright said Gomez asked him to speak in another room and she 'pulled me in, and grabbed me and tried to make out with me' before he told her to leave. The teen also claimed Gomez would frequently 'break into his home' while he was asleep. 'She would constantly come to my house, remembering my door codes. It got to the point where I was screaming at her to get out of my house, because she was like, breaking into my house,' he said. 'I would wake up and see her car sitting outside at two in the morning. She would break into my house, and, when I was sound asleep, she would come to my room, and I would wake up to her hand in my pants. It wasn't the only time it happened, too. I was just so used to it.' He added: 'One night she started ripping off my clothes, touching my crotch area, trying to make out with me.' Wright claimed asked Gomez to stop repeatedly and ended up sleeping on the floor. Wright, citing another alleged incident at a party, claimed Gomez asked to speak to him in a bathroom, sitting on a counter and wrapping her legs against him. Later that same evening, she allegedly picked the lock on his door and walked into the restroom while he was in the shower. 'Looking back now I don't know why I stayed friends with her, stayed around her. I truly thought she was going to change,' he added. Thousands of patients are missing out on urgent operations because of Dan Andrews' blanket ban on elective surgery, leading doctors say. Australian Orthopaedic Association chairman Adrian Trivett says the procedures need to be reinstated immediately with some areas of hospitals that perform day surgery 'sitting empty'. Non-urgent procedures were suspended in Victoria in early January until the state's 'Code Brown' alert lifts to alleviate pressure on the healthcare system amid a surge in Omicron cases. Category two and three surgeries in Victoria deemed non-urgent have been suspended until the Code Brown declaration for hospitals in the state is lifted (pictured: St Vincents hospital in Melbourne) 'We think the word 'elective surgery' is not a good description of these operations,' These are essential procedures. They are non-urgent but essential procedures to help patients who are disabled and in pain return to their normal life. 'We're worried that there is capacity in the system and it's not being utilised at the moment.' 'Thousands of patients are missing out on the procedures that they really need to be able to restore their function and help them with pain and suffering that has been mounting over the last two years,' he said. He said there's almost 10,000 patients that missed out on crucial hip and knee replacement surgery last year because of the harsh lockdowns in elective surgery. 'We think that with many parts of hospitals with lights off, operating rooms shut and nurses not being utilised efficiently, he explained. 'We can really have more sophistication in flexing up the service and making sure that these patients aren't missing out. A blanket ban on elective surgery just doesn't cut it.' Victorian Premier Dan Andrews (pictured) and health minister James Merlino announced a ban on elective surgeries in the state as hospitals cope with a surge of Omicron cases On January 5 the Andrews government announced elective surgeries would be suspended amid the Omicron wave to help hospitals better cope with increased demand. The changes were effective from January 6 across Melbourne and other major cities in Victoria for a three month period - or until the Code Brown declaration for Victorian hospitals is lifted by the health department. 'As soon as we can come out from the Code Brown, as soon as we feel that it is safe and that we have significant capacity to resume services, that is exactly what we will do,' Mr Andrews said on Sunday. 'With the greatest respect to the surgical community, they do one part of the work, they have got to be supported by teams of people,' he said.' 'It is very rare that there would be a surgeon providing care to a patient. Even a day procedure, there are other members of the team and those other members are very high need at the moment. 'We are employing all sorts of people in different ways. But we have significant pressure in the system.' Australian Orthopaedic Association chairman Adrian Trivett (pictured) said some elective procedures were considered non-urgent but significantly improved the lives of patients The Victorian government has already backflipped on the ban for IVF treatments. Acting Health Minister James Merlino announced some services will restart from last Thursday, while hospitals are scaling up their operations to enable procedures to resume from 11.59pm on Tuesday. IVF clinics were contacted by authorities earlier this month to cancel appointments as part of a pause on elective surgeries in response to the rising number of Covid-19 hospitalisations. The move attracted criticism from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, state Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, IVF clinics, patients and the community, with an online petition garnering almost 140,000 signatures. Category one operations which are critical can still go ahead but some doctors say the ban on electives surgeries causes wait lists to grow (pictured: St Vincents hospital in Melbourne) Royal Australiasian College of Surgeons president Dr Sally Langley said the 'recurring' ban on elective surgery had a huge effect on Victorians. There have been intermittent bans on these surgeries throughout Covid restrictions - as Victoria battled their first and second waves, along with the Delta, and most recently Omicron waves. Dr Langly said with each ban the waiting lists for elective surgeries grows - with some patients having to wait more than six months to have important operations. 'Surgeons and their teams should be working to keep up their skills. The longer they're away from work, there'll be some anxiety about maintenance of skills,' she said. 'Hospital and ICU beds are in short supply so I can understand restricting surgery if those resources are required, but there's a whole sector of day surgery procedures, where most of the patients never even see the inside of a ward or a hospital bed. Why can't those operations carry on?' Dr Langley said. The state's health minister James Merlino said he was 'sorry' for the distress caused by the ban to affected services in recent weeks and was 'working to have other services restored as soon as we can'. A Texas Department of Public Safety agent has died after he was crushed by a vehicle that flipped down an embankment while he was providing security during an arrest the U.S. border wall Friday. Anthony Salas, 37, was part of a Texas Department of Public Safety Special Operations Group working with the U.S. Border Patrol when he was involved in the 'tragic accident' near Eagle Pass around 7:30 p.m. Friday night, according to a press release issued by DPS this weekend. Photos taken by the Eagle Pass News Leader show the site of the crash and a pickup truck flipped on its side. It is unclear what caused it to flip, and where Salas was in the truck at the time of the accident. Salas was transported to Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center and later airlifted to University Hospital in San Antonio where he died just after 11 a.m. on January 22, with his family by his side, the release stated. State and federal sources tell WOAI that during the 'tactical operation' Friday, six people had been arrested near the Rio Grande by Salas and Border Patrol. Border Patrol agent Anthony Salas died after the truck he was in flipped into a ditch during a security operation at the US border in Texas on Friday The Chevy is pictured on its side after the accident. It is unclear what caused the tragic incident The crashed vehicle landed in water, with Salas succumbing to injuries he sustained in the accident at hospital shortly afterwards Salas was sitting in the back of a border patrol pickup truck providing security for the driver and those who were under arrest, when 'something happened,' according to WOAI, that caused the truck to flip, and roll down the embankment, ultimately crushing Salas. Further details on what exactly caused the accident have yet to be shared. Governor Greg Abbott spoke Saturday in San Antonio about the fallen officer, saying: 'Overnight a Texas DPS Special Agent was involved in apprehending some people who were not here just illegally, but were transporting drugs into the U.S. And the DPS agent lost his life' WOAI reached out to Border Patrol for information on the six undocumented who were arrested. In a statement, Border Patrol responded that 'Texas Department of Public Safety and Customs and Border Protections Office of Professional Responsibility are investigating. The Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Inspector General was notified.' According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol agents reported 1.7 million encounters with migrants along the southwestern border in fiscal year 2021, which spanned from October 2020 to September 2021. A total of 338,373 interdictions were registered in the first two months of the current fiscal year It is not known if anyone else was injured in the incident. Salas, who was one of 1,600 state troopers deployed to the border as part of Operation Lone Star, joined the department in 2013 and was stationed in El Paso. He was a member of the DPS West Texas Special Response Team, and he served in the United States Marine Corps before joining the department. Security forces have intercepted more than 252,000 migrants between January 2021 and November 2021. The government deported more than 100,000 individuals during the same period. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol agents reported 1.7 million encounters with migrants along the southwestern border in fiscal year 2021, which spanned from October 2020 to September 2021. A total of 338,373 interdictions were registered in the first two months of the current fiscal year. Some migrants see remaining in Mexico as a viable option while others see it just as a way to get papers that allow them to transit Mexico freely and make their way to the U.S. border. An HMM container ship / Courtesy of HMM Australia's former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth has issued an alarming warning to Mark McGowan over Western Australia's ultra-cautious Covid response. The WA Premier on Thursday broke his promise to reopen the state's border on February 5, claiming it would be 'reckless and irresponsible' given the breakout of the Omicron strain across the country. He said a new reopening date, which was initially scheduled to align with WA's 90 per cent double-dose vaccination target, will not be considered until next month. The policy reversal sparked widespread criticism, with medical experts firing up their Twitter accounts to weigh in on the 'disappointing' news. Dr Coatsworth said postponing the reopening of WAs borders closer to winter risks the inevitable Covid outbreak will strike right on flu season. Australia's former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth (pictured) has issued a brutal warning to Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan 'Delay WA border opening until 80% boosted, which will occur sometime around May, to coincide with the start of the winter flu season, which may well be worse this year due to lack of, you guessed it, immunity from recent infection,' he tweeted. 'Courageous indeed,' Coatsworth sarcastically mused. 'Theres a gamble being made here with the health of West Australians,' Dr Coatsworth told 6PR. Dr Coatsworth said February 5 was a reasonable open date and would have been 'as safe as it possibly can be'. He said reaching Covid-zero was 'impossible' and that that Omicron was both very mild - less than one per cent of current active cases are in hospital - and had been in decline in eastern states for over a week. 'They are simply cases of people who have a mild respiratory virus,' Dr Coatsworth said. 'The picture that's being painted for West Australians is exaggerated in terms of the severity. 'Real leadership would be saying to the West Australian people, look - we understand that there maybe some deaths associated with Covid-19, but we know things are a lot milder and that our treatments and health systems can cope and that we are ready to open,' Dr Coatsworth explained. Mark McGowan (pictured) on Thursday backflipped on a decision to reopen his state's border on February 5 He said there is very limited evidence that waiting for everybody to get boosted will lead to a decrease in hospitalisations when the wave inevitably hits, and that prolonged border closure was costing West Australians memories and experiences that can never be retrieved. 'If that (waiting for widespread boosters) is the basis of the decision, then it is medically incorrect,' Dr Coatsworth said. 'We have to remember here that tens of thousands of West Australian families have been impacted by border shutdowns - and it's more than an inconvenience. 'People have been unable to hold hands with loved ones as they died, people have been unable to attend major life events - you don't get that stuff back.' Dr Coatsworth also shared a petition launched by WA Doctors calling for the borders to be opened in February, writing he 'agreed wholeheartedly' with the cause. Despite renewing border policy, Mark McGowan's government on Sunday admitted the state could not eliminate the super-infectious strain as its active cases climbed to 92. Mark McGowan's government on Sunday admitted the Omicron variant could not be eliminated as the state's active cases climbed to 90 'Its clear that were not going to eliminate Omicron. Its about how we suppress and manage Omicron,' Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson told reporters. 'Thats our intention as a government and its the advice of the chief health officer. Its very clear it cant be eliminated because its so transmissible. 'Its a wake-up call for the broader community that we do have Covid in our community.' Mr McGowan, whose zealous use of border closures had been largely popular with the WA people and saw him secure a landslide election win last year, said he was not prepared to offer any timeline as to when Australians - and the rest of the world - can ever travel to the state. He did flag some loosening of the exemption criteria for arrivals, especially for compassionate visits. Being cut off from the rest of Australia for almost two years has taken a high toll on the state. At some pubs, the price of a pint of beer has soared to $16 due to supply chain issues. Meanwhile, many businesses have been forced to close due to staff shortages, as they're unable to get labour in and out of the state. Thursday night's decision has sparked a furious backlash, led by health and business experts, along with the state's top-selling newspaper. Perth-based Australian Medical Association president Dr Omar Khorshid said Mr McGowan's attempts to keep the state Covid-free will not succeed. 'Gutted.....seems WA Premier Mark McGowan is a one-trick pony when it comes to Covid-19. Hard border with the rest of the country and world remains despite almost 90% vaxxed,' he tweeted. 'Was hoping for more courage from a Premier with an unprecedented parliamentary majority. This decision should be acknowledged as a failure by the WA govt to prepare and a broken promise. 'Don't pretend that the more "compassionate" border arrangements are a major move.. they're long overdue but the hard border continues to harm many people and needs to come down as soon as we are ready.' Dr Khorshid urged Mr McGowan to use the delayed reopening to get the state prepared for reopening by bringing in critical health measures and ensuring easy access to rapid antigen tests. The AMA head also urged the premier not to wait until winter to reopen. 'Look to South Australia for an alternative to the NSW/Vic approach -set a date and stick to it- not another vaccination target,' he continued. 'Omicron is here already, and it will cause a significant outbreak in WA soon enough. Sticking our head in the sand won't make it go away. Let's prepare!' Perth-based Australian Medical Association president Dr Omar Khorshid (pictured) slammed Mark McGowan over his lack of courage 2BG radio breakfast host Ben Fordham described the decision as madness and labelled the premier a problem child. 'Mark McGowan has gone mad! He's drunk on power and he's heartless,' he told listeners. Poll DO YOU AGREE WITH MCGOWAN'S DECISION? Yes No DO YOU AGREE WITH MCGOWAN'S DECISION? Yes 1279 votes No 3561 votes Now share your opinion 'I know families living in Sydney who haven't been home to see their families since this madness started.' The decision to delay re-opening comes despite evidence that Omicron surge appears to be in decline. Active Covid case numbers have continued to drop across Australia last week, with Friday's numbers being the lowest in 10 days and having declined by 23 per cent in just four days. Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Wilcox believes the WA decision will cause long-term damage to the state economy. 'It's impossible to get labour in and out of Western Australia. It is a decision which will set back the national economy as well, very severely,' he told the Today show on Friday. 'They are going to have to rejoin at some stage ... a pint of beer in Perth now is $16 because of supply chain problems as much as anything else, and staff shortages. 'It's being becoming very expensive to operate in WA and staff shortages are real and businesses are closing. They're not complaining, they're just closing.' University of Sydney infectious diseases expert Dr Robert Booy warned of long-term ramifications for WA. The exemption criteria for arrivals into Western Australia will be expanded, especially for compassionate visits (pictured temperature screening at Perth Airport 'At some point their industry is going to crumble, somehow they are surviving on the mining, so you can see a short- term gain for Mark McGowan but long term, is it the right thing for Western Australia?' he told the program. 'Is it the right thing for all those relatives and friends and people needing medical care who can't get there?' The state's highest selling newspaper, The West Australian, spoke out against the delay in Friday's editorial. 'If WA can't open after two years, an economic boom, a relatively healthy population living in mostly hot weather and an urban sprawl that prevents congestion . . . then who the hell can be prepared?' it stated. Federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg reiterated the federal government's stance that it's time to learn to live with the virus. 'Western Australians this morning are very disappointed and are asking the question, if not now, when will their borders open?' he said. 'Other states are moving very rapidly learning to live with the virus. I would hope that WA, in time, will do so as well.' But not everyone has lashed out at the decision. 'Brilliant #Leadership #MarkMcGowan Wish we had a #PrimeMinister like you making decisions like you have. Your handling of #COVID makes so much sense! Excellent Feb 5 hard border decision to keep WA safe & give people the opportunity to protect themselves & their loved ones & prepare,' one woman commented. The Premier is yet to announce a new timeline on when Australians and the rest of the world can finally travel freely to the state and reunite with loved ones. Another added: 'Well done. Keeping your people and economy safe. Following medical and scientific advice. Now that's leadership. Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles said he understands the WA government's decision. 'Given what is playing out (in eastern states) and the failure of support of Scott Morrison, I can understand Mark McGowan wanting to take time and keep WA safe,' he said. 'WA are in a position where they don't have the virus.' Mr McGowan claimed if the border opened as planned Omicron cases would pour into the state given the numbers to the east, while acknowledging the decision wouldn't be popular. 'If we proceeded with the original plan, we would be deliberately seeding thousands upon thousands of Covid cases into WA and at this point in time, that is not what I'm going to do,' he told reporters. Anyone who makes it into WA from February 5 will still be required to quarantine for 14 days. An Israel-bound United Airlines plane that departed from Newark, New Jersey reversed course 90 minutes after takeoff after two economy-level passengers who moved into business class started a riot, reports say. The half-empty flight had not yet reached the Canadian border January 20 when the unidentified Israeli nationals upgraded their seats and refused to show flight attendants their tickets, according to the The Jerusalem Post. Fellow passenger Roi Lotan said a 'riot' started when the duo refused to comply with the flight crew's directive en route to Tel Aviv. 'The flight was half empty and there was room, so they probably just said to themselves "why not?" Lotan told Israeli outlet Channel 12. The ruckus prompted the pilots to turn back near the Maine-New Brunswick border, FlightAware data shows. A United Airlines plane carrying 123 passengers from New Jersey to Israel turned around within about 90 minutes of takeoff after two economy riders self-upgraded to business class It's the second time within a week that an international flight originating in the US was forced to turn around because of disruptive passenger behavior. Last Wednesday, a flight from Miami to London turned around mid-trip after a passenger refused to comply with the federal mask mandate on planes. Once the plane returned to Florida, police escorted the defiant passenger off the plane without incident. Likewise, the Port Authority was called during the more recent incident aboard United flight 90, and met the plane when it returned to Newark, United said in a statement. One witness theorized that the passengers felt it would be OK to move into business class, since vacant seats were available Port Authority police met with the disruptive passengers once they returned to Newark The drama began on a United Airlines Boeing 787 last Thursday (file photo) The flight was cancelled; customers were given meal vouchers and hotel accommodations as staff worked to reschedule their trips, the airline said. The plane was carrying 123 passengers and 11 crew members. A quick United flight search shows business class flights from Newark to Tel Aviv can cost multitudes more than an economy seat. A January 30 economy ticket from Newark to the Israeli city costs $1,062 roundtrip, compared to $10,670 for a United Polaris business seat. The price is double that of a business seat on similar flights. Details of a fresh charge laid against Cleo Smith's alleged abductor are expected to be outlined when he returns to court. Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, is accused of taking four-year-old Cleo from her family's tent at the remote Blowholes campsite in Western Australia last year. He will face a magistrate via videolink from custody on Monday, charged with multiple offences including forcibly taking a child under 16. Kelly is also facing a new charge of assaulting a public officer. Details about a new charge set to be laid against Cleo Smith's (pictured) alleged abductor are expected to be outlined when he returns to court The charge relates to an incident in Carnarvon on November 4 last year - the same date on which he first faced court in relation to Cleo's disappearance. Cleo was found alive and well in early November, 18 days after she went missing from the campsite. She was rescued from a property just minutes from her family home in the nearby town of Carnarvon, almost 1000km north of Perth. Police forced entry to the home and found the little girl alone in a room, physically unharmed and playing with toys. Kelly was arrested on a nearby street around the same time. He is alleged to have acted alone and is yet to enter a plea to his charges. Police have said he has no connection to Cleo's family. Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, who allegedly kept Cleo in a Carnarvon home for 18 days, was charged in November with forcibly taking a child under the age of 16 - he will appear in court later this month Cleo's mother Ellie Smith and stepfather Jake Gliddon appeal for information during her disappearance. Cleo was found alive and well in early November, 18 days after she went missing from the campsite Kelly was accompanied by armed riot squad guards on a charter flight from Carnarvon to Perth after his first court appearance. The extra security was put in place after Kelly was twice hospitalised with self-inflicted injuries while in custody. Bail was not considered when Kelly returned to court last month for an appearance via videolink from Casuarina Prison. Six million Australians are officially eligible to receive free rapid antigen tests, however pharmacies are concerned over whether there will be any to give out. Concession card holders will be able to claim up to 10 of the free self-test kits over a three-month period starting from Monday. Pensioners, veterans and low-income earners will be able to access RATs for free and can claim a maximum of five tests per month. However, pharmacies fear nationwide shortages will leave customers empty-handed amid surging demand for the devices. Six million Australians are officially eligible for free rapid antigen tests (pictured) however pharmacies are concerned over widespread supply shortages Concession card holders will be able to ask for up to ten of the free self-test kits over a three-month period starting from Monday (pictured, a Sydney pharmacy sells out of RATs) Chemists are putting on extra staff to cope with the amount of people seeking a test as fresh batches of the kits continue to sell out in just minutes. WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR 10 FREE RATs? Those eligible for the 10 free RATs must hold one of the following Commonwealth concession cards: - Commonwealth Seniors Health Card - Department of Veterans Affairs Gold, White or Orange Card - Health Care Card - Low Income Health Card - Pensioner Concession Card Advertisement The federal government has agreed to pay pharmacists $10 plus GST for every RAT handed out to a concession card holder, but some have said this isn't enough. Chris Freeman, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, said $15 would be more appropriate reimbursement as demand for the tests continues globally. He said pharmacies could be out of pocket for up to a month and revealed most chemists were being forced to put on extra staff to cope with customers. 'In the ideal world, we would have these tests supplied into pharmacy from government, rather than the pharmacists themselves trying to source the supply,' Dr Freeman told the ABC. The federal government has said national cabinet would regularly review the reimbursement rate to keep up with the price of the tests. Trent Twomey, President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, said while there would eventually be enough tests for the scheme, supply was constrained. 'We don't have enough today,' he told the Nine Network on Monday. 'There are 6000 community pharmacies in Australia and 804 pharmacies went live this morning. The majority will simply not be going live.' Trent Twomey, President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, (pictured) said while there would eventually be enough RATs available for the scheme, supply was constrained Mr Twomey says there are 13 million tests arriving in the next week and 22 million in the first three weeks of February just for pharmacies (pictured, a nurse holds a RAT test) Mr Twomey says there are 13 million tests arriving in the next week and 22 million in the first three weeks of February just for pharmacies. 'But like with everything in this pandemic we are competing with supply chain shortages of rapid antigen tests not just in the UK and the US but here in Australia,' he said. 'The bigger boys are getting stock before the smaller guys. We can't get enough stock for all pharmacies for all of those 6.6 million Australians that have (concession cards).' Some pharmacies are also waiting for prices to drop before joining the scheme amid fears they could be out-of-pocket for months after purchasing thousands of tests. 'The prices are high at the moment,' Mr Twomey said. 'Some pharmacies ... need to wait for their new shipments to arrive, which will see the price drop so they can afford to participate.' The government has again defended their rollout of the concessional scheme, with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg saying every country is suffering from supply chain issues with regards to the tests. Some pharmacies will wait for prices to drop before joining the scheme amid fears they could be out-of-pocket for months (pictured, a sold-out sign for RATs at a Sydney chemist) Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Australia had access to 200 million rapid antigen tests (pictured, a healthcare worker hands out RATs in Melbourne) 'There's great demand for these rapid antigen tests right around the country and here in Australia we've got more than 200 million on offer,' he told the ABC on Monday. 'The good news is more are coming online with millions arriving into the state and through the federal government.' Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says the shortage has also been exacerbated by people and large companies hoarding tests. 'It's definitely been a factor,' he said. 'You can't be Nostradamus, it's not like we weren't bringing them in. The whole world is having issues with rapid antigen tests.' Rapid antigen tests will also play a key role in the return to schools in the country's two biggest states. As part of NSW's long awaited back-to-school plan, teachers and pupils will get two RATs per week when they return to classrooms (pictured, Melbourne high-schoolers in July 2021) Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) announced 6.6 million RATs will be delivered to schools and early childhood centres across the state before January 31 As part of NSW's long awaited back-to-school plan, teachers and pupils will get two RATs per week when they return to classrooms. The scheme will run for four weeks, covering the states 3000 primary and secondary schools. Early education and childcare centres will also be included. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced a similar strategy, saying 6.6 million RATs will be delivered to schools and early childhood centres across the state before primary and secondary students resume classes on January 31. In all, 14 million RAT kits will be distributed during the state's surveillance testing regime, which will be reviewed after four weeks. It comes as One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has called for a royal commission into how Australia's governments have handled the pandemic. About 14 million RATs will be distributed throughout Victoria during the state's surveillance testing regime (pictured, a healthcare worker administers a RAT in Melbourne) One Nation leader Pauline Hanson (pictured in the Senate in March 2021) has called for a royal commission into how Australia's governments have handled the pandemic The One Nation leader says the pandemic has affected every Australian in some way with people dying, workers losing their jobs, individual rights and freedoms being restricted and unelected bureaucrats wielding 'extraordinary power'. 'We need a royal commission, not to lay blame or find scapegoats ... but primarily to learn which pandemic measures worked and which didn't so we are much better prepared for the next pandemic,' she said. Senator Hanson's call came after another grim day with 58 deaths reported across the country on Sunday. NSW added 20,324 new infections along with 34 deaths, while Victoria's caseload rose by a further 13,091, and there were 14 deaths. In Queensland there were 11,947 cases and 10 deaths. Meanwhile, South Australia recorded 2062 new cases, the ACT posted 694 and Western Australia 26, while in the Northern Territory there were 212 new infections. Covid-19 cases have plunged in NSW and Victoria while hospitalisations have increased as pharmacists warn of a shortage of Rapid Antigen Tests. NSW recorded 15,091 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, marking a 26 per cent dip on the 20,324 reported on Sunday, and another 24 deaths. Victoria reported 11,695 new infections, a 10.6 per cent drop on the previous 13,091, and 17 deaths. NSW hospitalisation rates have risen to 2,816 - up from 2,712 - while Victoria's hospitalisation figures have dropped to 998 - down from 1,002. ICU rates have also risen in NSW to 196 - up from 189 - and dipped in Victoria to 119 - down from 120. The cases come as pharmacists warn RAT availability will become stretched as the federal government's Covid-19 concession scheme launched and the NSW government promised an additional two million tests to be distributed to schools. Pharmacists have warned supply shortages will impact the rollout of the federal government's COVID-19 rapid antigen test concession scheme President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Trent Twomey says there will be enough tests over the course of the program, which begins on Monday, but supply is constrained at the moment Two test kits per week will be issued to pupils and staff across 3000 primary and secondary schools throughout February. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, health minister Brad Hazzard dismissed concerns made by parents the weekly tests would disrupt learning in the classrooms. 'What I would say is just quietly and calmly to them and make sure they understand that this is a very simple process,' he said. 'I'm absolutely certain that the children will learn very quickly to accommodate to having the Rapid Antigen Tests.' Premier Dominic Perrottet admitted there may be some minor disruptions as students and teachers adjusted to the new rules when classes returned on February 1. 'We have been able to provide the resourcing and investment in going out early, and acquiring those rapid antigen tests should give confidence that we will be able to have kids back in classrooms day one of term one in a very safe way,' he said. 'I do accept that as we move through, there will be difficulties, there will be time off school. In the main, we will have kids in the classroom in an incredibly safe way.' Mr Perrottet said he was confident it would be safe for students to return. 'I know many parents across the sate are anxious about the return to school,' he said. 'We have put everything in place to ensure that we can have our schools open in a safe way.' Department of Education secretary Georgina Harisson said parents who were concerned about their children learning in a classroom needed to speak with the school principal to discuss alternatives. President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Trent Twomey says there will be enough tests over the course of the program, which begins on Monday, but supply is constrained at the moment. 'We don't have enough today,' he told the Nine Network on Monday. The government has again defended their rollout of the concessional scheme, with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg saying every country is suffering from supply chain issues with regards to the tests 'There are 6000 community pharmacies in Australia and 804 pharmacies went live this morning. The majority will simply not be going live.' Mr Twomey says there are 13 million tests arriving in the next week and 22 million in the first three weeks of February just for pharmacies. 'But like with everything in this pandemic we are competing with supply chain shortages of rapid antigen tests not just in the UK and the US but here in Australia,' he said. 'The bigger boys are getting stock before the smaller guys. We can't get enough stock for all pharmacies for all of those 6.6 million Australians that have (concession cards).' Some pharmacies are also waiting for prices to drop before joining the scheme, with the government reimbursing pharmacies $10 per test. 'The prices are high at the moment,' Mr Twomey said. Premier Dominic Perrottet admitted there may be some minor disruptions as students and teachers adjusted to the new rules when classes returned on February 1 NSW recorded 15,091 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, marking a 26 per cent dip on the 20,324 reported on Sunday, and another 24 deaths 'Some pharmacies ... need to wait for their new shipments to arrive, which will see the price drop so they can afford to participate.' The government has again defended their rollout of the concessional scheme, with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg saying every country is suffering from supply chain issues with regards to the tests. 'There's great demand for these rapid antigen tests right around the country and here in Australia we've got more than 200 million on offer,' he told the ABC on Monday. 'The good news is more are coming online with millions arriving into the state and through the federal government.' Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says the shortage has also been exacerbated by people and large companies hoarding tests. 'It's definitely been a factor,' he said. 'You can't be Nostradamus, its not like we weren't bringing them in. The whole world is having issues with rapid antigen tests.' Labor Leader Anthony Albanese said the government ordered RATs too late, and then sought to shift the blame. As part of NSW's long awaited back-to-school plan, teachers and pupils will get two of the tests per week when they return to classrooms 'They got their ads ready before they ordered the tests. Something that characterises this government is it sits back, waits for something to become a crisis then it blames others for the problem,' he told the ABC. 'Barnaby Joyce actually just blamed the Australian people themselves. It's so frustrating when you are a pharmacist or a medical centre getting phone call after phone call as people search desperately to get a rapid antigen test.' RATs will also play a key role in the return to schools in the two biggest states. As part of NSW's long awaited back-to-school plan, teachers and pupils will get two of the tests per week when they return to classrooms. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced a similar strategy, saying 6.6 million RATs will be delivered to schools and early childhood centres across the state before primary and secondary students resume classes on January 31. It comes as One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has called for a royal commission into how Australia's governments have handled the pandemic. She says the pandemic has affected every Australian in some way with people dying, workers losing their jobs, individual rights and freedoms being restricted and unelected bureaucrats wielding 'extraordinary power'. 'We need a royal commission, not to lay blame or find scapegoats ... but primarily to learn which pandemic measures worked and which didn't so we are much better prepared for the next pandemic,' she said. Senator Hanson's call came after another grim day with 58 deaths reported across the country on Sunday. British commentator Piers Morgan has blasted Jacinda Ardern for introducing another raft of 'draconian' Covid rules across New Zealand to combat the spread of Omicron. The Prime Minister on Sunday announced tough measures would come into force from midnight after the nation recorded its first confirmed community transmission of the super-contagious strain. The country is now under a 'red' Covid alert, meaning additional mask use is required in public settings and strict capacity limits apply to hospitality venues, events, and gatherings. Ms Ardern also announced her wedding to long-term partner Clarke Gayford, scheduled to take place later this month, would be postponed in light of the restrictions. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured) announced on Sunday all of New Zealand would be placed on the Code Red Covid footing from 11.59pm British commentator Piers Morgan (pictured) weighed in on the decision on Monday, slamming Ms Ardern's 'draconian' new rules and claiming New Zealanders were trapped in a 'prison camp' But Morgan was quick to slam the Prime Minister's crackdown given New Zealand's high vaccination rate. 'Given over 90% of New Zealands eligible population has had at least 2 doses of covid vaccine, and Omicron is indisputably a significantly less severe strain of the virus, Im not sure why Jacinda Ardern is implementing draconian new restrictions & cancelling her wedding?' he Tweeted on Monday. 'New Zealand is also trapped in a perpetual pandemic prison camp. Vaccines + much milder Omicron is the most likely way out of this,' he said in a second Tweet. Some commenters on Twitter hit back and defended Ms Ardern's Covid strategy as they highlighted the dire death rate in his homeland. 'NZ have had 52 deaths from Covid. That's not 52 thousand - it's just 52. Considering the UK has had over 150,000 what's your question again?' one man retorted. 'Leading by example. It doesnt really matter what they choose to do, what matters is that shes willing to follow the rules shes set,' another responded. New Zealand has been placed under a Covid 'red' alert, meaning masks are required in additional public settings, and strict capacity limits apply to hospitality venues, gatherings, and events A third said: 'Jacinda knows best.. we only have 52 deaths since the start of the pandemic.. and our health system will not cope so she's looking after them. Key thing is we are NOT in lockdown. Businesses are still open up to maximum capacity of 100.' One man rebuked Morgan's view of the Omicron, claiming the journalist saw the highly-infectious variant as an 'end game'. 'It is not,' he continued. 'It's potentially just the middle. High case rates, as seen in UK caused by policy, create a bigger risk of a variant. They [NZ] are going for a low CV rate even if the disease, COVID, is low with his variant. UK deaths not insignificant.' 'Utter nonsense,' someone else said. 'This is the difference between a responsible government that wants to do the best for its people and the UK government that uses restrictions and reduces restrictions as a method of gaining favor with the public.' Ardern (pictured with her partnner Clarke Gayford) also announced her wedding would be postponed due to the latest outbreak But others agreed with the controversial broadcaster, saying the harsh measures are disproportionate and have resulted in New Zealanders remaining stranded abroad. 'NZ is a joke, I have a friend whos family has been in quarantine for a month trying to get in,' one person said. 'Our rules are draconian and we dont let our own citizens enter their country,' a second said. 'Please speak up on this,' a third said, 'NZ citizens still can not freely return to their own country. Even the 'lottery' has been closed.' Ms Ardern's wedding, reportedly set to host around 180 guests, falls foul of the new gathering limits. The PM was due to wed her television host fiance Clarke Gayford this summer in Gisborne on the North Island after becoming engaged in early 2019. 'Such is life,' Ms Adern (pictured with her partner and their daughter Neve) told reporters during a press conference after confirming her wedding would be postponed She said her big day would be pushed back due to the outbreak because she 'was no different to other New Zealanders'. 'Such is life,' she told reporters during a press conference in which she reiterated the country was not entering a lockdown. 'My wedding will not be going ahead, but I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic.' Ms Ardern raised the alert to red after the discovery of nine Omicron cases in the community with no link to the border. 'Red is not lockdown. At Red businesses stay open and you can do most of things that you normally do, including visiting family and friends and travelling around the country,' Ms Ardern said. 'One of the most important things that people can do is to make sure you and your family have a buddy like a neighbour or a friend - who can help you out by delivering things that you need if you do become unwell.' The new infections were detected in the Nelson and Marlborough region meaning there has been community transmission in Auckland and possibly Motueka. The cases are part of a single family who flew to a large wedding in Auckland in mid-January with a flight attendant also becoming infected. 'We don't yet have a clear lead on the index case that links this family to the border as we have with our other Omicron cases,' Ms Ardern said The increase in settings comes after a cluster of nine Omicron cases were discovered in the community with no link to the border (pictured, people line up to get tested in New Zealand) New Zealand reported 24 community cases and 47 new cases identified at the border on Sunday with eight people in hospital and none in ICU. At the red setting of New Zealand's traffic light system residents are still able to do most things, including travel and visit other households. Masks are now required in hospitality and retail, schools, airports, public transport, and public buildings. Hospitality can stay open, but a 100 customer limit will apply, with patrons needing to show their vaccine passport and stay seated. Capacity limits also apply for retail and public buildings, while offices are encouraged but not required to bring in work from home. New Zealand's vaccine passport, dubbed My Vaccine Pass, will be required by law to enter many venues. A cap of 100 vaccinated attendees and 25 non-vaccinated will also apply for public and private gatherings. There is no change to the start of the 2022 academic year, however, all students and staff above Year 4 need to wear masks indoors. It has emerged that Laing went on to hit his second wife with a wooden mallet Devon and Cornwall Police have launched an investigation of the 1998 death He wrote his secret in a letter to a newspaper to promote cause of assisted dying A millionaire property developer who has admitted helping his first wife to die was jailed for attacking his second wife with a wooden mallet, it has emerged. Ex-Army medic Douglas Hellier Laing is being investigated by police over the death of his first wife, who was terminally ill, after he confessed in a letter to a newspaper that he gave her a fatal injection. The 71-year-old former Tory councillor said he was willing to 'take whatever was coming' after writing the letter to contribute to the debate on assisted dying. Following its publication, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed it had begun a homicide investigation. It has since emerged that Laing was jailed for three years in December 2017 for striking his second wife Susan, 59, on the head with a mallet. Douglas Hellier Laing, 71, admitted to having helped his ex-wife die in 1998, after her terminal ovarian cancer 'became too much to bear'. Devon and Cornwall Police have launched an investigation into the death, as it emerges he was jailed in 2017 for attacking his second wife Laing hit her three times before calling police to their home near Exeter. He showed 'no emotion' as he attacked her in October 2017 after drinking Tia Maria and Polish brandy, Exeter Crown Court heard. Mrs Laing managed to escape to a neighbour's home and said in a victim statement: 'I still suffer from flashbacks and I still see his expressionless face as he hit me.' Laing admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous harm after he was initially arrested for attempted murder. At the time of his arrest he was the executive member for economy, skills and tourism at Teignbridge Council but resigned and was later suspended from the Conservative Party. Devon and Cornwall Police are now investigating the death of Laing's first wife Christine, whom he admitted injecting with a lethal cocktail of drugs in 1998. He said she told him she was 'ready to die' after her terminal ovarian cancer became too much to bear. Laing wrote that he knew the consequences of having helped his wife to die in 1998 by injecting her with a cocktail of drugs and that he was not bothered 'one jot' by them Exeter Crown and County Court heard in 2017 that Laing had shown 'no emotion' as he attacked his second wife with a mallet after drinking Tia Maria and Polish brandy In the letter, published in the Sunday Times in October, he wrote: 'I'm in tears as I recall that conversation. 'I have struggled with what I did and only recently spoken to close family about it. 'I wanted to make my actions public knowledge in support of the move to legalise assisted dying. 'Taking the brave decision she did allowed my wife to say goodbye to our two sons while she was able to, and allowed us to have a final cuddle. Then she was gone. 'I know the consequences and it doesn't bother me one jot.' Laing said doctors familiar with his military nursing experience provided him with the lethal drugs to prevent his wife dying in a hospice. He kept it secret until last year, when he began to follow the Sunday Times campaign Dying with Dignity, which backs efforts to legalise assisted dying. Laing was being supported by Dignity in Dying, a separate campaign to change the law on assisted suicides, but the charity distanced itself from him after the latest revelations emerged. Chief executive Sarah Wootton said: 'Dignity in Dying will not be commenting further while police investigations are ongoing.' Laing, who served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, met his first wife in 1968 when she was a student nurse at a military hospital in London. He would not comment on her death or the 2017 attack. Devon and Cornwall Police said they 'have launched a homicide investigation in relation to the death of a woman in Devon in the 1990s. Inquiries remain ongoing'. Renato Sanches has hinted that he will leave Lille and has named Arsenal as one of the clubs he could move to. The Gunners have identified the Portuguese international as a transfer target as Mikel Arteta looks to improve his options in midfield. Having played a vital role in Lille winning the Ligue 1 title last season, Sanches continues to impress in France but has one eye on the next step in his career. Renato Sanches played a key role as Lille won their first Ligue 1 title in 10 years last season In an interview via the Mirror the midfielder spoke about the transfer speculation surrounding him. 'Maybe Milan and Arsenal are interested but I don't know,' he said. 'I spoke with my agent, I know which clubs are calling me but I can't say right now. 'But I know I'm ready. If an offer comes in, I'll find out what's best for me.' Sanches burst onto the scene six years ago at the age of 18, as he starred in Portugal's run to glory at Euro 2016. He had also helped Benfica win a league and cup double the previous season. He moved to Bayern Munich but failed to live up to expectations and also had a difficult loan spell in the Premier League with Swansea City. Lille are open to letting the Portuguese international leave the club if the right offer arrives Granit Xhaka continues to be a liability in midfield for Arsenal with his reckless tackling However, the 24-year-old's career has been reinvigorated during his time with Lille and he is now on the radar of Europe's top clubs once again. Sanches has 18 months left on his contract in northern France but is not looking to sign an extension and the Ligue 1 side are open to letting him leave if the right offer comes in. Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka are Arsenal's current starting midfielders, but the latter in particular continues to be a liability with his reckless tackling and has been linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium. Jamie Redknapp believes Tottenham boss Antonio Conte may leave the club in the near future unless he is backed in the final days of the transfer window. Since arriving at Spurs in November, Conte has made a major impact in north London, leading his side to 21 points from a possible 30 in the Premier League. This has put his team in contention to finish inside the top four for the first time since the 2018-19 season - however Tottenham are yet to sign anyone in this month's transfer window, and time is running out for Conte to strengthen his squad. Jamie Redknapp is concerned that Antonio Conte could leave Tottenham if he isn't backed Tottenham are yet to sign anyone in this month's transfer window (pic, star striker Harry Kane) After watching Spurs slip to a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on Sunday, their first league loss under Conte, Redknapp highlighted the need for chairman Daniel Levy to support Conte by bringing players into the club. 'He needs players. There must have been an agreement between him and Daniel Levy they'd bring in the players he needs,' Redknapp told Sky Sports. 'He's done a great job to get in this position. There's a massive gulf between Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea and the rest you can see it. 'Tottenham are so close to get into the top four, no other manager could have done in this position. The pressure is building on Daniel Levy to support Conte by signing some players quickly 'But he needs backing he needs to get players in. 'Two, three, four players in and he's got nine days in the window to do it. Daniel Levy is a difficult man for managers to deal with. 'If you don't back him (Conte) you look at his history with Inter Milan, I think he'll leave the club because you can't promise and then not deliver. Spurs slumped to defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon Thiago Silva scored Chelsea's second with a header as the game stretched away from Spurs 'Tottenham fans must be so frustrated as everything's great - the stadium, the training ground but the team needs a bit of help right now so give him what he needs.' Tottenham have been heavily linked with Wolves winger Adama Traore recently, and their fans may hope that getting this deal over the line could be the start of a busy week for the club in the transfer market. Despite their loss at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Conte's men remain just two points outside the top four, with two games in hand on Manchester United, who currently occupy the final Champions League qualifying spot. Jamie Redknapp has warned Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel that Romelu Lukaku is his 'biggest challenge'. The Belgian striker is still short of match sharpness and confidence since being reinstated into the starting XI following his fall-out with the Blues boss after criticising his tactics in an Italian interview. And Lukaku spurned a couple of good chances to score in the 2-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday. Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku looked laboured in the victory Tottenham on Sunday Redknapp told Sky Sports: 'His biggest challenge right now is probably Lukaku. 'I think he's got to get that right because I watched him today and again there was some moments where he didn't have that confidence, that belief. 'There were times he pinned Sanchez and I thought that's what we want to see from him. Chelsea striker is still short of match sharpness and confidence since being recalled 'But he's certainly a player that's looking for a goal, confidence, it's not quite happening for him. These two chances come on his wrong foot but he should still do better. When you're a 90m player you've got to finish them.' Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink added: 'He makes one movement and that's it. He doesn't make two movements consecutively and that's what you need to do to get free. Especially playing against PL defenders. The really good strikers make three movements to get that yard free. He doesn't do that enough. Maybe he's not 100% fit yet and he doesn't look a 100% fit yet and it might also be he needs a goal to lift him up and do all those things. 'It is his fault, it's not Tuchel's fault, we are analysing him and that's what I'm feeling from him. He needs to work on more fitness, more runs and to do more off the ball. I would play him every match he needs goals to feel better Lukaku spurned a couple of good chances to score against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge Fellow pundit Roy Keane also believes Lukaku must do more. He said: 'He doesn't look lean like he was in Milan. He doesn't need a rest. It's amazing player of his quality, the CV he's got and he might be lacking a bit of confidence. 'He's stopped doing the basics, and when you stop doing that you probably don't get the bit of luck you need as a striker.' POSCO CEO Choi Jeong-woo By Lee Kyung-min Korea's steel giants are increasingly embracing shareholder-friendly dividend policies, in a collective move to appease investor concerns over corporate restructuring plans, whereby the holding firms will claim the entire shares of their spinoffs to the exclusion of current firm shareholders. Almost all shareholders are concerned that the share prices of the holding firms will plummet, once the spinoffs with far greater growth potential are listed. The much-dreaded scenario is almost certain to materialize, as illustrated in precedents set by two major Korean holding firms LG Chem and SK Chem, both of whose share prices took a dive following spinoff plans concerning LG Energy Solution and SK Bioscience. Korea's steel giant POSCO said earlier this year that it would retire part of its over 11.6 million shares held by the firm, the first such move in 17 years. Its per-share dividend price, it added, will be raised to 10,000 won, up from 8,000 won that had remained unchanged for years. SeAH Besteel CEO Kim Chul-hee According to industry sources, SeAH Besteel Corp is considering increasing the amount of dividends to an all-time high of over 25 percent of net income, greater than the previous range of between 20 percent and 25 percent. Also under consideration is a medium-term payout of annual dividends. The amount among other specifics will be disclosed publicly soon. The steelmaker is seeking to distance itself from investor speculations, but the slew of shareholder value enhancement measures only strengthens the case for the listing of the spinoff, according to an industry official. "Shareholders will be furious once their share prices plunge, all the while the spinoff soars upon listing. Increasing dividends is the easiest way to appease their frustration," an industry official said. The comment is backed by a recent Samsung Securities report which recommended reduced holdings of the steelmaker's shares, an assessment that came on the heels of the firm's shares slumping 13.83 percent on the news of spinoff plans, announced Jan. 20. In the report released on Jan. 21, Samsung Securities revised the target price to 23,000 won ($19), down from 28,000 won. "The stock prices plunging immediately after the spinoff plan announcement is explained by investors dumping shares due to what they consider a highly probable listing of the new entity," Samsung Securities researcher Baek Jae-seung said. Fueling the pessimism further is a lack of clarity in the purpose of the firm's restructuring, the researcher added. "Investors are highly doubtful as to how the new plan would lead to enhancing corporate value. Efforts will be needed to dispel growing concerns." He's the handsome Gold Coast model hoping to find love on this year's season of Married At First Sight. But before Mitch Eynaud, 26, 'marries' a complete stranger, Daily Mail Australia can reveal that he once dated another reality star in the form of Love Island Australia's Edyn 'Mac' Mackney. The pair are understood to have dated for several months around 2013 before they decided that they would be better off as friends. Looking for love: Gold Coast-based financial planner Mitch Eynaud, 26, (pictured) is hoping to find love on this year's season of Married At First Sight 'We dated many moons ago, we were much younger,' Edyn, who also hails from the Gold Coast, told Daily Mail Australia on Sunday. 'We've remained friends over the years and I'm super excited for him on MAFS.' 'Australia will love his cheeky but down to earth personality,' she added, when asked how she thinks people will react to him appearing on the social experiment. Small world! But before he declares his love to a complete stranger, Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Mitch (left) once dated Love Island's Edyn 'Mac' Mackney (right) Friends: The pair are understood to have dated for several months around 2013 before they decided that they would be better off as friends. Mitch pictured with Edyn (centre) and her mother (right) 'We've remained friends over the years and I'm super excited for him on MAFS,' Edyn said While he's never struggled with getting attentions from women, Mitch admits hes never spent more than two consecutive nights with a girl in his life. Now he's hoping to settle down and hopefully meet his dream girl. As reported by Daily Mail Australia, the genetically blessed groom will be paired with Melbourne-based beautician Ella Ding. History: 'We dated many moons ago, we were much younger,' Edyn, who also hails from the Gold Coast, told Daily Mail Australia on Sunday Lusty lady: It comes as Channel Nine released a new trailer featuring the frisky bride, Ella Ding, 27, (pictured) admitting that she can't wait to see Mitch with his shirt off It comes as Channel Nine released a new trailer featuring the frisky bride, 27, admitting that she can't wait to see Mitch with his shirt off. As Ella steps in front of her groom, she exclaims: 'Oh, wow! You are gorgeous. You smell amazing.' She then licks her lips suggestively, running her tongue along the corner of her mouth while staring thirstily at her husband. Married At First Sight premieres Monday, January 31, on Channel Nine Filming for MasterChef's Foodies vs Favourites season has been halted following a Covid outbreak on set. The cooking series, which is filmed in Melbourne, has been suspended after several crew members and contestants tested positive to the virus. 'Shooting on the upcoming season of MasterChef Australia: Fans & Favourites has been temporarily suspended due to several positive COVID cases within the production,' an Endemol Shine Australia spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. Halted: Production has been halted on MasterChef Australia's Foodies vs Favourites season after several contestants and crew members test positive for Covid. Pictured judges Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen 'Our judges, cast and crew are fully vaccinated, and we look forward to resuming filming shortly.' The 2022 season will see 12 amateur 'foodies' facing off against franchise 'favourites', several of whom are professional chefs. Among those set to return to the series are Julie Goodwin, Michael Weldon, Tommy Pham, Alvin Quah and Sashi Cheliah. 'Shooting on the upcoming season of MasterChef Australia: Fans & Favourites has been temporarily suspended due to several positive COVID cases within the production,' an Endemol Shine Australia spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia In an interview with Yahoo! in November, Julie admitted she was 'petrified' about returning to the MasterChef kitchen, despite winning the 2009 season. 'I'm quite petrified about it,' she confessed. 'I watch [MasterChef] every year and I've just watched the standard rise and rise and the food get more and more amazing.' But she added that she's curious to see if she measures up to the recent batch of cooks that have passed through the MasterChef Australia kitchen. New season: The 2022 season will see 12 amateur 'foodies' facing off against franchise 'favourites', several of whom are professional chefs. Among those set to return to the series are Julie Goodwin (pictured), Michael Weldon, Tommy Pham, Alvin Quah and Sashi Cheliah 'It'll be really interesting to see if my style will cut it these days in the MasterChef kitchen,' she admitted. Julie said she was 'grateful to have been given another chance' to return to the beloved cooking show and was 'looking forward to it', describing it as 'a lot of fun'. While little else is known about the highly anticipated season at this stage, it's set to air on Channel 10 sometime this year. Vikki Campion has lifted the lid on her engagement to Barnaby Joyce, describing the heart-melting moment he popped the question with a sapphire and diamond ring. In an essay published by The Sunday Telegraph, the 36-year-old admitted that she never thought she'd become engaged to Deputy Prime Minister, 54, four years after their relationship began. 'Great love doesn't need a ring but I like how it feels,' Campion wrote. 'I threw my arms around him and kissed him. Always, yes'': Vikki Campion, 36, (pictured) has lifted the lid on her engagement to Barnaby Joyce, 54, describing the heart-melting moment he popped the question with a sapphire and diamond ring (pictured together with their sons Sebastian and Thomas) The Deputy Prime Minister popped the question at Coffs Harbour restaurant Latitude 30, in the NSW's mid-north coast, on Sunday night. 'He pretended to drop his phone on the floor, jumped down on both knees as if he was praying, not proposing, and said: "Vikki, will you marry me?" and I melted,' Campion wrote. 'Amid rising happy tears, the answer caught in my throat. I threw my arms around him and kissed him. "Always, yes."' 'Great love doesn't need a ring but I like how it feels': In an essay published by The Sunday Telegraph, Campoin admitted that she never thought she'd become engaged to Deputy Prime Minister, four years after their relationship began While she has not yet shared a photo of her engagement ring, Campion revealed that the design's centrepiece is a 6.5 carat Australian parti sapphire - a rare stone that can't be replicated in a lab due to its colour complexity. The stone was selected from NSW's New England region, Mr Joyce's home electorate and the area where the Armidale-based family reside. The centrepiece is surrounded by diamonds, and set in a band that matches a ring Campion inherited from her grandmother. Unique: While she has not yet shared a photo of her engagement ring, Campion revealed that the design's centrepiece is a 6.5 carat Australian parti sapphire - a rare stone that can't be replicated in a lab due to its colour complexity It comes after Joyce told The Guardian that he and Campion are 'very happy' following their engagement. 'She is really happy, I am really happy and I guess the boys are happy, but they are just the same, no change there really,' he said last week. The politician joked that he would 'still be at Latitude 30 getting smashed' had Ms Campion said no. All smiles: It comes after Joyce told The Guardian that he and Campion are 'very happy' following their engagement Mr Joyce said he had intended to propose in Noosa, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, but the tourist hotspot was completely booked out. Since announcing the engagement, Mr Joyce said the couple have been 'overwhelmed' by the good wishes and 'thank everyone for them'. However, he said the their two young sons were 'oblivious' to their parents' exciting news. Ex: Joyce pictured with his ex-wife Natalie, with whom he shares four daughters 'The boys couldn't care less, they're not aware,' he said, the Daily Telegraph reports. 'As long as you take them to the pool at the moment they're happy.' Rumours of then-married Joyce and Campion's love affair first surfaced in early 2017. In December that year, Mr Joyce used the parliamentary debate on same sex marriage to confirm he was no longer with Natalie, his wife of 24 years, with whom he shares four daughters. History: Rumours of then-married Joyce and Campion's love affair first surfaced in early 2017 News of Joyce and Campion hit the headlines in February 2018 after photos emerged of his former staffer heavily pregnant in Sydney's Daily Telegraph. Mr Joyce subsequently resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader, moving to the backbench, amid pressure to quit due to the relationship and after an unrelated sexual harassment allegation was made against him, which he has strenuously denied. As the scandal erupted, Campion also left her position at Mr Joyce's office in April, the same month she gave birth to their first son. The couple welcomed their second son Thomas in June the following year. Family: As the scandal erupted, Campion also left her position at Mr Joyce's office in April, the same month she gave birth to their first son The Turnbull government responded to the Joyce-Campion affair by introducing the infamous 'bonk ban' on ministers forming relationships with staff. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described Mr Joyce's actions as a 'shocking error of judgement' that created a 'world of woe' for the women in his life. 'I think we know that the real issue is the terrible hurt and humiliation that Barnaby by his conduct, has visited on his wife, Natalie and their daughters and indeed, his new partner,' Mr Turnbull said at the time. 'Barnaby made a shocking error of judgment in having an affair with a young woman working in his office. In doing so, he has set off a world of woe for those women and appalled all of us.' Interview: Amid the media frenzy, Joyce and Campion addressed their relationship in a $150,000 tell-all interview with Channel 7 Amid the media frenzy, Joyce and Campion addressed their relationship in a $150,000 tell-all interview with Channel 7. At the time, critics slammed the politician for the 2018 interview aired on the broadcaster's Sunday Night program, saying that he shouldn't have profited from a scandal while in office. Joyce and Campion later said the money would be held in trust for their then-newborn son Sebastian, with neither of them having access. Madeline Holtznagel has received a stark warning over her relationship with Justin Hemmes. The model, 26, has been dating the billionaire pub baron, 49, since 2020 and their relationship is continuing to heat up. But agents are warning Madeline she could be missing important opportunities in the modelling industry because she is prioritising her relationship over her career. Warning: Model Madeline Holtznagel, 29, has received a stark warning over her relationship with billionaire pub baron Justin Hemmes, 49, as the pair's romance continues to heat up 'It's not like Madeline is going out with a Hemsworth,' one industry source told The Daily Telegraph. 'I don't think this relationship with Justin will have much of an impact on her career. If anything, she will be more known as a bit of a celebrity model as opposed to a fashion model.' Another source close to the couple said: 'It's all well and good now, but there might come a time when the relationship runs its course and she will need her modelling career, so she can support herself financially.' Priorities: Agents are warning Madeline she could be missing her prime in the modelling industry because she is prioritising her relationship over her career Madeline and Justin have been dating for some time, and she also spent lockdown at his Vaucluse mansion in 2020. She now reportedly lives in a Coogee penthouse that he owns. The couple have been spotted out and about in Sydney several times after confirming their romance. 'I don't think this relationship with Justin will have much of an impact on her career. If anything, she will be more known as a bit of a celebrity model as opposed to a fashion model,' one source said Madeline lifted the lid on their relationship in October 2020, telling The Sydney Morning Herald she was yet to introduce Justin to her parents. 'My parents and my sister Anna haven't met him yet, but [her other sister] Simone has been introduced to him and really liked him,' she said. Madeline remained tight-lipped about how long she and Justin had been dating, but hinted they'd been seeing each other for longer than reports suggested. Malin Andersson shared a heartfelt tribute to her baby daughter Consy three years after her tragic death. The former Love Island star, 29, penned an emotional post about losing her baby girl on Instagram on Saturday. Posting some pictures of the baby as she fought for her life on the newborn intensive care unit, Malin wrote: '22/01/19. Today - your heart stopped beating for me. Emotional: Malin Andersson, 29, shared a heartfelt tribute to her baby daughter Consy three years after she died 'I could feel you whisper in my ear that you wanted to live pain free, and that your end of time was near. 'One last glance you gave me, and then you were gone.' She added: 'My baby was in an incubator, tubed up, a monitor screen was the only communication I could have with her to see how she was coping. Heartfelt: The former Love Island star posted some emotional words about losing her baby girl on Instagram on Saturday 'She wasn't just born, then slowly drifted away. She was alive for a month fighting to live - and that's what you don't see. 'This tiny human having more strength in her than me. A painful long fight to survive. 'She was swollen from all the medication, bruised from the tubing. At one point she had to have fluid released from her body. Oxygen machines to help her breathe. 'You see Baby loss is also about the JOURNEY to losing. The trauma. The pain. The PTSD from pretty much living in the hospital every day, hearing the beeping sound of the heart rate monitor. From being next to them every second. Open: In a lengthy post, Malin detailed the final moments before her baby girl's death, and said she's 'celebrating the fight she had in her' 'Looking for hope. Clinging onto the only hope you have. Wanting for an answer. 'It lives with you forever, as well as the loss.. so today I'm celebrating the fight she had in her. The courage you don't get to see.. her precious little soul - fighting to be free. 'Sending love to those that have lost - I hope your healing journey to finding yourself again is imminent. I pray that you release the trauma and heavy sadness that leaves you with with an empty heart. 'You will find life again, a way out.. and hope. 'That love they gave you will always remain, and you'll find more of it too. RIP baby girl.' Malin tragically lost her first daughter Consy at four weeks old in 2019. Tribute: On Sunday, Malin paid an emotional tribute to her late daughter Consy and her parents as she prepares to welcome a baby girl On Sunday, Malin paid another emotional tribute to her late daughter Consy and her parents as she prepares to welcome a baby girl. The mental health advocate took to Instagram to post a picture of herself looking up towards the sky. Smiling as the setting sun hit her face, she referred to her late mother and father 'protecting' Consy 'all the way through'. She lost her mother, Consy-Gloria, to stomach cancer aged 65 in November 2017 and her father passed away from skin cancer 26 years ago. Malin wrote: 'Staring up at the sky with a huge smile on my face because I know she's coming soon, and the ones above are protecting her all the way through.' Loss: She lost her mother, Consy-Gloria, to stomach cancer aged 65 in November 2017 (pictured together) Consy was born seven weeks premature in December 2018 and was being treated at Great Ormond Street hospital, but sadly passed away aged four weeks on 22 January 2019. Malin is now awaiting the arrival of her daughter with boyfriend Jared, with the television personality glowing as she celebrated reaching 'full term' in her pregnancy in a uplifting post shared on social media earlier this month. She posed in her underwear as she proudly displayed her bump and smiled widely for the camera, ahead of her baby shower. Malin looked stunning as she went fresh faced and held up a peace sign wearing the black two piece set, with her blooming bump taking centre stage. Alongside the sweet snap, the clearly elated star penned: 'I MADE IT!!! I'm full term, 37 weeks.. and my baby shower is today.' If you have been affected by the death of a baby please call Sands on 0808 164 3332 or email helpline@sands.org.uk. Arnold Schwarzenegger took a bike ride with a friend in Santa Monica on Saturday afternoon. The 74-year-old actor-turned politician took in the pleasant coastal California weather before heading to the gym with his pal and driving home in a massive Hummer. The former politician's outing comes just one day after he was involved in a multi-vehicle collision while driving his GMC Yukon SUV, which resulted in injury for one female driver. Endorphins: Arnold Schwarzenegger took a bike ride with a friend in Santa Monica on Saturday afternoon Schwarzenegger kept it casual in a black T-shirt worn underneath a brown leather jacket during his bike ride. The Terminator star also sported a set of slim-fitting black pants and a matching pair of shoes. The Predator actor accessorized with a stylish pair of aviator-style sunglasses as he made his way along the city's motorways. Arnold was reportedly involved in the car collision on Sunset Boulevard at 5 p.m. when his SUV collided with a Toyota Prius. Out and about: The outing comes one day after he was involved in a car crash in Los Angeles Back in the saddle: The performer was also seen driving home in a massive hummer after his excursion TMZ noted the actor's car began to roll and eventually made its way on top of the wrecked hatchback. His vehicle then rolled further and came into contact with a nearby Porsche Taycan. Airbags were also deployed on Schwarzenegger's car in response to the impact of the crash. Casual: Comfortable clothing: Schwarzenegger kept it casual in a black t-shirt worn underneath a brown leather jacket during his bike ride Slim fit: The Terminator star also sported a set of slim-fitting black pants and a matching pair of shoes The woman who had been driving the Prius was taken to a local hospital in an ambulance after she began bleeding from her head. The actor was unharmed by the crash, and a source told the media outlet that he was concerned for the collision's victim and wanted to personally see to it that she fully recovered. Law enforcement sources told TMZ that they believed that Schwarzenegger was to blame for the incident. Accident: Arnold was reportedly involved in the car collision on Sunset Boulevard at 5 p.m. when his SUV collided with a Toyota Prius Collision: The media outlet reported that Schwarzenegger's Yukon SUV initially collided with a Toyota Prius; Arnold pictured at scene of accident They also stated that he was attempting to make a left turn at a time when he was not supposed to. The actor was reportedly not given a ticket by police officers following the crash, and alcohol was not considered to be a factor in the collision. Schwarzenegger remained at the scene of the incident and cooperated with police officers attempting to figure out the event's cause. Kourtney Kardashian spent her Saturday morning reminiscing on her summer of love with the man of her dreams. The 42-year-old reality star shared a series of pictures from the romantic getaway with her now fiance Travis Barker in Italy in August. 'Portofino, Italy August 2021,' the Poosh founder captioned a whimsical Instagram post shared to her 160 million followers. That's amore! Kourtney Kardashian shared a series of pictures from the romantic getaway with her now fiance Travis Barker in Italy in August The post started off with a mirror selfie Kourtney took of herself in a strappy black one piece swimsuit. The mother-of-three posed inside of a yacht and showed off Italy's blue water through the window behind her. She then went on to take a video of two drinks on a table right beside the ocean, as well as a snap of several docked boats in Portofino. Romantic getaway: The reality tv star posted a picture with her beau as he poured her a drink and she sat down in a bright green bikini. Kourtney showed off her toned abs and Travis' fully tattooed back Stunning in black: The post started off with a mirror selfie Kourtney took of herself in a strappy black one piece swimsuit. The mother-of-three posed inside of a yacht and showed off Italy's blue water through the window behind her The reality tv star posted a picture with her beau as he poured her a drink and she sat down in a bright green bikini. Kourtney showed off her toned abs and Travis' fully tattooed back. She included a few more images of Italy's gorgeous scenery and a picture of her looking out towards the bright blue water. She wrapped up her throwback post with a picture of two empty wine glasses and a white rose at dinner. Relaxing on vacation: She included a few more images of Italy's gorgeous scenery and a picture of her looking out towards the bright blue water Picture perfect: She then went on to take a video of two drinks on a table right beside the ocean, as well as a snap of several docked boats in Portofino Kourtney and Travis made the journey to Italy two months before Travis got down on one knee and proposed at an upscale beachfront resort in Montecito, California in October. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star shares three children with her ex Scott Disick, Mason, Penelope and Reign. Travis also co-parents three children with his ex-wife, Shanna Moakler: Atiana De La Hoya, Landon and Alabama. Real Housewives of Melbourne star Kyla 'Champagne Dame' Kirkpatrick has confirmed her split from fiance Kyriacos Christodoulou. The champagne educator, 43, told the Herald Sun on Sunday that she and Kyriacos - who is her business partner - split just before Christmas following a rocky few months together. Confirming that it was Kyriacos' decision to end things, Kyla said: 'It has been a tough Christmas. We have decided, well he decided actually, that we were going our separate ways and now we are just navigating the complexities of being in business together and family.' It's over! Real Housewives of Melbourne star Kyla 'Champagne Dame' Kirkpatrick, 43, has confirmed her split from fiance Kyriacos Christodoulou. Pictured together in happier times The couple, who share a seven-year-old daughter named Arlington-Rose, had previously planned to get married in 2020. However, they decided to put their nuptials on hold after realising they needed to work through some issues. 'I think being reflective on this relationship and what went wrong, there is real room for me to be a better person and own some of my part in that demise,' she confessed to the publication. Splitsville: Confirming that it was Kyriacos' decision to end things, Kyla said: 'It has been a tough Christmas. We have decided, well he decided actually, that we were going our separate ways and now we are just navigating the complexities of being in business together and family' Cancelled plans: The couple, who share a seven-year-old daughter named Arlington-Rose, had previously planned to get married in 2020 Shouldering some of the blame: 'I think being reflective on this relationship and what went wrong, there is real room for me to be a better person and own some of my part in that demise,' she confessed to the Herald Sun Kyla also admitted that she'd been contacted by a male fan asking for a 'threesome with his wife', just hours after she'd changed her relationship status to 'single' on social media. 'Instagram is the new Tinder. I get a lot of weird messages,' she said. Kyla has previously spoken about sleeping with women, telling the Kinda Sorta Dating podcast that she's previously enjoyed steamy flings with other women - including a high-profile celebrity. 'Instagram is the new Tinder': Kyla also admitted that she'd been contacted by a male fan asking for a 'threesome with his wife', just hours after she'd changed her relationship status to 'single' on social media Open: Kyla has previously spoken about sleeping with women, telling the Kinda Sorta Dating podcast that she's previously enjoyed steamy flings with other women - including a high-profile celebrity 'My motto in life was never refuse a good offer, and that didn't matter what side of the fence it came from,' she told host Jana Hocking in November. 'I've dated women. I've had great sex with a lot of women,' she continued. Kyla said she 'seriously considered switching camps' and making things official with a famous starlet she was seeing, but ultimately decided the attention from a high-profile relationship would be too much to handle. 'This woman was also in the media so it made it hard. People were watching us kiss at bars,' she said. Never say never! 'My motto in life was never refuse a good offer, and that didn't matter what side of the fence it came from,' she told host Jana Hocking in November 'When you've got two quite striking women out in a social place it just becomes so complicated, the whole bar watches you,' Kyla continued. 'It's really hard. PDAs are really complicated thing between two hot women in public.' She said the unwanted attention eventually became a major factor in her decision not to pursue the relationship further. 'I don't want my life to be a spectacle where I'm constantly being watched or spoken about because I'm in a relationship with a woman,' she said. Former Triple J and ABC radio host Adam Spencer has tied the knot with his girlfriend Leah Boonthanom, two years after the couple met on a dating app. The 52-year-old announced the news on his Twitter account on Saturday, as he shared a loved-up photo from their wedding day. 'Leah thank you for saying yes. I could not be happier,' he wrote. Wedding bells! Former Triple J and ABC radio host Adam Spencer, 52, (left) has tied the knot with his girlfriend Leah Boonthanom, (right) two years after confirming their romance 'You are beautiful and wise. You are calm and strong. You make me so much better. I cherish every moment of this.' The couple married in a stunning park setting, which featured views of the ocean. Leah looked sensational in a figure-hugging fishtail wedding dress, which showed off her slender frame to perfection. The strapless gown boasted delicate embellishments on the bodice, before falling out into a beautiful draping skirt at the bottom. Tribute: 'Leah thank you for saying yes. I could not be happier,' he wrote. 'You are beautiful and wise. You are calm and strong. You make me so much better. I cherish every moment of this' Leah, who works as a communications manager, wore her raven locks tied up in a high ponytail and accessorised her look with pair drop earrings. Meanwhile, Adam opted for a navy coloured suit, a white button up shirt and black leather shoes. The radio star also took to his Facebook page to share the news, captioning the same picture with: 'What have you guys been up to? Happy in love: Adam announced his relationship with the glamorous content manager in November 2020 'Me, I just married the love of my life Leah Boonthanom. As close to a perfect day as I could imagine. Now for eternity together.' Adam announced his relationship with the glamorous brunette in November 2020. 'Lovely Leah... Who would have thought 6 months ago, I would swipe, you would swipe, and the rest as they say,' he wrote in the sweet tribute. 'You are beautiful and wise; calming and strong I love every moment by your side and cant wait to spend many more nights together in matching, soft-pink tops.' Adam confirmed his split with ex wife Melanie Mossman back in August 2017, telling Confidential at the time that they parted ways more than two and a half years prior - but no one had noticed. The couple, who share two children together, were married for 10 years before their split. Her next film is called Stranger With A Camera, but Ellie Bamber left no one in any doubt who was behind her latest impromptu photo shoot. The actress was spotted taking selfies on the streets of London last week and bystanders could hardly miss her in her eye-catching bright pink and black fleece. Ms Bamber, who shot to fame playing Mandy Rice-Davies in the BBC drama The Trial Of Christine Keeler, started larking about as she went for a stroll with her mother Zoe. The actress was spotted taking selfies on the streets of London last week and bystanders could hardly miss her in her eye-catching bright pink and black fleece An onlooker said: Ellie and her mum were laughing and joking together and Ellie took out her phone either to take a selfie or to use it as a mirror to check her appearance. The 24-year-old was dressed down in her fleece and dark trousers, but shell need a more formal wardrobe for a flurry of red carpet appearances awaiting her. They include the launch of the Disney+ TV series Willow, a sequel to the 1988 fantasy film, and the premiere of Stranger With A Camera which tells the story of an American teenager stranded in an Irish village after her father is arrested over a cold-case murder linked to the IRA. Born in Surrey and privately educated, Ms Bamber made her professional stage debut at the age of just 12. She also won acclaim for playing Angela Knippenberg in the hit BBC series The Serpent and Cosette in the TV version of Les Miserables. The 24-year-old was dressed down in her fleece and dark trousers, but shell need a more formal wardrobe for a flurry of red carpet appearances awaiting her A Ukrainian Military Forces serviceman walks along a snow covered trench on the frontline with Russia-backed separatists near the village of Zolote in the eastern Lugansk region, Jan. 21. AFP-Yonhap The British government accused Russia of seeking to replace Ukraine's government with a pro-Moscow administration, Saturday, and said former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev was being considered as a potential candidate. Murayev is head of the small pro-Russian party Nashi, which currently has no seats in Ukraine's parliament. Britain's Foreign Office named several other Ukrainian politicians it said had links with Russian intelligence services. It's unclear what means Britain believes Russia might use to install a friendly government in Kyiv. The U.K. government made the claim based on an intelligence assessment, without providing evidence to back it up and comes amid a war of words between Moscow and the West over Russia's designs on Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the information ''shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking.'' Truss urged Russia to ''de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy,'' and reiterated Britain's view that ''any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs.'' Britain has sent anti-tank weapons to Ukraine as part of efforts to bolster its defenses against a potential Russian attack. Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis, U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to meet Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for talks in Moscow. No timing has been given for the meeting, which would be the first U.K.-Russia bilateral defense talks since 2013. The U.S. has mounted an aggressive campaign in recent months to unify its European allies against a new Russian invasion of Ukraine. The White House called the U.K. government assessment ''deeply concerning'' and said it stands with the duly elected Ukrainian government. ''This kind of plotting is deeply concerning,'' said National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne. ''The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine.'' The assessment came as U.S. President Joe Biden spent Saturday at the presidential retreat of Camp David, outside Washington, discussing the Ukraine situation with his senior national security team. An instructor trains members of Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces, volunteer military units of the Armed Forces, in a city park in Kyiv, Ukraine, Jan. 22. AP-Yonhap In another development, the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania plan to send U.S.-made anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, a move that the United States fully endorsed Saturday amid Kyiv's escalating tensions with Moscow. The defense ministers of the three Baltic states said in a joint statement that they ''stand united in our commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in face of continued Russian aggression.'' U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a tweet that Washington saluted the NATO nations and former Soviet republics ''for their longstanding support to Ukraine.'' ''I expedited and authorized and we fully endorse transfers of defensive equipment @NATO Allies Estonia Latvia Lithuania are providing to Ukraine to strengthen its ability to defend itself against Russia's unprovoked and irresponsible aggression,'' Blinken said in another tweet. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier this week described the West supplying arms to Ukraine as extremely dangerous and said the shipments ''do nothing to reduce tensions.'' Moscow has massed tens of thousands of troops near the Russia-Ukraine border, leading to fears of an invasion. The West has rejected Moscow's main demands promises from NATO that Ukraine will never be added as a member, that no alliance weapons will be deployed near Russian borders, and that it will pull back its forces from Central and Eastern Europe. A meeting between Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ended with no breakthrough, Friday. Amid the uncertain security situation, the U.S. State Department has been considering a range of options to ensure the safety and security of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv and its employees by moving to reduce its diplomatic presence there. The defense ministers of the Baltic states said in their statement that Estonia would provide Javelin anti-tank weapons while Latvia and Lithuania were sending Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and other related equipment to bolster Kyiv's defensive military capabilities. It wasn't immediately clear when the weapons and equipment would be sent to Ukraine. ''Today, Ukraine is at the forefront of separating Europe from the military conflict with Russia. Let's face it, the war in Ukraine is ongoing and it is important to support Ukraine in every way we can so that they can resist the aggressor,'' Estonian Defense Minister Kalle Laanet said. Estonia is also seeking Germany's approval to send Soviet-made howitzers, which once belonged to East Germany, to Ukraine. Estonia acquired the howitzers from non-NATO member Finland, which in turn had bought them from Germany's military surplus supply in the 1990s. The German government said Friday that it was considering Estonia's request to pass the howitzers on to Ukraine but gave no timeline for a decision. Berlin said it planned to coordinate the issue with Finland, which has received a similar approval request from Estonia. Berlin routinely demands a say when German-sold weapons are transferred to third countries. But some recent media reports suggested German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Cabinet could block Estonia's transfer of weapons to Kyiv, highlighting divisions in the West's response to the Ukraine crisis. Russian army service members target a mortar during drills at the Kuzminsky Range in the southern Rostov region, Russia, Jan. 21. Reuters-Yonhap Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba alleged Saturday that Germany was not showing adequate support for Ukraine. Kuleba said in a Twitter post that the weapons transfer issue and remarks by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressing skepticism about cutting off Russia from the SWIFT global payments system ''do not correspond to the level of our relations and the current security situation.'' Also Saturday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador to object to recently circulated video in which the head of the German navy said that Ukraine would not regain the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin deserved ''respect.'' The comments by vice admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach sparked consternation and a swift rebuke back in Berlin. By late Saturday, the German navy chief had tendered his resignation, saying he wanted to prevent further damage resulting from his ''ill-considered statements'' in India. The U.S. State Department is currently warning U.S. citizens not to visit Ukraine due to the coronavirus pandemic but is also advising them to reconsider travel there due to potential Russian aggression. Speculation that an announcement about the U.S. diplomatic presence in Ukraine may be imminent has increased since the embassy in Kyiv announced it would hold a virtual town hall meeting about the security situation with U.S. citizens in Ukraine, Tuesday. Discussions on the matter have been underway for some time, but Blinken went over the contingency plans with the embassy's security team when he visited Kyiv, Wednesday, officials said. The officials stressed that no decisions had yet been made and that an outright evacuation is not being considered. One possible scenario would be to order the families of American personnel to leave the country while allowing non-essential staffers to depart voluntarily at government expense, they said. (AP) Team Infinity, project-managed by cocktail bar owner Sophie Wilding, was humiliated in Lord Sugars boardroom after failing to buy enough stock to make, market and sell their peach and spiced non-alcoholic pale ale For rivals on The Apprentice, the challenge is simple impress Lord Sugar. Or at least that is how it is portrayed in the hit BBC show. However, it seems that the sharp-elbowed wannabe tycoons competing for the peers financial backing also need to win over the programmes producers, who have the power to portray them in a positive or negative light. The Mail on Sunday can reveal that an expert who appeared in last weeks programme was allegedly invited to change her mind by programme-makers. One source claimed the suggested manipulation amounted to fakery. The episode saw two teams compete to produce the best non-alcoholic beverage. Team Infinity, project-managed by cocktail bar owner Sophie Wilding, was humiliated in Lord Sugars boardroom after failing to buy enough stock to make, market and sell their peach and spiced non-alcoholic pale ale. But sources have told The Mail on Sunday that an expert who had initially been filmed placing their order with Team Infinity which also included Navid Sole and Stephanie Affleck was later persuaded to back out. Viewers did not see the alleged U-turn. Following a boardroom grilling, Lord Sugar fired Navid Sole. There is no suggestion that the peer is aware of how producers are said to edit the show. It is understood that the hospitality expert was also asked by producers to re-record feedback that she had given about a contestant from Team Infinity, but to attribute it to another of the competitors. A witness said: It was pretty obvious that they already knew who they wanted to win. The whole process is manipulated in favour of the chosen ones. Sources have told The Mail on Sunday that an expert who had initially been filmed placing their order with Team Infinity which also included Navid Sole and Stephanie Affleck was later persuaded to back out. Once filming had finished, one of the producers said to one of the experts, That was all really good, but could you say it again but this time to another contestant? It felt very uncomfortable and manipulated. The onlooker added: It appears to be very much about making explosive television, but the business side of things is seemingly not taken seriously. Its quite disappointing. Another source claimed that the contestants are urged by the production team to fight it out with each other and told that heated arguments rather than calm collaboration will enhance their chance of winning. The latest series of The Apprentice is the most popular since 2011, attracting about five million viewers. A spokesman for the programme categorically denied that producers influenced the outcome of the tasks, insisting that the experts decisions and opinions are their own. A top classical music festival has banned men from enrolling on its conductors course, saying they will only accept candidates who identify as women. The Dartington Trust, based at Dartington Hall, near Totnes in Devon, says the ban is designed to rectify the gender imbalance in the profession. But the move has divided opinion in the normally sedate world of classical music, with one critic saying that it is proof the festival has been hijacked by agenda- setting ideologues. The Dartington Music Summer School and Festival, which has been running since 1953, offers courses, workshops and events that are open to amateur and professional musicians. This years course on conducting will be taught by Sian Edwards, head of conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, and Alice Farnham, artistic director of women conductors with the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS). A top classical music festival has banned men from enrolling on its conductors course, saying they will only accept candidates who identify as women. The Dartington Trust, based at Dartington Hall, near Totnes in Devon, says the ban is designed to rectify the gender imbalance in the profession It will have just six students on the two-week programme, which in the past has launched many successful careers. In a statement, Ms Farnham said: The conducting world has changed a great deal and there is much to celebrate, but there is still work to be done. The gender ratio in the profession is still well under ten per cent, and this is a wonderful opportunity to help tip that balance. Figures previously produced by the RPS show that only 22 of the 371 conductors with British agents were women. That accounts for just 5.5 per cent of the profession. Norman Lebrecht (pictured), who runs the Slipped Disc classical music blog, called the move a total perversion of values However, the ban on male candidates for the Dartington course has not been universally welcomed. Norman Lebrecht, who runs the Slipped Disc classical music blog, called it a total perversion of values. He added: In the name of inclusivity, which Dartington is supposed to represent, they are excluding men from the opportunity of learning how to conduct. 'Dartington used to be the happiest of summer festivals, open to all regardless of origin and ability, and to all musical ideas on an equal basis. 'As someone who once taught a course in musical irony at the festival, I am distraught to see it taken over by agenda-setting ideologues. But Professor Debbie Wiseman, one of Britains most celebrated composers and conductors, welcomed the Trusts actions, saying that too many women were still intimidated by the idea of taking up a leadership position within the industry. She said: We have had some very silly comments over the years that women on the podium make the minds of men in the orchestra drift to other things. You would never say something similar about a man on the podium. She added: I think a course like this will help talented budding conductors who happen to be a woman but feel they are still very much in a minority, with role models hard to find. Last night, Sara Mohr-Pietsch, the artistic director of the Dartington Music School & Festival, told The Mail on Sunday that the organisation was delighted to be taking part in an international, industry-wide commitment to address the significant, long-standing gender imbalance in the conducting profession' Last night, Sara Mohr-Pietsch, the artistic director of the Dartington Music School & Festival, told The Mail on Sunday that the organisation was delighted to be taking part in an international, industry-wide commitment to address the significant, long-standing gender imbalance in the conducting profession. She said that more than 90 per cent of professional conducting opportunities were given to men, and even at Dartington only 25 per cent of their applicants were female. She added: As incoming artistic director, I was keen to do my part in encouraging more women to have the confidence to put themselves forward for this unique opportunity. Bella Hadid spoke about giving up alcohol during an interview with InStyle that was published on Friday. During the interview, the 25-year-old model was very open about her past issues with drinking and gave several examples about how picking up a bottle had adversely affected her life and mental health. Hadid did point out, however, that she was happy to have embraced sobriety and given up other harmful substances. Opening up: Bella Hadid spoke about giving up alcohol during an interview with InStyle that was published on Friday; she is seen in 2021 Hadid began her interview by bluntly stating that 'I have done my fair share of drinking.' The social media personality was remarkably honest about how opening a bottle had affected her and how she learned to force herself to stay home when she felt as if her health would be affected by an outing. 'I loved alcohol and it got to the point where even I started to, you know, cancel nights out that I felt like I wouldn't be able to control myself,' she said. The influencer then revealed that undergoing brain scans and seeing the effects that drinking had on her brain had caused her to cut back on imbibing any sort of alcohol. Adverse affects: The influencer then revealed that undergoing brain scans and seeing the effects that drinking had on her brain had caused her to cut back on imbibing any sort of alcohol Hadid specifically stated that, after viewing the results of the scans, it became 'a lot harder to pick up the glass.' She went on to remark that she was glad to abstain from drinking as she was not plagued by invasive thoughts nearly as much after embracing sobriety. 'I don't feel the need [to drink alcohol] because I know how it will affect me at 3 in the morning when I wake up with horrible anxiety thinking about that one thing I said five years ago when I graduated high school,' she said. Hadid added that she became acutely aware of her tolerance for alcohol, which only added to her troubles. Benefits: The model went on to remark that she was glad to abstain from drinking as she was not plagued by invasive thoughts nearly as much after embracing sobriety; she is seen in 2021 She recalled that 'there's just this never-ending effect of, essentially, you know, pain and stress over those few drinks that didn't really do much, you know?' The model then expressed that she had also cut sleep-inducing substances out of her life in addition to her abstinence from alcohol. 'I don't take sleeping pills anymore. When I was flying so much, that was kind of the only way I would be able to not be jet-lagged,' she said. Going all the way: The model then expressed that she had also cut sleep-inducing substances out of her life in addition to her abstinence from alcohol; she is pictured in 2021 Hadid previously found herself in legal trouble when, at the age of 17, she was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence. According to E! News, the model had reportedly been driving down the Pacific Coast Highway in the early hours of the morning and failed to slow down at a stop sign. The media outlet claimed that the influencer almost crashed into a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department patrol car. It was also claimed that she was driving with a suspended license. Past troubles: Hadid previously found herself in legal trouble when, at the age of 17, she was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence When she was prompted to take a breathalyzer test, the fashion industry figure allegedly blew a 0.14, almost double the legal limit in California. She eventually had her driving license suspended for a year and was given six months of probation in addition to 25 hours of community service, according to a report by Yahoo! Hadid was also reportedly required to attend 20 hours of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings following the incident. Natasha Pavlou, who competed on The Block in 2020 with her father Harry, has announced she is expecting her first child with her fiance Brad. The 33-year-old announced the exciting news to her Instagram account on Sunday. 'Baby Z we cant wait to meet you!' she captioned the post alongside the hashtag #17weekspregnant. Baby joy! The Block's Tash Pavlou, 33, (left) has announced that she is expecting her first child with her fiance Brad (right) on Sunday in a sweet post shared to her Instagram account In the sweet photo, Tash is seen smiling holding a photograph of an ultrasound as Brad cradles her growing bump. The couple, who have been together for five years, announced their engagement in January last year. Brad, who prefers to keep a low profile on social media, popped the question during a visit to the local dog park with the couple's French Bulldog. 'Baby Z we cant wait to meet you!' she captioned the post alongside with the hashtag #17weekspregnant 'He threw the ball and she [their dog Gigi] ran after it. She came running back and I turned around and Brad was on his knee with the ring in his hand,' Tash told 9Now. Despite the casual setting, she said the proposal was 'really beautiful' and 'so us'. In the article for Nine, Tash also showed off the ring that was designed by her fiance, which made the experience 'extra special'. More good news! The couple, who have been dating for five years, announced their engagement in January last year Remember them? Natasha competed on The Block in 2020 with her father, Harry (left). They walked away with a profit of $650,000 The ring features a brilliant-cut diamond with four claws, with extra diamonds on the band and on the claws. Brad told the publication he'd asked Tash's parents, Harry and Andrea, and her brother, Jake, for their blessing first. 'Cheeky Brad, he actually asked dad before the [Block] auction. So dad and mum have somehow kept this so secret - especially mum,' Tash said. Tash said that the wedding will likely take place 'early 2022'. But she said at the time she wouldn't be spending her share of the $650,000 prize money from The Block on her nuptials, and would instead use the cash to put a deposit on a home. It was tartan all round on Saturday night as Gizzi Erskine and Jack Guinness dressed up to celebrate Burns Night. The pair donned their checked garments for a night of fun and frolicking at a Burns Night supper at The Ned's Club, Bank, London. The TV cook, 42, glowed in a red tartan dress with black feather trim arms which she teamed with tights and leather boots. Tartan: It was tartan all round tonight as Gizzi Erskine (pictured) and Jack Guinness decked up to celebrate Burns Night Gizzi completed her look with lashings of makeup which accentuated her natural beauty while wearing her dark locks down over her shoulders. Meanwhile, model Jack, 39, donned a suave green tartan suit which he paired with a black T-shirt. He slipped on a pair of black leather Chelsea boots while his greying hair was slicked back. Burn's night: The pair donned their tartan garments for a night of fun and frolicking at a Burns Night supper at The Ned's Club, Bank, London, on Saturday Stunning: The TV cook, 42, glowed in a red tartan dress with black feather trim arms which she teamed with tights and leather boots They both enjoyed a tune by bagpipe band The Red Hot Chilli Pipers after the dinner. Burns Night is the annual celebration of the life and work of the Scottish poet, Robert Burns. It is celebrated on Robert Burnss birthday on January 25. Despite dying at the young age of 37, Robert Burns is widely regarded as Scotland's national poet, most famous for his poems, Auld Lang Syne and Ae Fond Kiss. Burns Night food focuses on Scottish delicacies such as haggis, neeps, tatties and a wee dram. Neeps are turnips and tatties are potatoes. A wee dram is a shot of Scotch whisky. Haggis: Meanwhile, model Jack, 39, donned a suave green tartan suit which he paired with a black T-shirt Traditional: Gizzi completed her look with lashings of makeup which accentuated her natural beauty while wearing her dark locks down over her shoulders Everyone stands as the haggis is brought in. The dish is traditionally served on a silver platter while a piper plays the bagpipes, leading the path to the Burns Supper hosts table. After the haggis is brought to the table, someone recites Burnss Address to a Haggis as the haggis on the table is cut open. For a Burns Night dessert, many people have Cranachan, a traditional Scottish dessert made from cream whisky, oats and raspberries. Don Wilson, the guitarist for the influential instrumental rock band the Ventures, died on Saturday at the age of 88. The musician's family confirmed to PEOPLE that he died peacefully and of natural causes on Saturday morning in Tacoma, Washington with his four children by his side. 'Our dad was an amazing rhythm guitar player who touched people all over world with his band, The Ventures,' Don's son Tim Wilson said in a statement. 'He will have his place in history forever and was much loved and appreciated. He will be missed.' They are most famous for their electric guitar-led rendition of Johnny Smith's Walk, Don't Run, which is included among Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. And they created the theme music to the television show Hawaii Five-O. Legend: Don Wilson, the guitarist for the influential instrumental rock band the Ventures, died on Saturday at the age of 88; Pictured at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on March 10, 2008 in NY The band gained a reputation for being the masters of the 'surf music' sound in the 1960s at the time movies like Gidget were hot even though they originated from Washington state, which is far from surf hot spots Hawaii and California. Wilson co-founded The Ventures with his friend Bob Bogle in Tacoma in 1958. The original lineup of the band consisted of Wilson playing the rhythm guitar, Bogle playing bass, Nokie Edwards on lead guitar, and Mel Taylor on the drums. The quartet recorded 37 albums between 1960 and 1972 and is the best selling instrumental rock band of all time with over 100 million records sold. Peaceful: The musician's family confirmed to PEOPLE that he died peacefully and of natural causes on Saturday morning in Tacoma, Washington with his four children by his side; Pictured in 2008 The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 by John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival. On their site, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame called The Ventures a 'quintessential instrumental rock and roll band. 'Few bands are as prolific as the Venturesthey released thirty-seven albums in twelve years, many of them thematic. They rocked America in the sixties and went on to lasting international fame and influence,' the description stated. Influential band: Wilson co-founded The Ventures with his friend Bob Bogle in Tacoma in 1958; Wilson and Bogle pictured in 1961 Musical icons: The quartet recorded 37 albums between 1960 and 1972 and is the best selling instrumental rock band of all time with over 100 million records sold; From left Bogle, Nokie Edwards, Wilson and Howie Johnson pictured in 1960 In the Hall of Fame Essay, John Teagle praised the band for their extensive body of work and influence on music. 'Beginning with 1960's Walk Don't Run, the Ventures created a body of work that remains untouchable by any other instrumental group in the history of rock & roll,' he wrote. He went on to say, 'The band's influence has extended from nascent surf music to the British Invasion, garage rock, psychedelia, heavy metal, new wave, and beyond.' Wilson was the last remaining member of the band's original formation. They are the best-selling instrumental rock group in history, according to their website. Electric hits: They are most famous for their electric guitar-led rendition of Johnny Smith's Walk, Don't Run, which is included among Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time; From left Johnson, Wilson, Edwards and Bogle Wilson grew up in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. His interest in music started at a young age when he picked up a guitar to play along with his favorites, the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Tommy Dorsey. But he did not pursue music as a professional right away as he went into the US Army after graduating from high school. He started playing with Bob Bogle and legend has it that they picked up guitars at pawn shops for $10 each. Wilson was also helped out by his mother Josie Wilson, as she encouraged her son to make music his calling. Rock and roll legends: The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 after being named the 'quintessential instrumental rock and roll band'; John Durrill, Don Wilson, Nokie Edwards, Leon Taylor and Bob Spalding (with Fiona Taylor, right) pose in the press room during the Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on March 10, 2008 They wanted to use the name the Versatones for their band but the name was taken, it was claimed in a book about the group. So they opted for the name the Ventures which was nod to their 'new venture' as musicians. Soon after they started working with guitarist Nokie Edwards who added the 'surf' sound. Then Mel Taylor was put on drums and Gerry McGee on guitar. Their first big hit was 1960s' Walk, Don't Run, which went all the way to the second spot on music charts. In 1966 Leon Taylor joined the band as a drummer and stayed with the band until his retirement in 2015. Their albums include Another Smash!!! (1961), The Ventures Play Telstar and the Lonely Bull (1963), The Ventures in Space (1964), Walk, Don't Run, Vol. 2 (1964), Wild Things! (1966), Hawaii Five-O (1969) and the 10th Anniversary Album (1970). Their fame dwindled in the 1980s but their music gained a cult following in the 1990s. She is well known for her presence on stage but Lesley Manville can also make her mark as a member of an audience as a group of rowdy teenagers found out during a play she was watching. The actress, who will play Princess Margaret in the fifth and sixth series of The Crown, confronted the group who had been talking loudly and using their phones during a production at the National Theatre in London. Recalling the incident in today's You magazine, editor Jo Elvin, who was also in the audience, writes: 'Come the interval, as soon as the house lights went up, I watched as a slight woman appeared from nowhere, ninja-style, looming over these boys. Lesley Manville (pictured) will play Princess Margaret in the fifth and sixth series of The Crown 'I couldn't hear exactly what she was saying but whatever it was, complete with glaring eyes and an angry, pointy index finger, it rendered them mute and staring at the ground, genuinely chastenedLesley's citizen's intervention salvaged the day for everyone in the theatre.' The anecdote about the incident during a performance of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean At The End Of The Lane in 2019 epitomises the inner steel forged when Ms Manville left her Brighton home, aged 16, to move into a boarding house to pursue an acting career. Talking to You, she reflects: 'No one took care of me. I was on my own, in places with no friends. Manville in 2019. Now 65, the actress says she has 'extraordinary stamina', adding: 'When people half my age are flaking and tired, I'm still going' 'That time of my life really informed me. It ingrained in me the feeling of "I will look after myself I won't rely on anybody else to do things for me. I'll just crack on with it".' After appearing in long-running TV soap Emmerdale, she became one of film director Mike Leigh's go-to actresses, juggling her work with single-handedly bringing up Alfie, her son by her first husband, Darkest Hour star Gary Oldman. During a career spanning five decades, she has won an Olivier Award for a revival of Ibsen's Ghosts and been nominated for an Oscar and three Baftas. She appeared in the period drama Harlots and was the central character in BBC TV comedy Mum. Now 65, the actress says she has 'extraordinary stamina', adding: 'When people half my age are flaking and tired, I'm still going.' And she despairs of some younger actors who fail to put in sufficient effort, saying: 'There are some exceptional young actors in it for the long haul but others are looking for quick-fix fame in a profession that these days is all about self-promotion and social-media followers and they behave unprofessionally.' As every parent will testify, few songs have proved more appealing to youngsters than Let It Go from the Disney blockbuster Frozen. But a catchy tune from the studio's latest animated movie, Encanto, is threatening to edge it aside. We Don't Talk About Bruno has just hit the top of the UK singles chart, becoming the first Disney song to do so in its 70-year history. Mirabel, the main character in animated smash Encanto, which revolves around a family in rural Colombia who possess magical gifts Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also created the musical Hamilton, the track was streamed 6.3 million times in Britain alone last week. It has also hit No 1 on the Billboard streaming chart in the US. In contrast, Let It Go only made it to No 11 in the UK in 2014. Encanto opened in Britain last November, but the song has steadily grown in popularity thanks to the 150 million film's availability on the Disney+ streaming service. Two other songs from the soundtrack are also in the Top 20 this week: Surface Pressure at No 5, and The Family Madrigal at No 15. A Disney source said the runaway success of We Don't Talk About Bruno sung by a virtually unknown chorus of Hispanic performers had surprised them. Mirabel with Bruno, the subject of the catchy song topping the charts, in the movie Encanto 'No one expected this song to become the cultural phenomenon it has,' they said. 'It has a catchy beat and a recurring chorus that people can't resist. 'Kids started singing it on social media sites like TikTok and it really took off. Now there's no stopping it. We're starting to get messages from frustrated parents asking, "Why?" ' Encanto revolves around a family in rural Colombia who possess magical gifts except for the teenage Mirabel. She is one of several characters who sings We Don't Talk About Bruno, about an outcast uncle who can see into the future. The source explained: 'He has ruined lives with all his negative predictions. So the song is all about how "we don't talk about Bruno-no-no-no." 'Once you get it in your head it stays there and won't leave. It's the kind of tune young kids love because it's so simple and catchy.' The Wiggles took out a surprise win in Triple J's annual Hottest 100 list for 2021 on Saturday. And just before the announcement was made, Queensland Police threw their support behind the children's band in a hilarious Tweet. 'Investigations have commenced into how The Wiggles created such a banger. #Wiggles4Hottest100 #hottest100,' they jested online. Reacted: Queensland Police have reacted to The Wiggles winning Triple J's Hottest 100 with cover of Tame Impala's Elephant with hilarious tweet Many fans also expressed their excitement on social media following the group's surprise win. 'Well Deserved Win!! Congratulations!! #TheWiggles #Hottest100,' one person commented. 'Stoked The Wiggles won. Best thing they have played for years,' another said. 'Investigations have commenced into how The Wiggles created such a banger. #Wiggles4Hottest100 #hottest100,' the funny Tweet read The Wiggles topped the list with their cover of Tama Impala's psychedelic 2012 hit, Elephant. They covered the song last March for Triple J's Like a Version. The children's band were able to fend off competition from The Kid Laroi, whose collaboration with Justin Bieber, Stay, ranked No.2. Win: The Wiggles topped the list with their cover of Tama Impala's psychedelic 2012 hit, Elephant Rounding out the rest of the top five was Spacey Jane's Lots of Nothing, Olivia Rodrigo's Good 4 U, and Billie Eilish's Happier Than Ever. Rodrigo was one of the most popular artists of the year overall, with a total of five entries in the top 100. She was equalled by Doja Cat, who also had five entries, while Kanye West wasn't far behind with four. Success: The children's band were able to fend off competition from The Kid Laroi (pictured), whose collaboration with Justin Bieber, Stay, ranked No.2 Australia has voted for its favourite movie of all time - with surprising results. In a report published by The Sunday Telegraph, the 1997 hit The Castle came up trumps in a poll conducted by YouGov. Crocodile Dundee and Mad Max came in second and third place, respectively. Straight to the pool room! Australia has voted for its favourite movie of all time. In a report published by The Sunday Telegraph , the 1997 hit The Castle came up trumps in a poll conducted by YouGov. Here: Cast of The Castle in a promo shot from the 1997 classic The same poll saw Hugh Jackman named the country's most admired celebrity ahead of Olivia Newton-John and Cathy Freeman. Co-writer of the Castle Rob Stitch said a huge part of its enduring success has been how tenderly the characters were portrayed. 'Why has it endured? The cast played it beautifully. No small matter,' Rob told the publication. 'Television repeats have also been a big part.' Rob said evidence of the show's success was obvious with Australians regularly using lines from the film like, 'How's the serenity?' Tell him he's dreamin': Co-writer of the Castle Rob Stitch said a huge part of its enduring success has been how tenderly the characters were portrayed. Here: Anthony Simcoe, Stephen Curry and Michael Caton in the film 'Things like ''How's the serenity?'' We'd started using these phrases for our own amusement before the film came out,' he said. 'We understood that aspect better but it still surprised us.' The poll actually had most of the country's favourite movies with Priscilla: Queen of the Desert and Happy Feet coming in fourth and fifth place. It's a winner! Campy hit Priscilla: Queen of the Desert was voted as fourth most popular. The 1994 hit has become a crowd favourite with it starring Guy Pearce (pictured) Australia's favourite movies 1. The Castle 2. Crocodile Dundee 3. Mad Max 4. Priscilla: Queen of the Desert 5. Happy Feet 6. Muriel's Wedding 7. Babe 8. Moulin Rogue! 9. Romper Stomper Advertisement Meanwhile, 90s classics Muriel's Wedding, which featured a young Toni Collette, was ranked sixth. Babe followed in seventh place. Rounding off the list was Nicole Kidman's Moulin Rouge! and Romper Stomper, which starred a young Russell Crowe. Romper Stomper follows the leaders of a racist gang in Melbourne and is regularly praised as a gripping classic of Australian cinema. A 75-year-old French adventurer has died on a solo attempt to row across the Atlantic Ocean. The death of Jean-Jacques Savin was announced by his friends on a Facebook page that had been chronicling his voyage. They said maritime rescue services located his body on Saturday inside the cabin of his boat, named ''Audacious,'' which was found overturned off the Azores Islands, a mid-Atlantic Portuguese archipelago. The former soldier set off on Jan. 1 from the southern tip of Portugal on the westward voyage he had anticipated would take about three months. In 2019, Savin had previously floated alone across the Atlantic in a large barrel-shaped capsule. Propelled only by winds and currents, that crossing from Spain's Canary Islands to the Caribbean took 127 days. Savin had activated two distress beacons on Thursday night. ''Unfortunately, the ocean this time was stronger this time than our friend, he who so loved navigating and the sea,'' the Facebook post announcing his death said. (AP) The Kid Laroi was attending one of the hottest parties in Los Angeles on Thursday night. The Australian pop star and his TikTok star girlfriend Katarina Deme, 17, were spotted leaving Iann Dior's album release party in West Hollywood. The 18-year-old performer donned an all-black ensemble and protected himself with a dark face mask. Teen about town: The Kid Laroi (pictured) was attending one of the hottest parties in Los Angeles on Thursday night Wearing fingerless gloves, a coat, skinny jeans and a t-shirt all in the same black tone, he certainly made a fashion impact. Katarina kept the theme going with her own dark outfit, which included a sleeveless top and leather trousers. She too wore a face mask, while having her long locks down around her face and adding to the edgy look with a pair of chunky boots. Cool kids: The Australian pop star and his TikTok star girlfriend Katarina Deme, 17, (pictured) were spotted leaving Iann Dior's album release party in West Hollywood A look: The 18-year-old performer donned an all-black ensemble and protected himself with a dark face mask It comes after Katarina's rapper boyfriend, who she began dating in July 2020, announced in November he was taking a break from the spotlight to focus on writing his new album. Laroi, whose real name is Charlton Howard, shared the news on Instagram, then deleted every other post on his feed. The Without You star told his more than 3.9 million followers: 'Goodbye for now, I love you all.' Edge: Wearing fingerless gloves, a coat, skinny jeans and a t-shirt all in the same black tone, he certainly made a fashion impact Chic: Katarina kept the theme going with her own dark outfit, which included a sleeveless top and leather trousers He explained that after a 'wild year' he was taking some time out. He thanked fans for supporting his debut mixtape, F*ck Love, but said he needed time off to focus on his full-length. 'My life has changed so much this past year because of [F*ck Love] and I owe it all to every single one of you. There is no way I will ever be able to repay you,' he said. 'Last week I went on a small vacation for the first time in a while. During that time I started thinking and I made the decision that I need to take some time away from everything and focus on the next project; my debut album.' Party time: The star hammed it up with Iann Dior (left) inside the party Loved up: Katarina and her rapper boyfriend began dating in July 2020 'I'm going to miss you all beyond words can describe, but I do believe that this is what I need to do to give you all the best music possible,' he concluded. 'I'll be back soon, I promise. I love you, Laroi.' The Kid Laroi, who hails from Sydney's Waterloo, has had incredible success in the United States, and in September announced he was bringing his End of the World tour to Australia. ITV have given viewers a first look at their upcoming adaptation of spy thriller The Ipcress File. The upcoming series is adapted from the 1962 Len Deighton novel, later made into a 1965 film, with Joe Cole taking on the lead role of Harry Palmer. Set in the 1960s, the show follows Palmer, a working-class British sergeant, who becomes a spy to avoid military jail after a series of dodgy dealings. Action: ITV have given viewers a first look at their upcoming adaptation of spy thriller The Ipcress File The budding spy's first mission takes him to Berlin in order to track down a missing British nuclear scientist. However, his connection to the suspected kidnapping take him on a journey through the German capital, London and Beirut. The protagonist is assigned an assistant, Jean, a beautiful young woman towards whom he begins to develop romantic feelings. The trailer opens with Joe's co-star Lucy Boynton as Jean, who is seen telling a man: 'We have an operation in Berlin. It's the retrieval of a missing person.' Plot: Set in the 1960s, the show follows Palmer, a working-class British sergeant, who becomes a spy to avoid military jail after a series of dodgy dealings (Lucy Boynton pictured) Joe is then seen in prison where he is approached by Major Dalby (Tom Hollander) who tells him he will help to locate the missing person. A man is heard asking Major Dalby: 'Do you think we can trust him?' to which he replies: 'Almost certainly not'. Filming on the project began in March 2021 in Liverpool with production also taking place in Croatia. The series has been written by Trainspotting writer John Hodge and the all-star cast also includes Ashley Thomas and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor. Clip: The trailer opens with Joe's co-star Lucy Boynton as Jean, who is seen telling a man: 'We have an operation in Berlin. It's the retrieval of a missing person' Mission: Joe is then seen in prison where he is approached by Major Dalby (Tom Hollander) who tells him he will help to locate the missing person Show: Filming on the project began in March 2021 in Liverpool with production also taking place in Croatia The original espionage film starring Michael Caine and its following sequels were a deliberately downbeat alternative to the hugely successful James Bond films. Despite this, one of the early Bond producers, Harry Saltzman and others were brought into work on the Palmer series. Palmer is a contrast to Bond's privileged private school upbringing and lives and works in a 'gloomy' London, where he resides in a Notting Hill bedsit. It has been reported by Deadline that the show is being produced by The Crown's Andrew Eaton and directed by Black Mirror's James Watkins. Success: The original Ipcress File was awarded three BAFTAs and the novel has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide The original film was produced at Pinewood studios while also being shot on location around London. It is now included on the British Film Institute's list of 100 of the best British films of the 20th century, ranking at number 59. The original Ipcress File was awarded three BAFTAs and the novel has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. It also kicked off a series of seven other books, meaning there is scope for further series if this one proves a ratings hit. Writer Hodge told the publication: 'This is a wonderful opportunity to inhabit a time when the post-war world was morphing into the way we live now, when social mobility, civil rights, and modern feminism were forcing their way into public consciousness, and all of it happening with the world divided in two and both halves threatening to blow the whole thing sky high.' She recently announced that she was expecting her first child with her husband, Alex, 30. And Olivia Bowen looked radiant on Saturday as she took to Instagram to show off her growing baby bump in a sweet snap with Alex. The Love Island star, 28, glowed in a figure-hugging marble-style dress that clung to her curves and accentuated her blossoming bump. Baby on the way: Olivia Bowen looked radiant on Saturday as she took to Instagram to show off her growing baby bump in a sweet snap with Alex. Soon-to-be parents: Captioning the stunning snap, Olivia wrote: 'Baby daddy' Her dress also boasted a v-neckline that showed off a hint of her ample assets, while she paired it with knee high cream boots. Her blonde locks were styles in soft waves and she completed her look with a full face of glam makeup to highlight her pretty features. Alex wrapped an arm around her waist, beaming as he sported a tight-fitted black t-shirt and grey trousers. Captioning the stunning snap, Olivia wrote: 'Baby daddy'. Stunning pair: Alex later uploaded his own photo of the pair, taken in a bathroom mirror and captioning it: 'Parents out out! Well kinda' Alex later uploaded his own photo of the pair, taken in a bathroom mirror and captioning it: 'Parents out out! Well kinda'. Earlier this month, Olivia took to Instagram to share the news that she is expecting. Her New Year's Day post showed a series of instant photos and a pair of booties alongside the caption: 'Happy New Baby Bowen', before Alex then shared the same post and penned: 'This year we get to meet Baby Bowen'. The trio of images included a shot of Alex kissing his wife's stomach, a selfie showing them holding the booties and a baby grow alongside sonogram pictures. Great news: Her New Year's Day post showed a series of instant photos and a pair of booties Olivia and Alex, formerly a sales executive and scaffolder respectively, soared to fame in 2016 when they appeared on the ITV2 reality show, where she was an original star and he, a late and extremely popular entrant. After leaving the villa their romance soon when from strength to strength and Alex popped the question in New York in 2016. Loved-up couple Olivia and Alex tied the knot in a luxurious Essex ceremony two years after meeting on Love Island during series two. Cara Kilbey has made the happy announcement that she is pregnant with her third child, eight months after undergoing surgery for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. The former TOWIE star, 34, took to Instagram to reveal she is currently six months along, with a snap of her in a white unbuttoned shirt and black underwear, showing off her blossoming baby bump. Alongside it she wrote: '6 Months Baby. Baby Harris Due in May'. Baby joy: Cara Kilbey has made the happy announcement that she is pregnant with her third child, only eight months after undergoing surgery for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy Happy news: Alongside it she wrote: '6 Months Baby. Baby Harris Due in May'. Her comments section was flooded with comments from her ex co-stars, wishing her congratulations on her happy news. Ferne McCann wrote: 'Oh wow darling congratulations you look amazing', while Jess Wright commented: 'Congratulations lovely' with a string of heart emojis. It comes after in May 2021, Cara revealed that she had to have one of her fallopian tubes removed via keyhole surgery after suffering a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Congratulations! Her comments section was flooded with comments from her ex co-stars, wishing her congratulations on her happy news Candid: It comes after in May 2021, Cara revealed that she had to have one of her fallopian tubes removed via keyhole surgery after suffering a ruptured ectopic pregnancy Updating her fans on why she'd been quiet on social media, the mother-of-two candidly detailed her recent health woes, starting: 'I've been quiet on Instagram recently 'Last month I found out I had an ectopic pregnancy that had ruptured and caused an internal bleed, so was rushed into theatre for an emergency op. 'Now I'm back again, but this time with kidney stones... Think I'm overdue a holiday.' An ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. 'I was rushed into theatre': Updating her fans on why she'd been quiet on social media, the mother-of-two candidly detailed her recent health woes, starting: 'I've been quiet on Instagram recently' A ruptured fallopian tube is very serious and surgery to repair it needs to be carried out as quickly as possible, according to the NHS. WHAT IS AN ECTOPIC PREGNANCY? An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. The fallopian tubes are the tubes connecting the ovaries to the womb. If an egg gets stuck in them, it won't develop into a baby and your health may be at risk if the pregnancy continues. Unfortunately, it's not possible to save the pregnancy. It usually has to be removed using medicine or an operation. In the UK, around 1 in every 80-90 pregnancies is ectopic. This is around 12,000 pregnancies a year. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement Cara has left reality TV behind her. She now runs a pre loved designer good business, often sharing branded items to Instagram at discounted prices. And after leaving the show, Cara met her boyfriend Daniel Harris in 2014 and in 2015 she suffered a miscarriage when she was five months pregnant. The couple now have two children, daughter Penelope Blu and son Hunter, with their little boy being born after Daniel served time in prison. Daniel was accused of masterminding a drugs empire, but was cleared of drugs charges and instead found guilty of stashing 116,000 in ill-gotten gains in 2017. Cara had been patiently waiting while her partner languished in jail, shortly after the birth of Penelope, who she brought to visit him one to two times a week. Daniel was accused of making 'vast profits' by sending drug couriers on mopeds disguised as trainee cab drivers around central London over three-and-a-half years. They announced they were expecting Hunter in June 2017, just two months after Daniel was released. Doting mama: Cara is mum to daughter Penelope and son Hunter (pictured together) The couple met while Harris was living out in Spain with his father and she was on holiday there. They returned to the UK in September 2015 when she fell pregnant. It was previously reported that other men, some of whom were his friends, went on to plead guilty to their part in the plots and have been jailed for more than 68 years. Cara still shares snaps of her beau and their children, with her last posting a lovely image of Daniel and Penelope in the sea to mark his birthday in March. Andrew Scott and Stephen Beresford were spotted on a city break in Venice over the weekend. The Irish Fleabag star, 45, and the writer, 50, were together for a decade before splitting in 2019. But they appeared to be on very good terms on Saturday, with one snap showing the Jim Moriarty actor wrapping an arm around Stephen's back as they lapped up the sights. Out and about: Andrew Scott (l) and Stephen Beresford (r) were spotted enjoying a stroll around Venice on Saturday - after their decade-long relationship ended in 2019 While Andrew donned a padded navy padded jacket, jeans and trainers, his former love layered up with a plaid coat over a navy jumper. The couple sported safety coverings to act in line with Covid guidelines and appeared relaxed as they made the most of a European getaway. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Andrew and Stephen for comment. Good terms: The Irish Fleabag star, 45, and the writer, 50, were together for a decade before splitting in 2019 Out and about: While Andrew donned a padded navy padded jacket, jeans and trainers, his former love layered up with a plaid coat over a navy jumper Andrew admitted in a newspaper interview in 2019 that the couple had split and he was now living alone. And in an episode of How To Fail around that time, the podcast of You magazine columnist Elizabeth Day, he said: 'Sometimes having casual sex with people is what you need to do. It's really important 'You learn from people. It's not about the length of time you spend with somebody.' He added: 'My life is different now. I feel like my attitude towards relationships and my attitude towards myself and sexuality and all that stuff has changed, and that came about from having the courage to be on my own for a bit, quite a scary thing to do. Previously: Andrew admitted in a newspaper interview in 2019 that the couple had split and he was now living alone (pictured 2019) Co-stars: Andrew is known for playing the priest on the second series of Fleabag (pictured with writer and creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge in January 2020) 'When I lived on my own for the first time, I found it really difficult and it was a very sad time in my life. I feel proud that I've spent time by myself because it certainly wasn't easy.' Andrew shot to fame playing Moriarty, the evil genius and arch-enemy of Sherlock Holmes in the BBC drama Sherlock. He also enjoyed a critically acclaimed West End run as Hamlet. Meanwhile, Stephen is best known for writing the play The Last of the Haussmans, produced by the National Theatre in 2012. He was also the master behind the 2014 historical comedy Pride, which won the Queer Palm award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Roxy Horner looked nothing short of sensational as she posed in gym wear in stunning Instagram snaps she shared on Sunday. The model, 30, showcased her jaw-dropping figure as she donned a mustard crop top along with a pair of matching leggings. Accentuating her beauty with a light pallet of makeup, the star also wore a pair of gold earrings. Stunning: Roxy Horner looked nothing short of sensational as she posed in gym wear in stunning Instagram snaps she shared on Sunday Highlighting her toned midriff, Roxy let her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders for the snaps. Alongside the post, she wrote: 'My favourite thing about this set is that its comfy and colourful.' The model, who is in a relationship with Jack Whitehall, has been modelling since her teens and made her first appearance in Vogue when she was just 17. It comes after Roxy previously shared pictures of herself injecting insulin, after discussing her debilitating autoimmune disease which has seen her hospitalised over the last six months of her life. Wow: The model, 30, showcased her jaw-dropping figure as she donned a mustard crop top along with a pair of matching leggings On Instagram she told her followers about her fight with type 1 diabetes in a bid to raise awareness of the condition during world diabetes day marking 100 years since the discovery of lifesaving insulin. In a chat with Marie Claire, Roxy, who was diagnosed a month before her 30th birthday, also admitted: 'Type 1 diabetes has changed my life but the silver lining is that perhaps it has taught me to stand up for myself and listen to my body.' Roxy who said she was chronically stressed ahead of her diagnosis and 'very thirsty' admitted that her model agency had been supportive and her famous boyfriend 'incredible'. She said: 'I'm trying to get back my peace, surround myself with loving, understanding people and just getting the hang of this. If I have shown up anywhere on my own since my diagnosis, it really has taken a lot for me to get there. Health: Roxy previously shared pictures of herself injecting insulin, after discussing her debilitating autoimmune disease which has seen her hospitalised over the last six months of her life 'Because when you're new to this, it's scary going anywhere on your own thinking 'what If something happens and I can't manage it on my own?' Roxy said it was a shock to get her diagnosis and that some people have wrongly said she can be cured and also admitted she has days where it knocks her out and she feels really unwell. She also claims she initially discharged herself too early from hospital to attend an awards ceremony and had to be readmitted that same night during the first few days of diagnosis. The stunning model added: 'The first few months were really scary.' Garrett Hedlund has been arrested for public intoxication after a night out in Franklin County, Tennessee on Saturday. TMZ reports that the actor, 36, is now in custody with bail set at $2,100 for the misdemeanor arrest. Hedlund is currently on three years probation over his previous DUI case, meaning his recent arrest for being intoxicated could pose a problem for the star. The arrest comes just days after it was revealed that he has now split with girlfriend Emma Roberts, with whom he shares a child, one-year-old son Rhodes. Arrest: Garrett Hedlund is now ARRESTED for public intoxication just days after split from Emma Roberts and being sued for negligence over his DUI (Pic, 2019) It's also days after it was reported that Hedlund is being sued for a car crash that took place on the night of his 2020 DUI arrest. Hedlund is being accused of crashing into another car - containing a woman and three children - passed out drunk behind the wheel of his Jeep and running a red light. The family claims that Hedlund - whose blood alcohol on the night in question was twice the legal limit of .08 - attempted to flee the scene without calling an ambulance. In court documents obtained by PEOPLE, the actor's conduct is deemed as 'despicable.' Negligent: The family claims that Hedlund - whose blood alcohol on the night in question was twice the legal limit of .08 - attempted to flee the scene without calling an ambulance. The family is suing Garrett for damages; Pictured in 2021 'Hedlund's conduct was despicable in that he knew and was educated in the dangers presented to Plaintiffs and the public when he operated a vehicle while intoxicated,' the complaint read. The complaint also described the strong odor of alcohol coming from the The Tron: Legacy actor. 'There was a very strong odor of hard liquor emitting from Hedlund's breath, body, and the cab of the Jeep despite the windows being open/broken,' it read. The complaint went on to say that the star attempted to get rid of 'open bottles of alcoholic beverages' present in the vehicle before the police arrived. The injured family also claims that he attempted to flee the scene and had to have his car keys removed to ensure that he wouldn't leave. Sad: The arrest came as the actor was expecting his first child with actress Emma Roberts, 30. She went on to give birth to their son Rhodes Robert at the end of 2020 The actor refused a DUI test at the scene of the accident. When he was tested at the station two hours later, his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. The family is suing Garrett for damages. Hedlund was arrested on two DUI offenses in February, 2020. Following the arrest, the actor was arraigned later that month and able to bail out on $100k bond. The Tron: Legacy actor served a 36-months of probation, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court documents obtained by Page Six. Hedlund was subsequently assigned three days of community service for one of the counts. The second charge was dismissed. Additionally he was required to enroll in a nine-month first-offender alcohol and other drug education and counseling program. Hard times: 'It's sad, and they are trying their best to co-parent. It's been hard,' an insider told PEOPLE of their post-breakup dynamic His team says that Hedlund didn't resist seeking intervention for his substance abuse, according to Page Six. 'When the incident occurred, Garrett immediately sought treatment which was successful. Today, he is in a solid and great place,' reps told the outlet. The arrest came as the actor was expecting his first child with actress Emma Roberts, 30. She went on to give birth to their son Rhodes at the end of 2020. Yesterday, it was revealed they had split after nearly three-years of dating. The pair welcomed their first child together, son Rhodes Robert Hedlund, in December 2020, which they happily shared to Instagram weeks after his arrival. Baby in the mix: The pair welcomed their first child together, son Rhodes Robert Hedlund, in December 2020, which they happily shared to Instagram weeks after his arrival; Emma and Rhodes pictured in December 'It's sad, and they are trying their best to co-parent. It's been hard,' an insider told PEOPLE of their post-breakup dynamic. DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Roberts and Hedlund for comment. Last month, Emma and Garrett celebrated their baby son's first birthday by hosting rodeo-themed party. 'Loved every second of it. I love you Rhodes,' gushed Roberts, who shared several adorable shots from the shindig with her Instagram following. Emma and Garrett first began dating back in March 2019 and, over a year later, would reveal that they were expecting a child. Emma gave birth in December 2020 but waited to reveal the birth and the name of their baby until January 2021. She may have only gone public with her handsome new boyfriend on Saturday. But loved-up Ferne McCann has wasted no time plastering real estate agent Lorri Haines over her social media, taking to her Instagram Story on Sunday with a series of loved-up snaps from their time in Dubai - where he lives. Documenting highlights from their afternoon at Aura Skypool, the former TOWIE star, 31, and the 'part-time jeweller and wannabe entrepreneur' looked utterly smitten with one another as they cosied up for pictures and videos. New love: Ferne McCann called her new real estate agent boyfriend Lorri Haines 'hubs' as she continued to share smitten snaps from their time in Dubai on Sunday In one video set to Ed Sheeran's Kiss Me, the reality star, donning a lime green bikini, filmed an intimate moment where they slapped on the PDA with a kiss before she smiled coyly at the camera. In an additional snap, the lovebirds were captured chilling out on a prime spot lounger, two cocktails placed on the table in front of them as Ferne penned, 'Hubs.' The mother-of-one also panned their scenic surroundings and gushed: 'The most amazing afternoon Thank you @lozzahaines for the most amazing weekend'. PDA: Documenting highlights from their afternoon at Aura Skypool, the former TOWIE star, 31, and the 'part-time jeweller and wannabe entrepreneur' looked utterly smitten with one another Cosy: In an additional snap, the lovebirds were captured chilling out on a prime spot lounger, two cocktails placed on the table in front of them as Ferne penned, 'Hubs' Luxe: The mother-of-one also panned their scenic surroundings and gushed: 'The most amazing afternoon Thank you @lozzahaines for the most amazing weekend' Ferne and Lorri went public on Saturday. The First Time Mum star took to Instagram to post adorable snaps with her latest beau. Lorri is a real estate agent living in Dubai, where Ferne is currently on holiday, and describes himself as a 'part-time jeweller and wannabe entrepreneur' in his bio. Hot new romance: Ferne and Lorri went public on Saturday Posting a sweet picture together as a joint upload, Lorri posed for a selfie as Ferne planted a kiss on his cheek. In the caption, they cutely wrote: 'When you know, you know' In another snap, Ferne showed off her figure in a red patterned bikini as she posed beside her new man and another friend while enjoying drinks at a pool bar. The couple then enjoyed a romantic night-time boat ride, where Ferne sat on his lap in a chic white outfit. Moving fast: Ferne even joked that one of the sweet pictures looked like they had just got engaged Here he is: Lorri is a real estate agent living in Dubai, where Ferne is currently on holiday, and describes himself as a 'part time jeweller and wannabe entrepreneur' in his bio Ferne has famously had a rocky love life, most recently splitting from DJ Jake Padgett last year after they spent the second lockdown together. After the split Ferne revealed she still wanted to find her happily ever after and is 'such a sucker for love'. Ferne told The Sun: 'I am such a sucker for love - I love love so much, and of course I want to find my happy ever after.' In love: Ferne looked thrilled to be showing off her new man to the world as she took a trip to Dubai The blonde bombshell only had positive things to say about Jack, 27, describing the breakup as 'mature'. 'But it's been such a mature, grown-up breakup - and no one did anything wrong. I've learned so much from this relationship and from Jack, and we had some beautiful times,' she said. Ferne and Jack moved in together amid the winter lockdown shortly after they began dating, and admitted that taking the next step in their relationship was its downfall. Beauty: In another snap Ferne showed off her figure in a red patterned bikini as she posed beside her new man and another friend while enjoying drinks at a pool bar 'But in the end, it also accelerated our breakup, because coming out of lockdown and the world opening back up meant suddenly our lives were very different and we were like passing ships,' she explained. Before that she was in a relationship with jailed acid attacker Arthur Collins, whom she shares her daughter Sunday, four, with. Arthur, 29, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence at Woodhill Prison, Milton Keynes, after carrying out an acid attack at a London nightclub in 2017 which saw sixteen people suffer chemical burn injuries and three people left temporarily blinded. Lovely: The pair had a luxury meal on board and sipped on pink champagne together as they took in the Dubai lights Tanned: Ferne looked the picture of happiness as she enjoyed a day in the sunshine with her beau this weekend Ferne dumped Arthur after learning about the incident. She was pregnant with her daughter Sunday when then boyfriend Arthur threw corrosive acid over a crowd on the dance floor at Mangle E8 in Dalston in April 2017, within weeks of their pregnancy announcement. Last year, the former TOWIE star confessed she previously 'struggled to come to terms' with being a single parent as she reflected on the challenges she has faced raising a child on her own. Exes: Ferne has famously had a rocky love life, most recently splitting from DJ Jake Padgett (pictured together) last year after they spent the second lockdown together Tough times: Before Jack, she was in a relationship with jailed acid attacker Arthur Collins, with whom she shares her daughter Sunday, four Ferne said: 'I guess I was one of those people that might have had a misconception about single parenting, because I didn't want to be called a single parent when I was pregnant. 'I didn't want to be labelled with it, because I hadn't come to terms with the fact I was going to be a single parent yet. Until I started living and being it, that was when I felt really proud.' Ferne recalled doing a '360 overnight' as she elaborated: 'Now I feel totally fine being called a single parent because the fact is, I am. The misconception is not that you've failed, but obviously you don't plan to be a single parent although I know some people do.' Before Arthur, Ferne was in an on-off relationship with fellow TOWIE star Charlie Sims and their tumultuous love story was captured for viewers of the reality show. She's been dealing drama over estranged husband Kanye West making claims about having access to their children. But it appears Kim Kardashian is continuing to take the high road, and shrug off any private issues the former couple might have. Early on Sunday morning, the 41-year-old Hulu reality star shared another sizzling snap of herself in a string bikini - this time a blue two piece simply caption with a wave emoji. Feeling hot: Kim Kardashian tantalizes fans with another string bikini look after recent drama with estranged husband Kanye West The tantalizing picture comes a day after ex Kanye was seen stepping out again with his new girlfriend, Uncut Gems star Julia Fox at a Paris Fashion Week show. Kim was often to travel to Paris Fashion Week herself when she was married to Kanye, who she has credited with in helping her in the fashion world. Tensions between Kim and Kanye have been on the rise lately, after he gave interview with Hollywood Unlocked, and appeared to suggest that Kim was somehow preventing him or making it difficult for him to see their children. Throwbacks: On Sunday, Kim posted these shots that appeared to be from her recent getaway to the Bahamas She's just like us: Kim fooled around in one shot as she posed with her hand held up in view of the moon Postcards from paradise: Kim shared yet more dreamy shots of her recent vacay that she took with boyfriend Pete Davidson Kanye fumed that 'no security' is going to 'get between me and my children' adding in the clip: 'and you ain't gonna gaslight me.' In an extended clip, the rapper - who has just admitted he did punch a fan this week - claimed that he 'couldn't come inside' Kim's house on Monday to visit with daughter North, eight, because her 'security stopped me at the gate.' The former couple share four children together which they are currently co-parenting; North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, two. Then, a new song by Kanye was leaked Friday that heard the rapper threatening to 'beat' Kim's boyfriend Pete, 28. Peace out: The Hulu reality star is doing her best to keep away from the drama, after estranged husband Kanye West kicked off over access to their children New interview: Kanye West reveals why he bought a house across the street from ex-wife Kim Kardashian: 'Nothing is gonna keep me from my children' The former couple share four children together which they are currently co-parenting; North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, three, and Psalm, two The next day, Kanye made claims that he wasn't invited by Kim to his daughter Chicago's fourth birthday bash - which was a joint celebration with her cousin Stormi Webster. He made an appearance on Saturday after he was given the location of the party by Travis Scott. The Heartless rapper then later threw his own celebrations for his daughter at 4pm at his office in Downtown Los Angeles. Meanwhile, it was reported that Kim has been 'upset' by Kanye's actions. The mother-of-four is said to be disputing Kanye's claims that he's been stopped from picking up and dropping off their kids at Kim's home. Away from the chaos: Kim and Kanye share four children together which they are currently co-parenting; North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, three, and Psalm, two Ignoring the drama: Kim looked the picture of bliss in her Monday Instagram, but in reality, the star has been dealing with chaos thanks to her ex Kanye West A source told PEOPLE: 'He just can no longer walk inside her home without her permission.' The insider noted that while many of Kanye's accusations are 'false', he wasn't allowed inside Kim's home on one particular day. However, she's rubbished the suggestion that Kanye was stopped 'from seeing the kids, picking them up or dropping them off.' The insider added: '[Kim] has a right to privacy and is trying to set healthy boundaries.' Kim - who filed for a divorce in early 2021 - 'only wants to protect her children and ensure they have a great relationship with both parents'. The source added: 'Kim wants the children to have a strong relationship with both parents and for him to respect the boundaries and structure she has put in place for them to have some predictability and consistency with their schedule.' She is known for her dangerous and unscientific views on vaccination. But influencer Kate Szepanowski put her debunked theories on the Covid pandemic to one side on Saturday and instead let her body do the talking. The 26-year-old anti-vaxxer flaunted her figure in an extremely revealing skintight dress, and ramped up the sex appeal by going underwear-free. Letting the body do the talking: Anti-vax 'influencer' Kate Szepanowski left little to the imagination on Saturday as she went underwear-free in a skintight dress with risque cut-outs The barely there frock left almost nothing to the imagination thanks to its two large cut-outs across the bust and midsection. The asymmetrical design also featured cut-out panels on the sides, revealing no trace of bra or knickers underneath the slinky navy number. It's not the first time Kate has worn an outrageous ensemble, as she rocked another risque dress while attending a party in November. Popping out: It's not the first time Kate has worn an outrageous ensemble, as she rocked another skin-baring dress while attending a party in November That skin-baring black frock featured a perilously high thigh split as well as various cut-outs, including a gaping open chest. On this occasion, Kate accessorised with a small black handbag, and her long blonde hair was styled loose in cascading waves. The Gold Coast socialite appeared heavily made up and perched a pair of sunglasses on top of her head, accessorising with bracelets. Controversial: The Gold Coast socialite is no stranger to controversy, regularly using her Instagram to promote anti-vax and Covid conspiracy theories Kate is the sister of fellow anti-vaxxer influencer Chloe Szepanowski, who faced backlash in August when she went shopping on the Gold Coast without a face mask at a time when they were mandatory in indoor spaces. Earlier that month, the 23-year-old social media star lost more than 6,000 fans after sharing a post supporting an anti-lockdown 'Freedom rally' protest. Meanwhile, Kate is no stranger to controversy herself, regularly using her Instagram to promote anti-vax and Covid conspiracy theories. 'This is why I would rather die than get that poison injected into me,' she captioned a picture of vaccine misinformation. After receiving criticism for her comments, Kate wrote on Instagram in November: 'This is your reminder to mind your own business and focus on you.' Sister act: Kate is the sister of fellow anti-vaxxer influencer Chloe Szepanowski (pictured), who faced backlash in August when she went shopping on the Gold Coast without a face mask at a time when they were mandatory in indoor spaces In August 2020, Kate uploaded a status to her Facebook page which read: 'Covid 19 = false news. NEXTTTTT.' A year later she was called out for applauding Denmark for lifting Covid lockdowns, without realising the country had opened up because of its high vaccination rate. Her post, originally uploaded by a Swedish journalist, read: 'HUGE NEWS: Denmark has announced they will be REMOVING all Covid restrictions including the Covid passport.' 'Smart country,' the Instagram star wrote beneath the image. This photo released by the U.S. Navy, shows U.S. service members conduct a boarding on a stateless fishing vessel transiting international waters in the Gulf of Oman as a rigid-hull inflatable boat and patrol coastal ship USS Chinook (PC 9) sail nearby, Jan. 18. AP-Yonhap The U.S. Navy announced Sunday it seized a boat in the Gulf of Oman carrying fertilizer used to make explosives that was caught last year smuggling weapons to Yemen. The British royal navy said it confiscated 1,041 kilograms (2,295 pounds) of illegal drugs in the same waters. The interdictions were just the latest in the volatile waters of the Persian Gulf as American and British authorities step up seizures of contraband during the grinding conflict in Yemen and ongoing drug trafficking in the region. The U.S. Navy's Mideast-based 5th Fleet said its guided-missile destroyer USS Cole and patrol ships halted and searched the sailboat, a stateless fishing dhow, that was sailing from Iran on a well-worn maritime arms smuggling route to war-ravaged Yemen last Tuesday. U.S. forces found 40 tons of urea fertilizer, known to be a key ingredient in homemade improvised explosive devices, hidden on board. Authorities said the vessel had been previously seized off the coast of Somalia and found last year to be loaded with thousands of assault rifles and rocket launchers, among other weapons. U.N. experts say weapons with such technical characteristics likely come from Iran to support the Houthi rebels. The Navy turned over the vessel, cargo and Yemeni crew to Yemen's coast guard earlier this week. Yemen is awash with small arms that have been smuggled into the country's poorly controlled ports over years of conflict. Since 2015, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have been battling a Saudi-led military coalition for control of the nation. Iran says it politically supports the rebels but denies arming them, despite evidence to the contrary. The smuggled weapons have helped the Houthis gain an edge against the Saudi-led coalition in the seven-year war. Violence has drastically escalated over the past week amid stalled international attempts at brokering peace. Following a deadly drone attack claimed by the rebels on Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi warplanes pounded the northern rebel-held province of Saada, hitting a prison and killing over 80 detainees. Officials also revealed Sunday that a British royal navy vessel had seized a large quantity of illegal drugs valued at some $26 million from a boat sailing through the Gulf of Oman on Jan. 15. The HMS Montrose confiscated 663 kilograms (1,461 pounds) of heroin, 87 kilograms (191 pounds) of methamphetamine and 291 kilograms (641 pounds) of hashish and marijuana, the joint maritime task force said in a statement. The task force did not elaborate on where the drugs came from, who manufactured them or their ultimate destination. But Iran over the last decade has seen an explosion in the use of methamphetamine, known locally as ''shisheh'' or ''glass'' in Farsi, which has bled into neighboring countries. (AP) Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription and are still unable to access our content, please link your digital account to your print subscription If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website at ladowntownnews.com/site/privacy.html By clicking to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. New Delhi: Seven people, apparently all Indian nationals without proper documentation have been detained in Minnesota State on the US side of the United States-Canada border in the case of alleged human smuggling along with a US citizen after four other persons, including an infant, also apparently Indian nationals, were found dead in the freezing cold on the Canadian side of the border earlier. India has sought consular access to the seven detained Indians even as Indian consular teams are coordinating with both US and Canadian authorities in the case. Sources on Saturday said, On January 19, US authorities in Minnesota State, near the US Canada border, came across a group of people who were apparently without proper documentation. Based on information obtained from them, Canadian authorities launched a search and found four bodies in Manitoba province on the Canadian side of the border. These four people (a man, a woman, a teenage boy, an infant) appeared to have died due to the cold. The people without proper documentation on the US side, as well as the deceased persons on the Canadian side, appear to be Indian nationals. However, further efforts are underway to identify them and confirm their nationalities. Post-mortem of the victims is likely to be carried out on January 24. Sources further said, US authorities have detained seven people without proper documentation, as well as one US citizen, for allegedly being involved in human smuggling activity from Canada to the US. One of them is still hospitalised due to cold-related injuries while earlier one more person had been hospitalised. On efforts by Indian diplomats on the matter in both Canada and the US, sources said, The Consulate General of India in Toronto immediately sent a consular team to Manitoba, which is now liaising with local authorities to render any consular help regarding the matter of the four deceased persons. The Consulate General as well as the High Commission in Ottawa are also in touch with Canadian provincial and federal authorities for ascertaining details of this tragedy. Sources added, On the US side, the Consulate General of India in Chicago has urgently sent a consular team to Minneapolis, which is now coordinating and rendering consular assistance. They have sought consular access to the detained persons. The Consulate and the Embassy in Washington D.C. are also in touch with US Department of Justice, and the US Customs and Border Police. Indian Missions and Posts will continue to extend all assistance. Reflecting the urgency of the matter, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar had earlier on Friday tweeted, Shocked by the report that four Indian nationals, including an infant, have lost their lives at the Canada-US border. Have asked our Ambassadors in the US and Canada to urgently respond to the situation. VIJAYAWADA: The YSRC has started a campaign to persuade government employees and teachers that the 11th Pay Revision Commission recommendations and other benefits given by the state work in their favour. Employees unions have announced their plans to go on strike from next month. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy instructed ministers, legislators and party leaders to explain to the staff the pro-employee stand of the YSRC government. The YSRC released a booklet carrying all details of the PRC to MPs, MLAs, MLCs and party leaders and contexting it with the financial condition of the state. The party leaders were instructed to meet employees and leaders of unions and associations and try and persuade them. Jagan Mohan Reddy instructed ministers to explain about the falling state revenues, decrease of tax share coming from the Centre, limits placed on borrowing, the Coronavirus-related impact on revenues and other problems that AP faces. The Chief Minister asked legislators to tell employees that the government had given them 27 per cent interim relief, costing Rs.17,900 crore, which it could have otherwise used for welfare schemes. The implementation of the PRC would cost the exchequer Rs.10,240 crore. He said that some people were trying to mislead employees by claiming that their salary would fall due to the 11 PRC. The PRC percentages were on par with what was in vogue in six states. The living standards had improved, hence the increase of the retirement age from 60 to 62 years would benefit the employees. Jagan Mohan Reddy said the government was allotting 10 per cent in Smart townships and giving a 20 per cent discount to the employees. He said the YSRC government had given permanent employment to 1.28 lakh persons in its first year in power. We have integrated RTC personnel in the government. The salaries of Asha workers, sanitation workers, anganwadi workers and village assistant officers have all been increased, he said and asked party leaders to tell government employees not to fall in the trap of TD president N. Chandrababu Naidu. The Chief Minister said that the government had not field cases on employees for holding protests it wanted to resolve the issues through consultations. HYDERABAD: As the Central government has approved several projects in Telangana, the information technology minister K. T. Rama Rao requested the Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to allocate Rs 5,000 crore funds to the state in the ensuing Budget to set up the projects in the state. The minister wrote to Nirmala Sitharaman explaining the projects being taken up by the state government and their capacity in providing jobs to lakhs of people in Telangana. Rama Rao said the worlds largest pharmaceutical cluster was being developed by the Telangana government with an objective of promoting domestic manufacturing and exports of pharmaceuticals in line with the Make in India" initiative of the Union government. "The project has received the final approval for National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) status from the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT). In various meetings in the department, Hyderabad Pharma City has been recognised as a project of national importance," Rama Rao said. He further stated that the Telangana government had already constituted Hyderabad Pharma City Limited and initiated the implementation of Phase-1 (in sub-phases). "The project has received overwhelming response from both domestic and global companies to set up manufacturing units. Overall investment potential of the project is estimated to be around Rs 64,000 crore with a capacity of generation of 5.6 lakh jobs direct and indirect," the IT minister said. Rama Rao requested the Union finance minister to consider extending financial support to the projection of the following items as per the NIMZ scheme guidelines. Detailed project report (DPR) and a financial feasibility report were already submitted to the department. He reiterated that Hyderabad Pharma City promised to position India as the global manufacturing hub for pharmaceuticals. For a project of this nature, it was imperative to have strong support from the Centre, he said. KTR seeks Centres aid for National Design Centre The Telangana government is setting up the first National Design Centre (NDC) in Hyderabad. The government is not setting up a new greenfield campus for NDC, instead, we are now planning to take up some space in the existing building of National Academy of Construction (NAC) for starting the NDC activities, said K. T. Rama Rao. He requested the Union finance minister's support for the initial capital expenditure mainly towards making the NDC functional through interior works, lab equipment and machinery, IT infrastructure and consultation expenses. The cost-sharing by the state government in operational expenditure will be in addition to the rent advantage that the state government has been able to obtain from NAC for renting the premises at Rs 28 per sq. ft. instead of Rs 43 per sq. ft. per month for the 14,000 sq. ft. space being considered for NDC operations. Fundings for industrial corridors The Union government must consider including the Hyderabad - Warangal and Hyderabad - Nagpur industrial corridors by NICDIT and for considering funding initially two nodes such as the Hyderabad Pharma City (HPC) and National Industrial Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ), Zaheerabad, requested IT minister K. T. Rama Rao on Sunday. According to him, the SPVs for both the nodes are in place and the required land is already acquired, the estimated project cost for taking infrastructure development in these two nodes is about Rs 3,000 crore and Rs 2,000 crore respectively. The IT minister requested the Union finance minister to include the budget to the extent of at least Rs 2,000 crores for each of the nodes under Hyderabad -Warangal, Hyderabad -Nagpur and additional nodes at Mancherial in the budget estimates for 2022-23. Inclusion of Hyd in defence corridors sought There are two Defence Industrial Production Corridors proposed in the Union Budget 2018-19. The Telangana IT minister requested the Union finance minister to consider including Hyderabad in the proposed Defence Industrial Production Corridor to augment and support the growth of defence manufacturing from Telangana. Telangana is strategically located in the centre of the country and home to several public sector defence enterprises. In Adilabad, the TRS, the CPI and the CPI(M) have joined hands to protest against the Centres huge delay in reviving the Adilabad unit of the Cement Corporation of India (CCI). Minister K.T. Rama Rao had appealed to the Centre to revive the unit while extending help from the state government for the purpose. Twitter Adilabad: TRS and Left parties activists have started working together on the ground to counter the BJP on public issues, after Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Raos meeting with communist leaders and talk of a Opposition alliance against the saffron party. While the TRS is likely to use the Left parties forums to fight against the BJP, the communist parties are desperate to regain their past glory even if it to some extent. It said that leaders of both parties were of the opinion that their political interests and survival lie in working together against the BJP. In Adilabad, the TRS, the CPI and the CPI(M) have joined hands to protest against the Centres huge delay in reviving the Adilabad unit of the Cement Corporation of India (CCI). Minister K.T. Rama Rao had appealed to the Centre to revive the unit while extending help from the state government for the purpose. A CCI Sadhana Committee (CSC) has been formed with D. Mallesh of the CPI(M) as convener and co-convenors Arun Kumar (CPI), Vijjagiri Narayana (TRS), Nandi Ramaiah (CPI (ML-New Democracy)), R. Ramesh (BSP) and Munigela Narsing of the Congress. Investigation report aimed at correcting mistakes behind Henan flood, praised for people-centered approach of CPC 13:00, January 23, 2022 By Liu Xin ( Global Times After a half-year investigation, a team entrust by China's central authorities released a full report on the enquiry into the deadly downpours and flooding in Henan Province that left nearly 400 people dead of missing. The thorough investigation and 46-page report, overseen by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council, dug deep into both the natural and human factors behind the disaster and casualties, and also made specific and forceful requirements for correcting the local government's malpractice and officials' dereliction of duty that had worsened the losses. The unprecedented report, full of details, won unanimous applause from netizens for the depth and transparency of the investigation, with some saying they were moved into tears for the candid and responsible attitude and respect for human lives shown in the report toward reflecting on the tragedy. The investigation team is comprised of professional personnel from multiple State Council agencies including the Ministry of Emergency Management, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Health, among others. The team also published a long list of questions and answers to elaborate on the investigation report. It's the first time that the country has organized such large-scale and comprehensive investigation over a natural disaster in order to clear up loopholes in emergency management. It showcased China has put people's interests first - nothing is more precious than people's lives - and is also a warning to local governments to pay more attention in potential risks and enhance emergency managements to avoid similar disasters, analysts said. The investigation laid the basis for pursuing accountability of officials. Along with the report on Friday was news on Zhengzhou Party chief Xu Liyi's demotion and punishment on 97 people who failed their responsibilities in the flooding. From July 17 to 23, 2021, Central China's Henan Province was hit by rare heavy rains and severe floods. Its capital city Zhengzhou suffered heavy casualties and property damage. A total of 14.78 million people in 150 counties and districts in the province were affected, and 398 people were dead or missing, with 380 in Zhengzhou alone. President Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, on multiple occasions has instructed authorities at all levels to give top priority to people's safety and property. The officials were also ordered to carefully and strictly implement the flood prevention and disaster relief measures. Approved by the CPC Central Committee, the State Council in August established an investigation team to assess the local response to the devastating flood. According to the report released Friday, the disaster started with extreme rains which led to severe urban waterlogging, floods, landslides and other disasters. Some local officials in Zhengzhou failed to pay enough attention to the risk at hand and came short on implementing the city's emergency system. Local officials and residents, the report continues, seriously lacked knowledge on how to avert the disaster. Their lax response caused casualties in the Zhengzhou subway and a road tunnel, which should have been avoided, according to the report. Authorities have written previous reports on major events that jeopardized safety. But the report on the deadly downpour in Henan is the first time that China has conducted a national-level and comprehensive investigation into a natural disaster, Wang Hongwei, a professor from the Renmin University of China's school of public administration and policy, told the Global Times. The complexity of the disasters in Zhengzhou lays bare the importance of havinga clear picture - multiple nature disasters, including urban waterlogging, flooding and geological hazards combined with human error. The loopholes in dealing with extreme disasters in Zhengzhou may also be found in other cities, and with climate change and a possible increase in extreme disasters, it is urgent for local governments to learn such lessons and keep alert, Wang said. The report also details how a delayed alerting system made the city miss the crucial period of organizing emergency responses as the heavy rainstorm raged. For example, the emergency management bureau in Zhengzhou had not started the I-level - a serious level of emergency response - even after four red alerts from meteorological department. As the officials hesitated whether to announce an emergency, tragedy had already happened. According to the report, departments at different levels in Henan were found reporting false numbers of missing people in different phases and blocking the reporting process. From July 25 to 29, 2021, Zhengzhou and affiliated counties concealed and unreported 116 missing people. The investigation team found that 41 people were unreported in Zhengzhou. The report also reviewed the incidents that were widely discussed in the public, especially the great casualties in the Zhengzhou subways, tunnels, the dam in Guojiaju being overtopped and the mountain torrents in a village in Xingyang. During the heavy downpours on July 20, 2021, flood water inundated Line 5 of the Zhengzhou Metro, one of the busiest lines in the city, forcing the train to stop between Shakou Road Station and Haitansi Station. More than 500 passengers were trapped in the waters for nearly four hours. The Jingguang Tunnel was also flooded, with many vehicles trapped. The local officials' lack of swift response exacerbated a disaster that otherwise could have been avoided, the report said. Wang noted that the report is the basis to hold officials accountable for their malpractices and it can also be seen as a warning to local officials to fully implement policies and change their working concepts and enhance capability in avoiding risks and dealing with emergencies. Xu Liyi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China's Henan Provincial Committee and Zhengzhou's Party chief, was demoted and given disciplinary punishment. This came after the investigation found that he failed his duties during the disaster. Police detained eight people for suspected criminal responsibilities in the disaster and will pursue charges against them. In addition, 89 people holding public posts were punished with Party discipline and administrative penalties. The report pointed out that the major lesson from the disaster is that some leaders, especially those who shoulder chief responsibilities, lacked risk awareness and bottom-line thinking. In reflecting on the lessons learned from the Henen foods, the investigation report quoted President Xi Jinping's previous speech on improving awareness to potential risks during his seminars with officials on provincial and higher levels in the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. "We would rather hear people complain over preventive measures than hear them cry during disasters," Xi said, demanding the officials to fully implement measures that put people's lives first. President Xi had also emphasized for many times that a city - from planning, building, to governance - should put priority on safety. The report noted that Zhengzhou did not have enough prevention measures and had many problems, which ensued during the fast development of the city. For example, compared with other cities with the same scale, Zhengzhou had 2,400 kilometers of storm sewer pipelines, only half of other cities. The facilities to drain waterlogging in subways, tunnels and other places in the city were also lacking. All these problems reflected the deflection on the concept of political achievements and on overly implementing development ideals, which failed to manage development and security, according to the report. Experts said this could be the start for many cities to enhance safety and risk management, after so many years of fast development. The report urged greatly improving the officials' awareness to risks and capability in dealing with emergencies, setting mechanisms with leaders of the Party committees and governments taking full responsibilities, having reforms on management systems on emergency, promoting alerting and response systems, enhancing cities' capability in preventing and decreasing disasters, and strengthening the whole society's awareness to risks and capability in self-rescue. The investigation was done because the disaster was massive. It exposed many problems that the Party, the people and history should know. It offers lessons in fixing loopholes in dealing with emergencies, the Xinhua News Agency cited a person responsible for the investigation team. Ordering the report shows the people-centered philosophy of the CPC Central Committee. It values the safety of people and their property. The report will also help modernize the management and governance of the country and enhance capability in dealing with disasters, said the person responsible for the investigation team. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) Mr P. Chidambaram widely known as PC is someone I have known for long, and with whom I share a personal regard and affection. I am constrained, however, to publicly set the record straight with regard to an important interaction with him, which is a matter of public interest. In the last week, PC has appeared on several TV channels, and other media platforms, to say that the Congress party did not receive a concrete offer for an alliance from the TMC with regard to the ongoing Goa Assembly elections. This, as I will endeavour to argue, is far from the truth. On December 24, 2021, I sent, in my capacity as national vice-president of the TMC, a message to PC for a meeting to discuss an urgent and important proposal. He was gracious enough to give me time that very day, and I met him at 1.30 pm at his residence in Lodi Estate. In that meeting I put forward to him the concrete proposal for an alliance between the TMC and the Congress. I made the point that Opposition unity is of the greatest importance, and that both parties need to set aside any past misunderstandings, grievances and misgivings, and rise to the occasion unitedly, thereby demonstrating the required strategic flexibility to meet the common and focused goal of defeating the BJP. I further said that our internal surveys show that if both parties join hands, we would, indeed, be able to achieve that goal. In response, PC told me that a decision in this matter is beyond my level, and that he would have to inform his partys leadership. One would have assumed that as a former Union finance and home minister, and one of the senior-most leaders of the Congress party, PC would have, as the Goa in charge, be able to himself take a view in the matter. But be that as it may, PC took the proposal to Rahul Gandhi, and called me next day to say that he had done so. He further told me that RGs response was that the two principals of the parties Mamata Banerjee and Sonia Gandhi needed to directly communicate with each other to proceed further. The two principals did do that. Sonia Gandhi response to Mamata Banerjee as I learnt from impeccable sources within my party, and is something on record was that she would have to consult with her senior leaders before taking a final decision on the proposal. Rahul Gandhi was abroad by this time, and no response was forthcoming. I spoke more than once with PC on the need for a timely reply. Finally, once RG returned, I told PC that now at least he should try and expedite a response from the principal of his party. None ever came. For PC to say later that his party had not received a concrete offer from the TMC, is, therefore, to put it bluntly, an untruth. If there was no such concrete proposal, why would he have taken it to his leadership, both verbally, and in the form of a written note, as he himself informed me? Why would the Congress have wanted the proposal to be discussed at the highest levels of the two parties? Why would the two principals have communicated with each other? The truth is that this was as concrete a proposal as there can be. Details such as seat sharing, and other modalities of fighting the election in alliance, would have followed, should the Congress have agreed. The fact is that Mamata Banerjee, rising above narrow party considerations, sought to strengthen and unify the Opposition space against the BJP, and the Congress said no. It is true that there were grievances in both parties. The Congress, reportedly, was unhappy at what it called the poaching of Congress leaders and workers in Goa by the TMC. I had tried to explain to PC that when Congress members, disillusioned with their partys performance, including in 2017 when the bulk of its MLAs migrated to the BJP, wish to voluntarily join a more robust Opposition party, it cannot be called poaching. Equally, the TMC too had serious reservations on Congress conduct. In the West Bengal Assembly elections last year, the Congress fought against the TMC, even when it was aware of the need to defeat the BJP which had deployed all its strength and resources to come to power. Adhir Ranjan Choudhary of the Congress, who is the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had mounted a personal and abusive attack on Mamata Banerjee, and his partys leadership did not think it advisable to restrain him. The fact of the matter is that Mamata Banerjee, overarching past acrimonies and differences, had the vision and the courage of conviction to make a plea for greater Opposition unity, while the Congress remained marooned in its self-created silo. It cannot be the Congress case that no other Opposition party can have the audacity to enter a space that the Congress considers its birthright. In a democracy, all political parties can strive to expand their footprint, and the TMC, indeed, has the avowed goal of emerging as the principal Opposition to the BJP. If the Congress thinks that it is its ordained right to usurp this role, then it must seriously introspect. Since 2012, till now, the Congress, with its present organisation and leadership, has lost over 90 per cent of the elections it has fought against the BJP. If, on a verifiable basis, it has not been able to effectively play its role as the principal Opposition party, and shows little signs of changing, it cannot be its case that no other leader or party should dare to do so. Our country today needs an effective and robust Opposition to counter the anti-people, regressive and divisive policies of the BJP. So long as the Opposition is fractured and ineffective, the BJP will continue to have a walk-over. It is the TMCs intention to change this state of affairs. It was in that spirit that the party had made the offer to the Congress to form an alliance in Goa, and if the Congress had agreed, it could have been a template for similar cooperation nationally as well. Alas, the Congress did not see the logic of this proposal, and with due apologies to Mr Chidambaran, mistook the concrete for the ephemeral. Pakistan was conceived as a geographical entity with an Islamic identity. Its founding leaders were helped by the fact that the departing British and their American cousins understood early the strategic significance of Pakistans geographical location. Located southeast of the Soviet Union, southwest of China, west of India, east of Iran and the Arab states and at the head of the Arabian Sea, West Pakistan was geo-strategically blessed throughout the Cold War era. It first became a military ally of the United States and then enjoyed the benefits of a menage-a-trois during Americas honeymoon with China. The loss of the eastern flank in 1971 coincided with the increased importance of the western flanks geo-strategic importance during the US-China entente cordiale and the subsequent US War on Terror. Little wonder then that the recently published National Security Policy of Pakistan 2022-2026 (NSPP) repeatedly uses the term geo-strategic, to underline the continued relevance of Pakistan to its region and to the world. The world, however, is rapidly changing. The Americans retreat from Afghanistan, the Russia-China condominium in Eurasia, the emerging new equations in West Asia and Indias own rise, even if it has faltered more recently, have combined to reduce Pakistans geopolitical relevance to the Big Powers. The influence recently acquired in Afghanistan is a mixed blessing for Pakistan. Indeed, the return of the Taliban to power next door could exacerbate Pakistans internal security threats arising out of Islamic radicalism, terrorism and violent sub-nationalisms, as the NSPP states. So, how does Pakistan reinvent the relevance of its geography and boost its national security given the emerging multipolar balance of power system? In the words of Moeed Yusuf, Pakistans national security adviser, the NSPP offers a geo-economic paradigm that supplements its geo-strategic approach. The essence of this geo-economic paradigm consists in positioning Pakistan as an economic link between Eurasia and maritime Asia (West Asia and Southeast Asia), Africa and Europe. Our geo-economically pivotal location, the NSPP declares, in an economically and strategically relevant region affords Pakistan the ability to offer itself as a melting pot of regional and global economic interests through connectivity initiatives. Elsewhere, the document says: Pakistans location at the crossroads of historic confluence provides unique opportunities amidst regional and global competition, especially as a hub for connecting important economic and resource-rich regions. If during the Cold War era and during the War on Terror Pakistan had used its geography as a military ally of the Big Powers, in the emerging multipolar world it seeks to deploy its geography as an economic hub. Pakistans geo-economic pivot, says the NSPP is focused on enhancing trade and economic ties through connectivity that links Central Asia to our warm waters. The authors of the NSPP want Pakistan to take advantage of its geo-economically pivotal location to operate as a production, trade and investment and connectivity hub for our wider region to strengthen our economic security. However, to be able to make use of this geo-economic opportunity, says the NSPP, Pakistan has to modernise its economy and invest in the education and welfare of its people. Many are unaware today that till the 1980s Pakistans economy had outperformed Indias. Indias economic rise really began in the 1980s, while Pakistan consistently fell behind over the next two decades. While it saw an improvement in its economic fortunes during the years that Gen. Pervez Musharraf was in power, there has been a downward slide since then. For this reason, the NSPP states clearly that Pakistans vital national security interests are best served by placing economic security as the core element of national security. The document seeks an improvement in Pakistans external economic balances and a reduction on both inter-class and inter-regional inequalities within the country. The policy focus is on offering Pakistan as a base for foreign investment, presumably by China, the West Asian states, European Union nations and other capital surplus economies. Fiscal reform, the ease of doing business and investments in the skilling of the local population aimed at increasing inward remittances through the export of skilled labour figure prominently in the NSPPs to-do list. The NSPP has several other policy recommendations in the areas of economic and defence policy, information technology, space and cyber capability, the blue economy, shipbuilding and so on. While the NSPP makes all the expected statements about India that would naturally irritate Indian readers, it should be clear to both the documents authors and its readers that Pakistan cannot operationalise its proposed geo-economic pivot without establishing stable and good relations with India. For this reason, the NSPP could be viewed as an indication of new thinking in Pakistan on relations with India, and not dismissed as old wine in new bottles, as some have done. The document is candid in its admission of the internal security challenges facing Pakistan. Indeed, they are no different from Indias own internal security challenges, shaped by poor governance, lack of economic opportunities, threats ranging from sectarianism, violent sub-nationalism, extremism, narcotics and organised crime and terrorism. While India points fingers at Pakistan over cross-border terrorism, with some solid evidence, the NSPP does a tit-for-tat without evidence. Interestingly, while the NSPP has received much attention in India, with several policy analysts commenting on it, in Pakistan itself there have been many critics. The highly regarded Pakistani journalist Najam Sethi has dismissed the document as an under-graduates term paper. Whatever the merits and drawbacks, the Imran Khan government should be complimented for producing a medium-term vision for the country that is focused on national economic development as a route to enhanced national security. The government has made the summary document public, perhaps partly to please creditor nations and institutions to whom Pakistan is at present heavily indebted. It wants them to know that their dollars, riyal and yuan will be put to good use. Indias National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) had also produced a national security strategy paper as early as in 2000. This columnist wrote its chapter on economic security. Alas, successive governments have kept it and subsequent papers of the NSAB under wraps. India too deserves an informed debate on what policies would enhance national security and what are in fact harming it. Members of Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces, volunteer military units of the Armed Forces, train in a city park in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP/Efrem Lukatsky) LONDON: The British government on Saturday accused Russia of seeking to replace Ukraines government with a pro-Moscow administration, and said former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate. Murayev is head of the small pro-Russian party Nashi, which currently has no seats in Ukraines parliament. Britains Foreign Office named several other Ukrainian politicians it said had links with Russian intelligence services. Its unclear what means Britain believes Russia might use to install a friendly government in Kyiv. The U.K. government made the claim based on an intelligence assessment, without providing evidence to back it up. It comes amid a war of words between Moscow and the West over Russias designs on Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the information shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking. Truss urged Russia to de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy, and reiterated Britains view that any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs. Britain has sent anti-tank weapons to Ukraine as part of efforts to bolster its defenses against a potential Russian attack. Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis, U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to meet Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for talks in Moscow. No timing has been given for the meeting, which would be the first U.K.-Russia bilateral defense talks since 2013. The U.S. has mounted an aggressive campaign in recent months to unify its European allies against a new Russian invasion of Ukraine. The White House called the U.K. government assessment deeply concerning and said it stands with the duly elected Ukrainian government. This kind of plotting is deeply concerning, said National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne. The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine. The assessment came as President Joe Biden spent Saturday at the presidential retreat Camp David outside of Washington huddling with his senior national security team about the Ukraine situation. A White House official said the discussions included efforts to de-escalate the situation with diplomacy and deterrence measures being coordinated closely with allies and partners, including security assistance to Ukraine. In another development, the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania plan to send U.S.-made anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, a move that the United States fully endorsed Saturday amid Kyivs escalating tensions with Russia. The defense ministers of the three Baltic states said in a joint statement that they stand united in our commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in face of continued Russian aggression. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a tweet that Washington saluted the NATO nations and former Soviet republics for their longstanding support to Ukraine. I expedited and authorized and we fully endorse transfers of defensive equipment @NATO Allies Estonia Latvia Lithuania are providing to Ukraine to strengthen its ability to defend itself against Russias unprovoked and irresponsible aggression, Blinken said in another tweet. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier this week described the West supplying arms to Ukraine as extremely dangerous and said the shipments do nothing to reduce tensions. Moscow has massed tens of thousands of troops near the Russia-Ukraine border, leading to fears of an invasion. The West has rejected Moscows main demands promises from NATO that Ukraine will never be added as a member, that no alliance weapons will be deployed near Russian borders, and that it will pull back its forces from Central and Eastern Europe. A meeting Friday between Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ended with no breakthrough. Amid the uncertain security situation, the U.S. State Department has been considering a range of options to ensure the safety and security of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv and its employees by moving to reduce its diplomatic presence there. The defense ministers of the Baltic states said in their statement that Estonia would provide Javelin anti-tank weapons while Latvia and Lithuania were sending Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and other related equipment to bolster Kyivs defensive military capabilities. It wasnt immediately clear when the weapons and equipment would be sent to Ukraine. Today, Ukraine is at the forefront of separating Europe from the military conflict with Russia. Lets face it, the war in Ukraine is ongoing and it is important to support Ukraine in every way we can so that they can resist the aggressor, Estonian Defense Minister Kalle Laanet said. Estonia also is seeking Germanys approval to send Soviet-made howitzers, which once belonged to East Germany, to Ukraine. Estonia acquired the howitzers from non-NATO member Finland, which in turn had bought them from Germanys military surplus supply in the 1990s. The German government said Friday that it was considering Estonias request to pass the howitzers on to Ukraine but gave no timeline for a decision. Berlin said it planned to coordinate the issue with Finland, which has received a similar approval request from Estonia. Berlin routinely demands a say when German-sold weapons are transferred to third countries. But some recent media reports suggested German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Cabinet could block Estonias transfer of weapons to Kyiv, highlighting divisions in the Wests response to the Ukraine crisis. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba alleged Saturday that Germany was not showing adequate support for Ukraine. Kuleba said in a Twitter post that the weapons transfer issue and remarks by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressing skepticism about cutting off Russia from the SWIFT global payments system do not correspond to the level of our relations and the current security situation. Also Saturday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador to object to recently circulated video in which the head of the German navy said that Ukraine would not regain the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin deserved respect. The comments by vice admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach sparked consternation and a swift rebuke back in Berlin. By late Saturday, the German navy chief had tendered his resignation, saying he wanted to prevent further damage resulting from his ill-considered statements in India. The U.S. State Department is currently warning U.S. citizens not to visit Ukraine due to the coronavirus pandemic but is also advising them to reconsider travel there due to potential Russian aggression. Speculation that an announcement about the U.S. diplomatic presence in Ukraine may be imminent has increased since the embassy in Kyiv announced it would hold a virtual town hall meeting about the security situation with U.S. citizens in Ukraine on Tuesday. Discussions on the matter have been underway for some time, but Blinken went over the contingency plans with the embassys security team when he visited Kyiv on Wednesday, officials said. The officials stressed that no decisions had yet been made and that an outright evacuation is not being considered. One possible scenario would be to order the families of American personnel to leave the country while allowing non-essential staffers to depart voluntarily at government expense, they said. Last-minute defections and seat-sharing alliances are the order of the day in the five states that are bound for polls. With the Election Commission of India extending the ban on physical rallies till January 31, political parties are leaving no stone unturned in reaching out to voters. The SP is holding multiple virtual rallies every day, while senior BJP leader Amit Shah hit the road for a door-to-door campaign to woo voters. Stay tuned on DH for the latest updates. Ahead of the Union Budget, India Inc has urged state governments to lift restrictions on economic activity, given that the occupancy rate of hospital beds due to the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is well within the manageable level. Industry body CII has also requested that the government encourage the industry to deploy CSR funding towards providing precautionary shots to the community. It said the industry is ready to contribute an additional 1 per cent under the CSR to the national vaccination mission, apart from the mandated 2 per cent. Hospitalization rates in the present wave stand at manageable levels and therefore, industry feels that Covid-related restrictions can be removed to enable the robust recovery process to continue, said T V Narendran, President, CII. "In line with the Prime Ministers guidance to state governments to undertake restrictions where required at a localised level, CII has written to state Chief Ministers to consider curbs at micro containment zones only when hospitalization rates are over 75 per cent. With a lower level of hospitalizations seen in the Omicron variant, it is possible to maintain normal economic activities and protect lives and livelihoods," he said. CII suggests that 1 per cent of mandated CSR funds be earmarked for vaccination. We also recommend that an additional 1 per cent be added to CSR requirements in the Budget, for a specified period of 12 months, so that boosters can be made available to all age-groups, the body said. "In fact, our recommendation has been that if companies spend on vaccines for their employees, their families and members of the community, then that expense can be set off against this additional CSR spend. Besides the government provided boosters, the market mechanism should also be made to work for people, who can afford to pay for their booster shots. We have to understand that vaccines are the best stimulus that the government can make available for preserving livelihoods, he said. The industry has also urged that the investments under National Infrastructure Pipeline and Gati Shakti program must be fast-tracked. CII has written to state Chief Ministers with suggestions regarding the level of curbs on markets and factories. One, social and economic activities need to be considered separately. Social activities, in particular mass gatherings for any social, sports, entertainment, recreation, etc. purposes, should be restricted in general to curtail the spread of the Omicron variant. Two, containment strategy based on micro containment zones. These are small, clearly marked geographical areas identified and demarcated by district administrations, such as mohallas, neighbourhoods, villages, talukas, urban bodies, pin-codes, etc. to monitor and manage the outbreak. Three, a key recommendation is to use a combination of vaccination rate, hospitalization incidence and sero-prevalence, if available, to determine the level of restrictions in the micro containment zones. According to CII, containment at micro zones should be considered only when available hospital beds are 75 per cent occupied. Normal economic activities should continue until this level is breached in a microzone and anyway should be permitted in the rest of the district. Four, even in micro containment zones, all factories may be allowed to function under certain conditions of hygiene and safety. There should be no distinction between essential and non-essential goods and services. All shops may be permitted to open without restrictions on timing to avoid crowding at certain times. However, crowd control is essential to enable social distancing. Watch the latest DH Videos here: A senior journalist who worked with a Kannada daily was killed in a freak accident when a truck overturned on him near Town Hall in the city on Sunday afternoon, police said. Gangadhar Murthy (49) was on his way to his office on his motorbike when the tragedy occurred, police said. They said the truck driver had lost control of the vehicle and crashed against a road divider. The driver fled the spot after the accident. Murthy was rushed to the Victoria Hospital but he could not be saved. The journalist is survived by his wife and two children. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani and Higher Education Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan have condoled Murthy's demise Watch the latest DH Videos here: Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday targeted Akhilesh Yadav, saying for the Samajwadi Party chief IT stands for ''Income from Terror", and mafias like Mukhtar Ansari, Atiq Ahmed and Nahid Hasan are its "brand ambassadors". Thakur on Saturday started the party's placard publicity campaign at Hazratganj crossing in the state capital. Speaking to reporters here, Thakur said, "IT means Income from Terror. Mafias like Mukhtar Ansari, Yunus Ansari, Atiq Ahmed and Nahid Hasan are its brand ambassadors. It was the result of their (mafia) terror that the real 'IT', meaning Information Technology, companies did not come to UP." Also Read | Development, good governance, nationalism BJP's agenda for polls: Adityanath "However, under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, the BJP government in the past five years gave jobs to lakhs of youth in the Information Technology without any discrimination or corruption. And, UP is now being recognised as an IT hub. After action was initiated against the criminals and mafia, the IT of the 'Income from Terror' of Akhilesh was driven away," Thakur said. He also said that the work done by the team of Yogi Adityanath and frontline workers is being praised throughout the world. To a question on virtual rallies of the Samajwadi Party, Thakur said, "Akhilesh Yadav does not know the meaning of virtual and he talks about distributing laptops." The Union minister also exuded confidence that the BJP will again form the government in the state. Five placards on various issues were also displayed during the campaign, the UP BJP said in a statement. Thakur said that workers will go from house to house and tell the voters about the achievements of the BJP government. Check out the latest videos from DH: A 'Third Front' comprising All India Majli-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and two other outfits, Jan Adhikar Party and Bharat Mukti Morcha, was formed in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. The 'Third Front', called the 'Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha', proposed two chief ministers and three deputy chief ministers in the state if it formed the next government in Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. Announcing the formation of the Morcha, AIMIM president Asauddin Owaisi said here that the two chief ministers would be from the Dalit and OBC communities while three deputy chief ministers would include members from the Muslim community. He said that the Morcha would field its nominees on all the 403 seats in the state. Former UP minister and OBC leader Babu Singh Kushwah, who headed the Jan Adhikar Party, said that the next Assembly polls would witness a direct contest between the Morcha and the BJP. Bharat Mukti Morcha president Vaman Meshram said that some smaller outfits had approached them and expressed their desire to join the Morcha. "Our doors are open to all like-minded parties," he added. Owaisi had earlier also tried to form a Bhagidari Morcha with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Suheldev Bharitya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar but was spurned by SP president Akhilesh Yadav. Owaisi had then announced his party's nominees on several seats in the western UP region which would go to the polls in the first phase of polling on February 10. Check out latest DH videos here The British government has accused Russia of seeking to replace Ukraine's government with a pro-Moscow administration, and said former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate. Murayev is head of the small pro-Russian party Nashi, which currently has no seats in Ukraine's parliament. Britain's Foreign Office named several other Ukrainian politicians it said had links with Russian intelligence services. It's unclear what means Britain believes Russia might use to install a friendly government in Kyiv. The UK government made the claim based on an intelligence assessment, without providing evidence to back it up. It comes amid a war of words between Moscow and the West over Russia's designs on Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the information "shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking." Truss urged Russia to "de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy," and reiterated Britain's view that "any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs." Also Read Baltic nations to ship Washington-endorsed arms to Ukraine Britain has sent anti-tank weapons to Ukraine as part of efforts to bolster its defences against a potential Russian attack. Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis, UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to meet Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu for talks in Moscow. No timing has been given for the meeting, which would be the first UK-Russia bilateral defence talks since 2013. The US has mounted an aggressive campaign in recent months to unify its European allies against a new Russian invasion of Ukraine. The White House called the UK government assessment "deeply concerning" and said it stands with the duly elected Ukrainian government. "This kind of plotting is deeply concerning," said National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne. "The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine." The Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania plan to send US-made anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, a move that the United States fully endorsed Saturday amid Kyiv's escalating tensions with Russia. The defence ministers of the three Baltic states said in a joint statement that they "stand united in our commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in face of continued Russian aggression." US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a tweet that Washington saluted the NATO nations and former Soviet republics "for their longstanding support to Ukraine." "I expedited and authorized and we fully endorse transfers of defensive equipment @NATO Allies Estonia Latvia Lithuania are providing to Ukraine to strengthen its ability to defend itself against Russia's unprovoked and irresponsible aggression," he said in another tweet. Also Read Russia toughens its posture amid Ukraine tensions Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier this week described the West supplying arms to Ukraine as extremely dangerous and said the shipments do nothing to reduce tensions." Moscow has massed troops near the Russia-Ukraine border, leading to fears of an invasion. The West has rejected Moscow's main demands promises from NATO that Ukraine will never be added as a member, that no alliance weapons will be deployed near Russian borders, and that it will pull back its forces from Central and Eastern Europe. A meeting on Friday between Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ended with no breakthrough. The defence ministers of the Baltic states said that Estonia would provide Javelin anti-tank weapons while Latvia and Lithuania were sending Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and other related equipment to bolster Kyiv's defensive military capabilities. "Today, Ukraine is at the forefront of separating Europe from the military conflict with Russia. Let's face it, the war in Ukraine is ongoing and it is important to support Ukraine in every way we can so that they can resist the aggressor," Estonian Defense Minister Kalle Laanet said. Estonia is seeking Germany's approval to send Soviet-made howitzers, which once belonged to East Germany, to Ukraine. Estonia acquired the howitzers from non-NATO member Finland, which, in turn, had bought them from Germany's military surplus supply in the 1990s. Germany said Friday it was considering Estonia's request to pass the howitzers on to Ukraine. Berlin routinely demands a say when German-sold weapons are transferred to third countries. But some recent media reports suggested German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Cabinet could block Estonia's transfer of weapons to Kyiv. Also Read Where Ukraine's sunflowers once sprouted, fears now grow Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba alleged Germany was not showing adequate support for Ukraine. Also Saturday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador to object to the recently circulated video in which the head of the German navy said that Ukraine would not regain the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and that Putin deserved "respect". The comments by vice admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach sparked consternation and a swift rebuke in Berlin. By late Saturday, the German navy chief had tendered his resignation, saying he wanted to prevent further damage resulting from his "ill-considered statements" in India. The US State Department is currently warning US citizens not to visit Ukraine due to the pandemic but is also advising them to reconsider travel there due to potential Russian aggression. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Burkina Faso's government denied that the army had seized control of the country on Sunday after exchanges of gunfire took place at multiple army barracks, including two in the capital. "Information on social media would have people believe there was an army takeover," government spokesman Alkassoum Maiga said in a statement. "The government, while recognising the validity of shootings in some barracks, denies this information and calls on the population to remain calm." Read more: 13 civilians killed in Burkina Faso attacks The gunfire came after a day after clashes between police and demonstrators during banned protests against the authorities' failure to stem the jihadist violence ravaging the West African country. It also follows the arrest earlier this month of numerous soldiers over a suspected plot to "destabilise institutions" in the West African country, which has a long history of coups. "Since 1 am, gunfire has been heard here in Gounghin coming from the Sangoule Lamizana camp," said a soldier in the district on Ouagadougou's western outskirts on Sunday. Residents there also spoke of "increasingly heavy fire". Shots were also heard at another military camp, Baby Sy, in the south of the capital, and at an air base near the airport, military sources said. There was also gunfire at barracks in northern towns of Kaya and Ouahigouya, residents there told AFP. The gunfire follows the country's most recent protests against intractable jihadist bloodshed. Police used tear gas to disperse protesters in rallies across the country on Saturday, arresting dozens. The authorities earlier in the week said they were banning the protests for security reasons. Security sources reported that two soldiers were killed after their vehicle drove over a makeshift bomb in the north on Saturday. In Kaya, residents told AFP that protesters had stormed the headquarters of the ruling party. Groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have plagued the landlocked Sahel nation since 2015, killing about 2,000 people, according to an AFP tally. Attacks targeting civilians and soldiers have become increasing frequent -- and are largely concentrated in the country's north and east. The jihadist violence in recent years has forced around 1.5 million people to flee their homes, the national emergency agency says, and many have settled in the region around Kaya. On November 27, hundreds demonstrated against the failure of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore to quell the jihadist violence, sparking clashes with security forces that wounded dozens. Those protest came days after an ambush by suspected jihadists targeting civilians and the VDP, an official self-defence force, in the northern You region left 41 people dead, including Ladji Yoro, considered a leader of the VDP. Among the soldiers arrested this month over the plot to "destabilise institutions" was Lieutenant-Colonel Emmanuel Zoungrana, who had been commanding anti-jihadist operations in country's badly hit western region. Human rights and the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where hunger threatens millions, will be in focus at talks opening Sunday in Oslo between the Taliban, the West and members of Afghan civil society. In their first visit to Europe since returning to power in August, the Taliban will meet Norwegian officials as well as representatives of the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Italy and the European Union. The Taliban delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. On the agenda will be "the formation of a representative political system, responses to the urgent humanitarian and economic crises, security and counter-terrorism concerns, and human rights, especially education for girls and women", a US State Department official said. The hardline Islamists were toppled in 2001 but swiftly stormed back to power in August as international troops began their final withdrawal. The Taliban hope the talks will help "transform the atmosphere of war... into a peaceful situation", government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP on Saturday. No country has yet recognised the Taliban government, and Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt stressed that the talks would "not represent a legitimisation or recognition of the Taliban". Also Read Taliban say Oslo talks with West will 'transform atmosphere of war' "But we must talk to the de facto authorities in the country. We cannot allow the political situation to lead to an even worse humanitarian disaster," Huitfeldt said. The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated drastically since August. International aid, which financed around 80 per cent of the Afghan budget, came to a sudden halt and the United States has frozen $9.5 billion in assets in the Afghan central bank. Unemployment has skyrocketed and civil servants' salaries have not been paid for months in the country, already ravaged by several severe droughts. Hunger now threatens 23 million Afghans, or 55 per cent of the population, according to the United Nations, which says it needs $4.4 billion from donor countries this year to address the humanitarian crisis. "It would be a mistake to submit the people of Afghanistan to a collective punishment just because the de facto authorities are not behaving properly", UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reiterated Friday. A former UN representative to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, told AFP, "We can't keep distributing aid circumventing the Taliban. If you want to be efficient, you have to involve the government in one way or another." The international community is waiting to see how the Islamic fundamentalists intend to govern Afghanistan, after having largely trampled on human rights during their first stint in power between 1996 and 2001. While the Taliban claim to have modernised, women are still largely excluded from public sector employment and secondary schools for girls remain largely closed. On the first day of the Oslo talks held behind closed doors, the Taliban delegation is expected to meet Afghans from civil society, including women leaders and journalists. A former Afghan minister for mines and petrol who now lives in Norway, Nargis Nehan, said she had declined an invitation to take part. She told AFP she feared the talks would "normalise the Taliban and... strengthen them, while there is no way that they'll change". Also Read Taliban warn against dissent, women's rights activism "What guarantee is there this time that they will keep their promises?" she asked, noting that women activists and journalists are still being arrested. Joining the delegation from Kabul is Anas Haqqani, a leader of the most feared and violent faction of the Taliban movement -- the Haqqani network, responsible for some of the most devastating attacks in Afghanistan. A senior official with no formal government title, he was jailed for several years at the United States' Bagram detention centre outside of the capital, before being released in a prisoner swap in 2019. Davood Moradian, the head of the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies now based outside Afghanistan, criticised Norway's "celebrity-style" peace initiative. Hosting the Taliban's foreign minister "casts doubt on Norway's global image as a country that cares for women's rights, when the Taliban has effectively instituted gender apartheid", he said. Norway has a track record of mediating conflicts, including in the Middle East, Sri Lanka and Colombia. Watch the latest DH Videos here: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has cancelled her wedding over new restrictions to slow the community spread of the Covid-19 Omicron variant, she told reporters on Sunday. New Zealand will impose mask rules and limit gathering from midnight on Sunday after a cluster of nine Covid-19 Omicron cases showed community spread from the North to South islands after a wedding. A family returned to Nelson in the South Island by plane after attending a wedding and other events in Auckland in the North Island. The family and a flight attendant tested positive. New Zealand will move to a red setting under its Covid-19 protection framework, with increased mask discipline. Indoor hospitality settings, such as bars and restaurants, and events like weddings will be capped at 100 people. The limit is lowered to 25 people if venues are not using vaccine passes, Ardern said. "My wedding will not be going ahead," she told reporters, adding she was sorry for anyone caught up in a similar scenario. Ardern had not disclosed her wedding date, but it was rumoured to be imminent. Also Read Omicron's global spread prompts renewed lockdowns, delayed reopenings Asked by reporters how she felt about the cancellation of her wedding to longtime partner and fishing-show host Clarke Gayford, Ardern replied: "Such is life." She added, "I am no different to, dare I say it, thousands of other New Zealanders who have had much more devastating impacts felt by the pandemic, the most gutting of which is the inability to be with a loved one sometimes when they are gravely ill. That will far, far outstrip any sadness I experience." New Zealand's borders have been shut to foreigners since March 2020. The government pushed back plans for a phased reopening from mid-January to the end of February out of concern about a potential Omicron outbreak as in neighbouring Australia. People able to travel to New Zealand under narrow exceptions must apply to stay at state-managed quarantine facilities. The government, last week, stopped issuing new slots amid a surge in the number of people arriving with Omicron. About 94 per cent of New Zealand's population over the age of 12 is fully vaccinated and about 56 per cent of those eligible have had booster shots. Watch the latest DH Videos here: No third party should interfere in the friendly relations between Beijing and Colombo, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa during his visit to the island nation earlier this month. It was not lost on anyone which country he referred to as the third party, given the history of strategic rivalry between China and India in the Indian Ocean region and their competition for geo-political influence in Sri Lanka. Wang had reasons to send out a not-so-subtle message to Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The second of Mahinda Rajapaksa's two consecutive terms in the office of the President of Sri Lanka between 2005 and 2015 had seen China expanding its footprints in the island nation, causing much unease to India. He had ignored the security interests of India and allowed China to develop strategic assets, like Hambantota Port, in the island. Chinas debt-trap diplomacy had succeeded in making Sri Lanka give it the Hambantota Port on lease for 99 years. Also Read | Sri Lanka invites more Indian investments in ports, infra, energy and manufacturing sectors After Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected the President and Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to power as Prime Minister in November 2019, Sri Lankas drift towards China regained momentum. The government led by the Rajapaksas scrapped a trilateral treaty Sri Lanka earlier signed with India and Japan for development of the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port, apparently at the behest of China. It also got Sri Lankan Parliament pass the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill, which drew flak for allegedly allowing China to set up a colony in the Indian Ocean island nation undermining the sovereignty of the country. New Delhi is concerned over the CHEC Port City Colombo as it could eventually be turned into an overseas colony of China less than 300 kilometers away from the southern tip of India. China also sought to make a foray into Sri Lankas Tamil-majority northern and eastern provinces, obviously to expand its geo-political influence, elbowing out India. The state-owned companies of the communist country started working on infrastructure projects, including hybrid power plants, in the islets not very far from India. New Delhis quiet and painstaking diplomacy with Colombo however paid off with India getting some success in clawing back the ground it lost to China in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka awarded the contract for the West Container Terminal to Adani Group of India in September 2021. As a row erupted between Colombo and Beijing over the decision of Sri Lankan authorities not to allow a ship carrying 20000 tonnes of organic fertilizers from China to offload the consignment, India in November 2021 quickly stepped in and sent two C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force to the island nation with a consignment of 100,000 Kgs of Nano Nitrogen. China in December 2021 withdrew from the proposed power projects in northern Sri Lanka, citing security concerns from a third party. And, just days before the Chinese Foreign Minister arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka worked out a new agreement with India for joint development of the oil storage tanks, which were built by the British Government during the World War II in Trincomalee on the north-east coast of the Indian Ocean island. If Colombo is signaling a rebalancing in its ties with Beijing and New Delhi, it perhaps rattles China, which has been trying to build strategic assets in the Indian Ocean to encircle India. Also Read | Indias economic package has given Sri Lanka breathing space, need to seek bailout from IMF, says top Lankan economist New Delhi is also providing two credit lines to Sri Lanka to help it recover from the economic crisis caused by the measures put in place to contain the Covid-19 pandemic one of $ 1 billion to help the island nation import food, medicine and other essential items and another of $ 500 million for import of petroleum products from India. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa recently had discussions on the proposed credit lines. They also discussed two other initiatives New Delhi recently took to bail out Colombo extension of the $ 400 million to Sri Lanka under the SAARC currency swap arrangement and deferral of Asian Clearing Union settlement of $ 515.2 million by two months. New Delhi is also trying to connect with the Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism, which has regained momentum after the April 21, 2019 terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. It helped the Rajapaksa Clan to return to the helm of the government in Colombo. The Bharatiya Janata Partys government in New Delhi is now trying to reach out to the powerful Sri Lankan Buddhist monks, who have been opposing Indias traditional support to the clamour for more political power for the islands minority Tamils. New Delhi in September 2020 pledged a grant assistance of $ 15 million to develop Buddhist ties between India and Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2021 himself hosted a delegation of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks, who arrived on the first flight that landed at the Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh. He also warmed up to the GenNext of the first family of Sri Lanka with a one-on-one meeting with Mahindas son and Gotabayas nephew Namal Rajapaksa, who led the delegation. The Modi Government, however, will have to tread cautiously to strike a balance between its bid to reach out to the proponents of the Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism and its engagement with its traditional support base in the Indian Ocean island the minority Tamils. New Delhi has been sticking to the ritual of regularly prodding Colombo to fully implement the 13th amendment of the Constitution of Sri Lanka for devolution of power to the provincial councils as well to hold elections to provincial councils. The voices within the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and some other organizations supporting the party have been opposing both. But the leaders of seven political parties representing the Tamils of Sri Lanka of late wrote to Modi, requesting him to nudge the government of the island nation to speed up implementation of the 13th amendment of the Constitution. This did not go down well with the ruling dispensation in Colombo, which advised them to take up their concerns with the Sri Lankan President, instead of writing to the Prime Minister of India. Check out latest DH videos here The United States is not "at this time" organising an evacuation of American citizens from Ukraine despite rising fears of unspecified military action by Russia, a State Department spokesperson said Saturday. In the event matters deteriorate, however, "American citizens should not anticipate that there will be US government-sponsored evacuations," the spokesperson said, speaking on grounds of anonymity. "Currently, commercial flights are available to support departures." The State Department had already advised US citizens not to travel to Ukraine due to concerns about Covid-19. A department website also urges them "to reconsider travel due to increased threats from Russia." The spokesperson did not confirm media reports that families of American diplomats posted in Kyiv had been ordered to begin evacuating on Monday. In that regard, the spokesperson said, "We have nothing to announce at this time." Western officials say Russia has deployed as many as 100,000 soldiers near the border with Ukraine. The White House has said Moscow could launch an offensive against the former Soviet republic "at any point." The Kremlin denies having any bellicose intentions but has said any de-escalation near the Ukraine border will depend on guarantees of no further NATO enlargement -- particularly involving Ukraine -- and on a reduction of the allied presence in Eastern Europe. Check out the latest videos from DH: Using Iranian bank funds freed from American sanctions, South Korea has paid Iran's $18 million in delinquent dues owed to the United Nations, Seoul said Sunday. The step was apparently approved by Washington to restore Tehran's suspended voting rights at the world body. The South Korean Foreign Ministry said Seoul had paid the sum using Iranian assets frozen in the country after consulting with the United States Treasury a potential signal of flexibility amid floundering nuclear negotiations. The ministry said it expected Iran's voting rights to be restored immediately after their suspension earlier this month for delinquent dues. Read: In South Korea, hair loss emerges as new election issue Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But Iran state television's English-language arm Press TV quoted Iran's permanent representative to the UN as confirming that the dues had been paid and Iran's voting rights would soon be restored. He did not specify how the money had been paid. The Islamic Republic of Iran, as an active member of the United Nations, has always been committed to paying its membership dues on time, Majid Takht-e Ravanchi said. He expressed outrage at the US for what he called its brutal and unilateral sanctions against Iran" that have prevented Tehran from gaining access to funds to pay the arrears for the past two years. The funds had been impounded at Korean banks under sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump after he withdrew the US from Tehran's landmark nuclear deal with world powers. The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control must grant a license for these transactions under the American banking sanctions imposed on Iran. The Treasury did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the unfrozen funds. Also Read: China, Russia, Iran to hold joint naval drills on January 21 The Biden administration wants to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, which granted Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. Diplomats are now engaged in delicate negotiations to revive the accord in Vienna, although a breakthrough remains elusive as Iran abandons every limitation the deal imposed on its nuclear enrichment. The country now enriches a small amount of to 60 per cent purity a short, technical step away from weapons grade levels and spins far more advanced centrifuges than allowed. Under the United Nations Charter, a nation that owes the previous two full years' worth of dues loses its voting rights at the General Assembly. A letter from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres circulated earlier this month revealed that Iran was among several delinquent countries on that list, which also includes Venezuela and Sudan. The General Assembly can make exceptions to the rule, determining that some countries face circumstances beyond the control of the member. According to the secretary-general's letter, Iran needed to pay a minimum of $18.4 million to restore its voting rights. Iran also lost its voting rights in January of last year, prompting Tehran to lash out at the US for imposing crushing sanctions that froze billions of dollars in Iranian funds in banks around the world. Tehran regained voting rights last June after making the minimum payment on its dues. Iran over the past few years has pressured Seoul to release about $7 billion in revenues from oil sales that remain frozen in South Korean banks since the Trump administration tightened sanctions on Iran. The frozen funds hang in the balance as diplomats struggle to revive the nuclear deal. Senior South Korean diplomats including Choi Jong Kun, the first vice foreign minister, flew to Vienna this month to discuss the fate of the assets with their Iranian counterparts. Watch the latest DH Videos here: More than two decades after it was founded, Druk Padma Karpo School in Ladakh, popularly known as "Rancho's school", may get the much-awaited CBSE affiliation this year as it got the clearance from the Jammu and Kashmir board after a long delay. As per the affiliation norms of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), schools require a No Objection Certificate from the respective state board. The foreign schools require a similar document from the concerned Embassy or Consulate of India in the concerned country. The school which shot to fame after it featured in the Aamir Khan-starrer movie "3 Idiots" in 2009, is presently affiliated to Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education (JKBOSE). "We have been trying to get our school affiliated to the CBSE for many years," school principal Mingur Agmo told PTI. "Though we have all the required infrastructure in place, excellent result record, and focus on innovative ways of teaching and learning, we didnt get the NOC from JKBOSE despite several attempts all these years," she said. "Finally, the document has been received this month and we will complete rest of the process for affiliation soon. We are hoping that we will get the affiliation this year and there will be no more hurdles," she added. The school has been trying to get the clearance since before Ladakh acquired a Union Territory status. Even after the bifurcation, schools in Ladakh continue to be affiliated to the Jammu and Kashmir board. A committee had last year proposed establishment of a new territorial board in Ladakh with an aim to fulfil the "realistic needs of the students as per the natural conditions of the region". The 21-year-old school is named after Mipham Pema Karpo (1527-1592), who is revered as a great scholar, while Padma Karpo means 'White Lotus' in Bothi, the local language. The wall of the school's building was featured in the closing scene of the Bollywood film in which one of the characters, Chatur, tries to urinate but gets an electric shock as two kids throw at him a light bulb connected with wire from a first floor window. While the 'iconic idiotic wall' -- part of a building which was damaged in the 2010 flash floods -- still remains on campus, the first floor, earlier made of bricks, has been replaced with wooden structures typically used in Ladakh. The school decided in 2018 to relocate the "Rancho's wall" to ensure students don't get distracted due to inflow of tourists. Students there study Bothi, English and Hindi, plus sciences, social studies, creative arts and sports, Agma said. She said they are also given training in life and livelihood skills, team work, presentation skills, leadership and problem solving through formal and co-curricular activities. "Currently, students are on a winter break and we decided that this winter break will be a 'no gadgets' holiday. Due to the pandemic, we started classes through smartphones though it still continues to be a challenge as there is no internet stability in some of the hilly terrains so we have given only offline homework to students during the break," she added. Check out latest videos from DH: Diving deep into his repertoire of technical and managerial skills, S Somanath had anchored the shaping of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk III, Indias most powerful rocket launcher, for years. Today, as Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), the down to earth veteran rocket scientist will have to reshape it to launch Indias ambitious first manned space mission. Hit by pandemic turbulence, Isros flagship Gaganyaan mission had lagged considerably in its race to meet the strict 2024 deadline set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Space scientists across platforms are convinced Somanath is just the right man for the job, and for a pretty good reason. They had seen Somanath navigate the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) as its director, keeping himself constantly updated with the fast-changing developments in the field. His previous avatar as the director of the Thiruvananthapuram-based Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) prepared Somanath for the big challenges ahead. Over the last 10 to 15 years, he was being seen as a future Isro chairman owing to his qualities, recollects former VSSC director M C Dathan. Somanath is one person who was exposed to the different entities associated with the countrys space development, having headed multiple agencies linked to Isro. As a team leader, Dathan recalls, Somanath gave due regard to every member, recognising their capabilities. Thanks to his mastery over Launch Vehicle (LV) technologies, Somanath was tasked with leading a team to integrate the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) during its early phases. As Project Manager, he studied in depth the LVs mechanics, pyro systems and satellite launch service management. But the next space challenge produced his best effort: The Geostationary Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III, Isros powerhouse and its chosen platform to launch the Chandrayaan-2 moon mission. This three-stage, heavy lift launch vehicle was his baby, says former Isro Chairman G Madhavan Nair. Nair had spotted Somanaths streak of innovation right after he joined VSSC in 1985. He recalls how Somanath showcased his technical acumen, standing apart from the rest of his batch. Joining the GSLV MkIII project in 2003, Somanath as its Project Director from 2010 to 2014, completed the overall vehicle, mission and structural designs before the final integration. A senior colleague at VSSC attests to this, recalling Somanaths leadership of the project as exemplary. He would always motivate the team, leading the project right from the beginning to the concept review and aerodynamic stages, a prelude to the module. He laid the foundation for multiple progressions that eventually led to the first flight of the LVM3-X/CARE mission, the first experimental suborbital flight of GSLV MkIII, says the senior colleague. Somanath, the VSSC official recalls, was also riveted to research and development. He had submitted over 400 R&D proposals, and that thrust on innovation was visible in his laying the foundation for building a reusable launch vehicle. He would go on to play a key role in three GSLV missions with indigenous cryogenic stages and 11 PSLV missions. Beyond Gaganyaan, Somanath will see expectations soar as Isro toys with another attempt at lunar landing with a Chandrayaan-3 mission. Chandrayaan-2s failure in September 2019 still haunts the organisation, but a third mission could inject fresh momentum. Away from the limelight, Somanath had played a critical role in Chandrayaan-2, developing the throttleable engines for the lander component. His skill sets are seen as the right recipe for the space agencys search for an all-new category of test rockets designed to test the crew module for the planned manned space flight. That one of the space agencys brightest stars was the B Tech topper of the Mechanical Engineering batch of 1985 in TKM Engineering College, Kollam, Kerala, comes as no surprise. His college mates have recalled how despite his achievements, a sense of humility came naturally to him. But that never stopped him from dreaming big. More academic laurels awaited Somanath at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, where he earned his Masters in Aerospace Engineering with a Gold Medal, following which he was set to join the VSSC in 1985. A stint with LPSC, projects on GSLV and PSLV and there was no looking back for the recipient of the Astronautical Society of Indias Space Gold Medal. Cut to the present, and Somanath is eager to think beyond the milestones ahead. He had spelt it out on the day he was elevated: Open up Indias space sector to private players, enabling them to play roles in developing applications and even launching rockets. The space sector needs to be developed into a business economy by making it a space service sector. Isro has its limitations and hence the role of the private sector is important, he had explained. Having shepherded the powerful GSLV MkIIIs development and repeat launches, Somanath is aware that without innovation, Isro will find it tough to compete globally in the future. Design complexities of future engines would limit the growth potential of the space agencys launch vehicle lift capacity. The road ahead, as he sees it, is clear: Build satellites that are more compact, integrate advanced electronics and go beyond the 5-tonne load capacity. Check out the latest videos from DH: Actor Dileep on Sunday reached the Crime Branch office here as directed by the Kerala High Court for interrogation in a case registered against him and five others for allegedly threatening officials probing the sexual assault of an actress in 2017. The High Court had on Saturday granted interim protection to Dileep from arrest but directed him and other accused to appear before the investigating officers on January 23, 24 and 25 for interrogation. Dileep, who reached the crime branch office at around 8.50 am, refused to interact with the media. The other accused have also reached the probe agency's office for questioning. Meanwhile, Crime Branch sources said the interrogation of the accused will be recorded as they suspect that the actor and others might approach the court alleging harassment during questioning. Justice Gopinath P had directed the accused to fully cooperate with the investigation and directed them to be available for interrogation from 9 am to 8 pm on the three days. The court had also warned the accused that in case of non-cooperation, the interim protection from arrest will be lifted and custody will granted to the Crime Branch. The court also directed the public prosecutor to submit a report on the interrogation and material evidence in a sealed cover on January 27, when the matter would be heard again. Besides Dileep, his younger brother P Sivakumar and brother-in-law T N Suraj among others were asked to present themselves for interrogation. The Crime Branch had, on January 9, registered the case on a complaint filed by an investigating officer based on a purported audio clip of Dileep, which was released by a TV channel in which the actor was allegedly heard conspiring to attack the official. The actor and five others were booked under various provisions of the IPC, including Sections 116 (abetment), 118 (concealing design to commit offence), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (criminal act done by several people). Dileep has claimed that this apprehension was borne out of the past conduct of the complainant officer who has been trying to falsely implicate him in the sexual assault case. The actress who has worked in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films was abducted and allegedly molested in her car for two hours by some of the accused, who had forced their way into the vehicle on the night of February 17, 2017, and later escaped in a busy area. The entire act was filmed by some of the accused to blackmail the actress. There are 10 accused in the case and initially, police arrested seven people. Dileep was arrested subsequently and released on bail later. Check out latest videos from DH: India is set to celebrate its 73rd Republic Day, second after the Covid-19 pandemic, that has killed over 55 lakh people globally, set in. Even so, events planned on Rajpath are expected to be as grand as every year albeit with a change of plans. The number of people allowed to attend the Republic Day parade this year would be curtailed by 70-80 per cent to approximately 5,000-8,000 due to the ongoing wave of Covid-19, senior officials of the Defence Ministry said. Approximately 25,000 people were allowed to attend the last year's parade. Also read: Republic Day parade to have 25 tableaux, 16 marching contingents, 17 military bands All Covid-19 protocol will be followed at the parade. Social distancing norms would be followed while making the seating arrangements, they mentioned, adding sanitiser dispensers will be available everywhere and wearing masks would be compulsory. Officials said the aim is to keep the people away and maintain social distancing at all times so that the parade does not become a super spreader event. Therefore, the numbers have been significantly curtailed. Largest flypast with 75 aircraft Despite the curbs, the Republic Day parade at the Rajpath this year will see the "grandest and largest" flypast ever with the participation of 75 aircraft to mark the Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav celebrations, IAF PRO Wing Commander Indranil Nandi said. The flypast will conclude with seven jaguar fighter aircraft flying in the 'Amrit' formation to commemorate the 75 years of Independence. The Indian Air force also unveiled its tableau for the Republic Day celebrations, with assets like Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) armed with AT Dhruvastra missile, Ashlesha Mk1 radar, Gnat, Rafale, MIG 21 on display. No foreign head of state or government as chief guest There will be no foreign head of state or government as the chief guest for the Republic Day event this year, PTI sources said. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic continuing and the cases rising, this would be the second year in a row when there would be no foreign leader as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. 25 tableaux part of parade The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will have two tableaux at the Republic Day parade this year displaying indigenously developed sensors, weapons and electronic warfare systems for light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas and air independent propulsion (AIP) systems for Indian submarines. Twenty-five tableaux of different states, departments and armed forces will be part of the parade on January 26. Rashtriya Bal Puraskar virtually Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with Rashtriya Bal Puraskar awardees on Monday via video conferencing. These awards are conferred by the President in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The awardees of PMRBP also take part in the Republic Day parade. However, in view of the Covid-19 situation in the country, it has not been possible to organise the award ceremony in New Delhi this year. (With DHNS/agency inputs) Check out DH's latest videos The flame that burned under the India Gate to honour Indian soldiers was ceremonially extinguished on Friday, days before it could complete 50 years. For many generations of Indians, the site was embedded in their memories of national pride and military valour. They didnt care who had built the India Gate and for what reason, or for the identity of the Indian soldier killed in Jessore in the 1971 War whose rifle and helmet were placed there. As with many other things, it has been appropriated into an Indian icon a site for picnics, protests and photography. The controversy created by the Centres abrupt decision to merge and thereby douse the Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate is thus not merely political. When the National War Memorial was inaugurated in 2019, weeks before the parliamentary elections that year, senior military officers were on record to stress that Amar Jawan Jyoti will continue to be there. A new flame will come up there (at the National War Memorial). But the eternal flame at Amar Jawan Jyoti will stay. We have inherited that flame, the then Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt Gen P S Rajeshwar had said. Also Read | Amar Jawan Jyoti merged with National War Memorial flame; see pics The Indian Armys Deputy Chief Lt Gen P J S Pannu stressed that the Amar Jawan Jyoti is an inseparable part of our history. So much emotion is attached to it. And, it is located beneath the India Gate which itself is a war memorial, built during the British-era. So, if any old regiments wish to commemorate their important days and mark an event and pay respect, they can still do it there as wellBoth flames will have their own importance. Mind you, these were not officers speaking in their personal capacity as the retired generals and admirals today are, but giving out the considered official position of the armed forces, which had led the construction of the National War Memorial. Suddenly, three years later, the government decided to overturn that decision, and the only explanation that was forthcoming was a WhatsApp message to select journalists reproduced faithfully by many attributable to PMO sources perspective. That message, and the decision per se, has raised three distinct issues. One, the government has been concerned that the new war memorial has not got the kind of public attention and traction that it thought it would generate. There are myriad reasons for it but the underlying cause is that this memorial is owned by the military it is not a site for the common public. Also Read | Amar Jawan Jyoti being merged, not extinguished, clarifies Centre Compare it with India Gate, with the Amar Jawan Jyoti inside it, that is perhaps the most iconic site in the national capital to capture the public imagination. That place has been defined totally by the public, without disrespecting the memory of the soldiers in any way. A staid, formal and stiff war memorial controlled by the military can scarcely hope to replicate that informal verve and vitality created by the masses. Two, by highlighting the colonial origins of India Gate, the government is trying to flatten the nuanced, complex history of the Indian Army. Undivided India lost more than 1,60,000 soldiers in the two World Wars and its soldiers are buried in more than 60 foreign countries. Another 26,500 soldiers have died in conflicts after Independence who are commemorated in the new war memorial. The Indian Armys oldest battalion claims to have been raised in 1757 by the East India Company, while there are also battalions of the erstwhile state forces which fought for Mughal emperors like Akbar that have converted to regular Indian Army battalions now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself celebrated the colonial legacy of the Indian Army when he visited the cemetery in Haifa, where Jodhpur Lancers, Mysore Lancers and Hyderabad Lancers (all state forces) fought in World War I. He has also visited the memorial at Neuve Chapelle in France that commemorates Indian soldiers of the British Army who sacrificed their lives in World War I. She was like some ancient palimpsest on which layer upon layer of thought and reverie had been inscribed, and yet no succeeding layer had completely hidden or erased what had been written previously. Jawaharlal Nehru said this of India in The Discovery of India, and it applies equally to the Indian Army. Also Read | Extinguishing Amar Jawan Jyoti tantamounts to extinguishing history: Congress A complex legacy The Indian Army inherits a complex legacy and we need to accept that legacy and live with it celebrate the valour, courage and sacrifice of our Indian soldiers, whether they fought under the British, the Mughals or the Azad Hind Fauj. A modern India has to be expansive enough to honour all those fallen in battle, and any politics that tries to deal with it simplistically ends up diminishing and undermining India. Finally, this gives us a moment to reflect on the real purpose of war memorials in the twenty-first century. When memorials were erected in the wake of World War I, it was a different world, with another set of values and norms. Modern societies, unless afflicted by insecurities of parochial nationalism, scarcely celebrate wars. Remembering wars are moments of reflection about the losses and the subsequent pain that society had to undergo because of conflict. Our most celebrated epic, the Mahabharata, speaks of Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah in the Shanti Parva, and the victors in that great war ruminate over the futility of being victors when everything is destroyed. India claims to be the land of Buddha and Gandhi, and it can afford to glorify peace now. The best guarantors of peace are soldiers, who are also the biggest sufferers in war. To celebrate our soldiers in the cause of peace, while remembering the human costs of war, would be a wonderful message to emanate from a modern, confident and strong India. (The writer is Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi) Check out the latest videos from DH: Le gouvernement a pris note le 21 janvier 2022 que le ministere des Arts et du Patrimoine Culturel av organiser en collaboration du Morne Heritage Trust Fund des activites en marge du 187e anniversaire de lAbolition de lEsclavage a Maurice. Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage in collaboration with Le Morne Heritage Trust Fund to commemorate the 187th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery in Mauritius on 01 February 2022. A wreath laying ceremony would be held at the Monument aux Esclaves, Pointe Canon, Mahebourg on Monday 31 January 2022 at 17 00 hours. On 01 February 2022, the day of the commemoration, a wreath laying ceremony would also be held at the International Slave Route Monument at 10 00 hours. The wreath laying ceremonies would be held in accordance with sanitary protocols. The following activities would also be organized: (a) an exhibition on the theme Our History, Our Heritage by the Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture in collaboration with the National Art Gallery from 28 January to 28 February 2022 at Lespas Lar at La Tour Koenig; and (b) workshops by Le Morne Heritage Trust Fund to sensitise the inhabitants of the village on the different facilities being offered to fishers by Government. Similar workshops would be held to promote economic empowerment in the agriculture and SME sectors. An organisation, Hindu Front for Justice, through its president and others, has approached the Supreme Court to examine hate speeches delivered against the community. It has filed an intervention application in the hate speech case examined by the top court with regard to the Haridwar Dharam Sansad case. The plea claimed that since the top court has agreed to examine hate speeches against Muslims, then it should also examine hate speeches against Hindus, and cited over two dozen instances involving political leaders like Akbaruddin Owaisi and AAP leader from Delhi, Amanatullah Khan. The applicants herein through the present application are praying to this court to direct an SIT to investigate the hate speeches given against the members of the Hindu community, their gods and goddess," the plea said. It further asked the court to direct investigation into the incident of hate speech given against the constitutional spirit as well as the unity and integrity of India. Also Read Yati Narsinghanand, organiser of Dharma Sansad, sent to 14-day judicial custody The plea pointed out that leaders and preachers of the Muslim community have been propagating against the Hindu religion and against the sovereignty and integrity of India. The provocative speeches delivered by Muslim leaders have created an atmosphere of fear and unrest in the Hindu community. Such statements remind us of the working of Muslim league which resulted in the partition of the country," the plea filed through advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said. The National President of Hindu Sena also filed a plea to oppose the PIL, filed by journalist Qurban Ali, and another, which sought criminal action for hate speech against the speakers at the Dharam Sansad conclave held at Haridwar and another event in Delhi. The application sought directions to the state governments to register FIR against Asaduddin Owaisi, Tauqeer Raza, Sajid Rashidi, Amanatullah Khan, Waris Pathan for allegedly making hate speeches. On January 12, the Supreme Court issued notice to the Uttarakhand government and Centre with regard to hate speeches against the Muslim community at Dharam Sansad in Haridwar. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Opposing the proposed amendments to the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday said the proposals strike at the very root of state autonomy while arguing that the Union cannot usurp an existing provision to the disadvantage of the state in a federal polity. In a strongly-worded two-page letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, Stalin said neither the bureaucracy nor the state governments, the two important stakeholders in this serious issue, welcome the move for amendment as they tend to weaken the core principles on which the country has been painstakingly built over the past 75 glorious years. Demolition is easy, but reconstruction has always been a long process, Stalin said in the letter, invoking independent Indias first deputy prime minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who envisioned the steel frame of India which has the independence to speak out its mind, which has a sense of security, where their rights and privileges are secured. I request you to drop these proposed amendments to IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954 instead engage with state governments to further strengthen the federal spirit of the nation and take forward the noble ideas of our forefathers with reference to the steel frame as enshrined in the Indian Constitution, the Chief Minister said. Read | Jharkhand joins the chorus against IAS rules amendment Tamil Nadu is the latest to join the growing list of states that have risen in opposition to the proposed amendment to the rules. Stalin said the new rules would cause irreparable damage to the spirit of cooperative federalism that exist between the Union and the states and result in the concentration of powers with the Union Government. On one of the proposed provisions that will empower the Centre to unilaterally draft the services of officers without their consent and sans concurrence from the state governments, Stalin said the move will certainly demoralize and destabilise the steel frame of bureaucracy in India. If implemented, the All India Service Officers would be spending their career under perpetual fear of being penalized by Union Government at any time. This does not augur well for the developmental path being vigorously pursued by our country. I am sure, you will agree that civil servants must be allowed to work with a free mind and stay apolitical, he said. The ramifications are ominous, Stalin said, and added that the Union Governments hasty eagerness in bringing about such drastic changes in the basic structures of the system of the country without going through the consultative process is once again grossly violative of the federal structure of the nation. Stalin said the new proposal will eventually destroy the uniqueness of All India Services, a basic feature of the Indian Constitution. While the Central services are fully administered by the Union, the idea of All India Services has served the nation well and stood the test of time through a cordial working relationship between the Union and states, he added. Highlighting that many state governments are woefully short of officers at specific seniorities, primarily due to the wrong cadre management policies followed by the Union Government, he said the state governments solely depend on the limited pool of IAS officers available in the state. The proposed amendments would adversely affect not only the character and functioning of bureaucracy, but also complicate the cadre management in the states per se. Moreover, this will have a cascading effect on the administration of the state with a direct bearing on the welfare of the nation, he said. The Chief Minister also complained that the Union Governments lateral entry recruitment has also affected the morale of the officers who seek deputation on their own willingness. He also asked the Union Government to positively reconstruct the working and service conditions for All India Service officers through a transparent empanelment process and by ensuring professional space and independence instead of imposing restrictive provisions to usurp the powers of states. Watch latest videos by DH here: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the ball was in the Centres court to take a final call on the recommendations forwarded by Assam and Meghalaya to resolve a part of the long-standing boundary disputes between the two neighbouring states. He however hit out at the Congress for opposing the proposed give-and-take formula for solving the border row and maintained that it was the grand old party of the country that had led to entire states being carved out of undivided Assam. He also alleged that the Congress, which had been in power in the Centre as well as North Eastern states for most of independent India's history, had refrained from solving the boundary disputes so that neighbouring states are forever engaged in conflict with each other. Addressing a press conference here, Sarma said, The ball is now in the Centres court. We have submitted our recommendations to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It is up to them when they call us for further discussions, he added. Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma had on January 20 placed recommendations of three regional committees formed by the two states to look into disputes in six areas before Shah in New Delhi. According to the final set of recommendations given by the committees, out of 36.79 sq km of disputed area taken up for settlement in the first phase, Assam will get control on 18.51 sq km and Meghalaya the remaining 18.28 sq km. Three committees each were formed by the two state governments in August 2021 after two rounds of talks between Sarma and Sangma to resolve the border dispute in a phased manner. Out of a total 12 points of disputes, six areas with relatively less critical differences have been taken up in the first phase. Meghalaya was carved out of Assam as a separate state in 1972 and it had challenged the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971, leading to the border dispute over the shared 884.9 km long border. The Congress has been vocal in opposing the give-and-take formula, leading the chief minister to take on the party. He said, The Congress had carved the entire area of the state of Meghalaya from Assam. It even transferred Assams capital to Meghalaya. They do not have the right to protest now. The capital of undivided Assam was in Shillong, which became the headquarter of Meghalaya after its formation, while Dispur in Guwahati was chosen as Assams new capital. Sarma said, The border disputes are due to Congresss blunder. They had hurriedly formed new states out of undivided Assam and left the boundaries undefined. On boundary disputes with other Northeastern states, Sarma said the differences with Arunachal Pradesh will be solved in due course of time. Though no talks are on with Mizoram as of now, Assams Border Area Development Minister Atul Bora is in contact with the Home minister of the neighbouring state on the issue. The Nagaland issue is before the Supreme Court and we can expect a verdict in perhaps two-three years, he added. Watch the latest DH videos: The Tripura government has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss a PIL filed for probe into recent violence in the state, saying it was based on "self-serving report", "planted and pre-planned articles" and filed by individuals, who were selectively outraged with it, though they remained silent on large scale pre and post-poll violence in West Bengal. It said a series of violent incidents had shaken West Bengal before and after the state assembly elections which was "larger in magnitude" compared to Tripura violence, but the public interest of the petitioner was aroused only selectively during the latter. "No individuals or group of individuals professionally functioning as public spirited persons can selectively invoke the extraordinary jurisdiction of this court to achieve some apparent but undisclosed motive," an affidavit filed by the state said. The affidavit was filed in response to the plea by advocate Ehtesham Hashmi who contended that he had personally visited riot-affected areas of the state along with other Delhi-based advocates and published a fact-finding report 'Humanity Under Attack in Tripura' on their visit. "A genuine and bona fide public spirited citizen would not be selective in his public interest and would not be choosy about rushing about this court with regard to one state and keeping quite with regard to the other," it said. It further contended that the fact-finding report was based on incorrect facts aimed towards creating disaffection between communities and the state in particular. The state government also submitted that a suo motu case concerning the same subject was already pending before the Tripura High Court and that the petitioner should have approached the High Court first instead of moving the Supreme Court. It also said there is no convincing reason for the petitioner to not approach the highest constitutional court in the state which is directly concerned and proximate to the alleged incidents. The state government maintained that it was committed to take action as per law against persons and organisations involved for spreading fake/fabricated news, photographs, videos with malicious intent to promote enmity between classes in place of worship, imputations, assertion prejudicial to national integration. On November 29, last year, the top court issued notice to the Centre and Tripura government on the plea for an independent SIT probe into the alleged hate crimes and incidents of violence against Muslims in the state between October 13 and 27. A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and A S Bopanna sought a response from the Union and the Tripura governments, on the petition filed by advocate Hashmi through his counsel Prashant Bhushan. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe was on Sunday conferred with the Netaji Award 2022 by the Netaji Research Bureau on the 125th birth anniversary of the legendary freedom fighter. Consul general of Japan in Kolkata, Nakamura Yutaka, received the honour on behalf of Abe at a function organised by the bureau at the Elgin Road residence here of the national icon. Abe expressed his gratitude in a message read out by the consul general. Read more: Netaji's family seeks more than statue honour, researchers want end to death puzzle "As former Prime Minister of Japan and in my capacity as a member of the House of Representatives, I am determined to do my utmost to continue contributing to the development of bilateral relations," he said. Abe said he sincerely hoped that Japan and India's friendship and global partnership will be further strengthened in wide-ranging areas including political, economic and cultural fields. Prof Sugata Bose, the grandnephew of Subhas Chandra Bose, and Director of the Netaji Research Bureau, described Abe as a great admirer of the freedom icon. Japan's ambassador to India Satoshi Suzuki addressed the function virtually from Delhi. Sugata Bose later told reporters that he wants the new generation of the country to take lessons from the great patriot's ideals. "Several beautiful programmes have been held since morning on the occasion of Netaji's birth anniversary, including the one at the Netaji Bhavan here," he said. Sugata Bose, who also attended a ceremony where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee garlanded the statue of the freedom fighter, said Netaji's 125th birth anniversary celebrations have gained international prominence. He welcomed the central government's decision to install a statue of Netaji at India Gate in the national capital. "The greatest tomb to remember a great man is to propagate his legacy, and in case of Netaji, it is his ideal of equality and unity; he brought together Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christians, men and women, people of different regions by giving them equal rights," he said. "Netajis life and work are transparent like glass," Sugata Bose added. Indias Covid-19 reproduction rate (R) has dropped considerably in the last three weeks after an upward movement in the first week of January, signaling a shrinking third wave, according to two scientific studies even as a government agency flags the viruss community spread a fortnight ago. Seven out of top 24 states with more than 10,000 active cases including Maharashtra, Delhi and West Bengal have an R value - a mark of the epidemic's ability to spread - of less than one on Sunday. For an epidemic to subside, the value of R has to drop below one. The ongoing wave seems to be showing signs of dissipating with R for India having gone down considerably from the peak value of close to 3 in early January. Currently it is at 1.3, around what it was during April-May 2020 when the nationwide lockdown brought down the sharply rising trend of cases, Sitabhra Sinha, a scientist at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai told DH. Read | Omicron in community transmission stage, says INSACOG Others exhibiting a declining trend are poll-bound Uttar Pradesh as well as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar, according to Sinha, who is tracking the pandemic with his disease forecast model since 2020. Among the metros, Pune and Bengaluru continue to have an R value of more than one whereas Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata show a decreasing trend. A similar forecast has come from the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai with a team of IIT researchers showing a dip in Indias R value to 1.57 between Jan 14-21 from a high of 4.0 observed between Jan 1-6 in their forecast study. In Sinhas model, Indias R value was 1.3 between Jan 15-21, as against the high of 2.98 between Dec 30-Jan 10. Read | Omicron in 171 countries, will replace Delta soon: WHO The latest bulletin prepared by Indias SARS-CoV-2 Genome Consortium pointed out that the Omicron variant was in community transmission around January 10 and became the dominant variant in multiple metros, where new cases rose exponentially. Health Ministry sources said Omicron was the dominating strain in almost all the metros barring Chennai. But the Omicron-driven third wave has been causing lower mortality compared to the previous two waves and serious cases in significantly reduced numbers of people requiring oxygen support, doctors from private tertiary care hospitals say in a report after comparing the flow of patients in their hospitals. Comparing the patients they received in their nine hospitals, the Max group in a report said the overall mortality in the first wave was 7.2% which increased to 10.5% during the ferocious second wave but came down to 6% during the ongoing surge. The requirement of oxygen and ICU beds are also substantially low compared to the two previous waves. Watch latest videos by DH here: The Congress in Uttarakhand seems to have the upper hand with BJP leaders joining the party in the state and now, the party leaders are cautiously claiming stake for the top post. The Congress has appointed Harish Rawat as chairman of the campaign committee and he is spearheading the campaign. He is seen as the natural claimant for the top post if the party comes to power but he is facing challenges from his detractors within the party. Rawat currently has the upper hand in the first round, with the suspension of Kishore Upadhayaya and voicing reservations over Harak Singh Rawat's admission, which was a low-key affair. Rawat said that "the party has decided so he has no problem". But when asked about the post-election scenario, he said, "My focus right now is that the Congress wins the election." The veteran in Uttarakhand politics knows that each political move by other groups may create hurdles post-election. Sources said that he has already reached out to probable dissenters to seek their support. However, sources said that he is fighting a twin battle -- with the BJP and within the party. Another group, led by a former state president, is also not leaving any stone unturned as the detractors are lobbying hard with the AICC office-bearers. The group led by Preetam Singh is not putting up a straight challenge, but will wait for any opportunity to strike back. Also Read Congress names 53 in first list for Uttarakhand; Decision on Harish Rawat's seat later But Rawat has the trust and confidence of Sonia Gandhi, while the party workers have sympathy as he missed the bus of chief ministership twice -- once to ND Tiwari and then to Vijay Bahuguna. However, he was later roped in to replace Bahuguna. Harish Rawat rose from the grassroots level and understands the state better than anyone in the Congress party. He said that "we will focus on local issues" as he knows that the BJP doesn't want to come into the arena on the basis of performance but on emotive issues. A chief problem within the state Congress unit is that it does not have any leader who is acceptable to both the Garhwal and Kumaon regions after the passing away of ND Tiwari and Indira Hridyesh. Rawat is capable of balancing both, a party veteran said and also, he has good acceptability among the minority population in the plains. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019) protests in Becon Ganj of Kanpur in 2019 have left hawkers and daily wage labourers in the lurch, 21 of whom have paid Rs 13,476 each to the district administration for damages caused during the protest. The incident pertains to damages caused on December 21, 2019, when a government-owned Tata Sumo valued at Rs 2.5 lakh, two cameras, three windows and two doors valued at Rs 33,000 were damaged. The 21 people, which include a rickshaw puller, a tonga driver, a fruit seller, a chicken seller, a milkman, a youth who works at his fathers garment shop, and a teenager who has quit school, besides eight daily wagers who earn Rs 250 at the maximum per day, according to a report by The Indian Express. The offenders are aged from 18 to 70, the report stated. Read Two years after its notification, MHA yet to frame CAA rules While offenders in similar anti-CAA protests in Lucknow are pinning their hopes on appeals in the Allahabad High Court, the ones in Kanpur were not so lucky. According to the report, The Indian Express tracked down the families of 15 of the 21, following which it was revealed that none of them was aware of how the figure of Rs 2.83 lakh and their share of Rs 13,476 was arrived at. While families said that they paid the money from their savings or mostly borrowed to do so, they alleged constant pressure by the police. The 15 of them were jailed, but were released on bail, the report stated. The police would visit every second day and say that our house will be auctioned. They said that if we pay, we will be safe for some time. We were left with no choice except to pay the money, the father of one of the accused was quoted as saying. One of the accused, a daily wager, when asked why he did not challenge the notice, said: We did not want to challenge the government, the administration and the police. We dont have the resources. Lawyers for seven of the 15 said that none challenged the recovery notice. Some were in jail when the notices reached their houses. Some of them reached out to us after someone had already paid on their behalf. All the clients that I am handling in this case are poor, said a lawyer, requesting anonymity. An FIR was lodged by the police after nine arrests were made in 2019, following which recovery notices continued to be sent to the 21 of them. According to the report filed by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), it is clear that on December 21, 2019, you indulged in vandalism and damaged public property. For this you have been charged along with nine named and 1200 unidentified people, stated the notice delivered to one of the accused on January 24, 2020. Also Read 1,026 persons arrested in 12 days for anti-CAA stir in Assam: CM During the probe, your crime was found to happen under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984Hence, you are ordered to be present in my court on January 28, 2020 and give me in writing why action should not be taken against you and you made to pay for the damages incurred to public property, the notice stated. The lawyer for one of the accused who is also a daily-wager said he replied to the notice on January 24, 2020, rebutting the evidence presented by the administration. The photograph shown by the administration and police as that of my client was not his. It was not a clear photograph and it was definitely not of my client. Despite my stating so, an order was passed that my client will have to pay for the damages, said the lawyer. The then-ADM Vivek Srivastava, who had issued the notices and currently posted as Chief Revenue Officer of UPs Ballia district, was quoted as saying This is election time, and I cant give you any version. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana on Sunday said over 27,000 police personnel have been deployed for Republic Day security duties in the national capital and anti-terror measures intensified. These personnel include deputy commissioners of police, assistant commissioners of police and inspectors, sub-inspectors. Armed Police Force personnel and commandos, officers and jawans of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have also been deployed, he said. Briefing the media about the Republic Day security arrangements, Asthana said a total of 27,723 Delhi Police personnel including 71 DCPs, 213 ACPs and 753 inspectors have been deployed in the capital for the Republic Day parade. They are being assisted by 65 companies of CAPFs. The police chief said over the last two months, the Delhi Police has intensified anti-terror measures in coordination with other security agencies. "Since the last two months, we have intensified our anti-terror measures. These measures have been taken on 26 parameters very intensively. It is also because Delhi has always been a target for terrorists or anti-social elements. This year too we have been very much alert," Asthana said. According to a recent order, operation of sub-conventional aerial platforms, including UAVs, paragliders and hot air balloons, over the national capital has been prohibited in view of the Republic Day celebrations. The order came into effect on January 20 and would remain in force till February 15. Watch the latest DH videos: Gangster-turned-activist, Lakha Sidhana, who is accused in the 2021 Republic Day violence case, is the candidate of Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, a political front of farmer unions, from Punjab's Maur constituency in Bathinda district for the February 20 Assembly polls. Earlier, leaders of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha distanced themselves from the programmes organised by 40-year-old Sidhana against the now repealed three contentious agricultural laws after the tractor parade by farmer unions on Republic Day last year. However, Sidhana, also known as Lakhbir Singh, has denied the charges of instigating the protesters to climb the Red Fort. Sidhana, who was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh for providing information about him, was booked by the Delhi Police for instigating violence. The case is pending against him. Also read: Mining allegations by Akali Dal frivolous, says Channi Since November 25, 2020, he had been quite active in the agitation on the borders of the national capital and aggressively lobbying for the agitation to gain momentum. In fact, he was dreaming of making big in politics through the farmers' agitation. Sidhana, a small-time gangster who aims to enter politics by reflecting himself a social activist, was acquitted in several cases before contesting the 2012 Assembly polls as a candidate of the People's Party of Punjab, once led by Manpreet Singh Badal, who is currently the Finance Minister in the state's Congress government, from Rampura Phul constituency. He polled 10,065 votes. Farmer leaders had, in fact, distanced themselves from Sidhana and blamed him for inciting violence at the Red Fort. Sidhana belongs to Sidhana village in Bathinda district. At one point of time, he used to work for Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). He was first jailed in 2004 and was put behind the bars many times till 2017. Of late, he has hogged the limelight as a social activist by demanding that all official signboards, other than English, should be in Punjabi first. Along with Sidhana, Punjabi actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, who was seen as protesters swarmed the Red Fort and even put up a religious flag on its ramparts, has been named the main accused in the violence. Check out latest videos from DH: he final frontier for oil and gas exploration, a range of untapped resources awaiting exploitation, and opportunities across the entire energy value chain all represent key components of Africas hydrocarbon market. For years, resource rich nations have been capitalizing on their resources, driving exploration and production alongside global players. Now, producing markets across the continent have started to dramatically underperform, with countries such as Nigeria missing production targets by a large margin. What will these production declines mean for the African continent and what can be done to mitigate this trend? Even at the start of 2022, producing nations in Africa continue to grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand fluctuations, price instability, and the global reduction in fossil fuel directed capital expenditure have left many oil-reliant nations scrambling. While attempts to diversify economies have been noted specifically through developments in natural gas, renewables, and associated sub-sectors such as transportation and logistics in the short- to medium-term, oil continues to be a critical asset for many African countries. Africas oil and gas resources are a blessing for the continents socio-economic development, and yet production figures towards the end of 2021 represent a growing challenge. Nigeria, for example, with over 36 billion barrels of oil in place has the potential to produce upwards of 2 million barrels per day (bpd). Yet, during December 2021, the country was only producing 1.1 million bpd resulting in an estimated 2.4-million-barrel loss for the month. Similarly, despite production targets of 1.8 million bpd by 2022, during December 2021 Libya also underperformed, producing on average 1.06 million bpd. However, this was largely attributed to blockades at key oilfields due to political conflict, and the countrys production is starting to increase again. The impacts of underperformance on African economies will be significant. Notably, with Africa contending with its own energy crisis whereby over 600 million people are still without access to electricity a production downturn could further accentuate the crisis. As Dean Foreman, Chief Economist at the American Petroleum Institute describes, African crude oil and natural gas production adds value to the economy and is an engine for employment, investment, economic growth and innovation. When this production underperforms, as it has recently, producing nations across the continent lose these benefits, and their global oil market position weakens. Moreover, nations that import refined petroleum products could end up with greater dependence and higher prices to attract products from global markets. On the other hand, underperformance in Africa could impact production quotes. Energy Board Executive, Abdur Rasheed Omidiya, extends on this notion, stating that, Continuous inability to meet OPEC production quota means OPEC may at some point review down the African countries quota and source increase in other member countries which will directly impact the economy as crude oil sales made up to one-third of some government budget revenue and 90% of export earnings. These production trends, if continued, will have significant impacts on refineries, as well as domestic energy supply, in Africa. Omidiya describes the current situation as a double-edged sword, as the shortfalls may impact crude supply with the current increase in demand pushing the crude price higher. This is good and bad news for a country like Nigeria, which should ordinarily earn more foreign exchange from the sale of crude, but now has to deal with paying more subsidy since theres a positive relationship between the international prices of the commodity and how much Nigerians get the product at the pump. One of the primary reasons contributing to continent-wide production declines is the lack of adequate investment across the upstream market. COVID-19 coupled with the global push for an energy transition has led to many international investors pulling out of hydrocarbon projects, diverting capital to green energy. However valuable for the renewables market, this move has proved disastrous for African oil and gas dependent nations. Sebastian Wagner, Managing Director of DMWA Resources, credits the production decline to a combination of factors, stating that, The year 2021 brought along multiple divestments in the African upstream sector, which have since impacted production. In addition, the impacts of the pandemic are still being felt as the multiple shutdowns caused snags with restarting oil wells. A disturbing trend has emerged over the years. There has been a decrease in investments in the exploration and development of oil and gas, thus impacting infrastructure and hampering oil and gas production. So, what needs to be done to mitigate this trend? Wagner notes that, In anticipation to becoming a principal supplier and reviving crude oil output, African governments and policymakers can counter the pressure by attracting more investments into the upstream sector. Accordingly, the solution lies in the upstream market. Recent developments worldwide have not only emphasized the need to scale-up capital expenditure in African exploration, but have reaffirmed the role oil and gas continues to play in the global energy space. Europes energy crisis, for example, and the European Unions decision to label gas as green could represent both a challenge and opportunity for African markets. While the new label could usher in a new wave of investment in Africa, trickle-down effects from Europes crisis poses a new challenge. Foreman explains by stating that, The short-term spillover effect of Europes energy crisis has been to raise natural gas and other energy commodity prices, and short of government intervention in markets that could have a cooling effect on prospective investments the current cycle likely needs to work itself out. Longer-term planning across the African continent could have beneficial effects, both to develop greater resources for African consumption and exports but also potentially to position some producers as pivotal future suppliers to Europe. Europes energy crisis could motivate parties to develop African resources, elevating their market position as a counterbalance to supplies from Russia and global liquefied natural gas (LNG) that could be relatively more expensive to develop and transport. In the meantime, the need for accelerated investment in Africa has never been more prominent. The struggle to increase production is due to years of underinvestment in the upstream oil and gas sector with ageing infrastructure magnified by the recent pandemic and call for no new investment in fossil fuels. The government and oil and gas operators need to find a new way of stimulating investors confidence and appetite with 3Cs: Certainty and Consistency in policies and regulatory law and Competitive in business friendliness, states Omidiya. The polarizing and misleading campaigns by powerful western groups like Greenpeace against Shells 3D seismic survey off the Wild Coast South Africa is wrong. The science does not back their misleading claims and blocking Shell hurts South Africa and many poor people. Exploring for energy oil and gas reserves in South Africa does not hurt the country. South Africa is a net importer of oil and gas and depends on foreign countries. Its energy security, development and beating energy should be prioritized. When a responsible and leading explorer is being demonized, it sends the wrong message to investors, creates a volatile market and hurts everyone. Namibia has showed amazing maturity when it comes to Shells work in the country and should be commended. We are confident that Shells exploration well in the Orange Basin offshore Namibia will be successful. The Graff-1 well is located in Block 2913A in the Orange Basin where Shell is the operator and its partners are QatarEnergy and the national oil company of Namibia, Namcor. Accordingly, as a whole, Africa needs to ensure both an enabling and attractive environment for investment. There is no need to wait until African Energy Week in October in Cape Town to find solutions. Despite the progress made to date in this area, more can be done to entice global players and international investors into Africas market. In line with this, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) a leading voice for energy in Africa firmly believes in the role and value that oil and gas play in Africas economies. A lot of changes are necessary to give oil and gas companies the incentive to explore in Africa during the current downturn. But we cant stop there. We need to consider other pain points that discourage foreign operations in Africa and find ways to eliminate those challenges as well. So why not remove this hurdle? Negotiating with trusted explorers would help them avoid unnecessary delays and bureaucratic red tape. Making these changes would still allow them to emphasize their own priorities, and it might also make IOCs more likely to keep exploring within their borders. Exploration, Exploration and Exploration. You cant produce oil and natural gas if you dont explore. You cant let radicals stop exploration campaigns and you cant let bureaucrats kick out companies with poor regulations like the CEMAC forex rules. Lets face it, look at Algeria, where oil and gas production rates were already declining in 2019, before the pandemic, largely because of repeated project delays caused by, among other challenges, slow government approval. During four licensing rounds, Algeria saw minimal interest from investors Stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. Nigeria, too, is known for the less than speedy pace at which it sanctions exploration projects. Even before COVID-19, its slow movement on this front contributed to a decline in oil production over a 10-year period Concluded Ayuk. As the year begins and new opportunities across the continent emerge, the AEC remains committed to helping African producing states accelerate project activities, improve production, and usher in a new era of socio-economic growth and well-being. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires AIADMK on Sunday criticized the Karnataka government for raising objections to the second phase of the Hogenakkal water project and extended its support to the ruling DMK in implementing the project that would provide drinking water to several villages of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts. In a statement, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam launched a scathing attack on the Karnataka government accusing it of not releasing Cauvery water on time and releasing only surplus water to Tamil Nadu after all reservoirs in Karnataka reach their maximum capacity. Karnataka has no moral right to oppose the project. Karnataka has a habit of opposing every project conceived by Tamil Nadu for the sake of opposing. The AIADMK strongly condemns the opposition to this project by the Karnataka government, Panneerselvam said in the statement. The former chief minister also told the DMK that the AIADMK, in its capacity as the principal Opposition party, will stand behind the Tamil Nadu government in executing the ambitious project. Panneerselvam also said the Hogenakkal water scheme was first conceived by former chief minister M G Ramachandran in the 1980s and revived by J Jayalalithaa in the 1990s. However, the efforts to implement the project could not succeed due to funding issues. He recalled that the AIADMK had protested against Karnatakas opposition to the phase-I of the project in 2008. It was Amma (Jayalalithaa) who inaugurated the project in 2013 via video conferencing from Chennai, he said. The comments come after Karnataka raised objections to Tamil Nadus announcement on implementing the phase II of the Hogenakkal integrated drinking water project at a cost of Rs 4,600 crore. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Andhra Pradesh government's ban on Chintamani, a Telugu stage play that has been around since 1920, has raised the hackles of the art and culture fraternity in the state. The play, scripted by pre-Independence era social crusader Kallakuri Narayana Rao that deals with the evils of prostitution, had celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. In normal times, the play is staged regularly all year round at village and temple fairs, and other social events, across Andhra Pradesh. While the play revolves around the central character of Chintamani, a prostitute who attains salvation through repentance, it is the character of Subbi Setti, a merchant community member who descends to abject poverty, is at the centre of the current controversy. The state government's move to ban Chintamani had come following representations from the Arya Vysya community in Andhra Pradesh. The Telugu merchant community, known as 'Banias' in north India, has long been up in arms against the play in which the character of Subbi Setty is portrayed in an extremely poor light. Also Read Gaathas tell stories of women from the epics The ban order was issued on January 17, following the latest attempt by the Arya Vysya community, in the form of a memorandum submitted to the state government about four months ago. According to observers, the fact that Endowments Department Minister Vellampalli Srinivas, who also belongs to the community, helped matters move at a fast pace. Predictably, the Arya Vysya community is rejoicing over the ban on the play. Community representatives have been expressing their gratitude to Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. "The depiction of Subbi Setti in the play, is very objectionable and humiliating. Showing him as ugly, and using charcoal as makeup to darken his complexion, and making him the butt of lewd jokes. It was intolerable to the Arya Vysyas," said Ambica Krishna, a leading member of the community, former legislator, and former chairman of the AP Film Development Corporation. The actual problem, however, does not lie with the playwright or the original script of Chintamani. "The play was written by Kallakuri Narayana Rao garu to highlight the evils of wrong company, in this case, a prostitute. The language used by the author in the original play has nothing objectionable. But over the years, local drama troupes began to modify the situations and language of the play, in a bid to appeal to mass sentiments. It is the fault of these actors and local drama troupes who keep manipulating the script and go overboard, penning ribald dialogues as per their whims and fancies to attract more people." said Golla Narayana, President of the Andhra Arts Academy, a cultural organisation that was set up to spread the fervour of independence in British India. Also Read 'Kaamaroopigal' is a gripping adaptation of Ramayana The last few days have seen several art and culture organisations join hands to voice their protest against the ban on Chintamani. Their argument is that the play is a reflection of the social mores of the prevailing times when it was originally written. The government's decision to ban the play is being seen as too extreme a step. "If any part of the play is objectionable, or someone is making changes to it, you can warn such people. But a blanket ban is untenable, especially since the play gives us insights into the social ills of its time," said S Anil Kumar, Secretary, Jana Natya Mandali, Andhra Pradesh unit. He said that in 2002, when the community had sought a ban on the play, the high court had ruled in favour of the play after going through the original script However, the Arya Vysya community is firm that a blanket ban on staging the play is the only solution. "It is impossible to monitor the plays staged in villages, and even in bylanes of towns and cities. We never know when and where a play is being staged. It will need to be videographed and then followed up, which is impractical to implement. A ban is the ideal solution," said Ambica Krishna. Meanwhile, concerns are being raised over the possible precedents that the ban sets for muzzling all kinds of creative expression in the days to come. "Today the ban is because a community is finding it objectionable. Tomorrow another community might object to another play or it could be that a political party finds fault with a stage play. This decision to ban a play, leaves the door open for future trouble," said G Narayana. Considering that the play survived several attempts to get it banned over the years, the urgency with which the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led state government has banned the play by issuing it through the general administration department is raising eyebrows. Observers opine that the ban may be the ruling party's ploy to garner favours of the community, which, though relatively small in numbers, has financial clout. While clarifying that the Arya Vysyas are well within their rights to protest against the caricaturing of their community, culture champions are finding fault with the state government for arbitrarily disposing of a very important issue. Watch the latest DH Videos here: With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) maintaining that attempts towards a forced conversion led to the suicide of a 17-year-old girl student of a missionary school, the Archbishop of Madurai on Sunday rejected the claim and appealed to everyone not to give religious colour to the students death. In a two-page statement, Rev Antony Pappusamy, Archbishop of Madurai, also said he was amused at Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai taking the conversion cudgel in his hands instead of trying to ensure justice for the girl through legal means. We dont consider the statements by Annamalai as that of his individual opinion. We take these statements as part of the false narrative being spread in the country by majoritarian communal forces, Pappusamy said in the statement. The archbishops statement comes as the BJP continues to blame attempts to convert the girl to Christianity as the reason for her suicide. The BJP, while protesting against the inaction in the case, has blamed the ruling DMK and Thanjavur district police for trying to conceal the truth. While BJP alleges forced conversion and points to the dying declaration of the girl, Thanjavur District Superintendent of Police (SP) C Ravali Priya Gandhapuneni said such an angle has not come out in the initial stages of the investigation. The BJP has held protests in Thanjavur and Chennai demanding justice for the 17-year-old student who died on January 19, exactly 10 days after she attempted suicide by consuming pesticide. On Sunday, Annamalai demanded action against the school and appropriate compensation to the family of the student and a government job for one of the family members. In a video that is said to have been recorded before her death, the girl said she was being tortured by her hostel warden ever since she shunned a proposal to convert to Christianity two years ago. Hostel warden Sagayamari (62) has been arrested on a complaint filed by the father of the girl and she has been booked under various sections of IPC and JJ Act. In the statement, the archbishop rejected the accusation that the girl was under pressure to convert. People know the services of the minority community in imparting education. In institutions run by us, everyone will appreciate the fact that the religious majority studies in large numbers. The institutions are never involved in the conversion and we dont accept the charge of forcing to convert, he said. Watch the latest DH videos: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Centre on a plea seeking establishment of 'Indian Environment Service', following a recommendation by a high-level committee. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M M Sundresh sought a reply from the Union government on a petition filed by Samar Vijay Singh. Referring to the air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR, the plea said the pollution has crossed the safe limits of breathing and made policymakers look for instant solutions to bring relief to the citizens. The plea also said the issue of environmental degradation, as one of the primary causes of diseases and health issues. It sought a direction to set up an Indian Environmental Service Academy to train officers for environmental law enforcement. "The prayer made is for creation of independent Indian Environment Service as an All-India Service. This prayer is stated to be arising from the recommendation of the T S R Subramanian Committee, the bench said. During the hearing, the bench, however, said that it has prima facie doubt whether a writ of mandamus can be issued on such a prayer. Petitioner Singh, for his part, cited a report submitted by the committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF), in 2014, under the chairmanship of former Cabinet Secretary Subramanian. The plea contended that this committee recommended creation of a new All-India service, the Indian Environment Service. It also pointed out that the committee noted the need for an institutional framework to meet future needs, and in its report proposed a National Environment Research Institute on the lines of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. Watch latest videos by DH here: Mumbai police have registered six accidental death reports (ADRs) in connection with the fire that broke out in a residential building in Tardeo area of central Mumbai, which claimed six lives and left 23 others injured, an official said on Sunday. The blaze had erupted on Saturday around 7.30 am at Sachinam Heights, a ground-plus-20-storey building located opposite Bhatia Hospital at Gowalia Tank. "As the fire claimed the lives of six persons, separate accidental death reports were registered at the Gamdevi police station on Saturday night," the police official said. Also read: Six killed, several injured in 20-storeyed Mumbai building fire The police are waiting for a report by the fire department as well as the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport's (BEST) electricity wing to know the exact cause of fire, although preliminary investigation has revealed that it broke out due to a power short circuit, he said. Officials had said that the fire was extinguished nearly five hours after it broke out. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sourabh Tripathi had said that primary information indicated that the fire started on the 15th floor and spread upward to the 19th floor, which was affected the most. Following the incident, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) set up an inquiry committee. Check out latest videos from DH: The 2014 polls redefined India's electoral politics and catapulted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as its primary pole. The BJP became the first party since 1984 to win a majority on its own. It also won 31.1 per cent of the popular vote, becoming the first party to win more than 30 per cent of the national vote share since 1991. It managed to win an even bigger mandate in 2019 debunking all theories of its landslide 2014 victory being an aberration. In the last few years, the BJP has consolidated in its traditional strong zones - the Hindi-speaking states. It has also expanded to newer places like Assam, Manipur, Tripura and even Jammu & Kashmir. The party's knack for winning big has prompted some to call the party almost invincible. However, the BJP's electoral record is far from flawless. In assembly elections, the BJP seems unbeatable when it is the challenger but struggles to defend its incumbent government. In their book The Verdict: Decoding India's Elections, analysing India's elections over the years, Prannoy Roy and Dorab Sopariwala divided India's electoral history into three phases: the pro-incumbency era (1952-1977), the anti-incumbency era (1977-2002) and the fifty: fifty era (2002-present). During the first 25 years, 82 per cent of incumbent governments were voted back to power. The "optimism" of 1952-1977 transformed into "anger" in the subsequent 25 years (1977-2002). Consequently, 71 per cent of incumbent state governments were voted out of power during these years. Since 2002, in the "50:50 phase", in 75 assembly elections in medium and big-sized states, 50 per cent of governments were voted back, and a matching percentage voted out. Thus, there is no discernible bias towards either pro-incumbency or anti-incumbency. Voters started to differentiate between governments that performed and delivered on their promises and those that did not. Roy and Sopariwala argued that in the 50:50 phase, "perform or perish" is the new-voter driven reality. The BJP's performance in the 50:50 phase is far from impressive. During 2014-2021, only 40 per cent of the BJP, or National Democratic Alliance (NDA), governments were voted back to power. In 10 assembly elections in medium and big-sized states from 2014-2021, the BJP-led NDA lost power in six states. The BJP or its alliance was able to retain a majority in only three states - Gujarat (2017), Maharashtra (2019) and Assam (2021). In the state of Bihar, BJP and its senior alliance partner, the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United), managed to win a wafer-thin majority after being bailed out by women voters in the state. The BJP had joined the ruling alliance in Bihar in 2017, and the anti-incumbency sentiment in the state was mainly directed at Nitish Kumar's JD(U). A closer look at the three instances where a BJP-led government retained a majority sheds more light on its vulnerability while defending its state governments. In Gujarat (2017), despite a high-decibel campaign and tall claims of crossing 150 seats, the BJP's tally in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home turf fell from 117 to 99. The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance won a majority in Maharashtra, but a more in-depth analysis tells a different story. The NDA alliance, especially the BJP, benefited from Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA)'s decision not to join the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance. If the VBA had joined them, it would have prevented a split in the anti-incumbency votes. In such a scenario, the Congress-NCP alliance would have won 25 more seats, and the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance would have fallen well short of the majority mark. The BJP's tally would have dropped to 85 from 105. A similar split in opposition caused by the alliance of the newly formed Raijor Dal (RD) and Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP) helped the BJP-led NDA retain power in the 2021 Assam elections. In 14 seats across the state, the margin of victory for the NDA was lower than the votes polled by the AJP-RD candidates. Simply put, had the AJP-RD yielded to the Congress party's repeated demands of joining the grand-alliance, the Congress and its allies would have won a simple majority of 65 seats in the 126 member assembly. It is also interesting to note that almost 70 per cent of the BJP's electoral victories since 2014 have been when the party was in the opposition/ challenging the incumbent government. Only 30 per cent of its victories have been when the party or its alliance was in power, that is, defending its incumbent government. Thus, the seemingly invincible BJP has a chink in its armour - it struggles to win elections while defending its state governments. In 2022, the party will defend six states - Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur in the first half of the year and Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh in November-December. In an effort to counter anti-incumbency and improve its record while defending its state governments at the state level, the BJP's top brass has adopted a 'chop and change' approach, changing chief ministers in poll-bound states like Gujarat, Uttarakhand and even Karnataka (which goes to polls in April 2023). In five of the six states where the BJP will be fighting to defend its governments, the Congress will be the principal challenger to the saffron party. A good showing will boost the plummeting stock of the Congress and again make it the anchor of the opposition's anti-BJP front. A poor performance will bolster the argument that the Congress is a spent force that cannot take on the BJP. The year 2022 could give us a peek into the future shape of India's polity. (The writer is a freelance columnist based in Mumbai) Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH. The number of countries recognising Taiwan is shrinking faster. In December 2021, Nicaragua switched its recognition from Taiwan to the People's Republic of China (PRC). Today the number of countries with official diplomatic relations with Taiwan stands at 14. The numbers have reduced fast since Tsai Ing-wen became the president. In 2016, this number stood at 21. The development has brought the ongoing friction between China and Taiwan to the fore. China has shown new zeal to reduce Taiwan's diplomatic space consistently. Chinese President Xi Jinping has again asserted the 'One-China' principle and called for reunification. Tsai Ing-wen, the Republic of China (Taiwan) president, and the country's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)'s call for more independent foreign and domestic policies have aggravated tensions. The more Taiwan asserts Taiwanisation; the more Beijing looks for ways to end its status as a functioning nation. The exit of Taiwan from Nicaragua is a clear signal of increasing Chinese financial clout in the region. The Chinese embassy is already functional, and the Taiwanese officials were given just two weeks to vacate the country. This change of diplomatic recognition comes after 30 years when, in 1990, Nicaragua had switched recognition from China to Taiwan. However, the re-election of Daniel Ortega has changed the dynamics, and he has claimed "ideological affinity" for his actions. Nicaragua received nearly a million doses of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines after the diplomatic switch. It appears that even though the United States has asserted that countries should not switch ties from Taiwan, it has not been enough to prevent Nicaragua. This may be because of the current position of Washinton towards the incumbent Nicaraguan government. The elections were dubbed a "sham" by the US. It also highlights that China is still ready to work for its gains ignoring the global norms if it helps attain international clout against Taiwan. The luring away of another ally of Taiwan with the help of financial promises proves the point. In addition to Nicaragua, China has increased pressure on Lithuania. The Chinese media and propaganda branch has been in full swing. A cartoon published in China Daily on January 7, 2022, shows how the people of Taiwan are the real victims. It portrayed the Taiwanese government using people's money to continue its diplomatic relations with Lithuania, arguing that Lithuania is leaning towards Taiwan because Taipei has been paying it. These images started after Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a de-facto embassy. Most countries that accept the One-China Principle have Taiwanese offices. However, what is different here is that the one in Lithuania uses the name Taiwan instead of Chinese Taipei. Responding to this, China downgraded its relations with Lithuania. This issue will have a spiralling effect on the overall European Union (EU)-China trade relations as reports suggest Beijing is blockading trade with Lithuania. Even though Taiwan has promised investments and trade, the smaller country may have to bend to Beijing's wishes given China's size. It is a clear sign of financial clout and position, which Beijing does not shy away from using. It does the same thing that it accuses Taiwan of doing. However, the question is whether diplomatic recognition is the only pillar of statehood. Suppose we float a hypothetical position (which may become a reality soon) that Taiwan loses all its diplomatic allies to China with Beijing wooing them away with the lure of investments, infrastructure and other assistance. Will Taiwan be not termed a fully functioning 'country'? Taiwan does have an independent government that is democratically elected. The process of elections and government have been in place and have shown to be functioning. It also has a population that identifies with this democratically elected government. It has an independent judiciary, media and bureaucracy. It has successfully governed over a given land territory for more than seventy years. When coupled with a functioning economy and a population that identifies itself with the existing territory, these can be deemed the necessary criteria. Several surveys highlight the shift of the assertion of Taiwanese people from identifying themselves as Chinese to predominantly Taiwanese. The people of Taiwan have never been under the rule of the Communist Party of China (CPC). They have a different form of government and independent media. The call that CPC and Xi Jinping make when they describe Taiwan as a territory of China does not hold logical for the people living on that territory. The Chinese foreign minister has asserted, "There are still a few countries in the world that maintain "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan. He said the Taiwan authorities are engaged in "dollar diplomacy" in negligence of the well-being of the people in Taiwan". "Sooner or later, these countries will establish or resume normal diplomatic relations with China". It makes it clear that Beijing will not stop until it has completely isolated Taiwan. However, if that happens, how will the world perceive Taiwan - as an isolated country or a province of China. (The writer is Assistant Professor at the OP Jindal Global University) Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH. Hers was an arranged marriage. The abuse followed in the first month. He would force himself on her, sometimes seven times a day. Her access to a doctor was blocked even when she bled. Her phone was taken away and her room was the only space she could inhibit. One day, she decided it was enough and ran away. She told me that she ran away to save her life. A day longer and she would have been dead, recalls Sneha Mukherjee, advocate at the Human Rights Law Network. Mukherjee is appearing for the woman in a petition seeking to let go of the exception that accords immunity to husbands who commit forced sex on their wives, if the wife is above 18 years. She says that the woman went to a shelter and filed for divorce. Her family, on the other hand, filed a missing persons report and demanded that she go back home to her abusive husband. In response, she went to the police station to say she was an adult and she had decided to walk out on her own. Mukherjee says that the womans clarity of purpose was inspirational. She is strong-headed and very clear - even when she has no support, family help or financial assistance - that no woman, whether she is within or outside of a marriage, can be touched, says Mukherjee. The legal landscape The criminal laws, commandeered by the Indian Penal Code, recognises rape from a wide spectrum under Section 375. Section 376 has a penal provision for rape. However, Section 375 carries an exception: Sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under fifteen years of age, is not rape. Lawyer Rebecca John, amicus curiae to the Delhi High Court on the constitutionality of exception to marital rape under Section 375 of the IPC, has said that the provision is unconstitutional and absurd. It becomes imperative for Constitutional Courts to intervene when structures of injustice and persecution, deeply entrenched in patriarchy, destroy constitutional freedom, John argued last week in front of a bench of Justices Rajiv Shakdher and C Hari Shankar. Senior Supreme Court advocate and Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) founder Colin Gonsalves says that the argument is simple. Courts globally have ruled that a married man is not allowed to rape his wife and if he does, he should be arrested. The matter is as simple, marital rape should be penalised, said Gonsalves. The case has reignited the debate on Indias legislation surrounding marital rape. It found space across prime time debates after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted in support: Consent is amongst the most underrated concepts in our society. This comes in the aftermath of the acquittal of Father Franco Mulakkal, accused of rape by a nun in Kerala. His acquittal has led to widespread outrage; the courts observations have been particularly criticised because it voiced doubts over her testimony and her motives. The Mulakkal case comes almost a decade after another case that left a whole nation shocked -- the Nirbhaya case. The gang rape and murder of a paramedic in a bus on the streets of Delhi in December 2012 led to countrywide protest and forced a country to look inward. Since then, we have traversed a wide terrain. There are changes in law, new government sanctions have been granted, and more and more women are coming out to report cases. But we also have cases like the Kathua rape case, in which an eight-year-old girl was gang-raped and killed in 2018, in which the trial is still going on. There are also cases like the Hathras case, in which a 19-year-old Dalit girl was gang-raped and killed by four upper-caste men. The womans body was forcibly burned by the police, leading to widespread protests against the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government. Eminent lawyer and womens rights activist Vrinda Grover says some of the judgments have taken us back in the road we have traversed since then. The gains we made since the 2013 criminal amendments are being undermined because of the judiciarys stereotypes that seem to influence adjudication of these rape cases. Despite women giving difficult testimonies, the court continues to scrutinise the womans character rather than the accuseds conduct, says Grover. Governments standpoint Governments over time have tiptoed on the issue. In 2013, the Justice Verma Committee recommended that it was time for marital rape to go. The then UPA government refused to pass legislation and the standing committee of Parliament did not even mention it. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, brought in 2013 to bring in changes in legislations that deal with sexual violence, left marital rape untouched. Under the Modi government, former women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi told Parliament in 2016 that marital rape cannot be applied in the Indian context. In the ongoing Delhi High Court case, the Centre has said it needs to complete its consultation with stakeholders to make marital rape a criminal offence. It referred to the 172nd report of the Law Commission of India on Review of Rape Laws in March 2000 that said that since that may amount to excessive interference with the marital relationship, it does not recommend doing away with the exception under Section 375. The government has recently started consultations. The National Commission for Women last week held one with the legal fraternity and a few womens rights groups. The unanimous response was that marital rape should go. More such consultations are on the anvil. Time to go Legally, the Court does not need to create a new provision or a new offence under the law; letting go of the exception to Section 375 will breathe a new life for women within the confines of a marriage. Jagmati Sangwan of the All India Democratic Womens Association, one of the institutions petitioning the Delhi High Court, says that marital rape is discriminatory and violative. When the context of home comes in, our state agencies become patriarchal and traditionalists, which is against Constitutional views and duties. Each person is free to bodily integrity and choice; it should be honoured and protected. If someone touches a person and causes harm outside the home, they are booked, but how is it fine inside the home, asks Sangwan. It is high time for the marital rape exception to go Check out the latest videos from DH: Minister for Energy, Kannada and Culture V Sunil Kumar accused Congress leaders in Karnataka including former chief minister Siddaramaiah and the Left parties of trying to divide society by creating a row over the tableau of Narayana Guru. "The Congress leaders are unnecessarily politicising the issue. The Left party-led government in Kerala had violated the guidelines while sending the proposal for the tableau to be part of Republic Day parade," said the Minister. "They have intentionally created issues to insult Sri Narayana Guru and Hindu society. The Kerala government has been falsely spreading the message that only the tableau proposal on Narayana Guru was rejected. In fact, the jury had opposed three tableau proposals sent by Kerala on Shankaracharya, Jatayu and Narayana Guru," he added. Stating that Narayana Guru had upheld the principles of equality and unity in society, Sunil Kumar alleged that the Left party and Congress are trying to divide the society. Welcoming the decision of various organisations to hold a rally with the portrait of Narayana Guru on January 26, the Minister said: as a follower of Narayana Guru, I will also be part of such programmes. People should understand the political conspiracies of the Communists and Congress. It was the same Congress which had objected to the proposal of the Mangaluru City Corporation to rename the Lady Hill Circle after Narayana Guru, he said. Procession Meanwhile, members of various like-minded organisations and Left and secular parties will take out a procession of the portrait of Narayana Guru on January 26. To condemn the rejection of the tableau of Narayana Guru proposal sent by the Kerala government to take part in the Republic Day parade, the members will take out a procession of the portrait of Narayana Guru from Clock Towers to DCs office in Mangaluru. Sunil Kumar Bajal on behalf of the organisers said Narayana Guru had propagated equality and also fought for rights of women. It was not right on the part of the BJP government to show disrespect to Narayana Guru owing to differences in ideology. The disrespect has hurt the sentiments of the people. By respecting Narayana Guru, we have TO show our commitment to build equality in the society, he said. Rally To create awareness on the messages of Narayana Guru, youth wing of JD(S) of Dakshina Kannada will organise a rally from State Bank Circle in Mangaluru to Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple on January 24 at 11.30 am. MLC B M Farooq will flag off the rally, said a release from Youth JD(S) district president Akshith Suvarna. Watch latest videos by DH here: Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has appealed to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Energy Minister Sunil Kumar not to increase the power tariff for the MSME sector. In an appeal, KCCI President Shashidhar Pai Maroor said, "The KCCI is shocked at the decision of Escoms proposing to increase Power tariff by Rs 2 per unit. The MSME sector in India is the second-largest employment generator after agriculture and acts as a breeding ground for entrepreneurs and innovators with considerable support in strengthening the business ecosystem. MSME sector contributed 29% to overall GDP, he noted. With the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns impacting their cash cycles, MSMEs, who are the backbone of Indias inclusive growth story, have felt a significant impact and faced severe disruptions. As an important part of the domestic and global value chains, the plight of MSMEs is of deep concern, he said. MSME sector will completely collapse if the power tariff is hiked. We appeal Escoms to reduce their distribution losses and overheads instead of putting an additional burden on the consumers. Also read: No hasty decision will be taken on tariff hikes, assures Karnataka CM Bommai "The impact of the hike will be particularly disastrous for the MSMEs as they struggle to revive operations from the Covid pandemic and severe slowdown in the economy, he said and urged the Chief Minister to instruct the Escoms to withdraw the proposal and save MSMEs from closure. Further, he said the announcement of countrywide lockdown dragged MSME owners, employers and external stakeholders in unexpected times, where no one had the experience to handle this kind of situation. Extended lockdown had a negative impact on the supply of finished goods, procurement of raw material and availability of employees to work in production and supply processes. "Post lockdown, MSME is facing challenges related to debt repayments, wages/salaries, statutory dues, etc. It is not only the MSME units that face challenges; even consumers are left with lower disposable income. "Many enterprises laid off their workers because of inability to pay salaries, vacated their offices due to incurring expenses and halted their production due to stopped demand, he said. Check out latest videos from DH: HARRISBURG Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. Leaders of Pennsylvanias beleaguered teachers pension fund are requesting that board members sign oaths of secrecy before receiving a critical update on the botched investment calculation scandal that has led to multiple federal investigations. Advertisement On Thursday morning, the chairman of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System board told members in an email that they must sign a yet-to-be-drafted non-disclosure agreement to participate in a closed-door meeting later this month. The meeting, scheduled for Jan. 31, is pivotal: Board members are poised to be presented with the findings of a taxpayer-funded inquiry into an investment calculation mistake in late 2020 that wrongly spared teachers a potential hike in their pension payments, leaving taxpayers to make up the difference over time. The calculation was later fixed, and teacher payments increased. Advertisement The inquiry was conducted by Womble Bond Dickinson, a law firm hired by the board last year to conduct an internal investigation into the error as PSERS coped with the federal probes. The system has agreed to pay Womble up to $367,600 in fees for its work, with partners collecting up to $695 an hour. Open government advocates raised alarms over PSERS latest demand, saying it raises free speech concerns. They also questioned whether such an agreement by a government agency can even be enforced. There are some very significant issues that could arise with a government agency attempting to limit speech, said Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel at the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, of which Spotlight PA is a member. This is a matter of public concern, and the people who are in the meeting are often the best ones and sometimes the only ones who can expose government wrongdoing. In an email reviewed by Spotlight PA and The Philadelphia Inquirer, Board Chair Chris Santa Maria cited advice from outside counsel in asking board members and anyone else attending the meeting to sign non-disclosure agreements. The systems lawyers, he wrote, would draft the agreement and circulate it to board members next week. Santa Maria also asked that people attend the meeting in person, unless they show symptoms or test positive for COVID-19, though the email does not explain why in-person attendance is requested. Food and ample amounts of coffee will be provided, he said. In a statement Friday, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who serves on the PSERS board, said her office suggested the non-disclosure agreements as a possible solution in order to allow board members to participate remotely. Treasury has not pressured for NDAs to be mandated, she said. Garrity and other top elected officials, including Gov. Tom Wolf and leading candidates in the race to succeed him, have called on PSERS to release Wombles full report into the error. Advertisement PSERS did not respond to requests for comment about the unusual demand for a non-disclosure agreement. The agency also did not answer questions about what would happen if a board member refused to sign the agreement but demanded to participate in the meeting. Its unclear what authority, if any, PSERS has in requiring non-disclosure agreements by its board members. The states open-meetings law, known as the Sunshine Act, is silent on the issue, Melewsky said. The law does allow public boards to hold closed-door sessions under certain circumstances, she said, but does not prohibit those who attended from later discussing what occurred. The PSERS board is made up of volunteers, including four state lawmakers, the elected state treasurer, and two school board representatives. Five members are school staff. In recent months, the agency has become increasingly upset over what it perceives as leaks about the investigation into the funds mistake and other matters being led by federal prosecutors and the FBI, as well as a separate probe by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. During a closed-door board meeting last fall, Santa Maria and board member Frank Ryan, a Republican state representative from the Harrisburg area, said they were considering asking for an investigation into the disclosures. At the same meeting, they also raised the specter of non-disclosure agreements. Advertisement Santa Marias request is the first direct indication that the agency is looking to contain the embarrassing string of disclosures about its internal performance. This months update by Womble Bond Dickinson is expected to provide the first in-depth explanation for how the agency made the investment calculation mistake. The fund has never provided any explanation, citing the federal inquiries. Last fall, Womble attorney Claire J. Rauscher warned board members that some staff could see the findings as damaging to their reputations, although she also disclosed that her inquiry had not turned up any criminal wrongdoing. She did not identify any staff or executive officer who is named in the report. Last Call Daily Get top headlines from The Morning Call delivered weekday afternoons. > It is not clear what portion of the Womble report, if any, will ever become public. State Sen. Katie Muth. D-Montgomery, a PSERS board member and the most outspoken critic of the agencys secrecy surrounding the error, said Friday that she was surprised by the request, given that its a public board that uses public funds. Ive never been asked to sign an NDA in my life, said Muth. Public servants shouldnt hide information from the public. Advertisement Muth last year hired lawyer Terry Mutchler to represent her in trying to obtain key PSERS records, including ones related to the calculation error. In an interview Friday, Mutchler said she will ask the agencys lawyers to provide a legal basis for their NDA request, which she called problematic and antithetical to government transparency. This is a moment for PSERS to let some sunlight in, as opposed to doubling down on secrecy, she said. WHILE YOURE HERE... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Forty-nine per cent of samples sequenced from Karnataka in December and January were found to have the more virulent Delta variant and its sub-lineages, according to data from the state government. Out of 2,791 samples sent from Karnataka and sequenced at INSACOG labs, 1,355 were found to have the Delta variant and its sub-lineages. The highly transmissible Omicron variant was found only in 27 per cent of the samples (766), other variants accounted for 24 per cent (670). The new data complicates the pandemic picture, as it is widely believed that Omicron is the variant that is fuelling the current surge. Also Read | Chinese vaccine Sinovac no match against Omicron variant: Study Crucially, this implies that a subset of Covid patients may still need the kind of oxygen assistance, medication/drugs, and critical care support that was needed by Delta patients in the devastating second wave. Till Friday, (January 21), out of 1,355 samples, 283 had the Delta variant, 70 had Delta sub-lineages, 330 had other variants of concern, and 679 had Omicron. In December, out of 1,436 samples, 545 had the Delta variant, 457 had Delta sub-lineages, 340 had other variants of concern and 87 had Omicron. Seven samples' variants were not revealed in each of these two months. State Health Commissioner D Randeep told DH that Omicron detections were low in December (detected in only 6.05 per cent of the samples sequenced). "However, it started becoming the dominant strain in January's samples when 679 out of 1,355 samples, which is 50 per cent, had Omicron. Most admissions in hospitals are January patients," he said. Also Read | Three doses of mRNA Covid vaccines very effective against Omicron, Delta: Study "We have still not started tracking genomic sequencing results of admitted patients to ascertain this (Omicron hospitalisations). But, oxygen consumption remains low and well below supply," he added. The comfortable position on oxygen requirement was echoed by TK Anil Kumar, Principal Secretary (Health), Department of Health and Family Welfare. "We're keeping track of hospitalisations, which is the only indicator of whether oxygen is required or not. In the last three weeks, the requirement has hovered around 180 to 200 metric tonnes. Largely, it has been for non-Covid patients," he said, adding there has "not been any spike". "At the peak of the second wave, we needed 800 to 1,200 metric tonnes of oxygen. Once consumption crosses 300 metric tonnes, we need to be cautious. If the hospitalisation rate crosses the 6 per cent threshold, it will become worrisome." On the availability of Covid drugs, Randeep said the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL) had stocked up on eight Centre-recommended drugs and 38 state-recommended drugs. Dr Vishal Rao, a member of the state genomic surveillance committee, said vaccination seems to be the "determining factor" with regard to hospitalisation rather than the variant currently. "The current vaccines seem to be effective against Delta and its sub-lineages to date. Having said that, the nature of this virus and its constant efforts for immune evasion is obvious," he added. Check out the latest videos from DH: There are many works that examine the relationship between the coloniser and the colonised. While there are several volumes of studies that invest in the criticism of the British ideology (political, social, economic and cultural), there are a few that critically scrutinise the same from the vantage point of contributions of the West. Forgotten Civilizations: The Rediscovery of Indias Lost History is one such work that sheds light on the contributions made by British colonial officers to the historical and cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent. The book is a well-articulated compilation of 15 narratives, of people who were interesting exceptions and greatly responsible for the discovery of several cultural symbols, ancient scripts and ornate architecture that we take for granted today. In writing this book, the co-authors, Rupa Gupta and Gautam Gupta, have brought together interdisciplinary perspectives on the British colonial rule in India. The art of translation Forgotten Civilizations focuses on the translations of many texts that bear testimony to the spread of Indias glory. The immersive reading of the ancient texts, which were mostly written in Sanskrit, revealed its many resemblances to Greek and Latin. In William Jones words, Sanskrit is of a wonderful structure; more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either. The study of the old texts, to mention a few William Jones translation of Kalidasas Shakuntala (Sacontala or The Fatal Ring), Jayadevas Geet Govind, Hitopadesa and Manusmriti (seven volumes); The Bhagavad Gita, Or Dialogues of Kreeshna and Arjoon in Eighteen Lectures translated by Sir Charles Wilkins; Nathaniel Halheds translation of Upanishad and Mahabharata (unfinished translation); and Mitaksara and Dayabhaga (legal commentaries on Hindu laws of inheritance) translated by Henry Colebrooke have all invited the West to look at the subcontinent as one of the oldest civilisations. These works stand as exceptions for they have not only contributed to restoring Indias literature but also remain independent discourses that have consciously prevented European prejudices from seeping in. Bricks and words While on the one hand there were texts attracting serious reading and unbiased interpretations and translations, on the other, was the study of buildings and monuments. The tales of James Prinsep, Thomas and William Daniells, James Fergusson, Sir Alexander Cunningham and Sir John Hubert Marshall usually surface in introducing the subcontinent as one of the oldest civilisations, rich in history, science and culture. The extensive ink-sketches of ancient buildings, temples, mosques and minarets have added weightage to the fact that Indias cultural heritage was built by minds that were an amalgamation of tradition and individual talent. James Prinseps Benares Illustrated is an apt example, where a collection of 17 of his drawings introduced Benares to the Western world making the holy city garner its recognition and fame across the globe. The credit of decoding the long-forgotten scripts of Brahmi and Kharoshti (ancient writing systems) also goes to Prinsep. Similarly, Fergusson attempted to learn Indias past through the imperishable records in the rocks, or on sculptures and carvings, which gave him more details of monuments and the faith and feelings that they represented. Some colonial explorers did make appeals to the colonial government requesting their intervention in restoring and protecting the heritage buildings of India. This gave much exposure to the ornate structures and thus began the recognition and appreciation of Indian art. Research on Buddhism Brain Hodgson, an English officer, is known to have been a collector of original documents on Buddhism that had up to that time never been gathered. His supply of materials to the Asiatic Society of Bengal proved to be beneficial to scholars and helped them in their investigations and research on the study of Buddhism. Famous works such as The Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal by Dr Rajendra Lal Mitra and Introduction a lhistoire du Bouddhisme Indien (Legends of Indian Buddhism) by Eugene Burnouf were based on the manuscripts presented by Hodgson. The contribution of Hodgson demands thorough appreciation as a collector and as an author. He was the largest and the most munificent collector of ancient texts and vernacular tracts that have served as a vital source of research both to his contemporaries and future researchers. Quite interestingly, Forgotten Civilizations provides snippets on how colonial officers like Hodgson proposed the establishment of vernacular colleges for local schoolmasters. This, however, was not implemented and Macaulays arguments influenced the government to choose English as a medium of education. The writers have situated the study mainly in the 18th century, drawing on sociology, history and political science that aids in examining the important social and cultural events that took place in the set time frame. The book is a comprehensive account of those important few who were responsible for popularising oriental studies in Europe, thus helping restructure perceptions about India in the rest of the world. The lucid writing style and the clear chapter structure go a long way in making this a fascinating read. Richard Bennett was appointed Agency Director of Operations in November 2019. As director, Bennett manages the improvement and transformation efforts within the department. His functional responsibilities include transformational efforts to continue improving the agency's purpose, processes, capabilities and management systems, and fostering a human-centered mindset and culture at the department. Bennett also provides leadership to the agency's continuity of operations program and emergency and risk management for the department. Prior to his role as director, Bennett served as the department's health and safety coordinator and facilities manager along with other department-wide administrative and support functions since joining the department in 2011. Bennett is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (B.S. MCL) and Pennsylvania College of Technology (A.A.) and has attended courses at Millersville University for elementary education. He is also a 2015 graduate of the Commonwealth's Emerging Leader Program and has received a Lean Green Belt from the Commonwealth's Lean certification program. Bennett was also formerly a sergeant in the PA Army National Guard. Bennett currently resides in Lancaster with wife, Megan, and their dog, Dilly. Duncan, OK (73533) Today Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 71F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. DKIT media department have called on CAO applicants and those looking to upskill to consider their award winning creative media courses. Dundalk Institute of Technologys Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music is the esteemed creative hub of the Institute and is home to an exciting and innovative range of programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level including creative media, film and TV production, music, and theatre. A range of courses are available for creative persons with a love for the arts, looking for highly regarded and practical courses that leave them employable for the creative industry. Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities including TV and recording studios, performance spaces and discipline-specific lab spaces. The department regularly host a series of public events including concerts, exhibitions, showcases, theatre productions, and conferences that enrich the cultural life of the Institute and region. As a student in the Department, there are many opportunities for students to collaborate with classmates in other creative disciplines and with partner universities across the world. DkIT graduates have successfully gone on to work on prestigious ventures. For example, Film and Television Production graduates have worked on HBOs Game of Thrones, have become researchers for BBC, TV3 and RTE, are employed in production companies such as Freemantle UK, Motive TV, Vision Independent Productions and Animo TV; post-production companies Piranha Bar, Screen Scene and Egg Post Production, and/or Various Theatre companies including Anu productions and Upstate. Music students and graduates have enjoyed successful careers as touring and recording artists, namely Wornoc, Cuig, Gavin Gribben, Daoiri Farrell, Fiachra Meek, Alfi and Ryan McAuley. Additionally, music graduates have been recipients of national and international awards including: Young Musicians Platform, U.S. Freshgrass Festival, RTE Folk Awards, BBC Folk Awards, Higher Education Musicology Competition and Undergraduate Awards (Ireland). Meanwhile, Creative Media graduates work in a wide range of jobs across the Creative Industries. Predominately graduates go into Graphic/Digital Design, Web Design or some facet of communications such as social media, PR or Marketing. Many past students have set up their own businesses in areas such as design, video, and photography. Some of the companies that our graduates are currently working for are: Glanbia, Bank of Ireland, Gym + Coffee, CKSK, Coral Interactive, Boyle Sports, Gill and Macmillian, Kooba, Setanta Sports, and STATSports. Undergraduate courses include: BA in Creative Media Level 7 or 8 BA (Hons) in Film and Television Production BA in Audio and Music Production Level 7 or 8 BA (Hons) in Music BA in Musical Theatre BA in Theatre and Film Practice, BA (Hons) Drama Postgraduate courses include: MA in Music for Screen MA/MSc in Music Technology If you currently work in the creative industry and want to upskill Dundalk Institute of Technology also offers Flexible/Professional and Springboard courses which include Certificates in Audio-Visual Production for Online Platforms, a Certificate in Irish traditional Music Studies and a Certificate in Sound Design and Implementation for Interactive Media. To check out more details on these courses select the Creative Arts, Media and Music section on the DKIT website: Courses / DkIT - Dundalk Institute of Technology The key handover began last week at Halliday Mills in Dundalk, an apartment complex recently renovated by Co-operative Housing Ireland. Close to 40 individuals received their keys on 18th January 2022. New residents will become Members of Co-operative Housing Ireland, an Approved Housing Body (AHB) which worked closely with Louth County Council to deliver the project. Elaine McCann received the keys to her new home Image: Conor Healy, Picture it Photography Elaine McCann (above), one new resident who just received the keys of her new home said, Im looking forward to getting space for me and my daughter. Itll be great to get our own space to do our own thing. Another new resident, Leanne Crosby, who also received the keys of her new home said, Im looking forward to having my own freedom and getting my own independence. When I got the contact [from the local authority], I was very happy. Its time I can basically start my life. [I was] living at home with my parents, my brother and sister. Halliday Mills is an apartment complex of 85 BER A3 rated one-bed, two-bed and three-bed apartments delivered by CHI in partnership with Louth County Council, with support from the Housing Agency, the Housing Finance agency and the Department of Housing, in response to need in the area. The complex has been totally refurbished with additions of insulation, new windows and doors, and air-to-water heat pumps, among other features. It has an ideal location as it is situated on the coast, only a 5-minute drive to Dundalk town centre. CHI is an Approved Housing Body (AHB) and works closely with various stakeholders in the housing sector, including Local Authorities, Government, aspiring homeowners, tenants and developers, to provide high quality social-rented and home ownership co-operative homes across the country. North Andover, MA (01845) Today Rain likely. High 54F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. By The Staff of The News The driver involved in what police have described as a murder-suicide has been identified as Vanessa Villarreal, 19, of Bovina, according to the acting Parmer County sheriff. Acting Sheriff Eric Geske declined to identify the 16-year-old boy who a... URUMQI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Yang Zongzong, a man dedicated to discovering and protecting rare plants, describes himself as a "plant hunter" on social media platforms. He also coined the term "folk taxonomist" to explain his work. Yang has had fascination with plants since he was 6 years old. He quit a stable job at 34 to specialize in plant research. In recent years, he has gone to mountains and wetlands to discover and protect rare plants. In 2017, he started a community that attracted about 20 plant enthusiasts from various fields. They tried to protect endangered plant species and arouse public awareness of conservation through germplasm preservation and science education. He also runs a research class for children to teach them about plants. Thanks to the efforts of Yang and his companions, all the wild tulip species in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have been listed as second-class under state protection in the newly adjusted List of China's State-Protected Key Wild Plants. In 2021, Yang accomplished what would have seemed impossible to many -- writing a professional botanical book as the first author. Yang Zongzong makes plant samples at his studio in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) Yang Zongzong makes plant samples at his studio in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) Yang Zongzong gives a lesson on plants to children at his studio in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Nov. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) Yang Zongzong takes photos of plants in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) Yang Zongzong gives a lesson on plants to children at his studio in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Nov. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) Yang Zongzong gives a lesson on plants to children at his studio in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Nov. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) Yang Zongzong makes plant samples at his studio in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) Yang Zongzong makes plant samples at his studio in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) Yang Zongzong (5th, L) poses for a photo with members of Natural Botanical Society in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Du Gang) Yang Zongzong shows a plant sample at his studio in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Nov. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) Produced by Xinhua Global Service Well-known author and journalist Colm Keane has passed away aged 70. A prolific writer, Mr Keane wrote 29 books - averaging a book a year for the past three decades. The latest book, The Book of St Brigid, was released last September. It marked the fourth book co-written with his wife, RTE newscaster, Una O'Hagan. The pair were married for almost 30 years. Mr Keane was born in Youghal in 1951. He attended Trinity College Dublin, where he graduated with a BA degree and subsequently awarded an MA in Economics and Political Science. He and Ms O'Hagan settled in Bray before moving to Waterford in recent years. The couple visited Youghal often to walk along the beach while they worked on their books. "We walk it regularly and Ive never known any place or journey like it to facilitate the thought process," Mr Keane said last year. "Wed drive from our home in An Rinn in the Waterford Gaeltacht and walk the entire length to Pilmore, resolving many a conundrum in the process." As a journalist, Mr Keane worked with RTE for 26 years where he produced and presented a wide range of documentaries. Former colleague John Creedon paid tribute to Mr Keane and extended his condolences to his loved ones. "I'll always fondly remember his enthusiasm and our early-morning chats about Bray Wanderers, music, Youghal, the Irish Saints and any subject you care to mention," Mr Creedon wrote on Twitter. Mr Keane had been diagnosed with cancer. He was predeceased by his son Sean, who died of cancer on Christmas day in 2007 at the age of 20. RTEs Des Cahill said: Most of us will remember him as a great broadcaster and a lovely man I will remember him most as an incredible father to his late son, Sean. Deepest, deepest sympathy to Una and Colms extended fam This story first appeared on IrishExaminer.com. Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Sponsored By: St Anthony's Hospital Washington, MO (63090) Today Overcast. High 67F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low around 55F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. This Feb. 20, 2015 file photo shows an arrangement of peanuts in New York. According to a study published in the journal Lancet on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, young children might be able to overcome their peanut allergies if treated at an early enough age. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File) This undated photo released by the U.S. Navy shows U.S. Navy Cmdr. Billie J. Farrell. Farrell is scheduled to become the first woman to lead the crew of the USS Constitution, the 224-year-old warship known as Old Ironsides, during a change-of-command ceremony scheduled for Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. Farrell takes over from Cmdr. John Benda, who has led the ship's crew since February of 2020. (U.S. Navy via AP) Emporia, VA (23847) Today Cloudy skies this morning followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 87F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Cherry Lee Ward Yeager age 87 of Athens died Monday at Athens Limestone Hospital. Mrs. Yeager was born October 21, 1934 in Giles County Tennessee. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church Athens where she sang in the chrior, and was active in the WMU. Mrs. Yeager was a Red Cross vol BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's road passenger volume fell 26.2 percent year on year in 2021 partly because sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks hit transport activities, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Transport. Road passenger trips amounted to 5.09 billion last year. In December alone, road passenger trips reached 375.87 million. Northwest China's Shaanxi Province saw the sharpest decline in road passenger volume in 2021, down by 56.8 percent year on year, followed by Qinghai and Gansu provinces. Beijing, however, reported a 14.3-percent increase in road passenger trips last year, while Tianjin saw a 12.5-percent rise, the data showed. Google has asked the High Court of Australia to overturn a 2020 ruling it warns could have a devastating effect on the wider internet. In a filing the search giant made on Friday, Google claims it will be forced to act as censor if the countrys highest court doesnt overturn a decision that awarded a lawyer $40,000 in defamation damages for an article the company had linked to through its search engine, reports The Guardian . In 2016, George Defteros, a Victoria state lawyer whose past client list included individuals implicated in Melbourne's notorious gangland killings , contacted Google to ask the company to remove a 2004 article from The Age . The piece featured reporting on murder charges prosecutors filed against Defteros related to the death of three men. Those charges were later dropped in 2005. The company refused to remove the article from its search results as it viewed the publication as a reputable source. The matter eventually went to court with Defteros successfully arguing the article and Googles search results had defamed him. The judge who oversaw the case ruled The Ages reporting had implied Defteros had been cozy with Melbournes criminal underground. The Victorian Court of Appeals subsequently rejected a bid by Google to overturn the ruling. From Googles perspective, at issue here is one of the fundamental building blocks of the internet. A hyperlink is not, in and of itself, the communication of that to which it links, the company contends in its submission to the High Court. If the 2020 judgment is left to stand, Google claims it will make it liable as the publisher of any matter published on the web to which its search results provide a hyperlink, including news stories that come from reputable sources. In its defense, the company points to a 2011 ruling from the Supreme Court of Canada that held a hyperlink by itself is never a publication of defamatory material. Weve reached out to Google for comment. Growing demand for the Urus helped Lamborghini set an all-time sales record in 2019. The company delivered 8,205 units, a significant 43% increase compared to 2018, and well over half of its sales came from its only SUV. Annual sales in the Asia-Pacific region grew by 66% to 2,162 units, but the United States remains the company's largest market by a long shot. This partially explains why the Urus (pictured) raced ahead the Aventador S and the Huracan Evo to become Lamborghini's best-selling model by a long shot. The assembly line at Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy, rolled off 4,962 examples of the SUV in 2019, followed by 2,139 units of the Huracan Evo, which Lamborghini manufactures in a separate building at the same facility. The V12-powered Aventador S also made there logged 1,104 sales, an impressive figure considering it's Lamborghini's oldest and most expensive model. While Lamborghini is celebrating a record year, and its ninth-consecutive year of growth, it previously announced it plans to cap production at 8,000 units in 2020 in order to maintain a degree of exclusivity. "We must not go on growing forever," company boss Stefano Domenicali warned in 2019. It could ultimately reach the 10,000-car threshold, but only after it adds a fourth series-produced model to its range to balance it out. There's no word yet on what form the fourth car will take, though unverified rumors point to an electrified 2+2 tourer. Lamborghini nonetheless entered 2020 on a positive note. It's in the process of developing a hybrid variant of the Urus , it's putting the final touches on the track-bound ST-X variant, and it's shaping the Aventador's successor. It remains confident in its overall outlook, it affirmed in a statement accompanying its 2019 result. Enthusiasts devote a considerable amount of energy to bashing high-riding models made by luxury brands, but sales figures prove entering the SUV segment makes a lot of sense from a business standpoint. In 2019, Porsche delivered 92,055 examples of the Cayenne (a 29% increase over 2018) and its bestselling model was the smaller Macan, which found 99,944 buyers. Rolls-Royce thanked the Cullinan for the 25% jump in sales it recorded in 2019 (up to 5,152 units), while Bentley credited the Bentayga for a 5% increase to 11,006 cars. It's no wonder Aston Martin allegedly ditched the RapidE to focus on the DBX, and Ferrari wants a piece of the pie. Related Video: You Might Also Like PARIS Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard said on Thursday there was a "real desire" within the top ranks of both companies for its alliance with Nissan to succeed, dismissing suggestions the partnership was on the rocks. Turmoil within the Franco-Japanese alliance, long dogged by internal rivalries, deepened following the November 2018 arrest in Tokyo of its architect and long-time boss Carlos Ghosn on charges of financial crimes, which he denies. Attempts to restore calm were dealt a fresh blow by Ghosn's dramatic flight from Japanese justice and a series of no-holds-barred allegations he has made from his refuge in Lebanon, including that he was the victim of a plot to oust him and that the alliance is now a "masquerade". Nissan has vigorously rejected Ghosn's stance, while both the Japanese firm and Renault have tried to rubbish suggestions their two decades old partnership is falling apart. "We have a board overseeing the alliance which is made up of people who are all extremely in favor of the alliance," Renault Chairman Senard told a briefing with reporters. "There is a common desire to associate our strategic plans and a real desire to make this alliance a success," he added, dismissing a report that Nissan was examining scenarios for a possible future outside of the alliance as "fake news." The 66-year-old declined to comment on anything related to Ghosn, adding: "I only think about the future." Renault shares were down 2% by 1123 GMT, underperfoming the broader auto sector which was down on news that Washington has threatened to impose tariffs on European car imports due to Europe's stance on Iran. Renault's French rival and Peugeot maker PSA Group also gave a flavor of some industry headwinds, reporting a 10% fall in its global sales last year as Chinese demand tanked. Renault is due to publish its 2019 global sales on Friday. JOINT PROJECTS Analysts see Renault-Nissan's cost-saving alliance as vital to both companies as the car industry battles a slowdown and huge investments in cleaner vehicles and automated driving, particularly as rivals PSA and Fiat Chrysler are merging to help meet these challenges. Renault held ultimately unsuccessful talks to combine with Fiat Chrysler last year, which Ghosn described at a Beirut news conference as a huge missed opportunity. Senard, who chairs the alliance's operating board, said on Thursday that once the partnership has been rebooted, other firms might potentially want to join. The executive, who used to run tyre maker Michelin, has become the de facto senior figure in Renault and Nissan's alliance, though without Ghosn's commander-in-chief aura, which had helped hold it together. While that is partly deliberate both parties are keen to avoid another strongman situation and created a four-member operating board to oversee the alliance Senard will now have to show he can push through new joint projects. He declined to give details of these beyond saying potential cost savings could be substantial, and that the alliance's board would meet soon to decide on its industrial plan. The meeting is scheduled for Jan. 30, a source close to Renault said. The firms are meanwhile finalizing a management revamp, with Renault close to appointing a new CEO after ousting Ghosn-ally Thierry Bollore in October. A new CEO started at Nissan in December. Luca de Meo, who recently stepped down as the head of Volkswagen's Seat brand, is seen as the frontrunner for the Renault job, although a non-compete clause in his contract is proving a problem, sources have said. Interim CEO Clotilde Delbos is also in the frame. Senard said shaking up the shareholder structure in the alliance was not a priority for either side. Renault, which is part-owned by the French state, has 43% of Nissan, while the Japanese firm has 15% of the French carmaker, with no voting rights attached a structure that has caused friction. Related Video: You Might Also Like Weather Alert ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM CDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of Oklahoma and northern Texas, including the following counties, in Oklahoma, Alfalfa, Atoka, Blaine, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Kay, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Major, Marshall, McClain, Murray, Noble, Oklahoma, Payne, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Stephens and Tillman. In northern Texas, Archer, Clay, Wichita and Wilbarger. * WHEN...From 6 AM CDT this morning through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Extensive street flooding and flooding of creeks and rivers are possible. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Showers and thunderstorms will develop Wednesday morning over a broad swath of the watch area. Another round of rain and thunderstorms is expected later in the afternoon and will last much of Wednesday night before ending Thursday morning. Storm total amounts of 2 to 5 inches are expected. Given recent rainfall, these additional amounts may cause flooding. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. && Click for the latest, full-access Enid News & Eagle headlines | Text Alerts | app downloads Mullin is an award-winning writer and columnist who retired in 2017 after 41 years with the News & Eagle. Email him at janjeff2002@yahoo.com or write him in care of the Enid News & Eagle at PO Box 1192, Enid, OK, 73702. The News & Eagle has traditionally published personal opinions of writers and readers through editorials, columns and letters to the editor on its Opinion Page. The opinions shared are those of the writers and not the newspaper. Submit your opinion for publication to editor@enidnews.com. Find out more about submitting letters to the editor at https://www.enidnews.com/opinion/. The SpaceX Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship began its journey back to Earth, with a planned splashdown on Monday in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Panama City, Florida. Workers load China-aided humanitarian food supplies onto a truck in Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 22, 2022. Afghanistan's caretaker government began to deliver the China-aided humanitarian food supplies on Saturday to at least 10 provinces of the country's 34 provinces, an official said Saturday. The supplies including 440 tons of rice will be shipped by 20 trucks to 10 most vulnerable provinces, Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesman for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, told Xinhua here. China has recently sent batches of humanitarian assistance including foodstuff, COVID-19 vaccines and winter clothes to the Central Asian country. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's caretaker government began to deliver the China-aided humanitarian food supplies on Saturday to at least 10 provinces of the country's 34 provinces, an official said Saturday. The supplies including 440 tons of rice will be shipped by 20 trucks to 10 most vulnerable provinces, Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesman for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, told Xinhua here. He also said that other shipments of the China-aided humanitarian food supplies will be transported to other provinces in the coming days. Haqqani said that Afghanistan had received several batches of humanitarian supplies donated by China, and that the ministry was sending the material aid to the vulnerable people in the country's 34 provinces. He expressed gratitude to China for the humanitarian assistance. Recently, thousands of needy people in several Afghan provinces received China-aided relief items. In Faryab province, 1,100 destitute people who were surveyed and registered by officials from the provincial directorate of refugees and repatriation received the assistance packages in Maimana, the capital of northern Faryab province, on Jan. 10, head of the directorate Saifuddin Jahadi told Xinhua. The non-food packages included blankets, winter jackets and washing soaps, he said. "I appreciate China's help so much. The winter assistance has solved a lot of our problems in these cold and difficult days. The Chinese people has been a good neighbor and friend for long," local resident Attiqullah told Xinhua after receiving a package. In Kunduz province, about 300 people received similar assistance packages on Jan. 10, according to Matihullah Rohani, head of the provincial directorate of culture and information. Since Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in mid-August 2021, the impoverished country has suffered economic woes. China has recently sent batches of humanitarian assistance including foodstuff, COVID-19 vaccines and winter clothes to the Central Asian country. People receive relief assistance donated by China in Maimana, capital of Faryab province, Afghanistan, Jan. 10, 2022. Afghanistan's caretaker government began to deliver the China-aided humanitarian food supplies on Saturday to at least 10 provinces of the country's 34 provinces, an official said Saturday. The supplies including 440 tons of rice will be shipped by 20 trucks to 10 most vulnerable provinces, Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesman for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, told Xinhua here. China has recently sent batches of humanitarian assistance including foodstuff, COVID-19 vaccines and winter clothes to the Central Asian country. (Photo by Qamaruddin Poya/Xinhua) People receive relief assistance donated by China in Maimana, capital of Faryab province, Afghanistan, Jan. 10, 2022. Afghanistan's caretaker government began to deliver the China-aided humanitarian food supplies on Saturday to at least 10 provinces of the country's 34 provinces, an official said Saturday. The supplies including 440 tons of rice will be shipped by 20 trucks to 10 most vulnerable provinces, Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesman for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, told Xinhua here. China has recently sent batches of humanitarian assistance including foodstuff, COVID-19 vaccines and winter clothes to the Central Asian country. (Photo by Qamaruddin Poya/Xinhua) Workers load China-aided humanitarian food supplies onto a truck in Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 22, 2022. Afghanistan's caretaker government began to deliver the China-aided humanitarian food supplies on Saturday to at least 10 provinces of the country's 34 provinces, an official said Saturday. The supplies including 440 tons of rice will be shipped by 20 trucks to 10 most vulnerable provinces, Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesman for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, told Xinhua here. China has recently sent batches of humanitarian assistance including foodstuff, COVID-19 vaccines and winter clothes to the Central Asian country. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) People receive relief assistance donated by China in Maimana, capital of Faryab province, Afghanistan, Jan. 10, 2022. Afghanistan's caretaker government began to deliver the China-aided humanitarian food supplies on Saturday to at least 10 provinces of the country's 34 provinces, an official said Saturday. The supplies including 440 tons of rice will be shipped by 20 trucks to 10 most vulnerable provinces, Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesman for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, told Xinhua here. China has recently sent batches of humanitarian assistance including foodstuff, COVID-19 vaccines and winter clothes to the Central Asian country. (Photo by Qamaruddin Poya/Xinhua) Sunday, January 23, 2022 Commentary From Crisis Management Expert Edward Segal, Author of the Award- Winning Book Crisis Ahead: 101 Ways to Prepare for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies (Nicholas Brealey) Last week Jen Psaki marked her first anniversary as President Joe Biden's press secretary and role as the daily public face of his administration. She has also set an example for business leaders on how to communicate with the public and the media during a crisis and other challenging situations. As I wrote last January after Psaki's first few days on the job, her initial White House briefings had "already provided important lessons about communicating in a crisis. Her televised meetings with reporters immediately became a continuing education class for business leaders on how to communicate clearly and effectively with the media and the public during a crisisor any other time." In an informal survey of communication experts, media professionals and other observers, she received generally high marks for what she has done over the past 12 months and how she did it. A Return To Normal Mike McCurry is a former State Department spokesperson and press secretary to President Bill Clinton. He observed that, "Jen has been a stable, affable and reliable presence at the podium on behalf of the President. Don't underestimate how important it was to reestablish the norm of daily briefings when that ( like most other institutions that were flaunted and degraded by Trump and accomplices) needed restoration. "She models why senior executives need to have a spokesperson at a senior level and at the table when critical decisions are taken." 'Crisp And Precise' As the New York Times observed last September, "Crisp and precise in her answers, even if she does not always respond directly to a reporter's questions, Ms. Psaki, in her speaking style, is a contrast to Mr. Biden and his circuitous folksiness. "In interviews, Washington correspondents often used the word 'professional' high praise in D.C.to describe interactions with her, deeming her straightforward, detail-dense briefings a relief after an era when Mr. Trump's press secretaries repeatedly insulted, denigrated and frequently ignored journalists." Restoring Confidence Ann Skeet is the senior director of leadership ethics at Santa Clara University's Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. She said that," "Jen Psaki has capably restored confidence to the White House briefing room by consistently reinforcing President Biden's message, using facts to support his position, and confidently displaying her intellect and skills in meeting media requests and correct inaccuracies presented at times in her give and take with the press pool. "Psaki is unflappable in the face of personal criticism, or challenges to the administration she represents. She is also unhurried, willing to restore public confidence in White House messaging over time, demonstrating a maturity and patience her position requires," Skeet said. A Different Approach David Greenberg is a professor of journalism, media studies and history at Rutgers University. He noted that, " Presidents basically take one of two approaches to dealing with the press, and press secretaries mostly fall into one of two categories. "Nixon's Ron Ziegler epitomized the press secretary who said no more than he had to, who used overly bureaucratic language to avoid direct engagement with uncomfortable questions or answers. Clinton's Mike McCurry represented the other approach: be affable, as candid as possible, and earn the reporters' trust." Greenberg thought that, "There are times when the former approach is needed, but usually the latter works better. Psaki is a Ziegler. She is polished, bordering on the robotic, and when it comes to dispensing routine information, that style works fine. But when it comes time to admit error or uncertainty, to acknowledge problems or differences, she has a hard time." Stating The Facts Kirk Hazlett is an adjunct professor of communication at the University of Tampa. "As a veteran public relations professional whose own career has included government, nonprofit, technology and healthcare, I have been quite impressed by Ms. Psaki's demeanor and thoughtful responses. "Yes, she occasionally misses the mark in a comment, but she has thus far maintained herself as a true and sincere representative of the President of the United States. She has communicated as clearly as possible over the past 12 months as she has dealt with media interest in the constant flood of crises. She doesn't try to bluff her way through responsesshe states the facts," he said. 'Direct, No-Nonsense And Responsive' Debra Caruso Marrone, president of DJC Communications, said, "I think Jen Psaki has done an excellent job as press secretary. She's direct, no-nonsense and responsive. She does not dodge questions. She does not shrink from a challenge. She's committed to the president, but you get the sense that she's answering questions honestly. "The one thing Psaki lacks is the humor of some of the great press secretaries of years past, such as Robert Gibbs (Obama), Josh Earnest (Obama), Joe Lockhart (Clinton), Marlin Fitzwater (Reagan). These communicators had the extra gift that made them greatthe ability to spar with reporters in a lighthearted way, thus disarming them (to an extent) and blunting responses that might run short of a reporter's expectations. "Corporate leaders can take from Psaki's example that it's always best to be honest and direct and not to appear to be ducking. It's better to deliver bad news or no news than to lie or appear to be [shirking]. That always signals dishonesty and is a recipe for disaster," she advised. Delivering Messages That Don't Sit Well Jill A. Greenberg is the spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. She noted that, "Serving as press secretary sometimes means delivering a message that's not going to sit well with critics or allies. "Jen Psaki found herself in this role during President Biden's drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021. During a White House briefing, a journalist asked Psaki about bipartisan lawmakers calling the U.S. action a failure. While acknowledging footage of evacuations was 'heart-wrenching,' she also said the president 'stands by his decision in the interest of the United States, our national security, and the American people.' In this moment, Psaki refused to sidestep emotion, and held firm on the message," Greenberg recalled. "A thick binder full of talking points will take a spokesperson only so far. And Jen Psaki knows this. She's personable, well briefed, ready to spar when necessary. And she also understands the value of standing in an uncomfortable truth," she said. Lowering The Temperature Zach Friend, a public policy and communications expert, said, "I believe Ms. Psaki has done an outstanding job in a siloed and fragmented media environment to tone down the temperature from the podium, communicate during a crisis and represent a calm and measured message on behalf of the President. "She has also, of equal importance (and here is a key lesson for business leaders) communicated in the forums and formats where people arefrom local news hits to TikToK," he noted. Authenticity Corporate affairs expert Sophia Fifner said that, "When pressed to share unclear or evolving details, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has kept her composure and stuck with the facts. "Psaki's communication style leans into her authenticity to be fair and empathetic. Each day, she has an opportunity to take the bait on political sound bites, and more often than not, Psaki consistently leans into sticking to the facts and leading with empathy. Two examples of this include her comments regarding U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg's paternity leave or the administration's praise for former President Donald Trump's promotion of Covid-19 vaccines. "Authenticity wins always," Fifner concluded. ### Beginning in March, CPS Energy customers will pay more for their electricity and natural gas, after the City Council OKd a rate hike this month. But the additional expense is likely to go up from there. The rate increase of 3.85 percent includes a charge of $1.26 per month for the next 25 years to pay for $418 million worth of electricity and gas that CPS bought at exorbitant prices on Texas spot market during the winter storm nearly a year ago. Overall, CPS racked up about $1 billion in charges the week of Feb. 14. Its fighting gas suppliers in court over $587 million of that $1 billion, accusing the companies of price-gouging. Beginning last March, CPS sued 18 companies and the state grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, in state District Court in Bexar County. The city-owned utility now has resolved several of those lawsuits, possibly settling for lesser amounts in some cases. However, CPS officials declined to discuss why they ended the litigation or whether they reached any settlements. Nevertheless, CPS interim CEO Rudy Garza said the storm-related charge that goes into effect in March will increase, though the City Council will have to approve any amount over the already-set $1.26. It will rise, Garza said. Those lawsuits will be decided, and whatever the bill is, thats the bill. But at worst, that $1.26, maybe it turns into $3, $3.50 a month down the road. Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer In other words, CPS customers likely will be on the hook for the amounts resulting from any settlement agreements the utility strikes with the gas companies. The rate increase the council approved Jan. 13 will add an average of about $5 to residential customers monthly bill. At the high end of the range Garza noted $3.50 the new average would be around $7.24. On ExpressNews.com: City Council approves CPS Energy rate increase CPS has resolved eight of its lawsuits over gas bills totaling $101 million, according to court filings. In December alone, the utility and defendants agreed to end five of the suits. CPS early last month dropped its lawsuit against EDF Trading, whose North American headquarters is in Houston. CPS had been challenging $9.6 million in gas bills from the company. Also in December, the utility dropped its complaint against Connecticut-based Castleton Commodities over charges totaling $31.1 million. In October, the utility ended its suit against California energy giant Chevron over $8.8 million in combined bills. CPS officials have largely declined to discuss the utilitys litigation related to the winter storm since filing the lawsuits last spring. We are actively engaged with litigation with a number of parties and will not comment on the details of matters we have resolved, a CPS spokesperson said in a statement last week. Play-by-play of a meltdown CPS pumps natural gas into households for heating, and it burns the fossil fuel in five of its seven power plants to generate electricity. The utility buys about 30 percent of its natural gas under longer-term contracts at fixed prices. But the volume of gas that CPS needs changes day to day, with San Antonio weather being the biggest wild card. CPS purchases the rest of its gas on the Texas spot market as needed. There, prices can shift based on the most recent average prices paid at any one of several in-state gas trading hubs. CPS largest remaining lawsuit is against two subsidiaries of Dallas-based pipeline giant Energy Transfer: Oasis Pipeline and Houston Pipe Line Co. CPS is challenging more than $250 million that the Energy Transfer units billed the utility during the storm. The lawsuit and subsequent court filings in the case are a window into the dizzying escalation of natural gas prices in Texas before and during the freeze. On Feb. 1, CPS said in court papers, gas was priced around $2.60 per unit. By Feb. 10, the cost had jumped 25 percent to $3.25. The next morning, a gas trader CPS didnt specify in the filing which Energy Transfer subsidiary he worked for sold gas to the utility for between $13 and $14. By the afternoon, when CPS sought to buy more gas, the trader quoted a price of $30, more than twice what the utility paid earlier that day. Early Feb. 12 three days before catastrophic blackouts engulfed the state, the result of ERCOT-mandated outages and freezing temperatures that knocked many power plants offline CPS was looking to buy more of the fuel from the Energy Transfer unit. When CPS asked for a price, the trader said in an email, ok, are you sitting down? He quoted CPS a price of $150 per unit of gas. Nine minutes later, before CPS responded to the offer, the Energy Transfer company raised its asking price to $225 per unit, which CPS accepted. On Tuesday, Feb. 16, with the storm in full swing, the subsidiary charged CPS $400 per unit of gas an increase of over 15,000 percent from the start of February. No wiggle room, the trader told CPS that day. We have to hold at $400. The next day, the price CPS paid for the companys gas peaked at $500 per unit. Before the storm, the highest index price recorded for natural gas sold in Texas since 1994 was about $25 per unit at the Houston Ship Channel hub, according to CPS. That was in 2003. Energy Transfer and other gas suppliers have argued they were well-prepared, able to deliver gas when others werent because of the historic cold, which froze numerous wellheads and brought over-the-road transportation of the fuel to a crawl. Our extensive experience in operating pipelines, combined with a significant amount of both long- and short-term preparation, allowed us to continue operating reliably throughout the storm, Tom Long, Energy Transfers co-CEO, said in a call with stock analysts in May. If CPS didnt pay these companies prices for natural gas, other utilities would have. Natural gas companies say CPS accepted the risk of buying gas on the spot market, where prices can swing up or down. And they contend they dont set their prices, that they are established by an index an average of what buyers have recently paid for gas on the spot market. CPS purchased gas from Energy Transfer at prices that were negotiated based on market rates and were transparent to CPS, Energy Transfer said in a statement. CPS could have purchased and stored sufficient natural gas in the days and weeks before the winter storm to responsibly manage its duty to protect critical needs. But CPS did not take this prudent action, which left it exposed to the vulnerabilities of purchasing gas on the spot markets. Seven of CPS remaining lawsuits have been combined under one judge in Bexar County. In that litigation, the utility is contesting $392 million in natural gas bills owed mostly to Energy Transfer. One other case is in federal court. CPS Energy and gas utilities across the state were left with the same awful choice pay exorbitant prices or leave their customers without service, utility officials said in a statement. Energy Transfer misstates the facts and wholly ignores the reality that we were in an unprecedented event that was declared a state of disaster by the governor of Texas, they said. On ExpressNews.com: CPS Energy lawsuits face slim chances of victory, raising specter of rate hike diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Precinct 5 deputy constable was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop early Sunday in west Houston, authorities said. Cpl. Charles Galloway, 47, was shot after pulling a car over in the 9100 block of Beechnut around 12:45 a.m., police said. Officials said that moments after Galloway stopped a white Toyota Avalon, the young male motorist leapt out and shot him multiple times with an assault-style weapon. The shooting happened so fast Galloway hadn't even gotten out of the car, officials said. He died at the scene. At a news conference outside of the Texas Medical Center, Precinct 5 Constable Ted Heap decried the violence playing out across the county. What we are seeing on a regular basis on the streets of Harris County has got to stop, Heap told reporters. These are not assaults, these are not attacks, these are brutal, brutal murders. This needs to stop. The Houston Police Department is investigating the shooting. Chief Troy Finner urged the suspect to turn himself in. "Its senseless," he said. "It makes no sense whatsoever. The slain lawman leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter. "Corporal Galloway was very much loved by the men and women he served with," Heap said. "There's a lot of broken up officers who he meant a lot to in their lives." Galloway joined Precinct 5 in 2009, according to a department news release. He'd left a quiet neighborhood patrol shift to work as a field training officer in the department's Toll Road Division. Mayor Sylvester Turner sent condolences and vowed that justice would be served. "The person(s) responsible for taking Corporal Galloway's life will be found and brought to justice. It is just a matter of time. There is no place you can hide." He asked anyone with information to call law enforcement. I am just heartbroken, said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, All I see is people who are dedicated to community service, dedicated to sacrifice. People have to wonder even more what happens when these officers go out on the street and leave their families behind. Former Houston police chief Art Acevedo tweeted his condolences to Galloway's family, friends and Precinct 5. He also replied to Hidalgo's tweet by calling for action from Harris County judges and magistrates to address the felony case backlog in the courts. Galloway is the 10th Texas lawman to die during a traffic stop since 2016, according information from the Officer Down Memorial Page, a national non-profit which tracks law enforcement fatalities across the United States. In Harris County, Galloway's death follows the September 2019 shooting of Sheriff's Dep. Sandeep Dhaliwal, who was gunned down during a traffic stop in north Harris County, and the killing, months after, of Nassau Bay Police Sergeant Kaila Marie Sullivan. The Deputy Sheriffs Association of Bexar County announced it has approved a collective bargaining agreement with Bexar County. It said 500 members voted for and 51 voted against the agreement. We would like to thank the members of the DSABC Negotiating Team and all DSABC members for their input during the negotiations process and their vote for this important election, DSABC stated in its news release. Negotiations on the labor contract started in fall 2020 amid calls for police reform in the wake of George Floyds death while in Minneapolis police custody. The previous contract expired Sept. 30, 2020. caroline.tien@hearst.com /Department of Public Safety A Department of Public Safety Special Agent passed away at University Hospital in San Antonio on Saturday, following an accident Friday near Eagle Pass, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Anthony Salas, 37, was conducting tactical operations in Maverick County as part of a DPS special operations group working with US Border Patrol BORTAC when he was involved in an accident about 7:30 p.m. Friday. The news release did not provide details about the accident. 21 Pro Video A motorcyclist is dead after a driver ran a red light and crashed into him on Sunday morning, according to the San Antonio Police Department. The crash happened around 2:10 a.m. in the 5800 block of the I-35 access road at Southcross Boulevard. Tresor Rusesabagina came to a panel discussion featuring Rwandas ambassador to the United States hoping to confront her about the kidnapping and imprisonment of his father, the Hotel Rwanda hero Paul Rusesabagina. Im going right into the lions den, he said, hours before the panel assembled Friday evening as part of the annual DreamWeek series of events pegged to the citys observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Im going to the event representing my father. Theres a way of telling them that were not intimidated, Rusesabagina said. What theyre doing is coming to the scene of the crime. My dad was lured out of San Antonio, his home. The showdown didnt happen. After a three-hour discussion about Rwanda by the ambassador, academics and other specialists in the country, the moderator said there was no time for questions. She later took a few, but Rusesabagina was still in line when it ended. The panelists uniformly praised Rwandas president, Paul Kagame, without mentioning his human rights record. The elder Rusesabagina became famous for sheltering hundreds of people at the hotel he managed in 1994, when Rwanda was wracked by an intertribal genocide that killed as many as a million victims. He later fell out with Kagame, whose efforts to reunite the country have been accompanied by an intolerance for political opposition. Rusesabagina lived in exile in Belgium and San Antonio. He was abducted to Rwanda in 2020 on a chartered flight, fooled into thinking he was on his way to a speaking engagement in Burundi, then tried for his leadership of an opposition group the government said was responsible for terrorist violence. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison last September on offenses ranging from financing terrorism to recruiting child soldiers. Robin Jerstad /Contributor Kagame has run the Central African country since 2000 and is credited with leading it into a period of stability and prosperity, but his government has been accused by Human Rights Watch of practicing arbitrary detention, ill treatment, torture and possibly murder of dissenters. The group also has criticized Paul Rusesabaginas abduction, solitary confinement and trial. Rusesabaginas reputation in Rwanda has waned, though his heroism for saving 1,268 people during the genocide became known around the world after being dramatized in the 2004 Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda. During questions, neither the moderator, documentary filmmaker Carol Pineau, nor others on the panel responded to a person in the audience who asked for the humanitarian release of Rusesabagina. Robin Jerstad /Contributor The ambassador, Mathilde Mukantabana, dismissed the notion that her embassy played a role in an incident last spring in which two people were accused of snooping on a videoconference class at St. Marys University attended by Tresor Rusesabagina, his mother, Tatiana, and a sister, Anaise Kanimba. Why would we want to spy in a classroom? Mukantabana asked, drawing laughter from some in the crowd of around 50 people. On ExpressNews.com: FBI probes St. Marys Zoom intrusion linked to Rwandan regime At the time, St. Marys President Tom Mengler, in a university news release, had said the Rwandan government used a spy based in its Washington embassy to listen in on the April 6 videoconference class involving students, staff and guests. Robin Jerstad /Contributor Tresor Rusesabagina, 29, said he didnt oppose Fridays panel discussion because it gave critics a chance to point out the governments problems. It was titled Rwanda Then & Now: Milestones in Rebirth & Growth and was organized by Rwandan Community Abroad of San Antonio at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. Bill Israel, a retired St. Marys associate professor of communication studies, lambasted the forum, calling it bizarre that DreamWeek organizers would host it when Rusesabagina was one of their keynote speakers months before he was abducted. Two years after you invite him as the featured speaker, how are you going to invite people who are after him and trying to kill him? Israel asked. The DreamWeek website states that anyone can host an event as long as the invitation is public and participants are allowed to engage in an open forum and civil environment. One person who appeared via video, Margee Ensign, president of American University of Nigeria, touted a performance-based Rwandan government with top leadership focused on unity, not division. Another panelist, a St. Marys University professor of international relations, R. Celina Jacquemin, also sketched a flattering portrait of the Kagame government. A DreamWeek project manager, Lilly Guindy, described the panel as a community-curated event hosted by Rwandans in San Antonio. Definitely, some people have different views, but thats the beauty of America and thats the beauty of the Martin Luther King legacy, said Moses Rudasunikwa, president of Rwandan Community Abroad of San Antonio. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, plans to introduce a resolution in Congress demanding Paul Rusesabaginas release on humanitarian grounds. Tresor Rusesabagina described his 67-year-old father, a cancer survivor, as frail. He said his dad has lost a lot of weight, hasnt seen a doctor, remains in solitary confinement and isnt allowed contact with other inmates, even in church. Theyre trying to break him, Tresor Rusesabagina said. Hes not broken. sigc@express-news.net TRIP REPORT I recently flew from Paris to Belgrade on board Air Serbia. I purchased a business class ticket and overall had a good experience. The airline uses terminal 2E at Charles de Gaulle. I was able to check in online and skip the ques at the airport. I recently flew from Paris to Belgrade on board Air Serbia. I purchased a business class ticket and overall had a good experience. The airline uses terminal 2E at Charles de Gaulle. I was able to check in online and skip the ques at the airport. Using the pandemic as an excuse, Air Serbia has stopped offering its business class passengers lounge access at any airport besides its own lounge in Belgrade and the PrimeClass lounge at New York JFK. This is really poor form in my opinion. Air Serbia says, We will continue to follow the situation closely, and work together with our lounge partners to reintroduce the benefits for our Business Class passengers and members of Air Serbia Etihad Guest Platinum and Gold Tier. Its almost 2 years since the pandemic began and almost all airport lounges have reopened across Europe, so this explanation does not hold. I couldn't help it, so I decided to have a light meal at the cafe near the gate and waited for boarding to begin there. Soon enough it was time to board my flight. The aircraft being used on the evening was an Airbus A319 (YU-APD). The seat is the standard economy seat with the middle seat blocked. In total, there were two business class passengers and myself on the flight. Two rows were used for business class while the rest was economy, separated by a curtain divider. Before takeoff the menus were distributed, and the meal and bavarage orders were taken by the cabin crew. There were three hot meal choices which I think is above and beyond what most European airlines on a flight lasting about two hours offer. I opted for the gratinated bream fish with mashed potatoes and spinach. The other choices were either the turkey fillet or the gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce. The meal was delicious. Unfortunately, there was no Wi-Fi available on this plane, even though the aircraft actually has a WiFi antenna. I think Air Serbia has discontinued this service. Meanwhile, the toilet was clean and some of the amenities had the Air Serbia logo on it. Overall the flight was good. The crew was polite and hardworking. Meals were served promptly, and the food was delicious. My only criticism is about the lounges, which I think should be offered to business class and tier qualifying passengers across their network, like it was in the past. The flight on the way back was similar so I wont share details, but I did enjoy the Air Serbia Premium Lounge, which is probably one of the better European lounges Ive been to. It is also a good alternative to get away from all the construction at the airport. BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- "Big Country Granary," a documentary film chronicling how the Communist Party of China led its people to make a historic leap from destitution to moderate prosperity, is set for release on March 4, an official source revealed on Sunday. The production group has interviewed more than 60 people across the country, which include scientists, agricultural experts and ordinary people, said Xiong Yanjiang, director of the documentary, adding that it expounds on the Party's people-centered philosophy. The film illustrates agricultural science and sci-tech workers' spirit of innovation and their achievements reaching the pinnacle of their careers, represented by Yuan Longping, the late agronomist, known as the "father of hybrid rice." The UK sow herd lost 22,000 pigs over the past year amid calls for more government action to prevent a 'serious and permanent contraction' of the sector. Defras December 2021 pig survey data shows the female breeding herd stood at 295,000, compared with 317,000 in December 2020 and 313,000 in June 2021, representing a steep 7% year-on-year decline. The reduction was driven by a 14% decline in the number of sows in pig to just 201,000, down from 233,000 in December 2020. The National Pig Association (NPA) said it expected a further contraction in the first half of this year, as for many producers the situation was "simply not sustainable". In contrast, the number of other sows, including dry sows being kept for further breeding, increased from 41,000 at the end of 2020 to 51,000. The NPA said this suggested that in some cases where sow numbers were not being reduced, producers were holding back on breeding. It comes as the sector continues to endure with the ongoing backlog of pigs on farms caused by shortages of butchers in pork plants, combined with record feed costs and falling pig prices. For the first half of 2021, pig producers were losing an average of 25/pig, a figure likely to have grown in the final quarter, according to the NPA. The trade body said it was aware of a number of produces that had left the industry or cut down on sow numbers as a result of the ongoing situation. NPA chief executive Zoe Davies said: These worrying figures highlight what we have been saying about the need for action from government and the supply chain to prevent a serious and permanent contraction of the UK pig industry." She warned that the package of measures announce by the government in October 2021 had delivered minimal benefits so far. "We need focused support from government and measures that will genuinely help to reduce the backlog," Ms Davies added. "We also need more urgency from processors and retailers in resolving the crisis the pig sector faces and, above all fairness in the supply chain, so producers are not bearing the full brunt of all this. We continue to request that Defra Secretary George Eustice convenes a roundtable of producers, producers and retailers to try and thrash out solutions before its too late for the British pig sector. 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. On January 6, 2022 local time, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta met with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi who was visiting Kenya upon invitation in Mombasa. Kenyatta asked Wang Yi to convey his cordial greetings to President Xi Jinping. Kenyatta said, the Chinese Foreign Minister's visit to Kenya at the beginning of the year fully demonstrates the strong relations between Kenya and China. China is not only a sincere friend of Kenya, but also a development partner of close cooperation. The deepening pragmatic cooperation in various fields and cultural exchanges between Kenya and China has created a large number of jobs in Kenya, improved people's lives, and brought notable benefits to the people. Kenya would not have today's development achievements without China's strong support, which is imprinted on the mind of the Kenyan government and people. Kenyatta said, every country has the right to independently choose a development path suited to its own national conditions, and bring health, prosperity and dignity to its people. However, there are always some people who like to point fingers at our country, saying that we have various problems, but China has sincerely helped Kenya solve problems and meet our needs with actions. The cooperation between Kenya and China is about timely support between true partners. I was often asked why Kenya and China cooperate so closely. I told them that because China and Kenya respect each other and treat each other as equals. Kenya is willing to continue deepening mutually beneficial cooperation with China to achieve common development, and we are full of expectations for the future of Kenya-China relations. Wang Yi first conveyed President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings and best wishes to President Kenyatta, and congratulated Kenya on its continuous rapid development under the leadership of President Kenyatta. Wang Yi said, the Chinese Foreign Minister's visit to Africa at the beginning of the year is to demonstrate the solidarity and mutual trust between China and Africa and China's firm determination to promote China-Africa friendship. This visit will send three clear signals. First, China will stand firmly with Africa to fight the COVID-19 pandemic with solidarity until the virus is completely defeated. Second, China is willing to strengthen all-round cooperation with Kenya to help Kenya enhance its self-development capabilities and accelerate industrialization. Third, China is willing to strengthen solidarity and coordination with Kenya in international and multilateral affairs, jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the two countries and the common interests of developing countries, and safeguard international fairness and justice. China is willing to work with Kenya to implement China-Kenya comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, and to be partners that firmly support each other, accelerate development and revitalization, promote China-Africa solidarity, and safeguard regional peace. Kenyatta said, Kenya and China share common or similar positions on international and regional issues. Kenya is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in multilateral settings, especially at the UN Security Council, to jointly promote a more just and reasonable international order. Wang Yi also introduced the "Initiative of Peaceful Development in the Horn of Africa" proposed by China upon request. Kenyatta said, this initiative meets the urgent needs of countries in the Horn of Africa. Kenya agrees with it completely and is willing to play a role in this regard. After the talks, Wang Yi was invited to attend the completion ceremony of the Chinese-built oil terminal at the port of Mombasa with Kenyatta. On the same day, Wang Yi also held talks with Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Raychelle Awuor Omamo, and jointly witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents and met the press. Death toll of airstrike on Houthi-controlled prison in Yemen rises to 77 Xinhua) 13:28, January 23, 2022 Rescue workers search for survivors at a prison destroyed in an airstrike in Saada, Yemen, on Jan. 22, 2022. Yemen's Houthi group reported on Friday that the death toll in an airstrike launched by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition on a temporary prison in Yemen has risen to 77. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group reported on Friday that the death toll in an airstrike launched by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition on a temporary prison in Yemen has risen to 77. According to a statement released by the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health, "more than 77 killed prisoners and nearly 146 wounded have been transported by ambulances to the hospitals of Saada so far." The Houthi health authority noted that the number could increase as the rescuers continue their search for bodies at the bombing site in Yemen's northern province of Saada. "The airstrike completely destroyed the prison building and there is no sufficient equipment to pull the victims from under the rubble," an official of Saada's local authority confirmed to Xinhua. Saada is one of the main strongholds of the Iran-backed Houthis who have been fighting the Yemeni government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition for years. The Houthi-affiliated al-Masirah television network reported that more than 59 air raids were launched by the coalition across the war-ravaged Arab country during the past hours. The intensified bombardment campaign also included the country's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, destroying a telecommunication center and causing a nationwide collapse of internet connectivity. The intensified airstrikes came after the Houthis claimed responsibility for attacking the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an active member of the Saudi-led coalition, with ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones. Meanwhile, hundreds of Houthis staged a large protest in the capital of Sanaa against the deadly airstrikes carried out by the Saudi-led coalition. A number of Houthi leaders spoke to the protesters and vowed to ramp up their cross-border drone and missile attacks against the cities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE in retaliation for the heavy bombardment against Yemen. On the other side, the Saudi-led coalition vowed to continue "the process of responding to the ballistic and drones threat launched by the Houthis towards Saudi Arabia." Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) CHANGSHA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- A double-decker tourist train built by Chinese manufacturer Zhuzhou CRRC Special Equipment Technology Co., Ltd. for the Republic of Korea has come off the production line, the company said Sunday. The train has three carriages and can carry up to 300 passengers. It can travel at a maximum speed of 25 km per hour and features a low-floor design. The latter offers a more stable and comfortable experience, the company noted. So far, Zhuzhou CRRC Special Equipment Technology Co., Ltd., located in the central Chinese province of Hunan, has over 40 tourist transportation projects in operation in scenic sites, resorts, forest parks, and amusement parks across China. This is our best offer! You get home delivery Monday through Saturday plus full digital access any time, on any device with our six-day subscription delivery membership. This membership plan includes member-only benefits like our popular ticket giveaways, all of our email newsletters and access to the daily digital replica of the printed paper. Also, you can share digital access with up to four other household members at no additional cost. Subscriptions renew automatically every 30 days. Call 240-215-8600 to cancel auto-renewal. Most subscribers are served by News-Post carriers; households in some outlying areas receive same-day delivery through the US Postal Service. If your household falls in a postal delivery area, you will be notified by our customer service team. WHILE YOURE HERE... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate . Spotlight PA is funded by foundationsand readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. 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. Gillette, WY (82718) Today Cloudy. Periods of rain this morning. High around 50F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Manama, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Bahraini demand for Chinese vehicles is increasing with car imports from China reaching nearly 18 million Bahrain dinars (about 48 million U.S. dollars) in 2021. Ridha Mohammed Abas, a showroom manager of China's auto manufacturer Changan, said that the Changan vehicles were introduced in Bahrain in 2018, and their sales have been climbing over the years. The high demand is mainly for two reasons, the innovative designs and the increasing confidence of local consumers in Chinese vehicles, he told Xinhua. People want to have Chinese cars because they are reliable, with distinctive features and competitive prices, Ridha explained. "We opened a larger showroom, and the maintenance and post-sale services have drastically improved in the past years," he explained. The affordability was the main reason that made Fatima Mohammed, a Bahraini, buy Chery Tiggo as her first and only car in 2019. "I fell in love with the car as I wanted an SUV, and it was within my budget. The car is still with the same performance as the first day I bought it," she told Xinhua. Noora Khamis Al Sadoon, the director of economic statistics at Bahrain's Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), affirmed to Xinhua that the kingdom had imported 3,814 motor vehicles from China in 2021. According to the country's foreign trade statistics, Chinese motor vehicle imports in 2021 totaled 17,955,457 Bahrain dinars, Al Sadoon noted. Meanwhile, Abas revealed that the Changan showroom in Bahrain sold 480 vehicles in 2020, and the number jumped to 640 last year. The success of Chinese vehicles in the local market is evidence of Bahrain consumers' understanding of the high quality of cars and their manufacturing process, Ahmed Ghazwan, head of public relations and marketing at Tas'heelat Automotive Company, had told the press last year. He predicted that Chinese vehicles would dominate the global auto industry with competitive prices and high-quality standards, as China has developed the ability to produce the best vehicles in the world. PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Jan. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Singapore-based Global Schools Foundation (GSF) announced that the reputed Waterbridge Global Education Co. Ltd., which owns and operates a network of five highly acclaimed and premium international schools in Cambodia, has formally joined the GSF schools network. Waterbridge owns and operates four campuses of the Harrods International Academy (HIA) and one campus of the Renford International School (RIS) in Phnom Penh. GSF has a network of 26 international schools across 9 countries, offering best-in-class education to nearly 25,000 students from over 70 nationalities. Together, they plan to bring a brand of holistic education to Cambodia that will combine futuristic learning with global mindedness. "We plan to work together with Harrods and Renford to set up 21st-century high-quality schools to meet the aspirations of Millennial parents and nurture their Generation Alpha children into Global Citizens," said Mr. Atul Temurnikar, Co-Founder and Chairman of Global Schools Foundation. Focused on K12 education, the GSF network of schools offers the best of innovative educational practices and capabilities, with emphasis on skills-based learning through a strong network of international educators. Their curricula offerings include International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge IGCSE, with a strong focus on global values. HIA and RIS will benefit from the strong track record of GSF schools in academic results and entrepreneurship among their students. "Students and parents of Harrods and Renford will truly benefit from the huge network of GSF schools. Their mindful use of personalized learning systems promotes creativity and collaboration among students, and encourages them to be inquiry- and kindness-driven global citizens," said Mr. Sambath Sok, former CEO of Waterbridge, who will continue to serve as Advisor to GSF Cambodia. GSF had earlier announced that they had raised US$250 million for investments in K12 education in Asia and the Middle East. It has also entered into a strategic partnership with Dwight School Seoul, a leading super-premium IB School, with links to New York. As GSF celebrates its 20th anniversary, its entity Global Schools Holdings (GSH) drives the growth strategy and internationalisation roadmap from its HQ in Singapore. GSH is a participant in Singapore government agency Enterprise Singapore's Scale-up SG programme, where GSH has been working with PWC on its strategic growth plans, which include business optimisation, internationalisation, market prioritisation and business matching, and has benefitted from the programme's peer sharing and networks. "Enterprise Singapore congratulates GSH on the expansion of its network of schools to Cambodia. Through targeted business matching efforts, companies like GSH are able to find like-minded overseas partners to grow their international footprint. Through this partnership, GSH will be able to expand its curriculum enhancements and suite of education data analytics developed in Singapore through its global network of schools," said Dilys Boey, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Lifestyle and Consumer Group, Enterprise Singapore. GSF has won 300 awards over two decades at the national and international levels. The awards were won in different categories like Innovation and Management, Performance Excellence, Business Excellence, Green initiatives, CSR and Sustainability. About GSF and GSH Founded in 2002, Global Schools Foundation is a Singapore-headquartered, community-oriented education institution whose mission is to cultivate and nurture young minds into global leaders of the future. Its schools have emerged stronger with their proprietary learning technology involving data analytics and artificial intelligence to bring success to these schools and accelerate students' learning outcomes. GSF's entity Global Schools Holdings aims to leverage its two decades of expertise in establishing top-quality schools, successfully growing its family of schools, and helping them achieve their vision through its future potential investments, About Enterprise Singapore Enterprise Singapore is the government agency championing enterprise development. ESG works with committed companies to build capabilities, innovate and internationalise. It also supports the growth of Singapore as a hub for global trading and startups and builds trust in Singapore's products and services through quality and standards. Visit www.enterprisesg.gov.sg for more information. Media Relations Ms. Rupali Karekar Head, Media Relations rupali.karekar@myglobalschool.org This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Gloucester, MA (01930) Today Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High near 50F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Rain early. Decreasing clouds overnight. Low 46F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. MANSFIELD [mdash] Patricia Ann Thursby-Daniels, 77, of Mansfield, Texas, formerly of Elkhart, Indiana, died Sunday April 10, at Mansfield Hospital in Mansfield, Texas. She was born May 30, 1944, in Elkhart, Indiana, to Robert James and Opal Mae (Allison) Thursby. On Feb. 14, 1965, she marrie BEIRUT, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon on Sunday registered 6,381 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of cases to 865,229, the country's Health Ministry reported. Meanwhile, the death toll from the virus went up by 13 to 9,487, said the ministry, noting that 68 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals are occupied with COVID-19 patients. On many occasions, Health Minister Firas Abiad urged citizens to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Only 38.5 percent of people in Lebanon have so far received two shots of the vaccine. Formula 1 has long been synonymous with speed, pure speed. Even on the street circuit of Monaco, a Formula One car naturally goes much faster than is actually possible. The potential of an F1 car is only really apparent on the high-speed circuits of the calendar. Temple of Speed It is no secret that Monza is one of the fastest circuits of the F1 season. Although there are three chicanes, the rest is full throttle blowing through the beautiful park in Monza. The mandatory race distance of over 300 kilometres in Italy is always completed in a flash. Monza currently has the highest average speed for a qualifying lap ever, thanks to Lewis Hamilton in 2020 (264.363 km/h). That's over five kilometers per hour faster than Keke Rosberg drove at Silverstone in 1985 (259.005 km/h) and well faster than Nelson Piquet at the Red Bull Ring in 1987 (256.622 km/h). Read more Drivers want changes F1 circuit in Jeddah, but Masi refuses major changes Fastest street circuit Since last season, Formula 1 has operated on the new circuit in Saudi Arabia. When this race was announced, it was said that this would be the fastest street circuit in the world. This turns out to be completely true. In fact, it is one of the fastest circuits that Formula 1 has ever raced on. In the list of highest average speeds during qualifying, Jeddah is in fourth place. Hamilton drove an average of 253.984 kilometers per hour last season. Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko is known as a tough teacher, but he often knows how to handle young talents. For example, Yuki Tsunoda experienced a turning point after Marko decided to move him to Italy and his decision to bring Max Verstappen to Red Bull early proved to be the right one. Red Bull junior Juri Vips is also very fond of the Austrian. Vips, who competes on behalf of Red Bull in Formula 2, says it's not all that hard on Marko. The Red Bull chief keeps a lot of contact with the juniors and speaks to them before, during and after each race weekend. "He is simpler than people think," said Vips in conversation with Formula1.com. Read more Will Hamilton follow the example of these big names in Formula 1? Vips agrees with Marko and Red Bull approach According to the 21-year-old driver from Estonia, Marko puts pressure on his drivers, but is also very nice and straightforward. As long as you perform, there's nothing wrong. That's just how it goes in Red Bull's junior team: if you don't do well, you can get kicked out, but if you do well, you'll end up in Formula 1. "They throw people out, yes. But why would you want to keep and paydrivers who are not going to be worthy of F1? They want only the best talent and I think that's the right approach," Vips said, pointing out that Red Bull keeps the best drivers but then gives them a chance. Grand Haven, MI (49417) Today A mix of clouds and sun. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 55F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 41F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. BRUSSELS, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Police fired water cannon and tear gas during a protest against COVID-19 restrictive measures here on Sunday. Some 50,000 people staged the protest in the streets of the Belgian capital, according to authorities. Police officers deployed water cannons and tear gas after violent clashes erupted midway, as rioters began hurling trash cans, barriers and other projectiles at the police. The police made about 70 arrests. Three officers and 12 rioters were taken to hospital, local media reported. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, quoted by news agency Belga, said on Sunday evening following the protest that "our society will never accept blind violence." "Difficult day today in Brussels. Nothing can justify the physical attacks of which the police have been victims. In consultation with the king's prosecutor, we will do everything to identify the perpetrators," Brussels mayor Philippe Close tweeted. The organizers, whose main request is said to obtain a "real public debate on the measures," had also invited protesters from other European countries. Dutch, Polish, French and Romanian flags could be seen in the crowd. The number of COVID-19 infections continued to rise sharply in Belgium. The government on Friday announced the introduction of a coronavirus barometer to gauge the seriousness of the pandemic. The barometer, consisting of three color codes, will come into effect on Jan. 28. Last November, roughly 35,000 protesters took part in demonstrations in Brussels that started peacefully but later turned violent. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SHARON Close to 200 trees including some 200-year-old oaks on the banks of the Housatonic River and other areas of Housatonic Meadows State Park were recently removed by the state, upsetting residents and area elected officials, who are now asking for changes to state procedures. State Sen. Craig Miner, R-Litchfield, and state Rep. Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, recently questioned the Department of Energy and Environmental Protections hazard tree removal project at the park and its accompanying campground. Both say that in spite of objections to removing oak and pine trees along the parks access road without any advance notice, the agency had no intention of stopping or reconsidering the trees marked for cutting. The DEEP began the tree project in November, after marking more than 170 trees for removal, according to Miner. When residents and state leaders objected, the DEEP stopped the project temporarily and organized a public hearing for Jan. 6 to discuss the work with residents. Between November and the hearing two weeks ago, close to 500 people signed an online petition objecting to the tree removal, with testimony from local arborist Michael Nadeau, who questioned the DEEPs practices. Large oak (Quercus spp) trees as well as other species have been removed along a steep riverbank, Nadeau wrote. The root systems from these trees is what was preventing the riverbank from eroding away. This seems particularly short-sighted, especially in light of recent storm activity and scientific studies that show the species Quercus (Oak) is the single most valuable species for insect and bird habitat quality. During the Jan. 6 hearing, speakers also asked that a moratorium be put in place to stop all tree removal projects until DEEPs procedures could be further evaluated. But Will Healey, the agencys spokesperson and media relations manager, said Friday that the DEEP fully intended to continue with the project. As was stated in the public meeting, DEEP planned to move forward with the hazard tree removal, and work to remove the remaining hazard trees began on Jan. 12 and is nearly completed, he said. DEEP could not support or enact a moratorium on hazard tree removals in Housatonic Meadows State Park or other DEEP properties, as some had requested, as such a moratorium would be inconsistent with our agencys approach to public safety. This week at the state parks picnic area, red plastic fencing blocked access to part of the interior roadway, where the tree removal included a number of pine trees close to the rivers edge. Other trees around the park were also cut down, and the remaining stumps are covered with snow. Miner said the tree cutting affects everyone living around the Housatonic River, as well as the river itself. There are people who have been longtime supporters of the DEEP and are interested in parks and campgrounds who were upset, he said. Certainly, there are also residents in the area that are pretty worked up, and have been since November when the trees started coming down. The park is wonderful, but this procedure stinks. DEEPs forest management program Healey explained that the agency follows a program to deal with hazardous trees through its forestry management division. DEEP conducts a program to mitigate risks to the public from hazard trees in order to provide for public safety at our parks and other properties, he said. Past storms, drought years, and infestation by exotic invasive species have led to the identification of many hazard trees across the state, including those trees identified for removal at Housatonic Meadows State Park. Two trees along the river at Housatonic Meadows state park have failed and fallen, including one last summer, according to Healey. Additionally, there have been three fatalities on state park and forest land due to falling trees, and a number of injuries that have resulted in claims against the state, he said. But among those trees cut down, Miner said, were 200-year-old oaks and numerous pine trees. The DEEP completed the project last week. There are many trees that go on the chopping block for various reasons, many of which (were) refuted by arborists who are speaking to it (at the Jan. 6 hearing) because of the scope of the project, and a lack of planning, he said. My point throughout this whole process is that there should have been outreach, consideration of endangered species, and a requirement to develop a plan for redevelopment. None of that, not one bit of that, happened before the trees came down. More information sought Harding and Miner have asked for additional documents from the DEEP in connection with the tree removal. Deputy Commissioner Mason Trumble accepted responsibility (at the Jan. 6 hearing) on behalf of the agency for its lack of transparency and a process that needed significant improvement, Miner said. But in spite of Trumbles admission and testimony from the public, nothing has changed, Miner said. It is now clear that DEEP had no intention of considering any of the testimony offered by highly-qualified, equally-credentialled members of the public in light of its plans to resume hazard tree removal, the lawmaker said. They have no plan for replanting, bank stabilization, damage mitigation to endangered species in the area and no plan to mitigate damage and disruption in the area. While DEEP officials did their best to feign contrition, the thoughtful testimony of experts and stakeholders at last weeks hearing did not receive a frogs-lick worth of consideration. Miner called the DEEPs tree removal procedures a sham that didnt consider the negative impact to endangered species and other important wildlife, significant or historical trees, the public and certainly not local and statewide stakeholders. Harding said, I was shocked and disappointed when Senator Miner alerted me to the seemingly arbitrary tree removal at Housatonic Meadows by DEEP this fall. I'm in complete agreement that this removal has been mishandled and unwarranted. Reviewing the situation Healey said the DEEP is reviewing its practices, and realizes the importance of notifying the public. After legislators, members of partner organizations, and other stakeholders voiced their concerns in late November 2021, DEEPs Forestry Division evaluated the hazard tree removal at Housatonic Meadows and presented a plan to address the remaining hazard trees (Jan 6), he said. The area was also reviewed for Natural Diversity Database concerns. At the Jan. 6 meeting, DEEP staff presented information about the process, next steps associated with this project, and lessons learned. A recording of the presentation has been posted to the DEEP website. Healey said the DEEP has learned valuable lessons from the incident. The (DEEP) process for hazard tree identification and mitigation does not include requirements for public notice of tree removal activities of significance, and as such, no public notice was originally completed, he said. However, through this process, we recognize the ways in which better communication would have been beneficial, both internally among other parts of our agency, and externally with our partner organizations and area stakeholders. We apologize for the surprise and concern this lack of advance notice caused, he said. We also recognize the value in providing more information to the public about the issue of hazard trees, and the guidelines we follow in implementing the hazard tree removal process. We are actively working to identify best practices to communicate and improve our hazard tree removal process, and look forward to updating the public on our progress. Healey said the agency is also eager to work with local individuals and groups that offered advice about making enhancements to Housatonic Meadows, such as tree replanting efforts along the river, invasive species controls, stream bank improvements and erosion prevention efforts. We are committed to working with local organizations on the best way to implement the enhancement plans that were considering at the park going forward, he said. DEEP will be reaching out to local partner organizations in the coming weeks with information about meetings and next steps on the best ways to implement park enhancements. Developing legislation Miner said he is awaiting the paperwork he has requested that details the decisions that were made. Im hoping to put forward some legislation that will obligate the DEEP by regulation, perhaps, to treat this process differently, he said. Miner represents the 30th Senate district that includes Brookfield, Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, New Milford, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Torrington, Warren and Winchester. Harding represents the 107th General Assembly district that includesBrookfield, Bethel and Danbury. Every January, the first selectman presents his proposed municipal budget at Town Hall, followed by a presentation from the Board of Education on its budget and a public hearing. This year, because of the recent surge of COVID-19 in town, the Jan. 25 presentation will be virtual as it was in 2021. The Zoom link is posted on the meeting agenda under the Board of Estimate and Taxation section of the town website at www.greenwichct.gov. First Selectman Fred Camillo will begin his presentation to the BET Budget Committee at 6 p.m., followed by the Board of Education at 6:30 p.m. The public hearing will follow immediately, where the public can weigh in. BET Budget Committee Chair Leslie Tarkington said residents can raise their hands via Zoom to be recognized during the public hearing or they can provide written comments to the committee through the town website. Speaker remarks will be limited to three minutes each. In addition to the Zoom, residents can watch the hearing on GCTV over their cable systems or via its YouTube channel. The Budget Committee will begin its hearings, by meeting with town department heads, on Feb. 1. Camillo is scheduled to meet with the four-member committee on that day as well as the Greenwich Police Department and Fire Department. A full schedule of the hearings is in the BET section of the town website. The Board of Education meets with the committee Feb. 3. GCTV will be broadcasting the hearings. Tarkington is in her second term as chair of the committee, joined by Leslie Moriarty, head of the Democratic caucus. The new members of the committee for the 2022-24 term are Republican Nisha Arora and Democrat Laura Erickson. Central Greenwich The YWCA Greenwich, with more than 40 of its community partners, is hosting the 2022 Coretta Scott and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. annual conversation with a focus on gender. The event is held in January around Martin Luther King Jr. Day and commemorates the lives and legacy of King and his wife by exploring a contemporary topic about which we believe they would have cared deeply, said Erin O. Crosby, YWCA Greenwichs director of womens empowerment and racial justice. She will be moderating the virtual panel discussion. According to YWCA Greenwich, The Evolution of Gender will explore the evolution and expansiveness of gender with a virtual panel discussion starting at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25. The panel includes Crosby; Steven Chen, a certified facilitator with Welcoming Schools at the Human Rights Campaign; JR and Vanessa Ford, nationally known advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and authors of the picture book Calvin; and Cadence Pentheny, coordinator of community and corporate learning at Triangle Community Center. The panel will discuss the history and language of gender and the importance of developing gender-affirming practices and policies that center the LGBTQ+ community. This event provides an opportunity for the Greenwich community to move closer to Dr. King and Coretta Scott Kings vision of a just society, Crosby said. That vision calls on us to ensure transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people are welcomed and included, have access to opportunity, and can live free from discrimination and violence. This topic is also important for our entire community, including educators, human service providers, funders and policymakers, and we hope they will join in this opportunity to learn more, said Mary Lee Kiernan, YWCA Greenwich President and CEO. For more information and to register for the free event, go to www.ywcagreenwich.org. Greenwich The subject of voting rights has been part of the national debate over the past year, with several states enacting new laws that many view as restrictive. The League of Women Voters is set to hold an online discussion about voting rights, both on the federal and state level, at 7 p.m. Jan. 27. Andrew Garber, a fellow within the Brennan Centers Voting Rights and Elections Program, will be the featured speaker. The discussion, which is billed as a virtual education forum, is free and open to the community. To register, visit https://bit.ly/LWVG22VotingRights. Those who register will also have the chance to submit questions in advance that will then be part of the discussion with Garber. According to the league, the program will address the current state of voting rights and proposed changes. The first part will address national voting rights and the second will focus on Connecticut. In November, there will be an initiative on the ballot for Connecticut to allow early voting, which sets aside specific dates and hours that voters can go to their assigned polling places in advance of Election Day and cast their ballots. The upcoming ballot referendum is the first step in amending Connecticuts constitution to allow early voting. The state legislature is expected to vote this year on making permanent the no excuses absentee voting policies that have been in place during the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed people to request an absentee ballot for any reason. There are few issues more fundamental to our democracy than voting rights, said league member Nancy Duffy, who with league member Jennifer Dayton is coordinating the program. By educating ourselves about the specific federal and Connecticut state voting rights issues at the center of the current debate, we are in a better position to advocate for laws we feel should remain in place, be enacted or changed. Old Greenwich As the station manager and operations engineer at WGCH-AM 1490 radio, Bob Small has for years been keeping local voices on the air and in the community. Now he will be honored as the first recipient of the new Tony B Radio Show Person of the Year award. Small, the sound engineer at First Congregational Church, 108 Sound Beach Ave., will be honored with the award at the church at a special tribute at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 25. A reception will follow until 2 p.m. This heartfelt award is presented to an outstanding individual who exemplifies hard work, dedication, belief and faith in the ideals of The TonyB Media Group and its media-related brands, including the Tony B Radio Show, said Tony Bolton, founder and general manager of The Tony B Radio Show and TonyB Media Group in Greenwich. The person of the year has demonstrated, in both deeds and acts, over the past year, the characteristics of a true TonyBer, which include being positive, working on personal goals, spiritual foundation and, above all, being of service to others, he said. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com LAMU, Kenya, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Estimated eight construction vehicles and equipment were on Sunday set ablaze by suspected al-Shabab militants at 29 km from Hindi Town in the coastal Kenyan county of Lamu, a government official said. Lamu County Commissioner Irungu Macharia said the trucks are part of a fleet of vehicles belonging to the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) that is currently building the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor project access road. Macharia also confirmed that there were no casualties during the incident. He said the areas are marred with mobile network challenges, making it hard to communicate with police officers and units on the ground but promised that attackers were being pursued and that security has been heightened. "I am aware the attackers destroyed construction equipment. It has been a challenge trying to reach my officers on the ground but security agencies are currently pursuing the gunmen. I will give more details as I get them," said Macharia. Security reports indicate that the heavily armed gunmen attacked a parking lot at the mini-constriction at around 4 a.m. and engaged the Kenya Defense Force before they threw gasoline bottles that burnt most of the equipment. The site is manned by Kenya Defense Forces (KDF). A fire exchange lasting for over two hours ensued at the site between the gunmen and KDF, before the militants were finally repulsed and retreated back into the Boni forest. Officers who spoke on condition of anonymity said the network challenges in the area made it impossible for them to call for backup when the attack happened. "There is no network in this area and that has been the major issue in dealing with the terrorists here. We called for backup but the response was slow due to that. By the time we got help, a lot of damage had been done," said the officer. The LAPSSET project is touted as East Africa's largest and most ambitious infrastructure project connecting Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan. On Saturday, intelligence reports indicated that the militia group was planning attacks in Lamu targeting the Lamu Port and the road leading to the facility. The Chinese company is constructing the road that will run through Lamu, Ijara and Garissa. Remember when Google used to name Android releases after desserts? It would even put statues of said desserts in front of its office things were fun back then and more importantly, every new release carried major improvements. Some were major milestones, the likes of Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the version that was so good that it refused to die. Android 4.4 KitKat introduced extensive upgrades as well, which are surprisingly relevant to this day, eight years after its 2013 release. First, the name this was the first release to be named after a branded snack, all the others are generic desserts. This one was going to follow suit with the Key Lime Pie name, but last minute deal with Nestle gave us the name we know today. Despite this setback, pies will eventually be recognized for their importance on the table with the v9.0 release. KitKat came after three releases of Jelly Bean, a version that focused on delivering a buttery-smooth UI. Aside from a few UI tweaks of its own, KitKats focus was on improving performance on devices with limited resources. That was the goal of Project Svelte, which aimed to run Android on as little as 340 MB of RAM, though 512MB was more realistic. Looking back at some statistics, the average phone in 2013 had 1GB of RAM with 3GB being the most that you could buy. This means there were quite a few devices with sub-1 GB of RAM back then and there are such devices even today (okay, they are smartwatches, but the point stands). Google developers created many tools to shrink RAM usage by the OS and apps. One such tool was zRAM, a compressed segment of RAM where unused data could be stored temporarily to free up room. This is different from the virtual RAM feature you see on current phones, that one leverages the fast internal storage to move data out of RAM. Of course, back in 2013 comparatively slow eMMC was the norm, especially on low-end devices, so such a scheme wouldnt have worked as well as zRAM. Another major change was the preparation to replace Dalvik VM with the Android Runtime (ART). The Dalvik virtual machine was crucial for early Android as it allowed software to be hardware-agnostic ARM, x86 and even the rare MIPS CPUs were supported. Android 2.2 Froyo introduced Just-in-Time (JIT) compilation to speed up application performance, but after several years Dalvik was starting to show its age. ART uses Ahead-of-Time compilation, basically compiling the app to the phone CPUs machine code as part of the app installation process. KitKat still used Dalvik by default, it wouldnt be until Lollipop that Android completed the switch over to ART. But ART is still used today and v4.4 laid the groundwork for that. We may have undersold how much KitKat changed Androids UI as one minor change had a major impact v4.4 allowed users to choose a default launcher in the Settings screen. This was possible in earlier versions, but it was tedious. Now anyone could easily try out different launchers if they werent happy with what the manufacturer skin had to offer. A few more UI tweaks included adopting a translucent look for certain UI components like the status bar and navigation bar. Immersive mode allowed apps to run in full screen, hiding those two bars completely, along with other OS interface elements. A new transitions framework allowed developers to create cool, smooth animations for their apps. KitKat made the status and navigation bars translucent The Immersive full screen mode KitKat added native support for the IR blaster, before that manufacturers were using custom solutions, which were harder for app developers to support. Also, the NFC functionality gained support for host card emulation, allowing the phone to act as a smart card, which is used for mobile payments, loyalty cards, transit passes and so on. Other new features include wireless printing (over Wi-Fi or online services like Google Cloud Print), the option to certify phones as Miracast compatible, improvements to connections with Bluetooth devices and more. KitKat made phones more secure by switching SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) to enforcing mode, which prevented compromised apps from accessing parts of the system they had no business touching. v4.4 also changed how apps access the memory card and simplified the browsing of local and cloud-stored files. Files stored on the cloud could now be browsed as those stored locally There are many more tiny improvements that arrived with KitKat. For example, it changed the way how sensor data is tracked to reduce power usage. This also enabled the creation of the step counter feature, which was built into the OS instead of leaving it to apps to implement a power-hungry solution. Moves and Runtastic Pedometer using the new step counter feature KitKats goal was to reach 1 million users. About a year after its release, v4.4 KitKat was already running on one third of Android devices and it wouldnt be until mid-2015 before KitKat caught up with Jelly Bean. It never hit 50% adoption as Lollipop was already out by that time and gobbling up market share. In late 2015 Android was running on 1.4 billion devices in total, so KitKat never got to power a billion devices. But Android 4.4 KitKats legacy isnt about how many phones it ran on in its heyday. The RAM optimizations that made the OS bearable on low-end devices, the performance and security improvements, plus the new connectivity features it introduced are still relevant even in version 12. College students did not expect to attend school virtually for the winter quarter or spring semester. But when the first omicron case was detected Dec. 1 in the United States, it was a bad sign of what was about to come for college campuses. At Seattle University, Emilee Yamamoto has been feeling overwhelmed and stressed because the university announced the day before school resumed that classes would be remote in January. Professors and students scrambled to adjust to the sudden change. Growing so accustomed to hearing about the rise of a different variant seemingly every few months, I had no hesitation in returning to campus, the Dededo resident said. Of course, I have concerns about myself and others around me, but it just means that I have to continue doing my part, maybe doing a little bit more, to keep my community safe. Now, the 20-year-old Academy of Our Lady Guam alumnus lives on campus is worried about the increasing cases. She hope the campus does not shut down entirely because that would mean returning home and taking online classes with a seven-hour time difference. Safe Yamamoto feels safe on campus because Seattle University requires proper face coverings be worn in indoor public spaces, such as the library, dining hall, and residence buildings. Surveillance testing for vaccinated students and weekly testing for unvaccinated students are also implemented throughout the quarter. Seattle University sends frequent emails with updates about COVID-19 regulations in the state and offers regular vaccination clinics. Across the Pacific at the the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Jasmine Pangelinan also feels confident on campus because of the universitys strict rules and regulations. The universitys first two weeks of classes were shifted online, and while most students feel disconnected from remote learning, the 19-year-old freshman engaged virtually. I thought my first college semester would be evidently boring due to the restrictions on any social interaction, but I used online platforms as my advantage to make friends and join clubs, the former Maite resident said. She credits online apps such as Instagram, Snapchat and Discord for making socializing entertaining as she finds others who share the same major, classes and club interests. Virtual study groups helped her get through classes, and the Pre-Pharmacy Club is helping her with her goal to become a pharmacist. Like Yamamoto and Pangelinan, Brian Lee at Stanford University feels relatively safe because of how careful the people in his dorm are about COVID-19. However, he is still concerned about the sheer volume of cases, as Stanford University is running out of places to isolate students. Scary Its kind of scary when this is happening since it feels like the situation is getting completely out of control, Lee said. If a friend or acquaintance tests positive and Ive interacted with them, I have to test again and isolate myself until the results come out. Students were supposed to return to in-person classes Jan. 2, but the university extended remote courses for four weeks. Despite the change, the sophomore chose to fly back on campus. While the number of cases on campus is concerning, I would still rather be on campus because of the time zone differences between Guam and California, the 18-year-old said. Its also helpful to have your friends around you encouraging each other through all of this. The students also are comforted by their universities protocols with those who test positive. At Seattle University, students who test positive of COVID-19 are contacted by the universitys public safety officers and undergo immediate quarantine. They are moved to an apartment off-campus or remain in their room for five days, ending quarantine when they test negative for COVID-19. Students are also required to contact everyone they had an extended interaction within the past 24 hours so they can get tested as well. My school utilizes an apartment complex off-campus as a place to isolate students, which allows for extra space if necessary. This is especially useful as the roommates of those in quarantine are not at risk, Yamamoto said. However, something that worries me is that some students dont get tested despite feeling any symptoms. These students will continue to go out publicly and potentially spread the virus even more. In Honolulu, Pangelinan said students who test positive are temporarily moved off campus to isolate. When they leave their dorm, the elevators, bathrooms and common areas of the buildings where they lived are disinfected. The only information I receive via email when a COVID-19 case is reported is that the students are moved off-campus, Pangelinan said. The university should continue to instill the face mask mandates and the entry check-ins through the LumiSight app. At Stanford University, a rapid-testing kit is provided for students returning to campus, and weekly testing is required. Lee thinks they help ease some of his concerns, but the problem is that the weekly tests now take longer to return results. All colleges share the same struggles as omicron continues to spread worldwide. College experiences that students had expected to enjoy are now down the drain. Im worried that itll (Omicron) affect opportunities over the summer, whether that be internships or research opportunities, Lee said. Itll also make it harder to make friends with people outside of those in your dorm or classes. Daniel Bernardo gives advice to those who are wanting to start their own Star Wars collection. A Russian woman was charged with family violence in connection to an assault on a man known to her. On Friday morning, police officers responded to an assault complaint at a Tamuning apartment where a man said he was assaulted by Polina Kareva, according to a magistrates complaint filed in the Superior Court of Guam. The man said Kareva tried to choke him, hit him and cut his shoulder with a knife while he was in the bathroom. Officers then saw the cut on the mans shoulder, the complaint stated. The man said the attack happened after an argument between the two. Officers found Kareva in the bathroom and knife in the sink, the complaint stated. Kareva, who only spoke Russian, was assisted by an interpreter that explained her rights. She then invoked her right to remain silent, according to the complaint. Kareva was charged with family violence as a third-degree felony with a special allegation of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony. Training Consultant Lorraine Okada addresses participants during her presentation in a Guam Unique Merchandise and Art training course at the Dededo Senior Citizens Center Jan. 15, 2022. The workshops, being held in various villages throughout the island, are designed to help budding entrepreneurs in the community on how to utilize their creativity and skills to efficiently start a home-based business. DHAKA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is driving a huge spike in fresh infections in Bangladesh, a senior official said Sunday. Nazmul Islam, a spokesman for the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), told reporters, "A huge spike in infections is being driven by the Omicron variant of COVID-19, which is gradually replacing Delta in the country." In a health bulletin Sunday afternoon about the symptoms of the Omicron variant, he said that some 73 percent of people here detected with the Omicron variant have runny nose, 68 percent have headache, 64 percent have fatigue and 60 percent have sneezing. Also, he said 60 percent of the patients have sore throat and 44 percent have cough. "If we don't follow well hygiene rules, the upward trend in fresh Omicron cases won't stop," he said. Bangladesh's new COVID-19 cases soared by 10,906 in the past 24 hours by 8:00 a.m. local time Sunday, taking the total cases to 1,685,136, according to the latest government data. Haiti - FLASH : Explosion of a clandestine fuel depot in Carrefour, more than 20 victims (provisional report) Saturday morning around 10:00 am a fire broke out in a clandestine fuel depot not far from the Thor terminal in Carrefour, the second largest storage site for petroleum products in Haiti after that of Varreux. Arriving quickly on the scene, the police from the Carrefour Omega police station and the town's firefighters managed to quickly control the fire but were unable to prevent the explosion of another storage facility too close to the disaster, which caused panic among the residents. The provisional human toll is heavy, 1 dead and about twenty people burned, some of them seriously. Note that three firefighters were burned, one of them seriously. The victims were rushed to hospitals in Drouillard and Adventist Hospital in Diquini (Carrefour). Many vehicles parked near this warehouse were destroyed by fire. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Justice : Arrest of an influential member of the gang 400 Mawozo Chouby Fenelon, also known as Youri Fenelon, an influential member of the "400 Mawozo" gang based in Croix-des-Bouquets, has been arrested this week by the police as he was preparing to receive treatment in a hospital center in the capital following a serious injury received during clashes with special units of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) on January 19 https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-35763-icihaiti-pnh-major-anti-gang-operation-4-arrests-several-deaths.html . Chouby Fenelon is implicated in several kidnapping and murder cases. At the same time, Kesnel Noel, the father of gang leader Wendy Charles aka "TiPaste", based in the "Micho" / Caniere zone at the Belkay entrance, was arrested by the PNH. He is considered a key suspect by the Police. Photo thumbnail : Youri Fenelon and Kesnel Noel. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - NOTICE : Allowed interchangeability of vaccines against Covid-19 The Directorate General of the Ministry of Public Health informs the Departmental Health Directorates, Health Institutions, partners involved in vaccination and the general population that, according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), the interchangeability of vaccines used against Covid-19 and its variants is allowed in Haiti. Indeed, the WHO recommends vaccination (2 doses) with the same vaccine as a priority but in the event of unavailability, interchangeability between laboratory vaccines: PFIZER ("vaccine: Comirnaty"), MODERNA ("vaccine: Spikevax") and JOHNSON and JOHNSON ("vaccine: Janssen") is accepted to complete a vaccination schedule. Depending on the case: "The 1st dose of "Spikevax" vaccine (MODERNA) can be followed by a 2nd dose of "Comirnaty" vaccine (PFIZER) or "Janssen" vaccine (JOHNSON and JOHNSON). Or "The 1st dose of "Comirnaty" vaccine (PFIZER) can be followed by a 2nd dose of "Spikevax" vaccine (MODERNA) or "Janssen" vaccine (JOHNSON and JOHNSON). The General Directorate of the Ministry of Public Health is counting on the collaboration of all the actors concerned for the application of this provision at the level of all the points of delivery of vaccination services against Covid-19. Vaccination: 125,492 Haitians (1.08% of the population) +221 in 24 hours have received a 1st dose of "Spikevax" vaccine from the MODERNA Laboratory since July 16, 2021, date of the first injection through 149 open vaccination centers https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35051-haiti-covid-19-list-of-149-vaccination-centers-open-in-the-country.html and 79,410 Haitians are fully vaccinated (2 doses, 0.68% of the population) + 270 . Update January 14, 2022 latest information available (source MSPP). List of the 149 Vaccination Centers open in Haiti (and hours) by department : (updated October 20, 2021) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35051-haiti-covid-19-list-of-149-vaccination-centers-open-in-the-country.html HL/ HaitiLibre U.S. gross domestic product shrank 1.4% in the first quarter at the same time infl According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, unknown gunmen attacked two military checkpoints of Damascus government forces, one of them in west of Maliha town and the other at the gate of Brigade 52 Miga, east of Daraa, injuring 3 members of Damascus government forces, one of them in serious condition. After the attack, Damascus government forces, in turn, carried out a missile attack on Al-Harak in the eastern countryside of Daraa, injuring 10 civilians, two of whom are in serious condition. A.K ANHA The Damascus government has recently been promoting what it calls reconciliations or settlements for the people of northern and eastern Syria, in an attempt to implement the Daraa experience, after it began in its areas of Deir ez-Zor and the southern countryside of Raqqa, amid popular rejection in northern and eastern Syria against attempts. The writer and theater director Daham Saddam believes that the Damascus government's resort to settlements is its continued intransigence in refusing to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis. partnership and participation in the political decision of the country. He noted that what the Damascus government seeks will cause the Syrians to perish, and added, "It would have been better for it to apologize to the Syrian people and respond to their demands, rather than calling them for settlements and reconciliations." He asked, "Why reconciliations? What did the peoples do? For what are these reconciliations? Is the Syrian citizen a terrorist, so that his affairs are settled by the regime?" Saddam stressed that what pushed the Syrian people to turn to different currents and directions was "the mentality of the Damascus government, which is the same one that pushed the country to be occupied by the Turkish occupation state, and for the United States of America, Russia, and other regional and global powers to intervene." For his part, the plastic artist Hassan Mustafa believes that "these reconciliations fall within the framework of the Damascus government's attempts to evade the political solution," stressing that "they do not serve the solution of the Syrian crisis nor the Syrians, and indicate the absence of a horizon for political solutions that all Syrians seek." He said, "Instead, it is better for the Damascus government and the Syrians to agree on a Syrian solution away from all foreign interference, and to agree on the greatest common denominator, which is the future of Syria and the interest and future of its people." The writer and theatrical director Daham Saddam affirms that the solution lies in dialogue and the project of self-administration, instead of what the Damascus government calls "reconciliations and settlements", saying: "We reject settlements, and we are with dialogue and with the political solution in Syria in general, and the Autonomous Administration areas in north and east Syria. Especially, because many Syrians see the Autonomous Administration project as the gateway to resolving the Syrian crisis." He called on the Damascus government to enter into a serious dialogue with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, considering it a Syrian project, led by the Syrians. or ethnic. The plastic artist Hassan Mustafa does not see, in the so-called settlements any interest for the Syrian people, saying: The interest of the Syrians lies in the agreement of all Syrians on the interest of their country, on the interest of their people, and on the interest of their children who sacrificed enough and suffered enough, away from narrow interests immediate interests and the interests of foreign agendas. He stressed that the Syrian dialogue away from foreign countries will contribute to finding a real formula for Syria's future that preserves the country's lands and people and restores Syria's pivotal role in the Middle East. A ANHA Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. A Mutare woman who recently completed a teacher training course, died two days after delivering a stillborn baby reportedly after enduring prolonged periods of vicious assaults at the hands of her husband, The Standard heard. Her husband, Hillary Gororo, is a police officer based at Domboshava Police Support Unit. Soul Nyagumbo from Mutare, the father of the now deceased Mavis, is demanding justice for his daughter who allegedly suffered at the hands of Gororo, his son-in-law. Nyagumbos family is demanding a postmortem which they say police at Mutare General Hospital are trying to block. Mavis delivered a stillborn child on January 3 at the hospital and she died two days later. She is yet to be buried as the family is demanding a postmortem. My daughter was married in Domboshava to a Zimbabwe Republic Police Support Unit officer (Gororo) two years ago and he is currently based at Buchwa police station, Nyagumbo said. Last year in October my daughter called me at around midnight saying she had been assaulted by her husband. I called both of them and the husband apologised, he said The following morning my daughter called me again, saying her hand was swollen and she was in pain and I told her to go to hospital. My daughter later called me to say she had been admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, but later in the day she said she was going back home as she had left a child at home. She also revealed that her blood pressure was high and I advised her to come home. Late in December she came to her aunts house in Mutare and she was seriously ill and we discovered that she was also heavily pregnant. Nyagumbo said Mavis died a painful death with a broken leg and a broken hand. She had wounds all over her body from the mouth, to the stomach. Nurses told us that she had an infection which was caused by giving birth to a stillborn baby, he said. All hell broke loose when we went to the hospital to collect my daughters bags soon after her death. We found out there were many assault cases. In some cases the husband had used objects to assault her. l cried. My daughter told her aunt before passing away that she was quiet about the abuse just to protect her marriage. Mavis had just finished her teaching course at Bondolfi Teachers College in Masvingo. Nyagumbo said that his son-in-law failed to visit Mavis when she was sick, only to come during the funeral wake carrying 10 cabbages and tomatoes. He said his son-in-law never paid lobola, but a small token to alert the in-laws that he was staying with their daughter. Gororo yesterday disputed the allegations, saying they were waiting for the post-mortem. These are all lies. We are just waiting for the postmortem. I am not an abuser, he said The postmortem will now be carried out on January 25 in Harare. Nyagumbo said he had approached Mutare Central Police Officer in Charge Medson Karidza to open a murder case against Gororo. Karidza told this publication that the report should be made at Domboshava. Acting Manicaland police spokesman Assistant inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said they were yet to get a report of police blocking a postmortem. Standard Exiled former cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere last week declared himself a thorn in the flesh of Zanu PF and dared President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government to arrest him. Kasukuwere told The Standard in an interview that Zanu PF bigwigs were scared of his imminent return to the party and would not dare touch him. When Kasukuwere made a statement last week to the effect that he was preparing a comeback to Zanu PF and that he was ready to make difficult decisions to save Zanu PF and to stop all injustices against his colleagues in exile, the party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa released an angry statement. Kasukuwere and other members of the G40 faction led by former First Lady Grace Mugabe were forced to flee the country after the November 2017 military coup that toppled the late ex-president Robert Mugabe. Some G40 members including former minister Ignatius Chombo have been dragged to court facing various charges. Kasukuwere has been linked to a plot to challenge Mnangagwa in the 2023 general elections, a move that has heavily polarised ruling party structures, with some opposed to Mnangagwas rule seemingly warming up to this development. Zanu PF has also accused Kasukuwere of being the brains behind the High Court application by party activist Sybeth Musengezi challenging Mnangagwas 2017 ascendancy to power. In an interview on Friday, Kasukuwere said Mutsvangwas angry statement exposed the panic among the rank and file of the party over his return to take control of Zanu PF. Zanu PF has a way of evolving since its formation in 1963. The party has survived worse challenges including armed rebellions such as the Nhari rebellion but the party managed to deliver independence regardless of its challenges, Kasukuwere said. I believe Zanu PF will do what Zanu PF does to survive internal and external threat. Mutsvangwas response shows that the Politburo and those who claim to be leaders of the party are already engaged and feeling the heat. Arrest is not a thing to be feared of if you are a revolutionary who is standing for what you believe in and if you have the mandate from the people. Mnangagwa was arrested, Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo and the late Nelson Mandela and others If anything, should Kasukuwere be arrested then it would confirm beyond doubt what we have been saying all along that Mnangagwa is afraid of losing power to the most effective Political Commissar the party has ever known after Border Gezi. Kasukuwere was the Zanu PF political commissar during the 2017 coup. Zanu PF is using mostly 2014 party structures that worked with Kasukuwere as the commissar. Reports have said party structures opposed to Mnangagwa and are currently backing his deputy Constantino Chiwenga to take over, are backing Kasukuwere. Last week, ex-members of the notorious national youth service pledged loyalty to Kasukuwere. We know his (Mutsvangwa) full history, he must be aware that unlike him, Kasukuwere is by far a better leader who remains unmatched when it comes to issues of Zimbabwe development programmers and politics in general, Zimbabwe National Youth Service (NYS) graduates association secretary general Kudakwashe Ndavara said on Wednesday. If Kasukuwere feels he can make things change for the betterment of Zimbabwe and its people, no one should stop him out. We should instead embrace his ideas. As an association speaking with one voice, we are ready to decisively defend our Saviour Kasukuwere. The NYS was launched by the late Youth minister Border Gezi in 2001. But Zanu PF was later accused of turning the graduates into a paramilitary youth militia used to harass opposition political opponents. Zanu PF director for Information Tafadzwa Mugwadi said Kasukuwere and former NYS members were wasting their time. These headless G40 elements need to be reminded that the last man to resurrect from the dead was Jesus Christ and they are not his brothers, Mugwadi said. As such Zanu PF and Mutsvangwa in particular have no time for desktop activists outside Zanu PF. Standard Greenville, TX (75401) Today Foggy this morning followed by thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 84F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. The Herald-Chronicle is a weekly newspaper printed in Winchester, Tennessee You will receive full, ad-free access to HeraldChronicle.com as well as full access to the Electronic Edition of the newspaper. ONLY $2.99 per month for the first 3 months! Only $3.99 per month after promotional period. Or ONLY $33.99 per year for the 1st year Only $37.99 per year after promotional period. A TROPICAL storm is expected to hit the country as a depression evolves when landing on the Mozambican channel before drifting into Zimbabwe, a development that has seen Government activating disaster response mechanisms. The tropical depression whose intensity is still to be ascertained is expected to land on the Mozambican coast today at midday, evolving into a tropical storm and is expected to head into Zimbabwe. Some areas of the country are expected to receive rains exceeding 50mm per hour whereas normally between 5mm to 15 mm are received. Anything that is above 30mm can sweep away a car. However, the expected rains will be far less compared to those received in March 2019 when the country was hit by Cyclone Idai. The threats posed by the development has seen the Government activating disaster response mechanisms including evacuation plans. Cyclones have previously hit the country with devastating consequences, claiming lives and destroying infrastructure. Rains received so far this rainy season in the country have caused damaged about 320 homesteads countrywide. In a statement yesterday, the Meteorological Service Department (MSD) said intense downpours are expected in the northern parts of the country and some parts of Masvingo. The Tropical Depression is now evolving in the Mozambique Channel and has been gradually intensifying for the past few hours due to warm waters of the channel. This system will have a probable gradual re-intensification to the stage of a moderate tropical storm before it lands on the coast of Mozambique, between Angoche and the island of Mozambique, on Monday at around midday, read the MSD statement. It said Manicaland, Masvingo and all Mashonaland provinces are expected to receive heavy rains exceeding 50mm while light rains will be received in Matabeleland region and Midlands province. Based on the gusts of wind (which could approach or even locally exceed 100 km/h near the coast of Mozambique), intense rains and strong winds are expected in the southern districts of Manicaland into Masvingo Province on Monday 24 January 2022. From Tuesday 25 till Thursday 27 January 2022, heavy rains (above 50mm) are probable in all Mashonaland Provinces and Manicaland. Light rains are anticipated elsewhere across the country with cloudy conditions prevailing, read the statement. Civil Protection Unit director, Mr Nathan Nkomo said Government was activating all its grassroot structures and vulnerable communities will be evacuated to safe centres. The alert was given as usual. We have activated our sub national structures and Im happy that those structures are now coordinated by Permanent Secretaries for Provincial Affairs and Devolution. What is required is that we need to quickly alert everyone and we urge them to also ensure that before the tropical depression hits the country all the vulnerable communities where possible must be evacuated to safe places. And for now, the only safe place is a school and we will take advantage of the fact that schools are still closed, said Mr Nkomo. He said funds have been disbursed to ensure that provinces can respond to any rain-related disasters. We have released the budgets to our provinces which we think they can start preparing for any eventualities. I know that money can never be adequate but we have sent some reasonable amounts which will allow them to kickstart the process of responding to the looming disaster. It might not be enough but it will find us somewhere in terms of our response, said Mr Nkomo. That alert has also triggered a response from our partners as coordinated by United Nations Zimbabwe. He said today the emergency services subcommittee of the national Civil Protection Committee will meet to discuss how they can implement the national contingency plan in preparation for any disasters. Mr Nkomo said in the meantime members of the public should stay away from water bodies and avoid crossing flooded rivers and bridges whether on foot or while driving. In an interview, MSD head of forecasting Mr James Ngoma said the rainfall will be very significant because under normal rains the country should receive between 5mm and 15mm every hour. He said the rains will however not be anywhere near what was experienced when the country was hit by Cyclone Idai which ravaged Manicaland, killing hundreds. If you get anything that triples what is normal, we tend to call those extremes. So usually, our extremes begin at 25 mm for every hour or more. So, if you are getting 50mm it means you are getting continuous rainfall for more than two hours, he said. He said farmers need about 20mm per day. That amount of rain will be adequate for five days. So, if you are getting 50 mm, that is double the farmers requirement. It will mostly get to surface runoff and would cause flash flooding. And if you get 30mm or more of such rainfall, it will be enough to sweep away a vehicle and that is the type of a scenario we face. Chronicle We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit For John Ortiz, Promised Land was the first chance he got to be a success without playing a drug dealer. After decades on screen in Carlitos Way, Miami Vice and Fast & Furious, Ortiz seemed locked into a cliche: the Latino man who busted heads for cash and worked his way up underground. Promised Land, premiering Monday on ABC, gave him something different. Advertisement It goes beyond the one or two types that predominantly covered Latino characters on the screen forever, the 53-year-old Brooklyn native, whose father owned a bodega in Bedford-Stuyvesant, told the Daily News. To me, whats been painful about that is not that that doesnt exist in the world, but that we are so much more than that. This type of scope, with this amount of characters, allows us to explore the story, explore our culture, in a non-monolithic way and to really be nuanced about it. The weight of feeling like you have to represent it all with one character, which has been the pattern for many years, has been relieved. No one has the burden of representing the whole scope of Latino culture. Advertisement Ortiz stars as Joe Sandoval, the patriarch of a Latino family and magnate of a California vineyard desperate to keep a handle on both his children and his company. The show is bursting with soapy drama, from Sandovals ex-wife (Bellamy Young), the sole descendant of the winerys founder, to his new blended family and five children, all fighting for his legacy. John Ortiz stars as California wine manufacturer Joe Sandoval in Promised Land. (Danny Delgado/ABC) You see both the beauty of chasing your dreams, especially when the prizes do come, but also the cost of it, Ortiz said. Hes at a point where the mountain hes built, a beautiful mountain, is not only starting to crumble but hes now faced with the fact that he might have become a different person on more than one level and hes forced to be confronted with that truth. Intermingled is a second timeline, about three immigrants who cross the wall and make their way to that same winery, attempting to build a life for themselves. [ Women of the Movement honors the legacy and strength of Emmett Tills mother after teens murder ] Creator Matt Lopez, a third-generation American, got the idea at Home Depot, watching a group of day laborers waiting for someone to need them. I had this cathartic epiphany moment where their lives seemed so different than mine, but really the only difference is the passage of time. My grandparents and great-grandparents worked in fields, worked in factories, he told The News. Promised Land, he said, is the immigrant story at two different places on the journey: the family empire at the height of its power and the scrappy immigrant story of how the empire came to be. Bellamy Young plays Margaret Honeycroft, Joes ex-wife scheming to get her own empire. (Raymond Liu/ABC) Young, who plays Margaret Honeycroft, the winery heir and Joes ex-wife who returns with vengeance on her mind, called it a story of the American Dream working. Advertisement You can really put your life on the line and wind up in a castle on the hill, she said. In a way, Margaret serves as the villain, setting out to take down Joe and his family. But shes also trying to reclaim the company that she feels is hers. [ Everyone has a justification in Fox mob drama The Cleaning Lady ] She starts again in a whole new industry and becomes a titan, so as much as shes coming home for revenge shes also coming home a very changed person and able to be in her own skin in her own home. She knows who she is now and she has nothing left to prove to anyone, Young, 51, told The News. Joes children, including Antonio (Tonatiuh) and Veronica (Christina Ochoa) are fighting for his legacy. (Danny Delgado/ABC) On a whim, Lopez sent a letter to Bruce Springsteen, asking to use one of his songs in the Promised Land pilot. Springsteen gave him Born in the U.S.A. Using this very American song, by perhaps the quintessential American recording artist, the idea I liked was taking Born in the U.S.A. and reclaiming it on behalf of millions of Americans who are not born in the U.S.A. but are reborn in the U.S.A., Lopez told The News. Advertisement I think for millions of Americans who emigrate here, they embody the American Dream as well if not better than Americans whose families have been here for generations. Jan. 27 Music Class in the Park Childrens Music Class in the Park with Vivaldi is scheduled for 10-10:45 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, at Sugar Land Town Square, at Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 59. Vivaldi Music Academy welcomes families with children ages 1-5 years old to join them in the Plaza for a free, fun morning full of singing, dancing and learning. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/3bvfubvr. 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. 1 Sugar Land City Council The Sugar Land City Council is scheduled to meet for its regular session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, 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, Feb. 1, 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. Feb. 4 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. Feb. 5 Sugar Land Rotary 5K The Third Annual Running with a Heart-Sugar Land Rotary 5K is scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at Sugar Land Town Square, 15958 City Walk Drive in Sugar Land. Race entry includes a finishers medal, T-shirt and coupons to sponsors facilities. Adult registration is $35. Youth registration is $25. All net proceeds benefit the Fort Bend Rainbow Room. There will be no onsite race day registration at the event. Pre-registration is required at www.sugarlandrotary5k.com. Feb. 7 Richmond City Commission The city of Richmond will hold its regular commission meeting on Monday, Feb. 7, 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, Feb. 7, in the City Hall, Council Chamber at 1522 Texas Parkway. For more information go to www.missouricitytx.gov. 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. XKlusive 06 Race/Walk The XKlusive 06 Race/Walk is scheduled for 7-10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at Sugar Land Town Square, 15958 City Walk Drive in Sugar Land. The fun-run benefits the Xi Kappa Lambda Educational Foundation. Their foundation awards scholarships annually and has supported educational initiatives for students in the greater Houston area for more than 25 years. Race registration is $35 and includes a 06K numbered bib, a commemorative medal, and other surprises from sponsors and supporters. Top finishers will also be awarded based on their registration class. There will be volunteers available to assist you along the way + race-day prizes and hype music played by on-site deejay. Registration ends Feb. 11. To register go to https://tinyurl.com/2jn736yj. Feb. 15 Sugar Land City Council The Sugar Land City Council is scheduled to meet for its regular session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, 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, Feb. 15, 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. Feb. 21 Richmond City Commission The city of Richmond will hold its regular commission meeting on Monday, Feb. 21, 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, Feb. 21, in the City Hall, Council Chamber at 1522 Texas Parkway. For more information go to www.missouricitytx.gov. OnScene TV Two people were killed in a crash Sunday on the Sam Houston Tollway feeder road in West Houston. The driver of a Ford F-150 veered off the road at a high rate of speed about 3 a.m. and crashed into a concrete support pillar on the southbound feeder of the Sam Houston Tollway near the Katy Freeway, according to Houston Police Sgt. David Rose. The Justice Department is seeking to close a Southwest Side pharmacy accused of ignoring signs of abuse and illegally filling opioid prescriptions. Jitendra Chaudhary, the pharmacist-in-charge and part owner of Rite-Away Pharmacy and Medical Supply #2, is accused of unlawfully filling controlled substance prescriptions, according to a civil complaint filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. The complaint alleges that Chaudhary and Rite-Away ignored numerous red flags, or obvious signs of abuse or diversion, when filling opioid prescriptions. One patient died from toxic effects of fentanyl nine days after Rite-Away filled her prescription for that drug, according to the complaint. As pharmacists, the defendants had a legal obligation to ensure controlled substance prescriptions are prescribed for legitimate medical purposes before being sold and distributed to patients, said Ashley C. Hoff, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas. Their choice to repeatedly ignore signs of abuse and diversion when dispensing opioids is a failure to meet this duty at the expense of patient health. The U.S. Attorneys Office will use those resources available to stop pharmacies and pharmacists from avoiding their responsibilities amidst the opioid crisis. The complaint alleges that by ignoring signs of abuse and diversion, Chaudhary and the pharmacy, located at 2716 S.W. Military Drive, illegally filled controlled substance prescriptions outside the usual course of professional practice and filled prescriptions that were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose, in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. Both Chaudhary and the pharmacy altered prescriptions that lacked required information in order to make them appear to be in compliance with DEA regulations, the complaint said. The complaint seeks civil penalties as well as a permanent injunction to prevent further violations. The DEAs San Antonio District Office is conducting the ongoing investigation, officials said. jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA Bilateral trade between Vietnam and the US set a new milestone, hitting 111.56 billion USD in 2021, up nearly 21 billion USD over the previous year, according to the General Department of Customs. The impressive figure made the US the second trade partner having import-export turnover with Vietnam reaching the 100 billion USD mark after China. Last year Vietnam's exports to the US rose 25 percent to nearly 96.3 billion USD, accounting for 28.6 percent of the country's total exports. Among Vietnam's major export items to the US were machinery, equipment and parts with 17.82 billion USD, up 46 percent; textiles and garments (16.1 billion USD, up 15 percent); computers, electronics and components (12.76 billion USD; up 23 percent); handsets and parts (9.69 billion USD, up 10.3 percent); footwear (7.42 billion USD, up 18 percent); and wood and wooden products (8.8 billion USD, up 23 percent). Last year, the country imported nearly 15.27 billion USD worth of goods from the US, mainly computers, electronics and components as well as machinery, equipment and parts. Bui Huy Son, Counselor of the Vietnam Trade Office in the US, said that the two-way turnover, which exceeded 100 billion USD for the first time in 2021, was a very important achievement, especially given the pandemic, as well as the disruptions and disturbances in the supply chain and logistics activities. Along with that, the active and flexible activities of two business communities continued to expand trade and investment activities, such as the resumption of direct flights between Vietnam and the US, and the fact that Vietnamese businesses were increasing investment in the US to continue to expand their presence sustainably in the market. Looking at import and export activities, not only had the total two-way turnover reached a record level, but it was also worth mentioning that export activities from both directions had good growth rates, Son said, adding that the import and export goods between the two sides were very complementary. To accelerate bilateral trade, Son called for continuous efforts from both sides, first of all in terms of the policy. The two sides should continue to maintain a dialogue channel, sharing information, and further enhancing mutual understanding so that they could detect and coordinate on problems favourably. At the same time, businesses also needed to seize opportunities, especially opportunities from the strong recovery of the US economy, since different forecasts assessed a relatively high growth rate for the US economy in 2022. He also suggested businesses closely observe market developments, ensure the requirements of legal traceability, storage, information about documents and invoices for the origin of goods, so that they could coordinate and provide information when there were requests for investigation and verification by US agencies./. From Tennessee to Canada, and as far away as Vatican City in Rome, Caribbean-rooted, Bronx-based artist Laura James was busy last year creating her vividly-hued representations of Biblical characters and scenes in a centuries-old Ethiopian Christian art style. Its been a busy and exciting year, from presenting over ten lectures to having my work handed to Pope Francis in Rome! said James, looking back at 2021. I worked on many private commissions, including Summer Daydream for a new collector, and a series of paintings aimed at re-imaging Mary Magdalene. Advertisement A painting featuring Pheobe the Biblical character who is recognized as a "deacon" in some Bible versions, and the artist Laura James. (laurajamesart.com/laurajamesart.com) Im looking forward to seeing the cross I made for Sewanee, University of the South installed this winter, and to working on my third childrens book! Groundwood Books asked if I wanted to write and illustrate a childrens book based on my Nanny series, and of course I said YES! Last October, at the Roman Catholic Churchs Global Synod in Rome, members of the Minnesota-based Discerning Deacons Project advocating for women deacons in the Catholic Church presented Pope Francis with a framed James work of the Biblical character Phoebe. The Discerning Deacons have Phoebe who is recognized as a deacon in some Bible versions as their projects patron. Advertisement Pope Francis accepted the Laura James artwork "Phoebe" in Rome in October 2021. (Discerning Deacons Project/Discerning Deacons Project) In September, James whose parents were born in Antigua discussed her life and career with Deans Forum' host Richard Lawson, the dean of St. Johns Cathedral in Denver, in an almost 50-minute-long session on YouTube. In the interview, Lawson an alumnus of Sewanee, The University of the South, in Tennessee mentioned a James-related connection to the 164-year-old private Episcopal liberal arts college and seminary. In 2020, the schools Board of Regents denounced the colleges former ties to American slavery and the Confederacy. With this backdrop, James was approached to create a work that would replace the white Jesus in the universitys Chapel of the Apostles with an image of Jesus that better reflects his historical identity as a Middle Eastern Jew. Then, Lawson and James talked about her creating a series of paintings on Mary Magdalene for the FutureChurch religious group. Also last year, James fulfilled a request for her artworks from the Halton Catholic District Schools in Ontario, Canada. Visit www.laurajamesart.com to learn more about James work. REMEMBERING RON BOBB-SEMPLE The Caribbean community here and in Guyana will pay tribute to the late Guyana-born veteran actor Ron Bobb-Semple at 4 p.m. Sunday in an online affair, sponsored by the Guyana Cultural Association of New York. Advertisement Actor Ron Bob-Semple will be remembered by the Guyana Cultural Association of New York in a presentation on the group's Facebook and YouTube pages. (Guyana Cultural Association of New York/Guyana Cultural Association of N) The memorial presentation can be seen on the Guyana Cultural Association of New Yorks Facebook and YouTube pages. Bobb-Semple died Jan. 13 in Tampa, Fla. He was 69. In announcing the event, the association referred to Bobb-Semple as a cultural icon, a talented son of Guyana whose life was an example of exceptional service to the Guyanese and Caribbean American community. He was known for film and stage presentations most notably for his The Spirit of Marcus Garvey commemorative presentations. Bobb-Semple was very proud of his Guyanese roots. One example of his devotion to his birthplace can be found on the Guyana Cultural Associations Facebook page: His recital of Ivor Thoms poem, Me Wan Country Man, a 2:34 minute work packed with warm remembrances of rural Guyanese life. Advertisement Most recently, Bobb-Semple appeared in the Spike Lee-produced Sci-Fi film See You Yesterday on Netflix. ATTORNEY COLIN MOORE DIES Guyana-born Colin Moore, who worked as an attorney on the 1989 Central Park jogger rape case, and other major cases, died on Jan. 9 according to a spokesman for the family. Moore was a graduate of Brooklyn Law School and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1979. Attorney Colin Moore, at the microphone, speaking at press conference with Black FDNY employees who sued in a $150 million federal discrimination lawsuit in 2016. (Jefferson Siegel/New York Daily ) In addition to being a civil rights advocate, Moore represented Korey Wise in the jogger case. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Wise and the other youths had their rape convictions vacated in 2002, after the real assailant confessed and the evidence was reviewed. Wise had already served almost 12 years of his 5-to-15-year prison sentence when he was released. Moore also represented Carmel Cato, father of 7-year-old Gavin Cato, whose accidental death triggered the Crown Heights riot in 1991. Advertisement DEATH OF WALDABA, A PIONEER Waldaba Stewart, former state senator, economist, educator, and Caribbean community leader, died on Jan. 1. Born in the Panama Canal Zone, he came to New York and attended Pace University and Hunter College. Waldaba Stewart (right) stands with his wife, at the Caribbean Images TV's 20th annual Martin Luther King Award Dinner Dance in 2016 with Mr. Peter Pouchon of Caribbean Images TV, and his wife, and former Haiti Ambassador Raymond Joseph (left). (Caribbean Images TV/Caribbean Images TV) After teaching in the city schools, he was elected to the State Senate. While in office, Stewart chaired the inaugural National Black Political Convention. Through legislation, he aided healthcare in Brooklyn, and helped the restoration of Kings County Medical Center. Stewart also taught at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn. The Texas Railroad Commissions mission statement can seem contradictory at first glance. It commits the agency to being good stewards of Texas natural resources, and its environment. Its pledged to promote the oil and gas industry, and economic vitality it brings to Texas, and protect the safety of those of us who live here. For too long, the agency has focused on growing the industry, and left it to the industry to all but regulate itself. The bare-minimum standards adopted by the commission in the aftermath of Februarys devastating Winter Storm Uri, which killed more than 200 people and cost billions, are only the latest and most egregious example. Its time for a change on the commission, and the only people authorized by the Texas Constitution to make that change are the voters. We heartily recommend they take the opportunity the 2022 mid-term elections provide and replace the one commissioner whose term expires this year, Chairman Wayne Christian. Christian, 71, faces four Republican opponents in the March 1 primary, and two of them would be a clear improvement for the party and for Texas. We recommend Dawayne Tipton, 41, a longtime oil and gas worker who has climbed the industry ladder from roughneck to upper management. He has hands-on experience and a firm grasp of the science and technology that will shape the oil and gas industrys future. Tipton, 41, speaks persuasively about how grateful he is for the opportunities hes had in the industry. But it is his focus on holding oil and gas operators accountable that is so sorely needed at an agency that too often ignores industry malfeasance. Tipton intends to overhaul the commissions inspections department and improve safety regulations. Most importantly, Tipton committed to holding repeat violators accountable, particularly on areas such as weatherizing and forcing operators to pay out of pocket to cap abandoned wells that leak contaminants into the air and groundwater. Tipton was most impressive in proposing a better way for the commission to prepare for freezing weather in the future: creating an inspection task force to ensure that gas operators are weatherized, and if not, administer consequences. It comes back to two central themes: action to resolve problems and accountability when measures aren't followed, Tipton told the editorial board. By contrast, the current leadership at the RRC at first attempted to eschew responsibility for the grids near-collapse during last years storm. In particular, Christian was one of the first public officials to peddle the lie that renewable energy sources caused power outages during last years winter storm. Even after this claim was proven wrong by federal regulators, Christian refused to apologize, instead doubling down on his comments. Its part of the reason we called on him to resign in November. Another candidate, attorney Sarah Stogner, 37, clearly has the passion and knowledge for the job. But one of her clients is landowner Ashley Williams Watt, who has raised a stink about the commission ignoring well blowouts on her land. Stogner also lives on Watts land, and together these factors raised a whiff of conflict and made us wonder whether the ordeal played too heavily in Stogners decision to run. For these reasons, we felt strongly that Tipton was more likely to provide truly disinterested oversight. Candidate Marvin Sarge Summers, 69, would bring experience to the job as an oil and gas entrepreneur, but he failed to articulate how hed approach the job any differently than Christian has. Candidate Tom Slocum, 38, is stressing the importance of blockchain technology and the rise of cryptocurrency, on one hand, and on the other, vowing to secure Texas energy resources by completing a border wall. Neither priority strikes us as the right focus for the RRC. Tipton is our choice in the Republican primary because of his commitment to fight for the industrys future, but not at the expense of clean air and water, and the reliable electric grid that Texans depend on. Updated 9:45 a.m., Jan. 24: This editorial has been corrected to make clear Sarah Stogner is self-financing her campaign. Sid Miller is a former rodeo cowboy who, during his two terms as Texas agriculture commissioner, has conducted himself as a rodeo clown. In a tenure pocked with blunders and obvious ethical lapses, he gave employees more than $400,000 in bonuses in his first nine months in office. He imposed a passel of regulatory fees on farmers and businesses while decrying agency funding shortages. Lets not forget his taxpayer-funded jaunts under the false guise of state business, one to Oklahoma to receive a so-called Jesus shot for chronic pain and one to compete in a rodeo show in Mississippi a trip for which ethics officials fined him $500. Miller has twice been investigated by the Texas Rangers since his election, in 2016 and 2021 though never charged. More recently, he defended his campaign spokesman and political consultant Todd Smith after an arrested for allegedly soliciting $55,000 in bribes from farmers in exchange for $100 hemp licenses. Not until Smith was indicted on bribery and theft charges last week did Miller, 66, vow to sever ties. Miller frequently uses his large social media presence to spread conspiracy theories, including about the 2020 election. His zealous partisan politicking isnt just a distraction from his responsibilities, its a disservice to Texans needs. Last year, when Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture worked to provide funds and debt relief for farmers of color to address inequities caused by past and present discrimination, Miller sued the Biden administration to stop the program, hurting producers. The program, initially blocked by a U.S. district court, is still in the system. An alternative USDA program based on economic struggles rather than racial identity is tied up in stalled legislation, so now struggling farmers of color and some white producers still await help. Fortunately, Republican voters have credible alternatives to Miller: We recommend Texas Rep. James White, 57, whos served his rural southeast Texas district for six terms. White, a retired Army officer and former teacher, was born in Houston, graduated from Prairie View A&M and has a doctorate in political science from the University of Houston. A beef producer who previously served on the Agriculture and Livestock Committee, he is endorsed by at least two dozen Republican lawmakers. He pointed conservative voters toward his track record on border security and work passing constitutional carry. As commissioner, White said hell work to lower fees on producers, promote the states rural industries and improve the school lunch program, a large portion of the agencys budget. We agree with Whites core message: Texans deserve better than a commissioner who has put personal gain and cronyism far ahead of farmers and ranchers: I believe that as a proven conservative, I can turn this agency around, restore ethics, trust and transparency, and help our farmers and ranchers continue to make Texas prosperous, independent and free, White told us. We also came away impressed by Carey A. Counsil, 55, a personable, fifth-generation rancher and Blinn College economics professor. Hes knowledgeable about agriculture policy butits a big leap from professor to head an agency touching the fortunes of roughly 250,000 farms and ranches in Texas. Whites competence, government service, and emphasis on character make him the best choice for Republicans. The midterm elections are upon us, and Texans will face choices in dozens of races that touch Harris County, from county offices to governor and attorney general, to seats in the Texas Legislature, U.S. House and local and statewide benches. The Houston Chronicle Editorial Board studies each of these races and makes recommendations for Republican and Democrats alike in order to help readers make up their own minds. Those editorials begin today and will continue until early voting begins on Feb. 14, when well run a full list of our endorsements that you can take to the polls. Well run it again on Election Day. For weeks, our team of experienced opinion journalists has been doing our homework on the candidates, researching their records, conducting background checks and asking the candidates themselves the hard questions that test challengers and hold incumbents accountable. Our picks, and our process, always prompt questions. A few words about our philosophy and our approach: If newspapers are objective, why recommend candidates? Newspapers dont endorse candidates. Editorial boards do. The editorial board is separate from the newsroom. It is made up of opinion journalists with wide-ranging expertise whose consensus opinions and recommendations represent the voice of the institution defined as the board members, their editor and the publisher. We do it as a service to our readers and to our democracy, which cannot flourish without an informed citizenry. For many busy people, researching each candidate isnt possible. Rather than turn to partisan slates, some with pay-to-play motivations, we offer an alternative: informed candidate recommendations from nonpartisan journalists based on facts and careful analysis. Which races are included in the recommendations? Every contested statewide race, from governor to the Texas Supreme Court. Every contested race for Congress and the Texas Legislature on the Harris County ballot. Locally, well cover every contested Harris County office and the eight contested races for Harris County criminal district judge. Any races were skipping? Yes. To protect quality, weve had to reduce quantity. We wont recommend primary candidates for county courts of law or justices of the peace, or for civil, family or juvenile benches. We regret these omissions and hope to include them in future elections. Whats our process? Weve tried to invite all candidates in each race to meet as a group with editorial board members for interviews via Zoom. For local judicial races, were reaching out to individual candidates for one-on-one interviews. Lead writers research the candidates, conduct outside interviews and review background reports before making recommendations to the full board, which reaches a consensus. More Information The Democratic and Republican primaries will be March 1. Early voting begins Feb 14 and ends on Feb. 25. The last day to register to vote is Jan. 31. We encourage voters who intend to vote by mail to request a ballot as soon as possible. For assistance with where and how to vote, see harrisvotes.com or call (713) 755-6965. See More Collapse Do we only endorse candidates who agree with us? No. We often endorse candidates who dont share our opinions on contentious issues, focusing instead on core standards of effective leadership, such as integrity, honesty, a commitment to transparency, equity and the rule of law; and the ability to work with others to get things done. To better serve voters in a diverse array of districts, we also prioritize experience, knowledge of issues, fit with the district and general viability of the candidacy. For judges, fairness, and temperament are also strong considerations and, at times, the ideological diversity of the court as a whole. We give weight to incumbency, especially if it means seniority that benefits constituents, but we also scrutinize incumbents records looking for results, responsiveness to constituent concerns and whether promises to voters were kept. What if a race has more than one excellent candidate, or none at all? Generally, we believe that if voters have to pick just one candidate, so should we. That can lead to tough choices, and occasionally, to our recommending a sub-par candidate simply because he or she is the best of the lot. Not every recommendation is full-throated. We encourage voters to go beyond our lists to read the full editorials, which convey our reasoning and level of confidence in each pick. Whether or not readers agree with our ultimate choices, we hope the facts, observations and analysis in each written editorial recommendation serve as a helpful tools in voters own research and decision-making. We hope youll follow along this campaign season, in print and online. As always, feel free to tell us when you think we got it right and wrong! with a letter to the editor: houstonchronicle.com/opinion/submit. A Travis County man on Friday became the first person arrested by the FBIs Election Threats Task Force, which was formed last summer after an outburst of violent rhetoric against election administrators around the country. A federal grand jury indicted Chad Christopher Stark, 54, on charges of making interstate threats against election officials in Georgia last year. The charge carries a maximum five-year prison sentence. Stark posted his threats on Craigslist, an online bulletin board, the FBI said. Georgia Patriots its time for us to take back our state from these Lawless treasonous traitors. Its time to invoke our Second Amendment right its time to put a bullet in the treasonous Chinese [Official A]. Then we work our way down to [Official B] the local and federal corrupt judges, the post said, offering $10,000 to those who would join in. If we want our country back we have to exterminate these people. One good loyal Patriot deer hunter in camo and a rifle can send a very clear message to these corrupt governors ... militia up Georgia its time to spill blood. The post went on to say that a third elections official should receive a bullet her behind the ears and that local law enforcement officers had betrayed their country by enforcing mask mandates and not stopping Black Lives Matter protests: We will find you oathbreakers and were going to pay your family to visit your mom your dad your brothers and sisters your children your wife were going to make examples of traitors to our country death to you and all you communist friends. Stark, who works at a used car lot, told the judge that he does not own any guns on Friday afternoon in his first court appearance in Austin. Threats against election officials proliferated in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, as Donald Trump falsely claimed that Democrat Joe Biden defeated him as a result of massive voter fraud. In one taped phone call that was ultimately leaked, Trump asked Georgias chief elections official to find him enough votes to overturn Bidens slim lead in the state. No evidence of fraud on a scale anywhere near widespread enough to swing the elections results has ever been presented. Nevertheless, the task force identified more than 850 threats to election officials, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr said in a press conference on Friday in Washington. A threat to any election official, worker, or volunteer is, at bottom, a threat to public safety and democracy. We will continue to use all available tools to protect the people who work tirelessly to maintain our proud tradition of free and fair elections, Polite Jr. said. Stark has several prior convictions: On cocaine charges in 1997 and 2001, and for reckless injury to a child in 2012. On Friday, he was released from federal custody with conditions including a moratorium on heavy drinking and drug use. Exiting the courthouse with his court-appointed defense lawyer, Stark declined to comment. edward.mckinley@chron.com Newly obtained investigative documents reveal former Gov. Eliot Spitzer name-dropped a powerful friend named Bill to cops investigating a bloody encounter with a Russian woman in Manhattans Plaza Hotel in 2016. Do you know who I am? Spitzer asked NYPD cops who had just arrived at the hotel room. Advertisement Do I need to call Bill? Spitzer added, apparently referring to then-Police Department Commissioner Bill Bratton. Eliot Spitzer (Andrew Burton/Getty Images) The episode is at the center of a bitter dispute between Russian beauty Svetlana Travis and Spitzer. Advertisement Travis claims the two had a sexual relationship beginning in 2012 and that Spitzer regularly deposited money into her accounts. She alleges the former governor choked her and threw her onto a bed after she refused sex and told him she was traveling back to Russia. Spitzer says Travis has extorted him and was having a breakdown at the Plaza. The governor, whose affinity for high-end prostitutes forced his resignation in 2008, denies being in a relationship with Travis at the time of the incident or assaulting her. The internal NYPD records were provided to the Daily News by a source close to Travis ongoing civil lawsuit alleging she was assaulted by Spitzer. The source believes Spitzer was referring to Bratton when he made the comment about Bill and not then-Mayor Bill de Blasio since the disgraced governor was speaking to the NYPD. Details about the incident are only emerging now after the Daily News and another news outlet persuaded a judge to unseal portions of the ongoing case. The notes from two veteran Bronx homicide detectives assigned to the case, an investigative document and text messages shed new light on the immediate aftermath of the encounter in a luxury suite of the Plaza on Feb. 13, 2016. Svetlana Travis appears in State Supreme Court on March 28, 2017 in New York. (Alec Tabak/for New York Daily News) Cops showed up at the Plaza that night after receiving a call from Travis saying she was having a breakdown. They discovered her and Spitzer in suite #1541, which costs $1,000 per night. Thanks for coming. She is fine now. We dont need you anymore, Spitzer said to cops when he answered the door, according to the notes. Detectives wrote that officers responding to the scene saw blood on the wall and doorframe. Advertisement She is on her period. I just came to help, Spitzer said, according to the notes. But the former governor soon admitted Travis had actually cut her own wrists after cops noticed blood in the sink, on a nightgown and the bedspread when they entered the room, according to the handwritten notes. Travis told cops she broke a wine glass and lightly cut her wrists to scare Spitzer and stop his attack, according to a confidential NYPD document shared with The News. Police noted that Spitzer whose political career imploded in 2008 after he was linked to a prostitution scandal just one year into his first term got a little defensive when they asked what had occurred. Despite calling 911, Travis was distraught and annoyed with cops, according to the documents. Before EMS took the bloodied Travis to Mt. Sinai Hospital, Spitzer handed her four or five $100 bills, the detectives wrote. Advertisement Later that night, Spitzer, clad in black and wearing a dark hat pulled down to his eyes, showed up at the hospital and talked with a receptionist, according to police documents. Video from 2016 allegedly of Eliot Spitzer arriving at Mt. Sinai looking for Svetlana Travis. Detectives wrote that they examined hospital video that captured Spitzer identifying himself as George. Spitzer went by the alias George Fox when using prostitutes, according to court papers. The News obtained hospital surveillance video from the source close to the case showing a man in all black identified as Spitzer. The next day, Travis texted Spitzer who was listed in her phone contacts as Eliot My Love saying she was filing a police report, according to messages shared with The News. Advertisement She then sent Spitzer a text in Russian. What does that mean? Spitzer allegedly responded. Go f--k yourself piece of abusive s--t, she responded. Spitzer was never charged in the case. Travis was arrested at Kennedy Airport in October 2016 and charged with extorting the former governor for more than $50,000 to keep their relationship secret. She eventually pleaded guilty to ripping off Spitzer and another man and was sentenced to 90 days in jail. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > The documents show how the initial investigation into Spitzer quickly pivoted to focus on Travis and her past work as an escort. Get historical on Back Page account, wrote one of the detectives about a month after the initial incident, referring to the website often used to arrange encounters with escorts. Advertisement Spitzers attorney, Adam Kaufmann, declined to comment on the documents, referring The News back to a letter he filed in December as part of an attempt to get the case dismissed. The filings have been replete with lies and fantastical claims, Kaufmann wrote. Traviss attorney, Joe Murray, declined to comment. Im not interested in speaking about that case anymore, said one of the detectives who investigated when reached by The News. Business leadership has undergone tremendous change in the past few years. The emergence of Gen-Z in the workforce was one key factor in initiating this massive transformation. They demanded leaders who were willing to collaborate rather than intimidate. Leading by fear was a sure way to unleash a revolving door of employees continuously entering and leaving the building. The changes leaders were making as a new decade began in 2020 moved in the right direction. Hierarchical leadership was giving way to collaboration, creativity, and flexibility. Then along came a global pandemic and a world focused on social injustice. Overwhelmed employees looked to those in leadership for guidance. To be quite candid, many leaders made some grievous errors that should have been avoided. Leadership, like the world, has been irrevocably changed by the pandemic. Although everyone has learned that the future is unpredictable, here are five learnings leaders should keep on their radar to build a better company culture going forward. 1. The value of embracing diversity In 2020, a McKinsey study reconfirmed what many observers have long known: Businesses that are culturally and ethnically diverse are more profitable than homogeneous ones. Companies must embrace diversity at every turn because it's good for profits, performance, recruiting, and retention. It's simply smart business for companies to build a culture as diverse as the employees -- and customers -- they want to attract. Blind screening techniques and implicit bias training can help leaders avoid unconsciously gravitating toward candidates who look and think as they do. In addition to demographics, diversity should also encompass features such as educational background, skills, experience, and personality. Leaders who build teams that look more like quilts than blankets will reap rewards. Customers and clients will embrace brands that value real diversity at all levels. 2. The importance of being teachable Leaders don't have all the answers, and trying to pretend they do will only inhibit growth. There's always someone -- a professional contact, a vendor, even a junior employee -- who will know something you don't. It's astonishing what you can learn in a moment of humility, as long as you are open to the possibility. Those who have not been humbled by recent world events are doomed to fail. Leaders should be OK with acknowledging mistakes, identifying lessons learned, and getting back to work. Employees who watch it happen will become more resilient and be willing to take greater risks as well. 3. The significance of mental health Our health care system fails to value mental health sufficiently, but leaders need to avoid the same slight in the workplace. Many employees would rather resign than allow their job to take a toll on their mental health. So unless you want your business to be a victim of the Great Resignation, you'll need to ensure that your company addresses your employees' mental health needs. Mental health is certainly not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Some employees may value access to therapists; others may benefit from schedule flexibility or working from home. Be attuned to employees' needs for time off and those who may hesitate to ask for it. Respect for mental health differences, as with any others, is a leadership priority for the long haul. 4. The need to find opportunities for professional growth Of all people, leaders should understand that employees need space and opportunities to grow. After all, most probably began their professional lives lower on the career ladder than the rung they occupy now. When workers see no path for professional development and advancement in your company, they're more likely to join today's mass exodus. In one-on-one meetings with your employees, ask about their career goals and aspirations. Then identify a plan that will move them in the right direction. This might require strengths identification, further training, structured mentorship, increased responsibility, or a combination of these. Whichever approach you take, make your professional development a priority in your business. You'll have happier, more productive employees as a result. 5. The importance of growing while staying lean The pandemic has caused many different companies to go out of business because they could not keep up with the costs. Books such as Eric Ries's Lean Startup can help you maintain a growth mindset while using limited resources. Moving forward, leaders will have to keep these strategies in mind, as there are a variety of things that could happen at any time -- besides a pandemic -- that could disrupt a business. Being lean can allow leaders to survive the downturns. But, when it's time, leaders should invest in the right growth opportunities. This wasnt about cryptocurrency, or nepotism, or his portrayal on Saturday Night Live, or any of the other quirky issues that have highlighted new mayor Eric Adams first three weeks in office. This was about pain, and grief, and anger and suffering, and the righteous indignation that comes with a vile and brazen attack on the city. Advertisement Mayor Eric Adams in his NYPD uniform. (Borough President Eric L. Adams/YouTube) And make no mistake, no matter how you feel about police brutality, or stop-and-frisk, or any other blatant civil rights violation, when people decide to pull a trigger with a cop in front of a gun, they have taken a shot at us all. It is our city against the killers, Adams said Friday, just hours after NYPD Officer Jason Rivera, 22, was shot to death and his partner, Officer Wilbert Mora, 27, was gravely wounded. while answering a domestic dispute call with another officer in Harlem. Advertisement This was just not an attack on three brave officers,, Adams said. This was an attack on the city of New York. It is an attack on the children and families of this city. Weve seen Adams on the subway, on a Citi Bike, on CNN, anywhere he can be a cheerleader for the greatest city in the world. Mayor Eric Adams, flanked by PBA President Pat Lynch, and NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, addresses the press at Harlem Hospital on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (Sam Costanza/for New York Daily News) But when we saw him Friday in the lobby of Harlem hospital, surrounded by more than a hundred devastated cops, just a block or so away from the first-floor apartment where two of their brothers were gunned down, Adams wasnt leading any cheers. He was declaring war on violence, war on apathy, war on anybody who would shoot someone sworn to protect and serve, war on anyone who would shoot a baby in the face. War on guns, the companies that make them and the criminals who put them on our streets. A gun on our street is a threat to our safety, Adams said. And we must do everything possible to remove that gun. Adams didnt need to remind the city of his resume, the 22 years he spent as an NYPD officer. He didnt say it, but it had to be going through his mind that what happened to Jason Rivera, what happened to Wilbert Mora could have easily happened to him any one of the dozens of times he crossed someones threshold on a dreaded domestic call. Advertisement Adams would also be the first to tell you that his greatest achievement as a cop wasnt retiring as a captain. It was making it through each shift alive. I thank everyone who wears the uniform I wore, Adams said. It was even refreshing under the circumstances to see him standing shoulder to shoulder with Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch, who for nearly a decade has had a frosty relationship with City Hall. Lynch and his members werent turning their backs on Adams. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > A passionate Lynch was right to say that New Yorkers who dont wear the uniform need to pay their respects to Rivera at his funeral. Advertisement We will stand patch to patch and bury our brother, Lynch said We will bow our heads in sadness, but we need you, too. The street cant just be full of New York City police officers at this funeral. The public has to come. Adams knew this day would come, when hed be sitting in a hospital waiting room and comforting a cops grieving family. We all knew. It comes with the job. We just didnt think it would happen so soon, and that the cop we would mourn would be one of five shot in just the first first three weeks of the year. Were still not used to saying 2022 yet. So, yes, it was probably wrong for Adams to put his brother on the payroll, and he needs to stop meddling with the City Council, but if you need a leader to bring the city together when one of its Finest has fallen, Adams, like no mayor before him, is more than up for the job. Lets hope he never has to do it again. 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. Residents of Khampur village in Delhis Alipur are keeping a strict vigil on a 120-year-old sacred banyan tree in the area after it was trimmed by unidentified people while they were asleep. Locals of the village said they have an emotional attachment with the tree and worship it during festivals while some of them blamed the local land mafia for the incident. The villagers approached the police after the issue came to light on Friday. Ajay Kumar, a resident of the area, told news agency PTI, My father had passed away and we were busy with the rituals. After we were done, we got to know that the tree had been trimmed. Nearly five to six branches of the tree which were around six inches wide were trimmed." Representational Image Kumar said that Khampur is his ancestral village and many generations of his family have lived there. His nephew, Mukesh, said their family has lived in the area for nearly 200 years. My grandmother, who was 90, and died a few years back, used to tell us that when she came to this village after her marriage, the tree was there. You can imagine how old the tree must have been," he said. We have aged with the tree. Seeing it in a state like this is painful, an elderly person from the village said. Ajay Kumar claimed that it was the work of the land mafia. Residential colony on land where the tree stands "A residential colony is being built on the piece of land where the tree stands. We had told them to leave some space for the tree and not cut it. It seems the people who are involved in construction are behind this, he alleged. His nephew, however, said that the employers of the people who own the land denied any involvement in the act." representational image Ajay Kumar said the villagers have been guarding the tree ever since the incident came to light. He said police have asked them not to take the law in their hands and if any activity around the tree is observed, they should be immediately informed. The villagers are planning to approach the district magistrate and concerned civic body. Meanwhile, a forest department official said they are not aware of the issue. The issue has not been brought to our notice. No permission has been granted to anyone to cut any tree in the area. If we receive a complaint, we will look into it," a forest official said. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. Real-time social media posts from local businesses and organizations across Northern Virginia, powered by Friends2Follow. To add your business to the stream, email cfields@insidenova.com or click on the green button below. A Bronx man has died after rear-ending a snowplow truck on the Major Deegan Expressway, police said Sunday. Kevin Thompson, 41, was driving a black 2015 Acura TLX south on the Deegan when he crashed into a city Sanitation Department snowplow truck near W. 233rd St. in Kingsbridge just after 4 a.m. Jan. 9, police said. Advertisement (Jeff Bachner/for New York Daily News) Thompson died a day later at St. Barnabas Hospital. He lived in Morrisania, according to cops. The 43-year-old plow driver was hospitalized in stable condition after the crash. He has not been charged. Even with the lifting of almost all pandemic restrictions in recent days the explosion in the use of self-testing antigen tests is set to continue and likely to form a key part of the return to work and the reopening of the economy. Resisted for a significant period by health officials here, the huge rise of the Omicron variant put the more accurate PCR testing system under severe pressure and meant the rapid, and relatively cheap, antigen tests have now become a common feature of households and workplaces across the country. The demand for the devices has proved a challenge for companies importing and distributing the tests. Arthur Griffin, the co-founder of test supply company CoviSal, based in Tipperary, believes that even though nearly all pandemic restrictions have been lifted, self-testing will continue and will now broaden into other areas of healthcare. To date, CoviSal, which is based in Thurles, has imported and distributed more than one million antigen tests across Ireland. In one day in January 2022, CoviSal sold 100,000 antigen tests. Arthur Griffin of Tipperary company CoviSal which imports and distributes rapid antigen tests pictured with two of their customers. The month of January is just off the Richter scale by comparison to what we would have done over the last year, he said. CoviSal supplies antigen tests to pharmacists, vets, opticians, dentists, and the construction industry. The company has around 3,000 customers and Covisal is just one company importing and distributing such tests. The European Commission has approved almost 550 different types of rapid antigen tests allowing them to carry the CE mark and be approved for sale across the bloc. According to the list of approved tests, China is by far the largest producer manufacturing more than 280 different types of approved tests. Germany is the largest producer within the EU manufacturing 23 different types of tests. Although locations that sell antigen tests have been scrambling to keep up with demand as the Omicron variant swept through the country, secretary general of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) Darragh OLoughlin is confident that pharmacies will be able to meet future demand. It's unclear to what extent people will be using antigen tests in everyday life going forward but supplies of antigen tests into the country have improved recently and pharmacies have been able to restock so, barring any unexpected interruptions to supply, I expect that pharmacies should be able to meet demand in future, he said. The popularity and ease of use of antigen tests indicate to Griffin that theres an opportunity to develop other self-testing kits. "Now that people are used to self-testing, I think the demand for it in other products, whether youre checking your thyroid, checking if you have STDs, or whatever," Mr Griffin said. I think there's an emerging market there that will be huge in self-testing. Letting people self-test for other diseases apart from Covid-19 would alleviate the growing pressure on GP surgeries as well said Mr Griffin. There is an emerging problem in Ireland where there's a significant shortage of doctors. And the age profile of our GPs is getting very close to retirement and therefore it's difficult to get a doctor's appointment, he said. Figures from the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) estimated that of the approximately 4,700 GPs currently working in the State, 700 will retire over the next five years, while just 350 GP training places are planned for 2026. Mr O'Loughlin echoed this opinion that the genie is out of the bottle for self-testing: "So many more people now have experience of using self-tests as a result of the widespread use of antigen tests that they will be more open to the idea of using similar self-test kits for other conditions. Also, people are increasingly aware of health issues and many will want to understand, monitor and proactively manage their health in future. CoviSal was born when the Cork businessman was approached by Killian Dunphy, managing director of KD Surgical which supplies surgical equipment to hospitals, in 2020. Dunphy saw the growing antigen test market and the pair decided to team up to create CoviSal. They launched it in October 2020 and both men became directors of the company and brought on Martin OBrien to be its operations and business development manager. For now, the company will continue to provide Covid-19 antigen tests as the virus is far from gone, according to Griffin. I think there's a place for antigen testing over the coming three to four or five months, right up to the summer, where companies will need to reopen safely, he said. While Ireland celebrates what we hope will be the light at the end of the tunnel in the pandemic, the vaccine race internationally has seen the "total collapse" of global co-operation according to those fighting Covid-19 in Africa. In announcing the easing of almost all restrictions in Ireland, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said vaccines were one of the main contributors. Many countries don't have that luxury as the jabs haven't been shared equally. John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said: What we have seen over the last two years is the total collapse of global solidarity and co-operation. 'If we do not protect and vaccinate at scale and at speed then even those who have been vaccinated will be challenged,' said John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. He told a World Health Organization webinar there is no good reason why the vaccination rate across the continent is just 7% on average. It is unacceptable, he said. The moral failures we have witnessed over the last two years cannot repeat themselves in 2022. Mr Nkengasong called for a massive co-ordinated effort to protect against new variants: We have seen what Omicron has done. We said this at the start that if we do not protect and vaccinate at scale and at speed then even those who have been vaccinated will be challenged. Jim Clarken, chief executive of Oxfam Ireland wants people in Ireland to put pressure on the Government to change how the EU views vaccines. Around 18 months ago, a Trips (trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights) waiver agreement was suggested which would temporarily waive intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines. The US supports this but the EU does not. Mr Clarken reiterated the oft-voiced call for vaccine companies to share vaccine intellectual property, pointing out it was done for HIV/Aids medication, even though, at that time, companies insisted it was not possible. Its not about us or them, everyone needs to be vaccinated who wants to be vaccinated, he said. Many low-income countries rely on donated vaccines, but he said these can arrive with limited expiry dates or do not match the needs of a particular country. He said arguments heard at government level here that vaccine hesitancy is why rates are so low in African countries, are insulting". 'Everyone needs to be vaccinated who wants to be vaccinated,' said Jim Clarken, the CEO of Oxfam Ireland. Karen OKeefe, director of corporate affairs at Pfizer Ireland pointed to vaccine hesitancy, but also problems such as limited access to ultra-cold storage, syringe supply, and workforce constraints. Pfizer is supporting a project in Ghana to deliver vaccines with drones, but Ms O'Keeffe said they do not think sharing vaccine intellectual property is a solution. mRNA manufacturing is really complex," she said. "Before last year there wasnt any mRNA capability at all. The raw ingredients that are needed for the vaccine are scarce, there are 280 ingredients. Read More The longer we delay global vaccination, the greater the harm The company said it has fulfilled its commitment to deliver 40m doses through the Covax (Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access) agreement for low-income countries. Likewise, AstraZeneca does not see the Trips waiver as the way to vaccinate poorer countries. We believe that an open license has the potential to actually damage the vaccine as we would lose control of safety and quality standards for our vaccine manufacturing, a spokesman for AstraZeneca Ireland said. Its agreement with Covax has seen more than 260m doses delivered to 130 countries. A bio-pharma firm employee who sent a female worker a seriously ill-advised Facebook Family Guy message has been awarded 40,380 for unfair dismissal. The message contained inappropriate language of a possible sexual innuendo nature. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) adjudicator, Peter OBrien, found the main Irish arm of US firm Regeneron unfairly dismissed Robert Libera for gross misconduct on March 20, 2019. Regeneron has its manufacturing base at the former Dell site in Limerick. Mr Libera worked as a manufacturing support lead with the company. Regeneron Ireland DAC dismissed Mr Libera after a 22-year-old woman employed by a third-party supplier on site made a complaint concerning a Facebook messenger exchange between the two on January 18, 2019. In her initial complaint, the woman said that after Mr Libera had given her a fruit juice, he hinted it may have contained a biological fluid or otherwise and messaged her about part of him being inside of her and if she felt part of him inside her. Possible sexual innuendo In his findings, Mr OBrien determined the text message may have been intended to be humorous but could be considered, in isolation as inappropriate, offensive, and contain possible sexual innuendo. Mr OBrien said whatever Mr Libera intended, the message was seriously ill-advised and contained inappropriate language of a possible sexual innuendo nature. Mr OBrien said Mr Liberas case is very weak on the substantive issue but primarily succeeds on procedural grounds. In making the award, Mr OBrien weighed Mr Liberas contribution to his loss at 40%. Mr OBrien said: Sending a message like he did to a female work colleague, no matter how the complainant [Mr Libera] deemed it to be trivial or funny was inappropriate, ill-judged, and resulted in serious consequences for Mr Libera. The woman made a complaint concerning the message and met with Regeneron investigators, where she initially described the exchange as having a big impact on her that weekend and was the worst weekend of her life. The woman initially said she was terrified and felt physically ill as a result of the exchange with Mr Libera. 'Family Guy' cartoon clip However, Mr Libera told the WRC that he accompanied the text with a clip from US cartoon, Family Guy, which almost exactly states what Mr Libera said in the text exchange. Documents provided to Mr Libera show the woman had not seen the Family Guy clip before making her complaint, while all three Regeneron decision makers who dismissed Mr Libera confirmed they did not see the YouTube clip. Legal representatives for Mr Libera say the Family Guy clip proves that no bad intentions existed in the communications and was intended as a joke. Describing himself as a big Family Guy fan, Mr Libera expected the woman would know the context of his comments as they were well-known and common phrases in Family Guy. Two days later, on January 20, the woman emailed Regeneron to say she was withdrawing her complaint and that she now had a different view of the messages. Mr OBrien said that nearly all of the womans comments in the January 20 email favoured Mr Libera and that the woman did not want the investigation to proceed. However, Mr OBrien said the email was never made available to Mr Libera during the investigation of the initial complaint and not made available to the Regeneron decision-makers, who decided Mr Libera should be dismissed. It is important to note that had this email been available to either Mr Libera or the decision-makers in this case, a very different outcome than dismissal could possibly have been an outcome. Mr O'Brien said it was indeed questionable if any investigation at all should have commenced into the allegation based on the clarifying comments by the woman who made the initial complaint. Mr OBrien said the failure to provide the January 20 email to Mr Libera was a serious natural justice omission, which put him at a serious disadvantage in defending his position. He said it was a very serious flaw in Regenerons case as the woman who received the text had subsequently significantly amended her views on the issue and did not want an investigation to proceed. The January 20 email was only made available to Mr Liberas solicitors, Keating Connolly Sellors Solicitors, after they had made a GDPR data application following his dismissal. The legal representatives said the actions of Mr Libera, with his good prior record, should have resulted in a much lesser sanction than dismissal. They said Mr Liberas career has been derailed and he had suffered financially and there was long-term damage to his career prospects. The Government is not happy and is concerned that Russia is planning to conduct live ammunition drills off the south coast of Ireland. Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said the Department of Foreign Affairs "has raised a number of concerns with the Russian authorities in respect of these exercises" in a statement released this Sunday evening. "As has been widely reported in the media, Russian naval exercises are due to take place in early February, approximately 240 kilometres off the south west coast and within Irelands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) but not in Irelands territorial waters," the statement reads. "Under international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), states are entitled to carry out naval exercises in another states EEZ. "The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) was informed of the exercise via standard procedures and has issued a statement to that effect." Mr Coveney added in his statement that he expects Europe's security situation to "dominate" discussions when he meets with EU Foreign Ministers tomorrow in Brussels. "I expect our discussions to be dominated by the security situation in Europe, with a particular focus on Russia and Ukraine," he said. "During these discussions, I will briefly inform my EU colleagues about the planned Russian naval exercises. More broadly, I will also reiterate our full support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity and will call again on Russia to de-escalate tensions and engage constructively in dialogue." The Department of Foreign Affairs are now recommending that Irish citizens avoid non-essential travel to the Ukraine. "We continue to recommend that Irish citizens living in or travelling to Ukraine register with the Embassy of Ireland in Kyiv," Mr Coveney said. Earlier it was revealed that the Irish Aviation Authority has sent a notification to air traffic control to close a part of Irish airspace for a few days in February. However, it has said the ammunition drills will cause no disruption to Irish aviation. Junior OPW minister Patrick ODonovan said Mr Coveney is to raise his concerns with Russia in the coming days. He said that while the drills are due to take place 240kms off the Cork coast, they will not be in Irish waters. I spoke to the minister of foreign affairs about this and, the Department of Foreign Affairs has raised this with the Russian Embassy in Ireland," Mr O'Donovan said. "He's going to speak directly to the Russian embassy and the Russian ambassador himself. He's not happy about this. These are not southern Irish waters. They're called the exclusive economic zone. "And it wouldn't be unusual for naval vessels from other countries to give notice to Civil Aviation Authority in this case, the Irish Aviation Authority, he added. He said there's a meeting of European and foreign ministers taking place on Monday. Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty said the reasons countries are looking to conduct these exercises so close to Ireland is because of the weakness in our primary radar defences. This was pointed out in fairness in a government white paper seven years ago and it said that this was a priority but still hasn't happened," Mr Doherty said. "So therefore we have an overstretched Defence Forces already. They will be farther stretched. "We need to make sure that the necessary investments are there so that we're not at the back of the class when it comes to being able to monitor what is happening, he said. Labour TD Ivana Bacik said the development is very alarming. She said Russia has used bullying tactics: Look at Ukraine, look at Belarus, look at Georgia, look at Russian intervention in Syria, appalling intervention, and I've been hugely critical of Russia over many years. She said she would like to know if there is anything that can be done to stop it going ahead. Meanwhile, the Russian ambassador to Ireland Yury Filatov and the Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy met to discuss armed contacts between the two countries. The meeting took place on Friday at the Russian embassy in Orwell Road, Dublin. Parties discussed the issues of Russia-Ireland relations and international agenda, as well as prospects of contacts between (the) armed forces of (the) two countries," the Russian embassy said in a tweet. In response, the Department of Defence said the meeting was a routine courtesy call. 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. George Lucas is one of history's most financially successful filmmakers responsible for the Star Wars franchise and Indiana Jones, he has been nominated for four Academy Awards for his work. The multi billionaire, visionary, film director, producer, screenwriter, and entrepreneur turns Click for more. Jacksonville, TX (75766) Today Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Hundreds of police officers lined Manhattan streets, as an NYPD helicopter flew overhead, to escort the body of Officer Jason Rivera from the hospital to a funeral home Sunday. Rivera, 22, who was shot and killed responding to a domestic violence call in Harlem Friday, got a heros escort to the Riverdale Funeral Home. Advertisement The body of murdered NYPD Officer Jason Rivera arrives at the Riverdale Funeral Home in Manhattan Sunday. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) Video posted to the NYPD Special Operations Twitter page shows the view from a police helicopter as a pair of white NYPD trucks left the morgue at Bellevue Hospital, passing through a somber corridor of officers in uniform. #NYPD Aviation & Harbor joined hundreds of fellow officers who lined the streets to honor & salute fallen hero Police Officer Jason Rivera during an escort to the funeral home. We continue to pray for Officer Wilbert Mora who remains critically injured in the hospital. pic.twitter.com/1PY7WhVb2F NYPD Special Ops (@NYPDSpecialops) January 23, 2022 The vehicles made their way uptown, at one point accompanied by NYPD Harbor Unit boats, before finally reaching the funeral home on Broadway near W. 214th St., where more officers lined the streets leading to the building. Advertisement The body of murdered NYPD Officer Jason Rivera arrives at the Riverdale Funeral Home in Manhattan Sunday. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) Riveras wake and funeral are slated to take place at St. Patricks Cathedral in Midtown, according to sources familiar with the planning. Family members react as they are escorted inside the Riverdale Funeral Home in Manhattan on Sunday. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) His partner, Wilbert Mora, remained in critical condition Sunday. Ballad Health Chief Operating Officer Eric Deaton said this week the hospital systems modeling projects the current surge in hospitalizations will peak next week, and its possible the number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus could exceed the peak from the September delta surge. Our projections are showing we will start peaking around a week from now, Deaton told the Press on Wednesday. We could be anywhere from 375 to 415, somewhere in there, so we could exceed our highest day of 413. The number of people being hospitalized has placed a huge burden on the hospital system, which was without hundreds of employees this week who were out sick. Deaton said they were pulling from every area to help cover staffing shortages and that they are doing everything they can to avoid suspending elective surgeries again. Ballad has been forced to suspend elective surgeries three times since the pandemic began, most recently during the delta surge in August. Were not taking that off the table either, if it gets to a point where we dont have any other option we will look at that, Deaton said, but as of right now, we think that well continue to provide elective cases as long as we possibly can. As of Friday, Ballad was treating 343 people who were hospitalized with COVID-19, seven of whom were children. While down on Friday, hospitalizations reached a recent high of 358 on Thursday the most reported since Sept. 22. Ballads modeling shows hospitalizations are expected to decline slowly but steadily, and will remain above 200 until March. Of those hospitalized, 66 were in intensive care and 41 were on ventilators, numbers well below what was seen last time hospitalizations were this high. On Thursday, when there were 358 inpatients, there were 72 people in intensive care and 47 on ventilators. While high, those numbers were 32.7% and 44% lower than the system reported when it had 353 inpatients on Sept. 23. Ballad said its data shows there is a 25% reduction in ICU utilizations among patients during the omicron surge than during the delta surge, and that omicron patients have a 30% shorter length of stay. Sign up to Johnson City Press Today! Top stories, delivered straight to your inbox. There is evidence that the omicron variant, which is driving the regions surge, causes less severe disease than its predecessors, but it is much more infectious which has led to a record number of new infections and caused the number of people being hospitalized and dying from the virus to rise. Even though people say its not as difficult or its not as severe as some of the other variants, its still severe enough where people are very sick, theyre in the ICU, theyre on ventilators and people, unfortunately, are dying still from this, Deaton said. Northeast Tennessee has reported 12,060 new infections through the first 15 days of January, according to the most recent data from the Tennessee Department of Health, and its highly likely January will set a record for new infections in the region. Only December 2020 (15,142) and September 2021 (13,998) saw more infections reported than January 2022 has seen in half the time. Seventy-one Northeast Tennesseans have died from the virus this month as well, bringing the regions death toll to 2,007 as of Jan. 15. The number of dead in the region doubled in less than a year, with 551 losing their lives during the worst months of the delta surge from August to October. The reality is we all believed that we would be coming out of this at this point, we thought that we would have more vaccinations than what we are seeing across our region, Deaton said, and so I did not think, and I dont think our team thought that we would be setting new records for number of cases or new inpatients, but we are and we have to continue to really urge people to take the vaccine for the right reason. Tennessee State Epidemiologist Dr. John Dunn said the state has seen some plateauing in its case totals and there has also been a decline in the number of people reporting COVID-like illness. That, in addition to seeing surges in other parts of the nation in rapid decline, gives them hope the state may be turning a corner soon. It wont happen all at once, but we are seeing some indicators that are encouraging, Dunn said. FOR THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND UPDATES, DOWNLOAD THE JOHNSON CITY PRESS APP Johnson City, TN (37604) Today Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 75F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 51F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Joplin, MO (64801) Today Thunderstorms this morning, then cloudy with rain likely during the afternoon. High near 60F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Periods of rain. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. A Connecticut landlord fatally shot her tenant Thursday to end a long-running dispute, police said. Ellen Wink, 61, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kurt Lametta, 54, in Norwalk. Advertisement Wink is Norwalks Republican deputy registrar of voters, and she owns houses at 18 Nelson Ave. and 16 Nelson Ave. in the city. Lametta was the tenant at 16 Nelson Ave. Ellen Wink, 61, was arrested Thursday at the scene of the shooting. (Norwalk Police Department) Police said Wink intended to kill Lametta when she walked into 16 Nelson Ave. on Thursday afternoon, the Stamford Advocate reported. The two had been feuding since September 2020, and prosecutors called her actions clearly deliberate. Advertisement Winks defense team argued that she only acted in self-defense, according to the Advocate. She claimed that Lametta attacked her and she fired five shots to protect herself. Wink was arrested at the scene and jailed on $1 million bail. Thursday was not the first time cops were called to 16 Nelson Ave. while Lametta lived under Wink, the Hartford Courant reported. Wink was arrested in September 2021 after police said she locked Lametta out and threw many of his belongings in the trash. That legal case has not concluded. Prosecutors said the dispute went all the way back to September 2020, when Lametta reportedly stopped paying rent, according to the Advocate. In addition to her registrar work, Wink served as Norwalks city clerk from 2009 to 2011. She ran unsuccessfully for a Connecticut state representative seat in 2020. Wink was arraigned Friday and is due back in court Feb. 1. Georgia sued the Biden administration on Friday over its decision to rescind approval of the states work requirement to expand Medicaid to more low-income Georgians. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Brunswick, Georgia, called last months decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services an unprecedented bait and turn that was illegal and arbitrary. It sought a court order to restore the original plan and work requirements. In short, a Biden administration is hindering our ability to implement innovative health care solutions for more than 50,000 hardworking Georgia families, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all broken system, said Georgia Gov. Brian Brian, Republican Brian Kemp said in a statement. A press release announcing the lawsuit. He accused the administration of the Democratic president of playing politics. CMS said it would not comment on the lawsuit. The job request was approved by then-President Donald Trumps administration, but CMS announced last month that it was withdrawing approval of the program and a related Georgia proposal to give some Medicaid recipients every Monthly medical insurance premiums. This case is about whether the federal government must keep its promises, the lawsuit said. CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said in a letter to the state that during the pandemic, people may not be able to meet work requirements, and access to health insurance for low-income Georgians is critical. The Kemp government said at the time that it planned to challenge the decision in court. Republicans are pitching Georgias plan as an economically responsible alternative to fully expanding Medicaid services under the Affordable Care Act, which 38 states have already done. The program seeks to enroll approximately 50,000 poor and uninsured Georgia residents on Medicaid for the first two years. But to be eligible, new Medicaid recipients must participate in a minimum number of qualifying hours through work, job training, education, volunteering or other similar activities. Democrats in Georgia say a full expansion would cover hundreds of thousands of people at a much lower cost. Thats because the ACA, a health care law signed by President Barack Obama, allows states to choose to expand Medicaid to low-income adults who make up 138 percent of the federal poverty line, with the federal government covering 90 percent of the cost. More than 10 million people in the United States were reported this way. Camp has said a full expansion would cost the state too much money in the long run. The Biden administration is separately reviewing Georgias plan to overhaul residents health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act. The plan under which Georgia residents would bypass healthcare.gov and buy federally subsidized health insurance through a private agent was also approved by the Trump administration. Some conservatives are targeting policies that allow doctors to consider race as a risk factor when allocating scarce COVID-19 treatment, saying the protocols discriminate against whites. A wave of infections and a shortage of treatments caused by omicron variants has focused attention on policy. Medical experts say the objections are misleading. Health officials have long said there is good reason to consider race as one of many risk factors in treatment decisions. And there is no evidence that race alone determines who gets the drug. The issue came into focus last week after Fox News host Tucker Carlson, former President Donald Trump and Republican Senator Marco Rubio joined the policies. In recent days, conservative law firms have pressured the Missouri-based health care system, Minnesota and Utah to drop their pacts and sued New York over an allocation guideline or scoring system that uses race as a risk factor. JP Leider, a senior fellow in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota who helped develop the states allocation criteria, noted that prioritization has been going on for some time because there arent enough treatments to address. You have to choose who comes first, Ryder said. The problem is that we have very solid evidence that the U.S. (minorities) have worse COVID-19 outcomes compared to whites. Sometimes issues like race and ethnicity are taken into account when deciding when to allocate resources Its acceptable. Societal level. Since the pandemic began, health care systems and states have struggled with how best to distribute treatments. The problem will only get worse as hospitals in the omicron variant fill up with COVID-19 patients. There is overwhelming evidence that COVID-19 hits certain racial and ethnic groups harder than whites. Research shows that people of color are at higher risk for serious illness, more likely to be hospitalized, and to die from COVID-19 at a young age. The data also showed that minorities missed out on treatment. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released an analysis of 41 health care systems that found that black, Asian and Hispanic patients were less likely than whites to receive outpatient antibody treatment. Omicron has already nullified two widely available antibody treatments, leaving only one in short supply. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has provided guidance to healthcare providers on when treatment with sotrovimab should be used, including a list of medical conditions that put patients at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. Other factors, such as race or ethnicity, may also put patients at higher risk, the FDA guidance said. The CDCs List of High-Risk Potential Conditions states that age is the strongest risk factor for serious illness and lists more than a dozen diseases. It also advised doctors and nurses to carefully consider the potential additional risk of COVID-19 disease for members of certain racial and ethnic minority groups. National guidelines generally recommend that doctors prioritize drugs for those at highest risk, including cancer patients, transplant recipients and people with lung disease or pregnancy. Some states, including Wisconsin, have implemented policies that prohibit race as a factor, but others allow it. St. Louis-based SSM Health, which serves patients in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, requires patients to score 20 points on a risk calculator to be eligible for COVID-19 antibody therapy. Non-whites automatically get seven points. State health officials in Utah employ a similar risk calculator that gives them two points if theyre not white. Minnesota health department guidelines automatically assign two points to minorities. A score of four is enough to qualify for treatment. Guidelines from New York state health officials authorize antiviral treatment if a patient meets five criteria. One is that physical conditions or other factors increase their risk of serious illness. According to the guidelines, one of the factors is a minority. The deals have become the talk of Republicans after The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed this month by political commentators John Judith and Rui Teixeira complaining that New Yorks policies were unfair, unreasonable and potentially illegal. Carlson jumped out of Utah and Minnesota policies last week, saying if youre not white, you win. Alvin Tillery, a political scientist at Northwestern University, called the issue a successful political strategy Trump and Republicans hope to galvanize their predominantly white bases ahead of the November midterm elections. He said conservatives were distorting the narrative, noting that race was only one of many factors in every distribution policy. It really inspired their people and gave them a chance to vote, Tillery said. After the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Freedom, a conservative law firm based in Madison, sent a letter to SSM Health on Friday asking it to remove the question of race from its risk calculator, SSM responded that it had already done so last year because health experts knew about COVID-19. -19 evolved. While earlier versions of the nationwide risk calculator duly included race and gender criteria based on initial results, SSM Health continues to evaluate and update our protocols on a weekly basis to reflect the latest clinical evidence available, the company said in a statement. statement. Therefore, race and gender standards are no longer used. America First Legal, a conservative law firm based in Washington, D.C., filed a federal lawsuit against New York on Sunday asking the state to remove race from its distribution criteria. The same company warned Minnesota and Utah last week that they should drop their racial preferences or face lawsuits. Erin Silk, a spokeswoman for the New York State Department of Health, declined to comment on the lawsuit. The states guidance is based on CDC guidelines, and race is one of many factors doctors should consider when deciding who gets treatment, she said. She stressed that physicians should consider a patients full medical history and that no one was denied treatment because of race or any other demographic qualifying factor. Ryder said Minnesota health officials removed race from the states criteria a day or two before they received a request for U.S. legal precedence. They said in a statement that they are committed to serving all Minnesotans fairly and are constantly reviewing their policies. The statement made no reference to the U.S. Law First letter. Ryder said the state is now using a lottery to select people for treatment. Utah on Friday removed race and ethnicity from its risk score calculator, among other changes, citing new federal guidance and the need to ensure classifications comply with federal law. Rather than factor these factors into treatment eligibility, the state health department said it will work with communities of color to improve access to treatment in other ways. Ryder believes criticism of racial inclusion policies is dishonest. Its easy to introduce identity politics and create a choice between one type of really wealthy person and another type of person, he said. Its hard to take these comparisons seriously. They dont seem fair to reality. Police in Virginia said a woman has been charged after she claimed at a school board meeting she would show up with loaded guns if her children were required to wear masks at school. A Connecticut man was arrested after hurling a smoothie at an employee and repeatedly shouting profanities during a heated incident at a Robeks drinks store, police said. The man, identified as 48-year-old James Iannazzo, purchased a smoothie at the location in Fairfield on Saturday, then allegedly returned shortly afterward and claimed the drink contained peanuts, causing his son to have an allergic reaction, according to the Fairfield Police Department. Advertisement Iannazzo also made comments toward an employee referencing their immigration status, police said. The incident was captured on video and went viral on a TikTok account that has since been made inactive. The video had 14 million views on the social media platform, according to local news station WTNH. Advertisement Police say Iannazzos son was taken to a local hospital after emergency officials were called to the scene. James Iannazzo. (Fairfield Police Department) Iannazzo allegedly asked which employee made the smoothie after he returned to the Robeks store. When employees could not provide Iannazzo with the answer he became irate, yelling at the employees using a number of expletives, police announced. He then threw a drink at an employee, which hit their right shoulder. The employee reported that they had no complaints of pain or injury. Employees repeatedly told Iannazzo, who is from Fairfield, to leave the store as he screamed at the staffers, police said. Iannazzo later turned himself in to authorities, and was arrested on intimidation based on bigotry or bias, criminal trespass and breach of peace charges. When it comes to honoring the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one staff member at Bradford High School really did her homework. For her efforts, Melissa Otwaska gets a gold star, or eight of them, in fact. Otwaska, who works in the school library in administrative support, created a display of photos and books on King just in time for the holiday marking his birthday on Jan. 17. Motivating Otwaska was the information that on April 27, 1967, King had held a press conference in what is now an art room at Bradford High School. At the time, however, the building was occupied by the University of Wisconsin Center, Kenosha, the predecessor of UW-Parkside. Located on a wall next to the main entrance to the school library, the display, titled Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s speeches of Peace & Equality in Wisconsin, consists of 11 photos of King visiting eight cities throughout the state from 1957 through 1967. Gold stars mark each of cities where he spoke during this period: Eau Claire, Kenosha, Madison, Menasha, Milwaukee, Wausau, Whitewater and Williams Bay. I thought it was important to show that (King) had been in Bradford's physical building and then branched off with where else he had visited in Wisconsin, Otwaska said. On April 27, 1967, before his press conference, King gave a speech at St. Josephs High School as part of a lecture series that had been organized by the University of Wisconsin Extension, Kenosha. According to an April 28 Kenosha Evening News story, King the night before addressed a crowd in Minneapolis, Minn., then flew into Chicago before driving to up Kenosha. Giving credit where its due Otwaska was quick to mention that she was not the first to re-discover Kings visit to Bradfords building. That credit, she said, belongs to David Koel, a current art teacher at the school. Otwaska put the display together by researching places in Wisconsin visited by Martin Luther King, Jr.. Relying on local media reporting on his visits at the time, she printed out photos, wrote captions using a vintage font and laminated them for the exhibit. Using white ribbons, she tied each photo to its corresponding gold star on a map state of Wisconsin. She learned that on most of his stops, Kings talking points included public housing and the importance of unifying civil rights organizations. Otwaska said that she enjoyed the process of researching and organizing the homage to King. Going in, I did not know a lot of this and I found it fun to learn new things and all very interesting. 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. An Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigation into straw purchases of firearms in August of 2020 led to three felony charges against a 40-year-old Kenosha man. Eric W. Gragen, of the 8000 block of 48th Avenue, was ordered held in the Kenosha County Jail on a $25,000 cash bond during his initial appearance earlier this month before Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioner Larry Keating. Court records show that Gragen had been wanted on a $100,000 arrest warrant after he failed to make an initial appearance in August. He was returned on that warrant Jan. 10. Gragen waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday, pleaded not guilty and is due back in court Feb. 25, for a pre-trial conference before Judge Anthony Milisauskas. Each of the felony counts carries a maximum possible prison sentence of five years, five years extended supervision and a fine of $25,000. The complaint According to the criminal complaint, An informant advised ATF agents in August of 2020 that Gragen was straw purchasing firearms for felon gang members in the Kenosha County and Lake County (Ill.) areas. The informant showed texts with the defendant that discussed firearm sales and stated that Gragen buys firearms from armslist.com, charges between $200 and $400 each and typically meets individuals in store or gas station parking lots. Agents, along with members of the Kenosha Drug Operations Group and other law enforcement officials, conducted a controlled firearm purchase of a rifle, a rifle magazine, a pistol and three pistol magazines Aug. 12, 2020, for $2,100, the complaint states. The informant met with the defendant at a store parking lot in Somers, where police observed Gragen pull two boxes from his vehicle and put them in the back seat of the informants vehicle. Police then watched Gragen hand money to the informant. Law enforcement arranged another controlled purchase Aug. 18, 2020, of a shotgun and three magazines for $1,100 at the same parking lot. Police watched the defendant relocate to a different stores parking lot, where he spoke to an unknown male, who put a firearm in Gragens vehicle. Gragen then returned, put a firearm in the informants vehicle and leave, according to the complaint. Separate case In a separate case against Gragen, he is charged with a felony count of unauthorized use of food stamps, which carries a possible maximum prison term of 18 months, two years extended supervision and a fine of $10,000. Gragen has a pre-trial conference on this case before Milisauskas the same day and time as the other pending case. According to the criminal complaint, a woman told police Gragen had stolen her electronic benefit transfer food stamp card and made multiple purchases. During a traffic stop, the womans card was found on Gragen. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. An 11-month investigation that began last February with a drug overdose ended in December with a significant amount of cocaine, personal property and other assets seized and several individuals facing both state and federal charges. Seized were 106 pounds of cocaine that tested positive for fentanyl with an estimated street value of between $4 million and $6 million. The path toward its discovery began at a location in the Village of Salem Lakes in February, according to a press release issued Friday afternoon by the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department. Deputies on that call used Narcan to save the subjects life and, after that call, the Kenosha Drug Operations Group initiated an investigation to find the source of the narcotics. That investigation led authorities to a large drug trafficking organization based in Pleasant Prairie, authorities said. Police believe the subjects were operating primarily in Wisconsin and Illinois, but also had ties throughout the United States and Mexico. Along with agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, KDOG deputies arrested several individuals last month. Authorities also recovered more than $50,000 in stolen property during the investigation, along with $120,000 of personal assets they determined were used in the distribution of illicit narcotics. Kenosha County Sheriffs Department Sgt. David Wright said Friday that both state and federal charges could be filed against those arrested. The investigation still is active. The investigation continues the departments fight to curb drug overdose deaths, Wright said. Kenosha County had more than 40 fatal overdoses in 2021, primarily from fentanyl-laced narcotics. We definitely have seen an uptick in fentanyl-related cases, Wright said. Thats primarily why our KDOG unit got involved with this. All of it pointed toward investigating this even more because of those. It was an extensive investigation. A lot of man hours were put into it. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Dozens of area residents gathered Saturday to demonstrate against abortion and pray the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade this year. The Gathering for Life event organized by the Kenosha Chapter of the Wisconsin Right to Life was held at the intersection of 39th Avenue and 75th Street. More than 60 braved the cold to sing, pray and display signs against abortion. The event was held in conjunction with the 49th annual national March for Life rally, which was held Friday in Washington, D.C. I think its really important to support life from conception to natural death, said James Roemke, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church, 2026 22nd Ave. (Life) is a gift from God and its something Christians should support and do everything we can to ensure that life is sacred and valued. He prayed over the demonstrators in the parking lot of St. Mary Catholic Church, 7307 40th Ave., before the group headed to nearby sidewalks and green space to make their voices heard. Pamela Mundling, the treasurer with the local Right to Life chapter, said she believes abortion harms women. She handed out signs before the event. Jeanine Mayor, a local Roman Catholic grandmother, said she hopes every pregnancy ends with a child that laughs and smiles. I really enjoy seeing our little ones grow up, she said. Mayor sang and prayed on a sidewalk facing 39th Avenue to the east. We love everybody whos here today. Want Roe v Wade ruling overturned Many in attendance prayed the Jan. 22, 1973 Supreme Court ruling that established a nationwide right to abortion be overturned in the coming months by the conservative-dominated Supreme Court. I hope and pray that it is overturned, Roemke said. Thats why people have been gathering at these things for so many years so that it would be overturned. Honestly, thats one encouragement that brought me out here today, that maybe this would be the year that it would be overturned and babies lives would be saved. Mundling expressed similar sentiments. Its the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and we like to come out and stand for life and pray that God gives wisdom to our legislators and our judges so we can overturn the terrible procedure of abortion, she said. We are praying very hard for the end of abortion, Mayor said. Sandy Martin said abortion is a scourge on our land and hopes Wisconsin develops a law similar to one recently passed in Texas, the nations second most populous state, which effectively bans most abortions Whatever works for Wisconsin, she said. I dont think there should be abortion at all. My heart goes out to the women that have had abortions and think its their only choice. I think we do a severe disservice to women to tell them (abortion) is their only way out of a situation. Martin, a member of Messiah Lutheran Church, said she does not believe President Joe Biden is Christian because of his administrations stance in support of reproductive rights. I dont think he goes along with the Catholic Churchs (teachings), she said. I think hes a Catholic in name only. I think he uses that as a convenient front to be accepted by middle-of-the-road moderate people. Peaceful demonstration The event was peaceful and many motorists honked their horns in support of the gathering from 11 a.m. to noon. Only a few motorists sped by or made crude hand gestures. One woman walking into the nearby Starbucks got into an argument with some of the demonstrators. Its going to upset some people that pass by and encourage other people who pass by, Roemke said before the event. As with anything, people feel passionately about this on both sides and when you feel passionately about something you need to make your voice heard. Its a mix. Most cars that go by or just like eh and some cars that go by are honking their horns and waving at us, Mundling said. The demonstration ended with soup and chili inside the nearby parish. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 WGTD (91.1 FM) is owned and operated as a public service of Gateway Technical College and is an affiliate of Wisconsin Public Radio. For an updated schedule, go online to wgtd.org. WGTD 91.1-FMs Morning Show airs 8:10 to 9 a.m. weekdays. Guests this week include: Today: R.D. Rosen, author of A Buffalo in the House: The Extraordinary Story of Charlie and his family. The book chronicles the true story of a family that adopts a stray buffalo. Tuesday: Art Cyr, Clausen Distinguished Professor of Political Economy and World Business at Carthage College, pays his first monthly visit to the show in 2022. Wednesday: David S. Rudolf, author of American Injustice: Inside Stories from the Underbelly of the Criminal Justice System. Thursday: For Holocaust Remembrance Day: Mina Miller, president and artistic director of Music of Remembrance, a Seattle-based group that seeks to foster remembrance and understanding of the Holocaust through music (both live performances and recordings.) Friday: Trevor Jung, the newly appointed Transit Manager for the city of Racine. 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. We all could use a little something to look forward to in 2022. When it comes to electric vehicle adoption and advancement, there is much to come this year that stands to benefit the nation and the state in many ways. The administrations at the state and federal levels as well as public utilities laid much of the groundwork in 2021 for the work to be done in this capacity in 2022 and beyond. On Sept. 22, Ameren announced a memorandum of cooperation between utilities pledging their commitment to build a network of Midwest EV charging stations across 11 states, including Wisconsin, by the end of 2022. The agreement includes Alliant Energy, We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service. Midwestern governors signed their own EV agreement shortly thereafter. Gov. Evers on Sept. 30, 2021 signed the Regional EV for the Midwest memorandum of understanding along with the governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota. The agreement seeks to, safeguard economic security, grow jobs, futureproof interstate commerce, reduce harmful emissions, improve public health and advance innovation, according to a news release on the agreement. We shouldnt have to choose between building a cleaner, more equitable state and economic development and thankfully, vehicle electrification is an area where we can do both, Evers said when the plan was announced. This regional partnership will be critical for addressing emissions from the transportation sector, ensuring folks in every community have cleaner air to breathe, and creating jobs to meet our future workforce needs. Recognizing the role EVs can make in the states economic future and growth is key. Wisconsin received further support to that end in October, when the state was awarded a $1 million Statewide Economic Development Planning grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to further EV adoption. The grant supports planning for EV charging stations, EV manufacturing supply chain opportunities and end-use demand to accelerate electrification. This is an investment that has the potential to build on our existing assets as a leader in advanced manufacturing, electric power generation and battery storage and EV design and catalyze growth of an exciting new industry, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes said when the award was announced. The passage of the $1.2 trillion federal bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November brought with it additional support for EV expansion at the state level as well. According to the White House, under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Wisconsin would expect to receive $79 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state. Wisconsin will also have the opportunity to apply for the $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to EV charging in the bill. In December, Edison Institute announced the formation of the National Electric Highway Coalition, consisting of 51 investor-owned electric companies committed to providing EV fast charging ports that will allow the public to drive EVs with confidence along major U.S. corridors by the end of 2023. Participating Wisconsin utilities include Alliant Energy, Madison Gas & Electric, We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service and Xcel Energy. Also in December, the White House released the EV Charging Action Plan to outline steps federal agencies are taking to support developing and deploying chargers across the country. The following day, a memorandum of understanding was signed establishing a joint Office of Energy And Transportation focused on deploying EV infrastructure and working hand-in-hand to collect input and guidance from industry leaders, manufacturers, workers and other stakeholders to ensure equity in the deployment. The White House is currently preparing to issue guidance and standards to states and cities in mid-February. Wisconsin Clean Cities is a fuel- and technology-neutral organization and recognizes the role EVs play in a diversified sustainable transportation network. These investments in EV infrastructure stand to benefit all citizens with cleaner air, local jobs, reduced dependence on imported petroleum, support for domestic energy sources and overall improved quality of life. We praise Gov. Evers, Wisconsin utilities, industries and others in this space for their work in getting us this far. We look forward to working with all of them to put these plans into action in 2022 and beyond. Lorrie Lisek is executive director of Wisconsin Clean Cities and president of Legacy Environmental Services. The opinions are the writers. Lorrie Lisek is executive director of Wisconsin Clean Cities and president of Legacy Environmental Services. The opinions are the writers. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 1 Shares Share In late November, the state of the COVID-19 pandemic shifted once more when South African scientists reported the discovery of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant named Omicron. When panic surrounding Omicrons emergence set in, numerous countries instituted travel bans on South Africa and neighboring nations. As a medical student, I have begun to examine COVID-19 epidemiology and policy decisions more closely. Given that Omicron is already circulating globally and there was no evidence that Omicron emerged in South Africa, were these travel bans truly warranted and based on scientific evidence, or were they overly hasty? There is a tendency to view travel bans as an unambiguous strategy to seal the nations borders to unwanted exposures, but in practice, their usefulness is dependent on a variety of factors, including time of implementation relative to viral emergence. Importantly, the ramifications of the travel ban on South Africa are striking. These tradeoffs should have been considered more carefully before the implementation of the travel restrictions, because they might have changed the policy decision that was ultimately made. In 2019, the South African tourism sector contributed 3.7 percent of GDP and employed 4.7 percent of the total workforce. These new restrictions mean a significant loss of revenue from the tourism industry, and any establishments preparing for a wave of visitors over the holiday season must now attempt to stay afloat, return payments and merchandise, and let go of employees. Economic struggle will affect mental health and wellbeing in South Africa, as will the inability to travel home for the holidays. Harmful stigmas propagated with the ban are also troubling, with some South African speakers citing remnants of colonization in the ease with which restrictions are placed against African countries by Western countries. The genomic surveillance program also was a source of pride for South African scientists. In contrast, the travel ban reads like a punishment for having reported this discovery to the global community. Such a repercussion could discourage scientists from other nations from divulging similar discoveries. This is concerning because we cannot afford a decrease in reporting due to fears of punishment by the international community. These fears seem to be shared by the WHO, who on November 28th called for the South African borders to remain open, and for the discouragement of travel bans that are unnecessarily intrusive or not scientifically based. Less than a week after 23 countries instituted bans, evidence of community transmission was found in the U.S. and U.K., meaning that Omicron had been found in individuals there with no international travel. The scientific basis suggests that the global spread of Omicron was already underway at the time of its detection in South Africa, thus the bans are unlikely to be effective. In evaluating the benefits of travel bans overall, a study in Science assessed the travel restrictions placed on China in February 2020. The results showed that travel quarantine can only minimally reduce spread, unless combined with other proven strategies to reduce disease transmission. Another study in Emergency Medicine analyzed bans for other infectious diseases and concluded that there was limited evidence to support travel bans. This research challenges the confidence we have in travel bans and suggests that policymakers should focus on transmission-reducing practices, including social distancing, testing, and vaccinations, especially when the variant-of-concern is already circulating globally. The restrictions we implement at a policy level should not be taken lightly, and that their messaging has longitudinal effects we may not have fully considered. Given that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and that this may not be the last pandemic that we experience, decisions about policies must be backed by scientific evidence because their messaging and implementation has far-reaching effects. Michelle Verghese is a medical student. Image credit: Shutterstock.com A Texas Department of Public Safety agent working tactical operations at the U.S.-Mexico border died Saturday after a tragic accident. Anthony Salas, 37, died at University Hospital in San Antonio around 11 a.m. Saturday, surrounded by family, DPS said in a statement. Advertisement Details are scarce, but officials said Salas was involved in an accident while working a joint operation with the Border Patrol Tactical Unit near Eagle Pass Friday evening. He was rushed to Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center and then airlifted to University Hospital. Anthony Salas (Texas Department of Public Safet) Salas served in the United States Marine Corps before joining DPS in 2013, when he was stationed in El Paso. He was a Texas Highway Patrol trooper before being promoted to a special agent in the Criminal Investigations Division. Advertisement This tragedy is a somber reminder of the selfless sacrifices our law enforcement make as they work to keep us safe, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. I ask Texans to join Cecilia and me in praying for Agent Salas family as they grieve this unimaginable loss. In the last year we've lost thousands of family members, friends and co-workers to COVID-19. We'd like to give you a chance to honor their memory. Share a Memory Looking to update your home? Watch the KHQ Spring Home Design Guide featuring the areas top home improvement businesses on Sat, May 7 at 4:30pm on KHQ. And click here to win a $500 VISA gift card, courtesy of our presenting partner - VPC Electric! Kilgore, TX (75662) Today Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 58F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low around 50F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Israel became the United Nations 59th member on May 11, 1949. In the seven decades since, the General Assembly, now numbering 193 countries, has passed uncounted resolutions blasting the Mideasts sole democracy. Slander and libel and unfairness by a majority of tyrannies gathered at Turtle Bay against the worlds only Jewish state is mind-numbingly routine. But at least when it comes to dead Jews, the Parliament of Man has some decency. Only twice in the 73 years since Israel joined the UN, the General Assembly has approved resolutions offered by Israel, both dealing with the Holocaust. Advertisement Women are pictured in their barrack after the liberation in January 1945 of the Auschwitz concentration camp. (Getty Images) The first time was 2005, when the General Assembly designated Jan. 27 as the annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking the Jan. 27, 1945 liberation of the Auschwitz death camp by the Red Army. Israel had 104 co-sponsors. The second time was Thursday, the 80th anniversary of the Jan. 20, 1942 Wannsee Conference of top Nazis, where the German state planned how to murder all 11 million Jews in Europe. The ever-efficient Germans got about halfway through their victims before the Allies destroyed Hitlers thousand-year Reich. This resolution denounces Holocaust denial, a sickness of weak minds inextricable from the ancient hatred of anti-Semitism. Iran, which somehow claims it is guided by Islam, was the single country that objected, but did not block the passage of the resolution, which came without a vote. Advertisement Joining Israel as prime sponsor was Germany, and more than 100 states signed on to write into the annals of the United Nations that the Holocaust was real, and that to deny or distort the historical facts is wrong on every level and dangerous to society and needs to be to countered with education. The resolution also urges governments and social media companies to take active measures to combat anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial or distortion by means of information and communications technologies and to facilitate reporting of such content. Let the truth be known. Support local journalism Local news, sports and entertainment when you want it. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the best local news, sports and entertainment coverage. Robert McIntire represented the fourth generation of the McIntire family in charge of daily operations at McIntire Florist in Fulton. In the shop's 90th year in the flower business, Clint and Shauna Smith are taking over for McIntire, who's owned the shop for over 40 years. One New York Police Department officer has died and another is injured after a shooting incident in Harlem, a law enforcement official tells CNN. The state-run Export-Import Bank of Korea said Sunday it has decided to offer US$250 million in low-interest loans to support Egypt's national railway modernization project. The loans from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) will support a part of the project to upgrade the traffic signals of a railway line linking Luxor and High Dam, the bank said. Last week, South Korea and Egypt inked a memorandum of understanding to raise the limit of the EDCF loans to Egypt to $1 billion in 2022-26 from the previous $700 million, in an effort to deepen bilateral cooperation. South Korea launched the EDCF program in 1987 with the purpose of supporting economic and social infrastructure projects in developing countries. (Yonhap) Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) Administrator Kim Hyun-mo, front left, and Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities Secretary-General Mostafa Waziri, front right, pose after signing a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the cultural heritage property management field, at Prince Mahammad Ali Palace in Cairo, Friday (local time). Courtesy of CHA By Kim Rahn The cultural heritage property management authorities of Korea and Egypt have agreed to cooperate in the restoration, excavation and preservation of antiquities, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said, Sunday. The CHA and the Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation and exchange in cultural heritage property management in Cairo, Friday (local time), on the sidelines of President Moon Jae-in's official visit to the African country. In talks on the previous day with CHA Administrator Kim Hyun-mo, Mostafa Waziri, the secretary-general of the council, requested CHA's participation in restoring the Ramesseum Temple in Luxor and in the excavation of a temple of Thutmose IV, using Korea's restoration techniques, and the Korean agency accepted. Under the agreement, the two sides will cooperate in surveying, excavating and restoring archaeological relics, fighting the trafficking of cultural assets, supporting each other's bids for cultural heritage properties to be registered as World Heritage as well as exchanges of specialists in related fields. The CHA will expand its official development assistance (ODA) to include the restoration of a pylon at the Ramesseum Temple in Luxor and the digitization of Egypt's cultural heritage assets through ODA programs starting in 2023. It will restore the collapsed pylon and refurbish the entrance. The administration will also help Egypt set up a digital database of historical sites and cultural heritage remains owned by the country's six major museums and research institutes. The two sides will support each other's efforts to register cultural heritage assets as UNESCO World Heritage, including Korea's bid to have the Gaya Tumuli, a set of seven tumuli sites in southern parts of the country, listed during a World Heritage Committee meeting slated for June. "The MOU is significant in that we've expanded the regions to which we offer ODA programs in the cultural heritage sector," the CHA said in a press release. "We hope the agreement will help Korea be positioned as a contributor in aid projects in the cultural heritage property sector. We'll continue to improve our ODA programs in it." Combination photo show U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida / AP-Yonhap U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Friday (local time). The leaders also condemned North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches in their virtual bilateral summit, according to the White House. "The two leaders condemned the recent ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which are in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions," the White House said regarding the summit in a press release, referring to North Korea by its official name. The North has conducted four sets of missile launches since the start of this year, including the test firing of what Pyongyang claims was a new hypersonic missile in two of the launches. "Toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, both leaders committed to maintain close coordination on DPRK issues moving forward, in lockstep with the Republic of Korea (ROK)," the press release said. The Biden-Kishida summit marked the first of its kind since the Japanese leader took office in October. (Yonhap) North Korea's foreign ministry on Sunday criticized Japan's moves to revise a set of key security documents as "extremely dangerous" steps away from its long-held defense-oriented policy. Japan has reportedly been moving to revise its national security strategy and other key defense documents this year as it confronts an increasingly assertive China and a nuclear-ambitious North Korea. "What is extremely dangerous is that Japan is poised to include in these documents capabilities to attack enemy bases, a sharp increase in defense spending, and the development and purchase of armament equipment for preemptive strikes," the ministry said in a statement under the name of a researcher at its research institute on Japan. The ministry also voiced concerns that the focus of Japan's defense strategy could shift to an attack and invasion. (Yonhap) President Moon Jae-in walks with first lady Kim Jung-sook upon their arrival at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Saturday, after finishing an eight-day trip to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Yonhap Rising NK threats, botched summit with Abu Dhabi leader dent achievements By Nam Hyun-woo President Moon Jae-in returned to Korea after his eight-day state visits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Egypt, clinching a set of deals in defense exports, hydrogen cooperation and economic cooperation with those countries. But domestic headaches awaited his arrival. During his absence from South Korea, tensions have been mounting as North Korea is set for more provocations following its test-firings of missiles earlier this month. Moon returned home from Cairo on Saturday, and after staying three days in Dubai, two days in Riyadh and two days in Cairo to meet the leaders of those countries. Before embarking on his overseas trips, Moon was under pressure to make tangible achievements as his trips came amid continued spread of the Omicron variant and North Korea's missile threats. Moon focused on economic partnerships with the countries he visited, including the hydrogen economy, defense and free trade agreements. President Moon Jae-in poses with the ruler of Dubai and UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at Expo 2020 Dubai, Sunday. Yonhap Highlighting those achievements was a deal to export the domestically developed Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile system to the UAE. During Moon's meeting with the ruler of Dubai and UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Monday, the companies involved in the deal exchanged contracts. The deal, reportedly worth 4 trillion won ($3.36 billion), marked the single most lucrative weapons export contract in the history of Korea's defense industry, and is expected to help Korea develop a stronger presence in the Middle Eastern and other markets. Along with the missile deal, a South Korea-UAE MOU on defense partnership was inked during Moon's stay, allowing the two countries to research, develop, purchase and produce weapons systems together. President Moon Jae-in listens to his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during their summit at the latter's presidential palace in Cairo, Thursday (local time). Yonhap Korea was expected to sign a deal during Moon's visit to export its K-9 howitzers to the Egyptian military, but the President returned home without completing the deal. Just hours before Moon was to leave Cairo on Friday, Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Minister Kang Eun-ho told reporters that the two countries were still in negotiations on the howitzers, based on the common understanding that they are necessary for the Egyptian military. The Korean side has offered several options and the Egyptian side was contemplating them, according to Kang. Alongside the defense efforts, Korea signed a number of hydrogen deals with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which are striving to reduce reliance on oil and nurture hydrogen production as their next big revenue generator. In the UAE, Moon attended a business roundtable on bilateral hydrogen cooperation, joined by more than 25 leaders of hydrogen-related companies from both countries. Also, Korea National Oil Corporation, SK Gas and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company have signed an MOU on joint research into hydrogen and ammonia as energy sources. With Saudi Arabia, nine MOUs were inked for bilateral cooperation in ammonia and hydrogen supply chain development, with Korean companies such as Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) and S-Oil partnering with Saudi Aramco. President Moon Jae-in talks with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud during an official welcoming ceremony at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Tuesday. Yonhap Free trade agreements were also notable achievements of Moon's trip. On Wednesday, Cheong Wa Dae announced it will resume talks for a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council within the first quarter of this year, nearly 12 years after negotiations were halted with the alliance of six Middle Eastern countries. While in Egypt, Korean and Egyptian trade ministers signed an MOU on Thursday to conduct joint research on a trade and economic partnership, to study the feasibility of a potential free trade agreement between the two countries. "The agreements are anticipated to be gateways for South Korean companies' entry into Middle East and African markets," Korea's Trade Minister Moon Sung-wook said. President Moon Jae-in holds a phone call with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at a hotel in Dubai, Monday (local time). Yonhap Despite the achievements, there were also shortcomings that dented Moon's trip. Initially, Moon was scheduled to visit Abu Dhabi on Monday, where he would have a summit with Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. However, the visit was canceled and the summit also could not take place, upon the crown prince's last-minute cancellation. The summit between the two was replaced with a 25-minute phone conversation on Monday night, but no reason was given, with Cheong Wa Dae officials saying Abu Dhabi cited "inevitable reasons." Against this backdrop, a drone attack, claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels, blew up three oil tankers and caused a fire at an extension of Abu Dhabi International Airport, killing three people on Monday, sparking speculation that the cancellation was related to the attack. Im Jong-seok, former chief of staff to Moon and special envoy to the UAE, told reporters later that the canceled meeting with the Abu Dhabi crown prince "has nothing to do with the attack," but refused to elaborate further. President Moon Jae-in presides over a meeting with his aides in the conference room of the presidential jet while heading to Dubai on Jan. 15. Yonhap An open letter to the parents of New York City Manhattan: Our public schools need your help. The city has dramatically increased the staffing and training of the Situation Room, the group that responds to outbreaks of COVID. It has also increased the frequency and extent of COVID testing in our schools and through home-based tests. The Department of Education has worked to ensure that new and more effective masks are available for all school staff, and to monitor ventilation and other factors important to limiting the spread of infection. Teachers and staff have been vaccinated. It is important that students take part in this safety measure. The federal government has authorized vaccinations for children 5 and over. Please get your children vaccinated. It is the key to stopping the worst effects of this virus for all of us. Vaccination sites are available across the city in specialized locations, many doctors offices and clinics and pharmacies. Advertisement Please complete a testing consent form. The more students become available for COVID testing, the more effective our testing and quarantine process will be. Forms are available at schools or on the DOE website. Many districts are struggling to keep their schools open or have already gone remote, at least temporarily, but all of us know that remote instruction is a poor substitute for personal interaction. This letter is endorsed by: Kathryn S. Wylde, president and CEO, Partnership for New York City; Steven Rubenstein, CEO, Association for a Better New York; James Whelan, president, Real Estate Board of New York; Hazel N. Dukes, president, NAACP New York State Conference; Anthony Reid, president, NYC Chapter, A. Philip Randolph Institute; Eduardo Rosario, president, New York Chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement; Kirsten John Foy, president and CEO, The Arc of Justice; Joe Maldonado, senior pastor, Lower East Side Fellowship; and Melissa Martino, care pastor, Movement Covenant Church. Michael Mulgrew, president, United Federation of Teachers Advertisement Thanks for sharing Bronx: Re COVID, AIDS and trying to save ourselves (op-ed, Jan. 18): Thanks to science. Beautifully written piece, Jennifer Boulanger. Hopefully, people will read it and your words will save more lives. May your brother RIP. Lydia Milnar Access denied Howard Beach: Someone now knows that Australias COVID laws arent a joke-ovic. Ernest Kienzle Dear Dobie Woodhaven: Dwayne Hickman died on Jan. 9. Did you know this? I follow the Daily News in print and online to get information like this. The Daily News failed. I found out about it by watching the obituaries on CBS Sunday Morning on Jan. 16! Hickman was born on May 18, 1934, and died at age 87, but I didnt need to tell you that, right? The News should have devoted at least half a page to the lovable and historic Dwayne Hickman. Try looking him up: The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis and Cat Ballou are just a few important performances that come to mind. Michael Minerva Prioritize pedestrians Brooklyn: It is great that our new mayor, Eric Adams, wants to redesign pedestrian crosswalks to have cars stop for pedestrians. Still, there exist two problems. One is enforcement. Many drivers have no consideration for anyone in a crosswalk; they begin turning or driving through regardless of a traffic light or stop signs. Many drivers ignore them, feeling that pedestrians should not be in their way. The other problem is e-bikes and e-scooters. They make it more dangerous for pedestrians walking across the street, driving recklessly in the street, then using the sidewalks to do the same. I have to dodge them early in the morning in Bensonhurst to get the morning paper. Its an all-day affair. Hopefully, the mayor hears my grievance. Joseph V. Comperchio Tough times Brooklyn: I remember as a little child in the 1970s, the adults were all saying, I dont look at the news anymore, its too depressing. In the first two weeks of the new year, we have had a young woman shot to death in a Burger King in East Harlem; a young lady pushed onto a Times Square subway track and killed; 17 people died in an apartment fire in the Bronx; 12 died in a Philadelphia rowhouse fire; a lunatic storms a synagogue in an attempt to kill Jewish people. Folks, its the 1970s all over again! David DiBello Toughen up Brooklyn: So Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg admits his first two weeks were rough. Well, he brought it upon himself by swearing to go easy on crime. Ask any decent, hardworking N.Y. resident and theyll tell you we want law enforcement and prosecutors to go tough on crime. In fact, with scum like Winston Glynn, who is accused of shooting and killing Burger King worker Kristal Bayron-Nieves, and loathsome Simon Martial, who callously took Michelle Gos life by pushing her in front of an oncoming train, Bragg should be demanding the death penalty be reinstated. Society has no need to support such vile reprobates for the rest of their lives. Unless Bragg does a complete 180-degree turnaround, his days as Manhattan DA are numbered. Bert Wedemeyer Sensitive subject The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Arverne: Has Bramhall ever had the dubious distinction of riding the citys subway system? It wouldnt appear so. His editorial cartoons are usually spot-on, but Wednesdays, which depicted harried commuters listening to an announcement heralding the next psycho shover, was in very poor taste. Think before you put pen to paper next time. Thomas A. Tuna Still destitute Manhattan: You can thank the prior mayor of this city and his wife for Michelle Gos tragic death. They were supposed to help homeless people; they did not. And all who voted for this loser, you can thank them, too. Now we have an even bigger problem with homelessness. You have to take your life into your hands when you travel into the city. Good luck to all who want to have this problem rectified. Christine Blasucci Advertisement Make it simple Coral Spring, Fla.: Since the government loves their charts and graphs, how about one that lays out the voter regulations in each state, i.e. ID required, early voting, mail-in votes, etc. That way we can see who is lying to us. Seems to me that one side says the sky is blue and the other says there is no sky. Darryl Easton New management Bronx: I watched and listened to the swearing-in of the historic new administration in Virginia of Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares. Down to Earth, uplifting and inspiring are words that come to mind. Oh, how we need more of this! Maureen Spratley-Longo Just the way it is Manhattan: President Bidens speech is being criticized as going too far for equating those who vote against voting rights to Jefferson Davis, Bull Connor and George Wallace. Well, hes right! The denial of the right to vote, making it more difficult to vote and the targeting of people of color in general and Black people, in particular, is a blatant attempt to roll back the clock and preserve the privilege that white America has enjoyed throughout the history of this country. All we ask is that you put into practice what you have put on paper! Andre Carl Jones Why not the web? Bayside: I can renew my drivers license and my auto registration online. I can request and renew my library books on my computer. I can do all of my banking online. I can do stock transactions on my computer. I can file and pay federal and local taxes online. We use email over written missives sent by snail mail. Long lines are eliminated by electronic transactions. The medical billing industry has been transformed by computers. Why, in Gods name, cant I vote on my computer? George P. Burrows Show grace Congers, N.Y.: To Voicer Betty Miserendino: Nowhere in my letter did I say I was a fan of Bob Sagets standup routine. My point is that its never a good idea to judge people who one doesnt know. I am not judging you, although you were pretty quick to judge me. Beth Friscino Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla talks during a press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after a visit to oversee the production of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine at the factory of U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer in Puurs, Belgium, April 23, 2021. Reuters-Yonhap Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla said on Saturday that an annual COVID-19 vaccine would be preferable to more frequent booster shots in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Pfizer/BioNtech's COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to be effective against severe disease and death caused by the heavily-mutated Omicron variant but less effective in preventing transmission. With cases soaring, some countries have expanded COVID-19 vaccine booster programs or shortened the gap between shots as governments scramble to shore up protection. In an interview with Israel's N12 News, Bourla was asked whether he sees booster shots being administered every four to five months on a regular basis. "This will not be a good scenario. What I'm hoping (is) that we will have a vaccine that you will have to do once a year," Bourla said. "Once a year it is easier to convince people to do it. It is easier for people to remember. "So from a public health perspective, it is an ideal situation. We are looking to see if we can create a vaccine that covers Omicron and doesn't forget the other variants and that could be a solution," Bourla said. Bourla has said Pfizer could be ready to file for approval for a redesigned vaccine to fight Omicron, and mass produce it, as soon as March. Citing three studies, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that a third dose of an mRNA vaccine is key to fighting Omicron, providing 90 percent protection against hospitalization. A preliminary study published by Israel's Sheba Medical Center on Monday found that a fourth shot increases antibodies to even higher levels than the third but was likely not enough to fend off Omicron. Nonetheless, a second booster was still advised for risk groups, Sheba said. (Reuters) Rupert Grint wishes he was one of the Gallagher brothers. The 33-year-old actor loves the "attitude" and "confidence" of Noel and Liam Gallagher, and he wishes he also had the ability to "just not care". Rupert - who shot to fame in the money-spinning 'Harry Potter' franchise - explained: "I wish I was a Gallagher. I actually wish I was a Gallagher more than I wish I was in a band. I love their attitude. I wish I had that confidence. That ability to just not care. "Ive never met them. I was supposed to the day they split up. I think I live close to one of them so Ive probably seen the back of Liam Gallaghers head or something." Rupert went to his first-ever music gig alongside his 'Harry Potter' co-star Emma Watson, when he was just 11 years old. The actor went to watch Shakira at Wembley Arena in London, and he even got the chance to meet the chart-topping pop star. He told NME: "I went with Emma. Id never been to a gig like that. Id been to, like, banger racing previously. Thats the only time I think Id seen any sort of mass gathering of people there just to watch one thing." Rupert didn't know any of Shakira's songs at the time, but he enjoyed the experience and described meeting the blonde beauty as a "very memorable" moment. Rupert - who played the part of Ron Weasley in the 'Harry Potter' films - said: "I didnt really know any songs, but she was great. Very memorable. We met her afterwards. I was an 11-year-old boy, so there was a lot going on. That time of my life was very exciting." If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit Law enforcement agencies across the state of Idaho are reporting an increase in drug and drug trafficking cases, particularly when it comes to cases involving fentanyl. Read more TEHRAN, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Saturday vowed to strengthen ties and cooperation with Turkey for regional stability, according to Iran's presidential website. "Iran has a long-term and comprehensive vision of relations and cooperation with Turkey, and we welcome planning for strategic cooperation with Turkey," said Raisi in a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Raisi also stressed the need of respecting countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity as the only way to long-term security and stability in the region. Erdogan, for his part, said Turkey has prepared a list of diverse economic collaborations to strengthen relations with Iran, and expressed his hope to visit Tehran soon. The Turkish president emphasized Iran's continuous supply of energy to Turkey, saying Turkey considered Iran a reliable energy supplier and sought to enhance cooperation with it. Erdogan also stressed the importance of his country's cooperation with Iran in ensuring regional security. As a regular New Yorker whose life was forever changed by crime, who was plunged into a many-decades-long engagement with our criminal justice system, I have found District Attorney Alvin Braggs early pronouncements deeply dispiriting. And no, my opinion has not been changed by any of Braggs public appearances over the course of the last week. My journey through the criminal justice system began when my 16-year-old son Ari was murdered in a terrorist attack while riding in a bus with 14 other children on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge on March 1, 1994. They were all targeted because they were Jews. Advertisement The memo laying out Braggs offices priorities declares the following: The office shall not seek a sentence of life without parole. For a determinate sentence, the Office will request a maximum of 20 years. And for an indeterminate sentence with a maximum of life, the office will request no more than a minimum of 20 years, unless required by law. This would have meant that if the Brooklyn Bridge shooter would be prosecuted under Bragg today, he would only request a sentence of 20-years-to-life for my sons murder, including the attempted murder of the 14 other children. While the memo is silent as to whether his office would seek consecutive sentences for crimes with multiple victims, the spirit of the memo certainly suggests that it would not. Advertisement Contrast that approach with 1995, when DA Robert Morgenthau recommended the maximum sentence for Rashid Baz of 141 years in prison thats life for the murder of my son and the attempted murder of his fellow students, who were shot with more than 40 rounds of ammunition. The judge, the late Harold Rothwax, agreed with that recommendation and sentenced him accordingly. Shooting suspect Rashid Baz, 28, of Brooklyn, New York, is escorted from the 7th Precinct in the Manhattan section of New York City after his arrest on March 2, 1994. Rashid Baz from Lebanon was arrested along with two Jordanians in connection with a shooting attack on a van of Hasidic Jewish students. (Ron Frehm/AP) Why should murderers who kill not be sentenced to life without parole when we, the victims, have been sentenced to a life of grief? In his press conference Thursday, Bragg invoked the plight of crime victims and survivors many times, including to make the case for restorative justice. He didnt seem to understand that there are many victims loved ones who believe in truly tough punishment for those who have hurt or killed our family members. This is about much more than my family. Under Braggs sentencing policies, the man who executed a young girl working in an East Harlem Burger King after he robbed her of $100 would also get a maximum of 20 years-to-life, which means hed be eligible for parole after two decades. When we elect a district attorney, we hope they will make our city safer. While Bragg talks about lowering incarceration rates, which is a good thing, the diversion programs cannot be pie in the sky. If he talks about homeless perpetrators or emotionally disturbed perpetrators, he needs social services and diversion programs with teeth that send them back to a secure facility, with real treatment that will help them until they are able to reenter society, and not simply dump them back on the street so that they can commit more, or even worse crimes. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > As chair of the NYPDs hate crime review panel for nearly a year, I have seen violence targeted at every race, color and religion. Statistics bear out that were in the midst of a surge in offenses driven by prejudice. Are Braggs seemingly rigid rules going to be applied to perpetrators of hate crimes? Wednesday, he suggested that hate crimes will get a special focus in his office. But does that mean he will try to send those perpetrators to prison? His memo suggests he wont, while allowing that the rule may be bent in extraordinary circumstances based on a holistic analysis of the facts, criminal history, victims input (particularly in cases of violence or trauma), and any other information available. What exactly does that mean in the real world? A defendant has a lawyer that he or she can afford, or provided to them by the courts. If the defendant feels that he or she is not being defended properly, he or she is free to change attorneys. Victims are never given that choice in criminal cases. The state, which almost always means the district attorney and his assistants, is their attorney. Now would be a good time for Gov. Hochul to propose a Victims Bill of Rights that other states and the federal system have. It is long overdue. Advertisement Mayor Adams has brought new hope for a safer city. He hopes to bring people back who have left New York. But a city that lets those who commit even serious crimes get relatively light prison sentences is sending precisely the wrong message to crime victims. It is sending precisely the wrong message to those who might commit such crimes. We need to ask: Which way do we want New York City to go forward or backward? Halberstam is an activist. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. FRENCHTOWN, Mont. - The Annual Kids Ice Fishing Clinic kicked off Saturday at the Frenchtown Pond after being postponed last year due to COVID. Locals were very excited for the annual kid's ice fishing clinic to make its return. Steve French, CEO of Youth in the Outdoors, is just one of many community volunteers that work all year long putting events like this together. The goal getting more Montana families to explore the outdoors. On Saturday it was about learning how to catch fish in the winter. French teaching the next generation these outdoor skills and passing on an appreciation for nature is one of the best things to see on these cold winter days. "It's just something fun to do, I enjoy seeing the look on their face when they catch their first fish," said French. He goes on to say, "A lot of these kids that are here now it's been generations through the family everybody ice fishing." That's why French hopes days like this bring more families together in person and away from the regular distractions of our daily lives. "Fish don't text, so there's no reason to have your phone on the ice, other than for a picture, said French. Families captured some of those moments today, more good news, French is already getting a head start for next year's clinic. You can support more events like this by reaching out to Youth in the Outdoors for donations sponsorship opportunities. New York City is one of the most racially diverse cities in the United States. Its public school system is also one of the most racially segregated. One explanation for this dissonance is what the popular New York Times podcast has referred to as nice white parents white parents who pride themselves on living in a diverse city but dont send their kids to Black neighborhood schools, even when they otherwise proudly live in those neighborhoods. Instead, they go to great lengths to choose public schools, private and parochial schools with sizable numbers of white students. There is truth to this narrative, but a purely White-Black framework misses the choices and preferences of Asian, Latino and Black families, who account for two-thirds of the New York City student population and almost half of all school-age children. Racial demographics not only directly influence white parents preferences; they also influence the choices of Asian and Latino parents. Advertisement My research team and I recently conducted an experiment with a racially diverse group of 500 parents attending New York City high school fairs. We asked them to rank their preferences, for their kids, for a variety of hypothetical high schools. We included information on such things as graduation rates, safety ratings, metal detector presence and extra-curricular activities. What we found was that race was central to how many parents choose schools. Advertisement Consistent with the nice white parents narrative, white parents expressed a racial hierarchy of preferences. Among schools with similar graduation rates, safety ratings and other characteristics, white parents rated the majority-white school highest, followed by the racially diverse school, then the majority Latino school, and then the majority Black school. Asian parents, like their white peers, were also less willing to attend the Latino-majority and Black-majority schools. Latino parents preferred to avoid the Black-majority schools relative to the Latino-majority, white-majority and diverse schools. Black parents, in this study, did not express racial preferences. They similarly rated all the schools. In this March 13, 2020 file photo, students at New York City's Stuyvesant High School leave after classes end for the week. (Bebeto Matthews/AP) The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > The results were mirrored by the actual data on family preference in the New York City high schools. White and Asian families were between 45% and 97% less likely to rank majority Black and Latino schools first on their applications compared with majority-white schools. And Latino families were 67% less likely to rank majority Black schools first on their applications compared with majority-Latino schools. About half of the citys public high schools are majority Latino, and a quarter are majority Black. So this research suggests that most white and Asian parents would prefer to avoid 75% of the citys schools, and most Latino parents would prefer to avoid 25% of the citys schools solely based on their racial demographics. In a hypothetical setting where school racial composition does not relate to conventional measures of student achievement or safety, why do white and Asian parents desire to avoid Black and Latino schools and Latino parents desire to avoid Black schools? One reason seems to be that white, Asian and Latino parents may be motivated by feelings of closeness to their racial in-group or of hate toward Black and/or Latino people. They want their kids to go to school with people who look like them, and to avoid schools with too many people who dont. Parents may also be led by racial stereotypes. Black and Latino students are often perceived as less intelligent and more dangerous, even when parents are given data demonstrating that this is not the case. This expanded explanation becomes profoundly important when we consider that schools racially biased academic tracking and disciplinary practices often reflect and perpetuate these negative stereotypes. As Mayor Adams and Schools Chancellor David Banks specify the next administrations educational platform, they must consider how to promote racial equity in a school choice system deeply embedded with racial avoidance and stereotypes. There is no simple solution, but it cannot rely on the faulty assumption that nice white, Asian and Latino parents will gladly opt in to sharing school spaces with Black and Latino students, especially when that might put whites in the minority. Instead, the New York Department of Education must dismantle racially discriminatory practices and policies that reinforce negative stereotypes. They must also eliminate high school admission policies based on screens, scores on one standardized test, and geographic-based priorities that further keep Black and Latino students out of their desired schools. New York City is one of the most racially diverse places in the world. School leaders can do more to stomp out the perils of racial avoidance. Hailey is an assistant professor of sociology at The University of Texas at Austin. Lake Geneva officials want to be ahead of the curve when it comes to automobile manufacturers producing more electric-fueled vehicles. City officials are studying the possibility of installing electric vehicle charging stations within the community. Members of the tourism commission discussed the issue during their Jan. 10 meeting. The issue also has been discussed during public works committee meetings. Parking Operations Manager Seth Elder said he has contacted charging station vendors and communities that have installed charging stations to receive more information, but one of the roadblocks is that the State of Wisconsin only allows utility companies to sell electricity to customers. Elder said there currently is proposed legislation in the State of Wisconsin, which would allow municipalities to own and operate electric vehicle charging stations and sell the electric fuel to the public. However, Elder said there also is proposed legislation against such a measure. Meaning that there are people that feel in order to move forward with electric vehicles as a more widely embraced concept, its going to be necessary for municipalities to get involved in terms of building, managing and operating electric vehicle charging stations, he said. Elder said the cost to install an electric vehicle charging station would be between $15,000 and $20,000. He said if Lake Geneva was allowed to charge for the electric fuel for eight hours a day for five years, the city would obtain about $25,000 in revenue during that time. If its a $15,000 or $20,000 investment, after five years you would have made back your money and generated about $5,000 in revenue, Elder said. Right now, we cant do that because we cant bill a consumer for electric power because were not a utility. One option would be for the city to install electric charging stations and not charge people for the electric fuel. Elder said the City of Sturgeon Bay recently installed an electric charging station where people do not have to pay to charge their vehicles. They put this thing in place for an educational sort of a unit to allow people to charge without paying for it, Elder said. According to Elder, the Tesla company has installed electric charging stations at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Abbey Resort and Lake Lawn Resort. He said an electric charging station also has been installed at the Kwik Trip gas station and convenience store at 710 Williams St. Thats not a machine where you step up and swipe a credit card, Elder said. Its a machine where you pull up and use, just like the one in Sturgeon Bay. Stephanie Klett, president and CEO of VISIT Lake Geneva, said electric charging stations have been installed throughout Door County. You can go around to all of Door County, village to village, and you will have a map of the EV stations, Klett said. So they have lead the way. So it is being done without the legislature at the state level. Klett said installing electric charging stations is something the city should consider, because more vehicles will be operated with electric fuel in the upcoming years. I think its imperative, Klett said. First of all, its where energy is going over the next decade. Alderwoman Mary Jo Fesenmaier, who also is a member of the tourism commission, said she would like the City of Lake Geneva to install an electric vehicle charging station by this summer. She said the city could apply for a federal grant or obtain a grant from the tourism commission to help pay for the station. I think it would be nice to get the jump on it, so we can pilot it and figure out the things that might go wrong ahead of time, Fesenmaier said. So when we eventually can charge for it, we already have a system that works. Brian Waspi, chairperson of the tourism commission, said he would like the city to install a charging station, since they are already being installed at the local resorts. Waspi said several automobile manufacturers are proposing to only produce electric-fueled vehicles within the next five years. If you look at what the auto manufacturers are projecting, I think its going to be here faster than we think, Waspi said. It could go from something thats nice to have to something that could be a problem if we dont have it before we expect it. Alderman Richard Hedlund, who also is a member of the tourism commission, said the city could contact local legislatures to obtain support for allowing Lake Geneva to implement a premiere resort area tax, which could be used to help pay for the charging stations. Hedlund said he is not certain whether the city would be able to obtain a grant from the tourism commission, because those grants are awarded for events and activities that help attract visitors to Lake Geneva. He said more research needs to be done before the city considers installing electric vehicle charging stations. Right now, its pretty premature. If we pay $15,000 to put in a charging station, we cant charge for it, Hedlund said. Its a convenience for the visitors. Unless we have a whole bunch of them, how many people is that going to bring into the city? Klett said electric charging stations would be a benefit for people who are visiting Lake Geneva. Theres nothing wrong with us being a convenience for visitors, Klett said. We want visitors to have things that are easily accessible and not taxed on everything. Elder said he plans to continue to research the issue and contact other electric charging station vendors to obtain more estimated costs for installing such equipment. I think theres a little bit of hurry up and wait with the state legislature, Elder said. I think I need to seek out two or three more vendors to make sure were talking the same ballpark in terms of installation costs and operating costs and things of that nature. Members of the tourism commission and public works committee are set to discuss the issue again during future meetings. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The idea of teaching more than 100 UW-Madison undergraduates face to face at this point in the pandemic, with COVID-19 cases reaching new records and hospitals overwhelmed, terrifies teaching assistant Adrian George. It feels like a scary, uncertain time to start teaching during the pandemic, said George, a first-time instructor who is among hundreds asking for a few weeks of online classes until the worst of the omicron wave is over. The university isnt giving us that flexibility and choice. Were all on edge. Political science professor Jon Pevehouse understands those concerns. One of his own children is too young to get vaccinated and he himself has a health condition placing him at higher risk. But he also has a high school senior at home and believes online classes come with risks, too. Theyve lost so much already, he said about students. The mental health costs unleashed on that generation its a balance of risks, ultimately, and Im coming down right now on the side of being back in the classroom. The instructors perspectives highlight a divide on campus between some who say the university is again falling short in its pandemic response and others who feel UW-Madison is acting cautiously appropriate ahead of the schools spring semester, which starts Tuesday. On the one hand, the states COVID-19 caseload has never been higher in the lead-up to classes. Wisconsins seven-day average of daily new cases on the first day of classes in fall 2020 was 695. In spring 2021 and fall 2021, the number hovered around 1,500 cases. On Friday, it was 17,586. On the other hand, the risk of severe illness is much lower than before vaccines became available. Experts are seeing signs of the omicron-fueled wave slowing in other parts of the country. More than 95% of the campus community is vaccinated, masks are still required and testing is available, although some changes on that front have sparked concern. UW-Madison provost John Karl Scholz told a faculty committee earlier this month that classrooms have been safe throughout the pandemic. With students returning to Madison regardless of whether classes are in person or online, he said UW leaders and public health experts they consulted with dont believe a period of remote instruction would appreciably decrease the predicted spread of Covid in the weeks ahead. UW-Milwaukee, however, made a different calculation. The university is allowing instructors to move class online for the first week of the semester, which starts Monday. About 55% of classes that were scheduled to be in person will instead be temporarily taught online, spokesperson Michelle Johnson said. UW-Madison is holding firm and moving ahead as planned, with 92% of classes scheduled to be fully in person. COVID-19 will continue to be present, in ever-evolving forms, for the foreseeable future, a UW-Madison message to employees this week said. Because of the presence of highly effective vaccines, public health agencies in our county, state and nation are pivoting to providing individuals the tools they need to resume most daily activities. We will embrace that same approach. Testing changes From Aug. 1 through the end of 2021, UW-Madison reported just under 1,950 COVID-19 cases on campus. In just the first 13 days of testing in 2022, a time when far fewer students have been in Madison, the university has already reported 1,536 on-campus cases, according to its COVID-19 data dashboard. But the dashboard will become a less meaningful metric to monitor with the addition of at-home rapid antigen tests to UW-Madisons testing protocol. Results from those tests wont be incorporated onto the dashboard, which officials say aligns with the states reporting practices that require reporting of positive PCR tests and antigen tests administered at testing sites. The approach differs from the city-county health department, which encourages people to report their at-home test results to the agency so it can better understand the level of virus spreading in our community. Unvaccinated students and employees will continue to be required to test weekly on campus, but there is now just one location to receive a PCR test. Some on campus, like graduate union co-president John Walker, question the pivot to antigen tests, which offer results more quickly but are also less reliable. Critics also wonder whether a single testing site will suffice for a community of 65,000 people spread across a massive campus. In the last few weeks of the fall semester, testing was in high demand nationally as the Omicron wave began and many sought to get tested before traveling home. On-campus appointments at the four testing sites were full, sending students off campus, where some of them struggled to secure a test. UW-Madison, in a message last month, said it will be able to serve everyone who is required to or wishes to test at the one location. The move to a single testing site was made to use staff more efficiently and the same testing capacity of 5,000 PCR tests per week relied upon in the fall will remain, university spokesperson Meredith McGlone said. Distribution of antigen tests is limited right now for employees and students living off campus to one per week, though UW-Madison is working with multiple suppliers to expand supply, she said. We need everyones cooperation in using campus testing resources responsibly, McGlone said, pointing to other testing options available. She also encouraged those unable to make an on-campus testing appointment to cancel so someone else may be able to grab the open slot. Masks, boosters, ventilation Gabriela Zumwalt is excited but a little worried about the semester ahead. The nerves, however, have little to do with the virus and more to do with starting at UW-Madison as a transfer student from Madison Area Technical College. In the Memorial Union on Wednesday, she was headed to course registration with the hope that most of her classes would be in person. Graduate student Mike Smale, who is a teaching assistant for an introductory biology course this semester, also wants face-to-face classes, noting an online course he took as a UW-Madison undergraduate before COVID-19 hit didnt go over well. But hes also pretty blunt about the state of the pandemic right now: Covid cases are crazy right now. Smale, of West Bend, has a few ideas: Mandate the vaccine and booster shot. Ditch the cloth masks and require N95s. Adopt an open window policy to improve ventilation, with teachers telling students to bring sweaters to class. I would like to see them do everything possible to keep classes in person, he said. UW-Madison is distributing N95, KN95 and surgical masks to students and employees who want them. But no mandate is in the works because fit and other factors that are important in mask selection vary from person to person, McGlone said. Thats a letdown for teaching assistant Miranda Alksnis who believes cloth masks simply wont cut it against a fast-spreading variant. And even though omicron causes less severe illness, she said the science is still emerging on whether it can result in long COVID, where individuals can suffer from debilitating exhaustion and pain for months. Mental health concerns Burnout. Stress. A lack of connection. Pevehouse saw it all. In his 20 years at UW-Madison, he never had more students approach him about mental health issues than last fall. The number of students seeking counseling at University Health Services last fall was up 28% compared with the previous two fall semesters, mental health director Sarah Nolan said in mid-November. Whether thats a direct effect of COVID-19 or part of a broader national trend thats been on the rise even before the pandemic, Nolan doesnt know at this point. But the overarching message is clear: Students are struggling, even with most classes back in person. For business professor Jon Eckhardt, face-to-face instruction is worth the risk. One of his students last fall, for example, said hello to him while outside and unmasked. The professor didnt recognize his student, an interaction that prompted Eckhardt to throw an outdoor pizza party for his class to meet for the first time without masks. It was a completely different experience from the weeks they spent together in the classroom. Everyone will be doing their best but those relationships wont form in the way they normally do, he said of the semester ahead. Thats why Eckhardt plans to continue checking in with his fall class. Meet outside as much as possible. Maybe even throw them another pizza party. The classroom experience, weve all learned, is a special experience, he said. 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. Through the ever-lengthening gloom of COVID-19, FFA is offering students an outlet to spend time with friends, learn about agriculture, and just be themselves. Leah Penniman says the U.S. farming system is designed to domineer the land and the people of color who live there. London [UK], January 22 (ANI): According to research published in the 'European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging', obesity could have a severe impact on the heart's anatomy for young obese children. The study looked at the left ventricle, one of the four chambers of the heart. The researchers found that the left heart acquires a circular cross-section and becomes tilted away from the normal vertical symmetry - this second trait has been previously shown to be present in aortic stenosis patients. Also Read | Sleep Reactivates Memory, Improves Remembering Faces and Names, Says Study. Strikingly, the remodelling became significant at a BMI of roughly 19 in children aged 10, corresponding to the threshold of overweight range in adults BMI 25. In their study, extensive data collection had been conducted over the years, from the early prenatal phase through childhood, to examine the development of the cardiovascular system and early cardiovascular risk factors. Data collection included the CMR imaging scans that study the hearts of 2631 children aged 10, with a balanced sex distribution (51.3 per cent girls) from Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study from foetal life onwards in the Netherlands. With their findings, the researchers said that understanding and quantifying the impact of obesity on development is becoming much clearer. Obesity remains one of the most important issues in global health. Also Read | COVID-19 Vaccination Update: Those Who Have Contracted Coronavirus Infection Are Eligible for Vaccination Including Precaution Dose Only After 3 Months Post Recovery. Almost 60 per cent of EU adults and roughly one-third of 11-year-olds are overweight or obese and obesity-related conditions are the leading causes of preventable death, according to the World Health Organisation. Heart Researcher Professor Pablo Lamata said, "In the future, this pattern of remodelling could inform risk prediction models and raise an earlier awareness of the importance of adopting a healthier lifestyle from childhood." The idea is to allow clinicians to help patients reduce future cardiovascular risks in those that are more susceptible to them because the heart responds in a given way to the insult of obesity. Lead researcher Maciej Marciniak said, "Obesity in children is, of course, a major concern, as it may impact the healthy development. With more clinical information on this impact, clinicians will be able to better advice patients to follow healthier lifestyles at an earlier age. Looking further down the line, such analyses may help to inform about other remodelling patterns, connected with lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and other parameters." Future research will answer if this is an adaptive or a maladaptive response and whether this remodelling signature could inform risk prediction models. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) The reckonings that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City around racial justice and other forms of inequity have bypassed the citys Community Board system an outdated system sorely in need of reform as the application deadline for 2022 looms. Up to a total of 50 members serve on each of the 59 Community Boards throughout all five boroughs. They provide an important advisory voice on critical matters such as the citys COVID-19 response, proposed real estate developments, liquor license applications, the city budget and rezoning. Advertisement But what seemed like sufficient city policy governing Community Boards when they were first officially created by City Charter in 1975 no longer serves the systems needs today. This file photo shows a meeting of Community Board 1 at PS 234 in Lower Manhattan where the board was voting on a resolution about the Occupy Wall. (Craig Warga for New York Daily News) For example, there is no universal formal system in place via charter designed to address discrimination on the basis of sex, race, sexual orientation/gender identity and religion on these boards. During my first year on Manhattan Community Board 12, I witnessed female board members being removed unjustly by a former chair from leadership roles, or prevented from assuming such roles (myself included), and being subjected to gendered verbal attacks in public meetings. I initiated a complaint with then-Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewers office on the grounds of gender bias. Brewer substantiated the claims after a nearly seven-month investigation and, while not removing that chair from his position, recommended he go through anti-bias training. Advertisement The COVID-19 pandemic forced community boards to conduct meetings virtually instead of in-person, which brought with it an upside: greater access to those meetings for many busy community residents. That virtual access provided a bigger window through which to observe internal issues within those boards. Some filed complaints with Brewers office and the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) on what they observed. Overall, my observations and experience is that more than a few members of CB12 not only treat the Black members differently, but also those who might not have the same cultural heritage as them, one resident said in a complaint emailed to Brewers office in May 2021. The resident said board members would refer to longtime residents as gentrifiers and colonizers, and concluded that the discrimination of Black people by some on the board is a leading factor in this community board not creating a safe or constructive space for many. Brewers general counsel replied, We do not hear complaints from the general public. The issue remained unaddressed. Board members also face uphill battles trying to get discrimination complaints handled by the city and state Human Rights Commissions because they are officially categorized as volunteers instead of employees of the city, and are not subject to the same regulations as paid staff. Therefore, it was disappointing when the city finally reopened the City Charter for review for the first time in almost 30 years in 2018, only to conclude that the priority solutions to community board problems entailed implementing term limits, for borough presidents to seek out people of diverse backgrounds to apply, along with a few other recommendations. And diversity issues are definitely much deeper than the latest effort to increase the number of non-vehicle owners on Manhattan community boards. While these are important issues, what good do diversity efforts serve if the diverse members who are encouraged to apply and succeed in being appointed face mountain-sized obstacles to protection against bias, and their retention is put in jeopardy by repeated discrimination? The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > I recommend the city take the following actions: 1. Convene a new City Charter Revision Commission to make sure the charter reflects the changing needs of community boards. This review should establish a clear system of response and accountability that will be required of borough presidents when serious issues such as bias and discrimination arise. Borough president liaisons to community boards should be trained and required to report incidents of discrimination they witness, instead of depending on the victimized to file reports. Advertisement 2. Make annual anti-bias training mandatory for board members, with additional trainings tailored to those in leadership positions. 3. Borough presidents should be required to keep standard human resources data on board members, including reasons for resigning (exit interviews) or being removed, complaints reported by them or made against them, actions taken on those complaints, and any disciplinary actions against them. 4. Consider an alternative method of recruiting board members that does not rely on elected officials, who may be hesitant to curb bad behavior of potential voters, and that would relieve board members of potential pressure to appease those who appoint them. I have watched some of the smartest and most dedicated people perform untold hours of unpaid work year in and year out to serve their communities. For this alone, Community Board members deserve better than an outdated system whose foundation no longer supports them. Bonner was elected second vice-chair of Manhattan Community Board 12 in December 2020, and has lived in Washington Heights since 2006. New Delhi [India], January 23 (ANI): Days after their help was sought by the Indian Army to locate a 17-year-old boy from Arunachal Pradesh, a defence ministry PRO from Tezpur on Sunday said the Chinese Army has communicated to India that they have found a missing boy from Arunachal Pradesh. "The Chinese Army has communicated to us that they have found a missing boy from Arunachal Pradesh and the due procedure is being followed," said PRO Defence, Tezpur Lt Col Harshvardhan Pandey. Also Read | Goa Weather Forecast: IMD Predicts Light Rain Over Parts of North, South Goa During Next 3-4 Hours. Earlier, the Indian Army sought assistance from China's People Liberation Army (PLA) to locate and return a young boy who hails from Arunachal Pradesh and has been reportedly captured by the Chinese army, informed Defence Ministry's Tezpur Public Relation Officer. "17-year-old youth Miram Tarom of Zido, Arunachal Pradesh was reportedly captured by Chinese PLA across the Line of Actual Control. Indian Army immediately contacted PLA through a hotline, assistance from PLA has been sought to locate and return him as per protocol," PRO tweeted on Thursday. Also Read | Tamil Nadu Shocker: Woman Kills 4-Year-Old Boy To Snatch Gold Chain, Hides His Body Inside Almirah In Kanyakumari; Arrested. On January 19, Arunachal East MP Tapir Gao claimed that a 17-year-old youth has been abducted from inside Indian territory. Gao claimed that the youth was 'abducted' from Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Siang district. Gao further claimed that China's PLA has abducted the youth from where the Tsangpo River enters India in Arunachal Pradesh. He tweeted, "Chinese PLA has abducted Sh Miram Taron, 17 years of Zido vill. yesterday 18th Jan 2022 from inside Indian territory, Lungta Jor area (China-built 3-4 km road inside India in 2018) under Siyungla area (Bushing village) of Upper Siang dist., Arunachal Pradesh." In his tweet, Gao had tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Indian Army. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that the Centre is looking into all the issues at its level and holds discussions whenever the need arises. "Government is looking into issues at its level. Whenever there is a need for discussion, it holds discussions as well at its level," said Birla to ANI. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 23 (ANI): Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Sunday said that the party will not allow the release of the movie 'Why I killed Gandhi' in Maharashtra. "If you portray Gandhiji's murderer as a hero, it is not acceptable. Our country is known through Gandhi and his ideology. He is celebrated worldwide. Congress will oppose it. We will request Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray not to allow this movie's release in Maharashtra," said the Congress leader. Also Read | Tamil Nadu Shocker: Woman Kills 4-Year-Old Boy To Snatch Gold Chain, Hides His Body Inside Almirah In Kanyakumari; Arrested. Earlier today, the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a complete ban on the movie "Why I Killed Gandhi" as the film glorifies Nathuram Godse the traitor and killer of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. "All Indian Cine Workers Association demands a complete ban on the movie Why I Killed Gandhi which is to be released on OTT Platform in India on January 30, 2022, as this movie glorifies Nathuram Godse the traitor and killer of the father of nation Mahatma Gandhiji. Gandhiji is someone who is admired by entire INDIA and the world, Gandhiji's Ideology is a symbol of Love and Sacrifice for each and every Indian," the letter reads. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: 15-Year-Old Girl Raped By Neighbour In Kaushambi District; Case Registered. The association further said that if this movie releases the entire nation will be shocked and devastated by the display of the heinous crime. "Nathuram Godse is (the Traitor and Assassin of Gandhiji) doesn't deserve an inch of respect by anyone in this country, the actor who played the role of Nathuram Godse (the traitor and the killer of Gandhiji) is a sitting MP in Lok Sabha and is under the oath of Indian Constitution, if this movie releases the entire nation will be shocked and devastated by the display of the heinous crime which occurred on January 30, 1948," it said. 'Why I killed Gandhi' which is set to release on Limelight OTT on January 30 - Gandhi's death anniversary. Amol Kolhe was previously in Shiv Sena and a leading Marathi actor since 2008 and has acted in many period movies and played many roles of historic figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Kolhe joined Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 2019 and defeated Sena's Shivajirao Adhalarao Patil in the Shirur Lok Sabha election. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, Jan 23 (PTI) Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday said desertion of OBC ministers and MLAs from the BJP will have no impact on the party's poll prospects in Uttar Pradesh as all sections of society trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They have left to fulfil their "self-interest" and not for "any ideology", the BJP leader said. Also Read | Chhattisgarh: 57-Year-Old Man Arrested for Raping, Impregnating Nephew's 16-Year-Old Daughter in Baloda Bazar. Recently, Swami Prasad Maurya, Dara Singh Chauhan and Dharam Singh Saini quit the state cabinet and the BJP to join the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) along with some legislators. Dismissing any challenge from rivals in the high-decibel seven-phase Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, which begins next month, Deputy Chief Minister Maurya said it was claimed that the BJP would be impacted in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, but the party won, and used the Hindi proverb 'khoda pahar, nikle chuhiya' to describe the claim makers. Also Read | Punjab Assembly Elections 2022: BJP-Led Alliance Will Field Sikh Candidates on About 70 Seats, Says General Secretary Tarun Chugh. He claimed that like in 2019, after the assembly polls' results are declared on March 10 neither Yadav, Congress' Priyanka Gandhi Vadra nor other "so-called challengers" to the BJP will be seen. Taking a swipe at the leaders who deserted the BJP, he asserted that no voter has gone with them. The desertion was seen in political circles as a major blow to the BJP's support among Other Backward Castes (OBCs), which form over 50 per cent of the state's population. The BJP's "double-engine" government has done a lot of work for the people and "I say that in (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji there is a confluence of the upper castes, backward castes and the scheduled castes...," Maurya said. Hitting out at the defectors, he said in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had won 73 of the 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, and then these people were not with the BJP. The BJP won again in the 2017 assembly polls after the historic win of 2014, Maurya, a prominent OBC face of the saffron party in the state, said. Swami Prasad Maurya, Chauhan and Saini had left the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and joined the BJP before the 2017 state polls. "Somebody joining the party or leaving it hardly makes a difference as the BJP is very strong at the booth level. I don't feel that any voter has gone with them (defectors). They have gone out of their vested self-interest and not for any ideology," Deputy Chief Minister Maurya said. The BJP is running a number of campaigns and in the state, under its government there has been an improvement in law and order, and a number of developmental works have been done, he said. Even if all rival parties come together, the BJP will be stronger, Maurya, who is in the fray from Sirathu, said. The 2019 Lok Sabha elections is an example. The SP, BSP and RLD came together, but the BJP (and its allies) won 64 seats in the state, and got 51 per cent of votes, Maurya said. On who is the face of the BJP in the state polls -- Narendra Modi or Yogi Adityanath, he said, "Chief ministers are generally the face (of the party) in a state. The BJP is not a party of one state that it will remain confined there like the SP, BSP or the Congress. "We are a pan-India party, and there are prominent faces, whose one programme will lead the party to victory in 100 seats," he said, adding "we will win on the development work done. On Yadav claiming that his rainbow coalition is becoming stronger with every passing day, Maurya mockingly said, "Similar claims were made in 2019 Lok Sabha elections." "But, when the results came, it was 'khoda pahar, niklee chuhiya'. There is no strength in his claims, Maurya said Continuing with his attack on Yadav, he said, "If he (Yadav) says that dynastic politics is socialism, then this is equivalent to ridiculing socialism". On the matter of Lord Krishna appearing in Yadav's dreams, Maurya said, "If Lord Krishna had come in his dreams, then I believe he must have told him to stop making efforts in 2022, and prepare for 2027. About Aparna Yadav, the younger daughter-in-law of SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, joining the BJP, he said even before joining the BJP, Aparna's point of view was quite similar to the BJP's view point on various issues. Maurya who recently raised issues related to Mathura, said, "The BJP never linked temples with elections. For the BJP, prominent religious places are a centre of faith, and not election issues. It is the opposition, which makes them an election issue. For the Ram Janmabhoomi, "we used to say that we will make a grand temple for Lord Ram, while the rivals had termed him as 'imaginary'", he said. Maurya also said that the elections will be fought on issues of development, law and order and to make Uttar Pradesh an "Uttam Pradesh", and claimed that the BJP is going to win over 300 seats. He discarded Yadav's promise of restoring the old pension scheme, saying it's merely a "lollipop". (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], January 23 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackrey and his son and State Cabinet Minister Aaditya Thackeray paid tribute to Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on the occasion of their birth anniversaries, at their residence in Mumbai on Sunday. Balasaheb Thackeray was born on January 23, 1926 in Pune. Balasaheb left his job as a cartoonist in the daily newspaper 'Free Press Journal' in 1960 to found the Shiv Sena on June 19, 1966 to advocate for the interest of Marathis or the people of Maharashtra. He passed away on November 17, 2012 after suffering a cardiac arrest at the age of 86. Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: 19-Year-Old Girl Gangraped in Govandi, Four Accused Attested Including Two Minor. Born on January 23, 1897, Netaji played a crucial role in India's freedom movement. Subhas Chandra Bose had also established the Azad Hind Fauj. Meanwhile, in the first, India will begin Republic Day celebrations from January 23 instead of January 24, to include Netaji's birth anniversary. Also Read | Telangana: Man Stabbed After Argument Over Financial Dispute In Hyderabad District; Accused Absconding. To commence the celebrations of Republic Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil the hologram statue of the freedom fighter at India Gate in Delhi on Sunday at around 6 pm.The Prime Minister has said that till the time the work for the "grand statue" of Netaji, made of granite, is completed, a hologram statue would be installed at the same place. The hologram statue will be powered by a 30,000 lumens 4K projector. An invisible, high gain, 90 per cent transparent holographic screen has been erected in such a way so that it is not visible to visitors. The 3D image of Netaji will be projected on it to create the effect of a hologram. The size of the hologram statue is 28 feet in height and 6 feet in width, according to a statement issued by Prime Minister's Office. (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 [India], January 23 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil the hologram statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate here on Sunday at around 6 pm and said that he is glad to see immense enthusiasm towards the ceremony. In order to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and as part of the year-long celebrations, the government has decided to install a grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate. Also Read | Chhattisgarh: 57-Year-Old Man Arrested for Raping, Impregnating Nephew's 16-Year-Old Daughter in Baloda Bazar. Till the work on the statue is completed, a hologram statue of Netaji will be present at the same place, as per an official statement issued by PMO. The statue, made of granite, shall be a fitting tribute to the immense contribution of Netaji to our freedom struggle and would be a symbol of the country's indebtedness to him. Also Read | Punjab Assembly Elections 2022: BJP-Led Alliance Will Field Sikh Candidates on About 70 Seats, Says General Secretary Tarun Chugh. The hologram statue will be powered by a 30,000 lumens 4K projector. An invisible, high gain, 90 per cent transparent holographic screen has been erected in such a way that it is not visible to visitors. "The 3D image of Netaji will be projected on it to create the effect of a hologram. The size of the hologram statue is 28 feet in height and 6 feet in width," the PMO said. During the programme, the Prime Minister will also confer the Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskars for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 in the investiture ceremony. A total of seven awards will be presented during the ceremony, it added. Union government has instituted the annual Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar to recognize and honour the invaluable contribution and selfless service rendered by individuals and organisations in India in the field of disaster management. The award is announced every year on January 23. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 51 lakh and a certificate in case of an institution and Rs 5 lakh and a certificate in case of an individual, the statement read further. It has been the constant endeavour of the Prime Minister to honour the freedom fighters in a befitting manner and the special focus of these efforts has been on the legendary freedom fighter and visionary leader, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Several steps have been taken in this regard, including the announcement that his birth anniversary will be celebrated as Parakram Diwas every year. In this spirit, Republic Day celebrations will begin a day early, from January 23. (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 [India], January 23 (ANI): Soon after Defence Ministry's statement that the Chinese Army has communicated to them that they have found, Miram Taroun, the missing boy from Arunachal Pradesh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the government over the issue, demanding that the boy should be brought back to India. "Sarkar ho toh farz nibao (If you're the government then perform your duty), Brink back Miram Taroun," Gandhi tweeted in Hindi. Also Read | Meet Dharmendra Pratap Singh, India's 'Tallest' Man, Who Recently Joined Samajwadi Party Ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022. The Defence Ministry PRO from Tezpur, Lt Col Harshvardhan Pandey on Sunday said, " The Chinese Army has communicated to us that they have found a missing boy from Arunachal Pradesh and the due procedure is being followed." Earlier, PRO had informed that the Indian Army has sought assistance from China's People Liberation Army (PLA) to locate and return a young boy who hails from Arunachal Pradesh and has been reportedly captured by the Chinese army. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022: 119 Cartons of Liquor, Brought To Distribute in Upcoming Polls, Seized in Shamli. "17-year-old youth Miram Tarom of Zido, Arunachal Pradesh was reportedly captured by Chinese PLA across the Line of Actual Control. Indian Army immediately contacted PLA through a hotline, assistance from PLA has been sought to locate and return him as per protocol," PRO tweeted on Thursday. This came after, Arunachal East MP Tapir Gao on January 19 claimed that a 17-year-old youth has been abducted from inside Indian territory. Gao claimed that the youth was 'abducted' from Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Siang district. Gao further claimed that China's PLA has abducted the youth from where the Tsangpo River enters India in Arunachal Pradesh. He tweeted, "Chinese PLA has abducted Sh Miram Taron, 17 years of Zido vill. yesterday 18th Jan 2022 from inside Indian territory, Lungta Jor area (China-built 3-4 km road inside India in 2018) under Siyungla area (Bushing village) of Upper Siang dist., Arunachal Pradesh." In his tweet, Gao had tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Indian Army. (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 [India], January 23 (ANI): The Congress party has released the list of 53 candidates for the Uttarakhand Assembly elections. State Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal to contest from Srinagar Assembly seat. Also Read | Maharashtra Reports 46,393 New COVID-19 Cases, 48 Deaths in Past 24 Hours. Yashpal Arya and his son Sanjeev Arya, who joined Congress from BJP in Oct, got tickets from Bajpur and Nainital respectively. Polls to elect the 70-member Uttarakhand legislative assembly are scheduled to be held on February 14. The counting will take place on March 10. (ANI) Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022: Akhilesh Yadav Promises Jobs for 22 Lakh Youths in IT Sector. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Montreal [Canada], January 23 (ANI): A recent study provided new insights into what seasons looked like on a planet outside our solar system. The study, led by McGill University, was published in 'The Astronomical Journal'. Also Read | Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League 2021-22 Free Live Streaming Online & Match Time in India: How To Watch EPL Match Live Telecast on TV & Football Score Updates in IST?. The research opened up with one aspect of the atmosphere on XO-3b, one of a class of exoplanets (planets outside our solar system), which was that, the winds were so strong that they moved at the speed of sound. It is known as hot Jupiters. The eccentric orbit of the planet also led to seasonal variations hundreds of times stronger than what we experience on Earth. The researchers also suggested that the oval orbit, extremely high surface temperatures (2,000 degrees C- hot enough to vaporize rock) and "puffiness" of XO-3b revealed traces of the planet's history. The findings will potentially advance both the scientific understanding of how exoplanets form and evolve and give some context for planets in our own solar system. Also Read | Indian Desserts for Winter: From Gajar Ka Halwa To Dry Fruit Barfi, Sweet Dishes and Mithais To Keep You Warm This Winter. Hot Jupiters are massive, gaseous worlds like Jupiter, that orbit closer to their parent stars than Mercury is to the Sun. Though not present in our own solar system, they appeared to be common throughout the galaxy. Despite being the most studied type of exoplanet, major questions remained about how they form. Could there be subclasses of hot Jupiters with different formation stories? For example, did these planets take shape far from their parent stars -- at a distance where it's cold enough for molecules such as water to become solid -- or closer. The first scenario fit better with theories about how planets in our own solar system were born, but what would drive these types of planets to migrate so close to their parent stars remained unclear. To test those ideas, the authors of the recent McGill-led study used data from NASA's retired Spitzer Space Telescope to look at the atmosphere of exoplanet XO-3b. They observed eccentric seasons and measured wind speeds on the planet by obtaining a phase curve of the planet as it completed a full revolution about its host star. "This planet is an extremely interesting case study for atmospheric dynamics and interior evolution, as it lies in an intermediate regime of planetary mass where processes normally neglected for less massive hot Jupiters may come into play," said Lisa Dang, the first author of the paper and a PhD student at McGill University's Department of Physics. "XO-3b has an oval orbit rather than the circular orbit of almost all other known hot Jupiters. This suggests that it recently migrated toward its parent star; if that's the case, it will eventually settle into a more circular orbit." The eccentric orbit of the planet also led to seasonal variations hundreds of times stronger than what we experience on Earth. Nicolas Cowan, a McGill professor explained: "The entire planet receives three times more energy when it is close to its star during a brief sort of summer, than when it is far from the star." The researchers also re-estimated the planet's mass and radius and found that the planet was surprisingly puffier than expected. They suggested that the possible source of this heating could be due to leftover nuclear fusion. Observations by Gaia, an ESA (European Space Agency) mission, found that the planet was puffier than expected which indicated its interior may be particularly energetic. Spitzer observations also hinted that the planet produced much of its own heat as XO-3b's excess thermal emission wasn't seasonal -- it's observed throughout the year on XO-3b. It might be possible that the excess warmth was coming from the planet's interior, through a process called tidal heating. The star's gravitational squeeze on the planet oscillated as the oblong orbit took the planet farther and then closer to the star. The resulting changes in interior pressure produced heat. For Dang, this unusual hot Jupiter provided an opportunity to test ideas about which formation processes might produce certain characteristics in these exoplanets. For example, could tidal heating in other hot Jupiters also be a sign of recent migration? XO-3b alone won't unlock the mystery, but it served as an important test for emerging ideas about these scorching giants. (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], January 23 (ANI): China has erred in its understanding of Lithuania as the country's actions have further deepened Vilnius relations with Taipei. Last year, China entered into a spat with Lithuania over Vilnius allowing Taipei to open a de facto embassy using the name "Taiwan." Beijing recalled its ambassadors from Lithuania and downgraded its diplomatic ties with the Baltic state to the "charge d'affaires" level, according to Taipei Times. Also Read | Earthquake in China: Quake of Magnitude 5.8 Hits Qinghai Province. Further, China's move enabled Lithuania on a plate to Taiwan. Also, China used its economic leverage as punishment. First, it tried to pressure German industry giant Continental AG to stop using Lithuanian-made components. When a European Union (EU) trade commissioner said that Chinese customs were refusing to clear goods containing Lithuanian parts, China denied it was at fault, but it was too late; it had crossed the EU's red line in adopting unfair trade measures, as reported by Taipei Times. Also Read | Xi Jinping Himself is a Risk to the Chinese Economy, Says Report. China, which has been using its economic clout to bully others, underestimated Lithuania. What started as a diplomatic dispute evolved into an issue that concerns "safeguarding the European single market from attack." France, which has assumed the EU presidency, was keen to deploy anti-coercion trade measures. German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock said that the EU would stand in solidarity against China's threats, while the US has voiced its support for Vilnius. China then tried to stir up antagonistic sentiment between Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte. The president had expressed his annoyance that he was not consulted on the name for the Taiwanese representative office, as reported by according to Taipei Times. The European Union the US and North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations' backing of Lithuania is not just about defending an ally, it is about teaching China a lesson, as reported by Taipei Times. The European Parliament is to continue supporting Taiwan by voting on two foreign policy reviews next month. The Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defence Policy are said to include pro-Taiwan recommendations and are expected to pass, according to Taipei Times. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tehran [Iran], January 23 (ANI): Iran has said that it announced that Tehran has issued a three-month permit for the transfer of diesel to Afghanistan, a media report said. Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Special Representative of the President of Iran for Afghanistan, said in a tweet on Saturday that in order to meet the needs of the Afghan people, Tehran has issued a three-month permit for the transfer of diesel to Afghanistan, according to Ariana News. Also Read | Earthquake in China: Quake of Magnitude 5.8 Hits Qinghai Province. Qomi also said that Iran's decision came following a request by the Taliban. "In order to meet the needs of the Afghan people in the winter and according to the request of the Afghan authorities from the Islamic Republic of Iran, a permit for the transit of diesel to Afghanistan from the territory of Iran was issued for three months," Ariana News quoted the official as saying. Also Read | Xi Jinping Himself is a Risk to the Chinese Economy, Says Report. The Taliban cabinet last week held a meeting. The cabinet decided that it would consider import options to meet the people's fuel demand. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Garrett Hedlund, who starred in the Friday Nights Lights film, was reportedly busted Saturday for public intoxication in Tennessee, nearly two years after he was charged with DUI. The 37-year-old Hedlund hadnt posted a $2,100 bond as of early Sunday after being apprehended in Franklin County, TMZ reported. Advertisement Officials didnt immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did a representative for Hedlund. Earlier in the week, Hedlund was sued by two women who claim they were severely injured in a January 2020 car crash that led to Hedlunds previous arrest, according to People. Advertisement Garrett Hedlund in 2018. (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP) (Taylor Jewell/Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP) Court documents say Hedlund had a blood-alcohol level of .36 at the time of the crash, People reported. The legal limit is .08. There were open bottles of alcoholic beverages in the vehicle which Hedlund discarded prior to the arrival of police, claims the lawsuit, which was filed by a mother and daughter. Hedlund tried to flee the scene of the accident by attempting to continue to turn on his vehicle and driver, forcing others to take away his keys and prevent him from leaving. The actor was found guilty on one charge in connection with that incident. A second was dismissed. He was placed on a three years probation, according to TMZ. The new legal trouble came a day after People reported Hedlund and his wife, actress Emma Roberts, broke up several weeks ago. Hedlund, who is also known for roles in Eragon and TRON: Legacy, has a 1-year-old son named Rhodes with Roberts. Tehran [Iran], January 23 (ANI/Xinhua): Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Saturday vowed to strengthen ties and cooperation with Turkey for regional stability, according to Iran's presidential website. "Iran has a long-term and comprehensive vision of relations and cooperation with Turkey, and we welcome planning for strategic cooperation with Turkey," said Raisi in a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Also Read | Taliban Deny Detaining Female Protestor Tamana Zaryab Paryani in Kabul. Raisi also stressed the need of respecting countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity as the only way to long-term security and stability in the region. Erdogan, for his part, said Turkey has prepared a list of diverse economic collaborations to strengthen relations with Iran, and expressed his hope to visit Tehran soon. Also Read | When Is Chinese New Year 2022? Know Date, Animal Zodiac Sign, History and Significance of Chinese Lunar New Year. The Turkish president emphasized Iran's continuous supply of energy to Turkey, saying Turkey considered Iran a reliable energy supplier and sought to enhance cooperation with it. Erdogan also stressed the importance of his country's cooperation with Iran in ensuring regional security. (ANI/Xinhua) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) London [UK], January 23 (ANI): The International Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (IVBMP), a collective representing family members of Balochistan's forcibly disappeared, has strongly condemned the killing of Razzaq Mandai, a Baloch political refugee, in Afghanistan. In a statement to the media, IVBMP said, "We are aware of his case. He fled Balochistan to save his life. He was facing life threats because of his political struggle against Pakistani oppression in Balochistan." Also Read | Taliban Deny Detaining Female Protestor Tamana Zaryab Paryani in Kabul. "He was also registered with the UN Refugee Agency in Afghanistan because he wanted the UN to transfer him to a third country so that the Pakistani intelligence agencies and their proxies would not be able to easily harm him," IVBMP added. The Baloch group rejected the lies propagated by Pakistan Army-sponsored journalists and social media figures, who have falsely claimed that Razzaq was a senior commander of an armed group. "In fact, he was a refugee who went to Afghanistan because he could not flee to a third and safer country from Balochistan." Also Read | When Is Chinese New Year 2022? Know Date, Animal Zodiac Sign, History and Significance of Chinese Lunar New Year. Exposing the lies of Pakistani sources, the IVBMP said that they have misspelt his surname as "Mandali" which shows that instead of finding the truth and independent reporting, Pakistani media and journalists publish the fabricated propagandas of the Pakistani intelligence agencies. "According to our information, Razzaq was murdered in Afghanistan's capital Kabul by hired guns of Pakistani intelligence agencies. After committing this crime the Pakistani intelligence agencies ran fake news in their media outlets," asserted IVBMP. They said that at the time of issuing this statement on January 22, the whereabouts of his dead body are still unknown and volunteers in Afghanistan are still trying to locate his dead body. The Baloch group further maintained, "if people who knew Razzaq Mandai and were unaware that he has been murdered until they saw the news and pictures of his dead body in Pakistani media, then it only requires common sense to understand that the real perpetrators are Pakistani intelligence agencies. Pakistani state agencies have committed a crime and murdered a Baloch political refugee on Afghan soil." The International Voice for Baloch Missing Persons also urged the UN Refugee Agency and international humanitarian organisations to take immediate and practical steps for the protection of Baloch refugees in Afghanistan and transfer them to a safe third country. IVBMP said that it is the responsibility of international humanitarian organisations to save Baloch refugees in Afghanistan and expose Pakistan's systematic killing of Baloch refugees outside Balochistan. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kabul [Afghanistan], January 23 (ANI): A top Taliban delegation on Saturday left for Norway for the first official talks with the West on European soil, since seizing power in Kabul in August last year. "A senior delegation led by (acting Foreign Minister) Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi left for Norway in a special flight of the said country where talks will be held with representatives of various countries and a number of Afghans about humanitarian aid, political, educational and economic issues," spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi wrote on Twitter. Also Read | Taliban Deny Detaining Female Protestor Tamana Zaryab Paryani in Kabul. Norway has invited representatives of the Taliban to Oslo for meetings with the Norwegian authorities and other Afghan figures from a range of fields within civil society. "We are extremely concerned about the grave situation in Afghanistan, where millions of people are facing a full-blown humanitarian disaster. In order to be able to help the civilian population in Afghanistan, it is essential that both the international community and Afghans from various parts of society engage in dialogue with the Taliban," said Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt. Also Read | When Is Chinese New Year 2022? Know Date, Animal Zodiac Sign, History and Significance of Chinese Lunar New Year. In Oslo, the Taliban will meet representatives of the Norwegian authorities and officials from a number of allied countries. In a press statement, Norway's Foreign Ministry said meetings will also take place between the Taliban delegation and other Afghans with backgrounds from a range of fields. Huitfeldt said these meetings do not represent a legitimization or recognition of the Taliban but show the need for talks to the de facto authorities in the country. Afghanistan is contending with drought, a pandemic, an economic collapse and the effects of years of conflict. Some 24 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity. Reports indicate that one million children could die of starvation. According to UN estimates, more than half of the population will be facing famine this winter, and 97 per cent of the population could fall below the poverty line 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) Washington [US], January 23 (ANI): A lawmaker from the US state of Wisconsin has introduced a bill aimed at increasing Taiwan's asymmetric defence capabilities against China's military aggression. Representative Mike Gallagher introduced the Arm Taiwan Act, which would strengthen Taiwan's defences against a Chinese invasion by allocating USD 3 billion annually for a new Taiwan Security Assistance Initiative. Also Read | Taliban Deny Detaining Female Protestor Tamana Zaryab Paryani in Kabul. According to a press release, the act would also condition future conventional arms sales on Taiwan's progress in preparing its military and fielding the weapons required to defeat China's war plans. "General Secretary Xi Jinping has made the unification of Taiwan with the mainland, by force if necessary, a key part of his legacy and the CCP is only growing more aggressive watching the Biden Administration's weakness in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Iran. Congress needs to step up to restore deterrence before it is too late. I am proud to join Senator Hawley in introducing the Arm Taiwan Act to provide Taiwan with the necessary resources and weapons to defeat an attempted invasion," said Rep. Gallagher. Also Read | When Is Chinese New Year 2022? Know Date, Animal Zodiac Sign, History and Significance of Chinese Lunar New Year. The Arm Taiwan Act urges the US Secretary of Defence to form the Taiwan Security Assistance Initiative and authorizes USD 3 billion annually for the initiative for fiscal years 2023 to 2027. The act specifies how funds authorized for the initiative should be used, with a specific emphasis on providing Taiwan with equipment, training, and other support required to accelerate Taiwan's deployment of the asymmetric defence capabilities required to delay, degrade, and deny a Chinese invasion against Taiwan. Gallagher said the funding will be conditional on the annual certification that Taiwan is matching US investments in its asymmetric defences, increasing defence spending, acquiring asymmetric defence capabilities as quickly as possible. "If the People's Republic of China were to invade and seize control of Taiwan, it would deal a severe blow to United States interests by destroying one of the world's leading democracies, casting doubt on the ability and resolve of the United States to uphold its security commitments; incentivizing other countries in the Indo-Pacific region to bandwagon with the People's Republic of China; and facilitating the formation of a regional order dominated by the People's Republic of China," the bill reads. Earlier in November 2021, Republican Josh Hawley, U.S. Senator for Missouri, introduced an identical Arm Taiwan Act. China continues to stake claims over Taiwan despite its self-governance for over seven decades.Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous country with political and economic relations with several other nations. (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 York, January 23: Two new studies, not yet peer-reviewed, have shown immune evasion is the reason behind the Omicron variant's increased transmissibility. The Omicron variant, first reported from South Africa and Botswana in late November, has now been detected in 171 countries so far. In many countries it has rapidly surged past other variants to become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 strain. The two studies show that the variant has achieved success despite causing viral levels in the body that are similar to -- or lower than -- those of its main competitor, the Delta variant, Nature reported. Omicron: Long COVID-19 Still a Risk With People Infected With New Variant Despite Mild Illness, Says US Disease Expert Dr Anthony Fauci. Omicron does not release large amounts of virus from infected people. The reason for its hyper-transmissibility stems from its ability to evade SARS-CoV-2 immunity caused by either vaccination or past infection, Emily Bruce, a virologist at the University of Vermont in Burlington, was quoted as saying. In the first study by Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, the researchers studied PCR-test results of nose and throat swabs collected from infected individuals and found that those who had Delta had a slightly higher peak viral load than did those with Omicron. "Naturally, you'd think that higher transmissibility must cause a higher viral load," Benjamin Meyer, a virologist at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, was quoted as saying. As a result, Meyer and team in their study measured only viral RNA. They also measured the number of infectious virus particles on swabs collected from a separate group of almost 150 infected people. This more stringent method found no significant difference between the viral loads of vaccinated individuals infected with Omicron and those infected with Delta. Further, the team also examined samples from people who had been vaccinated but nonetheless became infected with Delta. They found that about half of the samples still held infectious virus five days after the individuals tested positive, the report said. Similarly, Harvard researchers also found that five days after an initial positive test for Omicron, about half of tested individuals had viral loads high enough that they were probably still infectious. Such results are concerning, because guidelines published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allow people infected with the virus to end their isolation five days after either testing positive or experiencing their first symptoms, said Yonatan Grad, an infectious-disease specialist at Harvard. Brad's team also found more variability in viral load in individuals infected with Omicron than in people infected with Delta. "That means there's no clear 'one size fits all' approach," he noted. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 23, 2022 09:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Malayalam superstar #Dileep is being questioned at the Crime Branch police office at Kalamassery in a non-bailable case Malayalam Superstar Dileep being interrogated at Crime Branch Police officerelated to the conspiracy to attack the investigating officials. pic.twitter.com/8VfzP3OKPj IANS Tweets (@ians_india) January 23, 2022 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Sienna Mae Gomez, a social media influencer, denied groping fellow TikTok star Jack Wright after he detailed his allegations in a video last week. Wright, 18, claimed in his YouTube video that Gomez got on top of me, took advantage of me, groped me one night while he was passed out in Hawaii, among other alleged incidents. Advertisement A representative for Gomez contended to NBC News that Wrights claims are untrue, calling the video a reframing of their history. Unfortunately, Jack Wright continues his campaign to slander Sienna Mae Gomez with further false accusations, her representative said. Advertisement His latest falsehoods in the highly edited video show that once again Jack is making a calculated action to hinder, hurt and harm not only Siennas reputation and livelihood but her as an individual human being as well. Sienna Mae Gomez in December 2021 in Universal City, Calif. (Michael Tullberg/Getty Images) Wright claimed in his video that the first incident that occurred between the teenage stars involved Gomez straddling him while she was completely naked. He said he considered Gomez a friend whom he filmed social media videos with at that time. Gomez has more than 14 million followers on TikTok, while Wright has more than 9 million. Gomez, 18, previously denied the Hawaii groping allegation when it originally surfaced last year. In the new statement, Gomezs representative told NBC, There has been no police investigation not even a police report to our knowledge no charges, no private lawsuit and no contact between Sienna and Jack or their respective legal teams in many months. Gomez also addressed the controversy in a post on Medium on Saturday. Im devastated that he made me sound crazy and twisted so many things out of context in his most recent video, to the point of literally painting me into the loud, crazy, overly sexualized stereotype that people try to use on young, especially Latina, women, Gomez wrote of Wright. A District Court Judge stressed she had to be fair and consistent in her sentencing, at Portlaoise court last week. Judge Catherine Staines made her comments in the case of Craig Fitzgerald, 27, of 29 Seabury Meadows, Malahide, Dublin who was charged with possession of ketamine, MDMA and cocaine at the Electric Picnic on August 31, 2019. He pleaded guilty to the charges. The court heard he had been given the benefit of the Probation Act on two previous occasions. Defence solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said that his mother was with him in court. He worked in retail and had a letter and his CV for the court. Judge Staines said he had been given an opportunity twice before. He had ignored the chances he had been given. Ms Fitzpatrick said that Mr Fitzgerald had cycled to the Electric Picnic for charity and had raised 800. Mr Fitzgeralds mother told the Judge he was a good lad and this would never happen again. Judge Staines said the opportunities given by the court for people on first time offences for possession of drugs and public order matters was very good. She stressed that Mr Fitzgerald had been given a chance twice before and she had to be consistent with her sentencing. Otherwise it devalued the opportunity given. She said she had to be fair and consistent. She convicted him on possession of cocaine, fining him 200. The other two matters were taken into account. A recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal. Naas Racecourse has partnered with scientifically-driven equine company ARKequine, who are based in Newbridge, in a deal which will be a boost for all stable staff attending the Kildare racecourse. Over the course of the year, they will subsidise the Grooms Canteen and will also act as a dual sponsor by supporting both national hunt and flat racing throughout 2022. According to the Kildare-based feed and supplements business, it is ARKequines belief that a good foundation starts with excellent nutrition both on and off the track and thats why ARKequine has teamed up with nearby Naas Racecourse to support the hard-working stable staff behind many of our race heroes. ARKequine offer veterinary-formulated, high-performance nutritional supplements, feed and horse care products. Its broad spectrum of products is specially designed to meet every life stage of the performance horse from broodmares, stallions, and foals right up to the young performance and older horse. Kirsty McCann, ARKequine Nutritional Manager UK and Ireland commented: We are delighted at ARKequine to be involved in this fantastic sponsorship with Naas Racecourse for 2022. It is important to acknowledge all those involved in getting a horse to the track and, whilst we appreciate products like ours play a key role, it is the stable staff who look after these animals who truly make the difference. By subsidising the Grooms Canteen for 2022 it is our way of saying thank you to those key personnel and we are very grateful to the team at Naas for allowing us this great opportunity. Eamonn McEvoy, General Manager at Naas Racecourse commented: We are thrilled to partner with ARKequine. What a fantastic sponsorship they have commenced here at Naas Racecourse. Subsidising the Grooms Canteen shows the valued support to our industrys key stake holders. Huge thanks to ARKequine, we are really looking forward to working with the team and growing the partnership. Bernard Caldwell, Chairman of the Irish Stable Staff Association also commented on the announcement: Huge thank you must go to Naas Racecourse and a special thank you to ARKequine for stepping forward and supporting stable staff. ARKequine subsidising the Grooms Canteen is a wonderful acknowledgment of all stable staff who are the backbone of the industry. Naas Racecourse will host 20 racemeetings in 2022. ARKequine will subsidise the Grooms Canteen on 18 racemeetings and existing race sponsors will be sponsoring the Grooms Canteen on two separate occasions. The next racemeeting at Naas Racecourse will be their January Jump fixture which takes place on Sunday, January 30. Major concerns have been raised at the Department of Foreign Affairs after it was informed of planned Russian missile tests of the Irish coast next month. Minister Simon Coveney's department has raised concerns with the Russian authorities over the planned tests, scheduled to take place around 240km off the coast of Cork. The operation will involve artillery and rocket drills and Russia has requested the grounding of flights in the area during the test time. Russia's ongoing tension with Ukraine has sparked concern in the Department. In a statement published by the Irish Independent, the Department said it is "aware of planned Russian naval exercises off the south west coast of Ireland in early February." The statement pointed out that the location of the tests is "within Irelands 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) but not in Irelands territorial waters." Under international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), states are entitled to carry out naval exercises in another states EEZ. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) were informed of the exercise via standard procedures," the Department continued. In light of the current political and security environment in Europe, the Department of Foreign Affairs has raised a number of concerns with the Russian authorities and discussions will continue." Political unionism must make clear whether it would govern alongside a Sinn Fein first minister, Mary Lou McDonald has said. The Sinn Fein President made the comments after a weekend poll indicated her party was on course to emerge from Northern Irelands next Assembly election as the largest party. On 25%, the republican party is eight points ahead of its main unionist rivals the DUP, the LucidTalk poll commissioned by the Belfast Telegraph shows. The gap has widened since the last LucidTalk poll in November, with Sinn Fein up one point and the DUP down one. Of the other main Stormont parties, the poll puts Alliance and the Ulster Unionists in joint third place on 14% (Alliance down one point on November and no change for the UUP), the TUV on 12% (up one) and the SDLP on 11% (down one). The NI Green Party is up one point to 3%. People Before Profit is on 1% support. While Sinn Feins current deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill looks well-placed to become first minister after Mays scheduled election, uncertainty remains over whether she would have a unionist partner to govern with. The DUP and UUP both continue to refuse to confirm whether they would participate in a coalition with a Sinn Fein first minister. In those circumstances, a functioning Executive could not be formed without the largest unionist party taking up the position of deputy first minister. The two roles at the head of the powersharing structures are co-equal, with both having the same authority. Many therefore portray the debate around what party is in the office of first minister as a largely symbolic one. Ms McDonald said her party approached the election with humility and was taking nothing for granted. The first issue that will arise in the event that Sinn Fein emerges as the largest party and Michelle ONeill is nominated for first minister, the first question actually is whether or not unionism will nominate to the position of deputy first minister and weve heard very worrying responses from unionism on that score, she told RTE Radio One. Ms McDonald listed the various DUP first ministers her party had governed alongside from the office of deputy first minister. That parity of esteem and willingness to serve and respect each other has to be echoed by unionism, she said. Michelle will work as first minister, if she is so appointed, for every single citizen, irrespective of where they come from, irrespective of their political views. She will carry out her function without fear, without favour and I believe with incredible ability. DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley expressed scepticism about the outcome of the LucidTalk poll. However, the Upper Bann representative warned that a Sinn Fein first minister would lead to a decade of instability with intensified calls for a poll on Irish unity. If we do look at the poll that was produced and we take it at face value, I have no doubt that the people of Northern Ireland, particularly those 60% that support the Union, would know the great threat that there is from a Sinn Fein lead party in Northern Ireland, he told BBC NIs Sunday Politics show. We could see a decade of instability with regards a border poll. He accused Sinn Fein of belligerence towards unionism in respect of issues such as commemorating the recent centenary of Northern Ireland, the Queens Platinum Jubilee and the treatment of Troubles victims. So unionism knows whats at stake, they are an intelligent electorate and despite what many within the media or indeed political opponents try to portray, unionism will come out strong at this election, they will get in behind the DUP and they will ensure that we have a party in place that can protect the interests of Northern Ireland, not a party that doesnt even wish to see its existence, Mr Buckley said. A MAN in his early 20s was before Kilmallock Court for 16 worth of cannabis. The accused, aged 22, pleaded guilty to the drugs offence. Inspector Pat Brennan, prosecuting the case on behalf of the State, outlined the facts. He said gardai were carrying out enquiries in the vicinity of University Hospital Limerick on March 26, 2021, when they observed the defendant. He was agitated and sweating, said Insp Brennan. The gardai then saw him get into the passenger side of a car across from the ambulance control centre, the court heard. They conducted a search and found cannabis valued at 16, said Insp Brennan. Daniel Krieth, solicitor for the accused, said his client has partially completed an apprenticeship. He hurt his hand and had to stop. He was in a bad place and began using cannabis for a period of time. He made full admissions to gardai, said Mr Krieth. Judge Patricia Harney said as the amount of drugs was relatively small and he has no previous convictions she would strike the matter out if he paid 125 to the court poor box. EFFORTS are to be made to repatriate a Bronze Age collar which was seconded to England after it was discovered in County Limerick more than 200 years ago. The Shannongrove Collar, which was discovered in a bog near Pallaskenry is currently on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. According to the museum, the collar, which is made from gold, dates back to sometime between 800 BC and 700 BC. This is very much a distinctive collar very much like the Tara Brooch, said Cllr Emmett OBrien at a meeting of Adare/Rathkeale councillors. Its a very beautiful artifact with high-skilled quality workmanship from the best part of four or five thousand years ago, he added as he outlined why he thinks the collar should be brought back to Limerick even temporarily. What I am suggesting is that we enter into negotiations, perhaps through Matthew Potter (Curator of Limerick Museum) or the Hunt Museum, with a view to having the collar leased back to us for a period of time or brought back on loan, he proposed. It would be nice to have something that is distinctly Limerick and distinctly Adare/Rathkeale and distinctly Pallaskenry or Ardkenny as it was formally known brought back to Limerick, he added. The motion was agreed unanimously by councillors and it will now come before a meeting of the full council for further consideration. A LIMERICK charity that helps sick children hopes to reach more families after adding a new manager to the team. Clionas Foundation, a charity that provides financial assistance to families with critical and terminally ill children, has announced Charlotte Kavanagh as Partnerships and Engagement Manager. Joining with over 15 years experience in Public Relations, Communications and Fundraising management, Clionas Co-Founder and CEO Brendan Ring welcomed the appointment. We are delighted to welcome Charlotte to Clionas. Thanks to the support of the Irish Public the fantastic work of Clionas Foundation has grown tremendously during the last 15 years. He stressed the difficulties facing families caring for critically ill children on a daily basis, which has been compounded by the ongoing Pandemic. Mr Ring added that the dedicated team at Clionas are stepping forward and are launching an ambitious fundraising strategy to increase the support they currently provide. Charlottes previous experience and passion for Clionas cause will be instrumental in achieving this goal, he noted. Her previous work stretched into the areas of media relations, networking and digital marketing, fundraising and events, corporate partnerships, brand development and operations management. Charlottes most recent role, during her ten years at The Hope Foundation, was as Chief Communications and Fundraising Executive where she directed the communications strategy and communications team for the organisation in Ireland, US and the UK. Charlotte also directed the fundraising strategy whilst overseeing implementation of fundraising activities, campaigns and the fundraising team in Ireland. Commenting following her appointment, Charlotte said that she was thrilled and honoured to be taking up this challenging new position. Her intention, she added, is to leverage skills and experience gathered from a long career in the fundraising and communications sector. The team at Clionas are very much looking forward to working with Charlotte over the years ahead., Mr Ring remarked. Three juries convicted Camilo Weston Leyra, Jr., of murder. Three times he received the ultimate penalty, a date with Old Sparky, the electric chair at Sing Sing in Ossining, Westchester County. Camilo Leyra Jr. entering court. (Paul Bernius/New York Daily News) Yet Leyra sat on death row for four years, nine months, and three days, a record for the prison in the 1950s. Thirty-four doomed convicts, including the infamous Lonely Hearts Killers and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, died in the chair while he waited. Advertisement His triple conviction was for the hammer slaying of his parents on Jan. 10, 1950. That morning, his father, Camilo Leyra, Sr., 74, failed to show up at the typewriter-ribbon company he owned. His partner, William Herrschaft, started to worry when noon approached with no sign of the dependable old man. Advertisement Leyra, Jr., 50, rolled in around 2 p.m. Buddy, as he was known, was a partner in his fathers business. Buddy, Herrschaft, and another relative went to the couples 6-room apartment on Quincy St. in Brooklyn. They found the door closed but unlocked. Herrschaft stepped in and saw the elder Leyras bloody corpse. Thats my fathers body! Buddy screamed. He ran in panic from the apartment. Catherine Leyra, 80, lay dead on the floor in the kitchen. New York Daily News on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 1950. Autopsies would reveal that their heads had been bashed in with multiple blows from a blunt instrument. There were no signs of a struggle. Three teacups sat undisturbed on the kitchen table, and a faucet was running in the sink. Nothing was stolen, not even the $42 in Leyras wallet. Advertisement Police soon turned their attention to Buddy. Where were you last night and this morning? a detective asked. Leyra reluctantly admitted he was with his girlfriend, Lee Adamski, 28, who lived on W. 10th St. Her apartment, which he paid for, was close to a restaurant where Leyra worked as a bartender. They had been seeing each other for about two years. This probably came as a sour surprise to his wife, Dorothy, 37, and their three children, who were tucked away in their New Jersey home. Mrs. Dorothy Leyra while she waited for a verdict. (Paul Bernius/New York Daily News) Adamski might have provided an alibi, but she said she left him asleep in the apartment at around 6:30 a.m. when she headed to her job at a pencil factory. She could not vouch for where he was when his parents were murdered, around two hours later. Advertisement Detectives discovered that Buddy had a criminal record, a short stint in jail for bigamy, and a grand larceny conviction. The familys black sheep was how the elder Leyra referred to his son. Their relationship was so strained that Buddy was left one dollar in his fathers will. Police questioning went on for four days straight. Sleep-deprived and suffering unbearable pain from a sinus headache, Leyra asked for a doctor. Police brought in a psychiatrist, Dr. Max Helfand. After a brief session with Helfand, Leyra poured out a detailed confession. Leyra told Helfand that he and his father had one of their frequent cash quarrels. His father stormed out to get the newspaper while his mother tried to calm her son down in the kitchen. For no reason, he hit her in the head with a ball-peen hammer. I dont know why I killed her, he said. Buddy attacked his father when he walked through the door. Advertisement Lee Adamski, Camilo Leyra Jr.'s girlfriend talking to Brooklyn Assistant District Attorneys John Cone (left) and Louis Josephs. (George Mattson/New York Daily News) As Buddy left, he tossed the bloody hammer into the rear of a passing truck. Then he went to Adamskis apartment to change clothes. The blood-stained suit was offered to a homeless man. His next stop was New Jersey, where he gave his wife a box of candy for her birthday. After that, he headed back to the city. Svengali Trapped Leyra, Trial Hint, was the Daily News headline on April 25, 1950, at the start of Leyras first trial. On the stand, Leyra recanted his confession, saying that Helfand hypnotized him and put words in his mouth. Helfand came into the room, Leyra testified, and started asking questions about his life. Camilo Leyra Jr. leaving court after he was convicted of murdering his parents. (Paul Bernius /New York Daily News) Then he sat in the chair next to me and placed the palm of one hand against my forehead. He put his other hand behind my head on my neck and kept rubbing my temples and neck muscles, whispering, Look into my eyes. Keep looking into my eyes. Then he kept whispering, Ill make you remember. You did it. You did it. " Advertisement The headache disappeared, and Leyra fell asleep. Two days later, he awoke and discovered that he had confessed to killing his parents. He insisted he had no memory of the crime or the confession. The jury found him guilty. A year later, the New York State court of appeals reversed the conviction and ordered a new trial, calling Helfands method torture of the mind. A second jury found him guilty. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > The case went up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which set aside the conviction, declaring the use of hypnosis unconstitutional. In his third trial, the confession was barred. But testimony from a police captain, in which he quoted Leyra saying, I did it, was heard in court. Advertisement Again, a jury found him guilty. Again, the conviction was reversed. This time, the court dismissed the indictment, finding the prosecutions case too equivocal, too inconclusive to send a man to the chair. Camilo Leyra Jr., leaving Sing Sing's death row. (Al Pucci/New York Daily News) On May 2, 1956, Leyra walked out of prison with $20 and a new suit, gifts of the state. As he left, he told reporters that he would spend the rest of his life looking for the person who murdered his parents. Cancer killed him just seven years later. No further light was ever shed on the case. JUSTICE STORY has been the Daily News exclusive take on true crime tales of murder, mystery and mayhem for more than 100 years. Click here to read more. A trainee nurse who reinterprets artistic masterpieces to tell the story of the pandemic has painted the Corona Lisa to raise money for charity. The striking piece by talented artist Chloe Slevin has Leonardo da Vincis Mona Lisa dressed in full PPE. The 21-year-old, who is a third year nursing student at University College Dublin, is auctioning the painting to raise funds for Irelands childrens hospice LauraLynn. She drew inspiration from her experiences during a recent placement on a childrens emergency ward. The PPE became normal to us and we were wearing it day in, day out and thats kind of what inspired the Corona Lisa, she said. I loved this placement but it was a very tough time. There I experienced my first paediatric cardiac arrest and thats something youd never forget. You never forget the moment you got that phone call, we ran in to put on our PPE and we did everything we could. It was probably the toughest thing Ive gone through so far, it was an incredibly difficult time. The impact it had on me, I still get emotional talking about it today. With this painting, I was able to turn to this and use that as my own form of art therapy and a distraction. I suppose the painting holds a special place for me now because of where it came from and it shows what myself and so many other healthcare staff have been going through during Covid. Youre smothered in PPE and its tough. It was a very tough placement but I hope to one day get a job there. Thats my dream to work in an emergency department. The Corona Lisa is the latest famous artwork the Dublin student has recreated with a Covid twist. Earlier in the pandemic she painted the outstretched hands in Michelangelos The Separation Of Adam wearing surgical gloves. That raised 520 for Irelands childrens ambulance service Bumbleance. She also created the Girl With A Surgical Mask in a nod to Johannes Vermeers Girl With A Pearl Earring. That raised 400 for the Feed the Heroes charity, which delivered food to hospital and emergency workers during the height of the pandemic. Ms Slevin said she has learned a lot about the palliative care offered to children at LauraLynn during her course, including art therapy, and she wants to support its work. Theyre such an important charity and the work they do for these families is amazing, so I really want to put this one out there for them, she said. Cathy White, a community fundraising executive at LauraLynn, said art plays an important role in the hospices mission to help create memories for families. One of the things we always say is that we cant add days into a childs life but we can make those days mean more, and we can help families create memories, she said. Art is so important and it really gives our children, especially those who might be non-verbal, the chance to communicate. Most children love art and they love painting and anything like that. It is amazing to see a child enjoy something like that and gosh we probably have more bits and pieces of childrens art in the hospice than I think any school in Ireland, its just amazing. An online auction for the Corona Lisa will be run on the website of auctioneer Herman & Wilkinson from 10am on January 31 to 6pm on February 3. Bids can be placed at www.herman.ie. The Biden and Trump administrations had years of warnings. But the government failed this week to avoid a collision between US telecom companies and airlines over the rollout of new 5G cellular networks. That failure, rooted in longstanding disagreements over potential risk and a lack of cooperation by US regulators, led to a last-minute scramble that threatened the cancellation of thousands of flights and raised tensions between two powerful industries. Since 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration has questioned whether decades-old aviation equipment would be disrupted by new cellular signals. The risk to aircraft from new 5G services has been dismissed by the telecom industry and its regulator. Yet the FAA, still sifting through a flood of wireless-company data, was altering flight-safety instructions in the days leading up to the 5G rollout. Boeing Co., meanwhile, began talking last weekend with users of its 777 jets about possibly halting flights into major U.S. airports ahead of the 5G debut. Along with questions about shifting FAA restrictions, that set off days of panicked calls among airline chiefs and White House officials, people familiar with the matter said. I cant believe that its come to this," United Airlines Holdings Inc. Chief Executive Scott Kirby wrote in a Tuesday email to senior Biden administration officials that was viewed by The Wall Street Journal. International airlines on Tuesday announced the cancellation of some U.S.-bound flights, and carriers rushed to adjust schedules until AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. agreed to limit 5G signals near major airports. That prompted the FAA to ease restrictions. It wasnt our finest hour, I think, as a country," Doug Parker, chief executive of American Airlines Group Inc., said on an earnings call Thursday. Telecom companies are counting on fifth-generation wireless standards to keep up with growing demand by customers for streaming videos, mobile games and other data-hungry apps, as well as to develop new revenue streams. AT&T and Verizon together picked up most of the industrys more than $81 billion tab to secure air rights for the new high-speed wireless servicea central plank of their strategiesand invested a fortune on advertising, personnel and equipment. They say real-world experience in other countries shows that aircraft are safe from any 5G-related disruptions. That view is backed by the Federal Communications Commission, which controls commercial airwaves, but not the FAA, which is responsible for air safety. Telecom-industry groups say aviation officials disrupted multibillion-dollar investments with last-minute alarm based on thin evidence. Aviation companies and their regulators say the rush to reach 5G development goals threatens the safety and reliability of a global economy reliant on air travel. We have, in this case, two very different industries that have different ways of looking at risk, and I think over the last couple of months, we understand each other much better than we did before," FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said Wednesday. Keep in mind, the telecommunications companies, were not their regulator." FAA concerns grew after an aerospace research group flagged potential 5G interference problems in 2019. The agencys views hardened in 2020 after the RTCA Inc., a nonprofit group that establishes FAA technical standards with aerospace manufacturers, published lab test results that suggested aircraft altimeters could be vulnerable. The devices feed data to cockpit safety systems that help planes land in poor weather, prevent midair collisions and avoid crashes. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, NTIA, a federal office authorized to mediate disputes over managing public radio waves, had shuffled through several temporary leaders over nearly three years before a permanent chief filled the role last week. An NTIA lab offered last year to start testing equipment used in civilian aircraft, but FAA officials didnt accept, a person familiar with the matter said. The FAA worried it wouldnt have enough of a role in the testing, according to another person familiar with the matter. Countries including France and Norway have run basic tests with helicopters. U.S. engineers only this week started a process to measure 5Gs effect on military helicopters. Dozens of countries have deployed similar 5G service, though at different power levels and, in some cases, with limitations near airports. The agreement Tuesday by AT&T and Verizon to restrict 5G signals around major airports helped avert broad disruption to passengers but the rushed process still had consequences. After the new signal began beaming to customers, some commuter flights on smaller jets were barred from landing Thursday in San Francisco because the FAA hadnt yet cleared them for low-visibility conditions. Faster 5G The fissures that emerged over the past week have been developing since telecom companies began pushing for international standards to support next-generation wireless technology a half decade ago. U.S. officials, wary of falling behind countries like China, plunged into a development campaign. Starting during the Trump administration, officials encouraged policies to ease investments in new fifth-generation, or 5G, wireless service. Democratic and Republican lawmakers warned that without more spectrum licenses to fuel network upgrades, the American tech industry would fall behind Chinas. The program names reflected Washingtons sense of urgency. The FCC called its agenda to promote next-generation wireless the 5G FAST plan. Lawmakers later drafted related legislation called Beat CHINA for 5G Act." The FCC in 2017 began taking public comments about opening a set of radio frequencies known as the C-band to cellphone carriers and how it could affect satellite companies, aviation and other industries. C-band later became the basis for some telecom companies 5G expansion plans. Aviation officials sought to delay an FCC auction of C-band spectrum licenses, which started in late 2020. A letter signed by Mr. Dickson and then-Transportation Department general counsel Steven Bradbury to the NTIA warned of possible interference with radar altimeters in aircraft. The aviation industry needs a considerable transition period" to develop, test and retrofit potentially at-risk equipment, wrote Messrs. Dickson and Bradbury. Depending on the results of further analysis, it may be appropriate to place restrictions on certain types of operations, which would reduce access to core airports in the U.S." Larry Kudlow, the director of the National Economic Council in the Trump administration, said experts at the White House Office of Science and Technology policy reviewed the altimeter-interference claims and rejected them. We looked at it and decided on science grounds and communications-policy grounds and national-security grounds," he said. On Thursday, he added, Its hard for me to look at this any other way than a turf battle." Tom Wheeler, the FCC chairman under President Barack Obama from 2013 to 2017, agreed that the commissions engineering judgment was sound. But he said the federal government should underwrite altimeter upgrades requested by the aviation industry. If theres $81 billion sitting in the U.S. Treasury, it should get fixed," he said. Theres the money." FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, a Republican, said the Biden administration should have more forcefully backed the FCC over FAA objections that he called unfounded. It was the job of the White House to say, No, this process has been run, were siding with the science, " he said. An FAA spokesman said the agency has followed its long-established safety process. This process is one of the key reasons that U.S. commercial air travel is the safest form of transportation in the world," he said. Warning bells Late last year, AT&T and Verizon agreed to delay a planned Dec. 5, 2021, rollout of their new 5G services after FAA officials began drafting policies to restrict flights because of the new signals. By early January, government officials endorsed a wireless-industry plan to launch the new 5G networks while dimming the signals near airports. The cellphone carriers agreed to delay the rollout until Jan. 19, giving the aviation industry more time to reduce disruptions by clearing certain aircraft and airports as safe for low-visibility landings that relied on especially sensitive equipment. In the past two weeks, the FAA grew more concerned about related systems in many planes that rely on data from altimeters, according to people familiar with the issue. The agency also received shifting data on the number of cell towers that would operate near airports. FAA officials werent sure the signal buffer zones would be large enough to prevent potential interference, according to people familiar with the matter. It was a holy cow moment," said Nick Calio, chief executive of the industry trade group Airlines for America. On Jan. 14, the FAA warned that many of the 50 U.S. airports of concern to major airlines would face restrictions keeping specific aircraft from landing, according to industry and government officials, as well as an agency presentation viewed by the Journal. Late Monday, Boeing advised such customers as Emirates Airline and All Nippon Airways Co. that its 777 wide-body jet, a workhorse of international travel, shouldnt fly to certain U.S. airports where the new 5G service would be deployed. Without FAA clearance, the jet would be effectively blocked from many of its destination airports. The 747-8 faced similar limits. On Tuesday, AT&T and Verizon agreed to the 5G limits. Their new wireless services went live Wednesday, but any cell tower within 2 miles of a major runway wouldnt use the new signals. Verizon, which previously said its high-speed link would cover 100 million people, later downgraded that figure to more than 90 million. A company spokesman said Verizon planned to fulfill its 100 million target for network coverage by the end of March. Verizon spent more than any other wireless company to secure the C-band spectrum. Chief Executive Hans Vestberg said in a TV interview that the service activated Wednesday will substantially improve network performance despite the temporary limits. Airline chiefs said this week that they believed the 5G agreement blunted the potentially worst impact to their operations. But government agencies and industry leaders should have worked to avert the problem earlier, they said. Frankly, we are the end user of this dysfunction," Mr. Parker, the American Airlines chief executive, said Thursday. We screamed as loud as we could. And fortunately, people listened." The Omicron variant driven wave of Covid-19 will now turn to small towns and villages in the coming few weeks after its transmission in metro cities as each time a wave follows this trend, said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan who is advising Covid-19 task force at IMA Kochi, Kerala. "Each time, a wave first hit high mobility areas which include metro cities and then to smaller areas and villages. So, within the next few weeks, it (Omicron driven wave) will travel to the smaller cities or towns and then the villages. This is a trend that's been observed worldwide," Dr Jayadevan told ANI. Speaking about whether Omicron could replace other Covid variants and it is going to remain as a common cold, Dr Rajeev said, "That is not true in fact if you look at the history of the pandemic in the last two years, variants have all died down. In fact, there is no variant that is survived long enough to be dominant. There may be a few stray cases here and there." He further cited an example of South Africa and said that their waves are classic. "Six months apart the first wave was the original Wuhan variant, the second was Beta, the third was Delta and the fourth was Omicron. For India, we were hit by the original Wuhan variant back in March 2021 and then we got hit by Delta last year. Now this year, we have been hit by Omicron. So it is quite convincible that Omicron will hang around for a while. It's unlikely that Delta will survive in the long run," he added. Dr Jayadevan also said that both variants at this time are behaving the same and none of them is more dangerous than the other because everybody knows Omicron behaves differently from Delta. "When delta came, a large section of our population was scared because they had never seen the virus before and they were not vaccinated, whereas Omicron is reaching at a time when the vast majority of people have either had natural exposure to the virus or vaccinated," he added. He also said there are also some studies that report that Omicron behaves slightly differently with different tissue cells and it is less amenable to cause infection in the lung. "I'm getting reports on the ground that lung disease specifically is lower with this (Omicron) variant," the health expert said. However, Dr Vivek Nangia, Principle Director and Head, Pulmonology at Max Hospital said that people are developing Covid-19 symptoms even when they aren't going out. "This is absolutely correct that Omicron has gone into a stage where it's more into community spread than only by the travellers coming from abroad which have led to a rise in Covid cases," Dr Nangia stated. He also said that the Omicron variant is unlike the Delta variant of coronavirus infection because people recover early in the case of Omicron. "People who haven't even travelled outside and not even from their home they are also developing symptoms," he added. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Parents should make their own decisions regarding sending their children to schools and do so only if they feel it is safe to do so, said Maharashtra cabinet minister Aditya Thackrey on Sunday. "Even though we are re-opening schools from tomorrow, it is not compulsory for students to come to school. Parents are free to make their own decisions in this regard and should send their children to school only if they feel it is safe," said Thackrey. State school education minister Varsha Gaikwad had announced on Thursday that schools in Maharashtra for classes 1 to 12 are to be re-opened on 24 January with Covid-19 protocols. Schools were shut last month after a spike in Covid-19 cases across the state. Following this, state health minister Rajesh Tope had said the decision to reopen schools was taken after complete thought was given to the issue. "We have given a lot of flexibility and also stressed that following Covid-19 norms is a must," the minister said, adding that parents must send their wards to school. Tope said the opening of schools was necessary for the brain development of children and it was not right to keep them at home for long. The reopening of schools was a risk or middle path the state government decided upon to stop the spread of the virus as well as ensure children do not suffer. The minister also informed that 90% of eligible beneficiaries in the state have taken the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, while second dose coverage is in the 62-63% range. Covid situation in state As many as 40,805 more people tested positive for Covid-19 across Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, a dip of nearly 6,000 infections, said the state health department on Sunday. Out of the total, 2,550 coronavirus infections were detected in Mumbai. In addition to this, 44 patients succumbed to the disease in the same duration. With this, the fatality rate in the state has reached 1.89%. The British government on Saturday accused Russia of seeking to replace Ukraines government with a pro-Moscow administration, and said former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate. Murayev is head of the small pro-Russian party Nashi, which currently has no seats in Ukraines parliament. Britains Foreign Office named several other Ukrainian politicians it said had links with Russian intelligence services. Its unclear what means Britain believes Russia might use to install a friendly government in Kyiv. The U.K. government made the claim based on an intelligence assessment, without providing evidence to back it up. It comes amid a war of words between Moscow and the West over Russias designs on Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the information shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking." Truss urged Russia to de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy," and reiterated Britains view that any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs." Britain has sent anti-tank weapons to Ukraine as part of efforts to bolster its defenses against a potential Russian attack. Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis, U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to meet Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for talks in Moscow. No timing has been given for the meeting, which would be the first U.K.-Russia bilateral defense talks since 2013. The U.S. has mounted an aggressive campaign in recent months to unify its European allies against a new Russian invasion of Ukraine. The White House called the UK government assessment deeply concerning" and said it stands with the duly elected Ukrainian government. This kind of plotting is deeply concerning," said National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne. The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine." The assessment came as Biden spent Saturday at the presidential retreat Camp David outside of Washington huddling with his senior national security team about the Ukraine situation. In another development, the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania plan to send U.S.-made anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, a move that the United States fully endorsed Saturday amid Kyivs escalating tensions with Russia. The defense ministers of the three Baltic states said in a joint statement that they stand united in our commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in face of continued Russian aggression." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a tweet that Washington saluted the NATO nations and former Soviet republics for their longstanding support to Ukraine." I expedited and authorized and we fully endorse transfers of defensive equipment @NATO Allies Estonia Latvia Lithuania are providing to Ukraine to strengthen its ability to defend itself against Russias unprovoked and irresponsible aggression," Blinken said in another tweet. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier this week described the West supplying arms to Ukraine as extremely dangerous and said the shipments do nothing to reduce tensions." Moscow has massed tens of thousands of troops near the Russia-Ukraine border, leading to fears of an invasion. The West has rejected Moscows main demands promises from NATO that Ukraine will never be added as a member, that no alliance weapons will be deployed near Russian borders, and that it will pull back its forces from Central and Eastern Europe. A meeting Friday between Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ended with no breakthrough. Amid the uncertain security situation, the U.S. State Department has been considering a range of options to ensure the safety and security of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv and its employees by moving to reduce its diplomatic presence there. The defense ministers of the Baltic states said in their statement that Estonia would provide Javelin anti-tank weapons while Latvia and Lithuania were sending Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and other related equipment to bolster Kyivs defensive military capabilities. It wasnt immediately clear when the weapons and equipment would be sent to Ukraine. Today, Ukraine is at the forefront of separating Europe from the military conflict with Russia. Lets face it, the war in Ukraine is ongoing and it is important to support Ukraine in every way we can so that they can resist the aggressor," Estonian Defense Minister Kalle Laanet said. Estonia also is seeking Germanys approval to send Soviet-made howitzers, which once belonged to East Germany, to Ukraine. Estonia acquired the howitzers from non-NATO member Finland, which in turn had bought them from Germanys military surplus supply in the 1990s. The German government said Friday that it was considering Estonias request to pass the howitzers on to Ukraine but gave no timeline for a decision. Berlin said it planned to coordinate the issue with Finland, which has received a similar approval request from Estonia. Berlin routinely demands a say when German-sold weapons are transferred to third countries. But some recent media reports suggested German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Cabinet could block Estonias transfer of weapons to Kyiv, highlighting divisions in the Wests response to the Ukraine crisis. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba alleged Saturday that Germany was not showing adequate support for Ukraine. Kuleba said in a Twitter post that the weapons transfer issue and remarks by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressing skepticism about cutting off Russia from the SWIFT global payments system do not correspond to the level of our relations and the current security situation." Also Saturday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador to object to recently circulated video in which the head of the German navy said that Ukraine would not regain the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin deserved respect." The comments by vice admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach sparked consternation and a swift rebuke back in Berlin. By late Saturday, the German navy chief had tendered his resignation, saying he wanted to prevent further damage resulting from his ill-considered statements" in India. The U.S. State Department is currently warning U.S. citizens not to visit Ukraine due to the coronavirus pandemic but is also advising them to reconsider travel there due to potential Russian aggression. Speculation that an announcement about the U.S. diplomatic presence in Ukraine may be imminent has increased since the Embassy in Kyiv announced it would hold a virtual town hall meeting about the security situation with U.S. citizens in Ukraine on Tuesday. Discussions on the matter have been underway for some time, but Blinken went over the contingency plans with the embassys security team when he visited Kyiv on Wednesday, officials said. The officials stressed that no decisions had yet been made and that an outright evacuation is not being considered. One possible scenario would be to order the families of American personnel to leave the country while allowing non-essential staffers to depart voluntarily at government expense, they said. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday warned the Opposition parties that he would be more dangerous if they forced him to step down as he ruled out granting any concession to them. Responding to a question about the planned long march by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on March 23 during live calls by the public, Khan said that the move would fail. "If I take to the streets, then you (opposition parties) won't find any place to hide," Khan said, adding that he would be more dangerous if forced to step down. The PDM an alliance of nearly a dozen opposition parties was formed against the Pakistan Army's interference in politics and installing "puppet" Prime Minister Khan through a "manipulated" election. PDM President and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl head Maulana Fazlur Rahman has announced that the opposition parties would launch a long march towards Islamabad on March 23 to rid the nation of the "incapable and illegitimate" government of Imran Khan. Khan also slammed the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and refused to have any interaction with him. "I get called out for not meeting Shehbaz as he is the Leader of the Opposition. (But) I see him as the nation's criminal," he said. He accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief of evading cases of corruption by not responding to allegation charges. Khan said that the entire Sharif family would end up fleeing to London where Nawaz Sharif and his two sons were already living. To a question about the possible return of Nawaz Sharif, he said, "Please come back, we are waiting for you" but added: "He will not come back. He loves money." Sharif has been living in the UK in self-exile since November 2019. He had gone to London after the Lahore High Court granted him bail for four-weeks to get his treatment abroad. He was serving a seven-year term at Lahores Kot Lakhpat jail in a corruption case. Khan said that former military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf committed the "biggest sin" by granting NROs (National Reconciliation Ordinances) to the Opposition. He said that the Opposition wanted to blackmail the government, but said that it would be a "betrayal" if he ever granted them any concession. Khan said that his government will complete its current term and also win the next general elections. Shortly after Khan's address, PML-N leader and daughter of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, took to Twitter and said that his warning that if removed from power he will become more dangerous are nothing but empty threats. "(Khan) sounds like a person who is not only defeated but has also accepted his defeat. 4 years into the govt & he is still only whining. The cartels you are complaining about are the MAFIAS on your right & left who have fleeced 220 million & who run your kitchen,' Maryam tweeted. She was apparently referring to a recent damning report by the Election Commission which said that Khan's ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has under-reported an amount of PKR 312 million over a four-year period, between FY 2009-10 and FY 2012-13. The year-wise details reveal that an amount in excess of PKR 145 million was under-reported in FY 2012-13 alone. She said that the corruption cases the Imran Khan government has filed against Sharifs could not be proved. "The cases you made against Sharifs and PML-N were false & fabricated and were bound to meet the fate they have met. Now that your reality has dawned on the world, do not blame the judiciary. You have only your vindictiveness & revengefulness to blame," she wrote. "Every word that Imran Khan uttered today reeks of failure, dashed hopes and no faith in his or PTIs future. This was inevitable, man," she said. In his programme, Khan also said that the rising commodity prices in the country were robbing him of peaceful night slumber. "It is the only issue that keeps me awake at night," he said when asked by a caller about the skyrocketing inflation, but hastened to add that the rise in the prices was a global phenomenon and even the UK and EU were facing this issue. He dwelt at length on the issue of prices and his efforts to fix the economic problems, including inflation, which his government had been trying to address through a raft of measures. "My government also spent $8 billion on the welfare of the people to offset the impact of the coronavirus," he said, but added that the money spent was little compared to rich countries and said that the US spent $6,000 billion for the welfare of the people. He said that apart from Covid-19, his government had to face the Afghan crisis as after the Taliban takeover, dollars started flowing out of Pakistan which had a negative impact on the rupee. Khan defending his performance said that the net wealth had increased as the World Bank had estimated an increase of 5.37 per cent in Pakistan's GDP. He said the increase was due to solid policies. He said that the production of cars and motorcycles was at an all-time high and the corporate sector made big profits while the agriculture sector also did very well. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Some conservatives are taking aim at policies that allow doctors to consider race as a risk factor when allocating scarce COVID-19 treatments, saying the protocols discriminate against white people. The wave of infections brought on by the omicron variant and a shortage of treatments have focused attention on the policies. Advertisement Medical experts say the opposition is misleading. Health officials have long said there is a strong case for considering race as one of many risk factors in treatment decisions. And there is no evidence that race alone is being used to decide who gets medicine. The issue came to the forefront last week after Fox News host Tucker Carlson, former President Donald Trump and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio jumped on the policies. In recent days, conservative law firms have pressured a Missouri-based health care system, Minnesota and Utah to drop their protocols and sued New York state over allocation guidelines or scoring systems that include race as a risk factor. Advertisement JP Leider, a senior fellow in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota who helped develop that states allocation criteria, noted that prioritization has been going on for some time because there arent enough treatments to go around. You have to pick who comes first, Leider said. The problem is we have extremely conclusive evidence that (minorities) across the United States are having worse COVID outcomes compared to white folks. ... Sometimes its acceptable to consider things like race and ethnicity when making decisions about when resources get allocated at a societal level. Since the pandemic began, health care systems and states have been grappling with how to best distribute treatments. The problem has only grown worse as the omicron variant has packed hospitals with COVID-19 patients. Considerable evidence suggests that COVID-19 has hit certain racial and ethnic groups harder than whites. Research shows that people of color are at a higher risk of severe illness, are more likely to be hospitalized and are dying from COVID-19 at younger ages. Data also show that minorities have been missing out on treatments. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published an analysis of 41 health care systems that found that Black, Asian and Hispanic patients are less likely than whites to receive outpatient antibody treatment. Omicron has rendered two widely available antibody treatments ineffective, leaving only one, which is in short supply. The Food and Drug Administration has given health care providers guidance on when that treatment, sotrovimab, should be used, including a list of medical conditions that put patients at high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. The FDAs guidance says other factors such as race or ethnicity might also put patients at higher risk. The CDCs list of high-risk underlying conditions notes that age is the strongest risk factor for severe disease and lists more than a dozen medical conditions. It also suggests that doctors and nurses carefully consider potential additional risks of COVID-19 illness for patients who are members of certain racial and ethnic minority groups. Advertisement State guidelines generally recommend that doctors give priority for the drugs to those at the highest risk, including cancer patients, transplant recipients and people who have lung disease or are pregnant. Some states, including Wisconsin, have implemented policies that bar race as a factor, but others have allowed it. St. Louis-based SSM Health, which serves patients in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, required patients to score 20 points on a risk calculator to qualify for COVID-19 antibody treatment. Non-whites automatically got seven points. State health officials in Utah adopted a similar risk calculator that grants people two points if theyre not white. Minnesotas health department guidelines automatically assigned two points to minorities. Four points was enough to qualify for treatment. New York state health officials guidelines authorize antiviral treatments if patients meet five criteria. One is having a medical condition or other factors that increase their risk for severe illness. One of those factors is being a minority, according to the guidelines. The protocols have become a talking point for Republicans after The Wall Street Journal ran an op-ed by political commentators John Judis and Ruy Teixeira this month complaining that New Yorks policy is unfair, unjustified and possibly illegal. Carlson jumped on Utahs and Minnesotas policies last week, saying you win if youre not white. Alvin Tillery, a political scientist at Northwestern University, called the issue a winning political strategy for Trump and Republicans looking to motivate their predominantly white base ahead of midterm elections in November. He said conservatives are twisting the narrative, noting that race is only one of a multitude of factors in every allocation policy. Advertisement It does gin up their people, gives them a chance in elections, Tillery said. After the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a conservative law firm based in Madison, sent a letter to SSM Health on Friday demanding that it drop race from its risk calculator, SSM responded that it already did so last year as health experts understanding of COVID-19 evolved. The Health Report Weekly A weekly update on health news in Florida. > While early versions of risk calculators across the nation appropriately included race and gender criteria based on initial outcomes, SSM Health has continued to evaluate and update our protocols weekly to reflect the most up-to-date clinical evidence available, the company said in a statement. As a result, race and gender criteria are no longer utilized. America First Legal, a conservative-leaning law firm based in Washington, D.C., filed a federal lawsuit Sunday against New York demanding that the state remove race from its allocation criteria. The same firm warned Minnesota and Utah last week that they should drop race from their preference factors or face lawsuits. Erin Silk, a spokeswoman for New York states health department, declined to comment on the lawsuit. She said the states guidance is based on CDC guidelines and that race is one of many factors that doctors should consider when deciding who gets treatment. She stressed that doctors should consider a patients total medical history and that no one is refused treatment because of race or any other demographic qualifier. Minnesota health officials dropped race from the states criteria a day or two before receiving America Legal Firsts demands, Leider said. They said in a statement that theyre committed to serving all Minnesotans equitably and are constantly reviewing their policies. The statement did not mention the letter from America Legal First. Leider said the state is now picking treatment recipients through a lottery. Advertisement Utah dropped race and ethnicity from its risk score calculator on Friday, among other changes, citing new federal guidance and the need to make sure classifications comply with federal law. The states health department said that instead of using those as factors in eligibility for treatments, it would work with communities of color to improve access to treatments in other ways. Leider finds the criticism of the race-inclusive policies disingenuous. Its easy to bring in identity politics and set up choices between really wealthy folks of one type and folks of other types, he said. Its hard to take seriously those kinds of comparisons. They dont seem very fair to reality. What mask is best at protecting you in year three of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially if cloth masks arent cutting it? One helpful resource might be a company that claims it bought every mask available on Amazon Prime and tested them. Armburst is a Texas-based manufacturer of masks with a very pro-America bent. When COVID-19 hit our shores in 2020, we experienced the worst case scenario, unable to supply our own frontline heroes with critical personal protective equipment (PPE), as the company notes on their website. The market was absolutely flooded with cheap, flimsy, and downright unsafe masks made overseas. Last year, in the companys lab, Armburst claims they tested the Particulate Filter Efficiency (PFE) capabilities of hundreds of surgical, non-medical 3-ply, N95, KN95, KF94 and cloth masks and on their YouTube site, they continue to provide more in-depth reviews of masks several times per week. The masks they buy are tested for filtration, breathability, standards (does the mask adhere to the basic rules laid out by the standard they are claiming, e.g. is what is claiming to be a KN95 mask meeting those KN95 requirements) and subjective scores for construction/comfort and smell. The company also stresses that these are opinions only. (Hilariously, in the video below, owner Lloyd Armbrust discovers his wifes photo wearing a competitors mask that mask brand had apparently just ripped off the pic from Armbursts site and applied a filter.) You can sort the list by five different categories, but you probably want to look at pass or fail as your ultimate decider. This N95 mask by 3M scored 100% on PFE, for example; this KN95, on the other hand, was the only one to score a 0. Overall, you have to take the reviews with the knowledge this company is a competitor to the ones theyre reviewing though, based on their videos, they seem to acknowledge good and bad with any brand they mention (and they did test their own). Consider this and like-minded testers like Aaron Collins good resources when youre trying to navigate Amazon or your local drugstore for a mask thats going to live up to its protection claims. Thanks for reading InsideHook. Sign up for our daily newsletter and be in the know. The post This Guy Bought and Tested Every Mask Available on Amazon Prime appeared first on InsideHook. As we begin a new year, many small businesses continue to face the impact and challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, LiftFund is excited to announce a new partnership with the City of Laredo to provide $1 million in small business loans to Laredo business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. The program will support small businesses with loans up to $50,000 at 0% interest to support recovery, business growth or startup costs. The City of Laredo has been working hard to build strategic partnerships that help Laredo small businesses grow and succeed, said Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz. Access to capital is critical to the success of small businesses. The City of Laredo has always shown high interest in small business support programs because small businesses play a big part in stimulating economic activity and create jobs. LiftFund has been a tremendous partner to the City in providing support to small business owners. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar may be the most powerful Texas Democrat whom most Texans have never heard of. But with early voting to begin in a matter of weeks, he is in a world of political trouble. On Wednesday, the FBI raided the nine-term congressmans home in Laredo. For now, government officials are keeping a tight lid on what spurred their actions. But it could not come at a worse time for Cuellar, who is in the fight of his political life ahead of the Democratic primary on March 1. Everybody in the business community [who] Im talking to is in deep and total shock because the last person they expected to see this happen to is Henry, said Eddie Aldrete, an independent public affairs consultant whos known Cuellar for several decades. Cuellar is a uniquely complicated figure in Texas politics: Hes both admired and reviled within his own party, and almost universally adored by Texas Republican members of Congress, because of his tendency to cross the aisle. In representing the 28th Congressional District, which includes Laredo and San Antonio, he holds an elevated standing within the House Democratic caucus, serving on the Appropriations Committee, the most coveted assignment because it controls the federal governments purse. He is also a deputy whip to U.S. House Majority Whip James Clyburn. Back home in Laredo, hes viewed as a native son, a self-made political powerhouse who represents an often-neglected region of Texas. Cuellars stature back home is huge, said Jon Taylor, a political science professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio. This would be earthquake-like proportions if this came to pass, Taylor said of the investigation. Cuellar told The Texas Tribune in 2014 that he will die as a Democrat, but progressives are on the march to purge him from Congress because he often takes a lonely road as a moderate on issues like abortion. Cuellar has not been charged with a crime. But even before the damning optics of the federal raid, Cuellar was the top primary target this year among progressive groups playing in House races. That was expected because Laredo attorney Jessica Cisneros a former intern in his congressional office who had Bernie Sanders backing came within 4 percentage points of defeating him in the 2020 primary. Shes back this year, with even more national support, like a Wednesday endorsement from U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and backing from some high-profile Texas Democrats, including former state Sen. Wendy Davis. The Cisneros camp released a measured statement Thursday. We are aware of the news regarding Congressman Cuellar and the active FBI investigation. We are closely watching as this develops, she said. In the meantime, we are focused on our campaign to deliver change to South Texas families and will not be making any additional comments at this time. At the same time, the campaign sent out a fundraising email highlighting the FBI search and the trash bags full of items carried out of his house by agents. She promised to send her supporters updates about Cuellars situation. Justice Democrats, one of Cisneros top backers, was less restrained in a statement from its executive director, Alexandra Rojas. While we dont know the specifics about the investigation, we do know that Cuellar has been part of the corrupt culture in Washington for far too long, Rojas said. A third Democratic candidate, activist and educator Tannya Benavides, creates potential for a May runoff. Republicans who hope to win the seat are rooting for Cisneros to beat the damaged incumbent this March, because they see her as an easier target to defeat in November. Cisneros is running further to the left than Cuellar, which some Democrats worry could make her more vulnerable in South Texas. Cuellar also enjoys tremendous name recognition, and his family is deeply connected to the district. Republicans made shocking gains last year in the three congressional districts that represent the Rio Grande Valley. Cuellar won reelection by a double-digit margin, but President Joe Biden carried the district by only 5 points. In the new, redistricted version of the seat, the Republican-controlled Legislature actually improved Democrats chances of winning slightly; Biden would have carried the district last year by 7 points. There was a path for Republicans to win the newly-drawn 28th if the party was having a great year, wrote political analyst Nathan Gonzales of Inside Elections, a publication that rates the competitiveness of U.S. House races. But they might not need an extra boost if Cuellar is damaged goods or its an open seat. Anytime the FBI is involved, it adds a level of uncertainty to a race. Currently, Gonzales predicts the winner of the race as likely Democratic. Seven Republicans are running for the seat, including a former staffer to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Cassy Garcia, whom Cruz has endorsed. Prior to the raid this week, Garcia won the support of the National Border Patrol Council, which backed Cuellar during the last election. Another one of the GOP contenders, Steven Fowler, is an Air Force veteran from Universal City who refers to Cisneros as AOC 2.0. He said the FBI developments make it way more likely that Republicans will capture the seat by increasing Cisneros already considerable odds of winning the primary and drawing more national attention to the general election. My message from the beginning is: Shes gonna win, you better pick a strong Republican to stop her, Fowler said. Now shes really gonna win. Laredos native son While many on the left and the right would like to see Cuellar lose this spring, his interpersonal political skills are why he has been able to win election cycle after cycle. For one, the Cuellar name means something in Laredo. Enrique Roberto Henry Cuellar was born in Laredo in 1955. He is one of eight siblings to migrant farm workers, and hes appeared on a ballot in the region every cycle since 1986. My parents, born in Mexico, were taken out of elementary school to work in the fields, he said in a campaign video released the day before the raid. They were migrant workers who believed in hard work and family. There is a namesake public school Dr. Henry Cuellar Elementary School and his family is pervasive in Laredo politics. His brother, Martin, is the county sheriff, and his sister, Rosie, served a term as the Webb County tax assessor-collector. While the family brand is an asset, its not invincible. Rosie Cuellar narrowly lost her Democratic primary in 2020. Locally, Henry Cuellar plays host to key political visitors including U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, committee chairs and cabinet members. Pelosi even campaigned with Cuellar in the final days of his hotly contested 2020 primary. In 2015, a Cuellar spokesperson told the Tribune that Cuellar and U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, have stayed in each others homes. He also stands out as one of the most educated people to ever serve in Congress, holding no fewer than five degrees. Beginning with an associate degree from Laredo Community College, Cuellar went on to earn his bachelors degree at Georgetown University. In his postgraduate studies, Cuellar earned a law degree and a doctorate in government from the University of Texas at Austin and a masters of business administration from Texas A&M International University. Hes also a black belt in karate, a skill he featured in a campaign video earlier this week. Before Congress, Cuellar was a longtime member of the Texas House of Representatives. That tenure came at a unique point in Texas politics, when conservative Democrats like Rick Perry migrated to the GOP. As a moderate Democrat, Cuellar played well with these Republicans on the ascent. In one of his first acts as a governor, Perry appointed Cuellar as Texas secretary of state in December 2000. A short time later, though, Cuellar resigned and ran for Congress. That 2002 race against then-U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla, a Republican, for the Texas 23rd District, amounted to a rare defeat for Cuellar. Two years later, he challenged then-Rep. Ciro Rodriguez for the Democratic nomination in the neighboring 28th Congressional District, and Cuellar narrowly prevailed in a bitter contest. It is Cuellars post at the House Appropriations Committee that lends him his fundraising and political power. Well-liked by his many of his committee colleagues, he is on the verge of serious clout within its structure should he win reelection this year. He is on track to likely become a subcommittee chair next term if Democrats hold on to control of the House, a post so regarded around the Capitol that members who hold these posts are referred to as cardinals. He has earned this stature, also, by literally paying his dues. In order to land a slot on a committee like appropriations, a member must raise hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars to help the House Democratic campaign arm run campaigns in competitive districts across the country. The chore, known as dues, is one that most members despise and many others ignore outright. Its impossible to calculate exact figures, but Cuellar has raised well into the millions on behalf of House Democrats over the last 17 years. Hes pointed to that in defense of his standing within the party. The ones that yell the loudest are not the ones that do the most for the party. Ill say this: Im the first Democrat that pays my dues. I pay more than anybody, any other Democrat, congressional member, in the state of Texas. Ive done that for the last couple of years, he told the Tribunes Evan Smith in a 2014 interview. The lone Democrat who Cuellar is referred to as the lone Democrat who because of his inclination to cast votes against the rest of the party and his status as the only Democrat whom conservative groups have been willing to endorse. The recurring point of contention is abortion. Cuellar is one of the last Democrats left who votes to oppose access to abortion. He continued that record in September, when House Democrats passed a bill that would codify the right to an abortion in response to Texas near-total ban on the procedure. Cuellar was the lone Democrat to vote against it. Hes also had the support of groups that usually back Republicans. For much of his congressional career, Cuellar had an A rating with the National Rifle Association. In 2019, he refused calls to return donations from the group, but his voting record on gun issues has softened some in recent years. Similarly, the anti-tax group Club for Growth endorsed Cuellar in 2006, the first Democrat ever endorsed by that outfit, Texas Weekly reported at the time. However, the club has not endorsed Cuellar in years. Its Republican affection for Cuellar that has created some of that ill will from the left, to the point that Texas members joke about it. In interviews six years ago, the Tribune asked delegation members who their best friend was on the other side of the aisle. Repeatedly, Texas Republicans named Cuellar. I dont want to get Henry Cuellar in trouble! said then-U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, a San Antonio Republican. Hes equally liked on both sides of the aisle. After the National Republican Congressional Committee named Cuellars seat a target in early 2021, Texas senior U.S. senator, John Cornyn, a Republican, said he thought there were better targets than Congressman Cuellar. Cuellar reciprocated those friendships in ways that infuriated Democrats, like when he hosted a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. John Carter in 2018. At the time, the Round Rock Republican was a top target for Democrats in their successful bid to take back control of the chamber that year. I built the relationships to be effective, no matter who is in power, to deliver results for my district, he said. ... Thats why Im always able to get to the table where the important decisions are being made, he added. A man died while repairing a tractor-trailer tire along Mines Road, according to the Webb County Sheriffs Office. The 30-year-old male from Converse, Texas succumbed to his injuries, authorities said. Sheriffs officials said the accident occurred shortly before 10 a.m. at the Palafox Ranch located on Chapote-Mesas Road in western Webb County. Two men, along with a deputy who had arrived at the scene, performed CPR on the male until paramedics arrived. However, he was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Webb County Medical Examiners Office personnel took custody of the body and will determine the cause of death following an autopsy. The investigation continues. A man who was found walking with a knife on the main N4 and given a four month suspended sentence the District Court, has been given the benefit of the Probation Act. Denis Afromegevs, with an address at 70 Gleann Riada, Longford was handed a four months prison term, suspended for three years at Longford District Court on February 23 last year. That came after the 34-year-old was stopped by gardai as he made his way along the main N4 at around 9pm on October 19, 2019. Detective Garda Damien McGovern said he was on patrol that evening when he spotted the defendant wearing dark clothes. Upon speaking to Mr Afromegevs, Det Garda McGovern said the accused produced ID but was evasive and disorientated when revealing his address. Det Garda McGovern said he proceeded to search Mr Afromegevs and looked inside a backpack which contained a large silver kitchen knife, a clawhammer and vice grips. Asked as to why he had the items in his possession, Mr Afromegevs said he required them for work he had been carrying out as a mechanic. Counsel for Mr Afromegevs, Niall Flynn BL called into question the rationale gardai had used in stopping and searching his client. Gardai do have various powers in speaking to members of the public in relation to pursuing a line of inquiry, he said. There is no evidence given that suggested Mr Afromegevs was a danger to himself or anyone else. There is no evidence which would underpin that the defendant was in the possession of drugs and in those cirumstances it was unlawful. Mr Flynn also argued Mr Afromegevs was not adequately informed as to the reasons for the search. State solicitor Mark Connellan argued the search conducted by Detective Garda McGovern was perfectly normal. Mr Connellan also pressed Mr Afromegevs as to why he was so far away from his point of residence and why he had chosen to plead guilty in the District Court. In broken English, Mr Afromegevs said he had needed the items found to carry out works on a number of cars in a public parkspace outside his former placeof work, Pit Stop along Longford's main Athlone Road. In his final submission, Mr Flynn said his client was a man who was resident in Ireland for the past three years and despite having some previous convictions for road traffic related offences, none of those involved the possession of articles. He also argued Mr Afromegevs was a man who had a strong work ethic who now lived in Clondra and routinely travelled on a daily basis to his current employer in Castlepollard. In light of those factors, Judge Keenan Johnson afforded Mr Afromegevs Section 1 (2) of the Probation Offenders Act. Awards season has officially kicked off for 2022, and if you are excited to see your favorite celebrities compete for top honors in their field, heres when (and how) you can check out all the glitz and glamour from home this year. This years NAACP Image Awards, honoring contributions from people of color over the past year in TV, film, music and more, will kick off this years awards season on TV with host Anthony Anderson, on at 8 p.m. Feb. 26. This years ceremony will be broadcast on BET, and will also stream live on Paramount+. Netflixs The Harder They Fall and HBOs Insecure lead the film and TV categories this year, and H.E.R. is the most-nominated musician. Advertisement Up next is the Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony, which will be hosted by Megan Mullally and will be broadcast live on both TNT and TBS at 8 p.m. Feb. 27. This years most-nominated films include House of Gucci and The Power of the Dog, while Succession, Ted Lasso, Squid Game and The Morning Show lead TV. The ceremony will stream through official network apps, but a cable subscription is required for access. "The Power of the Dog," starring Benedict Cumberbatch, is expected to make a big splash this awards season. (KIRSTY GRIFFIN/NETFLIX/AP) Across the pond, Rebel Wilson will host the 2022 BAFTA Awards, which will be held March 13 at the Royal Albert Hall. The ceremony will air exclusively on BBC America and has previously been presented in prime time instead of live, so avoid the internet if you dont want spoilers for this one. BAFTA nominations will be announced Feb. 3. Advertisement The 94th Academy Awards will be held March 27 (pushed back from its originally scheduled air date of Feb. 27) and will be broadcast live on ABC. The ceremony will be available to stream online via the ABC app (TV provider sign-in required) as well as through Hulu Live and YouTube TV. It has been confirmed that this years ceremony will have a host for the first time since 2018, but no announcement has been made just yet on who will be leading the proceedings this year. Nominations will be announced Feb. 8 on the Academys official social media channels. Rounding out this years awards season will be the rescheduled Grammy Awards ceremony, which was supposed to air Jan. 31 but has been moved back to April 3 amid the omicron COVID-19 surge. This years telecast will air on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. and will also stream live on Paramount+. This years most-nominated artists include Jon Batiste, Justin Bieber, H.E.R., Doja Cat, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo. The Daily Show host Trevor Noah is back to host. Want to reach out? Email me at akondolojy@orlandosentinel.com. For more fun things, follow @fun.things.orlando on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Orlando police are seeking information for a homicide investigation into the shooting of a teenager early Saturday evening near Grand Avenue Park just east of Parramore Avenue. Patrol units responded at 5:39 p.m. to a call of unknown trouble in the 800 block of Grand Street, which is a mile southwest from Orlandos City Hall. Advertisement Officers found a 15-year-old male who had been shot. He was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased, police spokesperson Michelle Rogers said Sunday morning in a statement. Early Sunday evening, Orlando police identified the victim as Corey Jones. Rogers said anyone with information about the shooting should call the police department at 321-235-5300, or Crimeline at 800-423-8477. Advertisement This story was updated with the victims name. kspear@orlandosentinel.com Erratic. Bombastic. Anti-democratic. Those words have come to define the Trumpian doctrine of politics in 2022 though perhaps doctrine is too fine a term for what really amounts to authoritarian urges. Advertisement Its no surprise, then, that those words also perfectly describe Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outrageous proposal to hijack the Congressional redistricting process, with no other goal but to undermine the voting rights of minority Democratic-leaning voters. Marcos Vilar is executive director of Alianza for Progress. - Original Credit: Courtesy photo (Courtesy photo) What DeSantis is doing is not new, of course. In 2002 and 2012, Republicans in the state Legislature used redistricting as an opportunity to gain an unfair advantage through gerrymandering, packing Democrats and minorities into a handful of super-concentrated districts, while drawing an overwhelming amount of districts to lean Republican. Advertisement That practice is how a purple state like Florida, where Democrat-leaning and Republican-leaning voters are essentially a 50-50 mix, can end up with a Legislature that is so overwhelmingly conservative. Experts estimate that, as it stands, Democrats would have to garner 60 to 65 percent of votes in a general election in order to gain back bare majorities in the state House and state Senate, or balance the partisan representation in Congress. To try to fix this unfair advantage, Florida voters passed an amendment to the Constitution in 2010 thats supposed to limit gerrymandering. While state legislators are already arguably pushing beyond whats allowed by the so-called Fair Districts Amendment, publishing a suggested map that would favor Republicans in 16 out of 28 congressional districts over the next 10 years, DeSantis proposal absolutely blows a hole in that constitutional protection, lavishing 18 out of 28 seats on the GOP. That means that even if Florida voter rolls remain purple or even start trending blue, our congressional delegation will be deep red for another full decade. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > Even worse, DeSantis plan eliminates a majority African American district currently represented by Congressman Al Lawson, arguably in violation of the National Voting Rights Act. It also eliminates current congressional District 7, currently represented by Rep. Stephanie Murphy, which is a Hispanic-opportunity district with 25% of the voters there identifying as Hispanic. Additionally, it puts Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a moderate Hispanic Republican from Miami, against right-wing extremist Byron Donalds of Fort Myers. In short, the governors plan is both unconstitutional and an abuse of power. Reducing the number of districts where minority voters can form winning coalitions, in spite of the fact these voters constitute about 38% of all Florida voters, strikes at state and federal protections that have made one person, one vote the golden rule of our politics since the civil-rights era. Sadly, DeSantis is not alone in his blatant efforts to twist democracy. Extreme gerrymandering has long kept the Republican Party in overwhelming control of all the levers of power in Texas, and drastically changed the balance of power in Wisconsin. As complete disdain for elections has become a prerequisite for membership in todays Trump-driven Republican Party, these undemocratic and unconstitutional redistricting tactics are being used across the country to help the GOP gain back control of the federal House of Representatives in the 2022 midterm elections. These schemes are pulled straight out of the playbook of modern dictators like Venezuelas Hugo Chavez. Just 20 years ago, Venezuela was a model of democracy in Latin America, with one of the strongest economies. Through gerrymandering and abuse of power, authoritarian chavistas were able to corrupt the democratic process and end up winning majorities only to turn around and pull the ladder out from under them, eliminating any vestige of democracy that would allow the voting public to challenge the chavistas, no matter how inept and corrupt they became. The chavistas themselves took inspiration from earlier dictators like Josef Stalin, who once famously commented that its not the people who vote that count; its the people who count the votes. Advertisement Seen in this light, DeSantis redistricting proposals, and other extreme gerrymandering efforts in the Trumpian vein, are a dangerous move that is driving our country down a path of no return. We must strongly oppose DeSantis newest power grab. Our democracy is sacred but fragile. If we allow current elected officials to pick their voters, the voters will soon lose all opportunity to pick their elected officials. Marcos Vilar is a political strategist and national leader of the Puerto Rican Diaspora. He is the president of Alianza for Progress, an organization dedicated to furthering the rights of Latinos in Florida. Rocket company Astra Space completed a test fire Saturday ahead of its first planned launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Successful static test completed. We will announce launch date and time when we receive our license from the FAA, said Chris Kemp, founder and CEO of the Alamada, California-based company on Twitter. The company, which was formed in 2016, had been targeting this month for the launch. Advertisement More photos from todays static fire test at SLC-46 in Cape Canaveral. : @johnkrausphotos pic.twitter.com/ayNQWQ118j Astra (@Astra) January 22, 2022 If it flies, it will be at least the fifth rocket to take off from the Space Coast in January following three successful flights from SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets and Fridays United Launch Alliance Atlas V with a pair of Space Force satellites. SpaceX is also aiming to launch one more Falcon 9 no earlier than Jan. 27. Astras Rocket 3 is small in comparison to the Falcon 9 and Atlas V, standing only 38 feet tall and with a payload capacity of 331 pounds. It has contracted with Space Florida, the states aerospace economic development agency for use of Space Launch Complex 46. Advertisement The rocket has performed one successful demonstration launch for the U.S. Space Force to orbit from the companys first launch complex in Kodiak, Alaska last November. The Canaveral launch on what the company has dubbed Rocket 3.3 will be Astras first operational mission, attempting to deploy four small research satellites, known as CubeSats, as part of NASAs CubeSat Launch Initiative. Each year NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative selects CubeSat projects from across the nation to launch into space, said Liam Cheney, mission manager for NASAs Launch Services Program based at Kennedy Space Center. Many of these CubeSats are built by teams of students including elementary school, middle school, high school and university. This mission is called ELaNa 41, as in the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites, the payloads of which come from the University of Alabama (BAMA-1), New Mexico State University (INCA), the University of California at Berkeley (QubeSat) and NASAs Johnson Space Center (R5-S1) BAMA-1 will test a drag sail that will allow a faster deorbit of the satellite. INCA, as in Ionospheric Neutron Content Analyzer, is geared toward improving space weather models. QubeSat is flying to demonstrate quantum gyroscopes to measure angular velocity. R5-S1 looks to demonstrate speed and cost efficiency in a particular design of CubeSats. Each of these teams work hard to design, test and build their satellite, and we at NASA help them to coordinate an opportunity to launch into space, Cheney said. That opportunity provider falls to Astra, which was one of three companies awarded contracts under NASAs Venture Class Launch Services Demonstration 2 contract. Astras award was $3.9 million with similar awards going to Relativity Space Inc. of Long Beach, California, and Firefly Black LLC of Cedar Park, Texas. Astra will be the first of three to make the attempt under the contract, while Relativity Space plans to launch from Cape Canaveral later in 2022. Its a very exciting moment for us for many reasons, said Astra Space Director of Product Management Carolina Grossman. A large one being that this mission will be Astras first from Cape Canaveral, which is a really exciting step to help us in our mission to improve life on Earth from space, Advertisement She said opening up a second spaceport, especially with such extremes as Florida vs. Alaska, will open up opportunities for future customers as the company tries to carve out a niche to offer an inexpensive option with more frequent launch opportunities than SpaceX or ULA to put small payloads into space. It helps give us access to more destinations in space, as well as more flexibility, where you know if the weather conditions arent ideal at one of our spaceports, we can launch out of the other location, Grossman said. So it will help give us access to more customers that want to go to different locations in space that cant be reached or are difficult to reach from Kodiak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Go For Launch - Space News Weekly Fix your telescope on all space-related news, from rocket launches to space-industry advancements. > The bald eagle, Americas favorite bird of prey, has reportedly been seen flying around the Spottsville area. While the bald eagle, the national bird of the United States since 1782, was once endangered, they are becoming more common in the Bluegrass State. Seeing a bald eagle in Kentucky isnt as uncommon as it used to be, but its still exciting, said Kevin Kelly, Kentucky Division of Fish and Wildlife Resources chief communications officer. Kelly said more nests are found by KDFWR each year, with species now nesting in most of the states counties. Eagle nests are more numerous in western Kentucky but increasingly common in central and eastern Kentucky, he said. Lisa Hoffman, park naturalist at John James Audubon State Park in Henderson, said one of the most important contributing factors regarding where an eagle will nest has to do with the availability of food. In general, they are looking for a fairly large body of water, Hoffman said. Their primary food source is fish; they also take small mammals. It is a wide prey base is what they are looking for, with lots of diversity. Hoffman said that while she does not know exactly where the eagles would be in Spottsville, there is an eagles nest at Audubon State Park, which is less than 10 miles from the town. We actually have an eagle nest in our Audubon wetlands area, so we do occasionally see a bald eagle in the park area, simply because they are nesting right here, she said. Kelly said KDFWR does not release the locations of eagles nests for the protection of the birds and the privacy of the landowners. While bald eagles will look for any body of water they can hunt in, Hoffman said the birds prefer shallow bodies of water so they can hunt more easily. If they are going after waterfowl, which they often do, if the waterfowl is able to dive underwater, shallow water prevents them from getting away, she said. In addition to a body of water for a food source, Hoffman said bald eagles will typically search for tall trees to build their nests in. They like to get a good view of what is around them and preferably that tall tree is going to be away from human development as much as possible, she said. According to KDFWR, the agency monitored the states bald eagle population through aerial studies and ground surveys of all known nests between 1986 and 2019. Kentuckys bald eagle population grew at a rapid pace, with the number of occupied bald eagle territories increasing by more than 400% from 43 in 2006 to 187 in 2019. Nathan Havenner, Messenger-Inquirer, nhavenner@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-228-2837 Brescia University Vice President of Executive Affairs Lauren McCrary said the schools students and staff are battered from COVID-19, but are continuing to weather the storm because of BUs strong foundation. She said leaders at the school have maintained throughout the pandemic that its top priority is to keep the Brescia community safe and healthy, with as little disruption for the educational experience as possible. Like all higher education institutions, the pandemic necessitated Brescia implement practices that will likely be ongoing for a while. Some of those practices have been extremely beneficial, as they provide equal access for students by removing unnecessary barriers to learning, she said. Many of those initiatives to provide more remote learning opportunities were scheduled to be rolled out over the next five years. Instead, they had to be pushed to the front line. The school also expanded access to learning materials outside of the classroom and expanded in-classroom technology, McCrary said. Our students who were in quarantine or impacted by COVID in other ways were able to attend class virtually, which will likely continue to be a benefit down the road for athletes who travel or parents and caregivers who wish to attend class, but life, in general, makes it hard to get to a physical location, she said. Another concern not unique to Brescia is the mental health of employees and students. Pandemic fatigue and anxiety, mixed with the stressors typical to college life, has made mental health a priority. Brescia has provided internal support for students and faculty and staff, McCrary said. Our employees are also impacted, and we want to place their mental health at the top of the list, because without their resolve and engagement, we would suffer as an institution, she said. The school has also experienced some enrollment decline, which Chris Houk, Brescia vice president of enrollment management, believes is a direct result of COVID. College representatives have had limited access to visit prospective high school students within schools due to appropriate limitations on outside visitors. Some of those visits were replaced with virtual options, but Houk said those are not the same as an in person experience. COVID placed a lot of stress on adult students who would otherwise be choosing to return to college to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree, he said. The hope is that as the stress from COVID subsides, adult students will consider returning to college. He said spring enrollment numbers wont be available until March, but he anticipates a decline. How the pandemic will impact Brescia long term is something McCrary said officials at the school are investigating. The school is setting initiatives in place and acting to level the decrease in enrollment by targeting specific groups of students, like seniors. Preparing for the unknown means preparing in many different ways, but also being able to adjust the path quickly as events quickly unfold, she said. Right now, we are continuing to follow the initiatives we set forth in our five-year strategic plan, but we have also reviewed it to ensure it is still applicable, she said. Parts of the plan include three imperatives: enriching the educational experience, enhancing and modernizing infrastructure, and embracing the schools responsibility to lead. With some adjustments, the plan is still relevant, and we will stay the course set forth prior to the onset of the pandemic and adjust as needed, McCrary said. Bobbie Hayse, bhayse@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7315 Back in 2010, Daviess Fiscal Court asked Congress for $230,000 to expand the Western Kentucky Raptor Center in Yellow Creek Park and make it more accessible to the public. The plans included $35,000 to design a new center, $50,000 for lighting, $50,000 for fence work, $75,000 for earthwork and $20,000 for drainage. Eric Miller, then the centers executive director, said the presence of eagles in the park would make it a bigger tourist attraction. We want to get the public more involved, Miller said. Our first mission is to rehabilitate birds of prey. There is nothing else like this in western Kentucky. The second mission, he said, is to educate the public about the role of raptors in the environment. An active outreach could include seminars and classes. But the money never came, and the sanctuary was never built. Kristin Allen, the current executive director, said, Eagle permits are hard to come by, and we would still need a place to build it. The center has a population of 12 raptors birds of prey like owls, hawks, eagles, vultures and falcons. Most will eventually be released back into the wild. But some are permanent residents. Allen said the population includes barred owls, red-tailed hawks, vultures, peregrine falcons, great-horned owls and kestrels. She said the center never has enough volunteers. My family feeds every day, Allen said. We need committed volunteers, not people who wont show up when theyre supposed to. We try to work with zoology students at Kentucky Wesleyan College, but we want them to go home during holidays, and we need more local volunteers. People interested in working with the birds of prey can call Allen at 270-993-6022 or go to www.nurturetonature.org/contact.html. Allen said the 12 birds at the center now is a low population. We get more in the spring when people are cutting down trees and babies fall out of the nest and in October, during migration season, when birds get hit by cars, she said. We used to have to call tree services or power companies with basket trucks to put babies back in the nest when they fall out. But my son, Grant, whos 27, has learned to climb with spikes and ropes, and he does it now. He can go up to 100 feet or so. Thats the most beautiful thing Ive ever seen. When the center gets baby birds, we have to teach them to become good hunters, and humans cant do the job as well as their parents, she said. The permanent residents cant be released into the wild, for various reasons, Allen said. She said, Were not allowed to show animals that are in rehabilitation. But if people want to see the mews large bird cages they are near the front of Yellow Creek Park on the north side, to the right of the caboose. People can see the birds there during normal park hours, Allen said. She said, We take all of our educational birds to ROMP, the bluegrass festival in the park each June, so people can see them. Allen said the centers videos can be found on TikTok at Nurture2Nature. It warms my heart to see babies back in the nest, she said. Weve been doing this for about 10 years. Sometimes, if the nest has been damaged, we put the baby birds in another nest with foster parents. The center opened in 2007 and treated more than 100 birds of prey in the first three years. 270-691-7301 klawrence@messenger-inquirer.com MANISTEE One of the most common calls that Manistee first responders receive at this time of the year is slip and fall accidents. Here are some tips on how to avoid injuries during the season and what to do to help a person who has fallen. PREVENTION The Manistee City Fire Department doesn't just respond to fires, its personnel are also first responders for medical emergencies in the city of Manistee. Fire Chief Mark Cameron said the best thing to do with slip and fall accidents is to try to prevent them from happening. File photo The biggest thing is keeping their drives and walkways shoveled and cleared and salted so that the ice is removed, he said. People who enjoy taking walks around town might be at the mercy of each resident or business keeping the sidewalks clear, but Cameron recommends using some traction in those cases. A good option that they could do is put some cleats onto their shoes. It just gives them a little bit more traction, Cameron said. They make all different kinds of traction things for shoes. Another way to prevent falls is to literally watch how one steps. Shuffle or keep your feet walking like a penguin, he said. That means keeping the feet closer together while walking and avoid taking wider steps. This keeps the weight more centered, making slipping less likely. Cameron said to also avoid areas that are icy. He noted that indoors, older adults may also have difficulties with vision and being able to lift their feet as high so he recommended keeping furniture spaced out enough, walkways inside should be kept clear of items and being cognizant of rugs or other trip hazards. WHAT TO DO But what happens if you see someone else fall in public and need to help? Make sure they are alert and talking. If they have any kind of pain, never hesitate to dial 911. We can come and assess them, check them out, he said. We look at a lot of different things. This includes whether the person is having pain, or they are injured, their age and how they fell. We also look into (if) they take any blood-thinning medications. Those can cause things if they fall and struck their head on the way down. Even though it may be minor, if a person is taking blood-thinning agents, they can have internal bleeding that we cant initially see and can show up hours later. He said if someone has fallen, he recommends they get checked by a doctor since there are things like internal bleeding that first responders cannot see. Cameron recommends a few steps if a person falls. Its probably best to call us and have us, meaning a first responder, rather than moving somebody in case they fell and hurt themselves, he advised. This is especially true in older adults, who may be more prone to hairline fractures from a fall. He said if the person is outside in the cold after a fall, people who arrive to help should also cover the person with a blanket to keep them warm while waiting for help to arrive. He noted that the cold ground can drain the body heat away from a person who may be laying on ice or other hard surfaces in winter after a fall. Try to keep them comfortable, dont move them around, get them covered up, keep them warm and give them some calm reassurance and get 911 to come there and get them checked out, Cameron said. Kimberlee Owens, 29, owns Enjoy Bakery, located on the Ashman Circle in Midland between The Plaid Giraffe and Pop-Pops. They create custom cakes, cookies and cupcakes for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, baby showers and other special occasions. If you walk into the bakery, you'll see a variety of baked goods, including cupcakes, sugar cookies, cheesecake bars, brownies, cinnamon rolls, macarons and several other items. Owens has six employees, including her mom, Nancy Squanda. Owens is a graduate of Bullock Creek High School. She earned an associates degree in general studies from Delta College and is working on a business degree at Northwood University. Shes been married for three years to Bryan Owens. Hes a plumber for Remer Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning in Saginaw. How long have you owned your business? I started at the Midland Area Farmers Market in 2019, then moved into the space behind Pop-Pops just over a year ago. We then moved into our current location in November, opened there Nov. 6. What inspired you to own this business? After the beginning of 2020, I told my mom I really wanted to decorate a cake. It didnt look great, but I kept doing it, learning, and posted pictures online. Now, its become what it is today...Ive always said I wanted to work where I enjoyed doing it, not something that I had to do. I love what I do. Its fun. Every day is different. It is challenging, but it all comes together at the end. Its just something that I really enjoy. What makes Midland a great place to own a business? For us, Midland has been our home. Weve lived here, grown up here, gone to school here. Everybody who comes in has been kind and excited that were here. Theyve been supportive. They keep coming back. People have been really good to us, even if they dont come in our store and just share our posts. Were so appreciative of that. What are some ways your business is active in the local community? Last year, we participated in several charity events. Creative 360 is one example. We did some other giveaways. Were thinking about going back to the Farmers Market. We got to be part of the Santa Parade. We offered a hot cocoa bar or chocolate bar for free if people came in (our bakery) during the parade. What are some of your interests and hobbies? My job takes up most of my time. I enjoy reading books, watching movies. Going shopping is fun to do. We like taking the dogs for a walk on the Rail Trail. What are some local businesses you work with that help make your business a success? Pop-Pops really helped us get our start with our first retail location. Some of our friends: Christina at Elodie Boutique, Rebel Mamas, McCann family, SoCal Threads Boutique in the plaza where Live Oak Coffeehouse is located. (SoCal) hosted a makers market this past December. We took a bunch of our baked goods. Several other boutique places were there. It was a great day all around. Final thoughts to share with the community? Thanking our customers and our followers for their continued support online, in our store, and those who make orders. Because of them, were able to operate. I want to thank my family, friends, and my staff. Enjoy wouldnt be anywhere without all these people who are part of our journey Tripoli, Libya (PANA) -Twenty-three illegal migrants were rescued on Saturday night by a coastal security unit off Khoms in the west of Libya, the Interior Ministry announced A claim made at a Midland Public Schools board meeting was sharply refuted by the districts superintendent Thursday. In a message sent out to the Michigan school's community by Superintendent Michael Sharrow, he denied that litter boxes were kept in bathrooms for student furries. This rumor was spread after a clip was spread from a Dec. 20 Board of Education meeting where a resident made this claim. There is no truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation! There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools, Sharrow said. It is such a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you. At the meeting, Midland resident Lisa Kawiecki Hansen said she heard about the litter boxes from kids, and they were for kids who identified as cats. She added that she was really disturbed by this and that she will continue to investigate. According to Merriam-Webster, a "furry" is a person who dresses up in a costume resembling anthropomorphic animals. Furries will design costumes of, make art of, and role-play as their characters, and do not identify as animals like Hansen claimed. In this divisive/contentious world in which we currently find ourselves, I ask that if you hear wild accusations that dont sound like something in which your Midland Public Schools Board of Education, Administration, District would be part, take a moment to send an MPSConnect message to me, Sharrow said. Midland Public Schools' main emphasis was, is and always will be to educate our communitys children with excellence, integrity and respect. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EAST HAMPTON The 1998 homicide of a local home health aide who was strangled at an apartment above a Main Street laundromat is the focus of a new episode of American Detective With Lt. Joe Kenda on Discovery Plus. Gerald Brian Tuttle, the buildings maintenance worker, was sentenced to 18 years in jail after being convicted of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree kidnapping in August 2016 for killing Gertrude Trudy Ochankowski, 60. Ochankowski, the mother of two daughters, was found in a stream off Tartia Road in January 1998. An autopsy concluded that she had been strangled. The shows season two premiere, The Creek, which was filmed in town, will be available for streaming Wednesday starting at 4 a.m. The episode includes scenes of Lake Pocotopaug and Main Street. The episode stars Kenda, who is retired from the Colorado Springs Police Department, and Detective Garritt Kelly, a former East Hampton police sergeant. Tuttle was charged in December 2013 as a fugitive from justice at his home in Surfside Beach, S.C. Trudy was a loving, warm person and she would give you the most amazing hugs you could possibly imagine, her friend Melissa Bradbury said in the show. Your whole world was safe when Trudy hugged you. She always put her life aside for someone else, Bradbury added. You dont find people like that. You just dont. Police had already been looking for Ochankowski that day after her car was found in a parking lot at 82 Main St. with the engine running. Her dog Muffin, a constant companion, was inside the car, which was parked outside the laundromat. Police said at the time they believed Ochankowski had been forced into an apartment above the laundromat and killed. She would never do that. She would never leave her dog, especially for that extent of time. Somethings wrong, Bradbury said in the show. The way she was treated was awful awful. High school students went to a local hangout at Falls / Engel Falls, a remote area, after school around 3 p.m., Kenda says at the start of the episode. While throwing rocks into the water off a bridge, they saw something below, went down to investigate, and made a grisly discovery: A woman, face-down with her hands tied behind her back in shallow water, Kenda says. Kelly immediately knew it was Ochankowski, he said, who had lived in town her entire life. It takes a rare breed to solve the unsolvable, to catch a ruthless killer; to find justice for the dead, Kenda says in the show. East Hampton at the time was a sleepy community, he added. They hadnt had a homicide for 10 years, he said. Ever since Kelly got on the force, he said in the episode, I always wanted to get involved in the big one. I had no idea what was to come. Investigators eventually located some tape that was used to bind Ochankowskis hands, drag marks and tire tracks. Detectives realized they were looking at a dump site, not a crime scene, Kenda says in American Detective. When officers interviewed her boyfriend, he mentioned a man who had been spying on her through her bedroom window, the episode details. Mr. Peeping Tom someone of interest, finally, Kenda narrated. As a result, Ochankowski wanted to move somewhere else, he added. Almost from the beginning, investigators focused on Tuttle, police said at the time. Sixteen years later, in 2013, advanced technology helped investigators identify DNA that was found in her car, Kelly said in the episode. They were able to match Tuttles cigarette butts while he was being questioned to the DNA found in Ochankowskis vehicle, he added. When Tuttle appeared in state Superior Court at Middletown, Kelly was surprised to see he was morbidly obese, on oxygen and in a wheelchair, very immobile, he said in the show. Karma comes back, Bradbury said in the episode. Tuttle eventually pleaded guilty to the crime in August 2016 and was sentenced to 20 years in jail, suspended after 18 years, and five years probation for first-degree manslaughter and second-degree kidnapping. He was also sentenced to 20 years in jail, suspended after 12 years, followed by five years probation for kidnapping, according to state judicial records. Film clips can be found at bit.ly/3qQmSWz. For information on the show, go to bit.ly/3IHKv9V. The episode link is at discoveryplus.com. DURHAM Dandelion Energy, which offers geothermal heating and cooling systems, recently announced the acquisition of local company Glacier Drilling, with plans for further expansion in the area. Dandelion is a New York-based geothermal installation company that provides customers with environmentally sustainable and economically efficient heating and cooling systems. On Tuesday, the company announced their acquisition of Glacier Drilling, headquartered at 75 Commerce Circle in Durham. Glacier Drilling provides a full range of environmental and geotechnical drilling solutions, according to its website. Heather Deese, director of policy and regulatory affairs for Dandelion Energy, said the company has been operating in the state since mid-2020, and the acquisition means they will be able to increase their service capabilities. We are just thrilled about this, Deese said. Mark [Schock] and his team are an incredible resource. Schock, owner and president of Glacier Drilling, said his experience with Dandelion has been very positive so far. The customers weve spoken to are so excited about their new Dandelion system, Schock said in a statement. Were proud to be part of the movement toward cleaner energy and cleaner environments for our teams to work and our neighbors to live. In a company statement, Dandelion representatives explained how their system works in a more eco-friendly way than gas or electrical heating and cooling systems. Dandelion Energy heats and cools residential homes with renewable geothermal energy the heat stored in the ground, it said. By switching to Dandelion Geothermal, homes are able to eliminate the need for burning fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and propane. There are also utility company rebates and federal tax credits available to homeowners to offset the cost of installation, Deese said. So far, dozens of systems have been installed in the state, and hundreds of homeowners have signed on and are now awaiting installation, she added. Weve had a terrific response from Connecticut residents, Deese said. We had really rapid growth and interest. Representatives would not disclose the terms of the acquisition, but said the Glacier drilling team is now full-time employees of Dandelion Energy, and will operate drill rigs for Dandelion customers who have purchased a home geothermal heating and cooling system. Dandelion Energy has a warehouse in Windsor, and will soon add the Glacier warehouse in Durham as a second location to use as needed. The expansion into Durham is part of efforts to serve more homes in the area. The company has plans to increase services further throughout the Northeast. It anticipates the move will allow the firm to service customers quicker, Deese said. More options for heating systems are especially important for Connecticut residents during the winter months. Continuing throughout the weekend, temperatures will dip well below freezing, and the risk of icy conditions is high. The acquisition also comes at a time of higher-than-normal prices for other forms of heating systems. These price increases have affected the majority of residents in the state. According to data from the Federal Energy Information Administration, only 4 percent of Connecticut households use an energy source other than electricity, natural gas or oil. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FAIRFIELD Police said they have arrested a Fairfield man who reportedly harassed workers in a smoothie shop on Saturday afternoon in an incident which garnered outrage and viral attention on the social media app TikTok. The man, identified as 48-year-old James Iannazzo of Fairfield, is now facing multiple charges including criminal trespass and breach of peace. Fairfield Police said they received numerous calls around 2:30 p.m. from employees of Robeks, who reported that an irate customer was throwing things, yelling at employees and refusing to leave. Police said a subsequent investigation showed that Iannazzo had made a purchase at the store an hour earlier. At approximately 1:39 p.m., police said Iannazzo called 911 to request emergency medical attention to his home for a child suffering from an allergic reaction. The child was later transported to a hospital, police said. Police said Iannazzo then returned to the store and confronted employees, demanding to know who had made the smoothie, which had contained peanuts and triggered his childs allergic reaction. Employees could not respond and Iannazzo became increasingly angry, using expletives and throwing a drink at an employee that hit their right shoulder. Iannazzo also made comments toward an employee referencing their immigration status, police said. Employees told Iannazzo to leave multiple times, but he remained inside and continued to yell insults, police said. He then attempted to open a locked door to access the Employees Only area, according to police. Though Iannazzo left the store before police arrived, he was identified shortly after, they said. Iannazzo turned himself in without incident and told police he was upset about his son having a severe allergic reaction, police said. Employees told police that Iannazzo had not told them about the peanut allergy, only requesting that no peanut butter was put in his drink. Iannazzo was arrested and charged with second-degree breach of peace, first degree criminal trespass, and intimidation based on bigotry or bias. He has a court appearance date at Bridgeport Superior Court on Feb. 7. In a statement, Iannazzos attorney Frank J. Riccio Jr. said Iannazzo wholeheartedly regrets the incident. When faced with a dire situation for his son, Mr. Iannazzo's parental instinct kicked in and he acted out of anger and fear, Riccio Jr. said in the statement. He is not a racist individual and deeply regrets his statements and actions during a moment of extreme emotional stress. The incident has garnered significant attention since it was captured and posted on the social media platform TikTok. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a national Muslim civil rights organization, lauded the arrest Sunday. We welcome this arrest and the bias-related charges as a clear indication that bigotry targeting minority communities will not be tolerated in Connecticut, said Ibrahim Hooper, a national spokesman for the organization, said in a statement. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MIDDLETOWN The new year is off and running, and the chamber continues to be on the move. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an impact across the country, the chamber continues to do everything we can to support our membership and the business community at large. We recently partnered with the city of Middletown on the distribution of BinaxNOW COVID-19 antigen self-test kits to approximately 250 Middletown businesses. As is commonly known, these tests are currently in very limited supply, so we tried to focus on businesses that come into contact with a significant number of people on a regular basis. We were able to supply many local restaurants, retail establishments, and businesses from other industries with two kits, which contain two tests each. Last Friday, we held another vaccine booster clinic at the chamber facility, which made available the Moderna, Pfizer or the Johnson & Johnson booster shot. We are also working on the distribution of N-95 masks to members of the local business community. All the businesses that have taken advantage of these services are very grateful. I want to take a moment to once again thank Mayor Ben Florsheim, Acting Public Health Director Kevin Elak, and Emergency Management Director Rob Kronenberger for their support of Middletown businesses over the past two years. Middletown truly is a community, and it is one that we are happy to be a part of. I know that better days are ahead for all of us. Chamber meetings This week is another busy one on the chamber calendar, which features meetings of our Westbrook and East Haddam and Haddam Divisions on Tuesday and Thursday at 8 a.m. on Zoom. These meetings will focus on the continuing economic impacts of the pandemic, and our efforts to mitigate them, upcoming events and activities, and other important topics. Wednesday morning will feature meetings of our Womens Leadership Collaborative group at 8:30 a.m. via Zoom, as well as a meeting of the Business Industry Foundation of Middlesex County, which will discuss the many grants and programs that the chamber is either actively involved in or pursuing. This week also features a meeting of our recently established Big 8, which collectively monitors the chambers finances. This group of dedicated and engaged chamber members continues to do great work as we navigate this ever-changing climate. Finally, I also look forward to representing the chamber on a virtual meeting of the Workforce Alliance Executive Committee Thursday morning. Another busy week is upon us, and the chamber team is ready to go. Public policy agenda The chambers Legislative Committee continues to stay very active and engaged as the start of the 2022 regular session of the General Assembly approaches. Our Executive Committee formally adopted our public policy agenda at its January meeting, and I would like to thank our Legislative Committee for doing a great job developing this document. This year, the chamber is once again urging the General Assembly to focus their efforts on providing meaningful support to the businesses in the state, to partner on measures to assist in recovery from the pandemic, and to avoid imposing unnecessary tax or regulatory burdens on businesses and residents of Connecticut. Matt Ritter to speak Our Legislative Leadership Series will kick off Feb. 4 at 8 a.m., when we will host an in-person meeting with Speaker of the House Matt Ritter. At this special meeting held at the Inn at Middletown, Speaker Ritter will visit with chamber members to discuss the legislative session. The chambers Board of Directors and Legislative Committee will have the opportunity to discuss some important issues on our 2022 Public Policy Agenda. I would like to thank Updike, Kelly & Spellacy for sponsoring, and Speaker Ritter for visiting with us at this critical time. Legislative breakfast I also ask that members and other interested parties save Feb. 25 at 8 a.m. for our annual legislative breakfast at the Courtyard by Marriott, Cromwell. I will have much more details on this important annual event in upcoming columns. National Mentoring Month In closing, I want to acknowledge that January is National Mentoring Month. With over 30 years of mentoring, the Hal Kaplan Middletown Mentor Program, under the guidance of schools mentor coordinator Sylvia Webb and chamber staff liaison Jennifer De Kine, is a partnership between the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce and the Middletown Board of Education. This important effort provides volunteer mentors from the community, including business people, retirees, parents and anyone in between who are committed to spending quality time with local youth. All of Middletowns public schools are involved. Students in grades two through five are matched with mentors, and it is our hope that relationships established through the program will continue from elementary school all the way through high school. Mentors commit to spending a small amount of time on a weekly or bi-weekly basis with their mentees, usually during the childs lunch period. All it takes to become a mentor is a small amount of time, a big heart, and a desire to become a valuable part of a childs life. The Hal Kaplan Middletown Mentor Program has achieved notable success over the course of many years, and we are proud of it. We look forward to growing it as we move forward. The sun always shines in Middlesex County! Larry McHugh is president of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce in Middletown. New London Police / Contributed WATERFORD State police say a couple attempted to evade authorities this week after detectives tried to arrest one of them. On Tuesday around 10:45 a.m., state police and detectives with the New London Police Department were trying to take Kellon McPherson, 26, into custody. Officers had felony arrest warrants charging McPherson, who is also a convicted felon, with first-degree and second-degree failure to appear, state police said in a statement Friday. The East Carolinian has created a forum that centers around topics within the community where readers can express their experiences and concerns. With Valentine's Day coming up, do you think the ECU community and the City of Greenville is doing all they can to make people feel loved and supported? Survey 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. 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Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular. Controls - Video Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key. Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation) Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys. The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types. The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control. Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways: - without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method - with stereoscope - with anaglyph glasses. - on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system) For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them. 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 The Yokohama DeNA BayStars have re-signed right-hander Michael Peoples to a new contract for the 2022 season, the team announced. This will be Peoples third season pitching with the BayStars. Originally a 14th-round pick in the 2012 draft, Peoples posted a 4.16 ERA and a 17.3% strikeout rate over eight seasons and 779 2/3 innings in Clevelands farm system. Working primarily (126 of 166 games) as a starter, Peoples saw action at the Triple-A level over the last four of his seasons in affiliated ball, but never got the call to the majors. Injuries played a role, as Peoples was limited to only 133 1/3 total innings in 2017-18 and kept him from a full Triple-A season until 2019. Over his first two seasons in Japan, Peoples spent time with both the BayStars NPB team and its minor league affiliate. The 30-year-old righty has a 4.55 ERA over 85 innings with Yokohama. Tyler Austin, Edwin Escobar, Fernando Romero, and Neftali Soto are some of the former MLB players joining Peoples as the non-Japanese contingent in the BayStars spring camp. 21.01.2022 LISTEN The Deputy Minister for Energy, Mr. William Owireku Aidoo has stated that with the government's satisfaction that the AMERI plant at the end of its agreement period is fit for purpose, the legal title to the plant has been transferred into state ownership. The Deputy Minister made these remarks when he represented the sector Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh at the formal handing over ceremony of the plant to Ghana by AMERI Co Ltd, at Aboadze in the Western Region on Thursday morning. Tracing the background of the plant, the Deputy Minister, who is also the MP for Afigya Kwabre South noted that the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) Agreement in 2015 between the Government of Ghana and Africa and Middle East Resources Investment for a fast-track turnkey power solution through the construction of a power plant, which was ratified by Parliament in March 2015, originally stipulated a 60-month payment period. Upon the coming into office of the NPP in January 2017, the government took the view that the required payments over the 60-month period were rather onerous on the public purse and took steps to renegotiate it in order to allow the state more room in meeting its payment obligations without default, he further noted. This, he noted, resulted in an agreement between Ghana and AMERI to extend the payment period from 60 to 72 months, with the further agreement that the title of the Ameri equipment would be transferred to the Government of Ghana upon completion of the extended term (i.e January 2022). He further recalled that prior to the end of the term, some extensive amount of the germ has taken place to ensure a seamless transfer of the plant from the contractor to the Government of Ghana. These include a condition survey of the equipment to confirm that it had been maintained in accordance with the Original Equipment Standards during the period of operation. On the future plans for the plant, Mr. Aidoo stated that, Government has taken the decision to relocate it from Aboadze to Anwomaso in the Ashanti Region to boost the reliability of power supply in the middle and northern sections of the grid and also for export. Preparatory works for the proposed site are at an advanced stage and progressing on schedule, he said. He further disclosed that the project would also promote the extension of the gas pipeline network of Ghana, which hitherto terminated in the Western Region. The presence of natural gas in the region, he said, would stimulate other productive non-power uses of our indigenous natural gas resources. On behalf of the President, the Deputy Minister expressed his heartfelt appreciation to all those whose hard work and commitment have brought the country thus far, including AMERI, Ministry of Energy staff, VRA and GRIDCo officials as well as all who contributed one way or the other to bring the project to fruition. citinewsroom Hermnio Silves 22.01.2022 LISTEN New York, January 21, 2022 Cape Verdean authorities must drop their investigation into journalist Herminio Silves and should not compel journalists to disclose confidential information about their sources or criminalize the disclosure of information in the public interest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since early January, the attorney generals office in Praia, the capital, has issued three summonses to Silves, editor of the privately owned news website Santiago Magazine, over his reporting on alleged police abuses, according to a report by Santiago Magazine; Silves, who spoke to CPJ in a phone interview; and copies of the summonses, which CPJ reviewed. The three summonsessent on January 3, 5, and 12concern alleged violations of Cape Verdes judicial secrecy laws. If convicted of violating judicial secrecy, Silves could face six months to four years in prison under Cape Verdes penal code. The journalist is ordered to appear at the Praia attorney generals office for questioning on January 26. Prosecutors in Cape Verde must stop hounding journalist Herminio Silves and should abandon their fishing expedition into his confidential sources, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator. Journalists must be able to report on alleged abuses by officials without fear that they will be subject to legal harassment or see their reporting on issues in the public interest be criminalized. On December 26, Silves published a report in Santiago Magazine on an investigation into the potential involvement of the judicial police and Minister of Internal Administration Paulo Rocha in the alleged murder and torture of a criminal suspect in 2014, when Rocha was deputy director of the judicial police. On December 30, the attorney generals office published a statement confirming the investigation into the alleged murder, but denied it had summoned Rocha. The statement added, Santiago Magazines report alleges it had access to classified documents and that authorities therefore ordered a criminal investigation into the alleged crime of violation of judicial secrecy and sought to identify the source of those documents. Rochas adviser Carla Almeida emailed CPJ a statement from the minister denying all the allegations against him, and adding that he would defend my dignity, my good name and public image with all legal means available. The January 3 summons names Silves and Santiago Magazine as witnesses in an investigation into violations of the judicial secrecy law; the January 5 summons overrode the previous one, and names them as defendants; and the January 12 summons, which overrode both previous summons, says the journalist is expected to appear and that the decision whether they [Silves and the outlet] are witnesses or defendants would be made on the day of his appearance, according to the summonses and Silves lawyer, Silvino Fernandes, who spoke to CPJ via phone. Silves told CPJ that the summonses send a message to all journalists that some people are off limits. He said he believed the attorney generals office was retreating after issuing the second summons, because of an outcry among media workers that he had been labeled as a defendant. He told CPJ that he planned to attend the questioning with his lawyer, but said, my sources, they wont get from me. When CPJ called the Praia attorney generals office, a representative requested that questions be sent to the offices spokesperson, Inelson Costa. Costa replied by referring CPJ to a January 20 statement by the Public Ministry, saying that authorities were investigating a suspected violation of judicial secrecy. That statements says that, while journalists are not themselves bound by judicial secrecy laws, they can still face other penalties under Article 133 of the criminal procedure code for committing qualified disobedience by disclosing confidential judicial information; under the penal code, that could be punished by up to two years in prison or a fine to be set by a judge. Jeremias Furtado, president of the Cape Verdean Journalists Association, a local trade group, told CPJ via messaging app that he considered the investigation to be an attack on media freedom. On January 13, Cape Verde President Jose Neves told reporters that everything possible should be done to protect press freedom. He said journalists should not be guilty of a crime if they access and publish confidential information, and the responsibility should lie with whoever managed that information. Security forces fired tear gas at protesters barricading the streets and throwing rocks in Burkina Faso's capital on Saturday, as anger grew at the government's inability to stop jihadist attacks spreading across the country. Several hundred people marched through downtown Ouagadougou chanting for President Roch Marc Christian Kabore to resign. The jihadists are hitting (the country), people are dying, others are fleeing their homes We want Roch and his government to resign because their handling of the country is not good. We will never support them, said protester Amidou Tiemtore. Some people were also protesting in solidarity with neighboring Mali, whose citizens are angry at the West African economic regional bloc, Ecowas, which imposed sanctions on the country after the ruling junta delayed this year's elections. Burkina Faso's protest comes amid an escalation in jihadist attacks linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State that has killed thousands and displaced 1.5 million people. No end in sight The violence shows no signs of abating. Nearly 12,000 people were displaced within two weeks in December, according to the UN. Four French soldiers were also wounded during a joint operation with Burkina Faso's military, the first time French soldiers have been injured in the country since two were killed in 2019 during a hostage release operation, Pascal Ianni, spokesman for the chief of defense for the French armed forces, told The Associated Press. France has some 5,000 troops in the region but until now has had minimal involvement in Burkina Faso compared with Niger or Mali. This is the second government crackdown on protests since November and comes after the government shut down access to Facebook last week, citing security reasons, and after arresting 15 people for allegedly plotting a coup. As tensions mount, the government is struggling to stem the jihadist violence. Last month the president fired his prime minister and replaced most of the cabinet. Negotiations The government's national security arm is also said to be preparing to reopen negotiations with the jihadists, according to a military official and a former soldier who did not want to be identified. The last time the government negotiated secret cease-fire talks with the jihadists was around the 2020 presidential elections when fighting subsided for several months. But locals say it's too late for talks and that the country is being overrun by jihadists who control swaths of land, plant their flag and make people abide by Shariah law. They just come and are squeezing people (out of their homes) and there is no (government) strategy, said Ousmane Amirou Dicko, the Emir of Liptako. For the first time since the conflict he said he no longer feels comfortable driving from the capital to his home in the Sahel. (AP) Member of Parliament for the Wa East Constituency, Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, has called on the Ministers for Defence and National Security to restore the security arrangements originally put in place for the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin without any further delay. This follows communication of withdrawal of soldiers assigned to the Office of the Rt. Hon. Speaker by a letter dated 11 January 2022 and signed by Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, Major General Nicholas Peter Andoh. The letter read, It is humbly requested that the personnel are withdrawn with effect from 14 January 2022 while efforts are made to regularize their attachment. Subsequent revelation from the Clerk of Parliament shows all steps and procedures for the assignment of soldiers to the Speaker were followed. I urge the Ministers to take urgent steps to restore the soldiers immediately, Dr. Jasaw stressed. The officers, WO1 Jafaru Bunwura, WOII Apugiba Awine David, Sgt Agbley Prosper and Sgt. Prince Bonney were assigned to the Office of the Speaker since the assumption of office by Alban Bagbin in January 2021, and they have since provided watertight security to the Speaker. With a hung Parliament and recent tensions in Parliament, Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, believes the withdrawal of the military detail will compromise the safety and security of the Speaker of Parliament. Dr. Jasaw stated that, this unique 8th Parliament requires that special arrangements are in place to preserve the security and safety of the Speaker of Parliament, the withdrawal of the men is needless and calculated to put Mr. Speaker at high risk. According to Dr. Jasaw, the withdrawal of the military detail of Mr. Bagbin reflects a deliberate denigration and weakening of state institutions under the Akufo-Addo government. He added, The actions by the President are a direct affront to the 1992 Constitution and only meant to erode public confidence in our democracy. It is therefore no surprise that Ghana's rank on the World Democracy Index 2020 reduced from 54th position with score of 6.75 in 2016 to 59th position with score of 6.50 in 2020. I reiterate the position of the Leader of the Minority Group that, We shall hold the President, Defence and National Security Ministers accountable for any breach to the security and safety of the Speaker of Parliament. The Wa East MP made these remarks during a tour of his Constituency to assess various developmental projects as part of his official duties. ---citinewsroom The National Communications Director of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has has said the Covid-19 vaccine mandates being rolled out in the country are unlawful and not supported by science. As part of efforts by the government to get many people vaccinated. Some institutions including the Ghana Immigration Service, Ministry of Health, Parliament of Ghana, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), University of Health and Allied Sciences, Takoradi Technical University among others are rolling out COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Just recently, the Ghana Education Service in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service announced that it is resuming the exercise in Senior High Schools to have students 15 years and above vaccinated. In reaction, Sammy Gyamfi who has been crusading against compulsory vaccination has said the COVID-19 vaccine mandates rollouts are against the laws of this country. According to him, the rollouts are senseless to say the least. In short, the said COVID-19 vaccine mandates being rolled in the country are unlawful and senseless. They are neither supported by law or science, part of Sammy Gyamfis statement on Facebook reads. He continues, "If you want to take the jab, you are free to do so. "But if you dont want to take it, dont allow yourself to be coerced into taking it. If you find yourself in any of these lawless and oppressive agencies rolling out these illegal mandates, refuse to be silent. Resist them with all your might, speak up and sue them. Read the full statement below: Folks, I have taken notice of some State and private institutions who are currently rolling out COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the country. These institutions include the Ghana Immigration Service, Ministry of Health, Parliament of Ghana, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), University of Health and Allied Sciences, Takoradi Technical University among others. I also understand that the Ghana Health Service is seeking to compulsorily vaccinate all SHS students in the country. Before you succumb to pressure and take the jab, it is important to appreciate the risk you are taking by noting the following indisputable facts: 1. The President of the Republic Ghana in an official response to a petition presented to him by some Concerned Medical Doctors has indicated that his government is not rolling out any vaccine mandates in Ghana. 2. There is currently no valid Executive Instrument that allows any State or private organization in Ghana to mandate COVID-19 vaccines. The said vaccine mandates are therefore illegal. 3. COVID-19 vaccines have only been granted Emergency Use Authorization by FDA, Ghana. They have not been approved or registered by the FDA, Ghana. And, the said vaccine mandates violate the Emergency Use Authorization guidelines of the Food and Drugs Authority of Ghana which provides that the administration of the COVID-19 vaccines should be optional and not compulsory. 4. The said COVID-19 vaccine mandates violate the WHOs COVID-19 and mandatory vaccination: Ethical considerations and caveats. 5. The government of Ghana and the Ghana Health Service have conceded in official court processes filed by them and other official correspondences that COVID-19 vaccines cannot prevent the spread of coronavirus. They have also failed to adduce data or evidence to buttress their claim that the vaccines help to reduce the risk of severe illness and deaths. 6. COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be significantly unsafe. The government of Ghana and Ghana Health Service have indicated in official Court documents filed by them that the FDA, Ghana has neither tested nor conducted any scientific studies on COVID-19 vaccines. And that, there are serious adverse effects associated with COVID-19 vaccines including heart inflammation diseases, blood clots and deaths. Their claim that these ADRs which include deaths are rare is laughable to say the least. 7. The said COVID-19 vaccines are being administered in Ghana in breach of their contraindication guidelines and in flagrant disregard for the science of natural immunity. 8. Finally, persons who suffer serious adverse events or reactions to COVID-19 vaccines cannot sue the manufacturers of the vaccines for compensation. The government of Ghana has admitted in official court documents that they have indemnified the manufacturers of the vaccines against all liabilities associated with the vaccines which are being forced on you. In short, the said COVID-19 vaccine mandates being rolled in the country are unlawful and senseless. They are neither supported by law or science. If you want to take the jab, you are free to do so. But if you dont want to take it, dont allow yourself to be coerced into taking it. If you find yourself in any of these lawless and oppressive agencies rolling out these illegal mandates, refuse to be silent. Resist them with all your might, speak up and sue them. Together, we shall prevail. Sammy Gyamfi Esq. One more person has been confirmed dead from the explosion, which occurred at Appiatse in the Western Region last Thursday. The deceased (name withheld), a male, died at the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital in the Western Region Friday afternoon, health officials at the Hospital told the Ghana News Agency. The deceased sustained severe injury from the blast and was admitted at the Hospital on Thursday, January 20, 2022. Mr Asher Chris, a Physician Assistant at the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital, said the Hospital had made arrangements to airlift the victim to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for further treatment but he died ahead of schedule. Two of the victims had severe injury so we decided to refer them to a higher facility like Korle-Bu. ...The one who has died had a bad situation so we had arranged to airlift him to Accra but unfortunately, he died yesterday, he said. More than 60 victims, who sustained varying degree of injury from the disaster, were admitted at the Tarkwa Municpal Hospital on Thursday. As of 1800 Saturday, January 22, 2022, about ten persons had been discharged from the Hospital with others responding to treatment. Some of the injured had open fracture so we are preparing them to see an orthopaedic surgeon, Mr Chris said. At the Apinto Government Hospital in Tarkwa, one out of five injured persons admitted at the facility on Thursday had been discharged Saturday evening. The patients included a pregnant woman and a four-year-old boy. The pregnant woman had a metal stuck in her left thigh and successfully underwent surgery on Friday, health officials at the Hospital said. The four-year old boy sustained minor cuts on his face and other parts of his body. Preliminary investigations by the Police have established that a vehicle transporting mining explosives from Tarkwa to the Chirano Gold Mines collided with a motorcycle resulting in the explosion at Appiatse, a farming community between Bogoso and Bawdie in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality in the Western Region. More than 13 people were killed in the disaster with 179 others injured. The Minerals Commission on Saturday shut down Maxam Ghana Limited, owners of the explosive truck, to pave way for investigations into the accident. The Government has assured that it would provide temporary houses for the hundreds that have been displaced among other support services. GNA Gunfire broke out at several army barracks in Burkina Faso on Sunday, prompting the government to deny that the military had seized control of the notoriously volatile Sahel state. "Since 1 am, gunfire has been heard here in Gounghin coming from the Sangoule Lamizana camp," a soldier in a district on the western suburbs of the capital Ouagadougou said. Residents there also spoke of gunfire, and said it was increasingly heavy. Shots were heard at the Baby Sy barracks in the south of the capital and at an air base near the airport, military sources said. There was also gunfire at barracks in the northern towns of Kaya and Ouahigouya, residents there told AFP. The Sangoule Lamizana camp houses a military prison where General Gilbert Diendere -- a former right-hand man to deposed president Blaise Compaore -- is serving a 20-year term for an attempted coup in 2015. Commuters on Sunday in Ouagadougou, where gunfire was heard at several military barracks. By Olympia DE MAISMONT AFP He is also on trial for his alleged part in the 1987 assassination of the country's revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara, during a putsch that brought Compaore to power. Compaore, who was overthrown by a popular uprising in 2014, fled to Ivory Coast, and is being tried in absentia for the assassination. The government of Compaore's successor, Roch Marc Kabore, swiftly denied that there had been any coup. "Information on social media would have people believe there was an army takeover," government spokesman Alkassoum Maiga said in a statement. "The government, while acknowledging that there was gunfire in some barracks, denies this information and calls on the public to remain calm." Defence Minister General Barthelemy Simpore said said on nationwide TV "none of the Republic's institutions has been troubled at the present moment". He added that there were "localised, limited" incidents "in a few barracks," and that he was investigating. Accused: Diendere at the start of the trial last October into the assassination of revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara. By OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT AFP Earlier this month, the authorities said they had arrested 12 people, including a senior army officer, over a suspected plot to "destabilise institutions" in the country. The landlocked West African state ranks among the poorest in the world, and has had little stability since gaining independence from France in 1960. Anger at jihadist toll The latest turbulence coincides with a jihadist insurgency that swept in from neighbouring Mali in 2015, overwhelming Burkina's poorly-trained and badly-equipped armed forces. Around 2,000 people have died, according to an AFP tally, while around 1.5 million people are internally displaced, according to the national emergency agency CONASUR. Burkina Faso. By AFP Anger at Kabore's failure to stem the bloodshed has risen, spilling over into clashes with the security forces. On Saturday, police used tear gas to disperse banned rallies, arresting dozens. In Kaya, where many displaced people have moved, residents told AFP that protesters had stormed the headquarters of the ruling People's Movement for Progress (MPP) party. On November 27, dozens were wounded when hundreds turned out to protest. Among the soldiers arrested this month over the plot to "destabilise institutions" was Lieutenant-Colonel Emmanuel Zoungrana, who had been commanding anti-jihadist operations in country's badly hit western region. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here A French soldier has been killed in a mortar attack on a military camp in Gao, northern Mali, the Elysee Palace announced Sunday. Brigadier Alexandre Martin had been serving in France's Barkhane operation in the restive Sahel region. In a statement, President Emmanuel Macon "respectfully saluted the memory Brigadier Martin, saying he "joined in the grief of his family, his loved ones and his brothers in arms. Although the exact circumstances of the incident, which took place Saturday, were unclear, authorities pointed to a jihadist attack. Macron said he confirmed the determination of France to continue the fight against terrorism in the region. More than 4,000 French forces are stationed in the Sahel region of West Africa, most of them in Mali. Paying fresh tribute to French troops in West Africa, the Elysee saluted the courage of the soldiers in the Sahel, saying the President had expressed his total confidence in them. Paris has started reducing its presence in Mali, hoping to halve the contingent by the summer of 2023, and has asked its European Union allies to provide more support. It is now mulling an earlier exit amid rapidly deteriorating relations with the military junta that has ruled the country since a coup in August 2020. Read also: Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, left Accra, Ghana for New York, United States of America on Saturday January 22, 2022. Ahead of meetings with senior officials of the United Nations, Dr Bawumia will deliver, on behalf of HE President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo , a Statement during the Open Debate of the UN Security Council, to which Ghana was recently elected as a Non-Permanent member. Dr Bawumia is also expected to hold discussions in Washington DC with the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, HE Ms Molly Phee on strengthening the cooperation between the two countries on issues of mutual interest. The Vice President returns to Accra on Friday, January 28, 2022. Abdulmalik Tanko and Hanifa Abubakar 23.01.2022 LISTEN The death of Hanifa Abubakar, the 5-year-old pupil of Noble Kids Nursery and primary school, Kawana, Kano has shocked the nation. She was kidnapped on December 2, 2021. What is baffling about the demise of late Hanifa is not her tender age, beauty, innocent looks or been the only child of her parents, but the news that she was kidnapped and subsequently killed by her teacher cannot be fathomed. The poor, little and helpless girl had been in the captivity of her captor for 45 days before he, along with his accomplices killed her, dismembered the body and buried it at the premises of the school he superintendent. Only God knew the abuses and sufferings the hapless child had gone through before he killed her. You can imagine how you would feel if you were Malam Abubakar Abdussalam, the father of the slained Hanifa, or malama Fatima Maina, her mother. I feel the agony and anguish of the parents because I also lost an angel like Hanifa in 1995. My heart bleeds for late Hanifa and I share the grief and perturbation of her father and mother. The cruelty meted on the deceased, by none other than her teacher has invited august visitors within Kano state to throng the house to condole the family over the demise of their daughter. Wives of former governors of Kano state, religious leaders, among other dignitaries, were the early callers at the deceaseds house to condole the grieving family. As days pass by, condolences have been pouring into the family of the deceased. Worthy of mention is the consoling message from President Muhammdu Buhari and some governors to the family. The concerns of some notable Nigerians about the death of Hanifa and the public outcry and appeal by Nigerians demanding for justice for the deceased are consoling not only to her immediate family, but to all Nigerians who condemned the gruesome murder of the child. The death of Hanifa, as cruel and condemnable as it is, has predictably raised a heated debate about parenting, community vigilance, role of traditional rulers and the urgent need for death sentence for kidnappers, rapists and bandits in our laws. Parents must be more vigilant now more than ever to protect children from predators. Residents in the neighborhood should work with the traditional leadership and religious authorities to identify challenges, issues and concerns that emerge at the neighborhood by gathering information that will assist in combating violent crime. And, above all; a life for a life as enshrined in the spirit of retributive justice canon should be enforced in Hanifas case. This is the only punishment that will provide justice for Hanifa and give a sense of satisfaction for her family members and the society in general. Even though Hanifa died before she could be rescued, it is pleasing that her death would not go in vain. The governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has assured that the state government would continue to meticulously monitor and ensure the prosecution of anyone found culpable in the kidnap and murder of Hanifa Abubakar. While most teachers write their history in letters of gold, it is unfortunate that Abdulmalik Tanko, the wicked teacher who kidnapped and killed a 5-year pupil writes his own history in letters of blood. He deceived the police and parents of the deceased by misleading the investigation team. Two weeks after he killed her, he was always at the house of malam Abubakar under the guise of a concerned uncle to console the family. Hanifa, his innocent victim, died a martyrs death. Tanko is the looser. He did not get the ransom with which he would use to expand his school, the reason that attracted him to commit the crime. And the attempt to cover up the crime by butchering Hanifa for fear that she would expose him has ended in fiasco, as he is now caught and under investigation. The case of Hanifa has raised questions on the proliferation of private schools in Nigeria and the need for parents and government to scrutinize private schools and proprietors to forestall recurrence of betrayal of trust by teachers and proprietors. We commend the commissioner of Education of Kano state, Muhammed Sanusi Kiru for swinging into action by immediately closing down Noble Nursery and Primary school, pending the outcome of the investigation. We must praise the police and the secret service for apprehending the perpetrators and hope that the late Hanifa would get justice, and the law will take its course on Mr. Tanko to ensure that he reaps what he sows. May the Almighty Allah accept Late Hanifa into aljannatil firdaus and give the family the strength and the fortitude to bear the pains of her demise. Saleh Bature wrote in this piece from Limpopo Street, Maitama Abuja. He is reachable at [email protected] Gunfire broke out at several army barracks in Burkina Faso on Sunday and internet connections were disrupted, prompting fears of a coup in the notoriously volatile west African state which the government quickly denied. The unrest comes a little over week after 12 people, including a senior army officer, were arrested on suspicion of planning to "destabilise institutions" the country, which has been rocked by a seven-year jihadist insurgency. Residents in the Gounghin district in the west of the capital Ouagadougou reported heavy gunfire at the Sangoule Lamizana camp and military prison where an ousted army general is being held. "Since 1 am, gunfire has been heard here in Gounghin coming from the Sangoule Lamizana camp," a soldier in the area confirmed to AFP. Local inhabitants said soldiers had come out of the barracks firing in the air and sealed off the area around it. Commuters on Sunday in Ouagadougou, where gunfire was heard at several military barracks. By Olympia DE MAISMONT AFP Shots were heard at the Baby Sy barracks in the south of the capital as well as at an air base near the airport, which was also sealed off by soldiers in balaclavas, according to local residents. There was also gunfire at barracks in the northern towns of Kaya and Ouahigouya, residents there told AFP. Meanwhile, mobile internet services were down on Sunday morning. President Roch Marc Kabore's government swiftly denied that there had been a coup. "Information on social media would have people believe there was an army takeover," government spokesman Alkassoum Maiga said in a statement. "The government, while acknowledging that there was gunfire in some barracks, denies this information and calls on the public to remain calm." Defence Minister General Barthelemy Simpore said on nationwide TV that "none of the Republic's institutions has been troubled at the present moment". He added that there were "localised, limited" incidents "in a few barracks," and that he was investigating. Police fired tear gas to break up a rally by around 100 people who gathered at a square in central Ouagadougou to show support for the soldiers' revolt, an AFP correspondent at the scene reported. History of coups The Sangoule Lamizana camp houses a military prison where General Gilbert Diendere -- a former right-hand man to deposed president Blaise Compaore -- is serving a 20-year term for an attempted coup in 2015. Accused: Diendere at the start of the trial last October into the assassination of revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara. By OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT AFP He is also on trial for his alleged part in the 1987 assassination of the country's revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara, during a putsch that brought Compaore to power. Compaore, who was overthrown by a popular uprising in 2014, fled to Ivory Coast, and is being tried in absentia for the assassination. Earlier this month, the authorities said they had arrested 12 people, including a senior army officer, over a suspected plot to "destabilise institutions" in the country. The landlocked West African state ranks among the poorest in the world, and has had little stability since gaining independence from France in 1960. Anger at jihadist toll Burkina Faso. By AFP The latest turbulence coincides with a jihadist insurgency that swept in from neighbouring Mali in 2015, overwhelming Burkina's poorly-trained and badly-equipped armed forces. Around 2,000 people have died, according to an AFP tally, while around 1.5 million people are internally displaced, according to the national emergency agency CONASUR. Anger at Kabore's failure to stem the bloodshed has risen, spilling over into clashes with the security forces. On Saturday, police used tear gas to disperse banned rallies, arresting dozens. In Kaya, where many displaced people have moved, residents told AFP that protesters had stormed the headquarters of the ruling People's Movement for Progress party. On November 27, dozens were wounded when hundreds turned out to protest. Among the soldiers arrested this month over the plot to "destabilise institutions" was Lieutenant-Colonel Emmanuel Zoungrana, who had been commanding anti-jihadist operations in country's badly hit western region. Media General Group, Ghanas leading media conglomerate through its Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility management structure, 3Foundation, has launched a campaign to support victims of the Apiatse explosion. Dubbed Media General Support Apiatse Victims, the campaign is to offer relief support to the victims of the Apiatse explosion, which occurred on Thursday 20th January 2022 when a truck carrying explosives to a gold mine crashed with a motorcycle. Chief Operating Officer of the Media General Group, Kingsley Winfred Afful revealed the groups motive for launching the campaign. As a responsible organization, it forms part of our responsibility to support efforts to bring relief to the affected people. We have committed ourselves to enriching lives and empowering Ghanaians across the country. We have carried out several projects over the years spearheaded by 3Foundation, he highlighted. He further appealed to corporate Ghana and individuals to join in this campaign by supporting with cash or other relief items such as mosquito nets, tents, mattresses, food items, new and used clothing, bags of cement, roofing sheets and other building materials. Donations can be made at the offices of TV3 Network in Kanda, Accra, Connect FM in Takoradi and Akoma FM in Kumasi between 9 am and 5 pm daily. Cash donations can be made through MOMO (0242261550 TV3 Network, Reference Apiatse Victims) or 3Foundations Zenith Bank account number 6010603927, Kojo Thompson Road branch. Chris Koney, Group Head of Corporate Affairs at Media General (020 8541480) and Ransford Osei Asare, General Manager of Connect FM (0244714984) have been appointed to manage this campaign. 23.01.2022 LISTEN The Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has charged party members who have expressed willingness to contest in the various positions of the ruling New Patriotic Party to avoid undermining one another. He said such action has the potential to negatively affect the partys fortunes in the 2024 general elections. This is why it seems unhealthy and irritatingly too early, to a large extent, perilous, for those of our compatriots interested in leading our party at various levels, the polling station, constituency, regional and national levels to start aggressively undermining each other as some reports suggest, he stated. The Effutu lawmaker indicated that if such worrying phenomenon is not nipped in the bud, the agenda to break the eight years electoral cycle maybe a mirage. The Deputy Majority Leader made these remarks when he addressed his colleagues at the ongoing Workshop for Majority Caucus at Kwahu Abetifi which seeks to enhance their advocacies on some key policies and programmes of the government. If we are not careful, we will end up working at cross purposes which will lead us to a distorted common agenda of breaking the eight, the people of Ghana have reposed in us much confidence to do more, and we must stay focused and deliver just that." According to Hon Afenyo-Markin, there was the need for all of us to learn from past mistakes, saying "we solidify our grassroot, work together to break the eight." He stressed that when the Majority Caucus are determined to work together and support one another, success would crown their efforts. "The criticality of this period requires that members of the Majority caucus should eschew all acts which do not conform to the doctrines of the elephant family, "we are the faces of the party in our respective constituencies and as such our actions must one that inspires," he observed. The Deputy Majority Leader further noted that it was in their own interest that they do not allow petty issues to undermine the ultimate goal of the party in its resolve to win the 2024 elections. He opined that the unprecedented transformational, social intervention programmes and policies the NPP has done in just five years of governance will translate into massive votes come 2024. He further called for more of such capacity building for members periodically to aid them in their advocacies on the floor Parliament. The Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has charged party members willing to contest various positions in the party to be decorous in their pronouncements. He cautioned that, "the desire to break the eight is neither a divine right nor guaranteed outcome, we must work for it every minute of every day for the next three years." Speaking at the Majority Caucus retreat at Kwahu Abetifi, the Deputy Majority Leader stated that undermining each other is a worrying trend that has the potential to negatively affect the partys fortunes in 2024. Indeed, this is why it seems irritatingly too early, to a large extent, perilous, for those of our compatriots interested in leading our party at various levels to start aggressively undermining each other as some reports suggest, he emphasized. The retreat seeks to enhance their advocacies on some key policies and programmes of the government. Speaking, he said, the phenomenon is worrying and must be nipped in the bud, else the consequences for the NPP in its agenda to break the eight years cycle maybe a mirage. I dare say that if we are not careful, wed end up working at cross purposes, leading us to ultimately, lose the confidence that the good people of Ghana have reposed in us. On the point above, I do submit that there is the need for all of us to learn from our mistakes in the past and ensure that we work together to break the eight he admonished. He urged the caucus to work together as a team to ensure the party's agenda comes into fruition. The Deputy Majority Leader also stated that in working as team members they should avoid petty issues that will derail the ultimate goal of the party as it has resolved to win the 2024 elections. He further admonished members that divisionists must be kept at bay as that is one of the ways the party can break the eight-year jinx. He assured the MPs of the leaderships resolve and determination to put in place capacity building programmes for all Members of Parliament in the ensuing year to aid them in their advocacies on the floor of the House. Noble Touching Life Foundation (NTLF) Ghana, a humanitarian organisation that focuses on supporting children living with a birth deformity has presented items wealth thousands of Ghana cedis to Royal Seed Home in Kasoa. The presentation worth GH70,000 and a cheque of GH10,000 aimed at assisting the orphanage in running their daily activities. Food items, toiletries, babies diapers, soft drinks, clothes, Exercise Books, Slippers, Biscuits, detergents, etc, were among donated items to help reduce their daily expenditure as an orphanage. In an interview with the Director of NTLF, Mr George Anann, said, this outfit deemed it fit to support Royal Seed Orphanage based on touching stories heard about them in running their day to day activities. "We decided to support royal seed home based on a touching story we heard about them in day to day activities. Though, It's not our core to support homes but based on their story and also have deformities babies as well which is our priority as Noble touching life foundation, hence the visit". Mr. Anann emphatically said, his office will make provisions for children with birth defects to be well cared for. Highlighting on the NTLF plan, he said, the vision is to build a 100% health care facility that will care for babies with the defect and mothers with defects to reduce the load on the government or the society, adding that "relieving the pain of one child makes NTLF our team very happy." Mr. Anann seized the moment to commend the public for their support and contribution over the years; adding that Noble Touching Life Foundation is genius hence supporting worth it. "Noble touching life foundation some of our field workers are faced with some crisis due to what NGOs has done before taking the money and there is nothing to show up for. We are 100% genius this is our course and every day we do our best to touch life out there; so whenever our workers come to them they should donate something to their boxes in order to do what we are doing today". He advised parents, not to abandon their babies despite the child conditions but rather take good care of them because they are special gifts from God. In her acceptance remarks, Mrs Naomi Esi Amuah, the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Seed Orphanage commended Noble Touching Life Foundation for the support and asked God to strengthen them. She used the opportunity to call on individuals, NGOs, corporate institutions to assist them in the very little way they can. She urge mothers to avoid dumping their babies in an uncompleted building, rubbish site, etc rather send them to social welfare in order to be delivered to orphanages. The Ministry of Health has justified the collection of a fumigation fee on cement raw materials at the countys Ports of entry. The Chamber of Cement Manufacturers (COCMAG) recently raised concerns about the fumigation fee. COCMAG insisted that it was not necessary for cement raw materials to be fumigated and that Government should wave it off since manufacturers cannot be charged for no service done. The association argued that clinker, limestone and other cement raw materials are dry cargos which most often do not exit through the Port gate, as such not subject to any fumigation exercise. Reacting to the claims by COCMAG in a statement signed by the Minister of Health, Mr. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, it said the implementation of the Disinfection Health Service is based on the International Health Regulations (2005) prepared by the World Health Organization and made into international law at the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2007. IHR has been incorporated into Public Health Act 851 as the 7th Schedule in its entirety and the Government of Ghana is simply upholding its commitment to International and Local Law to protect Ghanaians, the Ministry said. Disinfection is defined as the procedure whereby health measures are taken to control or kill infectious agents on the exterior of a baggage, cargo, containers, conveyances, goods and postal parcels by direct exposure to chemical or physical agents. This procedure is implemented in the Biosecurity Zone that has been established around the Points of Entry (Border Crossings). Therefore, any vehicle that comes in or out of the Biosecurity Zone is disinfected without exceptions. If we allow exceptions, the projects integrity will be compromised, the Health Ministry added in the statement. When contacted, the Executive Secretary of COCMAG, Rev. Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah disclosed that the Chamber has had discussions with the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities on the fumigation fee which had been back and forth for some time now and needed the appropriate redress. The explanation by the honourable Minister is satisfactory because as patriotic citizens and professional business entities our ultimate aim is to protect and promote the economy. We cannot fight the Government, but rather support it to achieve its objective of national development. In this same vein, we would appeal to the Government to heed to our various petitions to ensure fair trade practices in the industry. There are a lot of unfair practices which need to be addressed, he said. Click here to read the Ministry of Healths full statement Reconstruction of the Bogoso to Anyanfuri road which was damaged by an explosion three days ago, has commenced. The Earthworks foreman for Couto-Rango Consortium, Nicholas Acheampong, said contractors have started filling and compacting portions of the road which were badly damaged by the explosion. We are now doing the cut and fill at the place where the explosion happened. So between today and tomorrow we will finish the excavation. We have already started putting the boulders on it so maybe from today and tomorrow we can start our layers which will be done in one week time, he said. In the meantime, the emergency road created since the disaster is still serving motorists on the Bogoso-Anyanfuri highway while construction continues. The town of Appiate has been left deserted following an explosion which occurred after a truck conveying mining explosives crashed with a motorcycle, according to reports. It has emerged that the persons who unfortunately lost their lives included a Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia , who was in the town on Friday, assured that the government will do all it can to support the affected families, to ensure that normalcy is brought back to the town. Government on its part is going to do everything to support the families, he said. The Vice President, on behalf of the government visited the Bogoso Catholic Parish Relief Centre where over 300 of the displaced persons are being catered for and donated mattresses, bags of rice as well as GH200,000 for the upkeep of survivors. citinewsroom Soldiers in Burkina Faso staged mutinies at several barracks to demand the sacking of the country's military top brass and allocation of more resources to a seven-year battle against Islamist insurgents. Gunfire was reported Sunday morning at several army bases, prompting fears of yet another coup in a volatile west African country prone to military takeovers. Meanwhile, demonstrators protesting over the government's handling of the jihadist threat set fire to the headquarters of the ruling party. But the government quickly denied rumours of a putsch and a list of demands presented by the rebellious troops made no mention of trying to oust President Roch Christian Kabore, while emphasizing the need for a better anti-jihadist strategy. "We want adequate resources for the battle" against Islamist extremists, a soldier from the Sangoule Lamizana base in Ouagadougou, one of those involved in the revolt, said in a voice recording received by AFP. The disaffected soldiers also wanted top generals to be "replaced", better care for injured troops and more support for the families of soldiers killed in battle, the spokesman for the mutinous troops added in the anonymous recording. The unrest comes a little over a week after 12 people, including a senior army officer, were arrested on suspicion of planning to "destabilise" Burkina's institutions. It also comes a day after police used tear gas to disperse banned rallies, arresting dozens. 'Localised, limited' incidents Residents in the Gounghin district, where the Sangoule Lamizana base is situated, reporting seeing soldiers firing in the air and sealing off the area around the barracks. Commuters on Sunday in Ouagadougou, where gunfire was heard at several military barracks. By Olympia DE MAISMONT AFP Shots were also heard at the Baby Sy barracks in the south of the capital, as well as at an air base near the airport, which was also surrounded by soldiers in balaclavas, witnesses said. There was also gunfire at bases in the northern towns of Kaya and Ouahigouya, residents there told AFP, and mobile internet services were cut. The government moved quickly to try to restore control. "Information on social media would have people believe there was an army takeover," government spokesman Alkassoum Maiga said in a statement. "The government, while acknowledging that there was gunfire in some barracks, denies this information and calls on the public to remain calm." Defence Minister General Barthelemy Simpore said on nationwide TV that "none of the Republic's institutions has been troubled" by the revolt. He added that there were "localised, limited" incidents "in a few barracks," and that he was investigating. Police fired tear gas to break up a rally by around 100 people who gathered at a square in central Ouagadougou to show support for the soldiers' revolt, an AFP correspondent reported. History of coups Sangoule Lamizana camp houses a military prison where General Gilbert Diendere -- a former right-hand man to deposed president Blaise Compaore -- is serving a 20-year term for an attempted coup in 2015. Accused: Diendere at the start of the trial last October into the assassination of revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara. By OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT AFP He is also on trial for his alleged part in the 1987 assassination of the country's revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara, during a putsch that brought Compaore to power. Compaore, who was overthrown by a popular uprising in 2014, fled to Ivory Coast, and is being tried in absentia for the assassination. Anger at jihadist toll Burkina Faso. By AFP The latest turbulence coincides with a jihadist insurgency that swept in from neighbouring Mali in 2015, overwhelming Burkina's poorly-trained and badly-equipped armed forces. Around 2,000 people have died, according to an AFP tally, while around 1.5 million people are internally displaced, according to the national emergency agency CONASUR. Anger at Kabore's failure to stem the bloodshed has risen, spilling over into clashes with the security forces. On November 27, dozens were wounded when hundreds turned out to protest. Among the soldiers arrested this month over the plot to "destabilise institutions" was Lieutenant-Colonel Emmanuel Zoungrana, who had been commanding anti-jihadist operations in country's badly hit western region. In an effort to revitalise Gambia's flagging tourism sector, which has been decimated during the Covid-19 pandemic, the West African country is looking closer to home, and even at its own, to bolster the once-vibrant industry. Beaches normally teeming with British and Dutch sunseekers are nearly empty, hawkers of fresh juice and souvenirs standing idle at Lemon Creek beach in Bijali. The downturn has affected the informal sector as well, including beach bars, says Hassan Ndow, president of the Gambia Beach Bar Association. The beach bars were paralysed, they couldn't move, he tells RFI, adding that the recession in the country made life even worse. We're seriously suffering because of Covid-19, and we've had no emergency funding, he adds. In a while, crocodile National heritage site Kachikally Sacred Crocodile Pool in Bakau, considered the main tourism attraction in Gambia, provides tourists the chance to touch and pet wild crocodiles. The giant reptiles are fed once a week, in accordance with their digestive system, and guides are on hand to ensure that visitors are safe while posing with and touching the unusually friendly creatures. But coronavirus has kept many international tourists away. Custodian Dodou Bojang says that the small shops that lead into the area are trying to stay afloat, but some have already closed. We have 3 percent of our normal total visitors, says Bojang, adding that the small percentage is from local visitors who come to see the ethnographic museum on site. We are expecting things to be better, but with this new variant, it's scary, he says, referring to the Omicron form of the coronavirus. At the crocodile pool, Ralph, a tourist from Maastricht, Netherlands, said that he was not worried about Covid, and was enjoying his time in the country. One hotel owner in Serrekunda, who didn't want to be identified, told RFI that Covid was killing the trade. All those tests cost money, added on to what tourists would be spending here, so they're not coming, she said, exasperated, motioning to a near-empty bar area. Home-grown tourism Gambia's dependence on tourism has forced the industry to take a closer look at how to prevent this from happening again, as 15 percent of the country's GDP (2019) is tourism based. We have lost billions of dalassis in revenue, and over 200,000 jobs, directly and indirectly in the sector, says Tourism Minister Hamat Bah. The International Monetary Fund estimates nearly 20 percent of all businesses folded during the pandemic downturn. The major impact is the closure of businesses hotels, restaurants, bars, the list goes on and it affects the suppliers, the value chain, says Marion Nyang, executive secretary of the Gambia Hotel Association. Hoteliers have had a rough time since March 2020, she adds. Bah says the government has already pumped 100 million dalassis, or 1.7 million euros, back into the industry for the 2021-22 high season that runs from late December until April. Here in the Gambia, we have very loyal visitors that come to the country every year, and some come twice a year, he says. Although international tourism has virtually collapsed, the down time during the Covid period has pushed the tourism industry to redesign how to attract Gambians themselves, as well as African tourists from neighboring countries. We're developing community-based histories and responsible tourism, says Panneh Ngoneh, tourism programme officer at the International Trade Centre. We want to decentralise tourism so people go upriver, and local people can be supported, she adds. If locals take control of the tourism in their area, they can create employment as well. Lessons from overseas Minister Bah says that they looked abroad to see how they could apply it at home. Throughout the world, including France, the only countries that restarted tourism quickly were those with a very strong domestic market, and Kenya is the leading country in Africa, he says. We also want to try and develop a very strong domestic market it will help to move the tourism sector forward, he adds. By luring African tourists from neighboring countries, where travel restrictions are less invasive, the country hopes to bolster the industry. The Hotel Association's Nyang says that they believe Covid-19 is here to stay, so they are maintaining strict sanitary protocols in hotels to ensure the safety of the staff and visitors. According to the Africa Center for Disease control and Prevention, there were 11,000 Covid cases registered as of mid-January, a low number for a nearly two-year span. Gambia is safe to travel to and our doors are open. We're known for peace and tranquility on the smiling coast of Africa, says Nyang. Ashanti Regional Police command has desrcribed as false a viral video purported to be a recent daylight robbery at Bantama in Kumasi. In a statement issued by the Ashanti Regional Police command the police stated the video was actually a music video that was shot by King Waab. The law enforcer says the musician and director of the said video had been invited to assist with investigations. The police further stated the video had caused fear and panic. 3news.com January 23, 2022 The MoA Week In Review - OT 2022-007 Last week's posts at Moon of Alabama: --- Other issues: Covid-19: Flying: Prosecution Futures: Cryptocurrency Is a Giant Ponzi Scheme - Jacobin Use as open thread ... Posted by b on January 23, 2022 at 15:09 UTC | Permalink Comments next page | Welcome Guest! You Are Here: RBI raises Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) by 50 basis points to 4.50 per cent effective May 21: Governor. Foreign exchange reserves remain high at over USD 600 billion and debt-to-GDP ratio is low, says Governor. Monetary policy still remains accommodative, careful; calibrated withdrawal of pandemic-related measures to be undertaken: Governor. Click for the latest, full-access Enid News & Eagle headlines | Text Alerts | app downloads Jeanne is business reporter for the Enid News & Eagle. Have a question about this story? Do you see something we missed? Do you have a story idea for Kat? Send an email to kjeanne@enidnews.com A Myrtle Beach man has been arrested and charged in connection to a deadly shooting earlier this month, according to a release from the Myrtle Beach Police Department. Ryan Jobe Harrell, 24, of Myrtle Beach, is charged with murder in connection a shooting on Jan. 5 on Grey Street in Myrtle Beach, the release said. He was arrest Thursday. Harrell is also charged with failure to stop for a blue light, as well as weapons and drug charges resulting from a separate incident on Tuesday, Jan. 18 when officers first attempted to take him into custody, according to police. While fleeing from police, Harrell struck a MBPD patrol SUV and another vehicle before fleeing on foot, police said. Despite not being able to locate Harrell immediately after the incident Tuesday, he was located outside Myrtle Beach city limits and taken into custody without incident Thursday. The U.S. Marshal's Task Force, State Law Enforcement Division and the Horry County Police Department assisted in Harrell's arrest. Harrell is the second person arrested and charged in connection to the shooting. Patrick Anthony Brave, 28, of Myrtle Beach was arrested on Jan. 10 and is charged with murder, along with first degree burglary, according to MBPD spokesperson Tom Vest. On Jan. 5, Myrtle Beach officers responded to the 900 block of Grey Street after hearing gunshots while patrolling in the area. According to a police report, a witness flagged down officers saying there was a male victim laying on the ground. The victim was breathing but unresponsive, the report said. When on scene, officers couldn't find any bullet wounds until the victim was placed on his stomach. The victim was then transported to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center for treatment. The victim, later identified as Bilal Harris by Horry County Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard, died from his injuries in the early morning hours on Saturday, Jan. 8. An arrest warrant said Brave drove himself, as well as other co-defendants, to the incident location where he entered a residence without consent. After entering, the warrant said Brave armed himself with a weapon that officials believed to have belonged to Harris and an altercation took place. As the physical altercation occurred between Brave and Harris, the two ultimately exited the residence where the co-defendants laid in wait, arrest warrants state. CARLINVILLE Officials in Carlinville on Tuesday announced the city is more than doubling the money available for its 2022-23 Facade Grant Program. Carlinville has secured the funds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. The expanded program will provide partial reimbursement for facade improvements for selected businesses. Typically, the city appropriates $10,000 for this annual program to benefit our business community," said Kim Harber, Carlinville's finance chairman. "This year the city has decided to increase that amount and at least double the funding available due to this unique opportunity provided by receiving federal funds through the American Rescue Plan." "Community and economic develop initiatives should always begin with business retention efforts. Our business community continues to support our efforts to overcome the effects of the pandemic," Harber said. "Applying for this matching grant program can assist them in needed repairs and upgrades. The Facade Grant Program is available to help commercial properties with improvements such as paint, lighting, window repair and other exterior work, subject to the city zoning regulations. Brian Zilm, economic development/zoning/grant administrator for the city, can guide businesses through the application packet. We at city hall hope that by expanding this program we can help alleviate some of the strain the pandemic has caused for our business owners while also improving the aesthetic charm of Carlinvilles historic business community, Carlinville Mayor Sarah Oswald said. Its a win-win for all parties. Oswald said the city is confident it can showcase Carlinville in 2026 for the 100th anniversary of Route 66. Carlinville Chamber of Commerce President Tim Rhodus said the additional funding provides "a fantastic opportunity" for local businesses to give their buildings a facelift. "It may seem like a long way off right now, but the Chamber of Commerce and the city are already preparing for what will be a busy year in 2026 due to it being the 100th anniversary of Route 66, Rhodus said. The Facade Grant Program filing period is March 1 through April 1; applications will be available at Carlinville City Hall and on the city's website and Facebook page starting Feb. 1. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When the envelope arrived in the mail one day in the 1930s and she pulled out the paper card and read 078-05-1120 for the very first time, they must have looked like a bunch of random numbers strung together. How could she have known they were a headache that would hound her to her grave? Hilda Schrader Whitcher was hardly a household name. And 078-05-1120 was one of those new-fangled Social Security numbers the federal government was issuing to each American citizen at the time. She probably didnt give it a second thought as she tucked the new card into her purse. Everything changed in 1938. Trouble, they say, comes creeping on cats feet. And Hildas nightmare began innocently enough at work one day when her boss asked a favor. Hilda was what we would today call an executive secretary. She worked for Douglas Patterson, vice president of the E.H. Ferree Co. in Lockport, New York, and he had just had an inspiration. Ferree made wallets. Patterson was looking for a gimmick, something to make his product stand out from the pack. Then it hit them: Americans were receiving their new Social Security cards from Washington. Why not add a plastic sleeve inside the wallet where they could store it while also making it easy to display? When the new feature was ready, Patterson decided to take an extra step to visually illustrate it to customers. He designed a card that looked very similar to the real thing. He added a few safety precautions, though, just to be safe. His version had red numbers and carried the word specimen to differentiate it from a genuine card. All it needed was one more detail to lend it total credibility. A Social Security number. And not just a random collection of numbers haphazardly thrown together, either. Patterson wanted an actual Social Security number. He wasnt willing to use his own. So, he asked Hilda for hers. Hows that for a prince of a boss? It must have been like working for Simon Legree. What could Hilda do? This was 1938, after all. With the country still clawing its way out of the Great Depression, good jobs were hard to come by. Hilda likely took a deep breath and slowly began reciting, 0-7-8 The new design was ready to go on sale. Tens of thousands of wallets were produced, each carrying a sample card with Hildas actual number boldly printed on it. What could possibly go wrong? The wallet was an instant hit. Buyers loved the new plastic sleeve. Dime store chain Woolworth started carrying it. While not quite Walmart, it was still a major national retailer and sold them by the thousands. Department stores sold them, too. And that was when the trouble started for poor Hilda. People who didnt have a Social Security number, or who hoped to avoid pesky legal complications by not using their own number, began using hers. Thousands and thousands of people. In 1943 alone, the Social Security Administration reported 5,755 Americans were claiming 078-05-1120 as their own. The total eventually topped 40,000. All that activity eventually drew the feds suspicion. The FBI even came calling one day, wanting to know why so many people were using the number assigned to her. Her co-workers had a field day teasing Hilda, too. They showed up at her desk once singing Bing Crosbys hit song, Here Comes the Million-Dollar Baby from the Five-and-Ten Cent Store. In fairness to Patterson, several other wallet makers also inserted phony Social Security cards in their products at the time, with scoundrels using them, too. Even the Social Security Administration itself blundered into the problem. In 1940, it produced a pamphlet containing a bogus SSN, and you guessed it unscrupulous people began using it. But Hildas headache was the worst of all. The problem grew so bad, the government eventually canceled 078-05-1120 and gave her an entirely new number. But the old one kept cropping up like a rash. As late as 1977, 12 people were still using it. What did the victim think? I cant understand how people could be so stupid, she told an interviewer late in life. I cant understand that. She probably still didnt understand when she passed away at age 88 in 1987. Unfortunately, identity theft is still with us stronger than ever. Thieves are more creative, and the damage they cause lasts longer than ever before. Protect yourself. Above all, never give someone your Social Security number just because they ask for it. Hilda would wholeheartedly agree. Even while living in areas dense with farms, ebbing rural populations are seeing fewer options for fresh groceries. For some in rural Illinois, the grocery store down the road is turning into a dollar store. Grocery stores, specialty food and convenience stores are disappearing in rural areas, while dollar stores and Walmart move in, according to data released by the United States Department of Agriculture. Rob Karr, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association and the Illinois Food Council, said this is not a new phenomenon. This has been going on for several years, frankly, Karr said. It frankly became challenging has become challenging to operate a full-service grocery store in more rural areas, what some might call food deserts theres just not the market force to sustain it. As rural populations decline, children move away and the market density has waned to a point where it cannot support those kinds of businesses, Karr said. You see fewer apparel stores or fewer shoe stores in those same types of areas, Karr said. You just dont have the number of customers you need for return visits to make it viable. But all is not lost. People are getting creative about how to source fresh produce and meat, experimenting with grocery trucks and other unconventional businesses, according to Karr. Youre seeing a revival of sorts of the cooperative type of approach, where you might have a couple communities band together and create a grocery cooperative that doesnt have the same cost pressures necessarily, and they might be more free to design their product selection because its the consumers themselves who are running it, he said. That doesnt really work for a broad-scale operation, but in an example where you have a couple communities band together, it might work. Two men and a dog were rescued from this crash involving an overturned tractor-trailer along I-44. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell pushed back Friday against the uproar over a comment he made about African American voters, calling the criticism directed his way outrageous. McConnell had been accused of racism for saying that African American voters cast ballots at similar rates to Americans. The comment implied that Black voters are somehow not American and underscored the concerns of voting rights advocates that Republicans in state legislatures across the country are explicitly seeking to disenfranchise Black voters. Following a speech Friday at an annual conference in Louisville, the Republican leader said he misspoke Wednesday when he made the comment during a Washington news conference. Ive never been accused of this sort of thing before, and its hurtful and offensive, he said. And I think some of the critics know its totally nonsense. McConnell on Wednesday had said that "African American voters are voting in just as high a percentage as Americans. McConnell explained on Friday that he should have said the word all before Americans. He also defended his record on race by noting that he attended the Rev. Martin Luther Kings March on Washington in 1963. He also said he helped organize a civil rights march at Kentuckys state Capitol and was present when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act in 1965. When asked what he would say to those who had been offended by his words, McConnell said he would discuss his record relating to voting rights, and brought up his role as a mentor to Kentuckys Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who is Black and one of many Republicans who came to the minority leader's defense this week. I think he would confirm with you that I recruited him to run. Ive supported him, and Im proud of him, McConnell said. I have had African American speechwriters, schedulers, office managers over the years. Charles Booker, a Kentucky Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, had been among many who had blasted the Republican earlier in the week. Booker, who is Black, did not back down from criticizing McConnell on Friday. Mitch McConnell wants you to know its fine for him to block Voting Rights because he has Black friends, tweeted Booker, who unsuccessfully ran for McConnells seat in 2020 and is challenging GOP Sen. Rand Paul this year. McConnell tried to rebuff concerns among Democrats that GOP state lawmakers across the country are trying to disenfranchise minority voters by pointing to record-high turnout for all voters in the 2020 election. Federal legislation like the kind he and other GOP lawmakers blocked on Wednesday also wasn't necessary, he said, because the Voting Rights Act was still law and concerns over specific state voting laws could be worked out through the court system. They co-opted Congressman Lewis name, stuck it on a bill that really was not related to the Voting Rights Act in order to try to achieve a partisan advantage by federalizing election laws, McConnell said, referencing the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. The part of the bill named after Lewis, the late civil rights leader and Democratic congressman from Georgia, would have updated the Voting Rights Act and was a direct response to a Supreme Court ruling that weakened the laws oversight of states with a history of discriminating against Black and other minority voters. ___ Hudspeth Blackburn is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. By Christine E. Hatch, Professor of Geosciences, UMass Amherst. Originally published at The Conversation Its no accident that both the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the California Institute of Technology claim the beaver (Castor canadensis) as their mascots. Renowned engineers, beavers seem able to dam any stream, building structures with logs and mud that can flood large areas. As climate change causes extreme storms in some areas and intense drought in others, scientists are finding that beavers small-scale natural interventions are valuable. In dry areas, beaver ponds restore moisture to the soil; in wet zones, their dams and ponds can help to slow floodwaters. These ecological services are so useful that land managers are translocating beavers in the U.S. and the United Kingdom to help restore ecosystems and make them more resilient to climate change. Scientists estimate that hundreds of millions of beavers once dammed waterways across the Northern Hemisphere. They were hunted nearly to extinction for their fur in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe and North America but are making comebacks today in many areas. As a geoscientist specializing in water resources, I think its important to understand how helpful beavers can be in the right places and to find ways for humans to coexist with them in developed areas. Scientists are studying ways to use beavers to mitigate wildfire and drought risks in the western U.S. How Beavers Alter Landscapes Beavers dam streams to create ponds, where they can construct their dome-shaped lodges in the water, keeping predators at a distance. When they create a pond, many other effects follow. Newly flooded trees die but remain standing as bare snags where birds nest. The diverted streams create complicated interwoven channels of slow-moving water, tangled with logs and plants that provide hiding places for fish. The messy complexity behind a beaver dam creates many different kinds of habitats for creatures such as fish, birds, frogs and insects. Human dams often block fish passage upstream and downstream, even when the dams include fish ladders. But studies have shown that fish have no trouble migrating upstream past beaver dams. One reason may be that the fish can rest in slow pools and cool pond complexes after navigating the tallest parts of the dams. The slow-moving water behind beaver dams is very effective at trapping sediment, which drops to the bottom of the pond. Studies measuring total organic carbon in active and abandoned beaver meadows suggest that before the 1800s, active and abandoned beaver ponds across North America stored large amounts of carbon in sediment trapped behind them. This finding is relevant today as scientists look for ways to increase carbon storage in forests and other natural ecosystems. Beavers may persist in one location for decades if they arent threatened by bears, cougars or humans, but they will move on if food runs out near their pond. When abandoned beaver dams fail, the ponds drain and gradually become grassy meadows as plants from the surrounding land seed them. Dried meadows can serve as floodplains for nearby rivers, allowing waters to spill out and provide forage and spawning areas for fish during high flows. Floodplain meadows are valuable habitat for ground-nesting birds and other species that depend on the river. The Value of Slowing the Flow As human settlements expand, people often wish to make use of every acre. That typically means that they want either land that is solid and dry enough to farm or waterways they can navigate by boat. To create those conditions, humans remove floating logs from streams and install drains to draw water off of fields and roads as quickly and efficiently as possible. But covering more and more land surface with barriers that dont absorb water, such as pavement and rooftops, means that water flows into rivers and streams more quickly. Rainfall from an average storm can produce an intense river flow that erodes the banks and beds of waterways. And as climate change fuels more intense storms in many places, it will amplify this destructive impact. Some developers limit this kind of damaging flow by using nature-based engineering principles, such as ponding water to intercept it and slow it down; spreading flows out more widely to reduce the waters speed; and designing swales, or sunken spots, that allow water to sink into the ground. Beaver wetlands do all of these things, only better. Research in the United Kingdom has documented that beaver activity can reduce the flow of floodwaters from farmlands by up to 30%. Just look at the engineering @rcampbellpalmers camera traps & @joshharriswilds time-lapse skills have produced this amazing footage of beavers maintaining their dam When a dam is damaged or washed away, beavers usually get to work on the repairs within 48 hours pic.twitter.com/rxi7FMpmIc Beaver Trust (@BeaverTrust) September 30, 2021 Beaver meadows and wetlands also help cool the ground around and beneath them. Wet soil in these zones contains a lot of organic matter from buried and decayed plants, which holds onto moisture longer than soil formed only from rocks and minerals. In my wetland research, I have found that after a storm, water entering the ground passes through pure mineral sand in hours to days but can remain in soils that are 80%-90% organic matter for as long as a month. Cool, wet soil also serves as a buffer against wildfires. Recent studies in the western U.S. have found that vegetation in beaver-dammed river corridors is more fire-resistant than in areas without beavers because it is well watered and lush, so it doesnt burn as easily. As a result, areas near beaver dams provide temporary refuge for wildlife when surrounding areas burn. Making Room for Beavers The ecological services that beavers provide are most valuable in zones where nobody minds if the landscape changes. But in the densely developed eastern U.S., where I work, its hard to find open areas where beaver ponds can spread out without flooding ditches or roads. Beavers also topple expensive landscaped trees and will feed on some cultivated crops, such as corn and soybeans. Beavers are frequently blamed for flooding in developed areas, even though the real problem often is road design, not beaver dams. In such cases, removing the beavers doesnt solve the problem. Culvert guards, fences and other exclusion devices can keep beavers a safe distance from infrastructure and maintain pond heights at a level that wont flood adjoining areas. Road crossings over streams that are designed to let fish and other aquatic animals through instead of blocking them are beaver-friendly and will be resilient to climate change and extreme precipitation events. If these structures are large enough to let debris pass through, then beavers will build dams upstream instead, which can help catch floodwaters. A growing body of research shows that setting aside pockets of land for beavers is good for wetland ecosystems, biodiversity and rivers. I believe we can learn from beavers water management skills, coexist with them in our landscapes and incorporate their natural engineering in response to weather and precipitation patterns disrupted by climate change. Who Should Be the Authors of a Scientific Paper? The Wire Hershey hockey fans set world record in Teddy Bear Toss game NY Post Is Not a Face Quite Different from a Mask?: Moliere at 400 Los Angeles Review of Books The first fairy stories were never intended for children The Spectator Everyones a Critic Los Angeles Review of Books Suburban Chicago McMansions Follow a Dark Logic Even I Do Not Understand McMansion Hell. Kate Wagner. From a couple of weeks ago; I dont think this link has been posted by Yves or Lambert. And if it has apologies whatever the case, enjoy. Jean-Jacques Savin: French adventurer dies crossing Atlantic Ocean BBC Esc-APE artist! Police warn public not to approach lab MONKEY that got away in Pennsylvania truck crash as they hunt it down and shoot dead three other escapees Daily Mail MTA Looking for High-Tech Ideas to Keep Subway Tracks Clear The City #COVID-19 Time to really ramp up NYTimes/WaPo articles scaremongering Chinas policy of saving livesmore unsustainable & Orwellian! Also, play Democrat Mad Libs with prepositionsnot died of Covid, but died [preposition] Covid: with, through, above, beyond, anything but of! https://t.co/z4nMTkqzll Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) January 22, 2022 Class Warfare Climate Supply Chain Solar panels a portrait of China supply chain risks Asia Times Waste Watch Biden Administration Theres a giant stack of unsigned executive orders sitting on Joe Bidens desk: https://t.co/D87Yk9MtjY Maybe you should be mad at him for not signing them, rather than spending your time coming up with fake reasons Democrats supposedly cant do anything. https://t.co/6Uk81RbOs2 David Sirota (@davidsirota) January 22, 2022 Gunz New Cold War ANTONY BLINKEN DECLARES HIMSELF IN CHARGE, MARKS HIS TERRITORY https://t.co/sIAAJumq7c PUNCTUALITY IN PRINCIPLE CANNOT BE A BAD SIGN SERGEI LAVROV https://t.co/X7DCcH1pSX pic.twitter.com/ERv3NlQauN Dances_with_Bears (@bears_with) January 21, 2022 Godzilla vs. Mothra Old Blighty Syraqistan Theres a Mass Palestinian Grave at a Popular Israeli Beach, Veterans Confess Haaretz India China? Antidote du Jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. By Jerri-Lynn Scofield, who has worked as a securities lawyer and a derivatives trader. She is currently writing a book about textile artisans. As he moves into his second year as President, it seems the only promise Joe Biden has made good on is his pledge that Nothing fundamental will change. This promise even applies to policies on climate change where voters might have expected Biden to pursue initiatives that curtailed expansion of the oil and gas industry. No such luck. Instead, Biden seems to be following in the footsteps of the last Democratic president, who proudly and publicly took credit for the oil and gas boom. Positively gloated. And if you dont believe me, watch the video clip contained in this post, which I posted again! less than a fortnight ago (U.S. Interior Department Moves to Block Some Oil and Gas Leasing on Alaskas North Slope). The Biden Fossil Fuel Record: Full Speed Ahead for Drilling on Public Lands Although I lrecently lauded the new administrations rollback of Trumpian excesses, thats far from the full story. Lets examine closely this Common Dreams article from Friday, Biden Outpaced Trump on Drilling Permits in First Year: Despite President Joe Bidens promise to phase out federal leasing for fossil fuel extraction, his administration approved more permits for oil and gas drilling on public lands in its first year than the Trump administration did in 2017. Thats according to the Center for Biological Diversitys new analysis of federal data released Friday, which shows that the Biden White House rubber-stamped 3,557 permits for oil and gas drilling on public lands in 2021a 34% increase over former President Donald Trumps administration, which greenlit 2,658 drilling permits in its first year. Of the drilling authorized by the Biden administration in the past year, almost 2,000 permits were approved for public lands in New Mexico, followed by 843 in Wyoming, 285 in Montana and North Dakota, and 191 in Utah. In California, Biden signed off on 187 permitsmore than twice as many as the 71 that Trump approved for drilling on the Golden States public lands during his first year in office. Bidens runaway drilling approvals are a spectacular failure of climate leadership, the Center for Biological Diversitys Taylor McKinnon said Friday in a statement. Avoiding catastrophic climate change requires ending new fossil fuel extraction, but Biden is racing in the opposite direction. Now, it seems that Biden initially intended to suspend fossil fuel drilling on public lands. At least he said so, and issued an executive order to implement just such a pledge. But when faced with entirely predictable pushback from Republican attorney generals challenging the policy, the legal whizkids at the Department of Justice essentially rolled over and signed off on the administration approving fossil fuel permits as if Trump had won, rather than lost, the 2020 election. Why do I say predictable pushback? Well, because these same AGs have challenged climate change policies in federal court before. Republicans are good at doing that: theyre absolutely ruthless in enacting legal and political initiatives that further their policy goals. So, one might hope that by this stage, Democrats might realize these AGs arent going anywhere and perhaps try to come up with independent fossil fuel policies that arent a mere rubber stamp of a drill baby drill agenda. Alas, expecting Democrats to govern effectively and follow through on implementing a change in climate change policy is I guess too much to ask. Per Common Dreams for more details: One year ago, Biden issued an executive order suspending new oil and gas leasing. The presidents pause of the federal leasing program was meant to give the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) time to conduct a comprehensive review of the potential climate and other impacts associated with oil and gas activities on public lands or in offshore waters. However, a group of Republican attorneys general awash in $4.5 million of campaign cash from the fossil fuel lobby sued the Biden administration in March, arguing that its moratorium violated a federal law requiring quarterly lease sales. In June, a Trump-appointed federal judge sided with them and issued a preliminary injunction. While the U.S. Department of Justice challenged the rulingand ultimately said in August that the judges decision to invalidate the pause does not compel the Biden administration to immediately resume new fossil fuel lease salesthe DOI backed down and took steps to resurrect the then-frozen oil and gas leasing program. In Novemberjust days after Biden professed Washingtons alleged commitment to decarbonization at the COP26 climate summitthe White House held Lease Sale 257, an auction condemned as ecologically irresponsible for offering up 80 million acres of the Gulf of Mexicos seabed to the highest-bidding oil and gas companies. Despite Bidens pledge to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of this decade, his administration also plans to allow fossil fuel corporations to purchase drilling rights for hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands. [Jerri-Lynn here: my emphasis in both bolded passages.] Remind me again who won the 2020 election? Because with respect to fossil fuel drilling on public lands, it sure seems to me that indeed, nothing fundamental has changed. This despite at least some administration officials being aware that there are alternatives to blind continuation of the Trumpian trend. But while theres in theory awareness of other such possibilities in theory, the reality is this administration continues to rubber stamp drilling permits, Again over to Common Dreams: As Food & Water Watch explained last month, the Biden administration has acknowledged that it has many other legal mechanisms to prohibit new oil and gas leasing aside from the disputed moratorium, which undermines its claim that its hands were tied by a right-wing judge. Because, guess what: the Trump administration efficiently installed lots of right-wing judges, and not just at the level of the Supreme Court. So, if this administration intends to get serious on implementing any climate change agenda, it must come up with a plan for dealing with such jurists. Throwing up ones hands and blaming the mess on the right-leading judiciary isnt a solution. What might that look like. This Common Dreams article, 360+ Climate Groups to Biden: Phase Out Fossil Fuels on Public Lands, outlines a starting point: More than 360 climate and rights groups filed a legal petition Thursday that calls on the Biden administration to utilize its executive authority to phase out federal oil and gas production on public lands and oceans. The groups say the petition offers a lifeline to the planet amid the climate crisis and a direct pathway to reverse President Joe Bidens catastrophic failure of climate leadership. The petition submitted to Biden and the Interior Department outlines a framework for drawing down oil and gas production by 98% by 2035 through executive action using the statutory provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act, Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and the National Emergencies Act. The natural place to start phasing out climate-destroying oil and gas production is on our public lands and oceans, and Biden has the authority to do so. If the U.S. leads, the world will follow. Biden must keep his promise to end federal oil and gas extraction, said Taylor McKinnon of the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD). Citing overwhelming scientific consensusthe petition calls on Biden to immediately cease approval of all new fossil fuel production and phase out nearly all existing fossil fuel productionto avert the most catastrophic consequences of the climate crisis. The Bottom Line So, its not just the administrations public health team thats flailing out in the deep end, clearly overwhelmed by the state of the pandemic and with no plan for trying to navigate safely to shore. Anyone whos been paying attention is aware that the planet is in deep trouble. Were well past the stage where climate change must be confronted Fossil fuel extraction on public lands and waters currently accounts for a quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Despite its wan promises in Glasgow, this administration continues to allow such production to expand. I think I preferred the Trump policy. At least in that case, the enemy was clear, and the message wasnt muddled. (Natural News) In its ongoing attempt to investigate and gather information about private U.S. citizens, the Congressional 1/6 Committee is claiming virtually absolute powers that not even the FBI or other law enforcement agencies enjoy. Indeed, lawyers for the committee have been explicitly arguing that nothing proscribes or limits their authority to obtain data regarding whichever citizens they target and, even more radically, that the checks imposed on the FBI (such as the requirement to obtain judicial authorization for secret subpoenas) do not apply to the committee. (Article republished from Greenwald.Substack.com) As we have previously reported and as civil liberties groups have warned, there are serious constitutional doubts about the existence of the committee itself. Under the Constitution and McCarthy-era Supreme Court cases interpreting it, the power to investigate crimes lies with the executive branch, supervised by the judiciary, and not with Congress. Congress does have the power to conduct investigations, but that power is limited to two narrow categories: 1) when doing so is designed to assist in its law-making duties (e.g., directing executives of oil companies to testify when considering new environmental laws) and 2) in order to exert oversight over the executive branch. What Congress is barred from doing, as two McCarthy-era Supreme Court cases ruled, is exactly what the 1/6 committee is now doing: conducting a separate, parallel criminal investigation in order to uncover political crimes committed by private citizens. Such powers are dangerous precisely because Congresss investigative powers are not subject to the same safeguards as the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. And just as was true of the 1950s House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) that prompted those Supreme Court rulings, the 1/6 committee is not confining its invasive investigative activities to executive branch officials or even citizens who engaged in violence or other illegality on January 6, but instead is investigating anyone and everyone who exercised their Constitutional rights to express views about and organize protests over their belief that the 2020 presidential election contained fraud. Indeed, the committees initial targets appear to be taken from the list of those who applied for protest permits in Washington: a perfectly legal, indeed constitutionally protected, act. This abuse of power is not merely abstract. The Congressional 1/6 Committee has been secretly obtaining private information about American citizens en masse: telephone records, email logs, internet and browsing history, and banking transactions. And it has done so without any limitations or safeguards: no judicial oversight, no need for warrants, no legal limitations of any kind. Indeed, the committee has been purposely attempting to prevent citizens who are the targets of their investigative orders to have any opportunity to contest the legality of this behavior in court. As we reported in October, the committee sent dozens if not hundreds of subpoenas to telecom companies demanding a wide range of email and other internet records, and without any legal basis requested that those companies not only turn over those documents but refrain from notifying their own customers of the request. If the companies were unwilling to comply with this request, then the committee requested that they either contact the committee directly or just disregard the request in other words, the last thing they wanted was to enable one of their targets to learn that they were being investigated because that would enable them to seek a judicial ruling about the legality of the committees actions. But now the committee is escalating its aggressive investigative actions. They have begun sending subpoenas to private banks, demanding the banking records of private citizens, and doing so such that either the person never finds out or finds out too late to obtain a judicial order about the legality of the committees behavior. In one case, they targeted JP Morgan with these subpoenas while knowing that that bank is being represented by former Obama Attorney General Loretta Lynch; Lynch unsurprisingly then directed her client not to accommodate any requests from its own customers to ensure they can seek judicial review. On November 22, the 1/6 Committee served a subpoena on Taylor Budowich a former spokesman for the Trump campaign who never worked for the U.S. Government that requested a wide range of documents as well as his deposition testimony. On December 14, Budowich voluntarily complied by handing over a large amount of his personal records, and then, on December 22, he flew to Washington at his own expense and submitted to questioning. There is no suggestion that Budowich was engaged in any violence or other illegal acts at the Capitol on January 6. Their only interest in this private citizen is his connection to the Trump campaign and his stated view that he believed the 2020 election was marred by fraud. After he furnished the committee with those documents and then testified, Budowich learned from others that the committee was issuing subpoenas directly to the banks used by other individuals for their personal accounts. He thus requested that his lawyer notify his own bank, JPMorgan Chase, that he would object to their cooperation with any subpoena without first providing notice to him so that he can have time to seek a legal ruling in court. Typically, citizens learn when law enforcement agencies such as the FBI serve subpoenas to third-party providers such as banks or internet companies. That allows a crucial right: to contest the legality of the action in court before the documents are supplied. But when such a subpoena is concealed from the person, it prevents them from obtaining judicial review. In general, citizens learn of FBI subpoenas, and the FBI (with rare exceptions) has the power to impose a gag order or otherwise prevent the person from learning about it only if they first persuade a court that such an extreme measure is warranted (by arguing, for instance, that a terror suspect will flee or destroy evidence if they learn they are being investigated). That safeguard ensures that in most cases, a citizen has the right to seek judicial protection from an illegal act by an investigative body. But the 1/6 Committee recognizes no right of any kind and no limits on its power. On November 23 the day after it served a subpoena on Budowich himself it served a subpoena on Budowichs bank, JPMorgan. The original date for the bank to produce the records was December 7, but JPMorgan advised by Loretta Lynch as its legal counsel bizarrely requested that the deadline be extended until December 24: the day before Christmas, knowing that courts would be closed that day and the next. It was only on December 21 when Budowich was in Washington for his testimony before the committee did JPMorgan send him notice at his home that it had received a subpoena and intended to produce the requested documents on December 24: just three days later. As JPMorgan and Lynch knew would happen, Budowich did not see the letter until he arrived home on the evening of December 22: less than forty-eight hours before the bank told him they were going to give up all of his financial records to the committee. Upon discovering that the committee had subpoenaed his bank, Budowichs lawyers immediately advised JPMorgan that they had legal objections to the subpoena, and requested that given it was about to be Christmas Eve and the courts would be closed the bank seek an extension from the committee to enable Budowich to seek a judicial ruling. But the bank, advised by Loretta Lynch, refused and told him they intended to turn the documents over on Christmas regardless of whether that gave him time to request judicial intervention. The bank even refused to provide a copy of the subpoena they received from the committee, which Budowich, to this very day, has not seen. Budowichs lawyers did everything possible to seek judicial intervention before JPMorgan gave all his financial documents to the committee, but the timing agreed to by the committee, Lynch and the bank documents produced on Christmas Eve, with notice to him arriving just a couple days before when he was testifying in Washington made it impossible, by design. As a result, JPMorgan gave all of his banking records to the committee without even seeking an extension. Budowich was therefore left with no alternative but to file an after-the-fact lawsuit against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the committee members, seeking an emergency injunction against the committees use of his banking records. In response, both the committee and JPMorgan argued that the entire question was moot given that they already handed over the documents. In other words, lawyers for the committee and Loretta Lynch created a plot whereby JPMorgan would notify Budowich of its intent to hand over the documents right before Christmas, so as to purposely deny him time to seek a court ruling, and then used the fact that he was too late in filing as a ground for arguing that the court should shut its doors to him and refuse to even give him a hearing. The court agreed that Budowichs request for an emergency injunction was moot given that the bank already supplied the documents, but agreed to rule on the merits of the arguments about whether the subpoena was legal. The parties briefs on this question were submitted to an Obama-appointed federal judge, James Boasberg, in Washington. The oral argument on Budowichs request to enjoin the use of his banking records by the committee was held earlier on Thursday, and Judge Boasberg quickly rejected Budowichs objections to the subpoena. It will now be appealed to the Court of Appeals, but the issues presented by the committees arguments are chilling. At the hearing, the committees lawyers essentially repeated the same argument they advanced in their legal brief: namely, that none of the legal safeguards imposed on the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to guard against abuse of power apply to this Congressional committee, which therefore enjoys virtually absolute power to do what it wants. That is not an exaggerated summary of the committees argument. The primary law on which Budowich is relying is The Right to Financial Privacy Act (RFPA), which prohibits any financial institution, or officers, employees or agent of the financial institution from provid[ing] to any Government authority access to or copies of, or the information contained in, the financial records of any customer unless they have first complied with the requirement of that law. Among the key requirements is that a financial institution shall not release the financial records of a customer until the Government authority seeking such records certifies in writing to the financial institution that it has complied with the applicable provisions of this chapter. As Budowichs lawyers argued, the key to the law is that a person whose financial records are sought must receive notice of that attempt and be given sufficient time to challenge it in court: Both 12 U.S.C. 3405 (administrative subpoena or summons) and 3408 (formal written request) require that a copy of the subpoena or request have been served upon the customer or mailed to his last known address on or before the date on which the subpoena or summons was served on the financial institution together with a formal statutory notice allowing ten (10) days from the date or service or fourteen (14) days from the date of mailing the required notice. See 12 U.S.C. 3405, 3408. Additional provisions of RFPA establish the right of a financial institution customer to challenge a request for their financial records in an appropriate United States District Court, and that proceedings involving such challenges should be completed or decided within seven (7) calendar days of the filing of any Government response. See 12 U.S.C. 3410(a)-(b). The committee did not deny that it failed to meet these requirements. Obviously, they could not argue that, given that the plan they created with JPMorgan and its lawyer, Loretta Lynch, was designed to ensure that Budowich have no time to obtain a judicial ruling before his bank records were handed over. Instead, the committees response is they do not have to comply with this law. The Act restricts only agencies and departments of the United States, and the Select Committee is neither, the committees lawyer contended. In fact, they explicitly argued that these safeguards were meant to be imposed only on the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, but were intended to exempt Congress even when, as here, they are clearly engaged in investigating private citizens for potential crimes. Multiple provisions of the statute underscore that Congress intended Government authority to mean an executive branch agency or department, the committees lawyers wrote in an assertion of power breathtaking in its scope and limitlessness. All of the other committees arguments are similarly designed to bestow on itself absolute and unlimited power in how it investigates private citizens, and to insist that the judiciary is without power to impose limits on it. The committee insists, for instance, that it can investigate anyone it wants in connection with 1/6 even if its motive is not to enact new laws and even if the documents it seeks (Budowichs financial records) have no relationship to any proposed new laws. That is because, it says, Congressional committees are not required to identify a specific piece of legislation in advance of conducting an investigation of the pertinent facts. It is sufficient that a committees investigation concerns a subject on which legislation could be had.' Such a principle, if accepted, would destroy any limits on Congresss ability to investigate citizens (clearly, it was possible for the McCarthy-era Congressional investigations to lead to new laws even though, as the Supreme Court twice ruled when striking them down, that was clearly not its primary purpose). But Judge Boasberg nonetheless accepted the committees argument on the ground that an appellate court had already ruled that the 1/6 Committee had a valid legislative purpose and he was therefore bound by that decision. The committees other arguments are even more extreme: namely, that the Constitutions Speech or Debate Clause provides absolute immunity to Members and committees when performing legislative acts and that sovereign immunity prohibits litigation against Congress to which it has not consented, and no such consent has been. That would mean that the 1/6 Committee could literally do whatever it wanted to citizens, and no court would have the right even to review the legality or constitutionality of what it is doing let alone put a stop to it. What happened during the first War on Terror and so many other events that were perceived as traumatic is instructive here. So many Americans were so horrified by the carnage of that day that, for years, many did not care or want to hear about legal niceties, constitutional limits or civil liberties regarding the governments actions. Anything the government did in the name of responding to or retaliating for 9/11 became inherently justified, and anyone who objected no matter the principles cited was deemed to be on the side of the terrorists. The same dynamic is prevailing here. There are serious constitutional limits on the ability of Congress to investigate private citizens. It is blatantly abusive to scheme with JPMorgan and its counsel Loretta Lynch to ensure that a citizen has no time to seek judicial relief regarding the committees attempt to obtain mounds of his personal and financial records. And, in general, the committee has been on a rampage targeting not only Trump officials or people who engaged in criminal behavior at the Capitol on January 6 but a wide group of citizens whose only crime appears to be their political beliefs and associations exactly what the Supreme Court cited when striking down the excesses of Congresss McCarthy-era probes of citizens. But with the media overwhelmingly cheering anything done in the name of stopping the Trump movement and those who supported 1/6 in any way, all of these civil liberties concerns and constitutional protections are run roughshod over in the name of safety. The latest arguments from the Congressional 1/6 Committee amount to little more than an assertion of unfettered power for Adam Schiff, Liz Cheney and the rest of the committee members to dig into the lives of anyone they want without limits. Read more at: Greenwald.Substack.com (Natural News) In the January 21 episode of The Big Logic, the channel took a clip from Joe Rogans interview with Dr. Peter McCullough, where they talked about how the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines are dangerous enough to cause organ damage and death. In the episode, McCullough noted that the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) has been certified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the reports come once a week. These reports, which have been certified, indicate all adverse events recorded in the system, all of which really should be counted. As it happened, the system has already so far reported over 18,000 deaths, with 30,000 individuals reporting permanent disability after getting the vaccine. There are various other healthcare encounters related to the vaccine as well. some of which show that 50 percent of deaths occur within 48 hours of a shot and that 80 percent occur within a week. We now know that the spike protein after these vaccines is produced in the body for an uncontrolled quantity and an uncontrolled duration of time. And because the antibodies to the spike protein after the vaccine are so high compared to the respiratory infection, we now infer that in fact, one gets a much larger dose of the spike protein after vaccination, then the respiratory illness, and in some people, they invariably cant handle the spike protein exposure to the human body, who dies, McCullough said. A study by Scott McLachlan from Queens University in London looked at the data and found that the vast majority of deaths are seniors and have been occurring in nursing home residents, or individuals in their 70s and 80s. McCullough noted that just like respiratory infection takes out people on the brink of survival, the vaccine dies the same thing. The vaccine and the respiratory ills are one and the same in terms of the spike protein, were giving the body back the spike protein in relatively high quantities, and then a whole bunch of things that come out, he explained. (Related: VAERS data shows skyrocketing number adverse events following COVID vaccinations.) Based on data presented by whistleblowers about the underreporting in VAERS, there had been reports that showed underreporting being as high as only one percent. Further, there is a difference in the way that spike proteins interact with the body via infection from a respiratory illness compared to injections from vaccines. It was found that spike protein damages the cells, and the damaged cells go into the heart, brain, and even damage blood vessels that cause blood clotting. We know the spike protein is dangerous; it damages heart muscle cells. The FDA has warnings on the vaccines for myocarditis or heart damage. So this is biologically cohesive, that the vaccines could damage the human body and cause deaths. So the biological possibility is there. We know that its a strong signal. So we have that. We know that its internally consistent in VAERS, meaning there are other nonfatal events like heart attacks, blood clots, myocarditis. And now its externally consistent, McCullough explained. Im an epidemiologist by training. This is my line of work. Im telling you, for a large number of individuals, the vaccine has caused death and these vaccine-induced organ injury syndromes, he said. (Related: CDC given $1 billion to push covid vaccine propaganda, funded by the very same taxpayers being damaged by vaccine adverse events.) Long-term side effects of COVID vaccines Some people have asked about the effects of COVID-19 vaccines. While short-term side effects are readily apparent, there are also long-term effects that need to be brought to the table. There are adverse events that can happen, such as the serious risk of clotting disorder from the AstraZeneca vaccine or the potential heart conditions myocarditis or pericarditis from Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. While the vaccines themselves do not remain in the body for long, the side effects that are felt in the days following the administration of such doses are from the bodys own immune response to the vaccine. It is therefore important to bear in mind that scientists cannot rule out the possibility that a number of people might experience adverse effects that are yet to be revealed. Watch the full January 21 episode of The Big Logic below: You can catch The Big Logic on Brighteon.com. Follow Pandemic.news for more updates. Sources include: Brighteon.com Practico.co.uk (Natural News) Farmers all over the developing world are being forced to reduce how much produce they grow due to the rising costs of fertilizer. High fertilizer prices are making it much costlier for farmers to cultivate food. These costs are inevitably going to be passed on to regular consumers purchasing food at grocery stores. These people will soon be surprised to learn that their grocery bills could go up even more than they already have over the past year as global food prices rose to decade-highs. Worse, yet another uptick in food costs is expected to exacerbate global hunger, which is already acute in many parts of the world due to Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic-related lockdowns, economic restrictions and job losses. Fertilizer costs have also increased in the United States. According to Texas A&M University, the cost of fertilizer in Texas has gone up by as much as 80 percent in the last year. Fertilizer basically already accounts for about 30 to 35 percent of farmers operating costs on their farm, said Brant Wilbourn, an associate director for the Texas Farm Bureau. Fertilizer prices have risen dramatically over the past year. The rise in fertilizer costs has already affected demand. In sub-Saharan Africa, the International Fertilizer Development Center, a global nonprofit, warned that demand for fertilizer could fall by as much as 30 percent. This would translate to 30 million metric tons less food produced in the region. This would be equivalent to the food needs of around 100 million people. Lower fertilizer use will inevitably weigh on food production and quality, affecting food availability, rural incomes, and the livelihoods of the poor, said Josef Schmidhuber, deputy director of the trade and markets division of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Farmers all over the world struggling due to high fertilizer costs Farms are failing and many people are not growing, said Rodrigo Fierro, 61, a farmer from central Colombia. He owns 10 acres of land, from which he produces tangerines, oranges and avocados. Christina Ribeiro do Valle, 75, a coffee grower in Brazil, said that in 2021 she had to pay up to three times more for fertilizer than in the previous year. Coupled with freak weather incidents that have hit her crop hard, these means do Valle will produce just a fraction of the coffee she has produced in previous years. She is also worried about the global fertilizer shortage. This year, you pay, then put your name on a waiting list, and the supplier delivers it when he has it, said do Valle. (Related: Fertilizer plants are shutting down, leaving global food supply on the brink of collapse.) Without fertilizer, do Valle expects her already diminished crop will shrink even further. She also expects the fertilizer shortage to continue well into 2023. In the West African country of Cote dIvoire, Faustin Lohouri Bi Tra, who grows corn, rice and soy seeds for other farmers on a 500-acre plantation, says if fertilizer prices remain high into April, he will have no choice but to cut his planting in half or more. He can only raise prices so much before his seeds become too expensive for local farmers. When I tell them the price of seeds is $3 per kilogram, they start to cry, he said. In northern France, Guillaume Cabot said he had increased plantings of flax, a crop that needs less nitrogen fertilizer, and reduced other crops due to the price hikes. Our costs have exploded, especially fuel, nitrogen fertilizers, and electricity, he said. Last year, Cabot had to spend an extra 10,000 euros ($11,347) on fertilizer expenses. In southern Colombia, Marcos Baquero, 48, is trying to figure out how to produce bigger yields despite high fertilizer costs. He grows watermelons and corn. Farmers need to produce 50 percent more than they produced before, Baquero said. He usually gets 35 tons of watermelon per hectare and six to 10 tons of corn per hectare. He is trying to figure out how to produce at least 40 tons of watermelon and 20 tons of corn per hectare. He said he needs to do this to make ends meet, otherwise he, like many others in his region, might be forced to simply give up on farming. This is very painful for us farmers, said Baquero. Its getting very difficult to work. Listen to this Situation Update episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks about how the globalists are sabotaging fertilizer factories to set the stage for a worldwide crop collapse in 2022. This video can also be found on the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Learn more about how the fertilizer shortage is affecting global food systems by reading the latest articles at FoodCollapse.com. Sources include: WSJ.com KXXV.com Bloomberg.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) The German government has ordered a total of around 554 million Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine doses in different tranches from the European Union contracts in 2021. In the case of Pfizer doses, the order quantity from the government was around 287.3 million vaccine doses. There have also been around 120.3 million doses from Moderna, 56.3 million doses from AstraZeneca, and 55 million doses from Johnson & Johnson. Additionally, there were also orders from Sanofi/GSK, Valneva and Novavax. An additional three million Pfizer vaccine doses from Poland were also ordered in early December 2021 and delivered later the same month. If all 83 million of Germanys population got their vaccinations, the sheer number the government bought would be enough to give each person seven doses. Currently, almost 73 percent of the German population have received their full shots of the vaccine, with over 48 percent already receiving their booster shots. This bizarre order comes from Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who said that Germany could face vaccine shortages early in 2022 if new doses are not acquired. Lindner also announced that the German government is prepared to shell out an extra $2.48 billion of its budget to secure more doses of the vaccines as the omicron variant continues to spread. We need more vaccines quickly for speedy booster shots and possible omicron vaccinations, Lauterbach said. (Related: Truth hurts: 96% of omicron cases in Germany are among the fully vaccinated.) Lauterbach also addressed efforts to secure more vaccines in the latter part of 2021, including programs for vaccinating children aged 11 and under. Infection and death rates, though lower, still remain very high in Germany, with health experts warning that more drastic measures may need to be taken. Germany expects COVID to peak in mid-February Lauterbach also said that the COVID wave will reach its peak roughly in mid-February despite hospitalization rates being low. However, clinics could see a severe strain in the coming weeks, with people over the age of 50 who arent vaccinated significantly higher in Germany compared to other European countries. The disease control agency reported 133,536 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, with 234 deaths. While omicron is less likely to cause severe illness compared to delta, it does spread more easily compared to previous strains and has already become dominant in many countries. Further, it infects those who have already been vaccinated, or have been previously infected by prior versions of the virus as well. The omicron variant, comparatively, was slow to start spreading in Germany by European standards, but the country has experienced an increase in case numbers similar to those seen in other nearby countries. In France, for instance, more than 460,000 cases had been reported, while Italy logged in over 228,000. Both countries have relatively smaller populations than Germany, which has already tightened restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. Austria, meanwhile, saw a surge in cases to about 30,000, with Chancellor Karl Nehammer calling it a shockingly high number that doubled previous figures. Germany also limited access to bars and restaurants to those who have received their booster jabs in addition to already being fully vaccinated or recovered. In connection with this, police in Germany are now investigating over 12,000 cases of suspected forgery of coronavirus vaccine certificates, with the DPA news agency noting that probes surged in December after authorities announced the restrictions that largely blocked unvaccinated people out of public life. (Related: Germanys COVID vaccine mandate could be delayed due to bureaucratic hurdles.) Individuals or groups that supply or use fake certificates will be facing severe penalties from fines and suspended prison sentences to job loss. The German parliament is expected to begin debating universal vaccine mandates in the coming months, though government officials acknowledge the measures may not likely take effect for several months. Watch the video below to see the current vaccination situation in Germany: This video is from the Vigilent Citizen channel on Brighteon.com. Get more updates about COVID-19 at Pandemic.news. Sources include: GlobalResearch.ca APNews.com DW.com 1 DW.com 2 ABCNews.go.com (Natural News) Israel is currently leading the world in new daily Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases per capita despite its status as one of the most highly vaccinated countries in the world. According to the latest data, 74 percent of Israels population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Sixty-seven percent are fully vaccinated, and 55 percent have received at least one booster dose. This status as one of the worlds most highly vaccinated and boosted countries has not prevented the country from experiencing record-breaking levels of COVID-19 infections. As of Thursday, the Israeli Ministry of Health reported 64,940 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections the country has had to 2,101,265. The number of active COVID-19 cases currently stands at 409,817. The rate of positive tests from COVID-19 tests reached a record high of 18.38 percent. The number of Israeli COVID-19 patients in hospitals rose to 1,680 on Thursday. Most are considered light or moderate cases, but 593 are considered seriously ill. Of those with serious cases, 112 are on ventilators. A top health expert advising the Israeli government warned that the country could not sustain having between 0.6 to 0.7 percent of the population testing positive for COVID-19 each day. Eran Segal of the Weizmann Institute of Science in central Israel noted that Israel has had the highest number of new COVID-19 cases per capita for the past seven days. Wherever we can make it easier for the public, we will. We are taking omicron seriously, but also looking at the bigger picture, said Minister of Health Nitzan Horowitz. Segal noted during an interview that he believes the current post-vaccine outbreak will end soon. We are very close to the height, or even at the height of the omicron wave, he said. As soon as Israel reaches the peak of the current outbreak wave, Segal said as many as one in 10 Israelis will test positive for COVID-19 if they get tested. But once this peak has passed, there will be a relatively fast decline from those figures. Israel expands mass vaccination program once more The Israeli governments only response to rising cases seems to be giving its people more experimental, dangerous and ineffective COVID-19 vaccines. Last month, the government approved giving a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to people over the age of 60 and healthcare workers who have received booster doses. (Related: IT NEVER ENDS: Israel prepares citizens to receive fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine that has already failed with THREE doses.) Officials previously said they would wait for more data on the efficacy of a fourth dose before making it public policy to get a dose. But the Israeli Health Ministry used the arrival of the omicron variant to justify acting sooner than it originally claimed. More recently, the Health Ministry announced on Thursday that it will offer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to children between the ages of five and 11 who are at risk of serious illness. This group reportedly only consists of around 1,000 children. They were also the first age group to receive the initial vaccinations last year prior to the broad approval of the vaccines. The heads of health maintenance organizations in the country have been instructed to begin providing these children with a third dose of Pfizers version of the vaccine designed for children. The Israeli government is providing more vaccines to children even though cases among youths have doubled in recent days. The latest figures show that some 146,000 school-aged children are currently quarantined because of infection, and another 142,000 are isolating due to close contact with a positive case. Watch this video and hear the testimonies of the victims of Israels COVID-19 vaccination mandate. This video can be found on the KLA.TV English channel on Brighteon.com. Learn more about the Israeli response to the COVID-19 pandemic by reading the latest articles at Pandemic.news. Sources include: TimesOfIsrael.com 1 NYTimes.com XinhuaNet.com TheGuardian.com TimesOfIsrael.com 2 Brighteon.com (Natural News) A federal judge in Texas has blocked President Joe Bidens Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandate for federal workers, believing it to be a bridge too far. Had the COVID-19 vaccine mandate remained, it would have forced about 3.5 million government employees to get vaccinated by Nov. 22 if they did not have a religious or medical waiver. Those who remained unvaccinated and did not have a waiver would have faced disciplinary action or been fired outright. If the COVID-19 vaccine mandate had remained, it would have forced about 3.5 million government employees to get vaccinated by Nov. 22 if they did not have a religious or medical waiver. Those who remained unvaccinated and did not have a waiver would have faced disciplinary action or been fired outright. District Judge Jeffrey Brown of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, appointed by former President Donald Trump, wrote in a 20-page ruling that Bidens executive order amounts to a presidential mandate that all federal employees consent to vaccination against COVID-19 or lose their jobs. Brown added that the case of the vaccine mandate is about whether the President can, with the stroke of a pen and without the input of Congress, require millions of federal employees to undergo a medical procedure as a condition of their employment. Because the Presidents authority is not that broad, the court will enjoin the second orders enforcement, he concluded. Brown cited the Supreme Court opinion blocking a federal rule that would have required federal workers at large corporations to either get tested for COVID-19 weekly or get vaccinated. He added that Bidens mandate was a bridge too far and the president should never be given the power to change the condition of employment of millions of Americans. The judge further pointed out that, in the interest of maintaining the liberty of individuals, they must always be allowed to make intensely personal decisions according to their own convictions and without coercion. Brown said that if the government wanted to protect its employees against COVID-19, it could do so by passing other public health initiatives that are not as intrusive. (Related: Supreme Court sides with continued mask tyranny on airplanes.) Ruling latest blow to governments campaign for vaccine mandates Browns ruling comes just one week after the Supreme Court blocked Bidens vaccine-or-test mandate for all employees of private businesses with 100 or more workers. According to the majority opinion, Biden and his Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) vaccine-or-test rule was beyond the federal governments authority to execute. OSHA has never before imposed such a mandate. Nor has Congress. Indeed, although Congress has enacted significant legislation addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, it has declined to enact any measure similar to what OSHA has promulgated here, wrote the Supreme Court majority. The Department of Justice said it would appeal Browns decision in a higher court. The department noted that numerous other courts had already rejected similar challenges to the vaccine mandate, and that federal agencies have already stated that they will not discipline or punish employees with pending exemption requests. Asked about Browns ruling on Friday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki noted that a remarkable 98 percent of federal employees are already vaccinated or are seeking a religious or medical exemption. We are confident in our legal authority, she said. If this is true, then it begs the question of why a COVID-19 vaccine mandate is even necessary for federal employees, especially if the vaccine is supposed to work as intended, and a 98 percent vaccination rate is already more than enough to provide herd immunity to federal employees to keep the remaining two percent safe from infection. For his part, knowing that he has few options left, Biden has called on companies to voluntarily pass vaccine mandates and testing restrictions on their own. The court has ruled that my administration cannot use the authority granted to it by Congress to require this measure, he said. But that does not stop me from using my voice as president to advocate for employers to do the right thing to protect Americans health and economy. Listen to this Situation Update episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks about how the Supreme Court betrayed America and the American people by authorizing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. This video can be found on the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Breitbart.com Reuters.com TheHill.com CNBC.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) On the January 20 episode of the Ben Armstrong show on The New American channel, the host and his guest, Dr. Gina Loudon of Dr. Gina Primetime discuss how the vaccine is much more dangerous than the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) itself. All the numbers that they gave you about the deaths of COVID-19 were extremely inflated, and they are way underreporting the people who are dying of the vaccine, Armstrong said on the get-go. (Related: Former Pfizer VP Mike Yeadon declares covid vaccines are toxic by design theyre weapons to reduce global population.) Armstrong explained that the updated numbers of vaccine injuries have already passed the one million mark, and out of those numbers, 21,000 are vaccine-related deaths. He then used data from Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Steve Kirsch, who calculated the numbers based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rules, and came up with the conclusion that VAERS, the self-reporting vaccine system by the government, underreport adverse events by a factor of 41. Now, some people have multiple adverse events, Armstrong said. So, one person could have three or four different things happening to them that they report, and thats why that number is so big, but its very accurate. Government inflates COVID death rates, underreports adverse events What the government has been doing is that they inflated the COVID death numbers to trick people into thinking that COVID-19 is a deadly disease, but how can something that has a 99 percent survival rate for healthy people be called deadly? What happened is that the government had been using the numbers of people who were already on the path of dying, who died with COVID. A little over a year ago, the CDC admitted that 94 percent of patients who died from COVID had other health issues, and only six percent didnt have those issues. Whats even more interesting is that of 800,000 deaths in the U.S., only six percent of the cases can be said died from COVID. More likely, the other 96 percent were people who were dying from other causes. However the government still labels them as COVID deaths, and hospitals were getting paid extra to say that these people died of the virus, so the more COVID cases they had, the more money they can get from the government. So hospitals label as many people as they can who are coming in as COVID patients, even though they werent there for COVID treatment, or werent dying. Others even have cancer. But hospitals test them and say that they have COVID, to inflate the numbers. So if there are 800,000 deaths from COVID, only 6% of that is real, Armstrong said. It does not mean, however, that those people who supposedly died from COVID were healthy. It just means they werent diagnosed with something and died with COVID, so there have to be others in there that died with a heart condition or something else, they just never were diagnosed with it. The point, according to Armstrong, is not the numbers, the point is whatever VAERS says, you can multiply by 41 to get a more accurate picture of vaccine-related deaths. However, for media, just take six percent of the total number of deaths reported by mainstream media to get an accurate number for COVID deaths. The vaccine is the dangerous thing. The vaccine is the bioweapon, and COVID-19 is nothing. Thats the accurate picture you get. Its frustrating, Armstrong said. They also discussed Dr. Michael Yeadon, who served as a scientist in Pfizer, and who revealed that there are super toxic batches of vaccines that are especially designed for mass murder and destruction. With the help of verified hackers, he was able to identify all the lot numbers and codes that are associated with high levels of vaccine toxicity. Unfortunately, big pharma companies like Pfizer have been given immunity by the government, so they can continue doing their experiments, many of which can kill large numbers of people. Watch the full January 20 episode of The Ben Armstrong Show below: You can catch The Ben Armstrong Show on The New American channel at Brighteon.com. Follow Pandemic.news for more updates. Sources include: Brighteon.com MiamiStandard.news (Natural News) With a very weak Joe Biden as US president, along with his woke military, giving Vladimir Putin and Russia the go ahead to invade Ukraine as Jack Posobiec recently alluded to in this tweet which also took task to Democrats claims that it was Putin that owned the Trump White House, in that tweet, Posobiec asked a great question: (Article by Stefan Stanford republished from AllNewsPipeline.com) Why didnt Putin invade Ukraine while he controlled the White House from 2016-2020? With lead stories across the mainstream media screaming out headlines of war ahead, with the Associated Press warning of Russian war games ongoing right now on the Ukrainian border, putting out this story titled Russia moves more troops westward amid Ukraine tensions, while the Daily Mail published this new story titled White House believes Russian invasion of Ukraine could be imminent: Jen Psaki warns there is an extremely dangerous situation at the border, we should all remember there is a long history of countries using false flags to start wars, so should WW3 be any different? With wars also giving governments incredible powers over the people of their country, exactly what Biden and Democrats have long been seeking via vax mandates and lockdowns, who reading this story doesnt think itll be Biden and the deep state who launch a false flag to get them into a much-needed war at a time when they just suffered huge defeats politically? As we hear in the videos at the bottom of this story, globalists talk of a Russian false flag to justify them invading the Ukraine is actually a warning of a forthcoming globalists false flag upon Russia. As we see in the screenshot below via google search for a Russia, false flag search, the talk of Russia carrying out a false flag as a pretext to invade Ukraine is running rampant. Stories within the last 2 days warning of a Russian false flag include.: From the Military Times: Russia denies US claim it seeks false flag pretext to invade Ukraine From the Hill: Russia dismisses US allegations of plans for false flag operation as pretext to invade Ukraine From the Independent: US intelligence says Russia planning false flag operation to justify Ukraine invasion From the Mirror: Ukraine crisis: How Vladimir Putin overplayed his hand with false flag his best option So with the left absolutely loving to blame others for what they themselves are doing, such as them continuously calling Conservatives racists or haters when it is they themselves pushing racism and hatred upon America, we should remember the warning from Nazi Germanys convicted war criminal, Hermann Goering, after his conviction at Nuremberg. Claiming that the people of any nation could be brought around to supporting a war, simply via the incitement of fear of attack, as Goering warned, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. From this 2018 story at the MinnPost we see what may be the most likely way Biden will be able to get America into a war that the people would support, pummel us with fear. Sound familiar? Gustave Gilbert, an American psychologist fluent in German, worked as a translator with the Nuremberg Tribunal and interviewed Goering in the days between his conviction and his suicide. Gilbert then wrote Nuremberg Diary, a 1947 book based on interviews with Goering and other Nuremberg defendants. Gilbert asked Goering how it was possible to build and sustain public support for a war effort, especially in Germany, which had barely recovered from the still recent disaster of World War I. Heres Goerings reply: Why, of course, the people dont want war, Goering shrugged. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people dont want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship. There is one difference, [Gilbert] pointed out. In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars. Oh, that is all well and good, [replied Goering] but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country. With that strategy also sounding exactly like what the left is doing to America now over COVID and the vaxxes, attempting to scare the wits out of half the population whore being hypnotized into believing that theyre somehow safe from COVID if theyd been vaxxed while the unvaxxed are putting them in mortal danger, Democrats have become a one-trick pony. Though Bidens woke military will surely meet its match in Putins Russia should things continue to escalate out of control on the global war front. Yet we must keep in mind, with the left seeking to cement their rule into place for Americas future well into 2025 and beyond, and the US Supreme Court at least striking down his 100+ employee vaccine mandate which the left hoped would give them control over all medium-to-large sized businesses, these devils NEED something else to help them bring in their iron fist, and wars have traditionally given governments exactly what they need to do so. So with officials in the UK being told to be prepared to switch into according to this new Bloomberg story while Russia has been removing staff from its Embassy in the Ukraine just some of the latest signs of some kind of war being prepared for that could quickly spiral out of control across the planet, the following extended excerpt comes to us from this story over at History (saved at Archive ) titled Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com (Natural News) After being outed for partying it up on Downing Street in London during the 2020 lockdowns while everyone else was stuck at home, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that pretty much all Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions in his country are now over. Johnsons announcement was received with much applause and celebration from all other politicians in the room regardless of their political affiliation (America: please take notes). He excitedly revealed that there will be no more mask mandates, including in stores and schools, and no more checking of vaccine passports. The only thing that will be staying in place for now are certain self-isolation requirements, otherwise England is going back to the old normal. Meanwhile, much of the rest of the world, including large swaths of the United States, continues to live under tyranny with endless mask and jab mandates. We can return to Plan A in England and allow Plan B regulations to expire, Johnson said, receiving loud cheers of support from Members of Parliament. As a result, from the start of Thursday next week, mandatory certification will end. Organizations can, of course, choose to use the NHS Covid Pass voluntarily, but we will end the compulsory use of covid status certification in England. From now on, the government is no longer asking people to work from home, he added. And people should now speak to their employers about arrangements for returning to the office. NOW UK PM Boris Johnson: The government will no longer mandate the wearing of face masks anywhere.pic.twitter.com/5gM3WnvUCf Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) January 19, 2022 Throw your mask away and stop living in fear Johnson went on to explain that once the current regulations lapse, the government of the U.K. will no longer require the wearing of face masks anywhere, again receiving loud yells of support. From tomorrow, we will no longer require face masks in classrooms, and the Department for Education will shortly remove national guidance on their use in common areas, he said further. We will trust the judgment of the British people, and no longer criminalize anyone who chooses not to wear one, Johnson said about how the government will still recommend face masks, but not force them on anyone against their will anymore. The government will also ease restrictions further on visits to care homes, Johnson added. Johnson had earlier halted plans to ever introduce a jab passport scheme in the first place, though one was eventually implemented only to now get scrapped again. One wonders if this sudden embrace of liberty by the British government will really last. Many skeptics are wondering just how long this bout of freedom will last because the same thing happened in Australia for a brief moment, only to quickly fall back into even worse tyranny. This is great news, said one person on Twitter about Johnsons announcement. Now get rid of the covid medication mandate for NHS workers. England is now one of the freest countries in the world, what does that tell ya?? said another. Others posted GIFs of Johnson back in 2013 dancing on a Masonic checkerboard floor back with a black woman wielding a Star Wars light saber, this video having recently resurfaced alongside accusations that Johnson broke his own lockdown rules in 2020. Presumably embarrassed and worried about being forced out of his position, Johnson responded to the controversy by dropping his countrys Fauci Flu restrictions. If only Americans could learn how to do the same things to their corrupt politicians to get them to backtrack on tyranny. The latest news about the Fauci Flu can be found at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: Twitter.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Victoria Premier Dan Andrews of Australia has decided that in order to remain fully vaccinated for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19), Aussies will now need to get a third booster dose. Speaking outside at a park in his usual smug tone, Andrews explained that getting boosted is no longer an option. In order to continue living, Victorians will need to roll up their sleeves when their turn comes, or else be ostracized from society. This is not an option, Andrews told his constituents condescendingly. Its not an add-on. Its not (just) a good thing to have. I think were very close to a change in policy that will simply reflect the fact that in order to be fully vaccinated, you need to have three doses not two plus an optional extra, but in fact to be fully protected, to be fully vaccinated, to have fully played your card, you need not two plus an optional third, but three doses. Right now, the booster mandate in Victoria only applies to certain groups. But Andrews wants to make it apply to everyone, just as soon as he can get away with it. I dont rule out there being other groups that become subject to the mandate, he said. We did it for the best of reasons last year, and its why we can all be very proud as a Victorian community that 93-plus percent of the population is complying with getting vaccinated. Fertility specialist pleads with Andrews to reverse the IVF ban Another restriction that Andrews arbitrarily reimposed is another 90-day ban on in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. This is reportedly the fifth time this restriction has been imposed throughout the past five years, and it is harming women. Dr. Lynn Burmeister, a Melbourne-based fertility specialist and medical director at Number One Fertility, told Sky News that she is just flabbergasted that this is happening again, especially since many women are right in the middle of their treatments (watch below). Its a terrible decision, Burmeister told the interviewer. Im just shocked. After living with this pandemic for two years, we have actually been stopped and started five times, and it is terrible. The patients are hysterical. Were receiving hundreds and hundreds of phone calls from hysterical patients calling and begging to start treatment, cant we make an excuse for them to start. Women who are currently in the process of undergoing egg collection must now stop. And there is no indication when, or even if, the IVF sector will be allowed to resume operations. Any patient who needs an egg collection has to stop, and we dont know when its going to reopen, Burmeister added, to which the interviewer then asked about what this means for women who are nearing the end of their fertility, or who might never be able to have children thanks to Andrews. All of my patients are fertility-challenged, she added. Since depopulation is part of the plandemic scheme, it is hardly a surprise that Andrews is restricting reproduction within a disadvantaged group that has trouble reproducing naturally. Thanks to the moratorium, many of these women will probably never have children and this is all happening to save lives, we are told. The entire country should just say [enough] and stop working, wrote someone on Twitter in response to Andrews proclamation. A mandate is an invitation to agreement, wrote another. If you dont agree then it cant be mandated. That is the law. The latest news coverage about Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) tyranny can be found at Fascism.news. Sources for this article include: Twitter.com YouTu.be NaturalNews.com (Natural News) As the narrative surrounding the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) global psy-op (psychological operation) continues to break down, here are five things you need to know (as explained by Steve Kirsch): 1) Even the World Health Organization (WHO) is warning against covid booster shots It made sense to some people to just go along with it when it was just one or two doses. But now that governments want people to take a third or even a fourth injection for the Fauci Flu, many are saying enough is enough. Both EEU regulators and officials at WHO now admit that booster shots do not make sense, which is why they are advising the public against taking them. There is no evidence to support a booster shot program and everybody knows it. 2) More jabs means more infections They have been trying to hide this fact from the public, but the data clearly shows that the more shots people get, the more likely they are to develop symptoms associated with covid. The unvaccinated, meanwhile, are healthier, on average, compared to their fully vaccinated counterparts. 3) Covid jabs are NOT safe On top of not working as claimed, covid injections are also unsafe. Many formerly pro-vaccine doctors and other health experts are speaking out against the shots, warning that they do not work. This is great news, Kirsch writes. Nobody is going public yet, but they are all [upset] and realize they have been misled. It will not be pretty. This is of course great news. 4) Face masks do not protect against disease (hint: they spread MORE of it) It took a long time to get to this point, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has finally admitted that cloth masks are useless at preventing the spread of covid or any other disease. Corrupt CDC head Rochelle Walensky had no way out of fessing up to this truth after data was published showing that face veils are more of a religious rite than a viable medical intervention. The other mask types dont work either, but it will take them longer to figure out the obvious, Kirsh says. P100 respirators do work but only a small percentage of people know that. I cant wait to see Rochelle Walensky wear a P100 respirator; after all, she should be modelling best practices. 5) Young people especially should not be getting boosted Even though Tony Fauci claims otherwise, there is zero evidence to suggest that covid injections are safe or effective for young people. In fact, many doctors and other health experts are warning against parents getting their children boosted, despite the fact that leftist colleges and universities all across the country are demanding them of students who wish to return to campus. Someone is very wrong here and for once it isnt the WHO, Kirsh says. A few other things Kirsch says people should know is that remdesivir is dangerous and ineffective. It has become standard procedure to administer this drug to covid patients at hospitals across America, but only because Fauci makes money every time remdesivir is injected into a patients body. Also, social distancing is a farce. MIT came out with a study back in April which found that avoiding other people and treating them like the walking plague does nothing to stop the spread of disease. 6 feet or 60 feet made no difference, Kirsch writes. People still havent figured this out. One of Kirschs subscribers pointed out that it was obvious from the beginning that all of this was nonsense. But better late than never, right? The latest news about the Fauci Flu can be found at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: SteveKirsch.substack.com NaturalNews.com DailyExpose.uk WebMD.com WebMD.com CNBC.com (Natural News) A handful of unvaccinated female students at New West Charter School (NWCS) in Los Angeles were forced to sit outside behind caution tape for the crime of not taking the jabs. The girls posted a video of themselves (watch below) explaining how they are basically being held in an outdoor prison because they refuse to permanently modify their DNA with Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines. According to the advocacy group Let Them Breathe, the girls asked for chairs to sit on but were denied, forcing them to sit on the ground. They were also told that they could not use the restroom, and instead had to stay under the supervision of armed guards. LAPD is on site but not intervening, Let Them Breathe tweeted. Litigation from Let Them Choose (is) already pending. Unvax students at New West Charter LA segregated behind barriers & not allowed to attend class. They asked for chairs, were denied & are sitting on the pavement, not allowed to even use restroom. LAPD is on site but not intervening. Litigation from Let Them Choose already pending pic.twitter.com/hgCI97HYv1 LET THEM BREATHE (@letthem_breathe) January 18, 2022 NWCS Principal Sharon Weir previously worked as a special education consultant to develop a fully inclusive educational model for disadvantage [sic] students When they are not grooming and brainwashing students into becoming transgenders, public schools across America are apparently jailing them for not becoming transhumans via covid injection. Im a student at New West Charter School and Im here with five other girls, one of the girls says in the video. Four of them are freshmen, one is a junior and Im a sophomore. And we are being threatened to be suspended because we dont have the Covid-19 vaccine. And were being refused of the right to attend school And were being closed off by this caution tape thing. Were being segregated from the rest of the school. Behind the girls as they flip the camera around are ropes of caution tape, as if they are a walking plague that has to be cordoned off for everyone elses safety from their invisible Fauci germs. Suddenly this whole thing is seeming to be more and more not about health, and instead about control and tyrannizing those who refuse to obey. None of the girls seen in the video are sick, and all of them are wearing a mask, which the Branch Covidians have told us for the past two years is enough to prevent the spread of disease. And if everyone else in the school is vaccinated anyway, then why does it even matter that this half-dozen friend group is all unvaccinated? And they will tell you this is to save lives, lol yeah right, wrote one commenter at Newspunch. The head of this school is second only to Epstein. Get these kids out and sue those monsters, wrote another about how the girls parents should respond to this incident. On Twitter, someone else suggested that students stuck in oppressive districts like this could stage a walkout in protest of this kind of abuse. Because theyve been manipulated to think its unsafe to attend school, why havent these kids done the same, especially when they have MORE justification for such a protest? this person asked. Another explained that a medical tyranny protest already occurred right after the incident. The protest drew attention to Principal Sharon Weir, who was born and educated in Scotland, according to her official school bio. Ironically, Weir previously worked as a special education consultant to develop a fully inclusive educational model for disadvantage [sic] students. Apparently disadvantaged unvaccinated students are not included in this model. More related news about Wuhan Flu tyranny can be found at Fascism.news. Sources for this article include: Newspunch.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Many decades ago a Canadian scientist figured out how to turn deadly rapeseed oil, a known insecticide, into a cheap, FDA-approved oil to be used as a preservative in foods. Now canola oil is a top export from Canada to the USA, and several natural food stores, including Trader Joes and Whole Foods, are putting it in thousands of products because most Americans, even many natural health advocates, have no idea the damage it does to the body and brain. Some consumers think canola oil must be okay if its certified organic, or expeller-pressed, or simply sold at a natural foods store, but they would be dead wrong. Comprehensive studies done on canola oil, sourced in this article, reveal damage thats done to the heart and brain, not to mention that rapeseed oil causes memory loss and mass weight gain. So where might this far-from-nutritious oil be found? One would need to write an entire book to list all the products, but lets start here. Whole Foods and Trader Joes put canola oil in thousands of their products its cheap and hardly anyone knows it causes weight gain and memory loss Head on out to a Canola Joes in your town and start flipping over nearly every processed and prepared product in the store, and read the ingredients carefully. Remember, the closer to the beginning of the ingredients list you find it, the more the product has in it, compared to other ingredients. Start with prepared hummus, potato salad, salad dressings, soups, mayonnaise (even vegan), and most prepared foods that are mixed up in a creamy way. Even bugs wont eat this stuff. This is done because it keeps the food from spoiling so fast, so Trader Joes can keep it all on the shelves much longer, making them more money while unknowing Americans suffer the health consequences, all while thinking theyre buying healthier food. Dont forget to also check for canola oil in chip bags, breads, cookies, cakes, nuts, seeds, most desserts and nearly all the frozen prepared meals that contain rice, vegetables, fried meats and more. Canola study reveals direct link to heart lesions and a decrease in working memory Heres what happens when you consume canola oil regularly. Scientists have discovered a DIRECT LINK to a loss of working memory, heart lesions and cardiovascular problems. Rats that consume it also experience rapid weight gain. Maybe thats why every third American is overweight, and half of those folks are considered obese. Canola is the opposite of heart healthy as the lying corporate labels imply. Plus, more than 90 percent of canola oil is genetically modified to contain even more pesticides. How does canola oil mess up your brain? Researchers concluded canola oil increases plaque build-up that causes degenerative diseases like dementia and Alzheimers. Memory function for rats tested decreased while body weight increased significantly. Most restaurants in America use canola oil also, because its so cheap and they dont have to reveal it on the menus. If youre ever driving and see huge fields of yellow flowers, especially in Europe, you are probably looking at rapeseed flowers. The toxic oil that comes from processing rapeseed is called erucic oil, and its still present in canola oil. It raises bad cholesterol in humans, both young and adult. If you still feel you must micro-shop at Canola Joes or Canola Foods stores, be sure not to purchase any products that contain canola oil, or you might lose so much memory that you dont even remember reading this article. Tune your internet dial to FoodSupply.news for updates on contaminants purposely put in the American food supply, so you dont eat them anymore. Sources for this article include: TruthWiki.org NaturalNews.com TheFoodAdvocates.com Nature.com At midweek, torrential rains in Madagascar's capital city of Antananarivo prompted devastating floods, submerging streets, flooding houses, and displacing thousands of citizens. The downpour is being blamed on a growing tropical cyclone, according to AccuWeather forecasts. According to The Associated Press, at least ten people have died due to the flooding, and over 12,000 people have been displaced (AP). At least 2,400 homes in Antananarivo were flooded as a result of severe rains, according to local officials, and low-lying areas of the city are in "deep water." Affecting Elevated Places According to the Associated Press, even higher-elevation regions of the city have been affected, with at least six houses collapsing due to the rain. Officials warn that due to the city's steep terrain, oversaturated earth may give way, increasing the risk of landslides. "We are urging residents of Antananarivo and the neighboring municipalities to avoid locations at high danger of landslides, such as sites where trees are falling, and buildings are collapsing," said Gen. Elack Andriankaja, director-general of the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management. Forecasters estimate 2 to 4 inches (50 to 100 mm) of rain has fallen in the northern and central parts of the country since Tuesday. Related Article: Scientists Warn Tonga's Historic Volcanic Eruption May Harm Environment for Years Growing Higher The totals in Antananarivo grew considerably higher. In under 48 hours, the city's reporting station recorded 5.88 inches (149 mm) of rain. The city typically receives just under 5.3 inches (135 mm) of precipitation for the whole month of January, indicating the city received more than a month's worth of rain in only two days. Extreme Weather According to experts, these soaking storms were fueled by a massive surge of deep, tropical moisture from the Indian Ocean. As unstable weather churns to the east of Madagascar over the southern Indian Ocean, more possibly severe rain might be on the way for inhabitants. "The disturbance seems to be developing into a tropical depression or moderate tropical storm before making landfall in eastern Madagascar Saturday night or Sunday," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty. The approaching tropical entity's probable direct hit might exacerbate a dangerous scenario for certain inhabitants. "While there will certainly be devastating winds around the area of landfall with toppled trees, power lines, and possibly building damage," Douty said, "the primary worries should be heavy rain and floods." The area's already saturated soil won't take much more rain to cause significant flooding concerns. "While the greatest rain is likely to fall east of Antananarivo, rain is still possible in the city, and the precise track will be key in terms of rain in Antananarivo," Douty added. Caution Forecasters caution that depending on how quickly and where the storm develops, the final trajectory of the possible storm may change. "If the system tracks too far north, rainfall in the city will be lighter as the heaviest rain goes north," Douty explained. "The heaviest rain will be limited to northern Madagascar and the east-central coast in this scenario." According to Douty, if the storm tracks further south than expected, Antananarivo might be caught in the middle of the storm's severe downpour. A track like this would deliver heavy rain to the whole island of Madagascar, not just the coast. Stormy weather is anticipated to continue to batter parts of Madagascar till early next week, regardless of the final trajectory. Also Read: Exposure to Major Disasters Can Cause Long-Term Mental Health Problems For similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! As energy-intensive bitcoin mining increases in the United States, members of Congress debated ways to make cryptocurrencies greener on Thursday. One of the most pressing problems was whether to employ renewables to power the energy-intensive mining at the heart of bitcoin's blockchain or to switch to alternative blockchains that require less energy, to begin with. The discussion took place during a House Energy & Commerce Committee oversight hearing on the "energy consequences of bitcoin." Last year, the United States became the de facto epicenter for bitcoin mining when China banned it within its borders, owing to bitcoin's high energy consumption. This shift might have significant repercussions for the US electrical infrastructure and the Biden administration's ability to reach its aggressive climate change targets. Representative Diana Degette (D-CO) opened the meeting by saying, "Cryptocurrency presence in everyday life will certainly continue to increase." "As the business evolves, bitcoin networks must find solutions to lower the requirement for continual high-volume energy usage while minimizing environmental impacts." Power Consumption The bitcoin network consumes more power in a year than in Ukraine and Norway. If bitcoin were a country, it would be the 27th most energy-hungry country on the planet. Because bitcoin mining is generally fueled by fossil fuel energy, it is also the most polluting cryptocurrency. The fact that bitcoin is the largest crypto network contributes to its high energy consumption. However, bitcoin consumes more power than other cryptocurrencies because it employs a mechanism known as "proof of work," which acts as a security system to maintain the blockchain, which serves as a record of transactions, safe and correct. Miners verify transactions using specialized computers to solve tricky riddles in a race. They are rewarded with bitcoins. Meanwhile, all of that processing power is consumed by electricity. When bitcoin mining was focused in China, miners tended to utilize clean hydropower during the rainy season and coal when the latter became unavailable. The energy mix for crypto mining in the United States is continuously forming. However, there are some concerning symptoms. Miners have already helped to extend the life of outdated coal-fired power plants, which are the dirtiest fossil fuel. "Examples like these are profoundly alarming, given our current climate targets." Representative Degette stated, "Our focus now needs to be on decreasing overall carbon emissions and boosting the percentage of renewable energy on the grid." Related Article: Bitcoin Transactions Contribute to Alarming E-Waste Crisis, Generating Major Environmental Harm "Potential" During the session, industry experts claimed that crypto mining had the potential to embrace renewable energy and, as a result, help clean energy growth in the United States. Solar and wind energy are intermittent sources of electricity, which means there isn't always enough and sometimes too much depending on the weather. Proponents suggested that miners can soak up extra renewable energy that would otherwise go to waste since there isn't enough battery storage for renewable energy on the grid. During the hearing, John Belizaire, the founder and CEO of Soluna Computing, remarked, "Computing is a superior battery." His firm creates bitcoin mining data centers. Other analysts doubt that renewable energy will be a panacea for bitcoin's energy woes. Renewable energy will someday be required to power everything from autos to home heating to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, bitcoin mining would compete with those requirements. When electricity demand exceeds supply, it might result in blackouts or the use of more fossil fuels to augment sustainable energy sources. Another Option Some experts believe there is another option. Some cryptocurrencies employ other ways to maintain their blockchains correct instead of proof of work. Because there are no riddles to answer, the most common choice is proof of stake. It does not require a lot of computational power. The Ethereum network, which is the second-largest behind bitcoin, is planning to switch from proof of work to proof of stake in the future. Bitcoin, on the other hand, has no such intentions. There's no way to know if the network will ever agree to transition, primarily because miners have already invested in the devices they need to solve riddles. For the time being, it appears that cryptocurrencies will continue to use more and more energy as long as bitcoin remains the dominant player. In his testimony, Ari Juels, a professor at Cornell University and a co-author of a paper that coined the term "proof of work" in 1999, said, "The bitcoin community deserves our deep gratitude for introducing blockchains to the world, but we have far more energy-efficient alternatives than proof of stake for the sake of the environment and our energy infrastructure in the United States." "I feel we ought to embrace these emerging possibilities," says the author. It's unclear how Congress members intend to follow up on the hearing; DeGette closed by stating that the committee's topic of cryptocurrency's energy use will be "an escalating concern." "We don't have any answers right now," she remarked. What Comes Next Whatever happens next, the stakes for the globe are enormous. After China, the United States is the second-largest polluter of the environment. The Biden administration has set a target of almost eradicating all greenhouse gas emissions over the next few decades, which will be tough to achieve regardless of whether bitcoin mining is involved. Also Read: Producing Electric Cars Will Be Cheaper Than Gas Models by 2027 For more news update about Environmental Action, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Tonga's population has suffered a huge disaster due to a volcanic eruption and following tsunami on the South Pacific island country. On January 15, 2022, the volcano that had been erupting since December 2021 burst spectacularly. Hundreds of homes have been demolished in Tonga, which was even shut off from the rest of the world for a while. Related Article: Scientists Warn Tonga's Historic Volcanic Eruption May Harm Environment for Years Compared to Nuclear Explosions According to a global group that monitors for atomic testing, the explosive volcanic eruption in Tonga on Saturday is comparable to dwarf, the largest nuclear detonations ever conducted. The shock wave from the blast was so powerful that it was detected as far away as Antarctica, says Ronan Le Bras, a geophysicist with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization in Vienna, Austria, which oversees an international network of remote monitoring stations, as per WION. The magnitude of this explosion may be gauged because the tsunami and volcanic ash cloud were seen as far away as Peru, more than 10,000 kilometers across the Pacific Ocean, the Scientific American reported. The eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano was heard more than 10,000 kilometers away in Canada. Related Article: Tonga Volcano's Eruption is so Loud Thundering Sound Waves Were Heard in Alaska Reaching the Atmosphere The volcanic explosion has now been shown to have propelled 'atmospheric gravity waves' into space. A NASA satellite picked up on these waves. Around the volcano, the waves projected outwards in concentric spirals. The international community has hastened to assist the island country. Aid and relief goods have been supplied from Japan and Australia. Drinking water boxes were among the supplies carried into a plane parked on the tarmac of Japan's Komaki base. On Wednesday (January 19), the Japanese government said that it would donate at least $1 million in relief and drinking water and equipment to help Tonga clear up the volcano ash. The Red Cross claimed its experts in Tonga had proven that tsunami waves and volcanic ash had contaminated tens of thousands of people's drinking water. Related Article: Tsunami Alert Raised as Underwater Volcanic Eruptions Sent Giant Waves to Tonga Shocks Even days after the eruption, Le Bras claims that the network can still detect the faint echo of the shock wave as it orbits Earth's atmosphere. Le Bras refused to speculate on the extent of the volcanic eruption in Tonga, citing the CTBTO's prohibition on calculating the size of nuclear explosions. Margaret Campbell-Brown, a physicist at the University of Western Ontario in Canada who studies meteors as they enter the atmosphere with infrasound, believes it was as massive as the Soviet test of 50 megatons in 1961. Also Read: Long Valley Supervolcano: World's Most Dangerous Volcano Shows Signs of 'Imminent Eruption' For similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Early on Jan. 22, a powerful offshore earthquake shook Oita and Miyazaki prefectures in southern Japan, inflicting minor injuries among startled people but no substantial damage aside from ruptured water mains. Japanese Earthquake At 1:08 a.m., the earthquake struck. In the two prefectures on Kyushu's major southern island, the highest five on the Japan Meteorological Agency's intensity scale of 7 was recorded. It was predicted to have a magnitude of 6.6. There was no tsunami warning issued. Oita, Saiki, and Taketa in Oita Prefecture, and Nobeoka and Takachiho in Miyazaki Prefecture, were among the municipalities that recorded upper five intensities. According to Saiki municipal government authorities, three residents were brought to hospitals by ambulance. A guy in his 80s was alleged to have fallen while attempting to flee, and a falling object struck another in his 60s at home. A lady evacuated to the Saiki government building expressed her dissatisfaction with her health. In Oita city, water mains ruptured in eight spots, injuring three individuals. A man in his 40s was rushed to the hospital with a facial injury after falling at home, according to the Hyuga fire department in Miyazaki Prefecture. The tremor collapsed electrical poles in the city of Nobeoka. Injuries were also reported in the prefectures of Kumamoto, Saga, and Yamaguchi. According to company officials, no anomalies have been observed at Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s Genkai nuclear power plant in Saga Prefecture or its Sendai nuclear power facility in Kagoshima Prefecture. However, the earthquake caused service disruptions on the Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train and several local lines, mainly Oita Prefecture. According to a meteorological agency official, the epicenter of the quake occurred in the Hyuganada Sea, which is part of the Nankai Trough, an approximately 4-kilometer depression on the seabed that stretches 700 kilometers from Suruga Bay in Shizuoka Prefecture to places off eastern Kyushu. The quake occurred significantly deeper than the expected focus of a Nankai Trough earthquake on the border of the continental and oceanic plates, according to Shinya Tsukada, director of the JMA's Earthquake and Tsunami Observation Division. Take shelter immediately wherever you are when an earthquake strikes. If necessary, take a few steps to a nearby safe location. Stay still until the trembling stops. Related Article: Scientists Warn of Disastrous Aftermath in Case of Supervolcano Eruption in US During the Quake "DROP, COVER, HOLD" if you're inside. If you're outside, find a spot that's free of obstructions. After the Quake Be on the lookout for aftershocks. Secondary effects should be avoided. Although ground-shaking is the most common cause of earthquake damage, secondary effects can be devastating. Landslides, wet sandy soils that become mushy and unstable, floods of low-lying places, and tsunamis pouring across coasts are just a few examples. Also Read: Shaanxi Earthquake: The Most Devastating Earthquake That Took Lives of 800,000 People For similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Crows usually descend on Sunnyvale, California, every evening, cawing noisily and flying over the heads of residents. The swarm of over a thousand crows is causing a nuisance in Sunnyvale, but the city is now turning to laser pointers and boomboxes to curb its rising population. The Crow-infested City Laser pointers and boomboxes will be used to scare the birds away from the city's downtown area, where inhabitants wish to enjoy al fresco dining and strolls without having to converse over the birds' calls or avoid their feces. With urban roosts growing rapidly in recent years, town officials are scrambling to find a way to get rid of or relocate the birds, according to Smithsonian Magazine. Thousands of crows flock to Sunnyvale, California, every night. These days, a growing number of roosting birds can be found in the downtown area of Silicon Valley, cawing their way through the night and leaving their droppings in their wake. Citizens have been complaining about crows since 2019 when Vice-Mayor Alysa Cisneros first began her campaign for office. When it comes to complaints she receives on a regular basis, crows are a major issue, immediately after speeding drivers, she said. They're quite terrifying, says homeowner Katelin Parkos to NBC Bay Area's Damian Trujillo. There are 1,000 crows in Sunnyvale, and the Mercury News' Grace Hase reports that locals are fed up with them defecating, squawking, dive-bombing, and foraging through rubbish all over the city. Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein tells Alyssa Lukpat that the streets are basically littered with crow crap. Also Read: Crows Can Think Rationally, Like Humans Efforts to Scare the Crows Away Per the Mercury News, crow abatement will begin in Sunnyvale later this month. Employees will use green lasers and a boombox to broadcast corvid distress calls for one hour every night to scare them away. According to CBS News' Kiet Do, lasers will be distributed to residents and business owners. This plan has attracted some opposition from the city. In an interview with NBC Bay Area, Matthew Dodder, a member of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, explains that lasers can blind the birds, which is a death sentence. According to the Humane Society of the United States, using lasers to scare away crows is a humane method. Dispersal measures such as reflectors and falconry had already been tried by the city, but they were only successful in the daylight. Crows are extremely intelligent, with some being capable of making and using tools, solving puzzles, and even recognizing human faces. A combination of pyrotechnics, lasers, recorded crow distress sounds, and effigies of dead crows, such as false Halloween decorations, can be used to disperse big roosts, according to the Humane Society. What Could Have Led to the Rising Population of Crows? Because crows from colder places migrate south, the number of crows in some areas increases throughout the winter months. Spring is the time of year when the birds return to their breeding grounds. Crows are a problem in many cities, not just Sunnyvale. In 2021, the winter roost in Rochester, New York, contained between 20,000 and 30,000 crows. According to WXXI News, the city utilizes flashing lights and bird sounds to keep birds from flocking together. Crows in Rochester, Minnesota have been subjected to the same type of treatment. Even while they can be a nuisance, crows, according to the Times, do not represent a health danger to nearby residents. Sunnyvale's deputy mayor canvassed Twitter to see if a crow-themed celebration would be well-received in the event that their efforts fail. Eighty-seven percent of the survey's 452 participants said they planned to attend. Related Article: Crows Find 'Pleasure of Accomplishment' and Show Positive Behavior After Utilizing Tools For more news, updates about crows and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! New Canaan NEW CANAAN Swearing and railing about all whites in the room, Farva Jafri blamed racism for her $30 parking ticket when she contested it before the New Canaan Parking Commission. Only commissioners Pamela Crum, Peter Ogilvie and Stuart Stringfellow were present from the five-member board. Crum chaired the meeting. (Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified the third commissioner present as Chris Hering.) A nine-minute dispute took place as Parking Enforcement Officer Lisa Pia tried to explain the reason for the ticket and Jafri contested it. How many non-white people do you see in this room? Jafri repeated a number of times. I am going to ask to see you in f-king court. I am going to sue the city because this is ridiculous, Jafri said. The heated confrontation was finally abated when Parking Manager Stacy Miltenberg stood up from the audience and confronted Jafri and told her to leave or she would call the police. The incident Pia and Jafri agreed that Jafri was sitting in a car on Main Street across from Chase Bank near Morse Court when the parking attendant approached to issue a ticket. Jafri said she was not parked. It was not moving. It was standing. The ignition was on, she said. I was in the drivers seat when she came up to me and she handed me the ticket, Jafri said. She had been there under five minutes, Jafri recalled. The area where she was parked, she was clearly parked in the no parking zone and she was actually the passenger in the vehicle, not the driver, Pia said. That is incorrect, countered Jafri. She was a passenger, she was playing with her phone, Pia said. That was incorrect. No, I was in the drivers seat, said Jafri. Can I hear one person at a time, Ogilvie said. This is ridiculous, Jafri said. This is a completely white town and the person who was sitting in the back seat called in and he said typical racism in the town of New Canaan, which I experienced time and time over again. You know that you offend me, I am sorry. I am not a racist, Pia said. I am sorry. Fine. Maybe you are not. I have no idea who you are, Jafri said. Shes saying I was sitting in the passenger seat, said Jafri, referring to Pia. Jafri, Pia, board members and people in the audience all started talking at the same time. You have said what you want to say, Crum said to Jafri. You can rebuttal, but let her speak. When I approached the vehicle I didnt see any movement in the car, there was no one in the drivers seat and I didnt even see anybody sitting in the passenger seat at the time, Pia said. I approached the car. I wrote the ticket. I hit print. I went up to the car, Pia said. I usually give someone a chance to move their vehicle, if they are in the drivers seat, she said. Maybe you give white people that chance, Jafri said. How many non white people do you see in this room. How many non-white people do you see in this room today, she repeated. You should stop the racist card, said an audience member. Why do you believe her word over mine? Jafri asked her three times. I am actually not done yet, Pia said. Let her [Pia] finish first before you say anything else, Crum said. When I existed the vehicle [the town patrol vehicle], Pia said, Thats when I noticed she was sitting in the passenger side with her head down playing with her phone. I apologized for giving her a ticket, even though who was driving the vehicle was in the wrong. I usually always give a chance to the driver to move. If they arent willing to move, I issue a ticket, Pia said. I said If you dont agree with it, you can appeal the ticket. Then,someone came from Chase Bank, saying that I was a racist. They were questioning why I let someone else across the street move their vehicle when they were in a no-parking zone. When they actually just stopped for a second got out of the car and helped out two elderly women out of Spiga [Restaurant], Pia said. White lady ... , Jafri said and people spoke over each other. You were parked illegally, Miltenberg said from the audience. No I was not. I was standing, Jafri said. Your car was parked, Miltenberg repeated and was interrupted. You are taking the womans side because she is a white lady and lives in your town, and she works for the Parking Commission, Jafri said. For a short time, many spoke at once, including audience members. I have gotten other parking tickets before. I have never come into any other Parking Commission meeting, Jafri said. Do you have anything else to add? Crum asked. You just call Charles Wade of 25 Trinity Lane and hes the one who called in and complained about this woman, Jafri said. Because you know what shes saying about telling other people to move aside. She did do that. So what is that? Thats the Equal Rights Act and you should not be discriminatingly treating people, Jafri said. Jafri addressed the board. What does the Connecticut statute say for parking versus standing? she asked. Show me the statute, Jafri demanded. Reminds me of Bill Clinton discussing the definition of, Ogilvie said before he was interrupted. Im sure you voted for him, Jafri said sarcastically. This is Connecticut you definitely voted for a Republican, she said. We actually are a Democratic state, Crum said. No there are a lot of f-ing Republicans here, Jafri said. You have made your point ... . We have heard enough, Crum said. I will say this is disgusting, Jafri said. You made your point, Crum said. This has nothing to do with race. Jafri again asked, How many non-white people are in this room? I didnt even know you werent white, by the way, said an audience member. Thats exactly what white people always say, Jafri said. Thats enough, Crum said. Thats it, Ogilvie said. You made your point, Crum said. I am going to ask you to leave. I am going to ask to see you in f-ing court, Jafri said. I am going to sue this city because this is ridiculous. Its a town, Crum said. Were you just taking a photo of me? Jafri asked. I was, Ogilvie said. Yes. What is wrong with you? ... You will delete that off your phone. You are taking a picture of me without permission, Jafri said. You are in a government building, Ogilvie said. Miltenberg stood up and confronted Jafri. This is enough, Miltenberg said. If you do not stop I am going to call the police. I will. Walk out of here now. Now. Now. Now, Miltenberg added. Walk out of here now. Out now, Miltenberg said. What is your name? Jafri asked. Stacy Miltenberg, she replied. Now. Now. Now, Miltenberg said. Jafri left. The Parking Commission then upheld the ticket and ruled she must pay the $30 fine. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD A Norwalk city official accused of fatally shooting a 54-year-old tenant had a clearly deliberate motive in the homicide, a state prosecutor said Friday. Ellen Wink, 61, was arraigned Friday in state Superior Court in Stamford on a murder charge stemming from the fatal shooting of Kurt Lametta, a tenant at Winks Nelson Avenue property in Norwalk. Assistant States Attorney Michelle Manning the homicide was motivated by an ongoing dispute between Lametta and Wink, the Republican deputy registrar of voters in Norwalk and a former city clerk. Wink and the victim in this case had numerous interactions over the course of a month, Manning said. She then very clearly showed her anger towards the victim. That anger escalated to the point where she shot him in his home she brought the gun to that house and shot him yesterday. That, in the states view, shows that she is a very dangerous person who lets her anger guide her finger. Dr. James Gill, the states chief medical examiner, said Friday Lametta died from gunshot wounds to the torso and ruled his death a homicide. According to police reports, Wink and Lametta have had a contentious relationship dating back to September 2020, when Lametta allegedly stopped paying rent. Last September, Wink was arrested after she locked Lametta out of the home and threw away his personal belongings, clothes, jewelry and cash, according to the police report. That case is still awaiting disposition and has been statutorily sealed, according to state court records. In the wake of the deteriorating relationship with Lametta, Wink expressed she wanted to sell the Nelson Avenue property, according to the police report. In a call to a 911 dispatcher following the fatal shooting, Wink said she went to Lamettas apartment to do some cleaning when he came at her, according to the police report. The report states Wink can be heard yelling he was after me in the 911 call. She said I am so tired of this guy, he is on the floor, Detective John Sura wrote in his report regarding Winks conversation with the 911 dispatcher. She said that she had kept telling him to get out and had enough. Wink continued rambling about issues Kurt Lametta caused. According to the police report, Wink also told a first responding officer that she had fired a revolver registered to her five times at Lametta, adding he was (expletive) driving me nuts. A neighboring tenant told police he heard Wink and Lametta arguing Thursday afternoon when there was a loud bang, followed by Lametta yelling call 911, according to the police report. Winks boyfriend told police he was in his office at the adjacent Nelson Avenue property that she owns when he heard bangs, a pause and then a few more bangs, according to the police report. The boyfriend told police Wink later said, Lametta got in her face or something, so she shot him, the report said. He also told police Lametta was a big bully and Wink is afraid of him, according to the report. During Fridays arraignment, Manning called Wink a danger to society and asked Judge John Blawie to raise her bond to $2 million. Attorney Kevin Black, who represents Wink, said the fatal shooting was an isolated incident and the court should instead consider a $200,000 bond or less. Blawie ultimately kept the bond at $1 million, where it had been originally set. If posted, Wink will be on house arrest and required to wear GPS monitoring, and face intensive probation services. Wink did not post bond on Friday. Wink has been a longtime Norwalk resident and has served in a number of positions in the city. In addition to currently serving as Republican deputy registrar, she served as city clerk from 2009 to 2011. In 2020, Wink ran for state representative for the 137th District and lost to Democratic incumbent Chris Perone. Help support your local hometown newspaper/website. Independent local news reporting matters. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription, for as little as $3, so we can continue to provide independent local reporting on our communities. John Frayne hosts Classics of the Phonograph on Saturdays at WILL-FM and, in retirement, teaches at the UI. He can be reached at frayne@illinois.edu. The Guardian, January 20, 2022 Ruchi Kumar and Hikmat Noori Taliban gunmen have raided the homes of womens rights activists in Kabul, beating and arresting female campaigners in a string of actions apparently triggered by recent demonstrations. Tamana Zaryabi Paryani and Parawana Ibrahimkhel, who participated in a series of protests held in Kabul over the last few months, were seized on Wednesday night by armed men claiming to be from the Taliban intelligence department. Shortly before Paryani and her sisters were detained, footage was posted on social media showing her screaming for help, saying the Taliban were banging on her door. Help, please, the Taliban have come to our home ... Only my sisters are home, she says in the clip. Associated Press footage from the scene on Thursday showed the apartments dented metal front door sitting slightly ajar. A witness said the armed men went up to Paryanis third-floor apartment and began banging on the front door ordering her to open it. The spokesman for the Taliban-appointed police in Kabul, Gen Mobin Khan, tweeted that Paryanis social video post was a manufactured drama. A spokesman for the Taliban intelligence, Khalid Hamraz, would neither confirm nor deny the arrest. He tweeted that insulting the religious and national values of the Afghan people is not tolerated any more, a reference to Sundays rally during which the protesters appeared to burn a white burqa, the head-to-toe garment that only leaves a mesh opening for the eyes. Hamraz accused rights activists of maligning Afghanistans new Taliban rulers and their security forces to gain asylum in the west. Similar raids were reported across homes of female protesters in Kabul. In another case, an Afghan protester whose name has been concealed to protect her, said she was physically assaulted and injured. She told the Guardian that the Taliban visited her house and attacked and severely beat her. Her whereabouts are now unknown. The Taliban had been patrolling near our homes since [Wednesday] afternoon. I talked to Tamana in the evening and then around 9pm I saw the video of her asking for help. We tried calling her from our burner phones, but her phone was switched off, said Wahida Amiri, 33-year-old librarian and a fellow demonstrator, who is also on the run. When we realised that they were raiding our homes one by one, the rest of us decided to go into hiding, she added. Since sweeping to power in mid-August, the Taliban have imposed widespread restrictions, many of them against women. They have been banned from many jobs outside the health and education field, their access to education has been restricted beyond sixth grade and they have been ordered to wear the hijab. The Taliban have, however, stopped short of imposing the burqa, which was compulsory when they ruled Afghanistan in the 1990s. At Sundays demonstration, women carried placards demanding equal rights and shouted: Justice! They said they could be forced to wear the hijab. Organisers of the demonstration said Paryani attended the protest, which was dispersed after the Taliban fired pepper spray at the crowd. Paryani belongs to a rights group called Seekers of Justice, which has organised several demonstrations in Kabul, including Sundays. Members have not spoken publicly of Paryanis arrest but have been sharing the video of her. The New York-based Human Rights Watch said that since taking over, the Taliban have rolled back the rights of women and girls, including blocking access to education and employment for many. Womens rights activists have staged a series of protests; the Taliban have responded by banning unauthorized protests, HRW said in a statement after Sundays protest. The Taliban have increasingly targeted Afghanistans rights groups, and local and international journalists covering demonstrations have often been detained and sometimes beaten. It is obvious the Taliban are intensifying their attacks on the civic space, and more specifically on women who are pioneers of the civic space, said Shaharzad Akbar, chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. For over a month, we have seen the Taliban stifling dissent and intensifying their attacks on protesters across Afghanistan, added Akbar. Earlier we heard reports of protesters in Mazar being detained. There were also allegation of them being tortured, assaulted and harassed while in detention. Heather Barr, associate director of the womens division at Human Rights Watch, said the Talibans reaction was a sign of fear. It might seem hard to understand why the Taliban would have such a violent reaction to 25 women standing on the sidewalk, protesting peacefully. But their fears make sense when you see how powerful and brave these women are, to be stepping out again and again even in the face of escalating violence by the Taliban, she said. She urged the international community to step up in support of Afghan women. The Taliban seem to be struggling on how to respond to this, and seem to have decided now that increased brutality is the answer, and that is a very frightening moment. The international community has to stand by these women. Associated Press contributed reporting Krista Vance is a former Champaign resident. While she now calls northern Colorado home, she spent five wonderful years here and misses great friends, corn and big-sky sunsets. Sundiata Cha-Jua is a professor of African American studies and history at the University of Illinois and a member of the North End Breakfast Club. His email is schajua@gmail.com. Brett Kepley is a lawyer with Land of Lincoln Legal Aid Inc. Send questions to The Law Q&A, 302 N. First St., Champaign, IL 61820. One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 Longview, TX (75601) Today Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. A critical shortfall in neurologists in Africa must be addressed in order to meet the health needs of patients with disorders that affect the brain, nerve and spinal cord, a study says. The study published in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences found that ten African countries including Djibouti, Eritrea, Guinea Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, and South Sudan do not have a neurologist a medical specialist who managers disorders of nerves and the nervous system. Yahya Naji, a co-author of the study and a resident doctor at the neurology department of Morocco's University Hospital Mohamed VI, says new approaches are needed to swell the number of neurologists in Africa. Telemedicine could be part of the solution for training African physicians as telecommunication infrastructure on the continent continues to expand, according to Naji. There are many solutions such as establishment [of] new centers of scientific research, seek funding from international organizations, collaboration with developed countries, increase the budget for research and medical formation." Yahya Naji, co-author of the study According to a 2021 study, the WHO African region has only a median of 0.043 neurologists per 100,000 inhabitants - well below the WHO-recommended ratio of one per 100,000. "The low numbers of neurologists signify that access to neurological care is too difficult, so all the neurological diseases will remain undiagnosed," says Naji. The shortfall of trained neurologists in Africa could lead to some patients seeking care from traditional healers, who may manage the disorders wrongly, putting patients' lives at risk, adds Naji, who also works at the Marrakech Medical School of the University Cadi Ayyad in Morocco. Neurological disorders are medical conditions that affect the brain, nerve and spinal cord, and include medical problems such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, speech and language disorders. A separate study from 2014 showed that neurological disorders accounted for 20 per cent of adult hospital medical admissions, more than five per cent of deaths and about 14 per cent of all disability in Sub-Saharan Africa. To assess the number of neurologists in Africa, researchers used a questionnaire to collect data from experts in 50 African countries from March to December 2020, and analyzed WHO data for four countries that did not respond to the questionnaire. "More than 17 countries (31.5 per cent) have more than 11 neurologists while 27 countries (50 per cent) have between one and ten neurologists," the study says. "In some African countries, neurologists can be found only in [the] capitals (13 per cent). The analysis shows that only two African countries have more than 200 neurologists Egypt (3,108) and Algeria (330) and only six countries including Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia have 30 to 200 neurologists. The researchers warn that the shortage of neurologists in Africa could last for decades, with the COVID-19 pandemic and strain on health care likely to make the situation even worse. Rufus Olusola Akinyemi, deputy director at the Centre for Genomic and Precision Medicine of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, says that the lack of neurologists in Africa is partly due to brain drain and lack of training programs. Akinyemi, an expert studying degenerative brain disorders, tells SciDev.Net: "The study demonstrates the huge neurology human resource gap in Africa. Coupled with the lack of high cost and poor access to neuroimaging facilities, correct neurological diagnosis may be limited and paving way for a lot of quackery in the space." He calls on African governments to invest in building human resource capacity by training more neurologists. According to Akinyemi, the current shortfall is putting lives at risk. "In places where there are no neurologists, general physicians and medical officers with limited neurological expertise often stand in the gap to make neurological diagnosis," he explains. "The consequences of all this is the lack of or delayed diagnosis, poor treatment of cases and often poor outcomes in terms of quality of life and higher mortality." Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections resulted in more than 1.2 million deaths worldwide in 2019, exceeding the number caused by HIV/AIDS and malaria, says a study spanning 204 countries and territories. One in five of the deaths occurred in children under the age of five, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the highest burden, according to the analysis published in The Lancet, titled Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis. The researchers say gaps in data in lower-income countries mean the full picture could be even worse, while other experts say the pandemic is also likely to have exacerbated the problem due to COVID-19 patients receiving antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the development of resistance by various bacteria and other microbes against antimicrobial agents or antibiotics, including those used against common infections like lower respiratory tract and bloodstream infections. The analysis in The Lancet points to an immediate need to scale up action on AMR and recommends urgent measures for policymakers, such as optimizing existing antibiotic use, and improving infection monitoring and control. This is the most comprehensive study on the global burden of bacterial drug-resistant infections ever conducted." Christiane Dolecek, co-author of the study Christiane Dolecek is a professor who leads on global AMR research at Oxford University's Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health and the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit. "We hope that this report makes clear the impact now and future threat of this 21st century pandemic, and that it energizes political leaders and the global community to implement the necessary measures to keep communities and patients safe and reduce this preventable burden," she told Scidev.Net. AMR's global footprint According to the study, AMR played a part in an estimated 4.95 million deaths and was directly responsible for an estimated 1.27 million deaths in 2019. This compares to 860,000 and 640,000 deaths respectively from HIV/AIDS and malaria in the same year. Sub-Saharan Africa faced the highest burden, with 24 deaths per 100,000 people resulting directly from AMR, while the figure was 22 per 100,000 in South Asia. The number of AMR-linked deaths in those regions numbered 99 and 77 per 100,000, respectively. The analysis also showed that of the 23 pathogens studied in the research, six bacteria - including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae - directly caused the deaths of 929,000 people and were associated with 3.57 million deaths. In Sub-Saharan Africa, deaths attributable to AMR mainly resulted from Streptococcus pneumoniae (16 per cent) or Klebsiella pneumoniae (20 per cent), while in high-income countries nearly 50 per cent of the deaths attributable to AMR were due to Escherichia coli (23 per cent) or Staphylococcus aureus (26 per cent). Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in the US, told Scidev.Net that antimicrobial resistance was one of the major public health threats of our time. "It threatens to pull us back to the pre-penicillin era," he said. To fight the scourge, says Dolecek, good vaccination coverage, especially of pneumococcal conjugate and flu vaccines, is needed, along with improved water and sanitation and better access to health services. "We need high quality, affordable and accessible simple rapid tests to reliably distinguish bacterial from viral infections on the spot in clinics," she added. Dolecek also recommended antibiotic stewardship initiatives to assess and improve how clinicians prescribe antibiotics and patients use them, and to curb inappropriate use. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "improving antibiotic prescribing and use is critical to effectively treat infections, protect patients from harms caused by unnecessary antibiotic use, and combat antibiotic resistance." COVID-19 impact 'not captured' Madhukar Pai, Canada research chair in epidemiology and global health, and a professor at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, told SciDev.Net: "This is an important study that underscores the importance of antimicrobial resistance. But the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is not captured. "I hope it will be addressed in future updates of this study, because antimicrobial abuse has dramatically increased during the pandemic, with very high use of antimicrobial drugs such as azithromycin, doxycycline, ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine." COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital are often administered antibiotics to treat secondary infections, despite only a minority of cases having bacterial co-infections, according to a report in the BMJ. "While these drugs are not effective for COVID-19, their widespread abuse makes me worried about antimicrobial resistance in the coming years," added Pai. The study says investment in the development pipeline for new antibiotics and access to second-line antibiotics where required are "essential" measures to counter this threat. Diptendra Sarkar, a public health analyst and professor at the Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, in Kolkata, India, believes that irrational, non-evidence-based antibiotic use is responsible for the AMR crisis in developing countries. "Immediate global action is necessary," he told SciDev.Net. "All stakeholders, which include government regulatory authorities, medical professional bodies and the pharmaceutical industry, must initiate dialogues and draft a national, evidence-based, antibiotic policy. Regulatory bodies in developing countries must prepare a roadmap for community and hospital infection audits, he said, adding: "Educating health care providers and strong surveillance is the way forward." A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. More than a third of care home residents and a quarter of care home staff in England showed evidence of infection with SARS-CoV-2 during the first two waves of the pandemic, according to a new study led by UCL (University College London) researchers. The study, published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, looked at blood samples from nearly 5,000 residents (with a median age of 87) and staff (with a median age of 48) at 201 care homes across England between June 2020 and May 2021. The researchers found that 34.6% of residents and 26.1% of staff tested positive for the nucleocapsid antibody, which indicates prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. (This compares to 16% for the general population over a similar period*). The data did not include residents and staff who died of Covid-19, meaning the true prevalence would have been higher. Analysing repeat samples from 619 participants and how they changed over time, the researchers found that the nucleocapsid antibody (antibody specific to the virus's nucleocapsid protein) became undetectable in half of the population within eight months that is, in half of the population the test no longer picked up evidence of prior infection. The researchers said this quick waning of detectable levels of the nucleocapsid antibody showed the need to investigate different antibodies that may not become undetectable so quickly in order to accurately assess levels of prior infection in a population. Commonly used commercial tests currently target the nucleocapsid antibody and may be subject to the same time limitation as the particular test used in the study. Our study shows the prevalence of Covid-19 in care homes was much higher than in the general population in England up until May this year. In the period we looked at, before the Delta variant became dominant in the UK, the proportion of care home residents with evidence of previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 was more than double that of the general population." Dr Maria Krutikov, Lead Author, UCL Institute of Health Informatics Senior author Professor Laura Shallcross (UCL Institute of Health Informatics), leader of the Vivaldi study looking at Covid-19 in care homes, said: "In our study the nucleocapsid-specific antibody disappears within a year and the wide use of tests targeting these antibodies to see if people have had Covid-19 before could underestimate the number of prior infections. "It is important to distinguish immunity caused by infection from immunity generated by a vaccine within a population. Underestimating the number of past infections could affect our estimates of the effectiveness of a vaccine and the level of protection against infection in care homes as both of these are boosted by naturally acquired immunity." For the study, researchers looked at 9,488 blood samples donated by 1,434 residents and 3,288 staff between 11 June 2020, and 7 May 2021. Individuals donated a maximum of four samples, taken at least eight weeks apart. To determine how quickly the antibodies waned, researchers looked at blood samples from 239 residents and 380 staff, donated over a period of about five months on average. During this time, antibodies became undetectable in 23% of residents and 35% of staff. Researchers estimated how long it would take for half of the population to become antibody-negative which they found to be 242 days (eight months). The study found that antibodies appeared to last longer among residents than among staff. One theory, not confirmed by the study, is that residents were more likely to have had severe infection, potentially resulting in a longer-lasting antibody response. It is also possible that residents who survive Covid-19 are particularly robust and this is reflected in their immune responses. Professor Shallcross added: "We would like to thank all the care home staff and residents who took part in the research. Being able to track the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in care homes, among an elderly population often excluded from research, is important in helping us better understand the pandemic and prevent new cases." The research is part of the ongoing Vivaldi study, launched in June 2020, to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infections in care homes and inform strategies to protect residents. It is funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care. * Data from Public Health England up to 11 July this year suggested 16% of the population in England had evidence of prior infection in the form of nucleocapsid-specific antibodies. While the Omicron variant continues to infect people around the world, researchers at the University of Missouri have identified the highly prevalent, specific mutations that are causing the Omicron variant's high rate of infection. The findings help explain how the new variant can escape pre-existing antibodies present in the human body, either from vaccination or naturally from a recent COVID-19 infection. We know that viruses evolve over time and acquire mutations, so when we first heard of the new Omicron variant, we wanted to identify the mutations specific to this variant." Kamlendra Singh, professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, assistant director of the MU Molecular Interactions Core and Bond Life Sciences Center investigator Singh collaborated with Saathvik Kannan, a freshman at Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri, and Austin Spratt, an undergraduate student at MU, and Sid Byrareddy of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, to analyze protein sequences of Omicron samples from around the world, including South Africa, Botswana and the United States. The team identified 46 highly prevalent mutations specific to Omicron, including several located in the region of the virus' spike protein where antibodies bind to the virus in order to prevent infection. "The purpose of antibodies is to recognize the virus and stop the binding, which prevents infection," Singh said. "However, we found many of the mutations in the Omicron variant are located right where the antibodies are supposed to bind, so we are showing how the virus continues to evolve in a way that it can potentially escape or evade the existing antibodies, and therefore continue to infect so many people." As antiviral treatments for individuals infected with COVID-19 continue to be developed, Singh explained that having a better understanding of how the virus is evolving will help ensure future antiviral treatments will be targeted toward the specific parts of the virus to produce the most effective outcomes. In a recent trip to his native India, Singh met with Manish Sisodia, the deputy chief minister of Delhi, to discuss the launch of CoroQuil-Zn, a supplement that can be taken while infected with COVID-19 to help reduce one's viral load. The supplement, which Singh helped to develop, is now being used by patients in Tamil Nadu, a state in India. The manufacturer will soon seek FDA approval for its distribution in the United States. "The first step toward solving a problem is getting a better understanding of the specific problem in the first place," Singh said. "It feels good to be contributing to research that is helping out with the pandemic situation, which has obviously been affecting people all over the world." While most people living with HIV have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, younger and Black individuals are hesitant to get vaccinated and have lower vaccination rates, according to a new study by Rutgers researchers. The study, published in AIDS Patient Care and STDs, is among the first to examine COVID-19 vaccination efforts based on people living with HIV in the United States. The researchers nationally surveyed people living with HIV between March and May of 2021-;at the onset of the vaccination program-; and found that while most individuals had reported receiving at least one dose of a vaccine, certain subgroups had lower intentions of getting vaccinated. Participants who were older and had been living with HIV for a longer period of time were more likely to have received at least one dose of the vaccine, showed less vaccine hesitancy, and had higher perceived vulnerability to COVID-19. Rates of vaccination were also highest among sexual and gender minority cisgender men and transgender participants, as well as those more likely to report an undetectable viral load. Among the unvaccinated people living with HIV who completed the survey, sexual and gender minority individuals-;who include but are not limited to individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, and transgender-;demonstrated higher intent to get vaccinated than non-sexual and gender minority individuals. The researchers also found that Black participants were least likely to be vaccinated, which is consistent with other studies that have demonstrated the relation between race and residential segregation for individuals infected with HIV and COVID-19 in the United States, where people of color tend to live in less economically advantaged neighborhoods. "Our findings suggest that successfully managing COVID-19 and HIV is predicated largely on continued access to trusted health care providers and trusted sources of health information, which likely affects decision-making around vaccine uptake as well as treatments for both HIV and COVID-19," says Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health and Director of the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies which collected the data. While COVID-19 vaccination rates have likely increased since the survey was conducted, the researchers say that their results are important when considering the possibility of an annual COVID-19 vaccine. Increasing and maintaining access to vaccination for people living with HIV is crucial especially as we expect COVID-19 to become endemic, requiring an annual dose or booster." Perry N. Halkitis, Dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health and Director of the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies The researchers call for tailored public health messaging around the importance of vaccination for people living with HIV, particularly those who are younger, Black, Latinx, or do not have regular exposure to health messaging, like cisgender straight men who are less likely to access care for HIV, and cisgender women who have regularly expressed false concerns about the potential effects of the vaccine on fertility and reproductive health. For people living with HIV of various sociodemographic backgrounds, it is essential that communication of health information provides a genuine understanding of various communities' concerns and acts in partnership to address the hesitancies. "The findings from this study also underscore the significance of having a multidimensional approach to promoting the importance of COVID-19 vaccines," says Kristen D. Krause, instructor at the Rutgers School of Public Health and deputy director of the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies. "It has become clear over time that a one-size-fits-all approach will not work for everyone, and those living with HIV/AIDS are no different, even if they are used to public health messaging." This work shows that no group should be treated as monolithic as is too often the approach of medical providers. Health care providers as well as public health messaging must attend to the many intersectional identities people hold, researchers say. Study co-authors include staff from the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies at the Rutgers School of Public Health. Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com Follow Sue on Twitter @TribStarSue. The poll workers volunteered to help with the local primary elections on Tuesday. (Newser) Lena Dunham has been lying relatively low the last few years after being a seemingly constant focus of tabloid headlines. Now a profile at the Hollywood Reporter magazine suggests the 36-year-old is in a much better place. She's sober and in a stable marriage, and she fended off a COVID diagnosis at the start of the pandemic that was potentially fatal because of pre-existing health issues. (COVID even brought an unexpected bonus: The isolation it necessitated was a "boon to her creativity.") "I'd love the next decade to be less about apologizing and just about openly making art," she says. Dunham is currently promoting a new film, Sharp Stick, and has several other projects in the works. The profile runs through her early rise to fame via her HBO creation Girls"I'm proud of myself," she says, recalling her first day on the set as a 24-year-oldalong with the negativity that came along with that and hasn't stopped. "I was getting messagesmany, many, many of them a dayabout what I looked like. Things most people will never have said to them in their lives because most of polite society keeps people from walking up to each other at a Target and going like, 'You're fat, you're ugly and you deserve to die.'" One surprise to her: She estimates half of those messages came from other women, perhaps ones who looked like her who "had internalized the kind of hatred that we are supposed to have of our bodies." The profile is not a boo-hoo-for-me interview, however. Dunham acknowledges her mistakes, including "huge blinds spots" when she was younger about issues such as racism (Girls frequently took flak for its lack of diversity) and even the Me Too movement. (Read the full profile, which explains why a Girls reboot is possible, though not anytime soon.) (Newser) If you're in the camp that believes ivermectin is a wonderful drug ... for ailments other than COVID, a new Mother Jones article is likely to raise your ire. It flags a January study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that looked at just who is paying for the ivermectin doctors have been prescribing COVID patients despite the FDA's warning that doing so is dangerous. The answer: well, you. A team led by Kao-Ping Chua of the University of Michigans School of Public Health looked at a sampling of Medicare Advantage claims (excluding ones involving patients who had a diagnosis code for a parasitic infection prior to filling the ivermectin prescription). They found that Medicare Advantage covered, on average, 74% of the cost of each ivermectin prescription, or $39 a pop. The team added in what private insurers paid (61% of the cost) and arrived at a total of $2.5 million in insurance coverage per week, with Medicare's portion of that being about $925,000. The researchers point out the total is an undercount because it doesn't include Medicaid. "Findings suggest that insurers heavily subsidized the costs of ivermectin prescriptions for COVID-19, even though economic theory holds that insurers should not cover ineffective care," they write. Mother Jones has this takeaway: "Chuas findings are especially noteworthy when considering one of the main arguments of ivermectin proponents: The drug is cheap, often just a little more than a dollar a dose. Yet the study vividly illustrates that while individual costs can be low, on a population level, they add up fast." Forbes notes the researchers looked at private and Medicare plan spending during the week of Aug. 13, 2021, and "it's not yet clear how ivermectin prescribing levels may have fluctuated after that week in August." It adds another caveat, which is that the sample used wasn't a random or nationally representative sample but a convenience sample, meaning a sample of the people who happened to be in the database used. The sample they ended up with had a higher proportion of people from the Midwest and a lower proportion from the South. (Read more ivermectin stories.) (Newser) The Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania plan to send US-made anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, a move that the US fully endorsed Saturday. As tensions over Russia's intent at the Ukraine border escalate, the defense ministers of the three Baltic states said in a joint statement that they "stand united in our commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in face of continued Russian aggression," the AP reports. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in tweets that Washington saluted the three NATO nations and former Soviet republics "for their longstanding support to Ukraine" and endorsed the transfers of the "defensive equipment." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier this week described the West supplying arms to Ukraine as extremely dangerous and said the shipments "do nothing to reduce tensions." Moscow has massed tens of thousands of troops near the Russia-Ukraine border, leading to fears of an invasion. The West has rejected Moscow's main demands, and a meeting Friday between Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ended with no breakthrough. Amid the uncertain security situation, the US State Department has been considering a range of options to ensure the safety and security of the US Embassy in Kyiv and its employees by moving to reduce its diplomatic presence there. The defense ministers of the Baltic states said in their statement that Estonia would provide Javelin anti-tank weapons while Latvia and Lithuania were sending Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and other related equipment to bolster Kyiv's defensive military capabilities. It wasn't immediately clear when the weapons and equipment would be sent to Ukraine. "Today, Ukraine is at the forefront of separating Europe from the military conflict with Russia," Estonian Defense Minister Kalle Laanet said. "Let's face it, the war in Ukraine is ongoing, and it is important to support Ukraine in every way we can so that they can resist the aggressor." (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) He'd done it before and thought he could do it again. Sadly, he couldnt. French adventurer Jean-Jacque Savin is dead at 75 after attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean for the second time, this time by rowing, the BBC reports. Savin, who in 2019 had ventured from Europe to the Caribbean in a large orange barrel that made use of ocean currents, was trying againthis time in a 26-foot canoe, in a journey he expected would take three months. He issued two distress signals overnight Thursday, per CNN. On Friday, Portuguese officials found his overturned canoe with his body inside the cabin near the Azores, a group of islands about 870 miles west of Portugal. Savin had departed mainland Portugal on New Years Day and was aiming for one of the Azores islands when he lost contact with his team. Savins last social media post on his personal Facebook page was on Jan. 14, the day of his 75th birthday. "As most of you know, I'm becoming the dean of the Atlantic crossing at the ridge. So bored," he wrote. Five days later, on Wednesday, he recounted on his trips Facebook page some of the difficulties he had encountered: "The solar sensor (which needs to recharge my water desalinator battery) is no longer working. I'm forced to use my manual disinfectant but it's costing me physical energy ... Rest assured, I'm not in danger!" Savins team officially announced his death on Facebook on Saturday. "Unfortunately, this time the ocean was stronger than our friend, who loved sailing and the sea so much ... we will not communicate any more elements, not yet knowing the exact circumstances of the drama," his team posted. Savin leaves behind a daughter, Manon. During Savins 2019 journey, which took over four months, he traveled 2,930 miles to the Dutch Caribbean island of St. Eustatius. Before focusing on ocean adventures, Savin was a military paratrooper, a private pilot, and climbed Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps. (Read more obituary stories.) (Newser) Russias Foreign Ministry on Sunday rejected a British claim that Russia was seeking to replace Ukraines government with a pro-Moscow administration, and that former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev was being considered as a potential candidate. The Wall Street Journal reports the allegations of a plot back up "an earlier US assessment suggesting that the Kremlin is laying plans to oust its neighbors leadership," though the Journal notes neither country detailed how it arrived at that conclusion (the AP reports the British claim was based on an intelligence assessment). A line from the Britains Foreign Office's Saturday statement: "We have information that indicates the Russian government is looking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine." A rep for the Russian Foreign Ministry responded with this: "The disinformation spread by the British Foreign Office is more evidence that it is the NATO countries, led by the Anglo-Saxons, who are escalating tensions around Ukraine. We call on the British Foreign Office to stop provocative activities, stop spreading nonsense." British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the information "shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking." The White House called the UK government assessment "deeply concerning" and said it stands with the duly elected Ukrainian government. "This kind of plotting is deeply concerning," National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said. "The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine." (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) Since the late 1970s, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute has provided this column free in cooperation with the UAF research community. Ned Rozell is a science writer for the Geophysical Institute. Sources: How Athabascan leaders crafted the Tanana Chiefs Conference. Matt Buxton. In The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 6-12-2019 Proceedings of a Council, Fairbanks, Alaska, July 5, 1915. Wickersham State Historic Site Manuscripts, Alaska State Library Hsitorical Collections. The Tanana Chiefs, Native Rights and Western Law. William Schneider, Thomas Alton, Will Mayo, Natasha Singh & Kevin Illingworth. University of Alaska Press. 2018 Ray Bonnell is a freelance artist, writer and longtime Fairbanks resident. See more of his artwork at www.pingostudio.us. The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. Victims of online banking scams in Bahrain hardly get their money back amid rising number of online heists Victims of online banking scams in Bahrain hardly get their money back amid rising number of online heists TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com No one knows what to do now! It seems the fraudsters targeting the online banking and financial transaction networks in Bahrain are on a rampage; scores continue to lose money from their bank accounts daily. The victims say banks and money wallet applications are not owning up the responsibility to safeguard their online accounts while attempting to engage in a blame game. And most interestingly, among those who lost money is an IT manager of a financial institution. The Daily Tribune office has, until now, received tens of calls from the victims, who are at sea after losing bucks from their accounts. The hackers have also managed to steal from the accounts of many companies and organisations. It is high time the authorities take serious steps to contain the fraudsters and their seemingly vast networks spreading worldwide. Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Ajeesh P K, a resident in Bahrain, who and his employer lost BD4,500 to scammers, said he has yet to come to terms with the nightmare. What has happened is hard to believe. One fine day I woke up to see that BD860 was robbed from my account through ten online transactions, mainly of BD99 and lesser amounts. I also saw two missed calls from a WhatsApp number not in my contacts. I could also see that 100 fils had been transferred to my account using an online payment app carrying the same number, from which the stranger had made WhatsApp calls. I suspect him to have hacked my account and stolen money and have filed a complaint against him with the local police. On the same day, I visited my bank branch to block my account. Suddenly, my employer called me, saying BD310 had been robbed from the company account. Since my account and company account were with the same bank, I asked the branch manager to block both of them. As the process to block the account was ongoing, the robber struck once again. Twenty-five transactions of BD99 were carried out by the robber, leaving the bank officials clueless as to what to do next. Subsequently, both accounts have been blocked and are not being used now for any transactions. Ajeesh said he has filed a complaint with Sitra Police and the CID Department but is unsure about getting the robbed money back, which is the case with most of the victims, who contacted The Daily Tribune. Staff at all commercial banks across Bahrain now find it challenging to handle the rising number of complaints from customers after fraudulent online money transfers. Its not easy to handle the increasing number of complaints, and we feel embarrassed to face our customers as we dont have genuine answers to deal with them, a bank official told The Daily Tribune. Banks, money wallet apps should take more responsibility On the other hand, an IT professional and cybersecurity expert said the Financial Institutions should collectively form a unit to tackle these online scammers. In many developed countries, most banks and digital wallets compensate the customers for the lost amounts to scammers. And they have earmarked millions in this regard. In Bahrain also, I expect the banks to take more responsibility and at least share the risk along with the customers. I dont understand how money is stolen even after deactivating many accounts. The disease has progressed, and no treatment seems to be working now. Hacking or buying accounts! He said he had discussed the issue with many top bank officials. What I could learn is that the scammers are either hacking the bank accounts or buying accounts from expatriates who are leaving the Kingdom. The second one sounds quite strange, but I was told its a reality, and these bought accounts are used as the focal points to carry out scams. Many money wallets offer few procedural difficulties to make customers happy, which is not the right thing. Suppose a lengthy course of action ensures the safety and keeps the scammers at bay. In that case, it must be adopted as the customers are now willing to bear procedural difficulties for keeping their money safe in the accounts. He asked why the money wallets are permitting money transfers even after uninstalling and deactivating their apps. There is no automated system to de-link with the bank account upon installing or deactivating the app, which is worsening the situation, allowing scammers to steal more and more. The Daily Tribune spoke to many victims who have lost their money. And all of them said they havent got a fils back. 'Social engineering' In an exclusive interview, Ali Beshara, the Head of Information Security and Risk Management at The BENEFIT Company, which owns the popular online money transfer app BenefitPay, attributed the rise in online fund transfer scams to lack of alertness from the part of users. Mr Beshara also pointed out that this kind of cybercrime involves social engineering - a term used by information security professionals to describe the action from the part of hackers. The hackers deploy their highest social engineering skills to get information, which is supposed to be kept secret, private and never shared, from their victims. It is in these situations, the hacker gets the password of the BenefitPay application and the OTP (One-Time Password), which is sent to the user in case of device change and money transfer, he had said. Mr Beshara stressed that users are almost totally protected if they dont click on links sent by fraudsters or share passwords with strangers. Target through calls Scammers generally target victims by making calls to their mobile phones or sending SMSs. Upon receiving the call or SMS, data is leaked and money is either transferred to other accounts or used for purchasing various goods online through the payment app already installed on the mobile phone. A few weeks ago, The Daily Tribune carried a report about fraudsters targeting the online banking and financial transaction network in the Kingdom. The published article carried the plight of one Bangladeshi national, one Pakistani national, and an Indian businessman, who lost nearly BD1,500 to the scammers. Stop responding to calls and text messages from strangers Most victims have launched a complaint with the police department, pleading for an intense probe into the matter. Cyber security experts have always highlighted the need to protect Unified Payment Interface (UPI) and online transactions from scammers in light of increasing online payments. They include not responding to calls and text messages from strangers and putting up different passwords on different accounts and UPI apps. The Central Bank of Bahrain, many a time, has carried out campaigns and circulated messages alerting over the possibility of falling victims to online fraudsters. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The second edition of the National Employment Programme landed jobs for more than 26,000 nationals in about 6,642 private institutions, said Labour and Social Development Minister. Minister Jameel Humaidan also pointed out that the labour ministry had trained over 12,000 nationals in 2021 in cooperation with the relevant authorities. The minister announced the figures during a virtual meeting with the advisory mission of the International Monetary Fund, led by Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin. Discussions also focused on Bahrains experience in confronting the repercussions of the novel Coronavirus pandemic, the Economic Recovery Plan and programmes that support the stability of the labour market. Humaidan highlighted Bahrains swift response to the pandemic by launching an economic stimulus package worth more than BHD 4.5 billion in March 2019, as directed by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Such measures had maintained the stability of the national workforce in the labour market and distanced the private sector from layoffs, the minister said. On the Economic Recovery Plan, the minister said the ambitious five-pillar plan is a roadmap for a brighter economic and fiscal future for Bahrain. The plan launched by the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, targets to employ 20,000 Bahrainis and train 10,000 others annually. He affirmed that the positive results prove the ability of the local labour market to generate more job opportunities for the national workforce. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Businessman Yaqoob Al Awadhi, a candidate for the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industrys board of directors elections, has emphasised the necessity of following the principle of No fees, No service at the chamber. He explained that the chambers board of directors has two options: either adopt qualitative initiatives that all chamber members, including SMEs owners, find beneficial, or abandon the membership obligation, and each merchant must pay a minimum of BD20 to renew his business registration. The Chamber of Commerce, according to Al Awadhi, is ultimately a civil society institution whose function is to care for merchants and defend their interests, not to amass subscription funds in its treasury without all merchants, or at least most of them, feeling the Chambers benefit to them. Al Awadhi pointed out that if the Chamber cannot provide its services to all its members, at least it can initiate the implementation of major projects that benefit the national economy, and whose benefit is reflected on Bahrainis by creating direct and indirect job opportunities, supporting GDP providing real support for the governments plans. The Chambers role should not be limited to ceremonies, visits, and press releases; instead, those in charge should take the lead in doing fieldwork on the ground, getting to know the needs of small and large businesses, and putting the commercial sector at the centre of the Chambers interests and activities. It should also endeavour to expand new markets for Bahraini goods and services, as well as reactivate the committees activity. If this occurs, the Bahraini merchant will go to the Chamber on his own to pay his subscriptions and renew his membership, motivated by his confidence in the Chambers value in supporting and promoting his business, Al Awadhi added. Al Awadhi noted that the issue of linking subscription to service was one of the goals he had set for himself in his campaign for the elections of the Chambers Board of Directors 30th session. I raise this subject in my election platform to attract attention to its importance, and if I win membership on the chambers board of directors, I guarantee every one will work on it, he concluded. Several fire departments and other first responders from Connecticut paid tribute to a New York City firefighter that died of COVID-19 by lining up along highways as his body was transported from a local hospital to his home in New York on Saturday. Christopher P. Viviano, 53, was a 22-year veteran of the department. He was a 9/11 first responder at the World Trade Center, and had been cited once for bravery. He died last week from COVID-19, according to a post from the FDNY. Pakistan Federal Interior Minister, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has said that talks with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down due to group's harsh conditions, Samaa TV reported. He added that the Afghan Taliban guaranteed their soil won't be used against Pakistan and mediated talks with the TTP. "We had a talk with some TTP groups. But their conditions were such that they couldn't be agreed upon. If the TTP wants to fight, we will fight them," the Interior Minister said. "(Afghan) Taliban were talking to the TTP. But their demands were so harsh that talks couldn't proceed. The TTP broke the ceasefire and that's why there is a spike in terror attacks." "Today, the environment there (in Afghanistan) is not hostile towards Pakistan. There are Taliban," he added. Sheikh Rasheed asked the Opposition alliance of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to change its date for a long march towards Islamabad as roads will be closed due to the presence of VVIP dignitaries in the federal capital. The coalition said it would march on March 23. "OIC leaders are coming to attend the March 23 parade. From March 21, roads will be closed. So, move it (your march) to March 24 or 27," the Minister said. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Azad Hind, are the names that will live on in the annals of Indian freedom movement history for all time. These names shine brilliantly on the yellow pages, unspoiled by the passage of time, in which the stories of our freedom movement are recorded. Today, on Netaji Subhash Chandra Boses 125th birthday, we remember Netaji and his administration, not because he led an army of thousands of Indians against the British, but because of the values and beliefs he stood for. Well turn the pages to October 21, 1943, when the Provisional Government of Free India, also known as Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind or Azad Hind, was created. It was conceived at a time when the horrors of World War II threatened to rip humanity apart. There is a clear recognition that the British could have been able to develop appropriate responses to Gandhian freedom fighters techniques, such as non-violence and satyagraha, and retain control of India for a few decades after 1947. But the creation of the Indian Legion in Germany from Prisoners of War (PoWs) by Subhas Chandra Bose in early 1942 is what rocked them to their core. Following that, in 1943, Bose became commander of the Azad Hind Fauj, or Indian National Army (INA), in Singapore. Henceforth, the British realized that every Indian soldier who faithfully served the crown was also a nationalist at heart, sympathetic to the cause of independence. We must remember that this was the administration of a united India, which in todays terms means India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. He prophesied in 1938, as a visionary, that the British Empire would partition India along religious lines before delivering political authority to the Indians in order to counteract the good consequences of political freedom. Azad Hind Sarkar envisioned India in its true essence, as a place where people of all religions, languages, and regions coexisted as one country. It opposed the British imperialists vision of India being split into countries and groups fighting among themselves. Now, more than ever before, we need to read, understand, and spread Netajis and his Azad Hind Sarkars ideologies. The reform is part of a larger push to "Indianize" the military, which includes melodies, training material, rituals, customs, and other behaviors, some of which date back to the British era. Abide With Me, one of Mahatama Gandhis favorite songs which used to be played at the end of the Beating the Retreat ritual on January 29, has been removed once again this year. In 2020, the traditional Christian song, which had been sung every year since 1950, was no longer performed. It was reintroduced last year after great controversy. The iconic patriotic song Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon, penned by Kavi Pradeep to honor the great sacrifice made by Indian soldiers during the 1962 Indo-China conflict, has been substituted by the hymn for this years occasion. As per sources, the reform is part of a larger push to Indianize the military, which includes melodies, training material, rituals, customs, and other behaviors, some of which date back to the British era. Meanwhile, the choice by the center to reintroduce the legendary song did not go down well with some people. While some welcomed the move, others deemed it as an attempt to erase the precious traditions of the country. Some opposers on the internet also directed attention to the fact that the hymns removal occurred barely two days after the ceremonial light at the war memorial Amar Jawan Jyoti was doused for the first time since 1972. It is noteworthy that dropping certain melodies and including others has been a process that has occurred in consecutive governments at the Centre for years. For example in the case, the Indian instrument Shehnai was first utilized in 2012, and two years later, Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram and Jahan Daal Daal Par Sone Ki Chidiya were performed. As a result, its important to understand that Beating The Retreat is not a strictly military event like Army Day, Navy Day, or Air Force Day. In reality, its a national function engaging the people, thus its important to play tunes that reflects Indian culture. Also, the song Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon instils a strong feeling of patriotism in all Indians. The moving lyrics underlines the Indian soldiers Unity in Diversity element and has a captivating and melancholy effect. Interestingly, the United Kingdoms Beating Retreat Event in 2001 incorporated the theme song for the Star Wars film, demonstrating that India is not alone in modernizing its decade-old tradition of the ceremony. It also featured the Slaves Chorus from Nabucco,' which was written for a Verdi opera. As per sources, Sare Jahan Se Acha will close this years Beating Retreat event. Hey Kanchha, Channa Bilauri, Jai Janam Bhumi, Nritya Sarita, Vijay Josh,Kesaria Banna,Veer Siachen,Hathroi,Vijay Ghosh,Ladaakoo,Swadeshi,Amar Chattan,Golden Arrows, and Swarn Jayanti Veer Sainik, Fanfare by Buglers, INS India,Yashasvee,Jai Bharati,Kerala,Siki A Mole, Hind Ki Sena,Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja,Drummers Call, and Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon, are among the melodies that will be performed on the evening of 44 buglers, 16 trumpeters, and 75 drummers will take part in the event. PM Modi stated that the disaster management was handled by the agricultural department earlier and international agencies hailed the initiatives in the disaster management sector. The grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will inspire democratic values and future generations as he refused to bow before the British, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while unveiling the hologram statue of Netaji at India Gate on Sunday. Addressing the event today, PM Modi said, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose refused to bow before the British. His statue will inspire democratic values and future generations. The Prime Minister also said that the grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who has established an independent government in India, is being installed in digital form near India Gate and soon this hologram statue will be replaced by a big granite statue. After unveiling the hologram statue, PM Modi also conferred the Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskars, for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The award is announced every year on January 23. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 51 lakh and a certificate in case of an institution and Rs 5 lakh and a certificate in case of an individual. Further, PM Modi stated that the disaster management was handled by the agricultural department earlier and international agencies hailed the initiatives in the disaster management sector. Earlier disaster management was handled by the agricultural department. Our government strengthened NDRF. International agencies hailed our initiatives in the disaster management sector, the Prime Minister added. He said that the Central government has laid emphasis on reform as well as an emphasis on relief, rescue and rehabilitation. We modernized NDRF, expanded it across the country. Space technology and other best possible practices have also been adopted for planning and management, PM Modi said. It has been the constant endeavour of the Prime Minister to honour the freedom fighters in a befitting manner and the special focus of these efforts has been on the legendary freedom fighter and visionary leader, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Several steps have been taken in this regard, including the announcement that his birth anniversary will be celebrated as Parakram Diwas every year. In this spirit, Republic Day celebrations will begin a day early, from January 23. Yashpal Arya and his son Sanjeev Arya, who joined Congress from BJP in Oct, got tickets from Bajpur and Nainital respectively. The Congress party has released the list of 53 candidates for the Uttarakhand Assembly elections. State Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal to contest from Srinagar Assembly seat. Yashpal Arya and his son Sanjeev Arya, who joined Congress from BJP in Oct, got tickets from Bajpur and Nainital respectively. Polls to elect the 70-member Uttarakhand legislative assembly are scheduled to be held on February 14. The counting will take place on March 10. The head of the German navy, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schonbach has decided to step down from his position after his controversial comments on Crimea and Russian President Vladimir Putin, made during his India visit, resulted in a severe backlash at home in Berlin. Speaking at a New Delhi-based think tank, the German Navy chief had said, Putin probably deserved respect. He also said that Crimea would never return to Ukraine despite Kievs attempts to put pressure on Moscow. The German navy chief said Russias actions in Ukraine needed to be addressed, however, he added that the Crimea Peninsula is gone: It will never come back. Reacting to Schonbachs controversial remarks, the German Defense Ministry had earlier condemned the statements by the head of the German navy. The statements in terms of content and choice of words in no way correspond to the position of the Federal Ministry of Defence, dpa quoted the ministrys statement. Schonbach also took to Twitter to say that his statements were a mistake and that he misjudged the situation. This controversy comes at a time when the West and Ukraine have accused Russia of amassing troops near the Ukrainian border in alleged preparation for an invasion, Sputnik reported. Russia is saying it has no intention of invading Ukraine while stressing that it has the right to move forces within its own territory. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Ambassador to Berlin Andriy Melnyk welcomed the resignation on Sunday. Tensions between Ukraine and Russia have increased with Russian troop build-up near the two nations borders spurring fears that Moscow could launch an invasion. On Saturday, Schonbach requested to be relieved of his post after the controversial statement. According to the vice-admiral, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht accepted his request, it reported. We welcome Schonbachs resignation, Melnyk told the German newspaper Welt. The ambassador also stressed that Schonbachs statement calls into question Germanys international standing and credibility, not only from the Ukrainian point of view. Niagara Falls, NY (14301) Today Cloudy. Periods of rain this morning. High 59F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low around 40F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. The American Falls shine in bright blue during the first moments of the new lighting system switched on in 2016. As jostling for the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential ticket gets tougher, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has warned his su... As jostling for the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential ticket gets tougher, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has warned his supporters against insulting or abusing APC National Leader and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Osinbajo served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos under Tinubu. Both men are eyeing the APC 2023 presidential ticket, which has elicited exchanges between their supporters. Some supporters of Tinubu had accused Osinbajo of being an ingrate for not supporting Tinubus presidential quest despite what Tinubu did for him politically. Sources close the VP, said Osinbajo is against any one abusing Tinubu and has therefore warned his supporters: Even if his supporters abuse my mother, dont retaliate. On no account must he be insulted or denigrated. Also, sources have revealed that a major plank of Osinbajos support base is the northern emirs, who consider Osinbajo to have demonstrated uncommon loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari. Apart from the emirs, four Northern Governors, two from the North-West and two from the North-Central, are also said to be rooting for the Vice President. But Tinubu is said to be more popular in the north. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Prof. Aliyu Shugaba has said that Borno, particularly the State capital, Maidu... The Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Prof. Aliyu Shugaba has said that Borno, particularly the State capital, Maiduguri, is now safe for learning. The Vice Chancellor said this when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, advising prospective students not to entertain fears of insecurity in the State. He said that the security situation in Borno State had improved significantly. According to him, while there was no doubt that the State was badly hit by insurgents in the wake of it, normalcy had returned to a large extent. I know we have had our share of challenges as a state but the security situation has improved tremendously. With our resilience, our school now records the highest number of students in Nigeria and in view of that we have worked significantly on our infrastructure to accommodate the number. For instance we have put up mega halls with 500 to 700 students capacity, he said. The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan has called for a thorough investigation into the killing of a driver in Garin Alkali, Bursari Local Govern... The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan has called for a thorough investigation into the killing of a driver in Garin Alkali, Bursari Local Government of Yobe State. The incident ignited violent protests in the neighbouring town of Gashua, the headquarters of Bade Local Government on Saturday. Reacting, Lawan said whoever is culpable would be dealt with in accordance with the law. In a statement by his spokesman, Ola Awoniyi, the Senate President sympathised with the family of the victim. I am deeply saddened by the tragic news at Garin Alkali on Saturday and the violent reactions that followed it. The killing of the innocent driver is wicked and reprehensible. It should not be condoned for whatever reason. My heart goes out to the family of the victim. May Allah console them over their bereavement. I urge the authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident with a view to establishing why and how it happened and applying appropriate sanctions to deter future reoccurrence. I urge members of the community never to take the law into their hands whatever the provocation as such reactions often lead to further tragedies, Lawan said. Yes. Gov. Hochul chose Mr. Benjamin, and she's stuck with him through the election. No. The state should have the option to remove someone under criminal indictment. Vote View Results The Krewe of Freret honored their 10th monarchs with the official coronation celebration at their annual black-tie ball, hosted in conjunction with their partners the Krewe of Themis Saturday. Held in River City Ballroom of Mardi Gras World, the event featured Queen X Audrey Voelker and King X Jonathan Amaraneni as they were crowned by Captain Bobby Hjortsberg in front of their subjects. Also present for the ceremonies was the president of Themis, Judge Kimya M. Holmes. A formal dinner was served. Khris Royal and Dark Matter entertained throughout the night with music and dancing. Later in the Carnival season, an informal public royal celebration will be held at the corner of Royal Street and Elysian Fields, prior to the Krewe du Vieux parade Feb. 12, with a crowning. The intersection is significantly appropriate, as the Elysian Fields in Greek mythology is the final resting place of the souls of the heroic and virtuous. Freret chooses to honor past, present and future royalty, past present and future, prior to enjoying the Carnival revelry. This week marks the 185th anniversary of the first issue of The Picayune, the oldest in a group of newspapers which would merge over the years to become The Times-Picayune. The paper borrows its name from a Spanish coin worth 6 and 1/4 cents. That meant it was cheaper than the other six newspapers in circulation at the time, each of which cost a dime. The Picayune's first edition appeared Jan. 25, 1837, with publishers George Wilkins Kendall and Francis Asbury Lumsden setting up shop in offices on Gravier Street. Soon, the papers name was changed to The Daily Picayune. In 1914, The Picayune merged with The Times-Democrat (a paper which was created by a merger in 1881), to become The Times-Picayune. Other mergers followed and by 1958 The Times-Picayune was the citys sole morning paper, while The States-Item was the citys afternoon daily. The two papers maintained separate editorial boards, which meant The States-Item advocated more liberal views while The Times-Picayune was historically more conservative, including on its coverage of civil rights. In 1962, both newspapers were purchased by New York-based Advance Publications and the papers merged in 1980. In 2005, The Times-Picayune earned international praise (and one of its four Pulitzer Prizes) for its coverage of Hurricane Katrina. In 2012, Advance Publications reduced the papers daily production to three days a week. They laid off several hundred workers and formed a new company, NOLA Media Group, to oversee the paper and nola.com. In 2019, Georges Media Group (which had purchased the Baton Rouge-based The Advocate in 2013 and Gambit in 2018) purchased The Times-Picayune, merging the T-P and The New Orleans Advocate. As the deadline approaches for students in New Orleans public schools to be vaccinated against COVID-19, administrators across the district are pushing to remind parents of the new rule and host vaccination events to make getting the shots easy. The district announced in mid-December that students 5 and older will have to be fully vaccinated by Feb. 1. "We are among the first districts, if not the first, in the nation to do this," Superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr. told the Orleans Parish School Board last week. "Vaccination is the best path to stop this pandemic in its tracks." Kate Mehok, CEO of the Crescent City Schools charter network, said Friday that about 45% of the students in the network had provided proof of vaccination. More likely are vaccinated and haven't turned in the proof, she said. "We don't, and I don't think any school expects, to have 100% of our kids vaccinated on Feb. 1," Mehok said. Just as the network did when pushing staff to meet a vaccination requirement, Mehok said it is holding vaccination events and reaching out to families that are still reluctant. "We've had almost zero absolute refusals," she said. Benjamin Franklin High School in Gentilly started the school year at about 80% vaccinated, according to the nurses office. It's now up to 92% of students and 100% of faculty and staff. The schools positivity rate for those tested during the omicron wave has been coming down as well, starting at 16% on Jan. 4 and dropping to 7% on Jan. 11 and 4% on Tuesday. Weve done a lot to try to improve access to the vaccine, through clinics and sharing information," school spokesperson Eve Peyton said. "Its definitely something we want to promote, encourage and facilitate as much as we can. The mandate isn't prompting any changes in Matthew Wilson's family because his two 15-year-old sons -- one who goes to Lusher and the other Franklin -- are vaccinated and boosted. But he views it as a positive for parents, especially like him, who have children in different schools. "Public school parents dont always have all their kids at the same school, and having two petri dishes is more difficult (to stay safe) than if all your kids can go to the same school," he said. "So its nice that they all have the same mandate." Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In addition to the vaccination requirement, Orleans Parish is the only school district in the region to require masks on campus. New Orleans Catholic schools reinstated a mask mandate Jan. 12 when the city's went back into effect. The leaders of school districts in other metro-area parishes have said they do not plan to mandate vaccinations or return to a mask policy, pointing out in some cases that parents do not want them. Another charter network, KIPP New Orleans Schools, on Friday said 60% of its students ages 12 and older have had at least one vaccine dose. That number drops among younger students, the network said in a statement that added, "To date, less then one percent of our families have requested an exemption." KIPP said it would continue to host vaccine events, including one on Jan. 29. NOLA Public Schools officials were not available Thursday or Friday to discuss the vaccination requirement and how it will be enforced. But Tiffany Delcour, NOLA Public Schools chief operations officer, told the school board last week that individual charters would track the status of their students. Delcour also told the board that families can get exemptions if they seek them. School Board President Olin Parker said one of the big benefits of the mandate is that students who are vaccinated are not required to quarantine if they come into contact with others who have COVID, and therefore will miss less time in the classroom. Parker said the district has conducted 12 vaccination clinics at schools and coordinated with health care partners on more events. Most high schools have already required vaccinations for students involved in extracurricular activities. Parker acknowledged that parents likely just became aware of the Feb. 1 deadline when their kids returned to class in January after the winter break. But, he said, "I think the schools are doing a great job of making vaccines accessible to students." A group of New Orleans business and civic leaders are trying to revive one of the citys splashy but ill-fated Katrina-era economic development initiatives: the creation of a thriving biosciences industry. For nearly three years, leaders of BioDistrict New Orleans, a state entity formed in 2005, have pursued a funding proposal worth tens of millions of dollars in city sales tax revenue and, more recently, federal stimulus grants. In City Council meetings and other forums, theyve argued that the funding would finally allow the district to foster biotech businesses and jobs around University Medical Center, the soon-to-be-redeveloped Charity Hospital and the New Orleans BioInnovation Center. BioDistricts efforts fizzled a decade ago amid a lack of funding and political support. This time around, there have been concerns raised by neighbors about an unelected board with the power to take private property and spend tax dollars. But proponents, led by BioDistrict board chairman Andy Kopplin and supported by Mayor LaToya Cantrell, say theyve been working to address concerns about the impact on neighborhoods and have put guardrails in place, including City Council oversight. In December, the City Council looked set to approve a cooperative endeavor agreement to create a special taxing district within the BioDistricts 1,500-acre area, which stretches from Xavier University to the medical district around the old Charity Hospital building. It would have given the district as much as $71 million in sales taxes over 20 years. Council President Helena Moreno withdrew the proposal after residents in nearby neighborhoods voiced opposition. The proposed agreement has since been revised several times to allay concerns. Moreno said she still supports the idea, but will not bring it to a vote until all parties are satisfied. If approved, BioDistrict could use the money for a wide range of purposes related to biosciences. That can include research and lab facilities, commercialization, scholarships and workforce training. It can also include infrastructure, redevelopment projects and small business programs within the district. Over time these investments would create robust, snowballing economic growth, said Kopplin, who heads the Greater New Orleans Foundation and served as the citys chief administrative officer under former Mayor Mitch Landrieu. To start, Kopplin says the board intends to invest in small infrastructure projects aimed at improving pedestrian access and quality of life. In a presentation to council members last month, BioDistrict leaders showed PowerPoint slides with specific plans related to infrastructure, housing and tuition. The slides said BioDistrict will use tax proceeds for those projects. Replay: Industry leaders discuss what New Orleans' economic recovery may look like in 2022 The pandemic has upended the New Orleans-area economy for nearly two years, but the return of a parade-filled Carnival and other events, coupl Still, the draft agreement for what's known as a tax increment financing district, or TIF, does not include any particular projects. Its only deliverables are annual budgets and a master plan. In an interview, Kopplin said BioDistrict cannot forecast the districts needs 20 years into the future and needs flexibility to operate. Clancy DuBos: A template for economic development initiatives The BioDistrict could be both a cautionary tale and a budding success story if things stay on track. The hardest question Ive ever gotten on this thing is, tell me exactly how youre going to spend every penny, he said. It would be inappropriate at this point to say we're going to invest X, Y, and Z over the next 20 years, because it limits both the BioDistrict and the City Council. The BioDistrict plan has arrived at the council at a critical time. Should the proposal move forward, state officials have agreed to kick in as much as $25 million from state sales taxes, pending legislative approval. New biotech companies would mean more high-paying jobs as the city looks to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and several years of sagging economic growth. +18 What's new on New Orleans' riverfront? Despite pandemic, these big projects are underway Two years ago, New Orleans developers, public entities and others were in the midst of carrying out one of the biggest transformations of the Meanwhile, the district is also part of one of two Louisiana groups and 60 nationwide selected as finalists for federal federal stimulus grants of up to $100 million to build up new local industries. BioDistricts proposed funding stream is cited as potential matching funds in the grant application, which envisions a Gulf Coast Health Sciences Corridor, that includes eight projects between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Among them is an expansion of NOBIC to include a wet lab, a data analysis center and a hurricane-proof vault to store research. An unglamorous history New Orleanians have heard big talk from the BioDistrict before, most prominently from its first and only former director, James McNamara, who in 2013 promised a holistic approach to managing energy, stormwater, transportation, communication, social impact and zoning. Equipped with broad powers to invest, acquire property and partner with private industry, BioDistrict ultimately delivered only a master plan, completed in 2012 with a $2.4 million state grant. Kopplin was Landrieus appointment to the BioDistrict board at the time, but the former mayor had harsh words for the whole enterprise. 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 dont know what theyre doing. It doesnt sound like they have any money. I dont know what their vision is, Landrieu told The Times-Picayunes editorial board in 2013. McNamara stepped down shortly after Landrieus comments, and a few months later the New Orleans Business Alliance took over BioDistricts administrative functions. BioDistrict sank into dormancy, the poster child of a rudderless public entity with no funding. It still owes McNamara more than $500,000 from a court judgment related to back wages. But after Cantrell took office in 2018, the BioDistrict board started meeting in earnest again. Kopplin, who left the Landrieu administration to become chief executive of GNOF, was re-appointed to the BioDistrict board by Cantrell. He became chairperson in the spring of 2019, and set to work addressing what supporters have long said was the source of BioDistricts woes: a lack of stable funding. It's been very easy to take potshots at the BioDistrict when it has been essentially an unfunded mandate, said Jeff Schwartz, the citys economic development director. Early proposals Kopplins first stab at a funding plan seemed to be sailing toward approval until members of the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization caught wind of it in late fall. Many residents in the area harbor bad memories of the state expropriating hundreds of homes to make way for University Medical Center and the neighboring Veterans Affairs hospital a little more than a decade ago. Noting the BioDistricts expropriation power, they feared the possibility of another takeover. Some residents also criticized the early draft proposals for allowing BioDistrict free rein to spend public money without oversight. The proposal calls for BioDistrict to get two cents of every dollar spent within the district, as long as tax collections exceed those of 2020. It would not raise taxes, but instead aims to cut BioDistrict in on new tax revenue it helps generate. Theres a cap on how big of a cut of tax revenue the BioDistrict can get each year. But it is based on a complicated formula that uses sales tax projections over the next 20 years. The economist who created the projections, Jim Richardson, cautioned in his report that they are for illustrative purposes only, adding that more precise estimates are needed. The BioDistrict TIF is unusual in that it proposes a funding stream without clear plans, according to David Merriman, a University of Illinois-Chicago urban planning professor and TIF expert. Most TIF projects typically have to give a development plan, and then there is a relatively narrow list of things that the money is going to be spent on. The purposes are relatively well defined, Merriman said. Workers needed to boost Louisianas economy in 2022, experts say Optimism isnt in scarce supply for Louisianas economy in 2022, but qualified workers, available homes and effective supply chains might be, Schwartz said the proposal is not intended to work like typical development agreements. It is instead meant to establish the citys financial relationship with BioDistrict. It is not a contract for a one-to-one activity where we're buying widgets from someone, Schwartz said. We all actually know what it needs to be doing, whether or not it is spelled out in a very literal sense in the CEA document. Addressing concerns Since the BioDistrict proposal was pulled from the council agenda in December, it has undergone several revisions, both to guard against giving BioDistrict a blank check and also to rein in possible impacts to surrounding neighborhoods. The most recent version of the agreement which still needs review by the City Attorneys Office requires City Council approval of the BioDistrict budget before it gets any money. Performance goals and benchmarks would also be part of future budgets. The current proposal also bans the use of expropriation and all land acquisition within low-density residential areas. However, residents note that BioDistrict retains these powers under the state law that created it. "It was clear that the neighborhood wanted to be protected," Kopplin said. "The BioDistrict leadership who were having this conversation this time understood that." Mary Mysing-Gubala, a Mid-City Neighborhood Organization board member, has said Kopplin and his team have been accessible and understanding of their concerns, but her group is still pushing for more changes. Its not adequate, plain and simple, said Mysing-Gubala. She said there is at least one way the proposal could garner more confidence: If they had more precise things in their plan. Blue Williams announces merger New Orleans-based Blue Williams and Houston-based Thompson & Reilley have merged, creating a regional law firm with four offices serving their client base throughout Louisiana and Texas. The combined firm will continue its operations in all offices under the Blue Williams banner. Blue Williams has offices in Metairie, New Orleans, Mandeville and Houston. Bollinger delivers ship to Coast Guard Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the USCG Clarence Sutphin to the Coast Guard in Key West, Florida. This is the 170th vessel Bollinger has delivered to the Coast Guard over a 35-year period and the 47th fast response cutter delivered under the current program. The Clarence Sutphin will be homeported in Bahrain. It is the last of six cutters that will replace the 110-foot Island Class patrol boats built by Bollinger 30 years ago. Ochsner opens Livingston clinic Ochsner Health Center-Livingston is open. The clinic at 29437 S. Frost Road in Livingston will be staffed by Dr. Kacie Watts and Dr. Courtney Royal. It will meet a need for primary care physicians in Livingston Parish. The clinic is open from 7:20 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. Tuesdays. Specialty Welding and Turnarounds announces acquisition Specialty Welding and Turnarounds of Gonzales has acquired Midwest Cooling Tower Services of Krotz Springs. Specialty Welding provides maintenance services to the chemical, refinery, renewable and industrial markets, while Midwest offers cooling tower services, including inspection, maintenance and repair. Specialty Welding has more than 2,100 employees with operations in 14 states. LSU Professional Sales Institute gets national designation 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 LSUs Professional Sales Institute was recently elevated to full membership status in the University Sales Center Alliance. The institute has met the requirements of full membership in the community of sales educators who are dedicated to advancing the sales profession through teaching, research and outreach. Out of the 70 schools that are members of the alliance, 37 have reached full membership status. By being recognized as a full member of the University Sales Center Alliance, the LSU Professional Sales Institute is now among the top sales education and research institutions both nationally and internationally, said Greg Accardo, LSU Professional Sales Institute director. McEnery Residential opens Old Gretna office McEnery Residential has opened a new office on the west bank in Old Gretna. Through a strategic partnership with Tiffany Riddle and Courtney Kattengell, of TCK Property Marketplace, McEnery Residential will carry its brand across the river. Triton Stone Group acquires Midwest business Triton Stone Group of New Orleans, a leading national wholesaler and distributor of granite and natural stone products, is acquiring the assets of Unique Stone Concepts. Triton will now own six of Unique's Midwest locations, in cities such as St. Louis, Indianapolis and Cincinnati. The deal is expected to bring in more business for the Port of New Orleans as there will be an increase of stone products passing through. Triton was formed in 2006 and now has 24 locations across the U.S., including operations in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport. New law firm opens in Gonzales Timothy E. Pujol and Barbara L. Irwin have opened a new law firm, Pujol Irwin. Their office is located in Gonzales, and their firm serves the greater Baton Rouge and south Louisiana areas. Associate attorneys with the firm are Ashley D. Tadda and Lee D. Landry. The firm employs a total of eight full-time employees and practices primarily in the corporate litigation and succession areas. SCORE to host business seminar Tuesday Baton Rouge Area SCORE will hold a virtual small business question-and-answer session from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday. The event covers such topics as life and business administration, cash flow, legal analysis and marketing relationships. To register, go to batonrougearea.score.org. Where some in Congress see a cruel animal killing-device, U.S. Rep. Garret Graves sees an important tool for controlling the explosive growth of nutria, the large, orange-toothed rodents that are eating away Louisianas coastline. Graves, R-Baton Rouge, is opposing a bill that would ban the use of traps in the national wildlife refuge system, which covers more than 184,000 acres in Louisiana and 740 million acres nationwide. In Louisiana, the ban could mean a proliferation of the already troublesome "swamp rat." We have, by some estimates, millions of nutria causing devastating impacts on our coastal ecosystem, Graves said. And traps play a role in their population control. Brought to Louisiana from South America in the 1930s, nutria gnaw away the roots of marsh plants, leaving little to hold the fragile landscape in place. The rodents are one of many factors contributing to rapid land loss along Louisiana's coast. The major causes include oil and gas exploration, sea level rise, soil subsidence and the loss of replenishing sediment since the Mississippi River was brought under control with levees. More than 40 square miles of Louisianas coast have been turned into open water by nutria over the past two decades, according to the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The anti-trapping bill, known as the Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act, was introduced in Congress this month by U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York. It would ban steel-jawed leg-hold devices, snares and other body-gripping traps in national wildlife refuges. Nadler said the traps cause pain and suffering, not only to nuisance animals like nutria, but various other wild animals and potentially even refuge visitors. The national wildlife refuge system currently attracts more than 61 million visitors each year, of which trappers constitute less than 0.1% of total visitors, Nadler said. However, the activities of this small minority put the safety of millions of other visitors at risk, making trapping on wildlife refuges an unacceptable exploitation of our public resources." Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Nadler characterized the traps as inherently cruel, brutal devices that can cause excruciating pain as (animals) desperately attempt to escape." They may remain in this state of misery for hours or even days, as trappers often are not required to return to their traps for at least 24 hours, Nadler said. Gordon Batcheller of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies said the ban will severely limit control measures against beaver and muskrat, which can sometimes overpopulate refuges and cause flooding and erosion problems. Scaling back the fight against nutria is especially problematic, he said. Its a policy of subtraction of the tools our biologists need to protect (natural) resources, he said. Ive seen in Louisiana where nutria will literally open up a marsh, expose it to mud, and in most coastal areas of Louisana, its gone and never restored. Graves, a former chairman of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, has taken aim at the nutria problem in recent years. His bill expanding the Nutria Eradication and Control Act to include all states not just Louisiana and Maryland, was signed into law in late 2020. It also increased federal nutria control funding from $4 million to $12 million. The Texas coast may have better winds for offshore wind development, but its Louisianas political winds that are drawing the interest of the industrys two biggest players. Orsted and RWE, which rank No. 1 and No. 2 in the booming offshore wind market, both highlighted Louisianas political support for offshore wind in letters to federal energy regulators tasked with readying the Gulf of Mexico for what could be a flurry of offshore wind development. RWE, a German company that has renewable energy operations in 15 countries, urged regulators to focus on Louisiana despite studies showing Texas has a clear advantage with stronger, more consistent wind speeds. To date, Louisiana is the only state along the Gulf of Mexico that has signaled its interest in pursuing an offshore wind policy to meet its climate objectives, Kate McKeever, an RWE manager of U.S. government affairs, told the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, also known as BOEM. RWE cited the Louisiana Climate Initiatives Task Forces latest draft climate plan, which highlights the need to rapidly develop offshore wind in the Gulf to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions and meet Gov. John Bel Edwards goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The draft plan, released late last month, proposes enacting an offshore wind energy goal of 5,000 megawatts by 2035. With the development of renewable energy policy in Louisiana, there is a pathway with a timeframe of when commercial viability may be achieved, McKeever said. As such, RWE Renewables recommends that BOEM prioritize advancing a leasing area off Louisiana, specifically western Louisiana due to stronger wind speeds. +4 How will offshore wind energy affect marine life in the Gulf? Feds are taking a look Federal energy regulators have begun reviewing the potential environmental impacts of offshore wind development in the Gulf of Mexico, in keep The Gulfs sweet spot for offshore wind development may be the coastal waters near Lake Charles, according to RWE. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson welcomed RWE's interest. "It feels very much like validation to me," he said Friday. "I like the way we're positioning policy and corporate interest in the sector to grow opportunities for offshore wind and other renewables." RWEs comments underscore how taking action on climate change can support economic growth," said Harry Vorhoff, senior staffer for the climate task force and deputy director of the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities. He pointed to a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study that estimated a hypothetical wind project near Lake Charles would create about 4,470 construction jobs and generate $445 million in goods and services. Once constructed, the wind farm would support 150 jobs and an annual infusion of $14 million into the economy from operations, maintenance and materials. Many of the skill sets and resources required for offshore wind are already plentiful in Louisiana. Several steel fabrication, engineering and vessel operations companies that serviced Louisianas offshore oil and gas industry are shifting their focus to the several offshore wind projects taking shape along the East Coast. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The NREL study found that the Texas coast had the strongest potential for offshore wind development, thanks largely to stronger winds. Despite having weaker, less dependable winds, Louisiana was still seen as a strong contender because of its offshore oil and gas workforce, which has seen many jobs evaporate with falling fuel prices and a shift in extraction to inland sources of shale. Whether the climate task force's wind energy goal will gain much traction is unclear. Vorhoff said achieving it will require collaboration between the Edwards administration, the state Public Service Commission, federal government, utilities, and the private sector. Similar goals, known as renewables portfolio standards, have had big impacts elsewhere in the country. About half of the renewable energy sectors growth since 2000 is thanks to state-level renewable standards, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Thirty states, including California, New York and North Carolina, have passed renewables standards, as well as dozens of cities. Last year, New Orleans passed a renewables standard that requires all of the citys power to come from wind, solar and other emission-free sources by 2050. Renewables standards spur the development of renewable energy projects because they guarantee a market for the power they produce. Thats especially important for offshore wind farms, which can cost billions of dollars and take years to plan and permit. Denmark-based Orsted also singled Louisiana out in a recent letter to BOEM. The company applauded Edwards for pushing BOEM to establish the Gulf of Mexico Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force, a group that began meeting in June to help plan offshore wind development on the Outer Continental Shelf. The letters were submitted to BOEM as it completes a second phase of gathering input on offshore development in the Gulf. Federal lease planning could conclude next year, followed by a five-year site assessment process. Turbines might start spinning over the Gulf as early as 2028. Other energy companies that have submitted letters expressing interest in developing wind energy in the Gulf include Royal Dutch Shell, Texas oil company Talos, Enterprize Energy of Singapore, Ocean Wind of Portugal, Total Energies of France, and Avangrid, a Connecticut power company owned by Spain-based Iberdrola. Avangrid joined RWE in sending a second letter of interest to BOEM last month. Off the Massachusetts coast, Avangrid is developing Vineyard Wind, the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in the U.S. The company has mapped areas it might want to build turbines off the Texas coast near Galveston and Corpus Christi and a 20-mile-wide stretch south of Lake Charles. While Orsted and RWE were less specific about potential wind farm locations, the companies bring immense size and stature to the pool of firms exploring wind development in the Gulf. RWE currently has 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind capacity in operation, while Orsted recently topped 7,000 megawatts, supplying enough power for more than 6.6 million homes. The Treasure Chest could be coming ashore. The floating casino, which opened in 1994 in a berth off Lake Pontchartrain at the north end of Williams Boulevard, could move onto land after the Kenner City Council unanimously approved a new lease agreement with the casino. The move is made possible by a 2018 law passed by the legislature that created a process for the state's casinos to shrug off their riverboat origins. The lease the council approved June 3 is for 25 years, but carries five possible renewals of 10 years each. It also gives Boyd Gaming, operator of the Treasure Chest, the right to build a new facility on what is currently the casino's parking lot, Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn said. The move could benefit the city, which relies on Treasure Chest revenue to help cover its budget, Zahn said. Senate action means St. Tammany Parish voters will decide Slidell casino question in October St. Tammany Parish voters in October will decide whether to approve a casino in Slidell after the state Senate on Monday gave final legislativ "The numbers of passengers and visitors will go up, the amount of people will go up," Zahn said. "That helps capital projects in the city, that helps the police." Before the pandemic, the city's annual Treasure Chest revenue was about $3.6 million. It took a dip over the last two years, but in the latest proposed city budget, leaders are anticipating $3.7 million for 2021-2022. Under the terms of the ordinance passed June 3, revenue coming to the city from the Treasure Chest will be split, with roughly one quarter going to the Police Department, a little more than one-third going to capital projects, and the remainder split equally between City Council districts and debt reduction. Casinos in Louisiana see major gains in March revenue; here are the biggest winners New Orleans-area gambling establishments brought in $51.6 million during March, a 119% increase over what the properties brought in during COV An uptick in Treasure Chest traffic could provide a boost to Williams Boulevard, especially at its northern end, Zahn said. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The area on which the casino is located, which includes the Pontchartrain Center and an adjacent hotel as well as boat launches and a fishing pier, is known as Laketown. "It makes Laketown more inviting," he said. "It changes Williams Boulevard." More than 636,000 gamblers have visited the Treasure Chest so far during the fiscal year beginning July 1, state Gaming Control Board data shows. How Louisiana sports betting would work, and when, if governor signs this bill Legislation detailing the framework of how Louisiana adults will be able to wager on sporting events perhaps as early as football season c A message left of an executive with Boyd Gaming was not returned. Due to the city's reliance on gaming revenue, Kenner leaders have been fiercely protective of the casino's business. That included earlier this year, when they urged the Jefferson Parish legislative delegation to vote against a move to allow St. Tammany voters to consider a proposed casino in Slidell. Any such competition, city officials argued, could impact their own revenue. Despite Kenner's position, the measure passed, and St. Tammany voters will see the issue on a fall ballot. When casino gambling was legalized in Louisiana in the early 1990s, the boats by law had to be operated on the water, with only Harrah's in New Orleans being land based. Initially, the boats were required to sail. That was changed in 2001 when they were allowed to remain at port. Then in 2018 the legislature amended the casino law to allow the state's 15 floating casinos to move onto land up to 1,200 feet away from their floating berths. Supporters of the move said it would allow Louisiana's casinos to better compete with nearby states. Wind-whipped flames are marching across more of New Mexicos tinder-dry mountainsides, forcing the evacuation of area residents and dozens of patients from the state's psychiatric hospital as firefighters scramble to keep new wildfires from growing. The big blaze burning near the community of Las Vegas has charred more than 217 square miles. Residents in neighborhoods on the edge of Las Vegas were told to be ready to leave their homes. It's the biggest wildfire in the U.S. and is moving quickly through groves of ponderosa pine because of hot, dry and windy conditions that make for extreme wildfire danger. Forecasters are warning of extreme fire danger across New Mexico and in western Texas. Reeder is the dean of the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education at the University of Oklahoma. Pedersen is the dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences and Oklahoma State University. Duke is the interim dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies at the University of Central Oklahoma. Vanessa Anton is the dean of the College of Education at Northeastern State University. Jersey Shore, Pa. An assault that allegedly took place more than a decade ago landed a Lock Haven man in prison. Patrick Charles Nellis, 30, was incarcerated at the Lycoming County Prison after authorities said a forensic interview conducted with two juvenile sisters showed a sexual assault took place on May 13, 2021. According to the report, Nellis removed one of the juveniles, who was five years old at the time, from a bedroom and took her to an isolated area of the home. The juvenile told authorities Nellis performed oral sex on her and digitally penetrated her. Nellis allegedly then made the juvenile perform oral sex on him. Authorities said they were informed of another incident when Nellis allegedly made one of the juveniles perform dances on him. Nellis was charged with first-degree felony rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, and unlawful contact with minors. Court records show Nellis was also charged with second-degree felony statutory sexual assault, first-degree misdemeanor indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, and second-degree indecent assault and corruption of minors. Nellis is being held at the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $85,000 monetary bail as he awaits a Jan. 26 preliminary hearing. Docket sheet Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Sunbury, Pa. Sunbury Police said they made an arrest on Jan. 12 in regards to a shots fired incident in early Oct. of last year. Luis Antonio Alamo-Rose, 26, of Mifflinburg was charged with a slew of felonies after police said he fired several shots at a vehicle near the 500 block of N Sixth Street in Sunbury. According to an affidavit filed on Jan. 13, Sunbury Police spoke with several witnesses, observed surveillance video of the incident, and combed the area to fine bullet casings the night of the incident. One witness identified Alamo-Rose as the shooter along with giving a detailed description of the events. Alamo-Rose allegedly walked off his porch, retrieving the firearm from a blue F-150 police later used to track the suspect down. Police said surveillance video showed Alamo-Rose fire several shots in the direction of a white vehicle. Speaking with the owners of the vehicle, police learned Alamo-Rose attempted to stop the car before it drove away. The driver said he circled around the street and drove back down N Sixth Street. Police said the driver initially thought fireworks had been set off. A couple days after the shots were fired, a caller reported a hole in a window at her home. Police discovered a bullet hold along with a broken window. Police were able to identify Alamo-Rose through a social media account. According the affidavit, Almo-Rose could be seen in several pictures. Alamo-Rose is observed to be wearing similar or possibly the same black and white shoes from the day of the incident, Officer Keith Tamborelli wrote. Alamo-Rose was charged with first and second-degree felony aggravated assault, third-degree discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, and firearms not to be carried without a license. He was also charged with two first-degree misdemeanors in terroristic threats and possession of an instrument of crime with intent. Alamo-Rose is being held at the Northumberland County Jail on $200,000 monetary bail. Docket sheet Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Black lung is a debilitating disease that remains pervasive today. According to research from the Appalachian Citizens Law Center, black lung cases have increased in recent years, effecting younger individuals and resulting in more severe sickness. Afflicted miners require access to medical resources, and under the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund (BLDTF), they also require compensation for their medical care. An excise tax, paid by coal companies, ensures that miners receive due compensation when debilitated by illness. Today, Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12) introduced the Black Lung Benefits Disability Trust Fund Solvency Act of 2022 to extend the Black Lung Excise Tax for 10 years, with original cosponsors Rep. John Yarmuth (KY-3) and Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-12). This is a welcome development for miners with black lung disease and their families who rely on the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund for a small monthly living stipend and health insurance. On Jan. 1, 2022, the excise tax rate was cut by more than half after Congress failed to pass a four-year extension in the Build Back Better Act, and the trust fund is now losing approximately $2.8 million every week. Im from Eastern Kentucky and I watched my husband worry about whether he would get his black lung benefits and then whether he would get to keep them. As the Secretary of the Black Lung Association of Southeastern Kentucky I watch every one of the miners in our group worry about whether they can rely on this stipend for the next year to help feed their family or not and if times will get hard for them, said Patty Amburgey, Secretary, Black Lung Association of Southeastern Kentucky. As a miners widow we would appreciate a ten-year extension and not let this be a worry to our miners and their families. A miner with black lung already has a hard time breathing and this would take away one worry for them. Funding for the BLDTF has been clouded by uncertainty for years. In 2018, the excise tax was reduced and collected at 50% of its historic rate for the entirety of 2019, pushing the BLDTF deeper into debt. In 2019 and 2020, the higher, historic rate of the excise tax was reinstated through one-year tax extender bills, but the rate was cut in half again at the end of last year because Congress failed to act. This new bill reinstates the Black Lung Excise tax at its prior, precedented rate and extends the tax for 10 years. A 10-year extension provides longer-term security for the fund and the miners who depend on it compared to short-term, one year extensions. "We are grateful that Representative Scott and Representative Adams are listening and introducing this important bill that will provide long-term certainty for miners and their families, said Rebecca Shelton, Director of Policy and Organizing for Appalachian Citizens Law Center. "and as Congress continues to rethink the Build Back Better Act back, they should include this ten-year extension." Its good to see movement in Congress on finally securing long-term funding for the trust fund, said Chelsea Barnes, Legislative Director for Appalachian Voices. The year-to-year instability of this fund has created undue and unnecessary stress for coal miners and their families, while letting coal companies off the hook for these costs that have been unfairly foisted onto taxpayers." Last week, the National Black Lung Association and 67 other organizations sent a letter to congressional leadership urging immediate action to pass a 10-year extension of the Black Lung Excise Tax. Last year, Sen. Joe Manchin (WV) introduced the Black Lung Benefits Disability Trust Fund Act of 2021 to extend the Black Lung Excise Tax for 10 years, but that did not advance before the January 1 deadline. A four-year extension of the black lung excise tax is included in the latest version of the Build Back Better Act, but that legislation also has not yet been passed into law. The 10 year extension is the first step towards addressing the insolvency of the fund, as outlined in a May 2018 Government Accountability Office report, and comes at a crucial time as coal companies continue to pass on their black lung liability to the trust fund when they go through bankruptcy, as discussed in a second GAO report from February of 2020. The May 2018 report indicated that the fund would not have sufficient revenue to cover beneficiary payments and administrative costs beginning in fiscal year 2020. In addition, the February 2020 report found $865 million in black lung liability was pushed from bankrupt self-insured coal companies to the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund just between 2014 and 2016, increasing costs while revenues were threatened. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Sunbury, Pa. A good deed in Sunbury turned into an ordeal for a kind person who police said was robbed with a knife. Farrington Oneal Fitch, 42, of Sunbury approached the man in the early morning hours of Nov. 10 in front of a Sonoco. The man agreed to take Fitch to Race Street. As the two men departed for Sunbury, Fitch allegedly made several calls from the mans phone. The witness said Fitch deleted the numbers immediately after placing the calls. Fitch directed the man to an alley near Race Street before he pulled knife and demanded the phone, a backpack, and the mans wallet. The witness told authorities he handed over everything Fitch demanded for fear of escalating the situation. Authorities said the witness identified Fitch from a photo lineup the next day at the Sunbury Police Station. Fitch was incarcerated on Jan. 13 after being arraigned by Judge Patrick Toomey. Fitch is being held on $100,000 monetary bail at the Northumberland County Jail. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 25 with Toomey. Fitch was charged second felony robbery and robbery and several misdemeanors in first-degree theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and possession of an instrument of crime with intent. Docket sheet Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Danville, Pa. Pennsylvania State Police have released the names of people involved in a crash on SR 54 near Danville that caused the release of three monkeys. According to the release, Cody Brooks, 31, of Keystone Heights, FL. turned left in front of a dump truck as he attempted to travel onto the on ramp for I-80 W. The dump truck, being operated by Tyler Deeghan, 29, of Canton, struck the tracker trailer in a five oclock position. The truck containing monkeys traveled off the road and broke away from the trailer. Deeghans vehicle continued off the road, striking a culvert and coming to a rest. State Police said three monkeys, which were later located, escaped from the trailer. A canvas of the area was conducted by members of the Liberty Valley Fire Department, Liberty Valley EMS, Bresslers Garage, PA Game Commission, PSP Aviation, CDC, and the Department of health. State Police said at 7:16 p.m. on Jan. 22 all three monkeys were located. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Abusive relationships are linked to financial abuse, the withholding or controlling of financial means within a relationship. The Pennsylvania Commission for Women is hosting a Financial Security for Crime Survivors webinar to promote discussion around this topic. Financial abuse occurs in 98 percent of abusive relationships and is the number one reason victims stay in or return to abusive relationships, according to the PA Department of Banking. It is important for survivors, advocates, and policy makers to understand the complexities of financial abuse and how it impacts Pennsylvanians. Join the webinar to learn about: The impact of financial abuse on survivors Financial security for survivors and families Access to victims compensation The importance of pay equity Resources available to help survivors recover from financial abuse. Have questions? We have answers! Submit questions in advance to women@pa.gov. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Rumour has it that Samsung has finalised prices for the Galaxy S22 series in Europe. While the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ will be as expensive as their predecessors, the Galaxy S22 Ultra will start at 50 cheaper than the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Only Samsung's premier smartphone will launch with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, in Europe at least. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 3D Printing , 5G , Accessory , AI , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Benchmark , Biotech , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , E-Mobility , Education , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel , Intel Evo , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Leaks / Rumors , Linux / Unix , List , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Raptor Lake , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Single-Board Computer (SBC) , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Wi-Fi 7 , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) , Zen 4 Ticker According to Roland Quandt, Samsung has finalised European prices for the Galaxy S22 series. Reputedly, the upcoming flagships will cost between 849 and 1,449, depending on the model chosen. However, the Galaxy S22+ and Galaxy S22 Ultra will cost at least 1,049 and 1,249, respectively. Quandt states that Samsung has segmented the Galaxy S22 series by the following memory configurations and prices. Galaxy S22 (8 GB/128 GB): 849 Galaxy S22 (8 GB/256 GB): 899 Galaxy S22+ (8 GB/128 GB): 1,049 Galaxy S22+ (8 GB/256 GB): 1,099 Galaxy S22 Ultra (8 GB/128 GB): 1,249 Galaxy S22 Ultra (12 GB/256 GB): 1,349 Galaxy S22 Ultra (12 GB/512 GB): 1,449 Like the Galaxy S21 series, the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ will not be available with a 512 GB storage option. Samsung will not equip either with a microSD card reader, leaving the Galaxy S22 Ultra as the only option if you need more than 256 GB of physical storage. Also, the Galaxy S22 Ultra will be the only Galaxy S22 series device with 12 GB of RAM. In short, the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ will be as expensive as last year's models. By contrast, the cheapest Galaxy S22 Ultra, which has 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, will be 50 cheaper than the equivalent Galaxy S21 Ultra. On the other hand, Quandt states that the Ultra's 256 GB and 512 GB configurations are slightly pricier this year. Presumably, Samsung has justified this uplift by offering only 12 GB of RAM. A total of 98 more people died from coronavirus in Northwest Indiana in a one-week period, according to data from the Indiana Department of Health. Statistics updated Friday showed that there have been a total of 1,517 deaths in Lake County, 476 in Porter County, 306 in LaPorte County, 59 in Newton County and 116 in Jasper County. Last Friday, Lake County reported 1,451 deaths, meaning an additional 66 people have died of the virus in the county in a seven-day period, statistics show. In a one-week period, Porter County reported 20 new deaths, LaPorte County had seven more, Newton County had two more and Jasper County had three more. In total, COVID-19 has killed a total of 19,992 Hoosiers since the start of the pandemic, indicating an additional 501 deaths statewide in the last seven days, Friday data showed. State health records show a total of 3,057 Hoosiers were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday, according to the Indiana Department of Health. Currently 33.1% of ICU beds are in use by coronavirus patients with only 9.6% of ICU beds in the state available. The color-coded classifications for Indiana's 92 counties has all of counties in the worst-possible red rating, showing a continuing increase of infections. The red rating indicates an uncontrolled spread of coronavirus, which is classified as 200 or more positive cases per every 100,000 residents. Across state lines, a total of 7,302 residents in Calumet City and 6,272 residents in Lansing have tested positive for the virus. State health officials are urging Hoosiers age 5 and up to reduce their chances of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and death by getting vaccinated against COVID-19, or by getting a COVID-19 booster shot for those previously vaccinated, as soon as possible. The free COVID-19 vaccine is available, in most cases without an appointment, at 1,488 locations across the state, including retail pharmacies, health clinics and hospitals. Records show more than 3.62 million Hoosiers age 5 and up, or 55.6% of the state's eligible population, are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including 54.5% of eligible Lake County residents, 60.2% in Porter County, 55.2% in LaPorte County, 40.5% in Newton County and 45.4% in Jasper County. So far, a total of 1,622,131 people have received a booster shot statewide. A complete list of COVID-19 vaccine sites is available online at ourshot.in.gov. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Whiting's fiscal body was required to adopt a plan and that the funds are restricted to certain uses, such as for infrastructure and to offset city losses caused by COVID-19, the council president said. LAPORTE A 10-year-old boy died after the vehicle he was in was struck by a semi-tractor, trapping him and four others inside the car in a rural area of LaPorte County, police said. The crash also injured two other children and two adults. At 10:21 a.m. Friday police responded to a crash with injuries in the 14000 south block of U.S. 421 in rural Cass Township. LaPorte County Sheriff's Deputy Josh Smith arrived within minutes and found a van and commercial vehicle involved in the crash, said LaPorte County Sheriff's Capt. Derek Allen. Preliminary investigations showed that a tree service company truck was backing a wood chipper out from a driveway and onto U.S. 421. For traffic control purposes, an employee of the company was standing in the middle of U.S. 421 to serve as a flagger. The flagger had stopped northbound and southbound traffic for the truck and wood chipper to pull out of the driveway. A silver 2004 Chrysler van, driven by a 30-year-old LaPorte man, who was driving south on U.S. 421 had slowed down or come to a complete stop as traffic yielded to the flagger, police reported. The driver of a red 2014 Volvo semi-tractor, A 30-year-old man from Ecorse, Michigan, was driving south on U.S. 421 when he saw traffic ahead slowing and stopping for the flagger. However, he told police that he realized it too late and he said he had little time to react, Allen said. The semi-tractor then crashed into the back of the Chrysler van, he said. Inside the van was two adults and three juveniles, who became trapped inside the van and needed extrication. The adult driver and an adult in the passenger seat suffered injuries to their upper bodies and were taken by ambulance to a local hospital. Two juveniles in the back seat suffered serious injuries and were both airlifted by a medical helicopter. A third juvenile in the back seat was taken by ambulance for treatment of injuries at a local hospital. As the investigation was underway, first responders were informed that one of the children, a 10-year-old boy, had died from his injuries, Allen said. The child's identity has not yet been released by officials. U.S. 421 was reopened Friday following a three-hour closure. Police said toxicology test results are pending, as is the investigation, with no further information available at this time. As of Saturday, no formal charges related to the fatal crash had been announced by authorities. LaPorte County Sheriff's Capt. Dallas Smythe, Detective Sgt. L. Scott Boswell, Sgt. James D. Arnold, Detective Jake Koch, Deputy Scott Lanoue, Deputy Wade Wallace, Deputy Ryan Elcock and Deputy Derrick Deck responded to the scene. They were aided by Indiana State Police, LaPorte County EMS, Northwest Health EMS, Memorial MedFlight, Parkview Samaritan, the Allen County coroners office, Cass-Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department, the LaCrosse Volunteer Fire Department, LaPorte County HazMat, the Indiana Department of Transportation and Johns Garage. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. HAMMOND The sentencing of an Indianapolis man convicted of a $5 million investment fraud scheme has been delayed a month. U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon is giving George R. McKowns new team of defense lawyers additional time to sift through the transcripts of the 67-year-old defendant's 5-day jury trial to better prepare to argue on his behalf for the most lenient sentence. A federal grand jury indicted McKown five years ago with securities fraud, alleging he swindled 42 Northwest Indiana families out of their life savings. Federal prosecutors won his conviction Oct. 29, 2021, on evidence he and his co-defendant, Richard E. Gearhart, 71, of Lowell, began in 2008 promising families high returns from safe investments and guaranteed the families could get the money they invested back anytime they wanted. Prosecutors said those assurances were all lies. The defendants really sank that money in risky financial ventures to which the families never agreed, but they soothed them with phony reports of high earnings, when in fact the money was eventually lost. Prosecutors said the truth only emerged in late 2012 when Gearhart was forced to admit the losses in a bankruptcy. McKown fired his court-appointed defense attorney, who had represented him at trial, and hired a team of private lawyers to get his guilty verdict set aside. Judge Simon denied their request for a new trial. Now, McKowns new attorneys said they need more time to review the evidence presented at trial as well as lodge objections to the court probation departments sentencing recommendation. Simon has rescheduled next months sentencing to take place March 10. Gearhart pleaded guilty in December 2019 to security fraud and already is serving a 60-month prison term at a federal prison in Tucson, Arizona. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. GARY The Gary Police Department has made great strides in the past two years as it rebuilds its ranks, its fleet and its technological capabilities, Police Chief Brian Evans said. Officers at the Region's busiest police department received a 12% raise and increased pension benefits, added 60 new fully-equipped vehicles to their fleet in 2020 and 2021, and installed a license plate reader system. The department partnered with the Neighbors by Ring app to give residents another option for anonymously sharing information, and a new fund was created to offer reward money for information leading to arrests and convictions in crimes within the city. Officers received new tools to help them enforce traffic laws, investigate suspected drugged driving and patrol the city's beaches. Police also continued their efforts to interrupt gun violence as part of the Gary for Live initiative, which also offers social services to residents involved in violent crimes through a partnership with Goodwill Industries. "It's not soft on the people that are involved," Evans said. "It's not giving them a pay for not playing. It's really to help them get out of a lifestyle." 'Violence is everywhere' The number of homicides in Gary fell from 54 in 2020 to 48 in 2021, while the number of nonfatal shootings increased from 178 to 183, police Cmdr. Jack Hamady said. The Gary for Life initiative typically focuses on gang-related violence. The number of gang-related homicides has fallen or remained unchanged since 2015, with 29 in 2015; 18 in 2016, 2017 and 2018; 13 in 2019; 11 in 2020 and 10 in 2021, Hamady said. Despite the increase last year in nonfatal gunshot wound victims, the percentage of those shootings that were gang-related decreased. Police said 38 of 178, or 21%, of nonfatal gunshot wound cases in 2020 were believed to be gang related. In 2021, 34 of 183, or 18.5% were gang-related. Gun violence is everywhere, and it's a problem that will take more than law enforcement to solve, Evans said. "Our nation is experiencing a huge amount of trauma as a result of violence, particularly gun violence," the chief said. "I point that out, because it's so quick, and it can hurt so many people." Evans was with his daughter at a local Walmart during a recent shooting there, he said. "I was inside shopping on a Sunday, our daily routine," he said. "Movie theaters. Concerts. Churches. Synagogues. Schools. Grocery stores. Massage parlors. Restaurants. Malls. Everywhere. Parks. You almost feel like there's no safe haven anymore." People often are surprised when Evans shows up at their homes after they or a family member has been shot, or someone in their family is considered a risk for retaliatory violence. Each "custom notification" Evans and others conduct as part of the Gary for Life initiative is different, he said. What he says depends on the circumstances, the relationships of those involved and more. Evans often tells residents he doesn't want to return to their door to tell them their loved one is dead because of the continuous violence. "Let us handle the situation. Let us get involved. If you want to tell us something, tell me something. Let me know," he said. "If you need some help with something, let us know. We have a bunch of chaplains here that open up their churches for funerals or counseling or whatever at no cost. When we're able to do that, it really helps." Pay, benefits boosted Law enforcement agencies across the nation have been struggling recently to hire new officers, but the Gary Police Department managed to end 2021 with a net increase of seven officers, Evans said. The department hired 15 officers last year, but also saw a number of retirements and departures, he said. Another 17 candidates are currently in the hiring process. The department has also added a couple of officers through "emergency hires," which allow certified officers police to change agencies. The Gary Police Department was "a poster child" for the loss of experienced officers to other departments, but pay raises and better pension benefits are now helping attract more officers, Evans said. The total number of officers has increased from just more than 140 in 2020 to 153 in 2021. Mayor Jerome Prince's administration and the City Council came together to give officers a 12% pay raise, which put the city in the median among Lake County agencies in terms of salary. "We also had a very good pension benefit increase, which gives us a first class patrolman pension retirement rate," he said. The change allows Gary officers to retire at "a really decent salary," Evans said. The city also expanded insurance benefits, so officers and their families can remain on the city's insurance until the officers are 65 years old. The Gary and Hammond police departments are the only two agencies in the Region offering such pension and insurance benefits, Hamady said. Evans often says those who want to see change in law enforcement should join the department. "That's one of the goals of hiring as many people as we can: to change that narrative that the police are here to do something against the community," he said. "If that's a feeling people have, we're wide open, we're transparent." The Gary Police Department is also the most diverse in Northwest Indiana, he said. Hamady said morale has increased because of the improvements Evans and the city have made. "We're trying to be progressive," he said. "If you want to come and do police work and be a good policeman, come to the Gary Police Department. We're upgrading the equipment. There will be take-home policies in the near future, once we get everyone a car. I think the department is moving forward." New cars, new technology Evans said the city purchased 60 news vehicles for the police department, including 18 in 2020 and 39 in 2021. The new vehicles will be fully equipped with in-car computers, front and rear radar, and an e-ticketing system. E-tickets allow officers to scan a person's driver's license and don't require anyone to sign anything, which is a plus given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the chief said. Hard Rock Casino also donated two Ford F-150s to the department, which are "almost invisible" when used for traffic enforcement and are the busiest vehicles in inclement weather, Evans said. The city installed 30 license plate reader cameras throughout the city, and they generated more than 3 million reads within a few months. "Some of those are the same vehicles going through multiple times, but that is a huge amount of traffic for our city," Evans said. Police also have a car-mounted license plate reader, which is use by patrol officers and the Multi-Agency Gang Unit. The cameras allow police to tap into data in the Flock Safety and Vigilant systems, which are used in communities nationwide. The department has generated 65 cases using the stationary cameras and another 17 with the mobile camera, Hamady said. The license plate reader system has helped police take a suspect in a businesswoman's homicide into custody and led to the swift recovery in Chicago of a vehicle used in a homicide on Fifth Avenue last month, police said. Officers are able to immediately upload vehicle information into the system. Without the license plate readers, Gary police likely would not have learned for weeks that a vehicle used in a homicide was recovered in Chicago, Evans said. "By that time, it would have lost a lot of evidentiary value," he said. The cameras have helped police recover more than 15 stolen vehicles. They've also led to a number of pursuits. Evans said pursuits should only happen while it's safe. "The officer can self-terminate," he said. "The supervisors terminate pursuits all the time, because what we don't want to do is chase someone and have an accident where someone gets hurt either the public or our officers." Investigative tools added Gary has seen an increase in fatal traffic crashes during the past three years, rising from eight in 2019 to 15 in 2020 and 30 in 2021. "I dont know if it happened after COVID or before, but we have a lot more traffic out here and often people are driving very erratically," Evans said. "It's all over. It's not just here." Evans said he hopes the department's new LIDAR, or light detective and ranging, instruments will help traffic and patrol officers be more proactive as they work to reduce the number of crashes. The department also recently received several SoToxa Mobile Test System units, which allow officers to test drivers for cocaine, methamphetamines, opiates, amphetamines, benzodiazepines and marijuana. The units, which were distributed to 19 Lake County police departments, can help officers figure out what's going on if a driver appears to be impaired or is involved in a crash, Hamady said. If the handheld units produce a positive result, officers still must apply for a search warrant to obtain evidence that could be admissible in court. The department purchased 100 new Taser 7 devices last year, which feature automatic uploads every time the Taser is fired or used, Evans said. The Tasers also include a virtual reality headset, which officers can use to train with the Taser or firearms. Gary police started using the LeadsOnline service, which can help officers track stolen property. The department also partners with the Neighbors by Ring app, which allows residents to communicate anonymously with police, share video from their doorbell cameras and put out alerts. Evans said he became interested in partnering with Ring after one of its doorbell cameras helped detectives identify two suspects in the 2019 homicide of a woman and her 13-year-old son in the city's Miller section. "The more people that take part in it, the better we'll be," he said. Other investments made In a separate effort to encourage more engagement with the community, Evans started a fund for reward money, Hamady said. "We didn't have a budget for reward money," Hamady said. "Usually, the family had to put it up, and the chief felt we needed to earmark some money as an agency." Rewards will be offered in cases where investigators "may need a name or a tip to solve it," Hamady said. "Where we're so close, but there's something that's missing." Evans said there may be witnesses who might be willing to come forward, if they know money might be available to help them relocate. Every year, the city sees at least one drowning at its Lake Michigan beaches. Last year, the department purchased 10 new ATVs, which are mostly used for beach patrol. The last time the department purchased ATVs was in 2010, Evans said. "It's the only type of vehicle that can allow them to get around quickly and find someone that's in distress," he said. Two of the new ATVs feature side-by-side seating, and all of them carry first aid equipment. NIPSCO purchased new tactical vests for Gary's SWAT team after two officers were shot during a standoff in 2020, Evans said. An anonymous donor purchased half of the team's new helmets, and the department bought the other half. The SWAT team also received a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle through the federal Law Enforcement Support program, Evans said. "One of the things we've noticed is that when we bring it out, it really is intimidating to the individuals and they give up, which is what we want," the chief said. "We want people to give up and surrender and comply. We don't want to hurt anyone." Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The evening hours will be dry, but after 11 p.m. Saturday, snow will begin to fall across Northwest Indiana. Snow will become widespread during the overnight hours and will be heavy at times. While the main area of snow will exit the area during the early morning Sunday, a band of lake-effect snow is expected to set-up across portions of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties. This will keep the threat for heavy snow around through the morning and early afternoon Sunday in these counties. The band of snow will gradually come to an end across the area from west to east Sunday afternoon, with all snow exiting LaPorte County during the early evening. Snow totals look to range widely across the Region, depending on where exactly the heaviest lake-effect snow falls. Newton and Japer counties will probably only see 2 to 4 inches of snow, with more snow in the northern parts of those counties than the southern parts. The highest snow totals look to be near Lake Michigan in Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties. Somewhere between Gary and Michigan City, up to 9 inches of snow could fall. Snow totals will be smaller in the southern portions of these counties, but 2 to 6 inches still looks to be common. Below are forecast snow totals for various cities across Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties: Portage: 5-9 Michigan City: 4-8 Gary: 4-8 Valparaiso: 3-6 Crown Point: 3-6 Hammond: 2-5 A Winter Weather Advisory goes into effect for the entire Region beginning at 11 p.m. Saturday. It is currently set to expire at 9 a.m. Sunday for Newton and Jasper counties, but continues until 3 p.m. Sunday for Lake and Porter counties, and 5 p.m. Sunday for LaPorte County. Snow covered roads and low visibility are expected during this time. Travel should should be avoided late Saturday night through Sunday morning for the entire Region. Travel should still be avoided during the afternoon Sunday for Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties, especially near Lake Michigan. If you must hit the roads, give yourself plenty of extra time to reach your destination. Drive below the speed limit and increase your following distance. Low temperatures Saturday night will be in the upper teens across the Region. High temperatures on Sunday will be in the low to mid 20s, but with wind gusts of 20 to 25 mph expected, wind chills will likely stay in the low-to-mid teens. Another round of snow is expected to begin very late Sunday night and continue through the day on Monday. This could bring an additional 1 to 3 inches of snow to Northwest Indiana. Matt Holiner covers weather and climate across the Midwest. Matt has eight years of professional meteorology experience and has forecast every type of weather for cities across the country. He holds the National Weather Association's Seal of Approval. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Local Weather Get the daily forecast and severe weather alerts in your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A centuries-old tradition in which women declared themselves men so they could enjoy male privilege is dying out as young women have more options available to them to live their own lives. LEPUSHE, Albania As a teenager locked in a patriarchal and tradition-bound mountain village in the far north of Albania, Gjystina Grishaj made a drastic decision: She would live the rest of her life as a man. She did not want to be married off at a young age, nor did she like cooking, ironing clothes or doing any of the things that women do, so she joined a gender-bending Albanian fraternity of what are known as burrneshat, or female-men. She adopted a male nickname Duni. I took a personal decision and told them: I am a man and dont want to get married, Duni recalled telling her family. Few women today want to become what anthropologists call Albanias sworn virgins, a tradition that goes back centuries. They take an oath of lifelong celibacy and enjoy male privileges, like the right to make family decisions, smoke, drink and go out alone. This is particularly true of women who have high anxiety or have experienced pregnancy loss like Ms. Paras. It can be incredibly stressful to field questions from people who have the best of intentions but dont know how their questions are landing or how they can feel minimizing or insensitive, Dr. Kaeni said. With her other pregnancies, Ms. Paras did receive unsolicited questions and advice. Especially women of the older generation would ask me questions like, Are you carrying twins? Is the baby healthy? she said. People who knew me would bring up my daughter or tell me everything was going to be OK with this pregnancy, when there is no way they could know that. Those questions were stressful, she said. It was a lot better not having to interact with other people when I was pregnant during the pandemic. Other pregnant women are happy to keep their pregnancies a secret to avoid judgment from others. Fabulous Flores, 30, a graduate student who lives in Absecon, N.J., gave birth to a girl in May. When she got pregnant she was not married to her boyfriend, and she was relieved not to have to tell her mother and contend with her disapproval at such an emotionally fraught time. My mom would not be OK with me having a child out of wedlock, and I was afraid to tell her, so I was glad to put it off until I was ready, she said. Luckily my mom was very strict and stayed inside, and we did as well so no one had to see each other. (Once the baby arrived, her mother got on board and is now a supportive grandmother.) Ms. Flores also felt relieved not to have to show her changing body to other people: I was so nervous that I would get huge and swollen and wouldnt want people to see me, she said. Part of me was like, Am I not attractive anymore because I am a mom? I was happy to not have to see peoples reactions. PHOENIX A rift between Senator Kyrsten Sinema and fellow Democrats back home in Arizona deepened on Saturday as the state party formally rebuked Ms. Sinema for refusing to change the Senates filibuster rules to pass sweeping voting rights legislation. The censure from the partys executive board was symbolic, but it crystallized a growing sense of anger and frustration among liberal activists and Democratic voters aimed at Ms. Sinema. They accuse Ms. Sinema, a first-term senator, of impeding key parts of President Bidens agenda, and have vowed to withhold donations and search for a liberal primary challenger when she is up for re-election in two years. Activists have staged protests outside her office and begun a hunger strike to urge Ms. Sinema to support changing the Senate rules to allow voting-rights legislation to pass with a simple majority of the 100 senators rather than the 60 votes required under Senate rules. But she has steadfastly refused, and reiterated her opposition to scrapping the filibuster in a Jan. 13 speech on the Senate floor, arguing that the parliamentary tactic has been used repeatedly to protect against wild swings in federal policy. RTHK: Thousands pay tribute to Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh Thousands of mourners packed a temple in Vietnam's Buddhist heartland early on Sunday to pay tribute to the late Vietnamese monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, credited with bringing mindfulness to the West. The Zen master died aged 95 on Saturday at the Tu Hieu Pagoda in the city of Hue. Thich Nhat Hanh spent nearly four decades in exile after he was banished from his homeland for calling for an end to the Vietnam War. Early on Sunday morning, chanting monks carried his body covered by a yellow sheet along with decorative umbrellas through the throng of mourners. The smell of incense wafted in the air, as they put his body in a wooden coffin and placed it in a hall decorated with yellow daisies. Buddhist monks in yellow and brown robes recited prayers and followers wearing grey stood in silent contemplation of his life. Among the mourners was Tran Dinh Huong, 46, who hastily travelled from Hanoi to pay her respects. "I read many of his books and his words helped me a lot when I was down or going through difficulties," she said. "I think it will be a very long time until Vietnam and the world has such a great teacher again." Nguyen Nhat from Ho Chi Minh City said it was deeply moving to see the body. "I admire him for his simple and modest life," he said. Thich Nhat Hanh's coffin is expected to remain in the hall for a week as mourners take turns to pray in front of it before a cremation ceremony next Saturday. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-01-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Since 2015, relatives of Ludwig and Margret Kainer have pursued a claim for a painting by Pissarro, the Impressionist master, that was once a part of the Kainers collection. Last May, the heirs sued the family of Gerald D. Horowitz, and in the ensuing weeks Mr. Eizenstat, a childhood friend of Mr. Horowitzs wife, Pearlann Horowitz, agreed to work on the familys behalf. Different claims to artworks that changed hands during World War II have different merits; some are clear cut and some are not, Mr. Eizenstat said in a statement to The New York Times last week. Our investigation of the historical facts concerning this painting has convinced us that this is less than a clear cut claim that raises complex historical questions and includes contradictory information. Mr. Eizenstat said Mr. Horowitz, who bought the painting from a New York dealer in 1995, had acted in good faith, without any sense there was a cloud on its title. He said his efforts to reach an amicable settlement were in keeping with his lifes work and that both sides had reached an agreement in principle. I believed, he said in his statement, I was particularly qualified to undertake the task of finding a just and fair solution to both sides, as contemplated by the Washington Principles of which I was a principal negotiator. Though Mr. Eizenstats clients are themselves Jewish, the optics of his surfacing for the first time in a restitution case, not on the side of claimants, but of defendants, have surprised some experts in the field. Amarendra Roy Chowdhury was born on Oct. 16, 1939, in the Comilla District of what was then British India. (The area was later part of East Pakistan and is now in Bangladesh.) His father, Satyenda Nath Roy Chowdhury, was a government official in Pakistan; his mother, Sova Rani Roy Chowdhury, was a homemaker. Badal, which means rain in Bengali, was a childhood nickname. An uncle introduced him to the tabla and taught him its rudiments: the vocal syllables that denote specific drum sounds. Later, in New York, he took some lessons from Alla Rakha, Ravi Shankars longtime tabla player. While growing up, he was also a fan of Elvis Presley and Pat Boone. His introduction to jazz was hearing Duke Ellington perform in Pakistan in 1963. Mr. Roy wasnt planning a career in music when he went to New York in 1968. He intended to earn a Ph.D. in statistics. To support himself, he worked as a waiter at the Pak India Curry House and found a weekend gig playing tabla with a sitarist at A Taste of India, a restaurant in Greenwich Village. Mr. McLaughlin was a regular there, and he sometimes sat in with the duo. After a few months of jamming, he asked Mr. Roy to join a recording session. The resulting album, My Goals Beyond, released in 1971, was an early landmark in Indian-influenced jazz. Mr. McLaughlin was also working with Miles Davis at the time, and he brought Mr. Roy to Daviss attention; when Davis was appearing at the Village Gate in 1971, Mr. Roys duo auditioned for him during a break between sets at A Taste of India, carrying their instruments a few blocks down Bleecker Street. Davis called on Mr. Roy for a 1972 session that also included Mr. McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock on keyboards and Jack DeJohnette on drums. Julian Fellowes chased his new series, The Gilded Age, for a decade. Call it his white whale. Beginning Monday on HBO, you can watch it drag him and a large, talented cast beneath the waves. What would become The Gilded Age began in 2012 as Fellowess idea for a prequel to his Downton Abbey, the upstairs-downstairs British costume drama that was a monster hit for PBS in the United States. The early years of Downton were a smooth, charming blend of family melodrama and pastoral comedy, but charm faded and contrivance grew over the course of six seasons, and by the time the series ended in 2015 the idea of a spinoff had lost some of its luster. Fellowes persisted, though, even as he wrote other series, like the highly entertaining Georgian drama Belgravia (2020). The Gilded Age hung around, switched networks (from NBC to HBO) and, when it finally started filming, underwent a pandemic delay. After all that time, its sad to report that the show, while no longer a Downton prequel, looks like a slacker and more superficial rehashing of character types and situations familiar from the earlier series. (Five of nine episodes were available.) Perhaps all that time had something to do with it. Set in New York in 1882 (about 30 years after Moby-Dick was published there), the series opens as a new-money family, the Russells, move into their Stanford White-designed mansion on Fifth Avenue, across the street from the less luxurious but more respectable house of the old-money sisters Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon). Some people have been reading my book as if it were the new Mein Kampf, and they then are writing to me to say that they are disappointed to find that it has neither the strong political message that they had hoped for, nor the content that they had heard about, she said. According to Pablo Simon, a politics professor at the Universidad Carlos III in Madrid (who is not related to the writer), Feria has fueled Spains political debate because even if it is a novel and not a political treaty, the book ascertains that the current generation is worse off than the previous ones, which is a claim that is easy for politicians to use, even if it is not necessarily based on facts. He added: Our parents may have had fewer ambitions and faced less uncertainty, but it doesnt mean that they were better off, and nostalgia also makes us forget the difficult and sordid aspects of the Spain of the 1970s and 1980s, including high drug consumption and joblessness during a very complicated industrial reconversion. Having recently become a mother, Ms. Simon now lives with her son and her partner, Hasel-Paris Alvarez, in Aranjuez, a town outside Madrid where her parents also live. While raising her child and writing for El Pais, Ms. Simon said, she had been trying to protect her family from the toxic comments her book has triggered on social media, from both the right and the left. We unfortunately live in a time when some people offend just for the sake of it, even if it gets nonsensical, to the point that I got attacked as a Red Fascist, she said. As Mark gradually weasels his way into Joans life, she begins to take notice of her idiosyncrasies from his perspective. Joan hasnt read the books he thinks are important, but she pretends she has. And she fails to check any of the boxes for what, according to Mark, makes a true New Yorker, like having an opinion about the Yankees. When it becomes clear Joan has never heard of Seinfeld, Mark fell into what resembled a catatonic state of shock. Then he looked down, for a long time, at my doormat. I touched my neck and felt the flush of anxiety, felt my new cultured neighbor was about to tell me that I perceived the world all wrong. Having grown up in Oakland, Calif., with poor immigrant parents, Joan views professional success as a great equalizer. The joy of having been standardized, she says, was that you didnt need to think beyond a certain area. Like a death handled well, a box had been put around you, and within it you could feel safe. Death and boxes feature prominently in Joans story, as she grapples with mortality and navigates both the safety and constraints of self-confinement. Shes mourning (in her very Joan way) her fathers death. But how does one handle death well, and should that even be the goal? Through funny, weird and touching moments, Wang depicts Joans and her mothers grief as messy, nonlinear and palpable. Eventually, Joan is forced to reconsider her obsession with productivity as she takes a hard look at her relationships to family, and society. Was it harder to be a woman? Or an immigrant? Or a Chinese person outside of China? she asks herself. And why did being a good any of the above require you to edit yourself down so you could become someone else? Joans reckoning is exacerbated by the looming Covid pandemic, which impacts her personally as well as professionally. Wang details the news coming out of Wuhan and elsewhere matter-of-factly increasing case counts and deaths, border and business closings sparking a sense of dread in readers who know all too well whats coming. Joan deadpans: Some government officials also believed that it was important to keep the American people informed and reminded of where the virus really came from. So, the China virus, the Chinese virus, the kung flu. Online she starts to see clips of Asian people being attacked in the street and on the subways. Being kicked, pushed and spat on for wearing masks and being accused of having brought nothing else into the country except disease. In taut prose, Wang masterfully balances the many terrors of this pandemic alongside Joans intimate, interior struggles. Reading the hospital scenes set in the spring of 2020, revisiting the devastating toll this virus has taken and continues to take, this reader was not OK. Throughout the novel, Joans wry humor is sometimes punctuated by moments of unexpected tenderness. If I could hold success in my hand, she says, it would be a beating heart. Regarding her parents and other first- and second-wave Chinese immigrants, Joan notes how immigration is often described: a death, a rebirth. To piece back together life. Like Joan herself, Wangs narrative is at once laser-focused and multilayered. She raises provocative questions about motherhood, daughterhood, belonging and the many definitions of home. What do we owe our parents? Our children? And are any of us OK? PASCAGOULA, Miss. Bobbie Anne Sison was heading to the hospital just before dawn when she got a panicked call from one of her best nurses saying she couldnt come to work because her car had overheated on Route 63. Ms. Sison, a nurse manager at Pascagoula Hospital, slammed on the brakes, made a U-turn and raced to fetch her. We have staff members dropping like flies from Covid so there was no way I was going to leave her on the side of the road, Ms. Sison said a few hours later as she walked the corridors of her 350-bed hospital, which has been steadily filling with Covid patients after a monthslong lull. On Sunday, 106 coronavirus patients were being treated at Singing River Health System, a county-owned network of three small hospitals along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, up from a dozen or so patients at the beginning of the month. With 40 percent of all Covid-19 tests in Pascagoula coming back positive and about 100 hospital employees out sick, Ms. Sison was trying not to think about what the coming days would bring. I just dont know if we can do this again, she said. Even as new cases peak and begin to decline in the Northeast and Upper Midwest, the nations hospitals are still confronting a crushing influx of patients. In Mississippi, the latest wave of infections has pushed nearly all of the states acute-care hospitals to capacity. Image 1901 Avenue P Dear Diary: I was visiting New York City in 2000, and my son, who lived in Brooklyn with his family, told me we were all going to an art show in Red Hook. He asked if there was anything else I wanted to see or do while we were out. I said that even though I had been born in Brooklyn in 1938, I had never been back to my birthplace, an apartment house at 1901 Avenue P, and would like to do that. I felt eager as we drove there. We found a parking spot right in front and jumped out to take a picture of me at the front door. I have one of my mother standing in the same spot when she was pregnant with me. Several older women were sitting on lawn chairs on the sidewalk. When they saw our family laughing and taking pictures, one of them called me over and asked why we were there. I said I had been born there but had moved away when I was still an infant. After chatting briefly, my family and I walked back toward our car. Ms. Coulters anti-Trump bile is not entirely new and carries the bitter fury of a disillusioned believer. While an early and enthusiastic MAGA convert during the 2016 campaign Ms. Coulter cheekily proclaimed herself ready to die for her candidate and penned a cringey hagiography titled In Trump We Trust: E Pluribus Awesome! she began souring on his presidency pretty quickly over his failure to make good on his more draconian immigration promises. (Ann really wanted that border wall.) When Ms. Coulter turns, she does not go gently. Her critiques of Mr. Trump have included calling him a shallow, lazy ignoramus, a complete moron, a blithering idiot and a lout. She now considers his entire presidency a flop. Trump accomplished everything he was ever going to accomplish at 2 a.m. on election night in 2016, she emailed me last week. The best thing that could have happened to the Republican Party (and the country) would have been for him to be vaporized at the moment he was announcing his victory. Pence would have been afraid to betray Trumps supporters. Trump wasnt! Of late, Ms. Coulter has begun poking at Mr. Trump from a very specific angle: comparing him unfavorably to Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. Mr. DeSantis is a ticklish topic around Trumpworld. The governor rose to power by becoming a mini-Trump, and the former president still considers Mr. DeSantis his creation. But the governor is clearly eyeing the White House in 2024, and, unlike other potential candidates, he has not pledged to sit things out if Mr. Trump runs. Such disloyalty does not sit well with the former president, and there are rumblings of a brewing feud between the two Florida Men. As the water cooler chatter goes: Mr. Trump sees Mr. DeSantis as an ungrateful upstart, while Mr. DeSantis sees Mr. Trump as expecting too much groveling. Earlier this month, when Mr. Trump called politicians who refuse to reveal their booster status gutless, it was seen as a slap at Mr. DeSantis, who has been shifty about his booster situation. A few days later, Mr. DeSantis voiced regret over not aggressively opposing the nationwide lockdown that Mr. Trump ordered early in the pandemic. In congregations like my own, we do not use our phones on Shabbat, so we were unaware that around the time Orli began to recite from the Torah, 1,300 miles away, at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, a man had taken the rabbi and congregants hostage. Later that night, when we learned what was still unfolding, my partner and I whispered to each other, hoping to shield Orli and her sister, Hana, a moment longer, to delay the inevitable question we knew wed be asked: Will it happen to us? Orli had asked me the same question the week after Pittsburghs Tree of Life synagogue was attacked in October 2018. She worried that we could be bombed. In other words: Are we safe at synagogue? To these questions, I can offer no concrete answer. I do not want to lie, though I am tempted to simply insist we will be fine. I tell them: Our synagogue is well fortified. But my uncertainty in a time of hate and violence, not unlike my uncertainty in the face of illness, destabilizes me. It is unsettling to allow your children to know, early on, just how very little control you really have. Vulnerability is always jarring; it is somehow more terrible when you are meant to be a comforting presence. Plus, I have no good models for these queries. When I was a child, I had little to challenge my belief in my parents ability to keep us healthy. Conversations about fear were largely retrospective. We grew up with our Holocaust refugee relatives who had fled destitution and destruction to deliverance in an American promised land. The past was terrible, but we were in the present. My children, meanwhile, are familiar with mediports, home fluids and daily pill regimens. The girls intimately know the difference between minor surgeries and major ones. They have grown accustomed to our synagogues metal detectors, bag checks and security guards; they know by name the permanent security officer at the door. Indeed, the officer knows Orlis story well. When he saw us arrive on that Saturday morning for the bat mitzvah, he and my partner, Ian, embraced. They both cried. In Beshalach (When He Let Go), the Torah portion read on Jan. 15, the Israelites celebrate their freedom, then panic in the face of uncertainty. They bitterly complain to Moses, who has led them out of Egypt, that they fear death by thirst or starvation awaits them in the wilderness. The portion ends with a battle with the Amalekites, a conflict, the Torah tells us, that continues from generation to generation. The Amalekites become a stand-in for a mythical eternal enemy, a symbol of any evil that subsequently arises against the Jewish community. After years of planting trees and experimenting with methods to capture water, farmers in Niger have begun to see results soil health has improved, and crops are growing again. In 2019, we visited the country to see how the programs ambition translated in a country where most people depend on the land for their livelihood. Nine years ago, the land was a disaster, said Nomao Alkali, a farmer in Fada, a village about 130 miles southeast of Niamey, the capital of Niger. If you put seeds in the ground, you would have almost nothing, the soil was so poor. For years, Chinese and Pakistani leaders have described their relationship, forged by a common rivalry with their neighbor India, as sweeter than honey. But the Pakistani Armys view of the relationship with China appears to be souring and diverging from the political leaderships. Last month, after Prime Minister Imran Khan declined the Biden administrations invitation to its Summit for Democracy, the Pakistani television news anchor Kamran Khan posted a video on social media denouncing the wrong decision, one he declared was made at Chinas behest. (China was not invited to or happy about the summit.) The journalist lamented that, with that move, the prime minister had put Pakistan openly in Chinas lap. He alleged that Beijings loans had entrapped Islamabad, and he even called for an audit of the pros and cons of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which has brought billions of dollars in debt-driven energy and infrastructure investment to Pakistan. In Pakistan, press freedom and politics lie in a gray area, with red lines carefully managed by the army. With a mere phone call or WhatsApp message, colonels can whip a transgressive editor or lawmaker into line. So the explicit call to reconsider relations with China by one of Pakistans most prominent media voices is no random hot take. It reflects the consent, if not the orders, of the countrys khaki masters. Indeed, Pakistans praetorian army would have preferred, according to a retired U.S. diplomat, that Prime Minister Khan had attended President Bidens summit to reinvigorate a relationship with a superpower thats been giving it the cold shoulder. Andre Leon Talley was the last of his kind: a fashion editor who operated without the filter of a corporate public relations apparatus. He made broad, extravagant declarations like, Were living in such a vulgar age! He was the pharaoh of fabulosity who put himself on his own best-dressed lists and eviscerated celebrities whose red carpet ensembles werent up to his standards. In short, Andre Leon Talley spoke his mind, seemingly without fear. When he likes it, he says it very loud, and when he doesnt like it, he says it very loud, too, his friend, the designer Carolina Herrera, told Vanity Fair in 2013. Hes either a volcano or an iceberg. Here, highlights from three decades of his life inside and, later, far outside the fashion system. The former president of Florida International University in Miami revealed the reasons for his sudden resignation last week: He said that he had caused discomfort for a valued employee. In a newly released statement on Sunday, the former president, Mark B. Rosenberg, said that caring for his wife, who has advanced dementia and diabetes, hurt his own mental health. Regrettably, these issues spilled over to my work, he wrote, adding, I unintentionally created emotional (not physical) entanglement. It is the second high-profile exit this month of a university president. University of Michigan fired its president, Mark S. Schlissel, on Jan. 16, after it learned he had a relationship with a subordinate inconsistent with the dignity and reputation of the university, according to the universitys Board of Regents. Their views began to take shape in the hours just after Jan. 6, and have been buttressed by a flood of misinformation on social media, talk radio and from revisionist documentaries. Some said they had watched a program by the Fox News host Tucker Carlson that floated conspiracy theories suggesting Jan. 6 was a false flag operation. Several people charged in the breach of the Capitol have expressed remorse as they pleaded guilty and made requests for sentencing leniency, telling federal judges they now feel duped or wish they could do it over. A Colorado man wrote that he was guilty of being an idiot. A Kansas City man said he was ashamed. Still, those who have been charged have supporters whose movement is wrapped not only in feelings of anger, but also of belonging. It is a reason the spirit of that day carries on. That sense of community resonates for people like Greg Stuchell, a city councilman from Hillsdale, Mich., who took an overnight bus to Washington last year with his teenage daughter to protest the election results. He said he did not enter the Capitol. For him, Jan. 6 is like the annual March for Life in Washington, he said, where people simply show up to protest laws and values they believe should fall. For every one person who attends, there are another hundred who wish they could have too, he said. Since the election Mr. Stuchell, a Catholic convert who opposes abortion, has channeled his anger by marching with other men around the Hillsdale courthouse on the first Sunday of every month. He found solidarity, he said, in similar mens groups growing in Hungary and Poland. Men got to step up, we dont have that many men any more, he said. At the machine shop he manages, some male co-workers have been tossing around ideas to protest what they see as a rigged government and election system going forward, like not filling out W2s, or not paying taxes, he said. The weaknesses in the command structure have played out in disparate ways. In the case of the booster rollout, the White House appeared to overstep its bounds and left itself open to accusations that political considerations were coloring decision-making. More frequently, Dr. Walensky has announced changes in public health guidance without anyone fully vetting them with colleagues, leading to backtracking and revisions. The team of docs, as Mr. Biden likes to call them, includes Dr. Walensky; Dr. Woodcock; Dr. Fauci, the director of the infectious disease division at the National Institutes of Health; and Dr. David Kessler, the chief science officer at the Department of Health and Human Services, whose duties include stocking the pandemic toolbox with vaccines and treatments. Mr. Bidens health secretary, Xavier Becerra, a former California attorney general, is their boss, but several current and former White House officials said he plays a limited role in setting pandemic policy a characterization that Mr. Becerra disputes. Dr. Walenskys announcement in May that fully vaccinated people need not wear a mask or physically distance from others, indoors or outdoors, was an example of uncoordinated policymaking. Mr. Biden and Mr. Zients had indicated publicly that such a change might be coming. But some White House aides learned of the change only the night before Dr. Walensky announced it to the public, and there was no coordinated strategy in place to explain or defend it. It wasnt like, OK, lets have a Zoom call tonight about the pros and the cons of the mask mandate. That didnt happen, Dr. Fauci said. Asked whether he tried to modify Dr. Walenskys decision beforehand, he said, You have to know the decision is being made before you modify it. The C.D.C.s announcement last month that it was shortening the recommended isolation period for people with Covid was another bout of confused messaging. At first, the agency announced that people with resolving symptoms could stop isolating after five days without recommending they get a negative test first. But after that omission drew criticism from outside experts, the agency tweaked its guidance to say that if people have access to tests and want to use them, the best approach is to use an antigen test towards the end of the five-day isolation period. It started with a comment at a school board meeting, which was later amplified by a Michigan state Republican leader, and culminated with a school superintendent explaining that, no, there were no litter boxes on school grounds for students to use if they identified as furries. It is unconscionable that this afternoon I am sending this communication, the superintendent of Midland Public Schools, Michael Sharrow, wrote on Thursday in an email to parents that was also shared on Facebook. However, our Midland PS stakeholders may be confused about a false message/accusation that has resurfaced this week and is gaining traction in the social media realm. The rumor that furries people who have an interest in anthropomorphic animal characters and sometimes dress up as them used litter boxes in the school district, which is about two hours northwest of Detroit, appears to have started at a school board session last month, based on a video of the meeting. A member of the public who spoke at the meeting, Lisa Hansen, says in the video that she was informed by someone the day before the meeting that litter boxes had been added to the unisex bathrooms for students who identify as cats. The YouTube video with the attention-grabbing title I Crashed My Plane begins with Trevor Jacob piloting a small aircraft with several cameras attached, showing off sweeping views of sepia and green above the Los Padres National Forest in Southern California. Then the propeller stops spinning. Mr. Jacob unleashes a flurry of expletives, opens the door and jumps out with a parachute, abandoning the plane as he descends toward the forest, a selfie stick in hand to record it all. Im just so happy to be alive, he says after landing in prickly brush, documenting his hike through the forest, which, he says in the video, lasted at least six hours until a farmer found him at dusk. Earlier, he had found the wrecked, mangled plane in a thicket of dried shrubs. Almost immediately, however, viewers and aviation experts expressed doubts online over his portrayal of the Nov. 24 crash. It was orchestrated, they claimed, for views and likes, and several steps Mr. Jacob took, such as wearing a parachute in the first place, were evidence of a preconceived publicity stunt. Wuhan, the Chinese city where Covid-19 first emerged in late 2019, began the worlds first coronavirus lockdown two years ago Sunday, shutting down public transportation and restricting departures for what proved to be 76 days. Since that move stunning at the time lockdowns of varying sizes and strictness have been carried out around the world. Now China, which has largely kept the virus at bay since quashing that first wave in Wuhan and other cities, is battling the far more contagious Omicron variant, shortly before the Winter Olympics are set to begin in Beijing. Earlier this month, at least 20 million people in three Chinese cities were under full lockdown. No deaths have been reported from the current wave, but Omicron threatens to challenge Chinas goal of eliminating the coronavirus within its borders. So far, Wuhan has been spared. Hubei Province, which includes the city of 11 million, reported no new cases on Saturday; three imported cases were undergoing treatment for mild symptoms. The last locally transmitted infection in Wuhan was reported in August. Like last year, there has been no official fanfare in Wuhan to mark the lockdowns anniversary. Local newspapers were filled with coverage of city- and province-level legislative meetings, an annual feature on the political calendar. In 2020, some residents complained that officials were more fixated on those gatherings than on the virus that would engulf the city, and later the world. The French adventurer Jean-Jacques Savin has disappeared while attempting to row solo across the Atlantic, according to a statement on Sunday from the Portuguese Navy, which said his boat was found overturned on Saturday near the Azores. Mr. Savins support team initially said that he had died and that his lifeless body was found in the boat by Portuguese officials. But later on Sunday the Portuguese Navy said Mr. Savins boat had been found, but not his body. The search for the man ended at the end of the day yesterday, without it being possible to find the victim, the Navy said in a statement. One of the merchant ships collected a waterproof bag that contained the navigators identification documents. The Navy also said that a warning remained in effect for ships sailing in the area to be aware of the possibility of sighting the castaway. ATHENS One woman was suffocated, her body found next to her baby. Another was pushed off a cliff. Yet another was stabbed 23 times. The highly publicized and horrific killings, along with a steep rise in domestic violence cases in Greece in the past year, have pushed partner-on-partner violence into the spotlight in a country where such abuse has long been whispered about but rarely publicly discussed. For decades, the Greek justice system showed leniency to abusers citing crimes of passion, Clio Papapantoleon, a prominent lawyer, said. Now, she notes, she is receiving a surge in requests for representation from victims of domestic violence. The violence has led to interventions by the authorities, including a decision to start a national video campaign in November that urges women to leave abusers and offers free emotional support and legal advice. The video flashes apologies I didnt mean it, My baby, Im sorry in knife-shaped blocks of text. The police have opened special offices to deal with domestic abuse cases. On Christmas Day, Michel Butros al-Jisri, one of the last Christians in the Syrian city of Idlib, didnt attend services, because the Islamist rebels who control the area had long since locked up the church. Nor did he gather with friends and relatives to celebrate around a tree because nearly all of his fellow Christians have either died or fled during Syrias 10-year civil war. Instead, Mr. al-Jisri said, he went to the citys Christian cemetery, which no one uses anymore, to sit among the graves of his forebears and mark the day quietly, by himself. Who am I going to celebrate the holiday with? The walls? he asked. I dont want to celebrate if I am alone. Mr. al-Jisri, who is 90, stooped and almost deaf but still fairly robust, is a living relic of one of the many formerly vibrant Christian communities in the Middle East that appear headed for extinction. BAGHDAD An American-backed militia that has waged four days of deadly battles to dislodge Islamic State fighters from a prison in northeast Syria warned on Sunday that the jihadists were using more than 600 boys detained in the complex as human shields. The United States has dispatched attack helicopters and carried out airstrikes on the prison to help the Kurdish-led militia, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, reassert control. Some of the prisoners were killed in the strikes, U.S. officials said. American officials defended the attacks. The coalition has taken great measures to ensure the humane treatment of detainees, but when ISIS detainees took up arms, they became an active threat, and were subsequently engaged and killed by the S.D.F. and coalition airstrikes, said Maj. Gen. John W. Brennan Jr., commander of the anti-Isis coalition in Iraq and Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces are a U.S. partner in the autonomous Rojava region of northeastern Syria. The coalition said in a statement that it had launched airstrikes and provided intelligence to the Syrian Democratic Forces, which it said had conducted sustained operations since the jihadists attacked the prison on Thursday night in a bid to free the ISIS members held there. It said the prisoners had used the prison guards own guns to kill some of them after the siege began. A man who pleaded guilty to theft was sentenced to four months at the Midlands Prison when he appeared by video link from prison at Tullamore district court recently. On September 8, 2021, Brendan Sherlock (28) Clonmore House, Arden Road, Tullamore, approached a man in Tullamore town park. He asked him for money. The man who has an intellectual disability handed him 100. On September 9 2021 at Durrow Lane, Tullamore, Mr Sherlock approached the same man and this time he handed him 25. On July 30, 2021 Mr Sherlock entered Regatta Great Outdoors store in Tullamore and stole a jacket worth 60. Mr Sherlock is already serving a sentence for a previous conviction from Longford court on November 29 2021, where he was sentenced to two months for theft to run concurrent with another conviction for theft from the same court. Solicitor Donal Farrelly for Mr Sherlock said the offences had been committed when the defendant was homeless and in difficult circumstances. He got off heroin while he was in jail, Mr Farrelly said. Judge Catherine Staines asked if the money had been returned to the man. Sgt James OSullivan said it had not been recovered. Judge Staines imposed four months in the Midlands Prison. She fixed recognisance if he wished to appeal the sentence. What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 716-372-3121 or email nfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com. Britain on Saturday accused the Kremlin of seeking to install a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine, and said Russian intelligence officers had been in contact with a number of former Ukrainian politicians as part of plans for an invasion. The British foreign ministry declined to provide evidence to back its accusations. A British tourist was killed and his friend badly injured in an alleged sickle attack by a man in Thailand. Sky News 22 Jan 2022 Officers found a stowaway alive in the front wheel section of a Cargolux freight plane that arrived at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on Sunday, according to Dutch military police. Arsenal will travel to Dubai after Sundays Premier League clash with bottom club Burnley as Mikel Arteta aims to have the best possible break to get a fully fit squad. A trainee nurse who reinterprets artistic masterpieces to tell the story of the pandemic has painted the Corona Lisa to raise money for charity. US preparing to approve evacuation from embassy in Ukraine: Sources Contingency planning has been underway for weeks now. The Department of State is preparing to approve the evacuation of... #sourcescontingency #departmentofstate #diplomats #evacuation #abcnews Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, has spent 4-1/2 years battling the New York Times over an editorial she said falsely linked her to a deadly... #defamationtrial #congresswoman #sarahpalin #nominee A Canadian federation of provincial trucking groups is speaking out against planned protests by unvaccinated truckers opposed to a vaccine mandate for cross-border travel. A cruise ship that was supposed to dock in Miami sailed to the Bahamas instead after a U.S. judge granted an order to seize the vessel as part of a lawsuit over unpaid fuel. Watch VideoA cruise ship that was supposed to dock in Miami sailed to the Bahamas instead after a U.S. judge granted an order to seize the vessel as part of a lawsuit over unpaid fuel. Cruise trackers show Crystal Symphony currently docked in the Bahamian island of Bimini. Passengers were taken by ferry to Port Everglades... Opalesque Industry Update - Varde Partners, a leading global alternative investment firm, today announced it has promoted three senior investment professionals to the role of Partner: Jim Dunbar, Aneek Mamik and Carlos Sanz Esteve. "These three investment leaders each embody the culture of Varde and I am proud to welcome them into the partnership," said Ilfryn Carstairs, CEO and Co-CIO of Varde Partners. "Collectively, they represent the global strength and depth of our platform across private and traded investments and I have full confidence they will continue to drive forward the success of our business." Based in Minneapolis, Jim leads Varde's commercial real estate (CRE) lending platform, which this past year originated $2.7 billion in loans. He has also led investments in real estate operating companies, hospitality assets and non-performing CRE loans, and oversees Varde's investment in Trimont, a real estate loan servicing company. Jim joined Varde in 2010 from Macquarie where he was a Senior Vice President in the company's real estate business in Chicago. He began his career in investment banking at Citigroup in New York and Sydney. Jim has a B.S. in Finance from Boston College. Aneek joined the firm's New York office in 2016 and is now Global Co-Head of Financial Services overseeing credit and equity investments in consumer and commercial finance and other sectors. Most recently, the team has established its presence as a provider of loans to consumer and SME lending platforms, with a focus on providers seeking to address capital availability gaps. Aneek has deep experience in capital allocation, business management, strategy and finance, and previously led the firm's Financial Services investments in the U.S. and Asia. Prior to joining Varde, he was Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at GE Capital Headquarters and held various roles at GE Capital for over 15 years, beginning in Australia. Aneek has a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance and a Master's in Business from Monash University in Australia. He is a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. Carlos is based in London and leads Varde's European Corporate and Traded Credit strategy. He joined Varde in 2011 and has been critical in driving Varde's research and investing across high yield bonds, leveraged loans and distressed securities in Europe. Throughout his time at Varde, Carlos has expanded the firm's expertise around European financial and sovereign debt, as well as in Emerging Market credit. Prior to joining Varde, Carlos was an analyst in Mergers and Acquisitions at Deutsche Bank. He received a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.S. in Law from University of Valencia and holds a Master's in Management from London Business School. 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Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e83844a158)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838947178)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e83844a158)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838947178)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e8384248a8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838947178)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838947178)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e82e314d68)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x55e8394bca60)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x55e8394bca60)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 Melina Bucci, 28, lives in Midland with her dog, Flossie, in the home shes owned for six years. Melina graduated from Midland High in 2012. Her parents are Laurel and John Bucci. Laurel is the executive director of The Arc of Midland while John is the vice president of technical development for the Savant Group. Melina has two younger sisters, Zoie and Delia. They are both social workers. Zoies married to Alex. They live in Ann Arbor. Delia lives in Grand Rapids. How long have you lived in Midland? I was born in Midland, so I have lived here for 28 years. My parents have lived here for about 35 years. What is your profession and why? I like to work, and I work several jobs. I work for the H Hotel as a greeter. Ive been there for more than 12 years. I work for United Way as a support specialist, and I have been a seasonal employee for the Great Lakes Loons for all but one season. What are some of your interests and hobbies? I like to listen to music. I like to work out and I teach Zumba. I teach Zumba at the Community Center. I like to travel. (Her favorite place is Shanty Creek. She traveled to England and France with People to People when she was 11 years old, and traveled to Disney World in the 11th grade with the Midland High marching band. She was a percussionist). What are your favorite things to do in Midland? I like to go to the movies. I like to eat out. I like to see friends. I like to walk downtown. What do you enjoy about living in the community? I like the people, being a Rotarian (assists the president). I like volunteering at the hospital (for 10 years). I have a boyfriend, Luke (Drumright). I like hanging out with him and hanging out with his family. What is a message youd like to give the community? Lets get back to normal. Palestine, TX (75801) Today Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Paris, France (PANA) - The world will on Monday celebrate the Fourth International Day of Education, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultiral Organisation (UNESCO) has announced Photo: (Photo : Getty images ) According to a state newspaper, around 31 percent of all pregnancies in Illinois are unplanned. However, thanks to a new law in the state, Illinois women have more access to birth control pills. Apart from lessening the number of unplanned pregnancies, women now have better access to cheaper methods of addressing health issues such as ovarian cancer, dysmenorrhea, menstrual bleeding, irregular menstruation, fibroids, and migraines and pains related to endometriosis and menstruation. Last year, a new law passed had taken effect early this month in Illinois, giving women more access to birth control. Before the law, women could only get hormonal pills or self-administered contraception from pharmacies when prescribed by a doctor. House Bill 0135 makes Illinois one of the first few states around the Midwest to ensure that birth control is readily accessible over the counter. Read Also: Mom Gets Called Petty and Cruel for Not Allowing Daughter To Say Goodbye to Pet Dog New law for more accessible birth control pills With the passing of the new law, women can have a simple screening or tests with trained pharmacists to purchase birth control or oral pills for a range of medical concerns in a pharmacy or drugstore. The Illinois legislation addresses unplanned pregnancies and health complications or problems experienced by women. Pharmacists can screen and recommend medications due to their specialized training in all drugs. However, as current practice, pharmacists may be seen as drug experts but are limited to drug providers. In addition, numerous areas have a limited number of grocery stores, let alone physicians who can prescribe contraceptives. In most states, one has to have a doctor's visit to get a pill prescription. The process can be time-consuming and costly. On the other hand, pharmacies are more common and accessible in urban and rural Illinois and are manned by pharmacists. Since one of the features of the new law is to give health screenings in a private room in a pharmacy and provide access without any age restrictions, the law allows pharmacists to complete screenings for walk-in patients or customers. Consequently, going home with self-administered contraceptives or hormonal pills will become much more accessible, cheaper, and less burdensome. Contraceptive deserts In Illinois, authorities estimate that more than 700,000 women live in counties with unavailable access to health centers that provide a wide range of birth control options. These are so-called "contraceptive deserts." Plus, in the pandemic, allowing women to get their birth control from pharmacists is also safer and more convenient as there are various health access points all over the state. Through this new legislation, Illinois is one of the states at the forefront of liberalizing access to birth control. Allowing pharmacists to provide birth control is also a manifestation of increased access to essential health services. The legislation would also mean that women have more control over their bodies, health, and futures. HB0135 was passed and signed into law in mid-2021 and took effect at the start of the year. This law is monumental as it emphasizes that women's health is a fundamental right and that birth control saves lives. It is a hope that more states emulate said legislation in the future. Related Article: Here's the Worst Food Ingredient To Weaken Your Immune System Against COVID-19 Photo: (Photo : Getty images ) Celebrity parents might live in luxurious mansions, but like everyone else, they share the same struggle with kids when homeschooling during the lockdowns. Here are some celebrity parents with their share of homeschooling highs and lows: Cate Blanchett Cate Blanchett recently admitted that in 2020, she had to dress up as a teacher and put on her teacher's voice to get her seven-year-old Edith to home school during the lockdown. "She wouldn't allow me at all to teach maths or do phonics unless I dressed up as her teacher and put on her teacher's voice," the 52-year-old actress who has won two acting Oscar Awards said. Blanchett also said they had to set up an array of stuffed animals who also had to be taught, as per her daughter's request. The actress admits that homeschooling all four of her children made her appreciate how incredible teachers are. "That is an inherently dramatic situation where you have to stand up in front of a class of 30 often disinterested pupils and try and get them engaged in medieval history," Blanchett said. Bradley Cooper The "A Star is Born" actor shared that he runs a one-person preschool for his three-year-old daughter Lea De Seine. The father and daughter regularly get up and do a swim class in the tub. Bradley also shared that he spent much time looking after his mother, Gloria Campano. "I'm with my daughter [Lea De Seine] and my mother and my two dogs, and we have not left the house," the actor told Interview magazine in August 2020. Read Also: Drew Barrymore Reflects on Dating Challenges as a Single Mom Reese Witherspoon Reese Witherspoon admitted that she struggles with balancing homeschool and work from home, just like everyone else. The 44-year old shared an image where she took what seemed to be a work call on her outdoor egg seat while her son, Tennessee, mounts on it and uses it as a swing. Drew Barrymore Actress Drew Barrymore said she cried every day since homeschooling her kids. Barrymore said that she tried to have activities together as a family. They go on bike rides, do hop-scotch, and board games. All these things were thrown out of the window when homeschooling started. "It was the messiest plate I've ever held in my life to be the teacher, the parent, the disciplinarian, the caretaker, "she said. Kristen Bell A photo she once posted captures it all: a kid sitting close to her while the other is on top. A dog also sits in her lap while she faces a laptop. The "Good Place" actress captions the image, "Homeschool's going okay." Bell thinks that doing schoolwork with them is miserable. "When we started this quarantine, the first math worksheet I gave my daughter, in all the answer lines she wrote, 'No. No. No. No. No.'" Mario Lopez Celebrity parent Mario Lopez said his children did not learn anything while he homeschooled them. "I've never used Google so much in my life. I have whole new respect for teachers." The "Save by the Bell" actor said homeschooling is "so very, very challenging. I think it was harder on us than the kids," Lopez admitted in a US magazine interview. Related Article: Hair Tourniquet Syndrome: New Mom Alerts Parents of This Unnoticeable Risk in Babies Photo: (Photo : Matthias Nareyek/Getty Images) For two years, Minnesota mom Emily Vondrachek has committed major parenting fail that might sound unbelievable and ridiculous. She has been celebrating her son's birthday on a wrong day and didn't realize this mistake until she shamed herself for arguing with the pediatrician's staff. In a post on TikTok, Vondrachek said that she received a call from the staff of her son's doctors because they had problems with the pediatrician's billing. It turned out that the insurance company rejected the payment claims because the file they had for her son's birthday didn't match the insurance records. They said he was born on February 25. Vondrachek firmly told the doctor's staff that her son's birthday is every February 26 and even shot back at the receptionist by saying that she should know this by heart since "I am Henry's mother." Not satisfied, Vondrachek figured she should call up the insurance company as well to set the record straight. Instead, the mom decided to backtrack on the birth announcement for her son, which was conveniently on her Facebook profile. Read Also: Twins Born in Different Years: California Mom Has Monumental Birth on New Year's Eve Mommy Was Wrong After reviewing her Facebook post, Vondrachek realized that she made a major mistake because Henry was born on February 25 and not February 26. "For two years I've been celebrating his birthday on the 26th," the mom said. "And now I have to call my pediatrician back and say, 'You know what? I had my kid's birthday wrong!'" To add insult to injury, the mom felt even more ashamed for her behavior because Henry is her middle child, inciting the cliche that she may have been giving him less attention than her oldest or youngest children. Vondrachek and her husband also share Johnny, five years old, Nora, two years old, and Olive, four months old. The mom insisted that she loves all of her kids equally but admitted she might have been having a "mom brain" for taking care of four little children. Henry's Actual Due Date Vondrachek also felt that February 26 might have been the date that stuck because it was her son's actual due date, but he came to the world a day earlier. In an interview with Today, she said she could chalk up her forgetfulness to exhaustion from parenting. To make up for her mistake for the past two years, Vondrachek said that she's planning a special fourth birthday party for Henry with a themed Iron-Man-Hulk party. While she doesn't know how to make this happen, she said she would do anything to ensure that everything would go to plan. Meanwhile, other moms also commented their parenting fail on Vondrachek's TikTok post. One mom confessed that she internally panics when someone would ask for her children's birthday because it feels like she's on a quiz show. Another mom said she had commissioned a beautiful footprint plaque for their son with February 24, 2009, as his birthday. Her son's actual birthday is February 23. Kids also shared their own experiences with their forgetful moms. One teenager said her mother sang, "Happy birthday, Allison!" for her one time, but her name is Ashley, and she is an only child. Another commenter said that her husband's mother celebrated his birthday on the wrong day for the last 25 years, and no one has the heart to correct her anymore. Related Article: Two Families in the Same Town Welcomed Miracle Quadruplets 11 Days Apart Photo: (Photo : Getty images ) The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reported that COVID-19 cases on children reached almost a million last week. As of January 13, cases reported were at 981,488, a 69 percent increase from the 580,247 cases last week. The AAP said that the new case count is likely an underestimate of the number of cases as many kids have been tested at home with rapid tests. Some patients may not have been reported to health authorities or have not been tested due to a shortage of test kits. Dr. Mark Kline, the physician-in-chief at the Children's Hospital in New Orleans, said that the figure is "really eye-popping." However, he does not think that the omicron variant has a propensity for children, but they are just widely affected. Since November, COVID-19 cases on children account for 20- to 25 percent of all US cases. Read Also: Hair Tourniquet Syndrome: New Mom Alerts Parents of This Unnoticeable Risk in Babies Cases of hospitalization in younger children The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the highest increase in hospitalization of younger children has been in California, Oregon, Georgia, Connecticut, and Tennessee. In Pennsylvania, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recorded 70 to 80 children hospitalized with COVID-19 at the peak of Omicron virus spread, but doctors note that the figure is now receding. The severity of cases tended to be lower than previous COVID -19 variant waves. CDC reports that a quarter of 5 to 11-year-olds have received at least one dose of vaccine in the US. However, a senior physician in pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital, Richard Malley, said, "We have this population of children who are not vaccinated yet, and some of them are ineligible for vaccination." The unvaccinated are children and infants too young to get the vaccine. Meanwhile, in Canada, hospitalizations among children are a record-high in the wake of the Omicron wave. Health experts also note that kids under five are more likely to get hospitalized than other age groups as they are not eligible for vaccines yet. Symptoms of Omicron COVID-19 on Children According to Jesse Papenburg, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and medical microbiologist in Quebec, worsening cough, fever, chills, and shortness of breath are the most commonly reported symptoms. Papenburg said that omicron gets in young children's airways. If babies have a lot of secretions, the secretions can block the lower airways and cause bronchiolitis. Bronchiolitis is a common lung infection in young children and infants that causes inflammation and congestion in the lung's small airways. It usually starts with a common cold, eventually coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Papenburg warns that the airways are tiny in young children, so "it doesn't take much for the mucus to block it up." The blocking of airways makes it difficult for babies to breathe, thus requiring medical assistance like oxygen therapy and vaccination. The worst-case for infants and children is a complication called a multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a condition wherein different body parts become inflamed. Papenburg said that there hadn't been deaths reported from the said condition. Canada's chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam advised adults around young children to vaccinate and keep wearing masks in public to keep COVID-19 away. Related Article: Mom Gets Called Petty and Cruel for Not Allowing Daughter To Say Goodbye to Pet Dog Managing Director of EDC Investment Limited, Paul Mante has urged the working class to actively take steps to plan for 2022, citing five key areas they should focus on. He urged workers to strategize and think through their finances, noting where they find themselves now and where they want to see themselves in the future. Planning for your future is important and these are the five areas you need to plan for. First and foremost, the financial planner explained that per statistics, 53 percent of retirees earn around a thousand cedis a month or less, an amount not enough for their expenses. With this in mind, he advised the working class to plan for their old age and retirement. If you plan for your old age, you will have a different plan so plan for it, he stated. With shelter being an important need for all, the money man cautioned workers against investing all they have in their dream homes. Housing is an important basic need but dont make the mistake of building your dream home as your first home. Your first home must be comfortable for you and your family but it shouldnt be a dream home. As every parent seeks to provide the highest quality of education for their wards, it is always important for one to plan for that. Paul Mante intimated that with proper planning right from the birth of ones child, parents can take active steps to invest in their childrens educational future, taking into consideration the schools they want them to attend. With the aid of a financial planner, you plan for both the childs basic and college education. It is quite simple, just divide the childs annual fees by 12 and contribute that amount monthly and that way you will not have any headache in paying their fees. A strong believer in giving, Paul Mante posited one must always make it a point to give back to society by using a part of their income to embark on charitable causes. Sharing these insights with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show, he emphasized that workers must also make it a point to enjoy the High Life. Spend some of the money you make on yourself. Go on a vacation or go a good restaurant to eat once in a while. Ecobank Development Corporation (EDC) Ghana is the securities, wealth and asset management subsidiary of the Ecobank Group in Ghana. EDCs flagship fixed income fund is the biggest fund in Ghana and has grown to over Gh2.7 billion ever since its inception in 2012. With over 80 percent of the fund invested in government and quasi-government securities, investors are assured of the security of their funds. One can join the EDC family by walking into any branch of Ecobank and needs a minimum of Gh50 to subscribe to a preferred policy. Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Member of Parliament(MP) for Adentan constituency, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, has bemoaned the typical Ghanaian attitude where people care less about reporting bad activities to the appropriate State authorities. According to him, Ghanaians have this character of letting things happen before they address it when what they actually have to do is bring it to the attention of the authorities, so they take action to prevent the society from danger. He was speaking in relation to the explosion that occurred at Apiate near Bogoso on Thursday, killing about 17 people and over 50 people seriously injured. A truck loaded with explosives was said to have clashed with a motorbike causing the explosion. Yaw Buaben Asamoa, speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'' programme, believed the residents in the community had been witnessing trucks with explosives plying their roads without escort, so wondered why they sat aloof till this explosion happened. Although he wasn't blaming the residents for the explosion, he, however, opined it's about time the citizens stopped behaving as spectators. He advised that they report life-threatening activities they witness to the Police and all relevant authorities before it results in calamity. ''We must prevent the occurrence of things like this. We should know we have a share in Ghana, so if something is going bad, let's speak up! And while we're speaking about it, we should also be putting measures in place to deal with it," he stated. He also charged the Police not to spare any person whose negligence contributed to the explosion, saying, "if someone acted unlawfully, let the laws take its course on the person''. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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:
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Working through the State Housing Company (SHC) and in collaboration with mining firms operating in the Bogoso area, Government will also provide affordable housing for those whose houses were destroyed in the blast. Vice President Bawumia made the pledge when he led a government delegation made up of the Minister for the Interior, Hon Ambrose Dery; Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Samuel Abu Jinapor; Information Minister Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah; Western Region Minister Hon Dr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah; Director General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh and other officials to commiserate with the families of the affected on Friday, 21 January 2022. Briefing the Vice President, officials at the hastily set-up Operations Centre at the scene of the disaster, including the Inspector General of Police, the Chief Fire Officer, senior Army officers, senior officials of the other security agencies, the Ghana Health Service, Ambulance Service and other allied agencies disclosed that 179 persons had been directly affected by the blast, allegedly caused by a collision between an explosives-carrying vehicle and a motorbike. Thirteen (13) persons have been confirmed dead so far, they added, with 45 others receiving medical attention in nearby hospitals and a further 4 referred to the Komfo Anokye and Korle Bu hospitals. About 150 persons, almost the entirety of the community, are now seeking shelter at the Catholic Churchs centre because their houses have either been destroyed or made unsafe by the blast. Accompanied by the Chief of Appiatse and the MCE for Prestea Huni Valley, Dr Bawumia and his team visited the scene of the blast, which has a large crater in the middle of the highway, the Appiatse health centre to see some of the injured, and the Catholic centre to commiserate with the displaced and hand over 13 tonnes of relief items comprising of rice, oil, soap, blankets, used clothing, mosquito nets and coil and mattresses, and a large sum of money for their upkeep. This is a sad day for all of us, Dr Bawumia stated. On behalf of President Akufo-Addo and the entire government, I wish to convey our condolences to the families of the bereaved and wish the injured a speedy recovery. We will take the necessary steps and learn the necessary lessons from this disaster, but we are more concerned now about your welfare. "We will be fully engaged in bringing relief to all the persons involved, and while we continue to assess the extent of damage, we have made provision for your medical and other bills. Government will take up, fully, the cost of medical care for all the persons affected by this disaster. As I speak, officials from the Western Region office of the State Housing Company are on their way to assess the extent of damage to buildings and work with the mining companies and other stakeholders to provide you with new accommodation. Once again, we wish the injured speedy recovery, and eternal rest for the departed. Government will do all in its power to bring a measure of relief for your loss, Vice President Bawumia added. Source: Office of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia 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 Rev Dr Joyce Aryee, Founder of Salt and Light Ministries, and a business executive has called on Public Relations Practitioners and communicators to protect the Nations hard-earned reputation. She said Ghana remained an endowed nation, yet recent events continued to dim the gleam, and that it was time to protect the reputation and maintain its relevance. Madam Aryee was addressing the 2022 National PR and Communications summit of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR) Ghana, which is on the theme Truth Well Told and Shared, and which is being held at the Volta Hotel at Akosombo in the Eastern Region. She said the PR professional remained part of the development agenda and was expected to help enhance the Nations progress. We are all in different areas of the Ghanaian economy. But as Ghanaians and as PR practitioners, we must make sure that the reputation of Ghana is well kept. This is the only country we have. If you go to the UK and you get citizenship, they will call you a Ghanaian British. If you go to the United States, they will call you a Ghanaian American. You can never run away from your 'Ghanaianess.' Its a beautiful country. I think it is the Eden that God promised. It has everything- minerals, beautiful rivers, and nice people. But gradually we are destroying it. We are destroying it with our words. We are destroying it with our actions. The truth about Ghana must be told and each truth about Ghana involves you and it involves me. And wherever we are working, that should be one of the most important things- Ghanas reputation, she stated. The renowned preacher and longtime member of the IPR added that the professions key altars of relationship, reputation, and relevance must be highly considered in correcting the Nations current dispensation, which she claimed was becoming increasingly tribalistic. Ms Fatimatu Abubakar, Deputy Minister of Information, who opened the summit, spoke of the governments adoption of several PR tools to deepen its relationship with the citizenry. She said there had been most visible in the Ministry of Informations efforts at enhancing the flow of information to and from the public, which includes town hall meetings, and Ministers press briefing series, among a host of public and media engagements. The Deputy Minister noted the IPR Ghanas continuous support to the Government, and commended particularly, its role in the successful implementation recently, of a novel nationwide media capacity enhancement program, whose essence was to sharpen the medias support towards the developmental agenda. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia arrived in New York on Sunday to participate in a meeting of the UN Security Council and hold discussions with Secretary-General Antonio Guteress on Tuesday. Ghana, assumed a seat on the 15-member UN Security Council on January 1, 2022, having been elected for a two-year tenure, the fourth time since its independence. Dr. Bawumia will deliver a statement on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the Security Council debate on the protection of civilians in urban conflict. The Vice-President is also scheduled to meet US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Molly Phee, in Washington, DC, the US capital, on Wednesday. Ghana wants to use its UN Security Council seat to mobilize international support to bring violent extremism in the Sahel under control and curb piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Ghana chairs the African Unions Peace and Security Council and is serving on the UN security council alongside Gabon and Kenya. President Akufo-Addo also chairs the ECOWAS Council of Heads of State at a time of political uncertainty in Mali and Guinea. Dr. Bawumia was met on arrival by officials of the Ghana Mission to the UN-led by the Permanent Representative, Mr. Harold Agyeman. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bogoso InnerCity Hospital where some victims of the Apiate explosion were rushed to for medical care says doctors had to remove hot bitumen (coaltar) from the stomach of one of those who sustained injuries at the accident scene. The CEO of the hospital, Dr Boakye Yiadom, made the disclosure while speaking Friday evening on Adom TV. According to him, because of the heat and the pressure of the explosion, part of the asphalt overlay on the highway melted, flew to burn the clothing of the victim and drilled a tunnel to lodge into the belly of the man. The impact of the molten coaltar sent the victim into coma. And, he only regained consciousness after the chunk of coaltar stones and dust had been removed through surgery according to Dr Yiadom. The Apiate resident, who almost got killed by a bullet of bitumen flying from the road where the explosion occurred, has since been responding to treatment, says the Bogoso InnerCity Hospital boss. Source: adomonline.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 As part of moves to return life to nolmacy, government has presented an amount of GH200,000 to the victims of Apiate, near Bogoso in the Western Region who lost lives and properties through the explosion. The donation is to cater for the medical bills of the victims among other things. We are donating GH200,000 to victims of the explosion. We will also offer additional support to persons who have been affected by the explosion, the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, disclosed this during a visit to the Bogoso-Appiate explosion site on Friday, January 21, 2022. After touring the explosion site and the devastated community, the Vice President, commended the security agencies for the rescue operation. He further expressed the governments sympathy and assured that the community would be restored at the expense of the government. For the houses that have been destroyed, we are already beginning to think about how to rehabilitate and rebuild the community here. I want to assure Nananom that His Excellency has already given the directive. We have already spoken to the State Housing Corporation and are in consultation with the mining communities here. We will quickly try to put in place facilities that will help those who have been displaced. That will be a priority for us. A visit to some injured victims of the disaster at the Aseda Health Centre in Bogoso, Dr. Bawumia said the government will foot the medical bills of persons injured in the explosion. Police said their investigation revealed that a vehicle transporting explosives to a mining site, Chirano Mines collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the explosion. Meanwhile, the government has deployed a joint team of police and military ballistics experts to examine the situation and put in place the requisite measures to forestall a secondary explosion. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Country office of the World Health Organization, (WHO) has presented assorted medical supplies and trauma kits to the Western Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service to better manage the Appiatse explosion disaster. The medical supplies included 80 rolls of cotton wool, 452 pieces of gauze bandage, 160 packs of plaster, pleural drainage Systems and 400 closed wound suction units. The rest are sutures, surgical drainage and plaster casting. Dr Rafiq Okine, on behalf of the Country Representative of the WHO, said the much-needed medical supplies were to support the management of all forms of injuries, including surgical operations for affected Appiatse victims, receiving treatment in the various hospitals in the Region. He said, "I also wish to extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost their love ones on last Thursdays tragic incident in Bogoso-Appiatse." So far, two persons have been airlifted to Accra for treatment, four critically ill transferred to the Effia-Nkwanta Government hospital in Takoradi while 31 cases are currently being managed at the Tarkwa Government hospital, according to Dr Yaw Yeboah, the Regional Health Director. He expressed gratitude to the medical staff at the hospital for their swiftness in managing such a huge national catastrophe, which had helped save many more lives. Dr Yeboah noted how such emergencies always put a strain on resources for routine clinical duties and lauded the emergency response from all angles to control the situation. "We appreciate how people have responded to our request for blood and supported the exercise but there is still the need for such essential commodity." Dr Yeboah, therefore, encouraged the public to assist in that direction for optimum health care benefits. The incident at Appiatse occurred last Thursday, January 20, 2022, when a truck owned by Maxam Ghana Limited conveying explosives allegedly collided with a motorcycle causing a massive explosion, which killed 13 people, injured 179 and destroyed 31 houses. Vice President Bawumia Friday led a government delegation to the community and commiserated with the bereaved families and the injured. He said the government would take care of the medical bills of the injured while efforts were ongoing to rehabilitate and rebuild temporary houses for those affected. The Vice President, on behalf of the government, donated GHc200,000 to the bereaved families for their upkeep and presented assorted items, including mattresses, rice, cooking oil, and toiletries to over 300 persons displaced by the explosion. Meanwhile, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, has directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission to interdict the Chief Inspector of Mines, Mr Kofi Adjei, over the Appiatse explosion. The Minister also asked the Minerals Commission to suspend the registration of Maxam Company Limited with the Minerals Commission, thereby precluding the company from the manufacture, transportation, and/or supply of explosives for mining operations. Source: GNA 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 Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Andrew Egyapa Mercer has justified the Bank of Ghana's directive that Ghana card will be the only card for bank transactions in Ghana. The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has issued an ultimatum to Ghanaians who haven't yet acquired their cards to do so as from July this year, the Ghana card will be the only useful card for all bank transactions. A statement signed by BoG Secretary, Sandra Thompson said with effect from July 1, 2022, the Ghana Card shall be the only identification card that will be to undertake transactions at all Bank of Ghana licensed and regulated financial institutionsThe Public is to note that no other form of identification will be accepted for financial transactions in Bank of Ghana after the effective date stated above. Lawyer Andrew Egyapa Mercer is optimistic that this directive will help with the digitization policy by the Government of Ghana. To him, the directive is in the right order, ''why? Because if everyone has the Ghana card, government will have the data on everybody that it can use that means to leverage for every person's contributions to be made. Aside that, significantly, the government will be able to identify the vulnerable and provide them with support''. He said this during Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'' Thursday morning. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Head of Monitoring Unit of the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu has added his voice to discussions on the return of E-levy to Parliament. "It's not about the payment of the money but what it will be used for. Government seems to be creating the impression that the E-levy will solve all our problems; that seems to be the idea...they need to come clear for Ghanaians to really understand" he told sit-in host Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' Government recently suggested that the Electronic Transaction bill will be resubmitted to Parliament for approval despite the minority's insistence that the rate of 1.75 should be reduced. Meanwhile, Majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu says the bill has already been approved. Addressing a capacity building workshop organized for the Majority Caucus in Parliament and some Ministers of State, on January 22, he said: it is a difficulty for me when people are kicking against the e-levy when you know that in the adoption of the motion to approve the budget, we approved of that. So, it means that the first step has already been surmounted...then the e-levy has been factored into the various estimates that we have approved for all the sectors. That is the second thing we did. The third step is when we encapsulated everything into the Appropriation Bill and passed the Bill unanimously. What does it mean, you have approved of the E-levy. Listen to him in the video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The President's policy statement has nothing to show that he regrets the past. It has nothing to show he welcomes a reconciliatory future. He enumerates what he has done so far, which have not saved this Country from facing bankruptcy. by Justice C.V.Wigneswaran M.P. Much was expected by way of reconciliatory statements from the President vis- a- vis the Tamils. Only advice we got from him was "Forget your people! Come and join me to do development work". 2022 years ago a person who died on the cross said certain prophetic words- "Man does not live by bread alone" he said. The President wants us to leave our kith and kin, leave those who voted for us, leave those who are awaiting their freedom from Sinhala hegemony in the North and East, leave those who have lost their lands to Government Departments and the Armed Forces and join him to take bread to our people! He thinks the 3000 years of culture and civilization of the Tamils of the North and East of Sri Lanka could be purchased by bread alone. He thinks if the Tamils are forced to live within an occupied territory, if they are deprived of even the existing feeble political rights, if they are sufficiently terrorized, if they are stifled and starved, the Tamils would sell their birthright to a pot of porridge! Maybe the lack of political experience is showing on His Excellency! His policy statement has nothing to show that he regrets the past. It has nothing to show he welcomes a reconciliatory future. He enumerates what he has done so far, which have not saved this Country from facing bankruptcy. He has not even a word of thanks for those who have come forward to help the Country at this critical hour. Maybe he felt a word of thanks to anyone other than those of Huaren descent might irk the latter. While the President and his ilk have been terrorizing the minorities in this Country he seems to be himself terrorized by thoughts of Huaren wrath! Let me state here and now that the World acknowledges the fact and so too, many educated and concerned Sri Lankans among the Sinhalese, that Sri Lanka faces today the unprecedented state of affairs bordering on the brink of bankruptcy due to the unresolved ethnic problem. Nearly a fifth of the Countrys wealth is utilized even today for so-called security and to pamper the Military. The Thirty Years War was due to the reluctance on the part of our majoritarian leaders to resolve the ethnic problem. But the President refuses to accept that this Country faces an ethnic problem and identifies that the Tamils face an economic problem only. He is like the proverbial cat which closes its eyes and believes the World is in darkness! His inability or refusal to identify the existing ethnic contradictions signals the fact that peace and prosperity would be far-fetched dreams in this Country for many years to come. Even a College student would know that this Country suffers today due to the unresolved ethnic contradictions. But the President believes by giving some economic sops, the Tamil speaking people of the North and East would be satisfied. If there is an existing political problem the most prudent, positive and scientific way would be to identify the problem, study it closely, find out why it cropped up and find an appropriate solution to it. Our beloved President refuses to identify an existing gigantic ethnic problem staring on his face and seeks a solution to a non- existing ethnic economic problem. In this Country the majority community as well as the minority communities both suffer due to the wrong economic policies pursued by successive governments up to now. The Tamil speaking who are the majority in the North and East suffer as much or more as the Sinhalese and others economically. But they are steadfastly eager for the resolution of their political problem which the President refuses to acknowledge. This does not augur well for the future of this Country. There is no doubt that from the time of Independence the Tamil speaking People of this Country have been suffering. Land grabbing in the North and East from even before Independence, disenfranchisement of a segment of Tamils who contributed to the prosperity of this Country, foisting of the Sinhala language in areas which had a very miniscule presence of Sinhalese in 1956, militarization of the North when the Tamil speaking people agitated against discriminatory laws, standardization in higher education to prevent Tamils entering higher echelons of education, staging of successive pogroms which killed and maimed many a Tamil including infants brutally killed and women raped which sent their kith and kin abroad seeking better pastures, have all been transgressions committed by successive Sinhala majority governments in terms of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESC).The genocide in Mullivaikal was a continuation of this process. Still such offences are being perpetrated in the North and East. Land grabbing by Government Departments with help from the Military without conforming to proper land acquisition procedures in terms of the Law, expropriation of Resources of the North and East through agents and hirelings, displacement of Tamils from their areas of traditional occupation and settlement of People from outside the North and East in those areas, depriving our fishermen from earning their livelihood in their traditional areas, holding over 65000 acres of State land in the Northern Province to house a massive Military in the area, are all contrary to the provisions of these two Covenants. Many such activities still continue. Not wanting to recognize all these activities, calling upon us the Representatives of the Tamils to join him in furthering economic activities only go to prove that these high handed activities are certainly going to continue in the North and East. Maybe with renewed vigour and vitality. I call upon the International Community including India to take note of this state of affairs. The President calling upon the elected representatives of the Tamils to sink their ideological differences to join him in economic activities, raises many suspicions. Our People have suffered greater economic difficulties in the past during and after the War. Yet none of us relegated our political aspirations a second place and promoted economic regeneration as our primary concern. Even during the past 12 years our People have elected a majority of representatives who stood for their political rights. But not recognizing the aspirations of our people the President has asked us to jettison our political claims and join him in economic activities. In other words he wants us to act contrary to the aspirations of our People. We know the economic problems of our People. We know where this Country is heading economically due to the wrong economic policies of the past. We are already exhorting our People to work with self -reliance towards self -sufficiency in their needs. But if the Government genuinely cares for our People and introduces economic projects beneficial to them we would no doubt cooperate with the Government to help implement their projects beneficial to our People. But let not the President believe that any one of us would forget the political aspirations of our people and play ball with him to commit treachery upon our People. Let me end by saying that the President cannot for long close his eyes with regard to the urgency to bring about reconciliation among the various communities in this Island. If the President and his government are going to be serious in ushering in a period of peace and reconciliation, first and foremost they should 1. Immediately halt all actions and activities that are being systematically undertaken by the Archaeological department, Forest department and Wild Life department and some other departments with the sole objective of destroying the ethnic and cultural character and demographic composition of the Northern and Eastern provinces and thereby prevaricate and re write history. 2. Abrogate the much abused Prevention of Terrorism Act. 3. Free all Tamil speaking political prisoners presently behind bars under the provisions of the draconian PTA. These are the inescapable pre requisites for any meaningful reconciliation programme that could precede any constitutional process to draw up a new federal constitution for our Democratic Socialist Republic. Justice C.V.Wigneswaran, Member of Parliament, Jaffna District Involuntary admissions to Kelowna General Hospital under the Mental Health Act have been rising for the past three years, Interior Health representatives will tell city councillors on Monday. Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way. In 2008, he was chosen as the youngest-ever president and CEO of the NAACP. He is a graduate of Columbia University and Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and he has taught at Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania. 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. Thank you for reading the Philadelphia Tribune. You have exhausted your free article views for this month. Please press the "subscribe" button below and see our introductory price of $0.10 per week for 10 weeks. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you next month. Oppositional disarray was one of the logical reasons that made Mahinda Rajapaksa go for an early presidential election in 2014. The potential for a Rajapaksa defeat had been building up slowly, at least from 2011. by Tisaranee Gunasekara Slip slidin away Slip slidin away... ~ Paul Simon No astrologer in Sri Lanka reached such dizzy heights as Sumanadasa Abeygunawardane. He predicted for the Rajapaksas the future they wanted and was rewarded with power and riches at public expense. When the royal astrologer foretold that the next half century would belong to the Rajapaksas and that Mahinda Rajapaksa, after a fourth and perhaps even a fifth term, will be succeeded by a son or a brother, he was reinterpreting in cosmic terms the reality the Rajapaksas were creating on the ground. The prediction made soon after winning the Eelam War was the first hint of the coming of the 18th Amendment. The 2015 defeat derailed this dynastic project but didnt destroy it. The journey resumed with renewed vigour with Gotabaya Rajapaksas spectacular victory at the 2019 presidential election. It seemed as if the Rajapaksa dynasty was here to stay for a long time, just as Sumanadasa Abeygunawardane had predicted. During the run up to the presidential election, Basil Rajapaksa, in semi-jocular vein, referred to older brother Gotabaya as a terminator (of corruption). Terminator seems the most fitting political sobriquet for President Gotabaya. A trail of ruins would be his presidential legacy. The most consequential amongst them may well be the Rajapaksa dynastic project. President Gotabaya seems to be occupying a Sri Lanka in a parallel universe, a land rapidly moving not towards economic bankruptcy, institutional dysfunction, and social collapse but prosperity and splendour. Brothers Mahinda and Basil would be more in touch with reality, more cognizant of how close to disaster the familial project is. If they have any consolation in these hard times, it would be the chaos in the oppositional space. Oppositional disarray was one of the logical reasons that made Mahinda Rajapaksa go for an early presidential election in 2014. The potential for a Rajapaksa defeat had been building up slowly, at least from 2011. But it became a reality only after the fractious opposition gathered into a broad anti-Rajapaksa front. This oppositional coalescence provided the stage on which mounting economic woes and dissent within the governing coalition could develop into a massive electoral defeat for the Rajapaksas. Today Sri Lanka is facing an economic collapse unprecedented in her modern history. Cracks are forming within governing coalition from top to bottom. In the latest in a string of grassroots level defeats, the UNP ousted the SLPP to gain power in the Lahugala Pradesheeya Sabha. At the heights of their unpopularity in late 2014/early 2015, the Rajapaksas were objects of fear. Today they are objects of hate and ridicule. The situation is propitious. Oppositional unity is the only missing ingredient. The of 2015-2019: the need for an honest assessment Mahinda Rajapaksa, unlike brother Gotabaya, is believed to have the pulse of the people. That does not stop him from indulging his outrageous whims in a distastefully insensitive manner, as the recent trip to Tirupathi in a private jet demonstrates. Had this private jet incident happened during the previous Rajapaksa rule, the story would have had a stillbirth or succumbed to infanticide. Traditional media had been silenced and alternate spaces hemmed in with legal and illegal measures (such as the banning of several websites, including the Colombo Telegraph). The illegal (and thuggish) impeachment of the chief justice and subsequent cooption of the upper judiciary rendered any relief via courts a near impossibility. The Rajapaksas enjoyed total impunity. Perhaps Mahinda Rajapaksa too occupies a slightly different reality, not a parallel universe, but the past. Perhaps he thought he could junket in a private jet with total impunity because the story would never become public knowledge. But thanks to the vibrancy in the alternate media spaces, the story exploded, forcing the Rajapaksas to scramble for excuses and explanations. Most of the constitutional and institutional achievements of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration have been rolled back. But the psycho-political ones remain and have expanded. One example suffices. During the first Rajapaksa rule, no cartoonist dared to draw Gotabaya Rajapaksa. When a newspaper made a harmless quip about his wife, the editor was summoned to the CID and the subeditor responsible for the funny caption interdicted. While Defence Secretary Rajapaksa was a no-go zone for humorists, President Rajapaksa has become their daily fare. The Rajapaksa defeat and their years out of power freed minds and stiffened backs. The radical break between 2015 and 2019 is the reason for todays vibrancy of alternate media, especially social media. The Rajapaksas ham-handed attempts to silence critics are boomeranging. When villagers of Meemure complained to a You Tube channel about officials not implementing promises made by President Gotabaya during his Gama samaga pilisandara (Conversation with Village), the police were sent to question them. That attempt to cow the villagers into silence bloomed into another news story, this time about Rajapaksa intolerance and repression. According to the internet, there is to be a police inquiry about the hooting- incident outside the milk powder outlet in Jubilee Post. If the inquiry is actually held, its sole achievement would be to confirm that irate customers queuing for the milk powder queue did hoot at the president. Most of this vocal expression of dissent, this derisive laughter would have been possible if the 2015-2019 democratic hiatus did not happen, Recently, President Gotabaya complained that the opposition speaks as if it was never in government. He has a point. The attempt to create a Chinese wall between the opposition of today and the years of 2015-2019 is both unrealistic and unintelligent. Even at its very worst, the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration was far better than the Gotabaya-Mahinda-Basil-Namal rule. It would make more sense to come up with an honest assessment of the previous administration, owning its successes, admitting its failures, and explaining what concrete measures would be taken to evade the errors and build on the achievements. Currently, the Southern opposition is busy turning itself into a circular firing squad (a phrase coined by Barack Obama). The reason is its obsession with a presidential election which will not be held until late 2024. No thought is being given to the possibility of using intervening non-national elections to weaken the Rajapaksas regime beyond the point of recovery. After all, the Rajapaksas not-so-stellar performance at PC polls provided one of the earliest hints about their growing electoral vulnerability. This was particularly evident in its squeaky victory at the Uva PC poll, thanks to an energetic campaign by Harin Fernando and the UNP. Todays opposition has a far greater chance of giving the Rajapaksas a serious drubbing in a PC or LG poll, provided its various components can find some common ground. This is impossible so long as various leading figures of the Southern opposition remain obsessed with the presidential election. The Rajapaksas have lost the floating voter, but their base remains, attached to the ruling family by the glue of Sinhala-Buddhist supremacism and minority-hatred. While the floating voters have abandoned the Rajapaksas, they have not embraced any opposition party in sufficient numbers. A segment may back some oppositional candidate at the next presidential election. Many may abstain, driving down the turnout. A low poll may decide the election in Rajapaksa favour. Opportunities and dangers The Gotabaya-Mahinda-Basil-Namal rule has almost unmoored the system. The unthinkable has become normal every day realities. The exceptionality of this regime-failure is creating unprecedented opportunities for transformative change. Take the presidential system, or rather its quasi-monarchical version that operates here. The disaster that is the Gotabaya presidency is the clearest possible warning of the danger of placing unlimited and untrammelled power in the hands of one individual. Lankan presidential system was created not to fulfil a national need but to satisfy the long held ambitions of one individual. JR Jayewardenes boast about lacking the power only to effect a sex change was indicative of the hubristic infantilism that would drive him error to crime and back in an unending vicious cycle. Now is the time to renew the discussion about the presidential system, to initiate a rational dialogue about a system of governance that is suited to national needs rather than to the ambitions and vanities of individual politicians. Gotabaya Rajapaksa tries to blame all his failures on the pandemic. But the original sin of his regime was his disastrous tax policy. His tax cutting fiesta caused massive erosion in the tax base between 2019 and 2020. For example, replacement of the compulsory PAYE tax with a voluntary APIT system led to a 42.2% decrease in the direct tax base while increasing of the registration threshold for VAT caused a 71.8% decline in the indirect tax base (https://publicfinance.lk/en/topics/erosion-of-the-tax-base-a-33-5-decline-in-registered-taxpayers-from-2019-to-2020-1638797962). If the seminal role played by this tax policy in the subsequent disasters is not understood, the necessary corrective measures would not be instituted even by a post-Rajapaksa administration. Pulling Sri Lanka out of the economic morass of Rajapaksa creation would entail massive burdens, whether we go to the IMF or not. A critical question is how these burdens should be apportioned. Or to put it another way, who would be forced to gulp the bitter core of the pill and who would make off with the sweet coating. This would be determined to a large extent on where and how income increases and cost cutting happen. For example, how should a post-Rajapaksa administration rebuild the tax base denuded by the Rajapaksas? Should the easy way out be taken, by relying mostly on indirect taxes? Or should a future government address the difficult challenge of creating a more just tax regimen by lessening the extreme imbalance between direct and indirect taxes? In cost cutting where should the axe fall most? If the defence budget is left untouched or allowed to grow, if the mania for showy infrastructure projects (with their potential for huge kickbacks) continues, the cuts will have to come from areas such as education and health etc. If the already overtaxed low income owners are burdened still further, how will that impact on political stability? If critical social spending is slashed in order to keep the bloated military budget intact, how would that impact on educational and health prospects of future generations? Martin Luther King once warned about politicians who feed their constituents with the stale bread of hatred and the spoiled meat of racism (https://www.vogue.com/article/roy-moore-martin-luther-king-this-week-washington). As a number of recent incidents (from holding the state Wesak festival in Kuragala to the tragicomic affair of the church bomb the police initially offered a Muslim mastermind and are now blaming a retired physician of catholic faith) indicate, the Rajapaksas will rely on the race card to stay in power. The racist vote is not a canard. These are ordinary Sinhala-Buddhists who do not necessarily gain anything material from Rajapaksa rule. They still remain loyal to the Rajapaksas, because their true aim is a Sri Lanka where the minorities are kept down, literally. They are the Lankan equivalents of Make America Great Again crowd. This constituency is a global phenomenon. They hark back to an imaginary golden past, when the country was made in their own preferred image. This constituency is unhappy with democracy, prefers a strong leader, a king or a Hitler. This constituency cannot be won over by pandering so Sinhala-Buddhist supremascism. As long as Mahinda Rajapaksa is living, it will stay with the Rajapaksas. Post-Mahinda, this constituency is likely to fracture. Some will stay with the remaining Rajapkasas. The more ideological others will seek extra-racist alternatives. It is from this segment the impulse and drive for coup solutions will emerge. Just as a post-Rajapaksa future (assuming that the opposition can cease drawing daggers against each other until the Rajapaksas are really gone) presents unprecedented opportunities it also contains equally unprecedented dangers. If the opposition fails to provide a viable alternative to the Rajapaksas before and after polls, it may open the flood gates to a truly elemental force that is more extremist and intolerant than even the Rajapaksas. 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. A company that makes and sells American flags is expanding its North Charleston operations even as it looks for a bigger space in coming months to accommodate fast-growing online sales. Allegiance Flag Supply said it will spend $1.2 million to add an in-house sewing line at its 4213 Scott St. manufacturing site. The company, which got its start in 2018, had been outsourcing its industrial sewing work to textile factories in other states. "We got to the point where we had about four different cut-and-sew shops doing the work, and we thought are we going to get a fifth, a sixth and then a seventh or are we going to take control and do this on our own?" said Wes Lyon, who co-founded the company with wife Katie Lyon and their friend Max Berry. "So, about six months ago, we started weighing out all the plans and and figuring out what we would need to do that." Allegiance, which had been operating out of a 3,500-square-foot warehouse, leased an adjacent site to double its footprint, The expansion eventually will include 25 new employees in a self-sustaining sew shop and larger distribution center to handle the roughly 1,000 flags the company sells through its website each week. Allegiance's growth has Lyon and his partners looking for a bigger location to produce what it calls "the highest-quality American flags sewn by American seamstresses." "We're already busting out of the extra space" at Scott Street, Lyon said, adding the company has been talking with Charleston County officials about potential sites. Allegiance has added more than a dozen employees over the past year in advance of its expansion announcement. Lyon said finding local workers to sew the flags has been a challenge, but the company has had success with industrial sewers who've helped produce upholstery for boat manufacturers in the area. Allegiance also is looking for customer service and distribution help, with a focus on hiring military veterans and their spouses. Allegiance makes its flags with heavy nylon fabric which is double-stitched to prevent them from unraveling. Stress points are reinforced with bar tacking, and a mold resistant grommet strip is added for stability. Allegiance also makes wood poles from Vermont white ash, with metal spinners that rotate as the flag is blown by the wind so it doesnt get tangled. The flags are tri-folded military-style and shipped in triangle-shaped boxes. The Lyons started the company after they got tired of buying flags from big-box stores that would only last for a few months before falling apart. The company initially operated out of the couple's garage but quickly grew out of those cramped quarters. "From humble beginnings in a garage to a full-scale operation now in North Charleston, Allegiance Flag Supply is supporting the return of textile jobs to the United States," Steve Dykes, executive director of Charleston County's economic development office, said in a statement last week. Lyon said he is surprised by the company's success but is looking to a bigger future. "This is beyond our wildest dreams for sure ... we never thought we would get here," Lyon said. "I'm kind of pinching myself every morning walking in here. We're definitely grateful that we're at this point, but I think it's got a lot of potential to grow much larger than where we are right now." Industrial boom The past two years have seen record levels of industrial site leasing in the Charleston region, with about 16 million square feet of space absorbed into a market that real estate firm JLL says has been limited only by a lack of more space. "It is reasonable to suspect that leasing activity could have been even higher had more available product existed in the market," JLL said in its year-end report on the area's commercial real estate market. Driving the market is a roughly 20 percent increase in cargo moving through the Port of Charleston, as consumers continue to buy furniture, exercise equipment, appliances and other imported goods during the pandemic. For example, a pair of furniture importers have leased about 1.5 million square feet of space at the Charleston Trade Center in Summerville and Walmart's massive, 3 million-square-foot import distribution center began operations this month. "The Charleston industrial market continues to grow at a record pace since before the onset of the pandemic," the JLL report states. "The Carolinas added nearly 154,000 people in the past year, according to the Census Bureau, with both states ranking in the top six for population growth for the nation. This migration to the region will continue to provide demand for product shipped into and stored in the market." Most industrial leases in 2021 were for properties along the I-26 corridor from Summerville to Jedburg, which accounted for 74 percent of all activity. Sites within the Goose Creek and Hanahan areas made up about 16 percent the total last year. Regionwide, the vacancy rate for industrial properties stood at 4.6 percent at the end of the year. About 8 million square feet of space is in the pipeline, the largest supply under construction on record, and JLL predicted it won't take long for that to be absorbed into the market as well. "If trends hold, landlords can expect for these deliveries to be leased and occupied at or shortly after delivery until pent-up demand is satisfied," according to the report. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Scattered clouds with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 84F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. WADMALAW Ask any of the Barrier Island Oyster Co.s crew members to tell you about their product and theyll be quick to give you a rundown of the oyster and all its superpowers. The Lowcountry staple provides a habitat for all sorts of creatures in an estuary environment; it acts as a filter for the water, helping improve its quality and clarity; and it stabilizes our marsh-based shorelines. Farmers at the small "mariculture" company raise single oysters from "seed" (oyster larvae after it attaches to a surface) to market size via floating cages in Ocella Creek off Wadmalaw Island a core business model co-founder Josh Eboch sees as intrinsic to a bigger mission. Restoring our shorelines, and improving the waterways we take from, is essential to ensuring oysters remain in South Carolina for years to come, he said. Farmers like Eboch have found important allies in scientists, environmentalists and government officials as part of a joint effort to better understand and engineer the oysters superpowers particularly its ability to buffer marsh and sea and mitigate flood risk. No one cares about clean water more than an oyster farmer because we're literally selling it, Eboch said. Were selling it encapsulated inside this oyster. Oyster reef systems form naturally occurring breakwaters, as they allow for marsh to grow out and extend the shoreline. The spongey marsh is intended to soak up floodwaters, just like it does during a high tide, Eboch said. Put simply: If theres more oysters, theres more marsh, which means there is more material to break the force of the waves and ultimately absorb the water. In coastal South Carolina, this could help offset the risk caused by climate change. Mitigating flood risk Much of the Lowcountry sits just a few feet above sea level, making it especially vulnerable to rising waters. And as the seas stretch upward 2.7 inches in the 2010s alone powerful rainstorms and tides consistently wreak havoc on the region. Nowhere are the effects more evident than in Charleston Harbor, which wraps around the citys peninsula. Sea level rise pushed the harbor's waters about a foot higher in the past century, causing an uptick in major flooding events. Oysters adapt particularly well to sea level rise, because they accrete the reef along with the water level, explained Dale Morris, the city of Charlestons chief resilience officer. A rigid shell allows oysters to stay put against waves or wind energy, helping slow down wave effects. This leads to less water pushing into the marsh, and even less water pushing past the marsh into roads and homes. The science behind this particular superpower isnt a new phenomenon, but there is a fear humans realized too little, too late how oysters can proactively be used to offset flood risk. Overdevelopment on living shorelines, or the spongey marsh formed in part by oyster reefs, has destroyed much of what Mother Nature handed us, Morris said. Now, scientists, environmentalists, marine farmers and government officials are scrambling to better understand how to engineer with nature and create these shorelines themselves. Restoring the reefs After harvesting their single-shell oysters each week, Barrier Island Oyster farmers Maddie Piascik and Hamlin Auld cast aside any scraps that cant be sold, placing them inside large buckets to be dumped back into the water for replanting. Larvae are attracted to the shell, giving oysters the ability to grow off one another, Piascik said. Piascik and Auld repeat the process over and over, with the hope that one day the farmers will be able to pick wild oysters from the restored bed. As a shellfish culture permit holder, the company must pay rent to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources for its section of water, as well as do its part to replace the resources it removes. Every calendar year, all permit holders must meet a planting quota of 50 bushels of oysters per acre, said Ben Dyar, head of the department's shellfish management section. DNR allows permit holders to employ a variety of restoration techniques to meet the quota, leaving it up to them to pick the best strategy for their area. In addition to saving white shell the dead, dried out stuff and donating it to DNR for replanting, the Barrier Island farmers initially chose a tried-and-true method: placing bamboo sticks no more than 3 feet deep inside the soft, muddy oyster beds. Barnacles will begin to grow on the sticks, causing the rock candy-like structures to become top heavy. If theyre placed right, the stakes criss-cross as they fall, supporting one another along a bank. Oysters are attracted to the calcium carbonate found in the barnacles, extracting the chemical compound to build their shell as they attach to the bamboo. This reef restoration method is simple, but can be costly. And placement is key put the stakes in the wrong spot, and theyll wind up washing away, Auld said. The farmer got real crazy the first year they attempted the method, laying out around 3,000 stakes in one area, he said. Auld returned to the spot months later only to find mud swallowing the bamboo, rendering them basically useless. The company learned about another restoration technique through conversations with DNR officials, Eboch said. Green shell, or shell that still has live muscle attached, can also be placed back into a reef to help other oysters grow. Though it was initially a new concept for Eboch, replanting green shell has become a primary focus for the company, he said. More to learn Oysters are resilient, but finicky, creatures. Working with your section of water to understand its quirks flow, temperature, depth takes trial and error, which can quickly eat up time and resources. Auld, Eboch and Piascik agree they want to increase their restoration efforts well beyond the quota DNR requires, but the small company is limited in what it can realistically achieve. And Barrier Island still has a lot to learn when it comes to restoration techniques. A centralized repository for this knowledge where to place the bamboo stakes so they dont wash away; how to find more optimal sites in the lease would be helpful, Eboch said. DNR sends out official letters twice a year to permit holders, notifying them when they can plant and how much of their quota remains. State officials also speak with the farmers throughout the year, helping them come up with strategies to best manage their leases, Dyar explained. If we're getting feedback from the permit holders that they need more guidance and more information, then we're more than willing to look into that, he added, acknowledging the possibility for miscommunication. This concerted effort to recycle, replant and rethink oyster shell has the potential for a big payoff. Scientists and consultants are examining Charleston to find spots to build living shorelines, said Morris, who works for the city. The Army Corps of Engineers continues to work on a project which aims to place an 8-mile seawall around downtown Charleston to stave off floodwaters. This plan faces objections from some stakeholders. Recent versions of the plan propose constructing living shoreline oyster reefs to run parallel with the surge wall. There are likely other locations where living shorelines could be built, but challenges include having the money to get it done, and finding the environments most conducive to support oyster reefs, Morris said. Nevertheless, farmers like Piascik and Auld will still be on the water every day, looking after their lease. Piascik, clad in rubber waders and work gloves, will pick up one of the buckets filled with shell as Auld guides their motorboat along a section of the salt marsh. She will tilt the bucket, allowing the quiet stretch of Ocella Creek to fill with the rhythmic clattering of oyster shell returning to its rightful home. GREENVILLE When it comes to celebrating the centennial anniversary of Greenville-based Wyche law firm, attorney Tally Parham Casey feels nostalgic, proud and a great deal of responsibility. Casey, the acting chair of the firm's executive committee, has been around Wyche her entire life. Jim Parham, her father and an active attorney, helped with the second wave of co-founding the firm in 1964. She has known some of the partners she practices with since birth. Now she is guiding the firm into the future. "I look at it as: This is a significant milestone here. And then: What are we doing now to prepare ourselves for the next 100 years?" Casey told The Post and Courier. While she admits to sometimes staying up at night with a mix of concern and deep care for the firm, Casey said she is confident Wyche will survive the next century by remaining with the core values demonstrated by the founders, formally defined now as advancing the business community, societal impact, community transformation and environmental stewardship. The firm launched in the fall a Centennial Legacy Project, a series of small projects in partnership with local organizations, to commemorate its anniversary and values. The first project announcement was a partnership with the City of Women initiative to create an art exhibit highlighting notable Upstate women from history. The larger endeavor will go through 2022 as the firm prepares to occupy its new offices in Greenville. Greenville born, Greenville growing Early records show the law firm was founded in 1921 under the name Dean, Cothran and Wyche. In 1964, the firm was renamed Wyche, Burgess, Freeman and Parham after the men spearheading its growth Tommy Wyche, Al Burgess, David Freeman and Jim Parham, along with Bill Kehl and Jim Shoemaker. The name was shortened in 2011 to Wyche P.A. Until 1961, the firm resided at 207 S. Main St. in Greenville, now occupied by the restaurant Soby's. It then moved to its longtime home at 44 E. Camperdown Way near Falls Park. While in its office along the Reedy, the attorneys litigated on or had influence in cases surrounding school desegregation, corporate and securities law, First Amendment law, intellectual property protection and corporate governance. When Greenville lawyer Tommy Wyche isn't in his office handling legal matters, he's quietly working behind the scenes to make Greenville a better community," the opening line in a 2002 article from The Greenville News reads. The firm had a hand in the growth of modern Greenville through landmarks such as the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Greenville, Heritage Green, RiverPlace, the Peace Center, the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and more. Many of our citys most iconic landmarks exist today because Wyche attorneys saw the long-term vision and stayed the course to make them a reality, Greenville Mayor Knox White said in a statement. A conservationist at heart, Tommy Wyche founded local environmental group Naturaland Trust in 1973 and worked to protect tens of thousands acres in the Upstate. Wyches son, Brad Wyche, worked as an attorney for 20 years before leaving to create Upstate Forever, another environmental group. Tommy Wyche passed away in 2015. Attorneys reflect on past, eye future Aiken-native Meliah Jefferson knew from a young age she wanted to be a lawyer after reading about Thurgood Marshall. She attended the University of South Carolina for both college and law school. Jefferson then landed an appellate clerkship, and the chief justice she worked for encouraged her to think of Wyche as a possible next step. She started at the firm in 2007 but took a hiatus for another clerkship in 2010. While she stayed longer in that clerkship than expected, after a few years, Jefferson was no longer satisfied with being behind the scenes of the law. I am very much an in-front-of-the-room type of lawyer, she said. While she considered other firms in Washington, Atlanta and Charlotte, she decided to return to Wyche, calling it the place where I can be my best self. Jefferson said the passion and time Wyche attorneys put into their work is why we are 100 years old. South Carolina-native Wallace Lightsey grew up with a grandfather who was a judge in Richland County and a father who was a lawyer, law professor and eventually the president of the College of Charleston. Surrounded by the law, becoming a lawyer appealed to Lightsey as a career choice. While at Harvard Law School, Lightsey worked during summers at firms in Miami, New York and San Francisco. He began to reconsider what he wanted in a job after he did two clerkships, including one with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Warren E. Burger. I wanted more than just working hard all the time and came to realize that, while I like to make money and have money, it wasn't the most important thing in my life, Lightsey said. I wanted a quality of life. I wanted to have a family and wanted to be involved in a community. Lightsey was persuaded to check out Wyche, and he was just blown away. I had no idea there was a firm like this in South Carolina, Lightsey said. When Lightsey started at the firm in 1986, there were about 12 attorneys. The firm had human resources, but unlike other firms Wyche did not have a formal management structure. In the 1990s, as the firm grew, Wyche decided it needed an active management style and developed a five-person executive committee. Lightsey served on it from the start. In 2007, the committee created a chair position who would have a swath of broad responsibilities including providing financial oversight and improving working conditions. The choice was controversial and resulted in some people leaving the firm who didnt want an active management style. Lightsey served as the firms first chair. The chair must get partner approval and cannot make any executive decisions. Lightsey views Wyche as a democratic work environment where many decisions are reached through consensus and compromise. What I think is remarkable is that the firm still is true to the core values that I think we've had for 100 years, Lightsey said. We still have a small firm culture, very democratic, a family culture where we're very supportive of each other. Casey, currently based in Wyches Columbia office, started practicing at the firm in October 2000, after she moved from flying F-16s full-time to part-time as the first female fighter pilot for the state Air National Guard. She followed a similar educational path as co-founder Tommy Wyche, attending Princeton for her undergraduate and University of Virginia for law school. While she left Wyche to clerk for a federal judge and practiced at a firm in Maryland for a few years, she returned to Wyche in 2007. In 2017, she was the second woman elected as the chair of the executive committee and was reelected for three more years in 2020. Casey works alongside her 91-year-old father, an attorney who still comes to the office every day, she said. While the firm has gone through many changes over the years, Casey said each choice the firm has made can be described as courageous authenticity. When she thinks about her father and his early colleagues, what strikes her about them is their integrity in practicing law and to themselves. We've done our best to stay on the path, to recognize that our vision borrows the best parts of our heritage and keeps them, Casey said. Wyche, which also has offices in Columbia and Spartanburg, earlier this year sold its Greenville office at 200 E. Camperdown Way for $5.75 million to United Community Bank, which moved its headquarters to the Upstate. Wyches almost 60-year home at 44 E. Camperdown Way is where the Grand Bohemian Hotel is now being built. The company moved into two floors of an office building on East Broad Street in Greenville, which was previously occupied by Elliott Davis accounting firm. The move was completed Dec. 13, according to Lauren Roach, the law firms chief marketing officer. This relocation marks the fifth move of Wyche's Greenville offices since its founding. The Westin Resort Guam announced the promotion of General Manager Nick Song to president of Haevichi Hospitality Guam Inc. for The Westin Resort Guam, effective Jan. 1. He will continue as general manager and will be responsible for management of overall operations of the hotel, The Westin Resort Guam stated in a press release. Song has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. His previous assignments include Walt Disney Worlds Yacht and Beach Resort in Florida, JW Marriott Seoul, Park Hyatt Seoul and Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel in Korea, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Luxury Collection in Thailand, and Four Points by Sheraton Victoria in Canada. Song holds a bachelor's degree in hotel administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Since joining the company on Jan. 1, 2020, Song has led his team with resiliency amidst the global impact of the pandemic, the hotel stated in the release. Under his leadership, The Westin Resort Guam completed renovations of all hotel guest rooms and Club Lounge, revitalization of the heart of the house areas including the associate cafeteria and various hotel facilities such as the lobby and restaurants, as well as the recent acquisition of Issin Japanese Restaurant to add to the hotels food and beverage offerings, according to the release. Song also is a board member of the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association. There have been contradictions about our local government's strategy on COVID-19 testing and limitations for those who have come in close cont Read more Tracey Dacks, with her daughter Skylar, show their apartment at Plantation Gardens, Saturday, January 22, 2022. Tracey was one of many renters who sought help from elected officials last year after her rental application for federal assistance money stalled. (Michael Laughlin/Sun Sentinel) Hundreds of past-due renters in Broward County waited weeks and months last year for promised federal rental assistance money as they feared eviction orders that would leave them homeless. As their applications for assistance languished, county employees sparred with Pasadena, California-based Tetra Tech Recovery Services, a global contractor that County Administrator Bertha Henry hired last spring to review applications, answer phone calls and make eligibility recommendations. The first months of the program were marked by frustrating delays, arguments over application errors, high denial rates, finger pointing and ultimately a severed contract. Advertisement I never realized what a broken system it was until I needed help, said Tracey Dacks, a single mom who waited four months for her application to be approved. Nearly 1,000 emails, obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel from the county, reveal details of the bureaucratic morass that enveloped Broward Countys rollout of its Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Advertisement Such problems werent unique to Broward County. Many other large cities and counties that received portions of the $25 billion in federal assistance funding approved in December 2020 under former President Trump stumbled as they figured out how to identify tenants who needed it most. Analysts for the National Low Income Housing Coalition said several times that they werent surprised that cities, counties and states struggled to implement programs of unprecedented size. What they had in common were the renters who didnt want to hear that program coordinators were learning as they went along. During the first seven months of 2020, an untold number received eviction notices despite federal, state or local moratoriums preventing judges from ordering them to leave. The last eviction moratorium, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, expired on July 31, freeing landlords to evict tenants unable to repay lapsed rent. Meanwhile, assistance was being distributed slowly in Broward as the county argued with Tetra Tech managers over who deserved help. Broward and Tetra Tech officials declined last week to discuss their monthslong ordeal. [ RELATED: BUSINESS Renters angry over long delays for emergency assistance money from Broward and state ] Hernan Sanchez was evicted from his home while he waited for program officials to decide whether he should be approved for up to nine months of past-due rent. In an email to County Commissioner Nan Rich, Sanchez said no action was taken on his application for several weeks, even though his landlord submitted documents proving he was behind on his rent. Then the sheriff came and blocked the door of the apartment that I had lived in for four years and evacuated me and my wife, he wrote. I had to remove everything in 24 hours and put all my furniture in a storage room. Advertisement Dacks applied for help to pay past-due rent on her Plantation apartment on May 25 and didnt receive funds until Oct. 7, she said in an interview. She frequently tried to reach caseworkers by phone to inquire about her status, she said. Call after call, Id spend three to four hours on hold and then it would hang up. She was directed to submit long lists of documents proving that she qualified: The previous years tax return, unemployment documents, a copy of my lease, a past-due statement, my daughters Social Security number, my Social Security number, copy of my driver license, a letter from my job confirming I was furloughed, and a letter from my sister confirming she was helping to pay my electric bill, she said. After submitting everything she was asked to provide, case workers would suddenly ask for more, she said. Then they wanted pay stubs, bank statements and W-2 forms, she said. You would send everything they asked for and theyd send an email three weeks later saying, Oh, we need these other things. What she did not know was that county officials and Tetra Tech employees werent sure themselves what to require from applicants. Confusion reigned Emails reviewed by the Sun Sentinel reveal that despite not accepting applications until April 23 weeks later than similar programs in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties workers running Browards program were uncertain about how to review and make decisions about who should qualify for assistance. Advertisement One reason was that county administrators decided early last year to require that applicants provide more documentation than U.S. Treasury Department guidelines required in order to prove that they lost income due to the pandemic or were in danger of losing their homes. [ RELATED: South Florida counties receiving $189 million more for rental assistance ] Treasury guidelines allowed applicants to verify eligibility by signing statements, or attestations, when providing paperwork such as documents from landlords posed a hardship. The guidelines allowed sending money directly to tenants with uncooperative landlords, but county officials declined initially to allow that option. They tightened eligibility rules, then-County Mayor Steve Geller said last spring, to reduce the potential for fraud and orders by the federal government to return money awarded mistakenly. Natalie Beasley, assistant director of the countys Family Success Administration Division, which oversees the program, wrote to county administrators on June 28 two months after opening for applications seeking clarification as to whether or not they want to assist with relocation expenses such as security deposits, first and last months rent, deposits for utilities, etc., using [program] funds. Treasury Department guidance, she wrote, allows funding for those expenses. Advertisement In a Dec. 1 letter to County Administrator Henry, Jonathan Burgiel, business unit president for Tetra Tech, said the countys documentation requirements exceeded those of the federal government, increasing the amount of time Tetra Techs workers had to spend reviewing applications. The county, Burgiel wrote, would not accept unemployment benefits as proof of income loss despite their allowance by the Treasury Department. Contrary to Treasury guidelines, the county would not accept applicants reporting of a COVID-19 death in their home to verify economic hardship without additional documentation showing funeral costs and income loss, Burgiel wrote. The countys refusal to accept signed statements from applicants or attestations to verify economic hardship caused confusion among both applicants and program staff and resulted in the requirement for significant additional paperwork from applicants. Likewise, the countys refusal to accept attestations to verify that applicants were at risk of eviction and requirement for specific documentation of housing instability was an additional paperwork burden on the part of applicants that Tetra Tech staff had to request, in many cases multiple times, from applicants. At the start of the program, the county did accept self-attestations but reversed itself shortly afterward, Burgiel wrote. [ RELATED: Past-due renters can now get money through the state of Florida ] Plenty of blame to go around County employees and Tetra Tech managers blamed one another for the confusion during the programs early months, the emails show. In phone calls with applicants, Tetra Tech workers blamed county staff members for processing delays, stated an email from program project coordinator Helen Boyer. Advertisement Tetra Techs Burgiel, meanwhile, wrote in a Sept. 27 email to county officials about his concerns about county staff members calling into question the productivity of my staff. Broward officials compiled reports accusing Tetra Tech of working too slowly: On July 22, county official Lenny Vialpando sent administrators a review of Tetra Techs performance over the first three months. It found that only about 280 applications had been approved so far, 1,800 were denied, and 1,464 applications remained in limbo, awaiting a quality assurance review. By this point, Tetra Tech had submitted an invoice for the first $1 million of its $4.5 million contract amount. Vialpando wrote, this equates to approximately $3,500 per approved application. If the 1,800 denied applications were added to the 280 approved ones, this still equates to $480 per application fully processed, Vialpando wrote. Furthermore, even after the nearly four hours [Tetra Tech] spends [reviewing] each application, [the countys Human Services Department] is reporting an 81% error rate on these applications. Fourteen Tetra Tech workers were reviewing just 27 applications per day or about two applications per worker, who spent four hours reviewing each application, Vialpando said. He added, the countys Human Services Department estimates this is a 20-minute task. Broward kept changing policies Tetra Tech fired back on several occasions, blaming the delays on frequent policy changes by the county: County officials ordered 99 changes to the programs policies and procedures and the approval checklist for applicant files, Burgiel wrote in the Dec. 1 letter to Henry. The high rate of changes resulted in a significant amount of Tetra Tech staff time to update program procedures, checklists and workflows and retrain staff almost daily through the project, he wrote. Often, he said, the changes were decision reversals that led to confusion by both Tetra Tech and the county staff. The frequent policy changes prevented the county from applying a consistent set of eligibility requirements throughout the program, he said. A county auditors finding that 81% of applications submitted by Tetra Tech had errors was incorrect, Burgiel said, because the finding was based on a sample of 100 case files that was not statistically viable. Twenty-seven of the errors were actually the fault of county staff members, and 18 of the errors were not errors at all, he said. Most of the remaining errors were due to transcription errors resulting from the countys insistence that Tetra Tech workers transcribe applicant data from the programs software portal into a .pdf file format for review by county workers, he said. This re-entry of data also resulted in a number of minor calculation and transcription errors, resulting in the county to reject a large number of the files. The rejections could have been avoided if county staff members reviewed applications in the software program, he said. Over the summer, county staff members began receiving emails from elected officials in Broward who had been contacted by frustrated applicants. At a meeting on Aug. 24, members of the Broward County Commission spoke of their dissatisfaction with the slow pace of payment approvals. On Oct. 6, with little more than 32% of the countys $59 million distributed to applicants, Tetra Tech notified the county that it was nearing $4.5 million in billing time for its work to that point, the maximum allowable under its contract. Did the county want to continue to work together or wind down its partnership, a Tetra Tech official asked. End of the line Shortly afterward, County Administrator Henry announced that the contract had been severed by mutual agreement as of Oct. 15. Advertisement On Oct. 29, Natalie Beasley posted a news release on the countys website announcing that processing applications, previously outsourced, would be handled by the Family Success Division of the countys Human Services Department and a strike team of knowledgeable and experienced staff members. Geller, still a county commissioner, said in November that county workers reviewing applications would be less stringent than in the past and qualify more applicants under the Treasury Departments more flexible guidelines, such as allowing self attestation of income loss and housing instability. Since Oct. 15, the amount of money distributed increased from $19.6 million paid to 2,378 applicants to $42.5 million paid to 5,335 applicants as of Jan. 21. New and pending applications are continuing to be processed by a team that works solely on this initiative, a county statement said. Tetra Tech, in Burgiels Dec. 1 letter, demanded payment of its remaining contracted amount, $3.1 million which is now past due. Under an agreement negotiated on Jan. 5, the county paid Tetra Tech $2.8 million. County workers will soon have an opportunity to apply the lessons they learned to yet another round of emergency rental assistance funding. After March 31, the county will begin distributing $67.5 million in additional tenant aid approved by Congress last spring as part of the Biden Administrations American Rescue Plan. Advertisement Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, Lance Morrow was one of the few bright spots at Time magazine. He seemed a throwback to the earlier generation of Time writers, whose fluid and occasionally daring prose sparkled with insight, while giving little or no hint of his own biases or ideology. One almost got the sense that Morrow was objective (imagine!), though his occasional set-piece essays (as opposed to his news features) hinted that he might have some conservative sympathies. In his retirement years, he has emerged as more evidently conservative, though not with some of the usual ideological markers, like quoting Hayek or something. Instead it resembles plain common sense. Like his article yesterday in the Wall Street Journal, How Minnesota Went from Tom Sawyer to Huck Finn. There he recounts writing a cover story for Time in the 1970s about how Minnesota was the state that works. Today, not so much. Read the whole thing if you have Journal access. If not, here are the key bits: In 1973, there were two strong political parties in Minnesota, both centrist and in touch with the states voters. A profound change occurred in the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, especially among the wealthy and young. They contrived to seize political power by leveraging certain idealistic or merely sentimental impulses in the public mind. It was the prospering woke who elected the progressive Minneapolis City Council that supports defunding the police, and it was those white elites who, more than her fellow Somali-Americans, elected Ilhan Omar to the House. A mostly white meritocracy, caring more about, say, transgender rights than about job creation, took command in Minneapolis and elsewhere in the country. . . [P]rosecutors in Democrat-ruled cities across the country (Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York) began to refuse to prosecute minority criminalsalmost no matter their crime. See no evil, prosecute no evil. An age of magical thinking persuades itself to embrace many inversions of the truthone of them being the idea that the criminal is the victim. The left, now dominant, will pay the price. Fantasies of retaliation will play vividly in voters minds when they go to vote in Novemberjust how vividly, the Democratic Party and President Biden will discover. The difference between my 1973 story and the news reports of 2022 amounts to the difference, as it were, between Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Tom gives you the boyish, innocent, sun-shot rendering of Hannibal, Mo., in the middle of the 19th century. Hucks story is the version of America that includes poverty, murder, alcoholism, child abuse, race prejudice, blood feud and imbecility. Minneapolis today looks a little more like the Huckleberry Finn version, although without Hucks humor or his rascal charm. So when is the Hinderaker for Governor campaign going to get under way? November is only 10 months off. Catholic priests are typically conservatives, and that is why they rarely jump on Tiktok trends or even maintain active Instagram accounts. But a Nigerian priest, James Anyaegbu, who boasts of 429,000 TitTok followers and over 24,000 Instagram followers Catholics and non-Catholics alike, has become an internet sensation because of his viral videos. Mr Anyaegbu was ordained a priest in 2013 before going to Scotland in 2015, where he is currently based. In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the social media savvy priest talks about the priesthood, how he handles fans, and the Nigerian society. Excerpts: P.T.: What inspired your priesthood journey? Fr. James: My journey to the priesthood was inspired by Catholic prayers. As a child, my parents said Catholic, prayers every night, and we attended masses almost every morning and every Sunday. I think it inspired me to seek this ministry at a tender age. At the same time, the priests at my local parish loved the Eucharist, so I loved how they comported themselves. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fr. James Anyaegbu (@fr_james_a) //www.instagram.com/embed.js P.T.: Catholics are conservatives. How much more a catholic priest? What inspired your Tiktok videos and your Instagram evangelism? Fr. James: You know, just before 2020, I had this push, like a zeal to reach out to more people and minister to the young generation. I searched for them and created a platform to speak for themselves. I wanted a platform where their voices could be heard in the Church and spirituality. I became very active first on my YouTube Channel in 2019. The lockdown in 2020 inspired me to create an avenue to speak more to the young people through TikTok. I love social media; I love surfing the net and seeing the activities of young people. I believe you have to know people before you speak to them, at least to a certain extent. So seeing the activities of the young people, I realise that they need more because once you keep scrolling through this TikTok and these social media, you would always find something that would question your faith. I needed to answer some of their pressing questions and remind them that God still loves them despite their challenges. I started on Tiktok. P.T.: Were you warmly received? Fr. James: Yeah, it gained so much acceptance because people needed to know about God. People are longing to know more about God. P.T.: You said some challenging incidents on social media affect young peoples faith. Can you share examples? Fr. James: Social media is a new culture: it has grown into a village where people gather and do all sorts of things, some of which would question your faith. Habits hitherto considered sins have become normalised, and social media promote them without restraint. Some people rarely ask questions in Church, but when they see a priest on social media, they reach out to seek clarification on things that bother them. Many people come to my D.M. and talk about situations that question their faith. However, they usually would not talk to their ministers about these issues, and because churches seem so far away from them, social media has become their refuge. P.T.: So it wont be wrong to call you the social media parish priest? Fr. James: No, social media has not become a parish yet. From my perspective, its just a village with its own culture. P.T.: How long have you been a priest? Fr. James: 2022 would make me nine years in the priesthood. I have been a Catholic priest for (roughly) eight years. P.T.: Have you been ordained a Catholic priest here in Nigeria? Fr. James: I was ordained in Nigeria by Most Rev. Valerian Okeke of the Onitsha Archdiocese for the diocese of Aba. Advertisements P.T.: Have you not been criticised for your strong social media presence as a priest? Fr. James: Of course, when I started, people asked specific questions like what is a priest doing here (on TikTok), a priest shouldnt be here, this is not an arena for you. They have social media as a corrupt ground for the priest. This leads me back to what I had said earlier, and people have normalised social media as a sinful and corrupt ground. They forget that when Jesus came into the world, Jesus did not go into a very holy world. Jesus came into a corrupt ground, filled with darkness and all sorts of things to bring light there. I always reiterate that I am here to shine the light, bring joy and bring positivity, not just any positivity but that positivity found in God, leading people back to Jesus. P.T.: Have you received criticism from fellow priests? Fr. James: Honestly speaking, my fellow priests have been supportive. P.T.: As a priest on social media who gets to meet Nigerian youths on social media, from your observation, what is the pertinent issue with the youth? Fr. James: There are many issues with the Nigerian youth, and it all boils down to the Nigerian Government and the Nigerian society. An average Nigerian youth wants to become something in the society wants to influence the society, but when the desirable is not available, the available becomes desirable. That is the problem of our country today. Every human seeks a good life, not just the youth. P.T.: Is travelling abroad the best alternative? Fr. James: Most youths dont want to know or care about whatever they face abroad. This is because Nigerian society does not appreciate them. More people are telling me that father, I want to travel abroad. How do I travel? One of the pertinent requests of the Nigerian youths these days, from the university, is once I finish school, I want to go to the U.S. or U.K. to do my masters. This Is because they want a good life. P.T.: Are there no good jobs in Nigeria? Fr. James: The truth is that there are no jobs in Nigeria. Even the president affirms it. Buhari once said if you finish university, do not expect the Government to give you a job. Such a statement from the president discourages you even more. P.T.: Dont you think the presidents remarks would encourage entrepreneurship? Fr. James: Ive seen many entrepreneurs in Nigeria. But the question is, do they have an enabling environment? Has the Government recognised them? When you go to the bank to take a loan, would you take that loan peacefully, or would the loan process work against you? These are some of the challenges they face, but not everybody can be an entrepreneur. I would tell you emphatically that Nigeria has the most prominent entrepreneurs in Africa. P.T.: Why do you say so? Fr. James: Have you visited Alaba, Ariara, and Onitsha main markets? Every Nigerian street has a shop. Thats entrepreneurship. So Nigeria, I must say, has got the highest number of entrepreneurs in Africa, if not in the world. P.T.: What is the way forward? Fr. James: For example, in the U.K., at age 16, which is the age of consent, most youths start working. They already have a job. P.T.: Who provides the job for them? Fr. James: They work at the post office, in big supermarkets, in care homes, in restaurants, they do all these jobs because they have been certified. The U.K. government provides that good environment for them, and they are safe, but where in Nigeria would you find these? Even someone who finishes secondary school who is going to look for work cant earn well. Some people earn as little as N5000 or N10,000. There is no minimum wage. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fr. James Anyaegbu (@fr_james_a) //www.instagram.com/embed.js P.T.: Does this mean that the Nigerian Government has failed the youth? Fr James: Honestly, its a total failure from my perspective. We need to change the calm mindset of Nigerians and the Government. P.T.: But, a school of thought says religion is a big issue? Fr. James: I believe the problem of religion in Nigeria boils down to law enforcement. P.T.: How? Fr. James: Yes, like I would say when the desirable is not available, the available becomes desirable. Religion tends to promise people peace of mind and joy, and where else will they go to find encouragement, strengths, and joy in almost all the problems in Nigeria? The Church, of course. But they seem to want to go to a place that tells them they will make money tomorrow, and they will shout Amen. That is one of the problems of religion in Nigeria people complain about. That is why I founded the Faith Chat, where people talk about their faith and help one another without external aid. P.T.: How have your Instagram and TikTok videos affected your personal life? Fr. James: I must say that I derive fun shooting my videos. I desire the next person watching them to also derive pleasure from watching them. God has been such faithful people come back to appreciate God for touching their lives through these videos. P.T.: The Catholic Church is orthodox. How do these videos affect your ministry as a Roman Catholic priest? Fr. James: Well, the pope has been on Instagram and Twitter for quite a long time, although some Catholics themselves manage the account. When you consider Catholics as orthodox, it limits some renewal. The Church is the people of God, and the Church works with the people of God, and the Church uses every avenue to bring the people back to Jesus. Thats the mission of the Church, evangelism. P.T.: How has the Church achieved this evangelism through social media? Fr James: People would rather watch videos instead of reading, so the Church takes advantage of technology. P.T.: Does this mean Nigerian Youths dont read? Fr. James: I am not saying that the Nigerian youths dont read. Nigerian youths are some of the most intelligent people globally; we can see their exploits in all realms of life. If well harnessed, we would supersede even America or China. P.T.: How have your Tik Tok videos improved learning? Fr. James: There are different ways of learning. My tik tok videos address learning visually. P.T.: How did the pandemic affect your ministry? Fr. James: The pandemic and lockdown gave us a new understanding. It reminded us that we do not appreciate what we have until it is taken away from us. During the lockdown, we started YouTube masses, and we had Muslims, Indians, Chinese et. c, tune in and appreciate God. P.T.: Why did you leave Nigeria? Fr. James: I left Nigeria on a mission. Every priest and Christian is a missionary. It is just that some intensify their mission by going further. Some priests move from one location to another within the diocese; some are called to go farther, like Saint Paul, who had to go to Timbuktu to preach the word. My bishop chose me to go farther. Thats why I am in this small village in Scotland. P.T.: Would you be moving to Nigeria any time soon? Fr. James: By the grace of God, Nigeria is my home; Im missing not being there at the moment. I am missing the joy in Nigeria. Nigerians are one of the happiest people in the world. Even though nothing should make us happy in Nigeria, Nigeria has so much joy. That is why you always see us want to come home to embrace our family. So thats what I am missing. P.T.: As a priest, what do you love most but miss most? Fr. James: I love and miss my family. One other thing I love most is weddings. P.T.: Dont you wish to get married someday? Fr. James: Its not that I do not want to get married, no, but I have chosen a path. It is like a bridge. Even though I love to be married, I have chosen to make family life better by being on the other side that appreciates them, speaks to them, and helps them be better persons. P.T.: How would you love to be remembered? Fr. James: I would love to be remembered as a priest P.T.: But there are so many priests? Fr. James: I would love to be remembered for being one of them, for the sacrifices that Ive made, and for the people that are happy and blessed through my ministry. The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration of destroying everything one of his predecessors, Olusegun Obasanjo, had achieved. Mr Ayu said this during his visit to the former President in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State, on Saturday. The opposition party chairman said the Buhari administration has plunged the country into generational debt, adding that generations unborn had been thrown into the servitude of slavery. He also blamed Mr Buhari for Nigerias reputation globally as an insecure country and the poverty capital of the world, stressing that the narration was the opposite during former President Obasanjos government. As the first President in this Republic, your period as president on the platform of PDP is seen as the golden era of the PDP and Nigeria, Mr Ayu said. Because not only did you lay the foundation to grow the economy to become the biggest in Africa, you were able to remove Nigeria from slavery by negotiating and cancelling so much of our foreign debts that would have made it very difficult to run the country. By the time you left office, Nigeria was totally set free, direct foreign investment was on the increase on a daily basis and we were respected in the international community and everywhere we went. Today, this clueless APC and President Muhammad Buhari has undone that and has plunged Nigeria into eternal debt. The new debt overhang created by this wicked government is going to create massive problems for the coming generations. Mr Ayu also claimed that Nigeria had lost its respect in the international community. I remember when I accompanied you as your minister to a number of countries Germany and India I saw the respect they accorded you and I was very proud to be a Nigerian. Today, unfortunately, we dont have the same recognition because what we have become has fallen short of good leadership that Nigeria deserves. This is on account of worsening insecurity and Buharis creation of a Nigeria regarded as poverty capital of the world. Apart from Infrastructural intervention which you did, most of the very useful institutions like EFCC, the ICPC and so on are now being used to hound people. The former minister promised Mr Obasanjo that the party would oust the ruling All Progressives Congress in the coming general election. We want to assure you that the new leadership of the PDP with the rest of PDP family will do everything possible ward to ward, local government by local government across the country to restore the lost glory of Nigeria of which your era was a shinning example because anytime we talked about the history of the PDP there is no way we talk about the PDP without mentioning between 1999 and 2007. I remain non-partisan Earlier, Mr Obasanjo told his visitors that he would be available to offer advice to people who seek it but remains committed to his stance that partisan politics was no longer for him. I have been with the party right from inception, the former president began. Whatever I do in my own life, because I became president on the platform of PDP, PDP will continue to be part of the history of my life. But having said that, the day that my ward decided to tear my PDP card was the day I ceased to be a member of PDP and that day I vowed that I will not be a member of any political party again and but I will remain a statesman in Nigeria, in West Africa, in Africa and indeed in the world. But if I retired from partisan politics, if politics is welfare of the people, I must not retire from the welfare and wellbeing of people whether in my own community, in my own state, in my own country, anywhere in Africa or indeed anywhere in the world and that is why I have the type of responsibility that I have now. I must tell you now that your own responsibility is not an easy one either, but it has to be done. In the convoy of the PDP National Chairman were the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi; former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko; National Secretary of PDP, Sam Anyanwu; Deputy National Chairman, South, Taofeek Arapaja; and former governors of Cross River and Jigawa states, Liyel Imoke and Sule Lamido. Others include the former police affairs minister, Adamu Waziri; National Women Leader of PDP, Stella Effah-Attoe; Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Iliya Damagu; former minister, Special Duties, Tanimu Kabiru Turaki; former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, and others. Advertisements Communities in Anka and Bukkuyum local government areas in Zamfara State, on Saturday, cleberated the dislodgement of bandits living in Gando forest. Residents who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES in telephone interviews said soldiers moved into the forest early Saturday morning and descended on the bandits. PREMIUM TIMES reported how bandits in Gando forest stormed several communities and burnt down five villages in the two local government areas. This newspaper also reported that 200 people were buried following the attacks that lasted for two days. Several bandits live in the forest that links the vast Kuyanbana forest from where Niger, Kaduna and Kebbi states could be accessed. A resident of Anka, who is also a security expert, Yusuf Anka, said over 100 herds of cattle were recovered from the bandits camps in the forest. A native of Gwashi community, which is at an edge of the forest, Ayuba Mohammed, told PREMIUM TIMES that the residents were jubilant because of the successes recorded by the soldiers. Some cattle were recovered and brought back to us in the village. You can hear the voices all over the place, people are happy that the bandits have been scattered and their rustled cows recovered, he said. Ibrahim Zauma, the Director-General on New Media to Governor Bello Matawalle, announced on his official Facebook page that soldiers recorded success in Bukkuyum. Alhamdu lil Lah! Terrorist bandits in Gwashi axis of Bukkuyum Local Government Area met fire and fury from the gallant Nigerian Army. Reports from the area say the bandits enclave in Gando jungle was dislodged and several terrorists were killed, he posted. No official statement has been released by the military and the state government on the operation. However, President Muhammadu Buhari had said his government has intensified efforts to defeat the terror groups operating in the area. The fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic appears to have ended in Nigeria, as the country, on Saturday, recorded 29 new infections across three states of the federation. The latest statistics released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Sunday, which indicates a significant decrease in the figure of newly confirmed cases, also confirmed that no death was recorded on Saturday. This is coming after the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, announced the end of the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the state. Statistics The disease centre noted that the fatality toll remains at 3,124 since Friday, when it recorded one death. The data shows that the infection toll has increased by 29 to 251,959, while the discharged cases stand at 225,946, with no backlog of discharged cases reported. The breakdown of the data revealed that Lagos State, the epicentre of the disease, recorded 27 of the 29 new infections, while Kano in the North-west and Rivers State in the South-south reported a single case each. NCDC also noted that four states: Anambra, Bauchi, Plateau and Sokoto reported that they recorded no cases on Saturday. Fourth wave ends Mr Abayomi on Saturday, announced the end of the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, as the daily infection figure from the virus declines. The health commissioner said there was a reduction in positivity rates of COVID-19 infection from 29.3 per cent recorded on December 21, to 1.9 per cent as of January 20. According to him, bed capacity utilisation now stands at two per cent, and fatality rate stands at 0.71 per cent. On December 7, 2021, the governor had alerted Nigerians of an impending fourth wave of the pandemic, blaming the development on the non-adherence to preventive measures by Nigerians. NCDC also confirmed the fourth wave, a few weeks after, as the country recorded a 500 per cent increase in the number of confirmed cases within two weeks. The director-general of the disease centre, Ifedayo Adefila, who announced the fourth wave in a statement, noted that the rise in infections was linked to both the Delta and Omicron variants of the rampaging virus. According to Mr Adefila, the surge in infections, which began on December 9, continued to rise with the country recording over 7,500 cases within two weeks, while the number of active COVID-19 cases skyrocketed from 3,000 to over 9,000. On January 14, a band of heavily armed men stormed Dankade town in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, killing at least 17 residents and abducting many more in a punitive expedition. The residents had refused to pay a protection levy of N25 millon imposed by the terrorists, survivors of the attack told PREMIUM TIMES. For nearly three years, residents of this town had lived under the authority of terrorists operating in Akao, a small village on the states border with Zamfara. The bandits, largely inspired by Bello Turji, a notorious banditry kingpin, are the lords in the ungoverned axis. During the raid, the bandits shot randomly at defenceless citizens and set houses and farm stores on fire in an orgy of violence that lasted several hours. Pay N25m Protection Levy or die The bandits had imposed a monthly protection levy on Dankade town, which the hapless residents had been paying through their village heads, local sources told PREMIUM TIMES. The bandits raise millions of naira monthly from the illegal taxes, from which they procure ammunition to sustain their reign of terror. This had been going on since 2020. In December 2021, the bandits upped the levy, imposing N5 million each on Klanko, KDaba, Kurgiya, Ragaam and Dankade, five neighbouring villages in the troubled area. They tasked the village heads to ensure payments before the end of the year. Particularly what they want those villages to do is that after paying the N5 million each, they should give them access to their wives and daughters, Bamaiye Aniko, a human rights activist with deep understanding of the crisis in the area, told PREMIUM TIMES. And secondly, they want to take the villagers animals anytime they want. Thats the barbaric conditions they gave them. However, feeling pressed to the wall, the frustrated villagers revolted against the new decrees. Carnage in broad daylight Around 3 p.m. on Friday January 14, the bandits emerged from their forest base in Akao and crossed into Dankade through a dried bed of a river on the Kebbi-Zamfara boundary. Their mission was to punish the villagers for their rebellion. The villagers fled into the bush on sighting the gun-wielding men. But not everyone escaped. Fourteen were caught hiding in a room, whom the bandits promptly shot or slaugthered, PREMIUM TIMES gathered from the accounts of the survivors of the attack. Four persons found in another house were also killed, taking the total of lives lost in the broad daylight massacre to 17. Many kidnapped, burnt to death The bandits also herded dozens of other villagers that they had spared death into their vehicles and drove away with them. PREMIUM TIMES could not ascertain the number of persons abducted in that incident. Survivors who spoke with our reporter in telephone interviews said the village head, Umaru Dutse, was among those abducted. Some of the abducted people were killed and burnt. The families were not even allowed to recover the corpses, Mr Aniko told PREMIUM TIMES. His claim was corroborated by several locals who do not want to be named for fear of becoming targets of new attacks. Nobody can say the number of persons abducted. It will be after some time before people will begin to look for their relatives, one of them said. However, claims that about 50 persons were killed altogether in Dankade town have been debunked by the police. Two soldiers, one police officer killed Although he was silent on the civilian casualty, the spokesperson of the police in the state, Nafiu Abubakar, in a statement said two soldiers and a police officer were killed that day at Dankade town. On hearing of the invasion, police patrol teams mobilised to the villages and engaged them in a gun duel resulting in the loss of one of our police officers and two army personnel, he said. PREMIUM TIMES obtained a picture of the fallen police officer, identified as Garba Ibrahim. Gory photos, ghost community Locals also sent several pictures taken in the village after the attack to PREMIUM TIMES. One picture shows scores of blood-soaked corpses lying on the floor. In another, some victims whose throats were said to have been slit are seen in sitting positions they were placed as the bandits watched them bleed to death. Also, a video clip shows the level of damage caused by the attack. The video shows a ghost Dankade community. Hundreds of the residents have fled their homes, relocating to other towns in the state and internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps. Advertisements Sani Ibrahim, a survivor of the attack, said bandits have made life miserable in Dankade and its communities for over three years. Speaking in an exclusive video recording he shared with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Ibrahim said he lost his entire family to the attack, as his house and other properties were burnt to dust. The bandits prevented us from working on our farms close to the river. We tried to stop them but they overpowered us; they killed and displaced as many as they could, and burnt many properties, he said with tears in his eyes. My house was the first to be burnt in the community. I dont have any other clothing apart from this one on me. I lost my family. If not because it is bad to curse the government, I would have said Gods woe be upon them. 29 kidnapped in Ayu not reported Four days after the carnage of January 14 in Dankade, the bandits raided Ayu, a community in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of the state, and abducted 29 villagers into the forest. From contacts with local sources, PREMIUM TIMES was able to compile the names of the victims of the unreported abduction. The victims are: Abubakar Gago, Kurma Abdullahi, Yusuf Barau, Saidu Garba, Ubaida Halidu, Rukaiyya Halidu, Zuwaira Halidu, Hauwa Halidu, Jamila Usman, Nafisa Garba, Jummai Adamu, Shamsiya Ibrahim, Ramat Saidu Muhammu, Larai Garba, Suwaiba Sani, Masaudu Yakubu, Halima Garba, Hamisu Musa, Lanira Hamisu, Umaima Hamisu, Abdullahi Hamisu, Jummai Hamisu, Asama u Hamisu, Iliyasu Adamu, Ibrahim Wakaso, Garba Isah, Tukur Ladan, Garba Ladan and Larai Ladan. A people left to suffer Unlike cases in other North-west states, attacks in rural Kebbi are hardly reported in the media. Over 200 lives were lost to banditry in the state in 2021 alone, PREMIUM TIMES investigaton revealed. In June 2021, anguished youth waylaid the convoy of Governor Atiku Bagudu in Waje area of the state. Mr Bagudu was returning from Danku Wasagu Local Government Area where gunmen had slaughtered about 100 residents of Gaya, a community in the area, and displaced hundreds of villagers. But, rather than allow him listen to the protesters, security agents attached to the governors convoy attacked them, causing more mayhem, according to a local newspaper in the state. Why are his soldiers shooting at us? Why cant they go and face the bandits? Why flexing muscles at harmless protesters? one of the youth was heard saying in a video. He should resign if he cannot protect the lives of people he has sworn to protect. However, the Kebbi State Commissioner for Information, Tanko Ayuba, said the government was collaborating with well-meaning individuals to assist victims of attacks, according to the Guardian newspaper. No government or human being will not be touched by what is happening in Zuru Emirate, the Commissioner said. The governor is deeply troubled by the development and he is putting in measures to assist the security personnel on the ground with more logistics and other support. PEMBROKE PINES Two men were injured in a shooting Saturday night on Interstate 75 near Sheridan Street near Pembroke Pines, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The shooter fired several rounds at a black Honda Accord at 9:16 p.m., then drove off and headed north on I-75, said Lt. Yanko Reyes, a spokesman for the agency. Advertisement The Hondas 34-year-old driver and his 24-year-old passenger were hit by gunfire. They managed to make it to a nearby gas station near the Sheridan Street exit and called police, Reyes said. Rescue crews took both shooting victims to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood. The extent of their injuries is not known. Advertisement The shooting remains under investigation. Reyes says its too soon to say whether the shooting was motivated by road rage. We should know in the next couple days, he said. Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan At least 486 people were killed in the first three weeks of 2022 by non-state actors across Nigeria, an average of 22 people a day, a PREMIUM TIMES compilation of media reports shows. Over 80 per cent of the killings were carried out by terror groups that have terrorised the North-west and North-central zones while about 50 per cent of the total killings occurred in Niger State, North-central Nigeria. Last week, the Niger State Governor, Sani Bello, announced that at least 220 people were killed in his state between January 1 and 17. Most of the killings in the state were unreported until the governors statement, an indication that the media miss some of the gruesome acts of terror groups in the country. Apart from Niger State, other states that witnessed large scale killings in the first three weeks of 2022 were Zamfara, Plateau and Kebbi. The victims were mostly unarmed civilians. PREMIUM TIMES compiled the incidents from media reports. Thus, unreported cases are not included. Week one (January 1 to 8), 216 killed In the first week of the year when President Muhammadu Buhari claimed that the country is more secure, at least 216 people were killed by armed persons. The victims include the 200 killed in Zamfara, the seven killed in Kaduna, three in Plateau, three in Akwa-Ibom and three in Ondo. Week two (January 9 to 15); Minimum 37 killed In the second week, at least 37 people were killed by non-state actors. The figures include 18 in Plateau, one in Abuja, one in Imo. and 17 in Kebbi. Week three (January 16 to 22); Minimum 13 killed In the third week, January 16 to 22, at least 13 people were killed. The figures include three persons in Kaduna, four in Ebonyi, one in Akwa-Ibom and five in Niger State. 220 in Niger In Niger State alone, at least 220 people were killed in attacks on about 300 communities this year, the state governor revealed while addressing journalists after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja. He said between January 1 and 17, the state suffered not less than 50 attacks by terror groups. He said within the same period, not less than 300 communities were invaded by armed persons. Governor Bello did not reveal the exact days and communities where the attacks occurred but said they occurred between January 1 and 17 in 300 communities in the state. Govt intensifies efforts Following the worsening insecurity in Niger State, President Buhari ordered the deployment of more troops to the states. The president, through his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said the ball had been set rolling for a major military operation in the state which had faced continued attacks on its communities by bandits and remnants of Boko Haram terrorists fleeing theatres of war in the Northwestern and Northeastern parts of the country. The Federal Government is willing to strengthen support and cooperation with all the states. I believe that with the full cooperation of the citizens, we will surely overcome this problem, Mr Buhari said. The government has also intensified efforts against the armed groups in the North-west with more troops deployment and air bombardment. Some of the leaders of the groups were killed in an airstrike by Nigerian armed forces on New Year day. However, many Nigerians believe more needs to be done to improve the security situation Gunmen last Sunday shot dead and then beheaded a man said to be a member of the Ebubeagu security operative in Ebonyi State, Nigerias South-east. Ebubeagu was set up by the Ebonyi State Government to complement the job of the police and other security agencies in checking the rising crime rates in the state. The incident occurred in Ekpelu, in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state, while the slain man has been identified as Sunday Nwafor, 30. The gunmen, over five of them, were said to have stormed the mans house at night while he was asleep and shot him dead. They dragged the body out of the room, cut off his head and took it away. The police spokesperson in Ebonyi, Loveth Odah, confirmed the incident. She said two suspects have been arrested over the killing. According to the wife who spoke to policemen, she said that before she heard a gunshot, she over-heard one of the hoodlums telling her husband that he left them in the bush and came back home to enjoy himself by collecting N30,000 from the government, the police spokesperson said. This is barbaric, she said. Ms Odah said the commissioner of police in the state has ordered an investigation into the incident and has vowed to bring to justice those responsible for it. Gunmen, in a similar manner, earlier this month killed a member of the Ebubeagu in Ebonyi and set ablaze his remains. Police investigating Ebubeagu for torture, killing Meanwhile, the police in Ebonyi State said they are investigating the torture and killing of a man identified as Akpoke Anyim in Ivo Local Government Area of the state. A clip of the incident is being circulated on Facebook and other social media platforms. The clip showed Mr Anyims hands being tied in the back, while some men, said to be members of Ebubeagu, were seen hitting him with an axe. Mr Ayim, accused of serially robbing and sexually molesting women, was said to have later died from the injuries he sustained during the torture. The police spokesperson, Ms Odah, said some arrests have been made over the incident. She confirmed that the suspects are members of the Ebubeagu managed by Ivo local council. Nobody has a right to take a life, no matter the offence the person committed. The police in totality condemn jungle justice, self-help, brutality of any kind, she said. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari over secrecy in the spending of loans so far obtained, the unsustainable level of borrowing by the government and the 36 states, debt crisis, and the disproportionately negative impact of these retrogressive measures on poor Nigerians. In the suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/05/22 filed last week before the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, SERAP is seeking: An order directing and compelling the Federal Government to issue an immediate moratorium on borrowing by itself, and the 36 states, in conformity with the countrys international human rights obligations. SERAP is also seeking an order directing and compelling the Federal Government to publish details of spending of the loans obtained by governments since 1999 including the list of projects and locations of any such projects on which these loans have been spent. In the suit filed by SERAP on behalf of concerned Nigerians, the organisation contends that Persistent and unsustainable borrowing by the federal and state governments and the crippling debt burden undermine the rights of Nigerians to economic and social development, and are antithetical to the public interest. SERAP is arguing that The crippling debt burden is a human rights issue within the jurisdiction of the ECOWAS Court because when the entire country is burdened by unsustainable debts, there will be little money left to ensure access of poor and vulnerable Nigerians to legally enforceable socio-economic rights. SERAP is also arguing that There is lack of transparency and accountability in the spending of the loans so far obtained, and opacity around the terms and conditions in loan agreements, including repayment details for these loans. The details of the projects on which the loans are spent are shrouded in secrecy. SERAP is also seeking an order directing and compelling the Federal Government to conduct an assessment of the borrowing by governments since 1999 to address the dire consequences of unsustainable debts on people and communities and to ensure that borrowing at all levels of government considers the human rights impacts. In the suit filed by SERAPs lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi, the organisation contends that Long-term unsustainable debt can be a barrier to the governments ability to mobilize resources for human rights, and may lead to taxes and user fees that impact negatively on vulnerable and marginalized Nigerians. The suit, read in part: If not addressed, the escalating borrowing and looming debt crisis would cripple the ability of both the Federal Government and the 36 states to deliver ensure basic socio-economic rights, such as quality healthcare, education, and clean water of the most vulnerable and marginalized sectors of the population. Without a moratorium on borrowing, the Federal Government and many of the 36 states may be caught in a process driven mostly by creditors needs. This will result in an exorbitant social cost for the marginalized and vulnerable sectors of the population. The ability of the Nigerian government to ensure human rights is inextricably related to the ability to spend needed resources. Growing debt burdens and debt repayment difficulties will have negative impacts on the ability of the Defendant to fulfill the basic socio-economic rights of poor and vulnerable Nigerians. Sustainable debt management by the Federal Government and state governments will contribute to mobilizing resources for human rights and essential public services, and promote a culture of responsible borrowing. The Federal Government and many of the 36 states would seem to be in debt distress or at high risk of debt distress. According to reports, the Senate and House of Representatives recently approved the loans of $5,803,364,553.50 and a grant component of $10m under the 2018-2020 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan of the Federal Government. This followed previous approvals by the National Assembly of $16.2 (16,230,077,718) billion loan; 1 (1,020,000,000) million and a grant component of $125 million loan; $36.8 billion, 910 million loans, and a grant component of $10 million; $8.3 billion and 490 million loans; $6.1 billion, $1.5 billion and 995 million loans; and $4(4,054,476,863), 710 million and grant component of $125 million. Several of the 36 states are also facing a debt crisis and vicious debt cycles. According to the Debt Management Office, the foreign debt stock of the Federal Government, 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory presently stands at $37.9bn. The loans from China alone amount to $3.59bn. According to the UN Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights, Nigeria faces debt service relative to tax revenues that exceed 20 per cent, with escalating social tensions linked to poverty and inequality. According to the World Banks IDA FY21 Report, with debt exposure of $11.7 Billion US Dollars, Nigeria ranked fifth among the top 10 countries with highest debt risk exposure. The top four countries are India with $22 billion, Bangladesh ($18.1 Billion), Pakistan ($16.4 Billion), and Vietnam ($14.1 Billion). While it is critical for the Federal Government and state governments to have adequate resources to fund their budgets, it is equally critical for governments to give consideration to the human rights impact of borrowing. Persistent borrowing is inconsistent with the countrys human rights obligations. SERAP is also asking the ECOWAS Court for the following reliefs: A DECLARATION that the failure of the Defendant to halt the persistent and unsustainable borrowing amounts to a breach of the Plaintiffs and other Nigerians rights to the enjoyment of socio-economic rights, and development, as guaranteed under articles 2, 9, 11, 12 and 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and articles 2, 15, 16, 17, 22 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. A DECLARATION that the failure of the Defendant to halt the persistent and unsustainable borrowing amounts to a fundamental breach of Nigerias human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. AN ORDER directing and compelling the Defendant to adopt and ensure effective measures to address transparency and accountability gaps in spending of loans, and the systemic and widespread corruption in ministries, departments and agencies, as documented by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, including in the 2019 Audited Report. AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the Defendant and its agents from embarking on unsustainable borrowing until the human rights impact assessment of the previous borrowing is conducted and recommendations fully implemented. SUCH FURTHER orders the Honorable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this suit. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit. The member representing Nassarawa Federal Constituency of Kano State in the House of Representatives, Nasiru Ahmad, has called on the state government to convene a security summit to address the rising cases of missing children in the state. Mr Ahmad said this on Saturday, following the murder earlier in the week of Hanifa Abubakar, a five-year-old schoolgirl, by her teacher. The lawmaker said he has petitioned the National Assembly over the disappearance and killing of children in his constituency. Nassarawa Local Government Area has seen cases of disappearance of children rise, with one John Onne recently sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping a child. Mr Ahmad, who spoke during a condolence visit to Hanifas family, said his petition requested the House of Representatives to prevail on the federal government to take drastic measures to arrest the phenomenon. I have already petitioned the National Assembly and followed it with another moves to convene a security summit that will see chief imams, pastors, district and village heads coming together to tackle the disturbing scenario, the lawmaker said. Mr Ahmad said the number of missing children in his constituency is alarming and called for immediate action to curtail it. We cannot fold our hands and allow children being stolen and even killed by some disgruntled elements who are hell-bent on creating chaos and uncertainty amongst us. We must take all necessary measures to stop it, he said. Let me assure you that this matter of Hanifa Abubakar would never be swept under the carpet. We will follow it to its logical conclusion and ensure justice to the deceased Hanifa. That is why I have written a personal petition to the National Assembly to have the full support of my colleagues in fighting this troubling scenario disturbing my federal constituency, he said. Mr Ahmad said he would suspend most of his activities to ensure that the security summit is quickly convened and achieves the desired results. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says over 300 lives were lost in various road accidents in Ogun State in 2021. Ahmed Umar, the FRSC sector commander in the state, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Sunday and signed by the commands public education officer, Florence Okpe. Mr Umar explained that 1,200 people were involved in the various road accidents with over 200 vehicles involved. He noted that speed violation which was due to human error accounted for over 77 per cent of accidents in the state in 2021. The FRSC head revealed that Sienna vehicles also referred to as space buses had high involvement in the crashes during the year under review. The year 2021 was characterised by an upsurge in Road Traffic Crashes in Ogun state. Against this backdrop, the FRSC in Ogun has initiated plans to reduce Road Traffic Crashes . The command will deploy Radar Guns for speed detection and control. Also, it will sustain the enforcement of the installation of Speed Limiting Devices in commercial vehicles as a whole and by extension Sienna vehicles which have been observed to have high involvement in crashes. The enforcement which is scheduled to take effect as soon as possible, will be collaboratively carried out with other sister agencies like the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police among others. The operation is scheduled to hold across the state especially the major corridors. Radar guns will be used to check the speed of vehicles and detect any erring motorists, he said. Mr Umar advised commercial motorists especially owners of Sienna vehicles to install speed limiting devices in their vehicles and desist from acts that could pose as threats to them and other road users. (NAN) Activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has threatened to sue the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) over alleged unlawful and unconstitutional deactivation of his National Identity Number (NIN). Mr Sowore, a former presidential candidate, issued the threat in a pre-action notice sent by his lawyer, Tope Temokun, to the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NIMC. The lawyer, in the pre-action notice, demanded the reactivation of Mr Sowores NIN within seven days, failing which, he threatened, he would sue the agency for a redress. TAKE NOTICE that if after the expiration of SEVEN DAYS, inclusive of the date of service of this letter on you, our clients National Identity Number (NIN) is not reactivated, we have the full instruction of our client to approach the appropriate court with jurisdiction to seek this redress and this shall be without further recourse to you, the January 14, 2022 letter read in part. As the seven-day ultimatum issued in the letter lapsed on Friday without his demand met, Mr Temokun told our reporter on Saturday that his client would be suing the agency this coming week. Copied the pre-action notice sent to NIMC are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Security Adviser, State Security Service (SSS) and the Chief of Defence Staff. How deactivation of NIN was discovered Mr Temokun recalled that Mr Sowore had been using his NIN for various transactions since it was issued to him for purposes including application for and issuance of a passport, opening of bank account, registration with INEC and issuance of voters card. He said his client surprisingly learnt of the deactivation of his NIN on January 12 when he wanted to use it for a transaction. On January 12, 2022, when he wanted to use his National Identity Number to effect certain banking transaction, he discovered to his greatest consternation that his National Identity Number has been deactivated from the National Identity Database. No notice was issued to him neither did he receive any message from the National Identity Management Commission concerning the deactivation of his National Identity Number. He added: The deactivation of his National Identity Number is politically motivated to stop him from participating in the 2023 generation elections. Mr Sowore had told our reporter in an earlier interview that the NIN deactivation affected his permanent voter card, passport and driving licence. He also said a Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) official had told him on January 10 that there is a recently renewed freeze order served on the bank by DSS (SSS). He recalled that his passport had been seized by the Federal High Court in Abuja as a condition for the bail granted him in his ongoing trial on charges of treasonable felony. He noted that although he did not have a driving licence, it would be impossible to get one without an active NIN should he have a need for it. Background Sahara Reporters had reported on earlier on January 12, 2022 that Mr Sowores biometric identifications had been deactivated, and he would be unable to use any of the national documents to conduct any transactions within or outside the country. The report described the development as Nigerian governments latest attack on Mr Sowore. Legal action will definitely be taken as this infringes on the broader Citizenship right, Mr Sowore had told our reporter. NIMCs spokesperson, Kayode Adegoke, could not be reached for comments, as he did not pick our reporters repeated calls or reply the text messages sent to him. But the spokesperson of the National Immigration Service (NIS), the governments agency that issues passports to Nigerian citizens, Amos Okpu said he had no information regarding the alleged deactivation of Mr Sowores passport. SSS operatives, in a gestapo manner, arrested Mr Sowore in Lagos in August 2019 after he called for a nationwide #RevolutionNow protest against bad governance, corruption and worsening insecurity in the country under President Muhammadu Buharis watch. The federal government subsequently charged him with treasonable felony, accusing him of trying to overthrow Mr Buhari. He was charged along with a protester, Olawale Bakare, who was arrested by the SSS in Osun State. Both men were subsequently granted bail by the court. As part of the bail conditions, the court restricted Mr Sowore to Abuja. It also restricted Mr Bakare to Osogbo and can only leave the Osun State capital only when travelling to Abuja for his trial. Advertisements But since then, Mr Sowore has been participating in many protests in Abuja. He has been arrested temporarily and on an occasion for days during some of the protests. Mr Sowore has, on numerous occasions, raised the alarm over repeated coordinated attacks on him by alleged hired thugs during protests and appearances in court. The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to lift the restrictions it placed on the bank accounts of a businessman and his company, Nkrah Marine Limited. In the judgement delivered on January 18, 2022, the judge, Mobolaji Olajuwon, also ordered the commission to pay N5 million to both Eno Williams and his firm. Mr Williams and his company had sued ICPC over the Post No Debit (PND) order placed on their bank accounts since October 14, 2021 on the instruction of the anti-corruption agency. They sued, along with ICPC, the two banks, First City Monumental Bank Limited, and Zenith Bank Plc, which froze their accounts at the behest of ICPC. The plaintiffs indicated in the suit, filed on November 2, 2021, that the case being investigated by the commission was a debt recovery issue, which they said was a fallout of a commercial transaction between them and a firm, Shinning Light Interbiz Limited. They contended that the ICPCs action was unlawful and void as the commission had no investigative powers over the issue of debt recovery. They urged the court to declare that the restrictions placed on their accounts and their continued denial of access to the accounts constituted a violation of their fundamental rights to own property. They also pleaded with the court to order the restrictions be removed immediately. Delivering judgement in the case on January 18, the court agreed with the plaintiffs that the PND order and their continued denial of access to operate their accounts since October 14, 2021 are unlawful, void and in gross violation of applicants fundamental right to own property and pursue development of their economic and social interests. The court also directed the respondents ICPC and the two banks to remove the restrictions placed on the applicants bank accounts immediately. It also ordered ICPC to pay N5 million to the applicants as compensation for freezing the accounts of the applicants unlawfully. Mr Olajuwon ruled that the two banks could not be held liable for the blocking of the bank accounts of the applicants without the backing of a court order, citing section 45(2) of the ICPC Act which frees banks, their agents of employees of any liability for complying with the anti-corruption agencys instruction to place a PND on a bank account. Why ICPCs action is unlawful The judge ruled that ICPC was wrong to instruct the banks to freeze the accounts of the applicants disregarding their appeal pending at the Court of Appeal to challenge their invitation by the commission for investigation. ICPC claimed it only froze the accounts of the applicants after they refused to honour its invitation for interrogation over a petition it received from a lawyer to Shinning Light Interbiz Limited in 2017. It said the petition accused the applicants of criminal conversion and fraud and showed elements of corrupt practices. It added that Nkrah Marine Limited honoured the first invitation but shunned the subsequent ones and disrupted investigations. But the judge, in his judgement, said the anti-graft agency should not have gone ahead to freeze the accounts of the applicants after being aware of the applicants suit challenging its power to invite them for investigations over a commercial transaction. The 1st respondent (ICPC) admitted knowing that the challenge to the invitation extended to the applicants was on the basis that the 1st respondent lacked authority to investigate the matter in issue between the applicants and Shinning light Interbiz Limited, the court noted. It added, As things stand therefore, the issue of the challenge to the authority of the 1st respondent to invite the applicants, on the basis that the 1st respondent does not have the power to investigate the petition received by it as same allegedly emanated from a commercial transaction is still a live issue pending at the Court of Appeal. It would therefore follow that anything that has to do with the invitation and investigation must be put on hold pending the outcome of the appeal so as not to foist on the Court of Appeal a fait accompli. ICPC was established by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on September 29, 2000, with the mission of receiving and investigating accusations of corruption and, if necessary, prosecuting the perpetrator(s). The commission is also charged with examining, reviewing, and enforcing the correction of public bodies corruption-prone systems and procedures in order to eradicate corruption in public life, as well as educating and enlightening the public on and against corruption and related offenses in order to enlist and foster public support for the fight against corruption. Soldiers supported by vigilantes on Saturday night rescued a politician and his family members after engaging bandits in a gun battle in which several bandits were killed. Sources in Gusau, the state capital of Zamfara State, told PREMIUM TIMES on phone that the politician, Aminu Adamu, had been abducted in his house in Mareri quarters of the city. Mr Adamu, who is popularly known as Papa, is the Managing Director of the Zamfara State Transport Authority and a close ally of Governor Bello Matawalle. A resident of the area, Zayyanu Muhammad, told this reporter that the bandits came on their motorcycles and stormed the Mareri quarters, where Mr Adamu lives with his family. Papa was not the target. It was Barrister Hafiz Sufyan that they targeted but he was not at home. It was around 12:30 a.m and even when they went into Papas house they kept asking him the whereabouts of his neighbour, Barrister Hafiz Sufyan, but he told them he was not in town. They said they were informed that Barrister was at home. They then took him and his family members. By then, people of the area had informed the vigilante members on the main road, who confronted the bandits, he said. Mr Muhammad added that the vigilante members pursued the bandits outside the quarters, forcing them to release the politicians two wives and children and flee with him. Another source , who lives in the area, Ashafa Sani, said he heard heavy gunshots as soldiers engaged the bandits. I was watching films around 1 a. m. when I started hearing heavy gunshots. It was terrifying but thanks to Allah, the man has been saved, he said Mr Dani said Mr Adamu was shot twice on the leg during the gun battle and has been taken to the hospital. I think when the soldiers came and it was obvious that they had been rounded up, the bandits decided to kill Papa because they shot him twice in the leg. The soldiers rescued him and taken him to the hospital. I was at the hospital this afternoon to see him because he is my neighbour, he said. Mr Muhammad said many bandits were killed, including a woman. Their corpses are at Federal Medical Centre, Gusau. I saw the dead bodies all of them were young people. We were told that only two of the bandits escaped, he added. Days after his abrupt resignation as president of Florida International University, Mark Rosenberg gave a bit more insight into why he stepped down Friday, leaving many stunned. Advertisement In a statement released Sunday, Rosenberg admitted to causing discomfort for a valued colleague by unintentionally creating emotional [not physical] entanglement. Rosenberg, university president since 2009, included an apology to the FIU community in his statement. Advertisement I have apologized, he said. I apologize to you. I take full responsibility and regret my actions. Rosenbergs statement did not name the employee or disclose details on what happened between them. A university spokeswoman declined to comment Sunday. According to the Miami Herald, the employee was a woman in her 20s who informed a colleague in mid-December that Rosenberg had made overtures in three separate instances, saying that he loved her, wanted to be with her and would take care of her. Each time he would apologize and promise it wouldnt happen again, the Herald reported. After the conversation with her colleague, she went to Rosenberg and said she could no longer work with him because he made her uncomfortable. It was at that point, according to the Herald, that Rosenberg informed university officials of the situation. Advertisement Rosenberg, 72, said he reported what happened with his co-worker to university officials and decided to resign after consulting with Dean Colson, chairman of the FIU Board of Trustees and a prominent Miami product-liability attorney. Mark B. Rosenberg, President of Florida International University, poses in front of the Steven and Dorothea Green Library located at the FIU Modesto Maidique Campus in Miami, on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. (Pedro Portal /Miami Herald via AP) (Pedro Portal/AP) Juggling challenges Rosenberg mentioned his wife and her declining health, saying that affected his own mental health. Until very recently, I had been blessed with the ability to juggle the challenges that come with my position at FIU and the needs of my bride of 47 years: Rosalie, a Type 1 diabetic on insulin for 45 years, has advanced dementia, M.S. and is largely wheelchair bound, he wrote. I have been her nightly caregiver for over a decade. Rosenberg said his wifes condition has worsened in the past few months, prompting him to seek help from a mental health professional. He remains under a specialists care, he said. In Sundays statement, Rosenberg said he was hoping to provide more clarity about his unexpected exit. Rosenberg had been a fixture at FIU since 1976, when he joined the faculty as an assistant professor of political science. Advertisement On Friday, he sent a letter to the FIU community citing his own recurring personal health issues and his wifes declining health as the reasons for his departure. Future plans? In Fridays parting message, Rosenberg said he planned to stay on as a professor at FIU. It was unclear on Sunday whether that was still the case. [ RELATED: FIU President Mark Rosenberg abruptly resigns, citing health reasons ] Rosenberg said he was in the grip of mental health challenges. While we have spent years drawing attention to the impact of mental health challenges, I can give personal testimony to the reality of this menace, he wrote. I encourage your empathy and action with those who around you who may need additional help and support. For those of you inquiring I am currently receiving mental health counseling and seeking stress relief, and additional help for Rosalie and our family as we move through the inevitable progression of her condition. I regret that I may have burdened you with these details. We all want the same thing: a better, more robust and thriving FIU. I believe that this message should provide clarity. Colson released a statement Sunday explaining why the board was tight-lipped about Rosenbergs sudden resignation on Friday. Advertisement The statement by Dr. Rosenberg provides greater insight into his resignation on Friday, he said. It also provides insight into why the Board did not believe Friday was the appropriate time to celebrate the many accomplishments of FIU the past 13 years. We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the events requiring his resignation. FIU will not comment further at this time out of respect for the unnamed staffers privacy, Colson said. FIU has strong personnel and workplace conduct policies, takes all workplace conduct seriously, and remains committed to enforcing its policies thoroughly and swiftly, he wrote. On Friday, the universitys board of trustees held an emergency meeting and appointed Kenneth Jessell as interim president. Jessell has been FIUs chief financial officer since 2009 and also served as the universitys senior vice president for finance and administration. Jessells interim appointment will need to be approved by the state university systems Board of Governors. Advertisement A stellar career According to a timeline published by the Miami Herald, Rosenberg graduated in 1971 with a bachelors degree from Miami University of Ohio. In 1976 he earned his doctorate in political science from the University of Pittsburgh and was hired by FIU that same year as an assistant professor. He left FIU in 2005 to become chancellor of the State University System of Florida, which oversees the states public universities. He returned in 2009 to become the universitys fifth president, beating out more than 34 candidates. Two years later, FIU opened its downtown Brickell campus. Last year, FIU jumped 17 spots to No. 78 in the annual ranking of U.S. colleges and universities by U.S. News & World Report. Advertisement Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@SunSentinel.com or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan Has Festus Adedayo exhibited similar character and principled conduct over the years? Was he displaying character and moral integrity when he served as media aide for eight years in an administration accused of some of the worst forms of corruption and violence against opponents in this dispensation? Was he displaying consistency of character when he worked for over three years as Chairman, Editorial Board, in a newspaper founded by this same Tinubu he holds in such revulsion? Regardless of his proclivities for misdirected mischief you must give it to him. Festus Adedayo, political scientist, lawyer, journalist and Tribune columnist has impressive academic and professional credentials. He is also a good prose stylist. For years, I have considered Festus to be not just a friend and professional colleague but also a brother. As the Chief Press Secretary to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he was governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2005, Festus who was then the Features Editor of the Nigerian Tribune was one of the most frequent visitors to my office at the Lagos State government Secretariat, Alausa. On a number of the several occasions that Festus visited my office from his base in Ibadan, I would ensure he met either the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, or the governor directly. It was our practice to bring leading journalists and columnists face to face with the governor so that they could debate him on issues and he could also have access to views from outside those of us serving in government. Against this background, I find Adedayos column of last Sunday titled Why Tinubu Must Never be President of Nigeria curious and inaccurate in a number of respects. Naturally, as Features Editor, the controversies raging around discrepancies in the information supplied in the governors INEC form was of professional interest to him. But it was not an overriding or consuming passion for him contrary to the impression he sought to create. I cannot recall any occasion when he visited my office with the intention of investigating issues surrounding Tinubus certificates or the institutions he attended. And there was no time he had any difficulties seeing me, the commissioner and, if necessary, the governor on issues of interest to him. As Features Editor of the Tribune, he wrote regularly on the policies and programmes of the state government. However, those who worked daily and consistently on issues affecting Lagos State were the Tribunes full time Lagos State government correspondent based in Alausa and the Lagos City Editor based on Lagos Island. I must admit that because of our friendship, I was partial towards Festus in channeling most of the governors office adverts meant for the Tribune titles through him, rather than the newspapers accredited correspondent at Alausa. And as was my practice then, I never deducted any commissions from these adverts. If Festus will be honest, he will admit that he has profusely expressed his gratitude to me each time we have met. I have uncharacteristically gone into these personal details to show that the relationship between Festus and the Tinubu administration was quite close and not as adversarial as he tried to portray it in his column. The exaggerated, arrogant and hypocritical sense of moral integrity and self righteousness exhibited throughout Mr Adedayos column in question is so unlike the ever humble and unassuming Festus I used to know and there is just no basis for this. Of course, the questions about Tinubus certificates, institutions and age raised by Mr Adedayo are critical and cannot be ignored, especially by someone who wants to be president of Nigeria. But Festuss column is even more baffling because he is in a position to know and I am convinced that he does know that these questions have been thoroughly investigated and conclusively addressed by the appropriate institutional authority legally competent to do so. What then could be his motive? I cannot pretend to know. Shortly after he was sworn in as governor of Lagos State in May 1999, there were allegations widely published in the media that Tinubu had perjured and forged the credentials that qualified him to run for the gubernatorial election in the state. The allegations were contained in a petition dated August 12, 1999, written by one Alhaji Jameed Seriki of No. 62 Balogun Street, West, Lagos, and one Dr Waliu Balogun-Smith of No. 5, Unity Road, Ikeja. The kernel of their allegations were: (1) that there was a discrepancy in the age of the governor since the profile published during his inauguration stated that he was born in 1952 and the age on his transcript at the Chicago State University claimed that he was born in 1954; (2) that the governor did not attend Government College, Ibadan, as was stated in his profile and INEC FORM CF.001; and (3) the governor did not attend University of Chicago as claimed in INEC FORM CF and an affidavit sworn to at the Ikeja High Court of Justice on 29th December 1998. It was unanimously agreed by all legal authorities that the governor enjoyed legal immunity courtesy Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution and that the Lagos State House of Assembly was the only competent institution that could investigate the governor and take punitive action against him if he was deemed to have committed acts constituting gross misconduct. Consequently, following a motion moved by Honourable Tajudeen Jaiyeola Agoro representing Lagos Mainland Constituency, the Speaker, Dr Adeleke Olorunimbe Mamora, on Tuesday, September 21, 1999, set up a five-man ad hoc committee to investigate the allegations and report back to the House. The committee comprised Hon. Babajide Omoworare (Chairman), Hon. Thomas Ayodele Fadeyi, Hon. Adeniyi Akinmade, Hon. Ibrahim Gbola Gbabijo and Hon Saliu Olaitan Mustapha. In its report to the House, the Committee stated that The Committee deemed it fit to invite the petitioners and therefore wrote the petitioners. The letters were sent by courier. The petitioners did not attend the hearing and we have not heard from them up till now. We visited their address at 62 Balogun Street, West, Lagos and 5, Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, September 22, 1999 and found out that the petitioners neither reside nor carry on any business at the addresses. Hence, we concluded that the petition was written in fictitious names. Attached herewith and marked Annexures 1 and 2 are pictures of the buildings bearing the above addresses taken when the Committee visited the addresses. Also attached and marked Annexxures 3 and 4 are copies of the evidence of courier of the letters forwarded to the fictitious Petitioners. Despite this, the Committee continued with its investigation. Continuing, the committee stated in its report that The Committee invited Editors of ThisDay Newspaper because of the prominence, which they have given to the publication of the allegations. The Editors of ThisDay visited us informally, refusing to oblige our invitation and informing us that they would rely on their publications. The governor appeared before the Committee on Thursday, September 23, 1999, alongside his counsel Mr Femi Falana, who was then not yet a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). According to the report, The Governor of Lagos State started his evidence by admitting full responsibility for some of the needless errors being pointed at in recent publications and which formed the basis of allegations against him. The governor told the Committee that as a result of the acrimonious primaries of the Alliance for Democracy in Lagos State and its attendant crisis, the information contained in both the INEC form and affidavit of loss of certificates was supplied by Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi. The governor then submitted to the Committee a copy of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) senatorial candidate form dated June 1, 1992, which he used to contest the 1992 senatorial election as candidate of the party for Lagos West. In the form, which he personally filled, the governor attached the certificates of Richard Daley College and Chicago State University. For his educational qualifications he filled B.Sc Accounting only. According to the committee report, This according to him demonstrated that needless errors spotted in the 1999 INEC form were not consistent and that they were genuine errors. He further directed the attention of the committee to the INEC form CFO1 that bore a wrong date of twenty-eight December 1999 instead of twenty-eight December 1998. The error he said was made by INEC which printed the form. And not even the Commissioner of Oath detected the error. This in his view further confirmed that the hurried and confused manner under which the preparations for the governorship primaries of 1998 were gave room to error on all sides. Giving further insight into their interaction with the governor, the committee report stated: The Governor spoke about his difficult and traumatic youth and how he scaled the hurdles of life as a self made man. After his primary education, the Governor said he was admitted into secondary school but he could not further his education because of his poverty. The Governor thus had to engage in menial jobs before he proceeded to the United States of America in search of the Golden Fleece. The Governor informed us that in America, he undertook various odd jobs and tried to improve himself academically. After five years of the most harrowing work experience, the Governor said he enrolled at Richard Daley College in Chicago, which among others offers basic, remedial and academic classes, preparatory to entering Chicago State University. He presented a photocopy of a certificate issued by Richard Daley College (City Colleges of Chicago), a copy of which is attached as herewith and marked as Annexure 5. Throughout the time he studied in Chicago, the Governor said he also had to fend for himself and that he actually paid his way through school by working extra hours as a tutor in the same university. He said he studied for extra hours especially during summer. The Governor said 27 (twenty seven) credit hours were transferred from Richard Daley College to Chicago State University, where he obtained Bachelor of Science in Business and Administration. His major was in Accounting. To back up his claims, Tinubu provided the committee with at least 11 documents, which were attached to its report as annexures. These included a copy of a letter dated September 6, 1978, written by Andrew F. Sikula, Dean, College of Business Administration informing Mr. Bola Tinubu that he had made the Deans honours list by making a 3.50 or better grade point average; an inter-office memorandum of Chicago State University dated May 28, 1979 written by one Clyde Smith to the Honours Award Committee recommending Bola A. Tinubu as recipient of the outstanding senior award; copies of May/June 1979 edition of the TEMPO, Chicago State University Campus journal covering Chicago State University Annual Awards Ceremony. Bola Tinubu was described as the President of the Accounting Society and was also running for Student Government Association presidency; a Chicago State University statement issued by the Accounts Receivable Department on June 15, 1979 with his social security number; the Chicago State University Certificate dated 22nd June 1979 conferring on Bola A. Tinubu the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business and Administration (Accounting with honours); a copy of Chicago State University year book with the picture of Bola A. Tinubu on page 75; Chicago State University academic record transcript dated 11th July 1979; a Chicago State University letter dated August 20th 1999 addressed To Whom It May Concern advising that Bola A. Tinubu did indeed attend Chicago State University from August 1977 through June 1979; his pay slips when he worked as an accountant with Deloitte Haskins & Sells and at GTE Services Corporation before returning to Nigeria; a copy of Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc Certificate of Service dated 14th May 1992 issued in favour of Mr. B. A. Tinubu and a letter written by Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc dated December 29th, 1998, addressed to whom it may concern confirming that Mr Tinubu was an employee of the company between December 1, 1983 and May 17, 1992. When he appeared before the Committee on Friday, September 24, 1999, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, according to the committees report, informed the committee that he was heading the unit of the Governors campaign responsible for processing the form and he accepted responsibilities for the mistakes in the INEC forms. He said the forms were filled for the Governor in a rush and under tense circumstances at a point when there were problems and crises in the party, Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Lagos State during the gubernatorial primary electioneering campaigns. He said as a result of the crises they had very little time to fill and process the INEC form. He said the Governor also hurriedly signed the forms so as to beat the deadline given by INEC for the submission of all forms. It was the legal opinion of Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) who accompanied Senator Afikuyomi to the proceedings, as cited in the committees report, that even if the allegations against the Executive Governor of Lagos State are true, they are not impeachable offenses as the Lagos State House of Assembly only possesses power to impeach for gross misconduct in relation to his conduct while in office; that it is more of a moral matter than a legal issue. He suggested that the governor should apologise to the people of Lagos State concerning the mistakes he made in his forms, which were not intentional. Chief Gani Fawehimmi whose testimony is also contained in the committees report was of the view that the primary duty of the Lagos State House of Assembly is to determine if any law has been breached by the Lagos State Governor at this stage and not to determine the impeachment of the Governor now. He said the House of Assembly must find out if the Governor has committed any crime against the laws of Lagos State. The issue, according to him, is that there are 2 (two) affidavits deposed to by the Governor of Lagos State and false declaration has been established. Finally, Chief Fawehinmi summed up his evidence by stating that Governor Bola Tinubu volunteered false information on oath to enable him contest for the post of Governor of Lagos State. In his written defence on behalf of Tinubu before the panel, his counsel, Mr Femi Falana, addressed the various allegations against the governor. On the issue of perjury, Mr Falana submitted that Since no iota of evidence has been led to show that the facts contained in the affidavits in dispute were given in the course of judicial proceedings or in anticipation of judicial proceedings, the offence of perjury cannot be sustained in the circumstances of this case. On alleged forgery, he submitted that From the facts of this case, no evidence has been led to show that Governor Tinubu presented a forged certificate to INEC. And in fact, Governor Tinubu never presented any forged certificate to INEC. On the allegation of inaccurate information, Mr Falana argued that We urge the committee to believe the oral evidence of Governor Tinubu that it was Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi that filled Form CF001 on his behalf and supplied the information contained in the affidavit dated 29th of December, 1998 to Barrister Oriola. This aspect of the Governors evidence has been corroborated by Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi who took responsibility for the errors contained in both documents. He also stated that Perhaps to convince the committee that the Governor did not set out to give false information to INEC, the committee may wish to examine the contents of a similar form dated June 1, 1992 filled by the Governor himself when he was contesting election to the Senate. The Governor did not, on his own, supply the information, which has formed the basis of the allegation of false information. In any case, since Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi has admitted that the errors were made by him and not by the governor, we submit that the Governor should not be penalized in the circumstances of this case. Mr Falana also addressed at length, issues raised regarding Tinubus age declaration. He wrote in his statement to the committee and contained in its report that, From all the documents tendered before the committee, it is abundantly clear that the alleged false declaration of age as per the documents submitted to INEC before the election is an isolated inconsistency. In other words, whereas all the other documents contain one and identical age i.e. 1952, the academic transcript of Chicago State University (which was not made under oath and which could not be elevated to the pedestal of a sworn-declaration) in which 1954 was given as the date of birth of the Governor stands alone. It is predominantly clear, therefore, that taken together the age-claim of the Governor, which he has continued to maintain, and the age contained in the other documents tendered, 1952 is the correct and accurate birth year of the Governor. Beyond this, Mr Falana submitted to the committee that Assuming without accepting that the 1954 birth year contained in the transcript is the actual birth year of the Governor, does it affect his eligibility as the Executive Governor of Lagos State as regards age-qualification? Under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to be eligible to contest as a Governor of a state, a contestant, among other requirements, must be 35 years of age. Even if the Governor was born in 1954, he was qualified on age ground, to contest the gubernatorial elections when he did. In conclusion, it is an incontrovertible fact that the inconsistency of the Governors age contained in the said transcript with that contained in the Governors other documents did not secure for him any advantage in the elections that brought him to office. Furthermore, the said age did not render him ineligible as Governor. From a legal standpoint, no offence could be said to have been committed. The Governor did not prepare the transcript. It cannot be argued at all that the Governor set out to mislead the electorate or deceive INEC to secure a clearance therefrom. To further aid its work, the Committee sought the legal opinion and advice of some renowned legal practitioners. These were Chief Fred Agbaje, a prominent constitutional lawyer; Deacon Dele Adesina, then the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch; Mr Olisa Abgakoba, constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Mr Nurudeen Ogbara, then the Executive Secretary of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADL). I can only present here brief extracts from the detailed presentations of these legal luminaries to the Committee as contained in the latters report. Chief Fred Agbaje, according to the report, was of the opinion that if it has not been contested that the Governor attended Richard Daley College and the Chicago State University and obtained a degree, he is qualified for the post of Governor of Lagos State. He said the minimum requirement is school certificate in both the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the INEC requirement form. He concluded that since the Governor did not fill the form himself, but was helped by his aide who later admitted he made some mistakes, the crime of the litigant should not be visited on the client. On the legal opinion of Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), the Committee report states among others that, He said there are two limbs to subsection 11 of Section 188. The first limb is an objective test i.e. a grave violation or breach of the provisions of the constitution. It is for the House to determine if the allegations against the Governor, if established, amount to a grave violation or breach of the constitution. Whether or not the allegations amount to a violation of his oath of office falls within discretion of this House under the second limb which is a subjective test i.e misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion of the House of Assembly to gross misconduct. Among other submissions, Deacon Dele Adesinas opinion to the Committee was that Indeed, the Governor is still competent and qualified to be eligible to contest for the post of the Governor since the law says the minimum requirement is a school certificate. So, by having a certificate from Richard Daley College and a degree from Chicago State University, the Governor is qualified to contest for the post of a Governor. And in his legal advice to the Committee, the report cites Mr Nurudeen Ogbara as stating, among others, that On the issues of whether the Governor gained an advantage or not, Mr Ogbara said that the Governor could not have deliberately lied on oath since he is qualified whether he was born in 1952 or 1954. He could not see the advantage the Governor sought to have since he also had the minimum educational requirement. Furthermore, Mr Ogbara said assuming Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi was responsible for the errors on the affidavit, to show there was no intention to cheat or gain an advantage, he could have advised the Governor to do a further affidavit superseding the one earlier sworn to. Advertisements Based on all these considerations, the Committee found on the allegation of perjury that, It is clear that since the alleged incorrect statements were not made for the purpose of judicial proceedings, there could be no perjury by Law. However, on the question of providing false information on oath (sections 191 & 192) we are satisfied that the statements of the Governors educational qualifications which he has admitted were incorrect, were not intended to confer any special advantage and in fact did not confer any advantage on the Governor in his bid for the governorship of Lagos State. The minimum requirement of age and educational qualifications were met by him. The electoral forms, which were filled by him in 1992 for the senatorial race did not contain any of these incorrect statements. Only his basic qualification was stated. This in our view confirms that there was no intention to deceive or defraud by the statements contained in the INEC forms filled for the gubernatorial race. The Committees finding on the allegation of forgery was that We have NO evidence that any forged document was presented to INEC. The only certificate presented to INEC was a transcript of Chicago State University Degree, which was subsequently found to be genuine. And on the comparison between Alhaji Salisu Buhari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Governor Bola Tinubu, the report stated that It is the view of Chief Gani Fawehinmi that the certificate forgery and falsification of age committed by Alhaji Salisu Buhari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives is similar to the allegation against Governor Tinubu. But as the legal experts unanimously submitted, whereas Alhaji Buhari was twenty-nine years old and lied on oath that he was thirty-six years old in order to qualify to contest as a member of the House of Representatives, Governor Tinubu was over the qualifying age of thirty-five years at the time he contested the election. Alhaji Buhari forged and presented certificates while Governor Tinubu did not forge or submit any forged certificate. Alhaji Buhari did not have a qualifying certificate with which to contest the election. Governor Tinubu has the certificates of Richard Daley College and Chicago State University. In conclusion, the Committee wrote that However, we wish to state that the Governors inability to clear these issues promptly left the field to numerous aides and well wishers who circulated statements and documents, some of which the Governor claimed were neither from him nor authorized by him. Since the Governor himself accepted responsibilities for the needless errors made, and in any event he is responsible for documents signed by him, we strongly advise him to be more careful in ensuring the accuracy of documents that carry his signature in future. Following from the aforementioned, it is clear that Dr Festus Adedayo swims and fishes in the gutter of rumour, gossip, baseless insinuations, misleading innuendoes and unsubstantiated allegations to question the parentage and ancestry of Tinubu in his quest to impugn his character and malign his integrity. This is unbecoming of a supposed scholar and intellectual of his stature. He cites no iota of proven and credible evidence for his allegations of corruption against Tinubu. What he seeks to do is to cast doubt on Tinubus character and moral integrity to lead Nigeria as president. The ultimate test of character is the conduct of life. It was certainly a measure of character for Tinubu to have played a key role in the struggle against military rule at grave risk to his life and livelihood at a time when many were selling their consciences for a mess of pottage. It was a mark of character that he led a government in Lagos State that was for eight years at the forefront of fighting for true federalism and the rights of states at a time when most governors were intimidated and shackled by Obasanjos imperial presidency. It was a mark of strong moral integrity for Tinubu to have maintained a constant and consistent stand as a leader of opposition in Nigeria when the prevailing tendency is for politicians to do everything to be in and identify with the government in power at the centre all cost. Has Festus Adedayo exhibited similar character and principled conduct over the years? Was he displaying character and moral integrity when he served as media aide for eight years in an administration accused of some of the worst forms of corruption and violence against opponents in this dispensation? Was he displaying consistency of character when he worked for over three years as Chairman, Editorial Board, in a newspaper founded by this same Tinubu he holds in such revulsion? Was it a mark of moral integrity for him to have angled badly to be Chief Press Secretary to a Senate President elected on the platform of a party he had spent years attacking and denigrating in his column? Only Festus can honestly answer these questions for they have become matters for his conscience. Segun Ayobolu was Chief Press Secretary to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he was governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2005. How does one place last weeks abduction and murder of a five-year-old Kano girl, Hanifa Abubakar? Hanifa, a student of Kids Academy, a private school located in Kwanar Dakata in Nassarawa local government area of Kano, Tudun Wada, was abducted on December 2, 2021 by Abdulmalik Tanko, the proprietor of the school. After kidnapping her and collecting part of the N6 million ransom he had demanded, he was reported to have killed her with rat poison because the girl was able to recognise him. He then dismembered Halifas body and buried the remains within the school. Or, former military head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakars tirades against the system last week? Painting a gloomy picture of where Nigeria is today, Abubakar confirmed that the country is indeed at a crossroads. Speaking as chairman of the 19th Daily Trust Dialogue, the former head of state told President Buhari not to always dismiss criticisms and critics of his administration with a tar-brush as agents of the opposition. Nigeria is once again at a crossroads. Insecurity remains the single most difficult challenge for our country today. Whatever we discuss and agree today, we hope that the authorities will take it in good faith and work with it. In my own experience as a leader, I have found that collective wisdom is all better than individual ability. The Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, violent secessionist agitations in the South-East, kidnappings and abductions of travelers across many states all continue to fester in the land. Add to these, ethnic, religious and communal conflicts are rearing their ugly heads again in many parts of the country. All of these have greatly challenged and overstretched our security forces. These challenges have caused thousands of deaths and millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria over the past 13 years, he said. Citing statistics from the Global Conflict Tracker which was compiled by the US Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Abubakar said that since 2009, about 350,000 persons had so far been killed and three million displaced directly or indirectly in the conflict in the north-east and quoting another report by Beacon Consulting, a Nigerian security risk consultancy, he said that the country had recorded 574 cases of kidnappings and 431 confirmed security attacks which cut across 29 states and 96 Local Government Areas in December 2021 alone, with about 75 per cent of the kidnappings and 57 per cent of the casualties coming from the north-west. To me, all these confirmed that Nigeria is inside one huge whirlpool of Za Zu Zeh, Jagbajantis and jagajaga. No one seems to understand what the three mean on the face value. Their sound effect reminds me of that mouthful word in literature class in high school of those days called onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia is a word which looks like the sound it makes, one where you can almost hear the sound, even as you pronounce it. Za Zu Zeh, on its own, sounds like a barroom argot, a slang that has almost become a lingo. No matter what, it is fast trending among the youths of this generation. Associated with and chiseled out of the lyrics of upcoming superstar, Portable, who just had a musical collaboration with Olamide and Poco Lee, prominent Nigerian vocalist and dancer respectively, it sounds more like a gutter coinage but which has become a variant of social discussion, especially in South West Nigeria. While some say Za Zu Zeh mirrors the rigour, hopelessness and harsh life on the streets, others say it explains the fast lane life, the crime, youth fraud ring called Yahoo Yahoo and the rituals that are said to come in tow with it. Listening to it blasting from music boxes, Za Zu Zeh sounds to me like late Sound Sultans Jagbajantis or Eedris Jagajaga, the latter which described Nigeria as one country that had gone off its handle. While Sultan, in that track, which also went viral like Portables, welcomed his audience to what he called the Jagbajantis High School, presumably a school where anything goes from the cynical, the comical, the laughable, to the surreal Eedris was more explicit: Nigeria jaga jaga//Everything scatter scatter//Poor man dey suffer suffer//Gbosa gbosa, gun shot in the air//Nigeria jaga jaga//Everything scatter scatter//Poor man dey suffer suffer//Gbosa gbosa, gun shot in the air, he sang. Peeved by its doom prophesy, the Obasanjo government had Eedris jagajaga banned. However, today, with insecurity and bad governance which the song addressed becoming ten a dime, the musician would be a musical Nostradamus. For Nigeria last week, it was one hellish week of Za Zu Zeh, jagajaga and Jagbajantis. If you translate them into a single whole, it may mean a surfeit of junks, which seem to have no bearing with each other. I begin from the bizarre. That same last week, specifically on Saturday January 16, 2022, a senior student of Elkanemi College of Islamic Theology, Maiduguri butchered an 11-year-old junior student of the Islamic School, Jubril Mato, by slitting his throat. His crime? He refused to run errands for the senior student. According to the school, the SS2 class senior had sent Jubril on an errand, but when he wouldnt go, in the night, he picked him up, took him to a place in the school and, like they do rams, slit his throat with a razor blade, injuring most of his arteries, nerves and trachea in the process. Jubril is said to currently be on admission at the intensive care unit of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. For Nigerians who occupy the lowest rung of the ladder, it will seem that their torments come as a double jeopardy. Since independence, Nigerian governments have always been held as the Nigerians sole slave driver and abductor, who, whether elected or imposed on them, tosses their fates hither thither like a marionette. However, judging by the spate of grisly drama which alone captures what the people go through in their own hands, they must have joined government to toss their own fates dangerously and hopelessly. Niger State governor, Sani Bello, during same week, put the Za Zu Zeh, the Jagbajantis and jagajaga, or if you like, the precarity of the Nigerian insecurity problem in perspective. Addressing journalists after a parley with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja, Bello said that the upswing in banditry in the state was mind-boggling. In January this year alone, we suffered not less than 50 reported attacks and loss of lives, between 1st and 17th January. Within the same period, not less than 300 communities have been invaded by bandits. The number of people kidnapped is 200, including three Chinese nationals. We also lost some security personnel. Their number is 25. Unfortunately, we lost about 165 civilians and 30 local vigilantes. So, its a very dire situation that we have been battling in the last few weeks since the beginning of this year, he said. On the political front, the precarity, the hilariousness or what this generation encapsulates as the Za Zu Zeh, the Jagbajantis and jagajaga which have been our lifelong companions, jutted out again. If Nigerian governments need to do anything about themselves, it is the profiling, the public perception of how the people see them. As the president was unveiling a massive pyramid of rice said to be harvests by farmers with which they intended to pay back bank loans they borrowed for the expansion of Nigerian rice production, the people scoffed at the exercise. In a twinkling of an eye, the social media was awash with the pessimism and dismissive takes of Nigerians about this governments initiative. As photographs of the massive pyramid of rice bags were circulated, so also did a ladder undergoing construction which was said to be the hollow where the bags of rice were stacked. The picture was later found not to be true. That same last week, race for Aso Rock Villa by politicians rose to its crescendo. Politicians who take daily baths in sewers strutted about in deodorized images. They employed same raped people who they have enslaved over the years and who they still intend to enslave, as their canvassers. The latter in turn battle themselves to support their masters of maggotry. Who is capable of addressing the utter absurdity, which our country has become, is of no bother to the people, nor the politicians who are running the race for office to fulfil their lifes ambition. In saner countries, this mish-mash of Za Zu Zeh, Jagbajantis and jagajaga should bother its leaders. The off-handed manner Nigerians dispossess themselves of a life that they cannot replace should be a subject of concern for the social department of governments. Could it be that because there is a breakdown of the fabric, the grease that keeps and oils the Nigerian wheel, the people are losing their humanity at this frighteningly high level? Africa, Nigeria used to pride herself and wear on its lapel as where communality thrived, a place where everyone was their brothers keeper. This, we boastfully claimed, was opposed to the individuality, the me-and-myself social relations of the western world. Some said it is as a result of the collapse of the economy. Others said it is the failure of religion. It has got so bad that some pessimists liken our situation in Nigeria today to something close to the acute flight of humanity currently ongoing in Afghanistan where parents sell their kids to feed their families. Killing, maiming of acquaintances, many times for rituals, is becoming commonplace now in Nigeria. Today, communality has broken down irretrievably. From time immemorial, teachers were next to parents in perceived fiduciary responsibility to their pupils and students. When we now have an Abdulmalik Tanko murdering his five year old pupil, Hanifa and having the guts to dissect her remains like butchers do at abattoir, then you can guess what our fate has become. In the same vein, bullying in boarding schools, which has existed for ages, has transformed into callousness and wickedness. With a senior student slitting the neck of his junior, society can as well close shops. Trust keeps on taking flight on a daily basis between government and the governed. Those in government are perceived as scavengers and rightly so, by the governed. Unfortunately for us, the critical cusp that Abubakar said Nigeria currently occupies makes the year 2023 equally critical for us. It is a year when decisions by Nigerians on who will rule them will take place. If we choose a president who will continue in the same pattern as we have now, Nigeria may slip off our hands totally. We must return our society to that communality, that humanistic level where we mattered to one another, a place we were some years back. We will suffer or savour the consequences of our votes and support for whoever becomes Nigerias leader next year. May God open our inner eyes. Obadare: From Odo-Iro to the zenith of the world One of Nigerias several children in the Diaspora recently advertised her credentials to the whole wide world. What the advertorial innocuously said was that, despite her many challenges, in spite of natures affliction of Nigeria with leadership disaster, Nigeria is still a country to be reckoned with. Placed by Professor Ebenezer Obadare, erstwhile Professor of Sociology at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, United States of America, millions of dollars investment in an advertisement by Nigeria could not have burnished the countrys name as did the appointment of Obadare by the American Council of Foreign Relations (CFR). CFR had appointed him into the David Rockefeller Studies Program as its Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow for Africa studies. At CFR, said the announcement, Obadare will research and write on U.S. relations with Africa and issues related to political, economic, social, religious, and cultural developments in Africa. For those who may be wondering what the purport of the appointment was, Obadare just stepped into the shoes of a position recently vacated by John Campbell, former United States Ambassador to Nigeria. Appointed by President George W, Bush in 2004, Campbell served in that position till 2007 and later as think tank in the CFR. In 2010, he wrote his first book which he entitled Nigeria: Dancing on the Brink and co authored Nigeria: What Everyone Needs to Know with Matthew Page in July 2018. It was that office that Obadare had just been appointed to. Before now, Obadare was a Ralf Dahrendorf Scholar and a Ford Foundation International Scholar at the London School of Economics and Political Science and had hitherto lectured in the Department of International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University from 1995 to 2001. He graduated from Ife with a BA in History and an MSc. in International Relations, before proceeding to bag a PhD in Social Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has authored so many books and joural articles, including Christianity, Sexuality and Citizenship in Africa (2019), Pentecostal Republic: Religion and the Struggle for State Power in Nigeria (2018), Governance and the Crisis of Rule in Contemporary Africa: Leadership in Transformation (2016), Humor, Silence, and Civil Society in Nigeria (2016), The Handbook of Civil Society in Africa (2014), Civic Agency in Africa: Arts of Resistance in the 21st Century (2014), Democracy and Prebendalism in Nigeria: Critical Interpretations (2013), and Nigeria at Fifty: The Nation in Narration (2011). His bio says Obadares essays have appeared in the leading Africanist and disciplinary journals, including the Review of African Political Economy (ROAPE), African Affairs, Politique Africaine, Journal of Civil Society, Democratization, Patterns of Prejudice, Africa Development, Africa, Critical African Studies, Development in Practice, Journal of Modern African Studies, Journal of Contemporary African Studies, Interkulturelle Theologie, and Journal of Church and State. His forthcoming book, from the University of Notre Dame Press, is entitled Pastoral Power, Clerical State: Pentecostalism, Gender, and Sexuality in Nigeria. He is the editor of Journal of Modern African Studies and contributing editor of Current History and his upcoming book, Pastoral Power, Clerical State: Pentecostalism, Gender, and Sexuality in Nigeria (University of Notre Dame Press, fall 2022), Advertisements Before pitching his tent with the academia, Obadare was a political reporter for The News and TEMPO magazines from 1993 to 1995, and his primary areas of interest are civil society and the state, and religion and politics in Africa. The life of Obadare is a testament to that biblical saying which says that a diligent man will not dine with mean men. It is also an affirmation that inside the black pot emerges a white corn meal. I knew Obadare who we nicknamed Ebeno in the mid-eighties in a place called Odo Iro, a slummy part of Ilesa, his hometown, in the present Osun State. Then a student of the prestigious Ilesa Grammar School, his renown as a very brilliant boy reverberated round and became a legend purveyed by boys and girls in our neighbourhood. Odo Iro was notorious for being a beehive of gangsters and never-do-wells of Ilesa. Bordered by a road transport union workers motor-park, many of the children who grew up in that neighbourhood ended up taking a large chunk of the notoriety of Odo Iro. It was a lush ground for Indian hemp smokers, pool betters, gangsters and was also located in a neighbouhood that was smelly and dirty. Yesterday, I intentionally drove through Odo Iro and saw its palpable transformation. The rusty roofs and depressing aesthetics had received a touch and passably commendable uplift. The story of the uplift of Odo Iro is also the story of Obadare, who rose beyond the rusty and limiting facts of his environment. With his intellectual side kick, another scholar from the rustic town of Iresi in Osun State, Professor Wale Adebanwi, the duo has been doing our generation real proud. Until now when he moved to the University of Pennsylvania, Adebanwi was of the University of Oxford. This is to congratulate Professor Obadare on this historic appointment. Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist. Surprisingly, I have been shocked to the marrow on realising that most of the virulent attackers, since the declaration of his presidential ambition, have not only been from his geopolitical zone, the South-West, but some are also from the camp of his past loyalists Tinubu boys who were his erstwhile defenders, such as during the period of the withheld council funds. And others who had benefitted from his goodwill to gain nominations and appointments into public offices at the state and federal levels. During a visit to Lagos on an advocacy campaign on the need for the diversification of the Nigerian economy in 2004, the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Engineer Hamman Tukur told the then Governor Bola Tinubu that any local government created outside the constitution was deemed illegal, according to the provisions of the legislative grundnorm, and hence would not receive allocations from the Federation Account. Tinubu responded that he would rather intensify the revenue generation and collection drive in Lagos State to sustain the third tier of government, and without the Federation Account, than retract the over 30 newer local governments he had created. The Department of Allocation at RMAFC, where the present governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, was then a staff, recommended the withholding of federal allocations to any state that created local governments outside the ambit of the 774 constitutionally created and recognised local council areas. Other states that had created additional local governments at that time, reverted to the formally recognised ones, as President Olusegun Obasanjo, working on the advice from the Commission, suspended federal allocations to the local government areas in Lagos State. Being the Head of Press and Public Relations at RMAFC between 1999 and 2004 when this went on, my team monitored the ensuing media war over the withholding of local government funds to Lagos State by the Federal Government. Almost all organs of the state government, especially the Executive Council and its members, including commissioners and advisers, alongside public commentators from the Lagos axis, whom we tagged as Tinubus boys, deployed different media strategies to win public support for the position of Lagos State on its right to create newer local councils. And the purported heavy hand of the Federal Government in its dealing with the State. In fact, apart from my office, the Public Affairs Adviser to President Obasanjo, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode was the most vocal voice against Tinubu and his loyalists on that public discourse. Even lawyers recruited by Governor Tinubu, through his Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (the current Vice President), had to write a very lengthy rejoinder to Femi Fani-Kayodes position. I recall that the lawyers who had signed the rejoinder then were Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), including Wole Olanipekun, Rickey Tafa, Taiwo Osipitan, and Kola Awodein. Surprisingly, and to the amazement of many, despite the suspension of funds to the State, in a manner that could forestall development and breed economic and geopolitical crises, the government in Lagos started to generate more revenue than what the Federal Government could have released to it from the Federation Account till date. It is quite worrisome to observe that when Tinubu was aggressively promoting and supporting the aspirations of many to top public offices, they hailed him to the high heavens; but now that he is seeking a high public office himself, they have turned on him with passionate hatred. They, who once extolled him as the Jagaban, the Leader and the Last man standing when he helped give wings to their ambitions, now describe him as old, sickly and corrupt, because of his political ambition. Some years later, precisely in 2012, while in a discussion about the stubbornness of some politicians, Mallam Yusuf Alli of The Nation newspapers had made a call and handed the phone to me, saying, Speak to the Jagaban! Although initially shocked, I was subsequently impressed by the humane and compassionate disposition of Tinubu, when he explained to me that our positions are not borne out of stubbornness but to provide leadership by example through courage, fearlessness, equity and justice to serve and empower our people. He even cracked some jokes and explained in detail what leadership entails. When Tinubu recently declared his intention to contest for the Presidency, I recalled those closer encounters in assessing his personality. Surprisingly, I have been shocked to the marrow on realising that most of the virulent attackers, since the declaration of his presidential ambition, have not only been from his geopolitical zone, the South-West, but some are also from the camp of his past loyalists Tinubu boys who were his erstwhile defenders, such as during the period of the withheld council funds. And others who had benefitted from his goodwill to gain nominations and appointments into public offices at the state and federal levels. It is quite worrisome to observe that when Tinubu was aggressively promoting and supporting the aspirations of many to top public offices, they hailed him to the high heavens; but now that he is seeking a high public office himself, they have turned on him with passionate hatred. They, who once extolled him as the Jagaban, the Leader and the Last man standing when he helped give wings to their ambitions, now describe him as old, sickly and corrupt, because of his political ambition. Meanwhile, the most vocal and leading voices lending support to Tinubus aspiration at this seeming last moment of his political career, are mostly northern All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders led by former governor of Borno State and now federal senator, Kashim Shettima. These Northern campaigners have pointed out the political debt owed Tinubu and pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to reward him for what he did for the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 and 2019 general elections, by giving him the right of first refusal to the presidential ticket. They see this as a decent payback. Meanwhile, if I could advise Tinubu, the kingmaker, on his dream of becoming a king himself, I would rather say: You have the right to your aspiration, but if under extreme pressure to step down, you might as well consider Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, your topmost ally from the South-West, for support to become the most powerful Nigerian. Or, Senator Orji Kalu, a former governor from the South-East. On the claim that Tinubu is physically unsuitable for the Office of the President due to his age, Senator Shettima has pointed out that the presidency is not a job for bricklayers. According to him, the mark of true leadership isnt the ability to lift a bag of cement, but having the requisite experience in governance, being able to design innovative public policy, and putting the right team that will implement this together. The Northern campaigners have reminded Buhari that, In 2015, some aspirants with very huge war chests were itching to clinch the ticket of the APC, but like the Rock of Gibraltar, Asiwaju and his progressive team stood solidly behind the candidacy of President Buhari. While I am also deeply concerned about Tinubus health, considering what befell President Umar Musa YarAdua in office and the fact that Buhari too was almost done in by ill-health, earlier in his administration, yet I regard the more recent life given to allegations of Tinubus past misdemeanour in his climb to wealth and reckoning as a common characteristic of most successful politicians in Nigeria. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to point out a successful politician in public office in Nigeria who has never been accused whether true or false of age falsification, certificate forgery or corrupt practices, among other unbecoming acts. As we keep making efforts at perfecting our system to check and push back the ills in our political processes, we should continually seek to enhance and manage our democracy in its content and form, including the highly critical area of leadership recruitment. Meanwhile, if I could advise Tinubu, the kingmaker, on his dream of becoming a king himself, I would rather say: You have the right to your aspiration, but if under extreme pressure to step down, you might as well consider Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, your topmost ally from the South-West, for support to become the most powerful Nigerian. Or, Senator Orji Kalu, a former governor from the South-East. Or, the minister of Transportation and former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, from the South-South. Or even the youngest presidential aspirant of the moment, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State from the North-Central, a region that is yet to produce an elected president or vice president till date. Yushau A. Shuaib, author of An Encounter with the Spymaster and Crisis Communication Strategies blogs atwww.YAShuaib.com, and can be reached through yashuaib@yahoo.com If the sit-at-home were voluntary and sparingly used, it would have bestowed credibility on the argument of the general acceptance of the Biafran goals. All it required was to keep winning hearts and souls, as more and more people joined the action. But our people have no such patience. They want it now nzogbu-nzogbu. Using the threat of bodily harm to enforce the sit-at-home order, you lose the moral right to argue that it is a referendum by another name. In all of his 69 to 79 years in this world, how many times has Bola Tinubu, the man who could be the next president of Nigeria, visited the South-East? I guess that it may not be up to a dozen times. He didnt go there to school, compete in debates, quiz or Koran recital challenges. He surely didnt go there on a school excursion to visit a major dam or a game reserve. Who wants to cross the Niger River just to visit Ogbunike Cave, Ngwo Pine Forest or Oguta Lake? The Umuahia Biafra War museum was not yet built when he went to school. We know that he did not go to the South-East to work after school. With Ndubisi Kanu, Ebitu Ukiwe, Anya O. Anya, Ralph Obioha and others in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Tinubu most definitely did not go to the South-East to solicit support for MKO Abiolas mandate during the pro-democracy movement of the 90s. When he emerged and became the governor of Lagos State, he had no need to campaign in the South-East. The same as when he became a National Leader of the All Progressves Congress (APC). Why are all these important? What have they got to do with the sit-at-home order introduced in the South-East by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to add pressure to their quest for the actualisation of an independent nation of Biafra? I will get to these in a short while. In the meantime, follow me on this little detour. While the opinion of Boko Haram members is not seen as the opinion of the people of the North-East of Nigeria, the same is not true of the opinion of Biafrans. Outside of the South-East, the opinion of Biafrans is by default considered the universal opinion of the people of the South-East. If you are from the South-East, many still see you as a Biafran, irrespective of how many times you swear not to be allied to the Biafrans. We know why it is that way. It is because the people of the South-East are the most misunderstood people of Nigeria. The Fulanis come a close second. The misunderstanding is so endemic that the people of the South-East are beginning to misunderstand themselves as a result. I am sure psychologists must have a name for this syndrome. The reason for the misunderstanding is clear. Even though all categories of South-Eastern people live all over Nigeria, speak various languages of the places they live in, the same is not true about other people from other parts of Nigeria within the South-East. Take out the National Youth Service Corps programme that compels many young educated and adventurous people to spend a year in the South-East, most Nigerians would not have any reason ever to visit the South-East. When IPOB first introduced the sit-at-home order, the idea was to show that most people in the South-East support their quest for an independent nation of Biafra. It started as a once-a-year event, partly to remember those who died in the Nigeria-Biafra War. In the beginning, so many people in the region did not mind sacrificing a day to remember the dead. It soon transformed into a tool for achieving other goals There is little or no federal presence in the region to bring diverse workers from across the country to the South-East. The other reason, related to the first, is that life is very hard in the South-East. It is hard for the people in that region, so they leave at the slightest opportunity. If it is tough for the indigenes to stay and make a living there, what hope does it offer non-indigenes? Unfortunately, there is no way of understanding people you have not interacted with, in their natural environment. It is important to understand this distinction, if one wants to understand in their proper context, events taking place in the South-East and put them in their proper framework. This is vital for people who are not from the region but more cogent for people from the region but who are ignorant of the dynamics of Nigeria and how they impact the perspectives of others and the perception they have of themselves. When IPOB first introduced the sit-at-home order, the idea was to show that most people in the South-East support their quest for an independent nation of Biafra. It started as a once-a-year event, partly to remember those who died in the Nigeria-Biafra War. In the beginning, so many people in the region did not mind sacrificing a day to remember the dead. It soon transformed into a tool for achieving other goals, including the raising of awareness for other Biafran-related issues. Of recent, it has become a tool to draw attention to the plight of the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. As such things are known to transform, the sit-at-home has become so frequent that it has triggered a backlash and a diminishing return. With resistance to the order has come fierce enforcement with the force of arms. The people who initiated it have also lost control, that they cannot pull it back. Freelance actors, breakaway factions, and others outside the original IPOB, have seen the tool as one to use to exert control over the populace. They and their supporters argue that despite the groaning of the regions people, it is worth the sacrifice. They often quote unrelated and unsymmetrical history to support their arguments. For 27 years that Nelson Mandela was in prison, if black South Africans had stayed at home one day of every week, they would have spent 1,458 days at home, which would have been four years of their lives. If you think that South African blacks are poor now, imagine how poorer they would have been if they had lost four years of income. And under Apartheid, the white business-owners would have fired most of them from their jobs for such action. While sacrifice has a place in every struggle, it must be well-crafted and one with the buy-in of a majority of the people. Otherwise, those imposing the sacrifice are essentially saying that the people they are fighting for are idiots, who have no minds of their own. We can be sentimental for the mundane, but history is not sentimental, not even for the profane. We can sit at home as much as we like, but we cannot sit on history. Our forefathers said that the wise ones get the proverb while the stubborn ones bury their heads inside the bush. Also, responsible people have compared the frequent and economically strangulating sit-at-home orders as akin to drinking poison and hoping that your enemy would die or sitting at home crushing your testicles and wondering why you cannot get your wife pregnant. The idea that President Buhari would release Nnamdi Kanu because Igbo people are forcing themselves to stay at home does not sound like a strategy coming from those who have a good understanding of how Nigeria works, especially when it relates to anything tangential to Biafra. If the sit-at-home were voluntary and sparingly used, it would have bestowed credibility on the argument of the general acceptance of the Biafran goals. All it required was to keep winning hearts and souls, as more and more people joined the action. But our people have no such patience. They want it now nzogbu-nzogbu. Using the threat of bodily harm to enforce the sit-at-home order, you lose the moral right to argue that it is a referendum by another name. A true voluntary sit-at-home would not need force to get people to comply. And Igbo people outside Igbo land will voluntarily join in staying at home. By not joining, they are giving it the thumbs down. They enjoy the freedom and the advantage that they deny folks at home. They are endorsing a philosophy that they are better and superior to those at home. That is a recipe for resentment, which can only lead to discord and disaster in a struggle like this. More dangerously, by imposing economic hardship on the home front, we encourage more people to leave home. That is the inverse of what the new Igbo awareness should be which is a return home to rebuild aku lue ulo. There is a reason Buhari wont care if all the markets in the South-East are closed for the next 27 years. It is the same reason that Bola Tinubu will not care if school children in the South-East are never allowed to seat for WAEC again, if pregnant women have babies on banana leaves at home and children dig graves to bury their dead parents themselves. We can be sentimental for the mundane, but history is not sentimental, not even for the profane. We can sit at home as much as we like, but we cannot sit on history. Our forefathers said that the wise ones get the proverb while the stubborn ones bury their heads inside the bush. The limit of sit-at-home comes when it begins to crush a mans testicles. Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo teaches Post-Colonial African History at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He is also the host of Dr. Damages Show. His books include This American Life Sef, Children of a Retired God, among others. Soludo has made it seem sexy to be called an intellectual. If hes not a blow-out success, the same people who now adore him will be the first to cavil at how intellectuals cannot even make love and only know how, in Nigerian vernacular, to speak grammar. In his first steps, Soludo has shown he knows his biggest job will be to instill that intangible, hope, in NdIgbo generally. How to do that while keeping expectations from becoming disabling will define his record and, possibly, his legacy. She said he made love to her like an intellectual. In the political jargon of those days, the word intellectual was an insult. It indicated someone who did not understand life and was cut off from the people. Milan Kundera, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, p. 6 (1978) Months before assuming office, governor-elect of Anambra State, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has done a world of service to perceptions of South-East Nigeria and traditional ideas of politics in the region. At the end of a year in which news about the South-East was defined by the economic self-immolation of chronic #SitAtHome enforced with deadly violence by armed non-state actors; state-sponsored violence masterminded in some cases by governors in the region; widespread taunts of collective irrelevance; not to mention popular tropes of victimhood, Soludo transformed all that negativity in a stroke with the announcement of his transition committee (ANSG-TC). Now that the ANSG-TC has been inaugurated, its first task is to help him calibrate expectations. Heres why and a peek into how. For someone whose sojourn in the surreal world of Nigerian politics has been chastening to the point of brutal, Soludos first step as governor-elect showed an audacious understanding of both subliminalism and symbolism in power. His Transition Committee, comprised of 80 persons, has received mostly positive reviews for its novel inclusiveness in terms of gender, geography and competencies of the members. But its composition was clearly also designed to project a message beyond the borders of Anambra State of constructive identity-building and the harnessing of human capacity for the one region in Nigeria characterised by the net export of its best human assets. Soludos implicit message with the composition of his transition committee is three-fold. First, is a constructive disposition that aims to project hope. Second, he clearly projects the message that the destinies of NdIgbo are joined inextricably and the job of rebuilding requires all capable hands on deck. Third, he reassures anyone interested that NdIgbo have among them the calibre of hands needed to get that job done. Former New York governor, Mario Cuomo, famously said of successful runs for office that you campaign in poetry; you govern in prose. Soludos campaign or what there was of it, regrettably, had no room for such luxuries and his tenure may require more artisanal efforts than artistry. His emergence is a tribute to the iron will of Ndi Anambra, who saw off the best efforts of a malevolent political family, to render the state hopelessly antediluvian. His run for office was forged in blood and his tenure, when it begins on March 17, will be defined by an in-tray full of crises that defy the constitutional capacities of any governor in Nigeria. After a career at the highest levels of academia and technocracy outside Anambra and beyond Nigeria, Soludo the state governor will confront rather profound challenges at the retail end of life-and-death significance. One is insecurity. It is the first order of business. Anambra, the smallest state in South-East Nigeria and the second smallest in Nigeria after Lagos, is nevertheless the epicentre of the Igbo enterprise economy, which has been blighted by viral insecurity since the Supreme Court contrived to topple the legitimate governor elected by a neighbouring state and imposed on them the man who came a distant fourth in the ballot. In official Nigerian lore, security is guaranteed only by AK-47s and Tucano Jets. Such hardware and human assets for their legitimate deployment are constitutionally controlled, however, by an indifferent or incapable Federal Government. Standing down the democratisation of violence in a state the size and density of Anambra will require skill, imagination and nous that cannot be found in the barrel of a rifle. For this task, Ndi Anambra have chosen to invest trust in a man whose surname translates into follow (the path of) peace. Quite clearly, Soludos first step(s) as governor-elect appear to have inspired stratospheric hopes in Ndi Anambra and NdIgbo generally. In the state and on social media, the new slogan is #SoludoIsComing. That is not a bad thing. He is clearly a man whose every career platform has been defined by audacity. Second, is a crisis of human ecology. Lagos may be the smallest state in Nigeria but it is gaining land-mass through land reclamation. What used to be Bar-Beach on the Atlantic coastline, for instance, is today a multi-billion dollar development known as Eko Atlantic City. By contrast, Anambra is losing land to arguably Nigerias most rampant crisis of erosion and human survival, with over 900 active erosion sites. Entire villages in places like Nanka have vanished, swallowed by an angry earth, the inhabitants displaced eternally never to return. The Ecological Fund, a federal facility for these kinds of situations, has been dissipated by a tradition of grasping malfeasance. Reimagining human settlement to precede the deployment of Soludos vision of a One-City Mega-State will require the skills of a brain surgeon to stop further loss of territory first. Third, is a crisis of energy. If Anambra is to realise the promise of powering up enterprise within its territory and in adjacent states of South-East Nigeria, it will need energy on a scale that is presently absent. States can invest in generating power but transmission, not generation, is the heart of Nigerias energy incapacities. Here the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), a federal entity, has proved adept in ineptitude. Evacuating power and getting it to the homes of the people and factories in the Nnewi-Idemili Corridor will be a challenge. It will not be enough to sell people the promise of solar energy. Apart from being beyond the reach of most, the factories in Nnewi will not power up their production and operability margins on solar energy. Quite clearly, Soludos first step(s) as governor-elect appear to have inspired stratospheric hopes in Ndi Anambra and NdIgbo generally. In the state and on social media, the new slogan is #SoludoIsComing. That is not a bad thing. He is clearly a man whose every career platform has been defined by audacity. An academic of considerable distinction, a serial ideas-preneur and a professor of Economics since he was 38, Soludo was also the youngest ever governor of Nigerias Central Bank(CBN). As the Chief Economic Adviser to President Obasanjo before becoming CBN governor, he was the architect of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS), which drove Nigerias economy through its most promising growth spurt in the past four decades. As CBN governor, he engineered an ambitious consolidation of Nigerias banking landscape, which led to a remarkable reduction in the number of banks from 89 to 24 in 2005; changed their mode of operations and their contributions to the nations economic development. He has seen off murderous political hounds in one of the most bloody elections in Nigerias history. These credentials inform the hopes of Ndi Anambra in the fruitfulness of Soludos history of leadership audacity. Addressing what will be his confounding in-tray on that first day in office will require new partnerships with the people, communities, private sector, the Diaspora and with internationals to overcome Nigerian-made obstacles. It will also require new standards of ethics in government that forge new bonds of trust to justify their investments. But because they are new, they will be resisted by entrenched interests. Soludo is clearly impatient with the fate of a region that prides itself in the stagnation of cartographic identities that are not potable. The evidence is not hard to see that growth and progress correlate quite positively with potability of expertise and integration. Lateef Jakande, a man from Omu-Aran in Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria and a contemporary of Alex Ekwueme and Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu in Kings College, Lagos, was also a Lagos boy who became unquestionably its most celebrated governor. In Kano, North-West Nigeria, Sabo Bakin Zuwo, a Nupe, with origins in North-Central Nigeria, was elected governor in 1983. In South-East Nigeria, by contrast, Igbo workers separated from their historical origins by lines in the sand drawn by military adventurers were made to die in penury after they were sacked for being so-called non-indigenes of states in which some of them had worked for over three decades. Soludo clearly realises that he will be navigating delicate borders of territory and habits. He knows that insecurity in the Anambra-Imo borderlands of Isseke, Lilu, Orsumoghu and Orsumenyi or in Umunze in Orumba or Amansea in the Anambra-Enugu borderlands, will not be fixed by Anambra State unilaterally. He needs advocates in those states. He will not be able to address any of these and more without a renewed public service. While focusing on those, he must find ways to limit the traditional political profiteers to minimal damage. Advertisements Keeping all these in focus will require the skills of a contortionist. Thats why the new government may wish to invest in managing expectations and in re-examining the appeal of heuristic metrics like First 100 Days. Addressing what will be his confounding in-tray on that first day in office will require new partnerships with the people, communities, private sector, the Diaspora and with internationals to overcome Nigerian-made obstacles. It will also require new standards of ethics in government that forge new bonds of trust to justify their investments. But because they are new, they will be resisted by entrenched interests. Soludo has made it seem sexy to be called an intellectual. If hes not a blow-out success, the same people who now adore him will be the first to cavil at how intellectuals cannot even make love and only know how, in Nigerian vernacular, to speak grammar. In his first steps, Soludo has shown he knows his biggest job will be to instill that intangible, hope, in NdIgbo generally. How to do that while keeping expectations from becoming disabling will define his record and, possibly, his legacy. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer and teacher, can be reached at chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu. was the kingmakers role played by Tinubu meant to achieve self-glorification? If the focus is the common good, shouldnt a wise kingmaker be scouting for the best possible material to translate the progressive dream to reality? Indeed, shouldnt we as a nation be head-hunting the right person to do the job? May your loyalty be tested! That is my prayer for every politician aspiring to any elective office. I know it sounds like a malediction. No politician ever wants his loyalty tested. Although they all profess loyalty to the people, we know that their loyalty is mostly to themselves and their interests. Thus, if we ever want to get the best out of our leaders, the best invocation is the one that calls for their loyalty to be tested. To whom do you owe your loyalty, sir? Is it to the people, to a kingmaker, or to a cabal? Are you even loyal to the federal republic whose passport gives you cover to roam the world? Let your loyalty be tested again and again to see if youll side with the people or remain the godfathers acolyte forever. Babatunde Raji Fashola famously showed that he knew a thing or two about the weaponisation of loyalty during his confirmation hearing at the Senate in 2015. The chorus of Amen that followed his prayer, May your loyalty never be tested, showed that the senators themselves were struggling with the traditional system of loyalties in our democratic culture. They would rather not be put in a situation where their loyalty would be tested. But loyalty, in the true sense should be to a cause, a principle, an idea. We debase loyalty when we reduce its definition to grovelling sycophancy. Dont let your loyalty become slavery, warns Lorenzo Dozier; If they dont appreciate what you bring to the table, then let them eat alone. Loyalty is a two-way thing. The followers are loyal to a leader who is loyal to them. But the overriding principle is that both the leader and the led are loyal to a set of binding principles. The great educationist, Dr Tai Solarins favourite prayer (if we can so describe it) was, May your road be rough. He didnt mean any harm. He only thought that rough times toughen people to bring out their full potential. He expressed that much in his column published in the Nigerian Tribune of January 1, 1964: I am not cursing you; I am wishing you what I wish myself every year. I therefore repeat, may you have a hard time this year, may there be plenty of troubles for you this year! If you are not so sure what you should say back, why not just say, Same to you? Our successes are conditioned by the amount of risk we are ready to take. It is common in Nigeria for hirelings of party godfathers and kingmakers to draw up lists for various positions. For every position, they have a pecking order. Youd hear things like, There is no vacancy in the governorship or senatorial or presidential race. It is the turn of Tamedu. And if, perchance, Tamedu is caught in the quicksands of political intrigues, they have a ready replacement in the list. There is still no vacancy, they would tell you; It is the turn of Lakasegbe. Why would the destiny of a people be at the pleasure of a self-appointed group of carpetbaggers who have cornered political influence and narrowed the space for engagement? Ibrahim is embarrassed, like many enlightened Africans, that gerontocracy is replacing democracy in several African countries. Old men who should be chewing the cud of remembrances with their grandchildren in deserved retirement are perpetually recycled to lead their country into a future they are incapable of visualising. The young, who constitute more than 60 per cent of the population, are left in the lurch. At our stage of development, politics should be about programmes. How do we lift our people out of poverty as China has done? How do we partner with youths who constitute 60 per cent of our population to achieve the tomorrow of our dreams? These issues are more than the selfish turn-by-turn syndrome afflicting us. For democracy to be meaningful, it has to address the needs of the people. As Mo Ibrahim points out, We cannot eat democracy. It is important to create jobs, to improve education and health, and economic development. People need to have clean water. People need to have access to power and energy. Governance is a basket, a basket of public goods Theres no trade-off. Ibrahim is embarrassed, like many enlightened Africans, that gerontocracy is replacing democracy in several African countries. Old men who should be chewing the cud of remembrances with their grandchildren in deserved retirement are perpetually recycled to lead their country into a future they are incapable of visualising. The young, who constitute more than 60 per cent of the population, are left in the lurch. He nails down the point with characteristic candour: Look at the average age of our presidents We are the only continent in the world where we have presidents at 90 years old starting new terms! I mean, you guys are crazy or what? We see people on wheelchairs unable to raise their hands standing for elections He advocates a handing over of the baton of leadership to the young because they are the ones who will inhabit the future: We need to pay attention to our young people who dont need to lose more people in the Sahara or in the Mediterranean. We need to create jobs. We need to improve education. And that should be education for employment. We need to develop skills, we need more technical schools because that is education for employment. People can find work with it. Its important to listen to young people because the future belongs to them, not to us old men. That is a message Nigeria urgently needs before we compound our mistakes through a resort to our usual habit of celebrating rheumatoid arthritis as a preferred alternative to polio. It is okay to be a political juggernaut or even a kingmaker as long as one doesnt push the needle beyond rationality. There is no position reserved exclusively for any particular person under the present political dispensation. As Chinua Achebe admonishes, Let the kite perch and let the eagle perch too If one says no to the other, let his wing break. I think it was President Obasanjo who volunteered a comment I considered insightful at the time because of how things eventually played out. Asked why he seemed to be distancing himself from the then president who was considered his protege, Obasanjo said he would never be carried away by the appellation of kingmaker because history was replete with the scalp of kingmakers whose heads were harvested by the king All through history, kings have been wary of kingmakers. I do not know of any other culture with the unique system of royal succession like Ibadan, where high chiefs constitute the Olubadan-In-Council and the most senior chief ascends the throne. I think it was President Obasanjo who volunteered a comment I considered insightful at the time because of how things eventually played out. Asked why he seemed to be distancing himself from the then president who was considered his protege, Obasanjo said he would never be carried away by the appellation of kingmaker because history was replete with the scalp of kingmakers whose heads were harvested by the king to signpost his authority. There is nothing wrong in playing the role of a kingmaker. Indeed, one could say that kingmakers are an essential part of the architecture of political ascendancy. And the phenomenon is not a peculiarly Nigerian affair. In old Iran, there was Hajji Ebrahim Shirazi, the kalantar (lord mayor) of Shiraz and later the grand vizier of Qajar Iran. Shirazi enthroned four kings from two different dynasties: Jafar Khan, Lotf Ali Khan, Agha Mohammad Khan and Fath-Ali Shah. Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, owner of News Corp and the Fox Corporation, has consistently backed every winning Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since the 1979 general election. Isnt he a kingmaker worth his weight in gold just like the controversial Che Guevara who accompanied Fidel Castro in the Revolution and later helped him attain power? In modern India, Ayya G. K Moopanar has been described as the kingmaker who rose to prominence during the post-Emergency days of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He was, more than any other, responsible for the elevation of Rajiv Gandhi to the Prime Ministership on the assassination of his mother, Prime Minister Indra Gandhi. He served with Prime Minister Indra Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The story of how Bola Ahmed Tinubu contributed to making Muhammadu Buhari president is well known. But there were others from ANPP, NPDP and APGA as well. They could all be described as kingmakers, even though only Tinubu has accepted ownership of such a tag. We must grant him due acknowledgement whether we agree with the outcome of his political alchemy or not. Advertisements However, a kingmaker is a kingmaker. Being a king is a different ball game altogether. Wikipedia defines a kingmaker as a person or group that has great influence on a royal or political succession, without themselves being a viable candidate. Kingmakers may use political, monetary, religious, and military means to influence the succession Or was the kingmakers role played by Tinubu meant to achieve self-glorification? If the focus is the common good, shouldnt a wise kingmaker be scouting for the best possible material to translate the progressive dream to reality? Indeed, shouldnt we as a nation be head-hunting the right person to do the job? Wole Olaoye is a public relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on wole.olaoye@gmail.com, Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021. The Lagos State chapter of the Accord Party has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to proscribe the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) following repeated violence by its members. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that factional members of the union on Thursday on Lagos Island attacked one another, leaving many injured including traders and commuters. The fracas, which extended to Friday, left some people dead and paralysed business activities in the area. The Publicity Secretary of the party, Dele Oladeji, reacting to the development in a statement on Saturday, called on Mr Sanwo-Olu to tame the members of the NURTW by proscribing the union with immediate effect. Mr Oladeji said: Again, the members of the NURTW were enmeshed in a deadly fight on Lagos Island which was reported to have resulted in the untimely death of some four youths. This deadly clash created a security scare, in which innocent and hardworking residents of Lagos had to scamper into shops, crevices, under table and inside gutters for dear lives. Many rushed into shops and were locked in with the shop owners, just to stay away from stray bullets or being caught up in the fracas. Traders were forced to shut down their businesses, which led to the loss of transactions running into billions of naira. We advise the Lagos State governor to, with immediate effect, proscribe the NURTW for a peaceful and safe Lagos city. The spokesman said that the recent violence was one too many among the members of the NURTW in Lagos State. Mr Oladeji said that though members of the union were always in the habit of killing themselves during such fracas, their action had always defied the security set up in Lagos State and had always created a state of insecurity among residents. Ask an average resident of Lagos, and they will tell you they live and commute in utter fright of these union boys daily on the streets and roads. Gov. Sanwo-Olu should rise up in service to residents of the state and proscribed these lawless groups for a safer Lagos State, he added. He said that NURTW factions were known to frequently engage in free-for-all over power tussles at different locations and parks. Police announce Arrests The Police Command in Lagos State on Saturday said that its men arrested some members of the NURTW during the Lagos Island clash. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adekunle Ajisebutu, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday. Mr Ajisebutu, however, did not mention how many people were arrested and where they were being detained. He added that normalcy had returned to the Island as more operatives had been deployed there. . The police have quelled the crisis. Sufficient facilities were deployed in the area immediately we received a distress call and normalcy was restored. Investigation into the crisis is ongoing, he said. NAN reports that two factions of the NURTW clashed over the control of some motor parks on the Island on Friday. The videos of the clash went viral on Friday showing the hoodlums using dangerous weapons against themselves. Lagos govt speaks Also, the Lagos State Government had appealed to the warring parties which it identified as members of the NURTW to stop their violent acts. Gbenga Oyerinde, the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Central Business Districts, said in a statement that security operatives had been mandated to arrest and prosecute anybody breaching the peace. Advertisements (NAN) Plattsburgh, NY (12901) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. High 54F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 41F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. U.S. President Joe Biden gives a speech on his bipartisan infrastructure deal and Build Back Better agenda at the NJ Transit Meadowlands Maintenance Complex on Oct. 25, 2021, in Kearny, New Jersey. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images North America/TNS) As I meet with policymakers, reporters and business leaders, one thing is always top of mind: communicating the extent of food insecurity in Florida and what it means for our children. Today, as many as one in five kids in Florida could face food insecurity. As the leader of No Kid Hungry Florida, its my passion and the organizations mission to help eliminate this hunger crisis and advocate for programmatic and policy changes to make sure no child in this state wonders if theyre going to have something to eat each day. Advertisement Right now, the U.S. Senate has an opportunity to help end food insecurity in Florida, and across the nation, and have a life-changing effect on the health and futures of millions of children. As the Senate renegotiates portions of the Build Back Better Act, senators have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lift millions of children out of poverty and provide year-round access to nutritious meals. Sky Beard is the director of No Kid Hungry Florida, a campaign launched by the national nonprofit Share Our Strength. She can be reached at sbeard@strength.org. Unfortunately, Florida families are already feeling the impact of the Senates inaction. Its failure to yet pass Build Back Better allowed the enhanced Child Tax Credit (CTC) to expire, meaning families are no longer receiving up to $300 in monthly assistance per child. Advertisement In 2021, the enhanced tax credit was a lifeline for households, helping parents afford necessities like food, rent, diapers and utilities, and keeping millions of kids from slipping into poverty. The Senates failure to act means a staggering 1.7 million kids in Florida who previously didnt qualify for the full benefit because their family incomes were too low are now losing out. The loss of this critical lifeline comes at the same time that a surge in coronavirus cases is once again keeping people home from work. Parents are losing hours and wages because the restaurant or business they work for has had to close its doors while employees test and quarantine. Many dont know how theyll make ends meet this month. Despite that painful blow to struggling families, its not too late for legislators to help prevent childhood hunger. And theres more at stake for kids in the bill. The Build Back Better Act would ease child hunger during the hungriest time of year, the summertime. During summer break, many families find it difficult to replace the meals their kids would usually eat at school. Build Back Better would expand the Summer Electronic Benefits Program (Summer EBT) to all 50 states, giving parents and caregivers an additional benefit to buy groceries during summer break. In Florida alone, this will help more than 2 million kids get the nutrition they need when school is out for summer. And by expanding the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), Build Back Better would also help during the school year by allowing schools to provide free meals at school to a projected 1.1 million additional Florida students. CEP helps schools reach more kids with the healthy food they need, with less red tape, so they can focus on learning and not their empty stomachs. Weve already seen it work in many schools across Florida, where theyve been able to make breakfast and lunch free for all students. The CEP expansion included in this legislation would expand the map of qualifying school districts across the state, making it easier for rural and suburban communities to expand access to free meals, too. The Build Back Better Act offers a rare opportunity to do so much for so many children at one time. I ask you to again think about the children who are worrying whether theyll have enough to eat today and the parents making agonizing decisions like whether to pay the rent or buy groceries. You can help them by letting Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott know why this matters to you, and that passage of a strong Build Back Better Act could be a life-changer for Floridas children living with poverty and hunger. Sky Beard is the director of No Kid Hungry Florida, a campaign launched by the national nonprofit Share Our Strength. She can be reached at sbeard@strength.org. The additional funds bring Entree's assets under management to $1 Billion TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Entree Capital, a leading global venture capital firm, today announced the closing of its fourth Israel-focused early-stage fund and its second Israel-focused early growth fund. The new funds total $300m in new commitments, bringing Entree Capital's total assets under management to $1 Billion. Entree Capital's Israel Team - Photo credit: David Garb The new funds will invest primarily in the areas of DeepTech, FinTech, SaaS, Web 3.0 (Crypto/Blockchain), Data/Cloud Infrastructure, and DevOps, as well as consumer and foodtech opportunities where the firm has built expertise. Entree Capital Israel Early Stage Fund IV will provide pre-seed and seed funding to Israeli startups targeting deals of $500k to $6 million. The Israel Early Growth Fund II will focus primarily on Series A and B, with investments of $5 million to $15 million, allowing Entree Capital to both join and lead deals. Additionally, Entree is honored to announce that existing team member Adi Gozes has been promoted to Partner in Entree's Israel Funds. Adi's stellar career started with her serving in Israel Defense Forces' 8200 Elite Intelligence unit, followed by a B.Sc. in Computer Science and an MBA from Tel Aviv University. Adi started out as a product manager and then as a startup co-founder, eventually moving into the venture capital world four years ago. "We could not have found a better fit to join the partnership. Adi is passionate, empathic, has technical and founder experience, and has contributed to the firm immensely since she joined," says Avi Eyal, Entree Capital's co-founder and General Partner. Since 2011, Entree Capital's Israel Funds have invested in pre-seed and seed financing rounds of successful Israeli and global startups. Over the last decade, Entree Capital's Israel and Global Funds have realized 27 exits and IPO's, helped build 15 unicorns, and after eight years, its first Israel fund has already distributed 40x (DPI). "Believing in people who want to change the world is in our DNA, and as serial entrepreneurs ourselves, we know the importance of taking the first steps with world-changing founders. With companies like monday.com, Riskified, Breezometer, Classiq, and others, we have been fortunate and proud to be invested from the pre-seed stage, providing initial capital and support and then following the early investments through multiple rounds as the companies have grown," adds Avi Eyal. "Entree's global footprint of invested companies such as Cazoo, Glovo, Gusto, Coupang, and more is a key advantage that we bring to Israeli startups," says Ran Achituv, General Partner at Entree Capital. "We have extensive global contacts and a unique perspective, enabling us to look from the outside in. We are proud to be one of the only Israeli funds that heavily invest in both Israeli and global markets together." "With these new funds, Entree Capital will continue its mission to 'partner with the exceptional to build the impossible," says Eran Bielski, General Partner at Entree Capital. "I tell entrepreneurs: if you're working on something that seems too big for most people to want to stomach, you should probably talk to us." About Entree Capital Entree Capital, a global venture capital firm with offices in Israel, the UK, and the US, manages $1B across 9 funds and has invested in hundreds of global startups in the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Israel, Australia, Africa, India, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. Entree's portfolio companies include monday.com, Riskified, Rapyd, Cazoo, Coupang, Snapchat, Breezometer, Deliveroo, Fundbox, Glovo, Postmates, Kuda Bank, Stash, PillPack, and more than 130 others with a combined value of $335 billion. In 2021, Entree was ranked as the 4th most prominent Fund in Europe ( dealroom.co ), the most active Fund in Israel (IVC), and co-founder and managing partner, Avi Eyal was named as number 3 on the 2021 Forbes Europe Midas List . Entree portfolio has achieved over 27 exits and IPOs and more than 15 Unicorns, with portfolio companies Deliveroo, Cazoo, Coupang, Riskified, and monday.com all going public in 2021. www.entreecap.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1727778/Entree_Capitals_Israel_Team.jpg SOURCE Entree Capital NEW DELHI, Jan. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The study undertaken by Astute Analytica foresees a tremendous growth in revenue of the radiation detection market from US$ 1,703.0 Mn in 2021 to US$ 2,649.2 Mn by 2030, registering a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period 2022-2030. The increasing use of radioactive materials in various sectors like medical research, medical imaging, power production, industrial processes and the defense has led to an increase in demand for medical radiation detectors which detects the presence of radiation. Accidents like the Three Mile Island accident (1979) and the Chernobyl Disaster (1986) have shown that radiation can result in harmful health effects. The severity of the effects of radiation on human body is determined by the amount of exposure, ability of the radiation to harm the organ tissue, organ that is affected, etc. Increasing security threats and growing government spending are driving the market for radiation detection. Moreover, increasing safety concerns post nuclear disaster and rising prevalence of cancer necessitates the use of radiation detectors. However, growing use of nuclear energy alternatives such as renewable resources is a restraint to the growth of the radiation detection market. Request a Sample Report of Radiation Detection Market: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/radiation-detection-market Significance of the market for radiation detection Since the early days of radiation testing by Roentgen and Becquerel, scientists have sought ways to measure and observe the radiation given off by the materials they worked with. Henri Becquerel used a method to demonstrate the existence of radiation in 1896. Since then, the use of radiation detectors is significant to measure radiation exposure to an individual's body. According to the World Energy Outlook (WEO) report, in 2021, the IEA's 'Stated Policies Scenario' sees installed nuclear capacity growth of over 26% from 2020 to 2050 (reaching about 525 GWe). Use of radioactive materials by terrorists has raised serious concerns. The Fukushima Dai-Ichi accident in 2011 has affected many aspects of the nuclear society globally. In the defense sector, the common sources of radiation exposure to personnel include nuclear ships and submarines; depleted uranium-made weapons and military equipment; handling, detonation, and maintenance of nuclear weapons; and during nuclear waste transport and storage. Such events may cause a significant number of personnel to be exposed to harmful levels of radiation, the radiation detectors devices and services are majorly used in the defense sector to monitor the radiation exposure and limit the impact of radiation on personnel health. Radiation detection devices must have to be highly reliable. There are ongoing technological developments in these devices which have mostly targeted the lighter weight, smaller size, longer useful life, high reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Challenges Ahead Alternative energy sources such as hydrogen, solar power, natural gas, and thorium are a big concern for the radiation detection market. Turkey, India, Australia, and United States holds 59% of the world's thorium reserves. Thorium that is mined can be used as a fuel, whereas, only 1% of the mined uranium (primary element used in nuclear energy) is used as a fuel. Thorium produces less waste and is safer than uranium. Request Customized Copy of Report @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/ask-for-customization/radiation-detection-market Impact of COVID-19 Radiation detection can be used for prevention of excessive radiation exposure due to imaging equipment when suffering from COVID-19. Healthcare entities are increasingly leveraging medical imaging and imaging analytics to improve COVID-19 detection and prevention. However, the restrictions imposed due the coronavirus pandemic somewhat impacted the medical supply chain of the global radiation detection market. Travel restriction and shortages of raw materials, including plastics, metals, glass, and electronics, hampered production. The nuclear power industry is currently witnessing a truly challenging environment, still, a high demand for nuclear energy is projected in the coming years due to rising energy demands across the globe. Scintillators segment is estimated to exhibit the highest CAGR of 5.6% by 2030 Gas-filled Detectors segment holds highest market share of 55.3% in 2021, where the market was valued at US$ 941.6 Mn. Scintillators are reliable, efficient and competitive technology for contamination monitoring as compared to gas-filled detectors, creating lucrative growth opportunities in the global marketplace. Healthcare segment estimated to have the highest market share in 2021 By end user, healthcare segment is estimated to have the highest market share of 44.9% in 2021. The importance of medical imaging is resulting in high market share of the healthcare segment. Homeland Security and Defense segment is estimated to exhibit highest CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period. The high growth opportunity in the segment is due to increasing concerns regarding national security and rise in territorial tension between nations. Asia Pacific has the highest CAGR for the forecast period North America holds the highest market share of 35.2% in 2021. The region's market is valued at US$ 598.9 Mn in 2021. Despite the huge market share held by North America, Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period. The growth opportunity in the regional market is estimated at US$ 270.6 Mn during the forecast period. The high growth opportunity in the region is due to countries like China and Japan. For instance, in China, several independent government departments related to nuclear medicine are emerging like the China Society of Nuclear Medicine. Key Market Players The main competitors are Fuji Electric, HORIBA, Ltd., Hamamatsu Photonics, Mitsubishi Electric group, Fortive Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific, IBA Worldwide and others. Companies are adopting various competitive strategies to withhold significant market share in the global marketplace. Segmentation Overview Global Radiation Detection Market is segmented on the basis of product type, end user, detection type and region. These segments are sub-divided to get a holistic picture of the market. Following are the different segments of the Global Radiation Detection Market: By Product Radiation monitoring post RI monitors Radiation detector and analyzers Portable radiation survey meters Others By End User Healthcare Homeland Security and Defense Nuclear Power Plants Others By Detection Type Gas-filled Detectors Geiger-Muller Counters Ionization Chambers Proportional Counters Scintillators Inorganic Scintillators Organic Scintillators Solid-state Detectors Semiconductor Detectors Diamond Detectors By Region North America The U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Western Europe The UK Germany France Italy Spain Rest of Western Europe Eastern Europe Poland Russia Eastern Europe Asia Pacific China India Japan South Korea Australia & New Zealand & ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa UAE Saudi Arabia South Africa Rest of MEA South America Argentina Brazil Rest of South America Directly Purchase a copy of report with TOC @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/radiation-detection-market For Additional Information OR Media Enquiry, Please Mail Us At: [email protected] About Astute Analytica Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company which has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron-come at the top. You can be sure of best cost-effective, value-added package from us, should you decide to engage with us. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1582155/Astute_Analytica_Logo.jpg Contact us: Aamir Beg BSI Business Park, H-15,Sector-63, Noida- 201301- India Phone: +1-888 429 6757 (US Toll Free); +91-0120- 4251598 (Rest of the World) Email: [email protected] Website: www.astuteanalytica.com Follow US: LinkedIn | Twitter SOURCE Astute Analytica HANGZHOU and SHAOXING, China, Jan. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKEX code: 1672) today announces the dosing of the first patient in the Phase III registration clinical trial of ASC40 combined with bevacizumab for treatment of recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM). ASC40 is an oral, selective inhibitor of fatty acid synthase (FASN), a key enzyme which regulates de novo lipogenesis (DNL). ASC40 inhibits energy supply and disturbs membrane phospholipid composition of tumor cells by blocking de novo lipogenesis. The Phase III registration study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05118776) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical trial in China to evaluate progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety of patients with rGBM. Approximately 180 patients will be 1:1 randomized to Cohort 1 (oral ASC40 tablet once daily + Bevacizumab) and Cohort 2 (matching placebo tablet once daily + Bevacizumab). Approximately 80% of such 180 patients with rGBM in the Phase III clinical trial are expected to be randomized and enrolled by the end of December 2022. The Phase II study, completed in the U.S., in patients with rGBM has shown that the objective response rate (ORR) for ASC40 plus Bevacizumab treatment was 65% including a complete response (CR) of 20% and a partial response (PR) of 45%. Based on published data, in China, glioblastoma (GBM) represents 57% of gliomas and has an incidence rate of approximately 2.85 to 4.56 per 100,000 population per year, suggesting approximately 40,000 to 64,000 new cases of GBM per year. More than 90% GBM patients will relapse after surgery, radiation and chemotherapies. In the U.S., GBM represents 56.6% of gliomas and has an incidence rate of approximately 3.21 per 100,000 population per year. "I am pleased that the first patient has been successfully dosed in the Phase III clinical trial of ASC40 combined with bevacizumab for treatment of recurrent glioblastoma. As the first clinical trial targeting tumor lipid metabolism in China, we are looking forward to the results of the trial," said Dr. Wenbin Li, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of Glioma Committee of Chinese Cancer Association, Director of the Comprehensive Tumor Treatment Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University. "Dosing the first patient in ASC40 Phase III registration study is a significant milestone for our oncology pipeline. We are looking forward to the data from this Phase III study," said Dr. Jinzi J. Wu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ascletis. In Ascletis' oncology pipeline, in addition to FASN inhibitors, there are two oral PD-L1 small molecule inhibitors developed in-house, namely ASC61 and ASC63. Ascletis has filed a U.S. Investigational New Drug (IND) application of ASC61 for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. About Ascletis Ascletis is an innovative R&D driven biotech listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (1672.HK), a global platform covering the entire value chain from discovery and development to manufacturing and commercialization. Ascletis is committed to developing and commercializing innovative drugs in the areas of viral diseases, NASH/PBC, and cancer (oral cancer metabolic checkpoint and immune checkpoint inhibitors) to address unmet medical needs both in China and globally. Led by a management team with deep expertise and a proven track record, Ascletis targets those therapeutic areas with unmet medical needs from a global perspective, and efficiently advances the developments of pipelines with an aim of leading in global competition. To date, Ascletis has three marketed products and 20 robust R&D pipelines of drug candidates with global competitiveness, and is actively exploring new therapeutic areas. Viral Diseases: (1) Hepatitis B Virus (functional cure): focus on breakthrough therapies for CHB functional cure with a subcutaneously-injected PD-L1 antibody ASC22 and Pegasys as cornerstone drugs. (2) COVID-19 pipeline: currently includes (i) ritonavir oral tablet (100 mg), an authorized product, (ii) ASC10, an oral RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) inhibitor and (iii) ASC11, an oral 3-chymotrypsin like protease (3CLpro) inhibitor. (3) HIV/AIDS: ASC22, an immune therapy to restore HIV-specific immune responses and eventually lead to a functional cure of HIV-infected patients. (4) Hepatitis C: successfully launched an all-oral regimen of combining ASCLEVIR and GANOVO (RDV/DNV regimen). Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis/Primary Biliary Cholangitis: Gannex, a wholly-owned company of Ascletis, is dedicated to the R&D and commercialization of new drugs in the field of NASH. Gannex has three clinical stage drug candidates against three different targets FASN, THR and FXR, three fixed-dose combinations for NASH and one PBC program targeting FXR. Cancer (oral cancer metabolic checkpoint and immune checkpoint inhibitors): a pipeline of oral inhibitors targeting FASN, which plays a key role in cancer lipid metabolism, and a pipeline of oral PD-L1 small molecule next generation immune checkpoint inhibitors. Exploratory Indications: Acne: Following NASH and recurrent GBM, the third indication for ASC40 has been approved to enter Phase 2 clinical trial. For more information, please visit www.ascletis.com. SOURCE Ascletis Pharma Inc. Key Highlights Offered in the Report: Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices. Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation of the pros and cons of prevalent pricing models. Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPI's to evaluate incumbent suppliers. Fetch actionable market insights on post COVID-19 impact on each product and service segments. 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SpendEdge's SUBSCRIPTION platform Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. Contacts: SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SOURCE SpendEdge Fakafanua was traveling to New Zealand when the undersea Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano was smoldering. He was in New Zealand when it erupted and so, was able to communicate with the rest of the world. His wife Krystal, who was in Tonga, told him how shockwaves vibrated the entire building where they live. It was a different feeling from an earthquake. The shockwaves went right through the body. While saddened by the loss of life -- three deaths had been confirmed by Jan 23 -- Fakafanua told Liu Xin the authorities were relieved that the toll wasn't higher. He also shared some good news. Hopefully, schools would reopen soon, probably on January 31. A long road to recovery However, communication in Tonga was still far from being back to normal. While voice calls and texts were possible, emails were intermittent. The politician felt the damage to infrastructure and the effects of the volcanic ash and the tsunami would probably be felt for years to come. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization echoed him, saying in a statement on January 21 that the ashfall could have detrimental effects on crops and livestock. Around 86 percent of Tongans are engaged in some form of agriculture either farming or raising livestock or fishing. COVID major concern in relief efforts Fakafanua said the international community had responded swiftly in providing aid. However, "We need water, we need food." Anti-COVID-19 efforts will also add to the difficulties in receiving external assistance. Tonga, which has reported just one case of COVID-19 so far, is receiving foreign relief assistance in a contact-less form to ensure there are no new infections. All international humanitarian supplies are being dropped off without the crew coming in contact with the islanders. China rushed cash assistance and emergency supplies on January 20. The Point with Liu Xin, CGTN's flagship Talk show program, is a 30-minute commentary on global news through Liu Xin's unique perspective. (387 words) https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-01-22/How-did-people-in-Tonga-feel-Liu-Xin-spoke-to-its-parliament-speaker-172hqLbzJ2o/index.html SOURCE CGTN PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Cryptocurrency Market By Offering (Hardware [ASIC, GPU, FPGA, and Others] and Software), Process (Mining and Transaction), Type (Bitcoin [BTC], Ethereum [ETH], Tether [USDT], Binance Coin [BNB], Cardano [ADA], Ripple [XRP], and Others), and End User (Trading, Retail & E-commerce, Banking, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030". As per the report, the global cryptocurrency market generated $1.49 billion in 2020 and is estimated to reach $4.94 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 12.8% from 2021 to 2030. Major Determinants of the Market Growth Increase in demand for transparency in the payment system and surge in flow of remittance from foreign countries have boosted the growth of the global cryptocurrency market. However, dearth of awareness regarding virtual currency hinders the market growth. On the contrary, potential in the developing countries would open new opportunities in the future. Download Sample Report (Get Full Insights in PDF - 354 Pages) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2075 COVID-19 Outbreak: The Covid-19 outbreak resulted in distorted business operations for receiving upgraded equipment & new hardware, which hampered the mining operations. This factor negatively affected the cryptocurrency market. However, the as the world is recovering from the pandemic, the market is expected to get back on track soon. The Software Segment to Showcase the Highest CAGR through 2030 Based on offering, the software segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 14.2% during the forecast period, as it enables to manage the massive volume of data being generated for meaningful insights and better-informed decisions. However, hardware segment held the largest share in 2020, accounting for more than three-fourths of the global cryptocurrency market share in 2020. This is due to increase in need to enhance the efficiency of financial payment tools. Get Detailed Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on Cryptocurrency Market @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/2075?reqfor=covid The Transaction Segment to Register the Highest CAGR By 2030 Based on process, the transaction segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 14.6% during the forecast period, as cryptocurrency transaction allows users with more autonomy over their own money than fiat currencies and users can control their money without dealing with intermediary authority. However, the mining segment dominated in terms of revenue in 2020, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the global cryptocurrency market share in 2020, due to the fact that the process involves validating data blocks and adding transaction records to public ledger known as blockchain. Asia-Pacific, Followed By Europe and North America, Held the Largest Share Based on region, Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, held the highest share in 2020, contributing to nearly half of the global cryptocurrency market. In addition, the segment would register the fastest CAGR of 14.5% from 2021 to 2030, due to rise in number of Bitcoin exchange across Asia. Interested to Procure the Data? Inquire Here @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2075 Key Players in the Industry BitFury Group Limited BTL Group Ltd. Intel Corporation Ledger SAS NVIDIA Corporation Coincheck Inc. Ripple Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Xilinx Inc. Xapo Holdings Limited Access AVENUE - A Subscription-Based Library (Premium On-Demand, Subscription-Based Pricing Model) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Avenue is a user-based library of global market report database, provides comprehensive reports pertaining to the world's largest emerging markets. It further offers e-access to all the available industry reports just in a jiffy. By offering core business insights on the varied industries, economies, and end users worldwide, Avenue ensures that the registered members get an easy as well as single gateway to their all-inclusive requirements. Avenue Library Subscription | Request For 14 Days Free Trial of Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter Similar Reports: FinTech Lending Market Projected to Reach $4.96 Trillion By 2030 Hybrid Cloud in BFSI Market Anticipated to Grow $36.15 Billion By 2030 B2B Payments Market Expected to Reach $1.91 Trillion By 2028 Robo Advisory Market Estimated to Attain $41.07 Billion By 2027 Digital Lending Platform Market Projected to Hit $20.31 Billion By 2027 Buy Now Pay Later Market Projected to Reach $3.98 Trillion By 2030 Artificial Intelligence in BFSI Market to Garner $247.37 Billion By 2026 Pre-Book Now with 10% Discount: Cryptocurrency Mining Hardware Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2021-2030 Cryptocurrency ATMs Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2021-2030 About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): 1-800-792-5285, 1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on LinkedIn and Twitter SOURCE Allied Market Research BOSTON, Jan. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "It is important for parents in Massachusetts to explore and identify the best education options available to their children," reads a proclamation just issued by Gov. Charlie Baker, recognizing this Jan. 23-29 as "Massachusetts School Choice Week." Gov. Baker's proclamation highlights the importance of Massachusetts' diverse educational environments, dedicated teaching professionals, and commitment to continuously improving the quality of K-12 education. In issuing the proclamation, Gov. Baker joined more than a dozen other governors and more than 300 city and county leaders nationwide who have proclaimed School Choice Week in their territories. For Massachusetts School Choice Week, community members have planned 432 events and activities across the state, including rallies, discussions, school open houses, and more. These activities aim to spread information about school types and learning opportunities, bringing encouragement and information as families school search. More than half of American families are considering, or have considered in the last year, choosing a new or different school. More than 26,000 events have been independently planned for the public awareness effort nationwide, which is celebrated by all types of schools. "Massachusetts has many excellent schools to celebrate, and families are using the opportunity this January to look for learning opportunities and support in finding the best fit for them," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "We appreciate Gov. Baker proclaiming the Week and recognizing the importance of every child having access to effective options." National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/massachusetts . SOURCE National School Choice Week CHARLESTON, W.Va., Jan. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in the state's history, a West Virginia governor has officially recognized the last week of January as "West Virginia School Choice Week." Gov. Jim Justice has signed a proclamation recognizing School Choice Week (Jan. 23-Jan. 29) and how every West Virginia child deserves an effective education. The proclamation highlights West Virginia's dedicated teachers and school options, and the importance of quality education for preparing students to be successful adults. In signing the proclamation, Gov. Justice joined a bipartisan group of thirty other governors and more than 400 city and local leaders around the country who have proclaimed the Week. With learning disruptions still making national headlines, Mountain State parents, schools, and other community members will participate in 153 events during West Virginia School Choice Week to highlight the importance of educational choice. Schools of all types traditional public, public magnet, public charter, private, online, and homeschool communities participate in the Week, which seeks to celebrate K-12 learning and support parents in knowing their options. "We are excited that West Virginia parents, teachers, and community leaders are stepping into a new era of education options in the state," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "We're grateful to Gov. Justice for issuing the proclamation and wish West Virginian families the best as they explore school choice and work to increase opportunities for all children." National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/west-virginia . SOURCE National School Choice Week The Missouri State University Board of Governors passed a tuition increase during its April Read more PROVIDENCE, R.I., Jan. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in the state's history, a Rhode Island governor has officially recognized the last week of January as "Rhode Island School Choice Week." Gov. Daniel McKee recently signed a proclamation recognizing School Choice Week (Jan. 23-Jan. 29) and how every Rhode Island child deserves an effective education. In signing the proclamation, Gov. McKee joined a bipartisan group of more than two dozen governors and more than 400 city and local leaders around the country who have recognized the Week, an annual effort to raise awareness about choices in K-12 education. During Rhode Island School Choice Week, parents, schools, and other community members will participate in 85 events and activities to celebrate school choices (traditional public schools, public magnet schools, public charter schools, private schools, online schools, and homeschooling), and encourage families to take an active role in their children's education. "We look forward to seeing the hard work of Rhode Island teachers, parents, and other event planners come to fruition as they host their celebrations of School Choice Week," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "We thank Gov. McKee for issuing this proclamation and we encourage all parents to use this time to explore school options for next year." National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/rhode-island . SOURCE National School Choice Week MONTPELIER, Vt., Jan. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gov. Scott has proclaimed Jan. 23-29 to be "Vermont School Choice Week," recognizing the essential role K-12 educational choice plays in the lives of children, parents, and teachers across the state. In the Green Mountain State, this marks the fifth consecutive year that School Choice Week has been officially proclaimed. Gov. Scott's proclamation coincides with the twelfth annual National School Choice Week, a public awareness effort that raises awareness about options and opportunity in K-12 education. Nationwide, more than 30 governors have issued proclamations in a bipartisan show of support for the Week. Vermont parents, schools, and other organizers have planned 45 of the more than 26,000 events planned across the country to celebrate School Choice Week. These range from school pep rallies and open houses to at-home activities and virtual contests. The celebrations aim to bring parents actionable information about public, private, virtual, and home learning options, so that every parent can find the best learning fit for their child. "We are excited that Vermont parents are so enthusiastic about school choice, and we're grateful to Gov. Scott for formally recognizing the Week," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "We wish Vermont families the best as they explore their education options and work to increase opportunities for all children." National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/vermont . SOURCE National School Choice Week TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gov. DeSantis has issued an official proclamation declaring Jan. 23-Jan. 29 Florida School Choice Week. The proclamation from Gov. DeSantis comes on the heels of a year of historic school choice expansions nationwide, including the expansion of Florida's voucher, tax-credit scholarship, and education savings account policies. The proclamation highlights Florida's nationwide leadership in offering families choice opportunities, including the funding of "more than 192,000 scholarships, more than 55% of which were funded with private donations, for students with special needs, students from low-middle income families, students who have endured bullying, and students who struggle with reading." In issuing the proclamation, Gov. DeSantis joins a bipartisan group of more than 30 governors and more than 400 state, city and county leaders across the U.S. who have recognized the Week. This year marks the twelfth annual School Choice Week, which will feature more than 26,000 events nationwide. Families will celebrate Florida School Choice Week with more than 3,000 events and activities across the state, planned by parents, teachers, and other community members. These fairs, informational sessions, rallies, and more aim to inspire conversations about the school choices parents have or want for their children, and encourage families to play an active role in their children's education. "Florida families have shown time and time again how deeply they care about their children having access to diverse learning opportunities through different school types and scholarship programs," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "We are grateful to Gov. DeSantis for officially recognizing the importance of educational choice, and we cannot wait to see pictures of all the wonderful events happening across Florida." National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/florida . SOURCE National School Choice Week Taking place from mid-January until the Spring Festival, Sanya's calendar of cultural tourism activities includes live performances that the whole family will love, eco-friendly activities that help preserve the natural habitat, and joint Spring Festival celebration events with iconic local tourist venues to usher in the Lunar New Year. The Joy with Family As China's most lively seaside destination, Sanya will host a number of performances that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from children to parents and grandparents. Three Little Pigs, a musical for children imported from New York's Broadway and revamped by Mahua FunAge, a cultural company that focuses on comedy content, will take place during the Spring Festival season, which promises to delight attendees with engaging storytelling, a lively score, and vibrant costuming. During the festival, a well-known performance orchestra will play New Year's concert for travelers at Sanya's popular Binhai Park venue at night. Complete with eye-catching themed installations, the venue will immerse children in the Spring Festival spirit and serve as the ideal backdrop for tourists to capture precious memories on camera. The Joy with Nature With its crystal-clear waters and lush mountains-capes, Sanya is blessed with natural beauty and at Wuzhizhou Island, the home of China's best-preserved coral reef, travelers can start the New Year off on a positive note by contributing to marine ecology conservation efforts with coral reef propagation. By replanting coral in the reef beds, tourists will help preserve the beauty of the reef for future generations while learning more about the island's beautiful natural surroundings. The STPB is also planning to organize additional activities dedicated to environmental protection, such as virtual panels with travel experts, online recruitment of experienced officers, training on coral reefs and marine science, seabed planting and conservation activities, and more. The Joy with Sanya In addition to organizing its own activities, the STPB has partnered with prime tourist attractions to infuse the island with the Chinese New Year atmosphere through a variety of traditional cultural offerings and evening events. Tourism operators, such as Haichang Ocean Park, Tianya Haijiao, and popular hoteliers will host non-stop activities as part of the celebration, ranging from a Chinese Food Festival with culinary delights galore to a captivating New Year Glowing Float Parade, stunning New Year fireworks display, and quintessential dragon and lion dances. Sanya has long been the primary choice for local and international tourists in the winter due to its pleasant temperate climate. The STPB has blended the region's greatest tourism offers with exciting cultural activities to enhance the Spring Festival experience for tourists, draw even more travelers to China's coastlines, and help create a genuinely unforgettable experience for the entire family. SOURCE Sanya Tourism Promotion Board Damascus, Jan 23 : The Syrian Foreign Ministry has accused the US forces and its allied Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of committing acts that left civilians killed in Syria's northeastern province of Raqqa, according to the state news agency SANA. In a statement following the chaos in Hasakah that resulted from the escape attempt of Islamic State (IS) militants from a Kurdish-controlled prison and the US airstrikes that ensued, the Syrian Ministry said the US Air Force has committed "barbaric" acts, leaving innocent civilians, including women and children, killed. The Ministry said the chaos and the clashes between the IS militants and the SDF amid the airstrikes of the US forces had forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes in Kurdish-controlled areas to government-controlled ones in Hasakah, Xinhua news agency reported. The fleeing civilians received proper treatment upon reaching the government-controlled areas, it noted. The Ministry also repeated its demand for the withdrawal of the US forces from Syria, particularly triggered by the targeting of civilians in the process of hunting down the fleeing IS militants. On Thursday, the IS attacked a Kurdish-run prison in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah in an attempt to free IS inmates. Around 80 inmates managed to escape, positioning in nearby buildings, an incident that triggered clashes and airstrikes by the US forces. Hasakah province is largely controlled by the US-backed SDF, with certain areas, particularly in the city of Qamishli, still under the control of the Syrian government. Tokyo, Jan 23 : Japan confirmed 54,576 daily Covid-19 cases, setting a new record for the fifth day in a row, according to a tally based on data collected from local governments. Tokyo reported 11,227 new cases on Saturday, eclipsing the previous record of 9,699 logged on Friday, while Osaka Prefecture in western Japan confirmed a fresh high of 7,375 cases. The nationwide tally surpassed the previous record high of 49,854 reported on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike urged the public to be mindful of the transmissibility of the virus and pledged to make all efforts to curb its further spread. Since the first case of the Omicron variant was confirmed in the country on November 30, the number of infections increased 100 times in three weeks. Amid surging cases across the country and concerns over the strain on the medical system, the Japanese government has already placed the first batch of 16 prefectures under a quasi-state of emergency, and then added Tokyo and 12 other prefectures to the measure on Friday. The quasi-state of emergency allows governors to ask restaurants and bars to end operation early and stop or limit the serving of alcohol. As Japan's cumulative total of Covid-19 cases recently exceeded 2 million, many parts of the country have been struggling with what was considered as the "sixth wave" of infections, and several more prefectures have officially sought or are preparing to make quasi-state of emergency requests to the central government. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Tehran, Jan 23 : Iran does not consider an interim deal in ongoing negotiations in the Austrian capital of Vienna aimed to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, a source close to the Iranian negotiating team told Tasnim News Agency. "The Iranian team seeks to achieve a lasting and credible agreement," the source was quoted as saying on Saturday. The NBC News network reported on Saturday that Russia has discussed a possible interim nuclear deal, which includes limited lifting of anti-Iran sanctions and re-imposition of certain restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities, with Iran in recent weeks as part of efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear pact, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Xinhua news agency reported. Damascus, Jan 23 : Five people were killed by Turkish shelling in Kurdish-controlled areas of Syria's northern Raqqa province, a war monitor reported. The alleged persons were killed on Saturday. The tension is ongoing between Turkey and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Ayn Issa area in the countryside of Raqqa, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Clashes and shelling reflect the Turkish rejection of the presence of a Kurdish militia in northern Syria, Xinhua news agency reported. On Friday, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels attempted to sneak into Ayn Issa amid clashes and shelling, the UK-based watchdog group added. In 2018, Turkey launched a massive campaign in northern Syria, dislodging the SDF and other Kurdish fighters from key areas in Aleppo province out of Turkey's plan to push away any Kurdish influence near its frontier. Raipur, Jan 23 : In a unique initiative to prevent victims of disaster from getting fleeced by brokers, Chhattisgarh's Korba police have formed a compensation cell to facilitate the affected and keep the fraudsters at bay. The state and Central governments provide compensation to the people affected by various disasters. The benefits of many schemes reach the affected when their applications reach the administration on time and brokers take advantage of this situation. The also take advantage that the government process is complicated. To save the victims from the vicious circle of these brokers, the Korba police have formed a compensation cell, which maintains direct contact with the victims and facilitates them in getting the solatium. Chhattisgarh is a tribal dominated area where a large number of people fall prey to disasters. The government has provision of providing compensation for untimely deaths in accidents, including by drowning, snake bite, rape victims, victims of violence, natural calamities among others. Korba SP Bhojram Patel said that during his earlier postings, he found that the disaster victims have to face many difficulties in getting compensation and the brokers take advantage of the situation. It happens because the accident case is registered with the police and compensation is received from the administrative department -- tehsildar, Sub Divisional Officer and District Magistrate. In many cases, the victims are deprived of the compensation due to non-fulfilment of the paper work required by the police, as such cases need to be disposed off within three months. Patel said after the cases are lodged in police stations, the case file reaches the staff posted in the compensation cell which review it and send it to the concerned official for quick disposal, so that the affected family draws the benefit of the government schemes and compensation amount in time. People living in the rural areas are less aware of the government schemes. To help the villagers, the police have adopted a unique method under which the police collects the population data of each village through kotwars. Patel said that the kotwars keep a record of the births and deaths in their villages and the police checks the statistics. When somebody passes away in a village, the cause of the death is ascertained and if the death has occurred due to natural calamity, then the process of preparing a case is initiated. Patel said that on the one hand, the victim sells his property to get rid of his problem while on the other hand, brokers in the name of getting them their compensation fleece them of their money. With this system, the victims are getting their right and it is hoped that it will instil confidence in the public about the government and administration. Usually, the police take action on complaints and crime reports but the Korba police have come up with this innovation to help the disaster victims. With the innovation, on the one hand the victims will get their due share while on the other hand, brokers will be unable to swindle their money. Hyderabad, Jan 23 : The Andhra Pradesh government's ban on 'Chintamani' a Telugu stage play that has been around since 1920, has raised the hackles of the art and culture fraternity in the state. The play scripted by pre-independence era social crusader Kallakuri Narayana Rao that deals with the evils of prostitution, had celebrated its hundredth anniversary only last year. In normal times, the play is staged regularly all year round at village and temple fairs, and other social events, across Andhra Pradesh. While the play revolves around the central character of Chintamani, a prostitute who attains salvation through repentance, it is the character of Subbi Setti, a Bania or merchant community member who descends to abject poverty, is at the centre of the current controversy. The state government's move to ban 'Chintamani' had come following representations from the Arya Vysya community in Andhra Pradesh. The Telugu merchant community, known as 'Banias' in north India, has long been up in arms against the play in which the character of Subbi Setty is portrayed in extremely poor light. The ban order was issued on January 17, following the latest attempt by the Arya Vysya community, in the form of a memorandum submitted to the state government about four months ago. According to observers, the fact that Endowments Department Minister Vellampalli Srinivas, who also belongs to the community, helped matters move at a fast pace. Predictably, the Arya Vysya community is rejoicing over the ban on the play. Community representatives have been expressing their gratitude to the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. "The depiction of 'Subbi Setti' in the play, is very objectionable and humiliating. Showing him as ugly, and using charcoal as makeup to darken his complexion, and making him the butt of lewd jokes. It was intolerable to the Arya Vysyas" said Ambica Krishna, a leading member of the community, former legislator, and former chairman of the AP Film Development Corporation. The actual problem however does not lie with the playwright or the original script of 'Chintamani'. "The play was written by Kallakuri Narayana Rao garu to highlight the evils of wrong company, in this case, a prostitute. The language used by the author in the original play has nothing objectionable. But over the years, local drama troupes began to modify the situations and language of the play, in a bid to appeal to mass sentiments. It is the fault of these actors and local drama troupes who keep manipulating the script and go overboard penning ribald dialogues as per their whims and fancies to attract more people." said Golla Narayana, President of the Andhra Arts Academy, cultural organisation that was set up to spread the fervour of independence in British India. The last few days have seen several art and culture organisations join hands to voice their protest against the ban on 'Chintamani'. Their argument is that the play is a reflection of the social mores of the prevailing times when it was originally written. The government's decision to ban the play is being seen as too extreme a step. "If any part of the play is objectionable, or someone is making changes to it, you can warn such people. But a blanket ban is untenable, especially since the play gives us insights into the social ills of its time" says S Anil Kumar, Secretary, Jana Natya Mandali, Andhra Pradesh unit. He points out that in 2002, when the community had sought a ban on the play, the High Court had ruled in favour of the play after going through the original script However, the Arya Vysya community is firm that a blanket ban on staging the play, is the only solution. "It is impossible to monitor the plays which are staged in villages, and even in bylanes of towns and cities. We never know when and where a play is being staged. It will need to be videographed and then followed up, which is impractical to implement. A ban is the ideal solution," says Ambica Krishna. Meanwhile, concerns are being raised over the possible precedents that the ban sets for muzzling all kinds of creative expression in the days to come. "Today the ban is because a community is finding it objectionable. Tomorrow another community might object to another play or it could be that a political party finds fault with a stage play. This decision to ban a play, leaves the door open for future trouble." said G Narayana. Considering that the play survived several attempts to get it banned over the years, the urgency with which the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led state government has banned the play by issuing it through the general administration department is raising eyebrows. Observers opine that the ban may be the ruling party's ploy to garner favour of the community which though relatively small in numbers, has financial clout. While clarifying that the Arya Vysyas are well within their rights to protest against the caricaturing of their community, culture champions are finding fault with the state government for the arbitrarily disposing off a very important issue. Cummings, Boakai and the Ghana surreptitious Meeting Many key supporters of the Unity Party, according to sources, were shocked when news emerged of the recent UP political leader Joseph Boakais trip to Ghana accompanied by his son and nephew allegedly for a reconciliation meeting with Alternative National Congress (ANC) leader, Alexander Cummings. It is not known exactly who organized the meeting but informed sources suggest that it was former College of West Africa(CWA) students that organized the meeting intended to bring together Cummings and Boakai both being political adversaries and graduates of CWA. One individual said to be strongly linked to the organization of the meeting is former deputy foreign minister, Sylvester Grigsby a close friend and CWA classmate of Joseph Boakai. For the record, Grigsby currently heads an organization known and styled as the Liberia Renaissance Office(LIRO). This is an organization allegedly put together for the sole purpose of identifying a suitable presidential candidate who it can sell to US opinion leaders including even US President Joe Biden. Former President Ellen Sirleaf, also a CWA graduate, is said to be closely linked to the LIRO including her PR consultant Reva Levinson. She reportedly has close business connections with Ghanaian Finance Minister Ofori Attah. As to whether she played a role in organizing the meeting is unclear but sources suggest the choice of Accra as the venue of the meeting was not by accident as her presence in Accra at the time appeared to suggest. But the meeting according to sources ended in a deadlock because former Vice President Joseph Boakai allegedly rejected a US$6m bribe offer to back down and instead endorse Cummings candidacy. According to a report aired on Power FM on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, the ANC leader walked unannounced into a meeting between Allan White and VP Boakai and began pleading with the former Vice President to accept the US$6m offer. It was at this point according to the report that the former Vice President allegedly walked out of the meeting claiming the bribe offer was an insult to his character. But spin doctors of the former Vice President have dismissed such claims. They maintain that he(VP Boakai) had actually traveled to Nigeria and was on his way back to Liberia when he made a brief stop-over in Accra, Ghana. They maintain that it was by coincidence following arrival in Ghana that the former Vice President received an invitation to attend the meeting which he eventually walked out of. But such claims have left many questions unanswered. Critics contend that the former VP cannot in good conscience claim ignorance of arrangements that culminated in the Accra meeting. In the first place, who organized the trip including logistics associated with it? Were party officials contacted and did they give it their blessings? Assuming for the sake of the argument that party officials did give their blessings to the trip, why was no party official involved? For all what it seemed, it was intended to be a convivial affair involving former school and classmates, a convergence of CWA FOXES especially Cummings and Boakai, to jaw-jaw and then reconcile. Informed sources have confirmed that former President Sirleaf(the Mother Fox) was also present in Accra This may have been the appealing factor leading to his decision to attend. But if the rather sour and strained relationship between two old FOXES Ellen and Joe was anything to go by, then there was little chance that the recent convergence of former FOXES at a reconciliation meeting between Cummings and Boakai would have achieved anything of substance especially given reports that Ellen is an avowed supporter of Cummings who appears bent on becoming the chosen one of the CPP. But the troubling question that remains unanswered is what justification can the former VP provide for not including party officials on his delegation when he was fully aware that the visit was political and not social or health-related. That he instead opted to constitute a delegation composed of his son, Jojo Boakai, and nephew Jake Kabakole to discuss important political matters affecting the future of his party and country defies reason even if the visit was intended to be a low key affair. Now, it appears that the former VP, by that surreptitious visit to Accra, has seemingly endangered his moral standing in the party and raised questions to which answers have not been as readily forthcoming as expected. This has not only conveyed a distinct impression that he had personal but unworthy motives for attending the meeting, it is also, according to insider UP sources, provoking a split in the UP leadership which party officials appear to be desperately trying to paper over. According to some party loyalists, they feel angry and deeply disappointed by former VP Boakais decision to travel without informing them about the purpose of the visit to Ghana. In their opinion, his decision to attend a political meeting dubbed a reconciliation meeting accompanied by his son and nephew rather than by party officials was out of place. More to that critics say that his failure to have united the CPP under his leadership and secured its nomination has greatly endangered his chances of nailing down the requisite resources, financial and otherwise, necessary to clinch victory at the 2023 polls. And now with the UP and ALP openly declared the decision to leave the CPP, there are questions about the ability of the former VP, given health concerns, to organize and muster the financial and political strength to lead a robust and credible campaign capable of attracting mass support to outweigh the ruling CDC at the 2023 polls. At this point, it is safe to conclude that the CPP is for all purposes dead. The political masterstroke which embattled Liberty Party Chairman Musa Bility had sought to achieve by having the Liberty Party declare its support for ANC leader, Alexander Cummings has apparently failed. Cummings is now left holding on to mere shreds of a now factionalized Liberty Party. Analysts suggest that Bilitys flawed move has drawn ethnic sentiments into play here. This is because Bility, an ethnic Mandingo, may prove incapable of swaying the popular support in Bassa away from Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, an ethnic Bassa. This leaves Mr. Cummings in a quandary. Because he lacks an identifiable political base, he desperately needs the support and backing of a unified CPP, something which he has proved incapable of mustering in view of the UP and ALP declared intention to leave the CPP. The recent criminal conspiracy lawsuit filed by ALP leader Benoni Urey against ANC leader Alexander Cummings has without question placed the issue of reconciliation between both individuals beyond reach at least for now. Whatever the case, popular predictions about a death knell hanging over the CPP appear to have been fulfilled. Slowly but surely, the national discourse centered on Cummings, Boakai, and Weah appears to be shifting. This is because the grueling fight between Cummings and Boakai over the CPP nomination has created strong feelings of disappointment in the public and left the people searching for options. But lest it is forgotten, ethnicity, as well as regionalism, will more likely than not feature heavily in decision making when it comes to choosing a president but, may not be the final or most weighted determinant. From all indications, the Liberian people are longing for honest, decisive, accountable, inclusive, and transparent leadership to manage the affairs of the country. And this is regardless of ethnic, regional, or religious considerations. But there is an urgency of time attached to this. The Voters Registry(VR) is yet to be cleaned up since the Supreme Courts mandate to do so before the presidential runoff election in 2017. Constituencies are yet to be developed as the National Census on which basis Constituencies can be demarcated is yet to be held. Of key importance, also, is the very composition of the National Electoral Body(NEC). Its Chairperson is currently facing criminal charges including money laundering while serious questions of character remain hovering over the rest. With just a year remaining to elections, it appears unlikely that these matters will be resolved before the elections in October next year. Rather than focusing on such an all-important matter as the creation of a level playing field for elections, several of the leading political parties have been locked in bruising ego clashes which have only tended to hurt rather than enhance their prospects for victory against the CDC. In many ways than one, the CPPs internecine battles have served to seriously undermine overall chances for electoral reform well before the conduct of elections in 2023. What had once appeared to be a formidable CPP partnership has turned to be what in local parlance is called O.Y.O (On Your Own) friendship a meaning akin to the story of the Three Musketeers all for none and none for all. Kolkata, Jan 23 : Few days before the Supreme Court pulled up several states for discrepancies in Covid death record and low disbursement of compensation, West Bengal recorded more than 80 per cent disbursement of compensation of the 91 per cent claims received by the state. According to available data, the state has received as many as 18,554 Covid death compensation claims, or 91 per cent of the total recorded deaths of 20,231, and honoured nearly 80 per cent of those, spending nearly Rs 75 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund, even as claims from Kolkata -- which has had the highest share of Covid deaths -- hovered around the 40 per cent-mark. The data also shows that two other districts that recorded the highest deaths after Kolkata -- South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas -- made more than 90 per cent claims of which most have been disbursed. According to senior officials of the state disaster management department, North 24 Parganas recorded 5,130 Covid deaths of which 4,600 families made the claims, and 4,560 families received the compensation. On the other hand, in South 24 Parganas, 1,340 families made their claims of the total 1,435 recorded deaths, and all of them have received the compensation. "Instructions had been given to clear all claims as early as possible. We have got a fund of Rs 100 crore from the state disaster management authority for paying compensations and, if needed, we will ask for more. Till Tuesday, we released Rs 74.4 crore as compensation," a senior official of the state disaster management department said. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court came down heavily on some states for their "insensitivity" over not taking proactive steps to compensate the Covid victims, and asked the authorities to reach out to the families without waiting for them to file claims. The division bench of Justices M.R. Shah and Sanjeev Khanna expressed extreme displeasure at the relatively low disbursal numbers in most states. The top court also directed the state governments not to reject any claims for ex-gratia payment for Covid-19 deaths on "technical grounds". The court had in June last year asked the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to consider fixing the ex-gratia amount. The NDMA recommended payment of Rs 50,000 compensation -- to be paid from the State Disaster Relief Fund -- to the next of kin of the deceased. The data available with the states is shocking. After Maharashtra recorded 1,41,737 deaths, there were as many as 2,13,890 claims of which 92,275 were disbursed. The situation in Gujarat, Telangana and Tamil Nadu is even more disturbing. When in Gujarat the recorded number of deaths was 10,094, there were 89,633 claims of which compensation was given to 58,840 families. Similarly, in Telangana when the number of deaths was 3,993, there were 28,969 claims of which compensation was given to 12,148 families. In Tamil Nadu, 36,825 deaths were recorded but claims came from 57,141 families of which 41,131 were disbursed. The court had also pointed out discrepancies in the data submitted by some states like Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. In Andhra Pradesh, of the 36,205 applications for claims, the state paid only 11,464. The official death count was 14,471. According to data submitted by Bihar, the state recorded 12,090 deaths, received 11,095 claims, and paid compensation to 9,821 people. "We are not ready to believe that only 12,000 persons died in Bihar. What is the actual figure," the bench asked. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Wellington, Jan 23 : New Zealand will move to 'Red Light' settings from 11.59 p.m. on Sunday due to cases of the Covid-19 Omicron variant detected in the community, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced here. The Prime Minister announced her government's decision at Sunday's unscheduled media conference, reports Xinhua news agency. According to the Red Light settings under the Covid-19 Protection Framework, gatherings will be limited to 100 people in places where Covid-19 vaccine passports are used. Ardern confirmed that nine cases reported in the Nelson Marlborough region had the Omicron variant. A further case was confirmed late Saturday. The infected persons attended a wedding in Auckland on January 13, along with a funeral, an amusement park and the Sky Tower in the following days. These events had more than 100 people. Director-General of Health from the Ministry of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, said that the risk of transmission by the confirmed Omicron cases is considered high. The source of the infection is not known yet. "Omicron is now circulating in Auckland and possibly the Nelson area, if not further," said Ardern. The New Zealand government will be taking a three-stage approach to the point where New Zealand sees 1,000 cases a day, said Ardern. Stage one will be the "stamp it out" approach, with contact tracing and testing, including rapid antigen tests. Stage two will be a transition stage. The third stage will see changes to contact tracing. More details of the three-stage plan will be released later, said Ardern. "The evidence from overseas suggests it moves very quickly... The difference to previous outbreaks is we are now well vaccinated and well prepared." Ardern urged the public to get their booster jab. "Get boosted, and it makes all the differences." She said the focus was now on getting people their boosters. The government is sticking to the four-month gap between the second dose and booster, but that would be continually reviewed. She also urged the public to get tested if they had any symptoms. There will be no lockdowns at Red Light settings as hospitality businesses and workplaces will be open. But number limits will be capped at 100 people in hospitalities and gathering if vaccine passports are used. Workplaces will be open but employees can choose to work from home. Mask wearing is highly recommended and mandatory in many indoor places such as public transport, retails and public venues. Epidemiologists Professors Michael Baker and Rod Jackson have urged the government to go further than the traffic light change, shift the eligibility for booster shots from four to three months, and delay the school year's start. Government support will be handed out to people who cannot be at work due to home isolation requirements. Finance Minister Grant Robertson said that the government leaves support scheme will be available for this situation. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Bengaluru, Jan 23 : The issue of wearing a hijab (head covering worn in public by Muslim women) to the colleges along with the uniform has sparked a debate in Karnataka over religious practices impacting the education system in the state. The matter has also snowballed into a controversy on whether the hijab could be considered as part of the uniform. The ruling BJP is deliberating on whether to take a call on allowing hijab as part of the uniform of college students. State Education Minister B.C. Nagesh, while opposing the wearing of hijab to classrooms, has said that a decision would be taken on the issue soon by the government. The experts as well as students are divided over the issue. Those who are in favour state that the dress code in classrooms should not indicate faith or religion as it creates barriers between students as well as teachers. Those who support the wearing of hijab say that hijab should be treated as a scarf. Hijab is black in colour and it can't be a religious symbol as Islam is identified with the green colour. The hijab should be treated as a symbol of chastity, they maintain. The denial of permission to six girls in the Government Girls' Pre University College in the communally sensitive district of Udupi in the state has created a controversy. Nagesh dubbed it as a political move and questioned whether centres of learning should become religious centres. Meanwhile, the girl students have decided to continue their protest until they are allowed to attend classes wearing hijab. "I have been facing the issue of hijab. We have not been allowed into the classroom just because we are wearing hijab. Though it's our fundamental and constitutional right they are not allowing us. It's a government college though. There is a lot of discrimination in the college, we can't speak to each other in Urdu, we can't say salaam to each other in the college. This matter has become communal and we are so sad about it. We did not want this to become communal," Aliya Assadi, a protesting student explained. "Many political parties are taking advantage of this. We are just asking for basic fundamental rights. I don't know why it is so tough to take us inside with a headscarf. We are not asking permission with burqas. Last Friday, the college principal and four professors made protesting students give an apology letter by blackmailing them that their statements on hijab are false. For basic rights do we have to do so much?" she asked. "They tease that we will never win in this protest. They called our parents many times and tried to manipulate them. I request government officials to respond on the issue and allow us to wear hijab. We don't want options. We want to study, come up in life as well as wear hijab," explained Almas. Eight students of the college are still protesting in the college campus for being denied entry into the classrooms for wearing hijab along with the uniform. Five of them are studying in II PUC and three students are studying I PUC. The students are turning down the demands of shunning hijab and are firm on their stand that until the government gives them permission to wear hijab and attend classes, they will sit outside the classrooms and continue to protest. They maintain that it is their religious freedom and constitutional right to wear hijab. Sathish M Bejjihally, Bengaluru City University Academic Council Member and Principal Vidya Sanskaar Institute of Science, Commerce and Management, told IANS that educational institutions should be devoid of caste, colour, religion. Students come to school for learning. There may be differences of opinion however, there should not be differences among individuals. "The dress should not indicate faith, religion. It will create barriers between students. The development may lead to clashes in the educational institutes. Swami Vivekananda has stated that education is the manifestation of perfection which is already there in the child. The child was born as 'vishwa manava' (global citizen), but society restricts him to become one" he said. The students wearing hijabs will miss out on peer group learning. Uniform is a comfortable cloth designed to facilitate participation of students in sports, cultural activities, he explained. However, Professor Muzaffar Assadi, Dean Faculty of Arts in ManasaGangothri in Mysuru University, explained that dress code is about decency. We should be allowed to wear hijab just as sarees, Punjabi dresses are allowed. Hijab could be treated as a headscarf and it will not hide the uniform. "If hijab could be treated as a religious symbol then students can't come to classes with kumkum (bindi, vermillion), bangles. No public school is completely secular. Saraswathi pooja is conducted, Hindu gods' photos will be on walls, festivals are celebrated in schools, aren't they religious?" Assadi asks. Hijab is a symbol of chastity, not a religious one. "Why don't you treat it as just a scarf? If you see everything in that perspective then wearing of 'Janivaar' (sacred thread) is also religious. Hijab is not religious as it is of black colour. Islam is identified with green colour. Black also represents dissent and sadness, he says. The dress which does not attract sexual appetite, indecent, against the rules and which does not cover uniform should be allowed. "Let us celebrate cultural diversity. I oppose uniform culture itself. One of my colleagues who is retiring always comes for lectures in jeans and a t-shirt. It should not matter," he said. Premashree, Central Working Committee Member of Akhila Bharatha Vidyarthi Parishad and student of LLM, explained that students have to come with a feeling of unity. "Anything which affects unity and gives scope to groupism we will oppose. There should not be saffron shawls either in the campus," she said. "Since 75 years the uniform system in the country has been maintained like this and it has to be maintained like that," she opines. Masood Manna, State Committee Member of Campus Front of India (CFI), said, "If there is no solution found by the government they will stage a protest. "It is a violation of the right to education and the right to practice religion," he said. Nagesh told IANS that a decision had been made by the School Development and Management Committee in 1985. The committee has taken a decision with regard to uniforms in the campus. "So far all children are following the rule. Whichever institution it is, if they make a rule, the students who want to study must be obliging. All these days the uniform rule was followed and why did they suddenly change?" he asked. "It is political. What if others start wearing dresses according to their wishes? Do we have to allow them, the students will come in half dresses, and do we have to allow them?" Nagesh questioned. A similar incident was reported from Chikkamaglur district. One group of students started wearing saffron shawls protesting the wearing of hijabs by some girl students in the college. The authorities have resolved the issue after holding a parents-teachers meeting. Now, all eyes are on the move of the ruling BJP in the state over the issue of wearing of hijab by students. Seoul, Jan 23 : South Korean exports of red pepper paste soared nearly 63 per cent in the past four years thanks to the global popularity of Korean pop (K-pop) culture, data revelaed on Sunday. Overseas shipments of red pepper paste, called "gochujang" in Korean, came to $50.93 million in 2020, up 62.6 per cent compared with 2016 and 35.2 per cent from 2019, according to the data from Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp and the Agriculture Ministry. Exports of red pepper paste seem to have soared in recent years as more foreigners became interested in Korean food after watching K-pop stars, such as BTS, as well as increasing exposure to Korean culture on over-the-top services, Yonhap News Agency quoted the state company as saying. Experts said the Korean Wave generated by K-pop and TV dramas could turn fans in foreign countries into active consumers of South Korean products. The US was the top export market with a share of 26.4 per cent, followed by China with 17.3 per cent and Japan with 10.3 per cent. Exports to the Philippines and Canada accounted for 6 per cent and 4.3 per cent, respectively. Outbound shipments of soybean paste "doenjang" also jumped to $11.72 million in 2020, up 44.8 per cent from 2016, the data showed. Seoul, Jan 23 : South Korea's air traffic rose 10.8 per cent last year on increased domestic flights but international travel continued to falter amid the Covid-19 pandemic, data showed on Sunday. Over 465,000 domestic and international flights flew over South Korea last year, according to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Air traffic in the country had gradually increased in recent years from around 739,000 in 2016 to 842,000 in 2019 before dipping sharply to around 421,000 in 2020 amid the pandemic, reports Yonhap News Agency. The number of international flights rose only slightly to 203,029 last year, up 1.8 per cent from the previous year, amid concerns over new Covid-19 variants. Domestic air traffic jumped 18.9 per cent on-year to 262,440 flights as more people travekled within the country amid signs of a slowdown in the pandemic last year, according to the Ministry. Jeju International Airport was the busiest airport in South Korea last year with an average of 455 flights a day, followed by Gimpo International Airport and Incheon International Airport. New Delhi, Jan 23 : President, Vice President and Prime Minister on Sunday paid tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary. President Ram Nath Kovind said, "India gratefully pays homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary. The daring steps that he took to fulfil his fierce commitment to the idea of a free India -- Azad Hind -- make him a national icon. His ideals and sacrifice will forever inspire every Indian." Paying tribute to Bose on his birth anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "I bow to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his Jayanti. Every Indian is proud of his monumental contribution to our nation." Remembering Netaji, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu tweeted, "My respectful tributes to the great nationalist, legendary freedom fighter and visionary leader, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary today. We commemorate this day as #ParakramDivas to honour Netaji's indomitable courage and selfless service to the nation." "The nation is indebted to the iconic leader for his monumental role in the freedom struggle," Naidu said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Greetings to you on 'Parakram Diwas'. I bow to the epitome of courage and valour, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on this occasion. He went to great lengths while fighting for the freedom of his motherland. His contribution in India's freedom struggle continues to inspire us." Remembering Bose, Home Minister Amit Shah said that his unparalleled sacrifice and struggle for the motherland will always guide the country. Chennai, Jan 23 : The Tamil Nadu public health department has inoculated 14,29,736 people as part of the 19th mega vaccine drive conducted across the state. The drive was conducted on Saturday. The health department officials said that a majority of those who were inoculated had come for their second doses. The health and family welfare department in a statement on Saturday said that 10,27,810 people took the second dose of vaccine, 3,68,797 took their first dose and 33,129 took the booster dose. The state health minister, Ma Subramanian while speaking to IANS said, "The state health department has vaccinated more than 14 lakh people and I appeal to the people of the state, who are yet to be vaccinated, to do it immediately." The state minister said that 89.6 per cent of the eligible population have taken their first dose of the vaccine while 66.8 per cent have taken their second dose of the vaccine. Ma Subramanian said that out of the 5.56 lakh people eligible for the booster dose of vaccine, only 1.84 lakh have taken them till Friday. He also said that while the Covid-19 cases were increasing in large numbers in the state, it was less compared to the figures in Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The minister also said that the case fatality rate was less in Tamil Nadu and added that those who were dying due to Covid-19 were those who were not vaccinated. He urged the people of the state to take vaccination with immediate effect. Chennai, Jan 23 : Actor Jayaram Subramaniam has announced that he has tested positive for Covid-19. Taking to Instagram, Jayaram, who has acted in a number of Malayalam and Tamil films, said: "Hi everyone, I have tested positive for Covid-19 today. This is a reminder that the virus is still among us. "I urge those who have been in close contact with me to isolate themselves and get tested if experiencing symptoms. "I have started my treatment for the same. Hoping to see you all very soon." "The list of those from the Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam Afilm industries testing positive for Covid keeps getting longer with each passing day. Only recently, actors Mammootty, Dulquer Salman, Keerthy Suresh, Suresh Gopi and Gitanjali Selvaraghavan had announced that they had tested positive for the virus. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) San Francisco, Jan 23 : Facebook (before it was rebrandeded as Meta) was approached by venture capitalists to spin off its Workplace app and make it a new company valued at over $1 billion. But Facebook declined. Workplace, Facebook's collaboration tool for businesses has gained more than seven million paid enterprise users. It was originally built as a version of Facebook for its own employees to communicate with one another. According to a report in TechCrunch, Facebook was approached by enterprise investors offering the social network a "proposition", "spin off the organisation, they said, and let us back it as a startup". A deal would have valued a newly independent Workplace as a "unicorn" (at least at $1 billion). Facebook declined the offer as it sees Workplace as a "strategic asset". "It helps make Facebook (and Meta) look like an adult," the report said, citing a source. Meta and Workplace declined to comment on the report. Founded as a "work" version of Facebook, Workplace was launched as a response to the rise of Slack and other chat apps for office workers. Large multinational companies like Danone, Starbucks and Booking.com, international nonprofits such as Oxfam and regional leaders such as YES Bank in India and the Government Technology Agency of Singapore have all embraced Workplace. Microsoft and Meta in November last year collaborated to integrate video chat app Teams and Facebook's Workplace that will be available to companies next year at no extra cost. The integration between Workplace and Teams will give employees access to content from Workplace within Teams without having to switch back and forth between the two apps. Sofia, Jan 23 : Rumen Radev took office for a second consecutive term as President of Bulgaria after an inauguration ceremony held here in front of the Unknown Soldier Monument. Parliament Speaker Nikola Minchev, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, other state officials as well as foreign diplomats attended the event on Saturday, reports Xinhua news agency. In his speech, Radev said he devoted his first term to the battle for lawfulness and democracy. In the years to come, he would stand up for sovereignty, lawfulness, security and justice. "I will continue to be the president of all Bulgarian citizens, regardless of party affiliation, ethnicity and religion," he said, adding that he would defend the rights, interests and dignity of the people. "I believe that together we will continue to build a free, democratic, prosperous and modern state," he said. Radev, 58, won the presidential election for the first time in November 2016, and repeated his success in November 2021. Riva Levinson & Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf - the ladies who circumcized Liberian politicians That the death knell hovering above the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) has finally claimed its victim is without question. The All Liberian Party (ALP) led by Benoni Urey has walked out of the CPP. Further to that, the ALP has filed a criminal lawsuit against Alternative National Congress(ANC) leader, Alexander Cummings charging Mr. Cummings and others with forgery and criminal conspiracy. He was brought under the jurisdiction of the Criminal Court but secured a bail bond through his lawyers. ANC Secretary-General Aloysius Toe was similarly brought under the jurisdiction of the Court but was released on bail. A third individual, Gbarpolu Senator Daniel Naateng was out of the country, and according to information from the Court, the Senator has now been brought under the jurisdiction of the Court following his return to Liberia. For his part, ANC leader Cummings has since denied the accusations terming the same as a calculated attempt by Urey to malign his character. He has also accused the Government of Liberia(GoL) of using the courts to muscle political opponents adding that Benoni Urey and the GoL are involved in a conspiracy to break up the CPP. In the wake of claims and counter-claims, the case appears to have taken on new dimensions with revelations of the involvement of Riva Levinson former PR consultant to former President Sirleaf. According to a story published in the Monday, January 10 edition of the Hot Pepper newspaper, and revelations aired on the Costa Show, Ms. Levinson sent a text message to Liberias Ambassador to the U.S. George Patten. The Ambassador forwarded the message to the Minister of State, Nathaniel McGill who in turn forwarded the message to several individuals including ALP leader, Benoni Urey. The message reads as follows: Further to our conversation the other day, I have made some inquiries. The prosecution of Alexander Cummings on what appears to be trumped-up charges has not been well- received. There is renewed interest in Nathaniel McGill whom you know from our previous discussions there is a dossier on. Now Benoni Urey and his daughter Telia have also attracted attention as has the Solicitor-General Cyrennius Cephas. I think people are also looking into the Judges record, to see if he has a history of corruption. Just wanted to let you know, based on our relationship. Other than that I hope you have a good weekend . But the question is what business does Riva Levinson have to do with Liberian politics or what kind of relationship does she have with the Ambassador? Are they paramours or is theirs purely platonic? Is she some kind of super snoop with links to US and Liberian intelligence circles from whose secret files she shares information with the Ambassador? Whatever the situation, hers is a classic case of meddling and unwarranted interference in Liberian politics. The very tone of her text message is contemptuous and it conveys an implicit threat of action directed against officials of the Weah government simply on account of the lawsuit filed against Alexander Cummings by Benoni Urey charging him with fraud and criminal conspiracy. In the midst of this controversy, came the FrontPage Africa lead story carried in its Thursday, January 13, 2022 edition claiming it had obtained call logs showing dates and time of phone calls made by Solicitor-General Cephus and Magistrate Magistrate Jomah Jallah to Korlane Investment Liberia liability company indicted for money laundering and wire fraud and represented by Evegeny Nikisuik and Diega Patrick Wahi HERMANN. The story suggests a strong link to super snoop Reva Levinsons text to Liberian Ambassador George Patten in which she states that Solicitor-General Cephus and Magistrate Jallah have a history of corruption. If such corruption is that referred to in the FrontPage Africa story, then how did she obtain those call logs which according to sources were leaked to the media, is something to ponder. FrontPage Africa maintains that Police and Financial Intelligence Unit(FIU) sources have confirmed their story. But the issue here is neither about Magistrate Jallah nor Solicitor-General Cephus or the content of their characters. It is about the alleged criminal act committed by ANC leader Alexander Cummings for which he is now slated to stand trial before Magistrate Jallah. For the record, Urey has, for a protracted period, accused Cummings of altering the CPP framework document. Cummings has persistently denied the accusation and instead urged Urey to take his case to court if he harbored such misgivings. And Urey has done exactly that. However, it appears that Cummings has shown great reluctance to prove his innocence in court. According to eyewitness accounts, Cummings security detail had attempted to prevent him from being seated on the prisoners bench when he made his first appearance in court. A few court officers were reportedly wounded in the ensuing scuffle. According to legal analysts, although Cummings seeks to have the case withdrawn, he claims that the charges against him are baseless and untrue yet he does not appear prepared to contest these charges in court. Apparently, former President Sirleaf according to the Hot Pepper, has reportedly informed ECOWAS leaders that should they not intervene and withdraw the case in the soonest possible time they should expect HELL and DAMNATION to befall Liberia. In her opinion, failure on the part of leaders of ECOWAS to heed her doomsday admonitions and prescriptions, the case against Cummings could become a magnet for violence, chaos, and demonstration and ultimately it could derail gains made over the years in bringing peace and stability to the sub-region. But leaders of ECOWAS should not be swayed by such vile threats. In the opinion of many Liberians especially ex-security officers, Cummings does have the financial wherewithal to sponsor violence. But it is clear that he lacks the ideological following, organizational capacity, and ability to sustain such violence the intensity of which, according to former President Sirleaf would derail gains made over the years for peace and stability in the sub-region. Recalling history, President Sirleafs threats of renewal of violence if she does not have her way to get Cummings off the hook, should not be dismissed or treated lightly. She is fully aware that the outbreak of random violence could serve to provoke military intervention which she apparently believes will be in her best interests. This is because it will instantly put paid to the political ambitions of her former Vice President, Joseph Boakai as well as others. But former President Sirleaf has a history of supporting violent regime change in Liberia. She was, according to informed sources, linked to the 1980 military coup that deposed President Tolbert. She was also, according to informed sources, linked to the 1985 Quiwonkpa abortive invasion, the 1989 Charles Taylor-led NPFL armed invasion as well as the LURD and MODEL insurrections 1999-2003. She is fully aware that Cummings cannot succeed going alone. He desperately needed the support of the now splintered CPP or at least a facade of unity of some sorts composed of opposition parties. It is that which Reva Levinson, her PR consultant to the Liberia Renaissance Office(LIRO) led by Sylvester Grigsby, could use to sell him to the US leadership as the most viable presidential candidate. And now her urging to ECOWAS to intervene in the lawsuit against Cummings which is currently before the Courts is completely out of order and even contemptuous. Why has she not made such a statement to ECOWAS on behalf of her former long-serving defense minister, Brownie Samukai as polarizing his issue has become? Samukai is still being denied from taking his seat despite unanimous support from the people of Lofa including traditional elders and Zoes. Yet, not a word from her has come in support of Samukai. Instead, she has raised her voice in support of dropping criminal charges against Cummings whose criminal trial she maintains could become a magnet for violence thereby undermining the gains made over the years since the end of armed hostilities in 2003. Realistically speaking, of both men which of them has the greatest potential and capacity to foment violence? Is it Cummings or is it Samukai? Mr. Alexander Cummings, contrary to her doomsday prophecy of chaos, has no identifiable political constituency with the requisite ideological persuasion to foment such violence which in any case would be aimless random and would quickly run out of steam. In any case, the matter which is before the law has to run its full course with all locally available legal remedies exhausted before going to the ECOWAS Court of Justice. But apparently, former President Sirleaf does not even trust that local Courts or even the ECOWAS Court will render due justice to Mr. Cummings. And therefore she has resorted to the issuance of veiled threats of the use of armed violence which, according to her, could lead to a situation in which the 2023 elections would be effectively derailed. This, according to analysts, would probably be her best option to stave off a possible guilty verdict against Cummings which would effectively close the door to his participation in the 2023 elections. And more importantly, it will quash her hopes of finding a suitable replacement committed to protecting her allegedly ill-gotten wealth as President Weah has. It is against this backdrop that PR consultant Reva Levinsons text message to Ambassador Patten can be better understood. Reva Levinson has previously worked for Equatorial Guinea Dictator Macias Nguema, Central African Dictator Jean-Bedel Bokassa and of late President Ellen Sirleaf. During her stint in Liberia, while serving as President Sirleafs PR consultant she was overheard in a discussion at the Royal Hotel talking about bribing the Liberian Legislature to sell off the Wologisi Mountain to predatory investors for a pittance. The New Democrat reporter who overheard the discussion wrote the story but was, according to sources threatened as well as the management with reprisals in varying forms including lawsuits to refrain from further publication of the story. This is the same Reva Levinson sending condescending messages to the Liberian Ambassador in the form of veiled threats to interfere with the legal process. This is because her patron (former President Sirleaf) more likely than not, fears that a possible guilty verdict against Cummings would not only harm his chances of contesting the 2023 elections but would ultimately undermine her personal quest for a candidate similarly sworn as George Weah to protect her predatory interests. The question now is what next for her as well as for Mr. Alexander Cummings in view of his submission to the jurisdiction of the Court. There is something however that President Sirleaf needs to know and understand. She is not the ALPHA and OMEGA of politics in Liberia. Therefore, her veiled threat to foment violence in order to attain political ends will certainly fall on its face all because the Liberian people are sick and tired of such shenanigans. In any case, it will certainly meet fierce resistance from all patriotic and freedom-loving Liberians who will forward march to defend this sacred heritage. The matter is now before the law, the media will do itself well and she will do herself and Mr. Cummings well to let the law take its course. New Delhi, Jan 23 : German naval chief, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schonbach has resigned over comments on Ukraine and Russia he made during his visit to India. His resignation on late Saturday night was accepted by Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht. Lambrecht has appointed his deputy as interim naval chief. During his interaction on January 21 at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, a military think tank in Delhi, Schonbach had said the idea that Moscow wanted to invade Kiev was "nonsense", adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin deserved respect. "Does Russia really want a small and tiny strip of Ukraine soil to integrate into their country? No, this is nonsense. Putin is probably putting pressure because can do it and he splits EU opinion. What he really wants is respect." Speaking about Putin, the German naval chief had also said: "He wants high-level respect and my God giving some respect is low cost, even no cost. If I was asked, it is easy to give him the respect he really demands and probably also deserves. Russia is an old country, Russia is an important country. Even we India, Germany, need Russia. We need Russia against Chinaa" Talking about Ukraine's possible admission into NATO, Schonbach had said: "Ukraine of course cannot meet the requirements because it's occupied in the Donbas region by the Russian Army or by what they call as militias." He also said that the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, was gone and would not come back to Ukraine. His comments, captured on video, caused outrage in Ukraine and a ripple effect in Berlin after which he was asked to step down. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 23 : Malayalam star Dileep is being questioned at the Crime Branch police office in Kalamassery on Sunday in a non-bailable case related to a conspiracy to attack investigating officials. The Kerala High Court on Saturday had directed Dileep and four of his associates, including his brother, brother-in-law and two friends, to appear before the Kerala Crime Branch on Sunday for questioning in connection with an alleged conspiracy to kill police officers who investigated an abduction and sexual assault case in which the actor is an accused. The court, in its interim order on Saturday, said the accused should not be arrested till January 27 and that they be interrogated from January 23 onwards, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The court also directed the prosecutor to place before it a report on the interrogation of the accused and the proceedings that take place on January 27. Dileep, his brother Anoop, brother-in-law Sooraj, his aide Appu alias Krishnadas, and close friend Byju Chengamanad are being interrogated at the Crime Branch office. They reached the office at 8.55 and questioning commenced under the leadership of Crime Branch Superintendent of Police C. Mohanachandran. Popular because of the comic characters he plays on screen, Dilip has been in the news for the wrong reasons after a frontline South Indian heroine complained that she had been abducted and sexually assaulted by a gang of goons in 2017 and certain scenes were filmed to blackmail her. After the main accused Sunil was arrested and questioned, the prosecution charged Dileep with being the main conspirator in the case. Dileep was arrested and jailed. He spent two months in prison before getting bail and the trial has been going on. Recently, a former close associate of Dileep, Balachandrakumar, a movie director who had fallen out with the actor, revealed that Dileep had conspired to do away with the investigating officers in the case. He alleged that Dileep, while watching a YouTube video of the then Superintendent of Police A.V. George had spoken openly about doing away with the officer and engaging rowdy elements for this. Dileep's accomplices, according to the film director's version of the conversation, had said that they would have to spend Rs 1.5 crore for this. Balachandrakumar made the deposition before a magistrate's court along with a few audio recordings he had made at Dileep's residence. The police officers who Dileep had allegedly said that he would do away with included DGP B. Sandhya, ADGP S. Sreejith, SPs A.V. George and S. Sudarshan, and Deputy SP Byju Paulose. Balachandrakumar also revealed that Dileep had said he would cut and remove the right hand of SP Sudarshan, who he said had assaulted him while he was in police custody. Chennai, Jan 23 : Renowned Tamil film producer K.T. Kunjumon on Sunday announced that one of India's finest music directors, MM Keeravani, would be scoring the music for his upcoming film, 'Gentleman 2'. Taking to Twitter, the producer posted a picture of him honouring the music director and said: "I proudly announce that the iconic legend of Indian cinema, MM Keeravani garu, will be the music director of my Gentleman Film International's 'Gentleman 2'. Gold coin winners will be announced." On Saturday, the producer had announced a contest for fans on Twitter. He had asked fans to guess the legendary musician who would be scoring music for his film. The producer had said that three lucky people from among those who tweeted the name of the music director correctly with the hashtag #G2MusicDirector would be chosen and rewarded with a gold coin each. Kunjumon, who is known for having produced a number of blockbusters in Tamil including the Prabhu Deva-starrer 'Kadhalan' and the Vineeth and Abbas-starrer 'Kadhal Desam', is credited with having introduced Shankar as a director with 'Gentleman'. The producer, who had stopped producing films after 1999, announced his comeback recently, saying that he would be making the sequel to his blockbuster 'Gentleman'. Accordingly, the producer is now busy finalising the core team of 'Gentleman 2' and has announced music director MM Keeravani, who is known for having scored music for pan Indian blockbusters like 'Baahubali', as the first member of the team. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Humility, a lust for life, a quest for perfection - all this and more comes across in a heart-warming tribute to Soumitra Chatterjee, who mesmerised the cinematic world for more than 60 years with a staggering oeuvre of over 250 films - 14 of them with Satyajit Ray - won a National Award for Best Actor in 2006 and who continued to appear before the camera almost to the very end till he passed away aged 85 on November 15, 2020. "He was by far the most vibrant person I have met. His lust for life knew no bounds. Whether through literature, through poetry, through films, through his interactions with people, through theatre, it was as if he wanted to perpetually soak in the delirium of life and be bathed in all its beauty. His mind was like a blank canvas, ready to be painted with colours", Suman Ghosh, a professor of economics at Florida Atlantic University and trained in the film genre at Cornell, writes in "Soumitra Chatterjee - A Film-Maker Remembers" (Om Books International). "Basically, he never considered himself bigger than the film, or the director's vision. He submitted himself completely to the director's vision and conveyed that vision without distorting or damaging it. When it comes to the relationship between a director and an actor in the making of a film, it's like walking together, searching together and becoming one," writes Ghosh, whose debut directorial 'Podokkhep' won Chatterjee his National Award. "Hence, what Soumitra-kaku always tried was to understand the director (both as an artist and as a person), his or her vision, and then travel together, wired to the director's vision, in step with that. He then had to just 'do' or 'be'," adds Ghosh, who, over their association for more than 15 years, came to regard Chatterjee as a father figure, hence the "kaku" appellation. The bond was mutual. "My parents are not star-struck people (but) one day my mother asked me whether it would be possible to request (him) to come to our house (for lunch)," Ghosh writes. Chatterjee enthusiastically accepted the invitation. "Soumitra-kaku really enjoyed the meal and I was so happy to see the joy on my mother's face. Before leaving he thanked my parents for a wonderful afternoon. While returning home with me in the car it was interesting that he remarked, 'Tomader puro paribar ke ki apon laglo. Ekta odbhut sohoj shorol byapar achhey'. (I felt so close to your family. There is a simplicity about them which is so endearing)," Ghosh writes. Truly, this is the mark of humility of an actor rooted firmly on the ground. It was Chatterjee's humility that once prompted him to "give way" to his co-actor Mithun Chakraborty - way his junior in the profession - during the filming of Ghosh's "Nobel Chor" when he found the latter unable to maintain the dialect of the village in which the film was being shot and which the thespian had mastered. There are examples galore of Chatterjee's quest for perfection. For instance, 'Podokkhep' concludes with Chatterjee quoting from the Mahabharata: 'Na narmayuktam vachanam hinasti na strishu raajan na vivaahakaale/Praanaatyayee sarvadhanaapahaare panchaanrutaanyaahurapaatakaani' which basically lists the five situations in which telling a lie is not sinful. Chatterjee actually telephoned Nrishinga Prasad Bhaduri, an Indologist and authority on the epics, to understand the meaning and ensure he had the pronunciation right, Ghosh writes. Chatterjee was "such a pleasure to have around the sets" and his innumerable stories from yesteryears and anecdotes from experiences as an actor were a treasure trove", the author writes. "Over my interactions with him for fifteen more years I found out that he possessed a fund of never ending stories. For example, during the shooting of 'Abhijan', Robi Ghosh and he were casually chatting with each other and Kaku was narrating an incident which involved using the choicest cuss words. At one point, Robi Ghosh realised that Satyajit Ray had come up and was standing behind Kaku. Kaku did not realise this and continued in full flow. "Suddenly, he saw Robi Ghosh making strange facial expressions, trying to alert him. Kaku turned around , utterly embarrassed that Ray had been privy to everything he had said. Making light of Kaku's mortification, Ray remarked, 'Shono, ja bolbe censor bachiye bolo'. (Listen, whatever you say, keep in mind the censors.) They all burst out laughing," Ghosh writes. And there are some extremely poignant moments, for instance, when Chatterjee, in the nick of time, found his Sorbitrate tablets when he sensed a heart attack coming on. "Ever since, I kept pondering about the many discussions Soumitra-kaku and I had about 'death'. He used to tell me often that he could now see 'death' approaching. This was primarily after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010. His only wish was that it should come quickly, whenever it had to. He shuddered to think of himself as a burden to his family, suffering a slow and agonising end. "We would also stalk about 'death' in literature and how authors have written about this phenomena - from Tagore to Tolstoy to Simone De Beauvoir. I always felt that Soumitra-kaku was quite cavalier about death. It was the ultimate truth and one should accept it - that was his viewpoint. It is interesting that later, in my film 'Peace Haven', I explored 'death' head-on, with Soumitra-kaku performing one of his most poignant acts on facing death," Ghosh writes. In fact, there was even a bizarre idea around a film on death that both wanted to work on - that Chatterjee termed "a brilliant idea" - but which never materialised. Between 2006 and 2019, Chatterjee featured in five films helmed by Ghosh - 'Podokkhep' (2006), 'Dwando' (2009), 'Nobel Chor' (2012, guest appearance), 'Peace Haven' (2015) and 'Basu Poribar' (2019) and as much a perceptive account of the dynamics of an actor-director association, the book is a story of the friendship between two creative individuals. "I still cannot forget his smile, his laughter, his jokes, the knowledge he imparted, but mainly his presence. It was as if he would be there, always...like the age-old banyan tree. "Writing this book was a cathartic experience for me. Yes, it was painful to relive the memories. But who said that all pain is bad? Writing this helped me emerge from the deep sorrow that has engulfed me after his demise. This is not an analysis of Soumitra Chatterjee's life and work. So I do not even attempt to be objective in my writing. Can one truly be objective about one's father? Rather, I have tried to share anecdotes about him as a person and as an actor which can only provide a glimpse of the person he was," Ghosh maintains. (Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in) New Delhi, Jan 23 : Conservative MP Nusrat Ghani, who became the first Muslim woman to be a UK government minister when she was appointed to a post at the Department for Transport, has said that her faith was raised as a reason for her sacking in 2020, the BBC reported. According to the Sunday Times, Ghani has said when she asked for an explanation, a Conservative government whip said her "Muslimness was raised as an issue" during discussions about the reshuffle and her status as a "Muslim woman... was making colleagues uncomfortable". The Wealden MP is quoted as saying she dropped the matter after being told that if she "persisted" in asking about it she "would be ostracised and her career and reputation would be destroyed". On Saturday night, UK Conservative Chief Whip Mark Spencer identified himself as the person Ghani's claims were made about, the BBC reported. He said the accusations were "completely false and defamatory" and denied ever using the words Ghani had alleged. Spencer went on to say it was "disappointing" that at the time she had declined to refer the matter for a formal Conservative Party investigation. Meanwhile, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has said the allegation should be investigated. In a tweet late Saturday night, he said there was "no place for Islamophobia or any form of racism" in the Conservative Party, adding that the allegations had to be "investigated properly and racism routed out". Ghani was sacked in a mini-reshuffle of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government in February 2020. New Delhi, Jan 23 : An Indian boy, who crossed over the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh and went missing, has been located, Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) said on Sunday. In a communication with the Indian Army, Chinese PLA stated that the missing boy has been located and would be sent back after proper formalities. The Indian Army is verifying the Chinese claim and trying to find out whether the boy is the same as reported missing. The army had sought assistance of the PLA on Thursday to locate the missing boy, identified as Miram Taron, on their side and return him as per the established protocol. The Indian Army had stated that when they received the information about Taron, it immediately contacted the PLA through the established mechanism of hotline informing that an individual, who was collecting herbs and hunting, has lost his way and cannot be found. It was alleged that the Chinese PLA had abducted the boy. Arunachal Pradesh parliamentarian Tapir Gao in a tweet on Wednesday had alleged: "Chinese PLA has abducted Sh Miram Taron, 17 years of Zido vill. yesterday 18th Jan 2022 from inside Indian territory, Lungta Jor area (China built 3-4 kms road inside India in 2018) under Siyungla area (Bishing village) of Upper Siang dist, Arunachal Pradesh." It was found that Taron's friend Johny Yaiying, who managed to escape, informed the authorities about the kidnapping by the PLA. Gao said the incident took place near the place where Tsangpo river enters India in Arunachal Pradesh. Tsangpo is called as Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and Brahmaputra in Assam. He had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and others to ensure the early release of the abducted boy. In the meantime, the Congress slammed the government for inaction in the entire episode. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday tweeted, "Just days ahead of Republic day the Chinese have abducted an Indian citizen, we are with the family of Meeram Taron, and we will not lose hope and will not accept defeat. But Prime Minister's silence is his statement that it does not bother him." India and China are engaged in a border dispute for the last 20 months and 14 rounds of military talks have taken place to resolve the border dispute. "If you ask anyone in India who is our country's greatest friend, every person, every child knows that it is Russia." These were the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Vladimir Putin during their maiden meeting at the BRICS Summit in Brazil in July 2014. It is no surprise then, that in December 2021, Putin broke precedence when he chose to visit India for the 21st Annual India-Russia Summit, and the inaugural round of 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue; he had earlier declined to leave Russia to attend the G-20 in Rome, followed by COP 26 in Glasgow citing the Covid pandemic. And why not! The two nations indeed share a special and privileged strategic partnership. Since the mid-1950s, Soviet socialist democracy has assisted the Indian economy; be it military cooperation, food aid, steel plants, trade delegations, or agricultural expertise, to name a few. India has also not forgotten the Soviet 'Treaty of Peace and Friendship' in August 1971, which offset China's plan to open a second front to support the 'evil empire' of Pakistan, when it started the Indo-Pak War in December 1971. And then, the year 1991 shares the national memory of both India and the Russian Federation (RF); RF for the dissolution of USSR in December 1991, India, for its own glasnost (openness!) moment, the balance of payments crisis followed by the liberalisation of the economy. The RF has consistently supported India in its bid for a permanent seat at the UNSC, and membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Both countries are also engaged in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as also in groups such as BRICS and RIC (Russia India China). Russia is also sympathetic to Indian cause of being a 'victim of terror' due to 'policy of state sponsored terrorism' from neighbouring Pakistan and has extended its support to India on abrogation of Article 370. Some might argue that since 1991, successive Indian governments have cultivated closer ties with the United States. Nothing could be further from truth. While Indo-US strategic relations have significantly improved, especially after the historic 2006 Civil-Nuclear deal, this has happened alongside even stronger bilateral relations between India and Russia. As in chess, where an 'Indian Defence' is a popular opening for those who find themselves playing black, India's strategic options have continued to get complicated after the end of the Cold War. Much like the India of the Mahabharata era, the world in the 21st century is 'multi-polar.' New Delhi, then, has learnt much from the chess wizard Avon Nimzowitsch's 'Nimzo Indian Defence' to create latitude for itself and foster stronger ties with Russia, while co-operating with the United States to foster a healthy balance of power relationship in Asia. Vladivostok-Chennai Maritime Corridor (VCMC) In September 2019, during his visit to Vladivostok, PM Modi unveiled India's 'ct Far East Policy' while at the same time both sides signed an agreement to develop a Vladivostok - Chennai sea route. This is a win-win paradigm for both nations. While becoming India's springboard in the East Asian market, this maritime corridor also provides Russia a much sought after 'Pivot to Asia.' A vibrant sea route between Chennai and Vladivostok will help upscale trade relations between the two nations. This will bolster bilateral maritime trade between India and Russia from the current $11 billion to $30 billion by 2025. For India, then, the VCMC corridor will demand what the American naval theorist Alfred Mahan said, "to secure commerce, by political measures, conducive to military, or naval, strength." And then to secure their national interests, the Indian Navy and Russian Navy will require establishing an increased maritime presence in the disputed waters of Western Pacific Ocean. This in the long run will balance China's rising maritime hegemony in Asia. Nuclear Cooperation Russia was the first foreign country to engage in India's nuclear power industry including the evolution to exercise and operate nuclear submarines. On the civilian nuclear co-operation, over ten atomic plants are planned to be set-up in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. On the military side, the lease of Chakra SSN for two successive cycles of 10 years each, assistance in operationalising the nuclear triad onboard the SSBN Arihant, and continuing support for India's indigenous SSN program are good examples of long-term relationship between the two countries. While France and the United States have emerged as prospective options to diversify India's nuclear engagement, it seems that in the near future, Russia will continue to be our strongest ally in terms of transfer of nuclear technology. Capability Development and Capacity Building Russia has been the most consistent and reliable partner for India's security interest in the region. Around 60-70 per cent of India's defence imports are from Russia. The 'Indra' (India and Russia) series of maritime exercises between Indian Navy and Russian Navy since 2003 has grown from strength to strength. In its latest edition, in July 2021, Nav's frigate Tabar attended the 325th RuFN Day celebrations at St Petersburg by sailing across 8,000 nautical miles (approx 15,500 kilometers across the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean and North Sea). The joint development of the Brahmos (Brahmaputra and Moscow) supersonic cruise missile (to be developed under the aegis of 'Make in India') is yet another classic example of strengthening ties between the two nations. In addition, India's only aircraft carrier, the Vikramaditya and its air wing, is the crown jewel testimony of vibrant India-Russian ties. Finally, as news is coming in (as recent as 14 Jan 2022!), of Biden administration's decision to waive CAATSA sanctions against India for buying Russian S-400 air defence system, it is yet another proof of an emerging multi-polar world order. The Way Forward In times of tectonic geopolitical shift in the broader Indo-Pacific region, India and Russia have one fundamental common interest; the desire to evolve a multi-polar world order. This enduring interest will continue to drive close co-operation between the two largest nations in Eurasia. As natural allies, India must continue offering its resources and support to Russia; in return Russia provides the support of its power to India. The endeavour must be that while India and Russia are operating as individual instruments in an orchestra (with their distinct pieces of brilliance), both nations must obtain a wide-ranging set of "symphonies" that will establish and sustain cooperation in areas of mutual national interests. (Sumit Kumar Singh cane be reached at sumit.k@ians.in) LUCKNOW :Congress MLA Aditi Singh (L) and BSP MLA from Azamgarh Bandana Singh (C) join the BJP in presence of Party President Swatantra Dev Singh at Party office in Lucknow on Wednesday November 24,2021.(PHOTO:IANS/Phool Chandra) Image Source: IANS News Lucknow, Jan 23 : Former Congress MLA, Aditi Singh, who joined the BJP, has dared Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest against her form Rae Bareli. Aditi Singh has been named as the BJP candidate from what was earlier a Congress bastion. Talking to reporters here, she said, "Rae Bareli is no longer a Congress stronghold. Priyanka can come and contest elections to see for herself." "I don't know why they took Rae Bareli and Amethi (Rahul Gandhi's erstwhile constituency) people for granted. The people of Rae Bareli and Amethi have been more forgiving than people anywhere else. These places were once called bastions and people voted for them no matter what, but the Congress people simply do not bother about the people of Rae Bareli and Amethi," she stated. Aditi Singh said, "It would be really embarrassing for them to come asking for votes in Rae Bareli or Amethi, because as soon as the elections get over, the Congress leaders never bother about the people who voted for them against all odds." She further said, "Rae Bareli is my family but the Congress never worked for its people. After I lost my father "Akhilesh Singh, the people here supported me" She said that the lotus would bloom for the first time on her seat and she was proud to contest on BJP ticket. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Officials in a Chinese province deliberately underreported or concealed 139 deaths from last years devastating flood disaster, the countrys central government has said, amid arrests of some of those involved, The Guardian reported. Record-breaking rainstorms hit Henan province in central China between 17 and 23 July, overflowing reservoirs, breaching riverbanks, and overwhelming public transport systems and roads in major cities. In the city of Zhengzhou, more than 600 mm of rain, equivalent almost to an average year, fell in just three days, flooding metro stations and a cross-city tunnel, the report said. At least 12 died in a Zhengzhou metro station after the tunnels flooded, with alarming footage on social media showing the water level inside carriages reaching passengers' head-height. Another six were reported at the time to have died in a road tunnel where more than 100 cars were trapped and submerged. China's highest government body, the state council, said it had reviewed an investigation into the disaster, and determined local and provincial officials and authorities to be "guilty of negligence and dereliction of duty, especially considering the casualties in the subway and the tunnel that were not supposed to take place", the Guardian report said. But in a statement posted online late on Friday, the state council accused city officials of having "deliberately impeded and withheld reports of up to 139 cases". The officials were supposed to make daily reports but had "concealed or delayed the reporting of those killed and missing in the disaster". New Delhi, Jan 23 : Businesses all throughout the world have been impacted by the spread of the pandemic. According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, around 22.7 million jobs were lost in April and May 2021. (CMIE). As businesses return to normal and hiring activity in India has surged, with August witnessing an 89 percent year-on-year increase, hiring for specific roles has grown as well, with more movement across the market. There will always be a need for talented professionals to work for the firms as the business grows in the approaching year. Many job portals have grown as a result of this. More than 80% of job postings are filled through the biggest employment portals, according to estimates. As a result, we've compiled a list of the best Job Portals to help you find work. Here is the list of 5 job portals to help you in finding the right job 2022: Indeed Indeed is one of India's most popular job search engines, with users searching for opportunities all around the world. Indeed, is assisting in the provision of employment throughout the epidemic with its Coronavirus Work Tools. You can search for millions of jobs and advance your career using the India Yes online employment marketplace. Shine.com Shine.com was founded in 2008, at the dawn of India's digital transformation, at a time when the need for a transparent and effective online portal connecting job seekers and recruiters was greatest. While other employment portals rushed in to fill the apparent demand, Shine.com's founding team performed a thorough investigation into the current market difficulties and the different ways that technology may be used to address them. This data-driven, tech-driven approach has paid off handsomely: the portal now has 8,000+ businesses on board, including big corporations like SBI Life Insurance, Deloitte, Infosys, ICICI, and Amazon, and offers over 3 lakh+ jobs to its vast pool of over 4.1 crore registered jobseekers. Jobs for her A platform that connects women to jobs, community, mentoring, reskilling, inspiration, and networking opportunities in order to help them advance their careers. It was founded in 2015 and now links over 2.2 million job seekers with over 7500 firms around the country. Mentorship is also available for women who want to start or resume their careers on the platform. In addition, the brand has over 500 reskilling partners to help women reskill/upskill before entering/reentering the job. Monster Monster is a well-known website for job seekers all across the world, including Indians. It has a well-developed and extensive network of Indian recruiters and job seekers. Both employers and future employees have a wide range of possibilities. It was founded in 1999 when The Monster Board and Online Career Center merged. It is based in Weston, Massachusetts, and is a subsidiary of Randstad Holding, a Dutch global human resource consulting organisation. Naukri.com Platform provides a variety of services, including access to a resume database, listings, and response management tools. Naukri.com served over 76,000 corporate clients in 2017-2018, with over 4, 75,000 jobs live at any given time and over 60 million CVs. In India, the firm has 56 offices in 42 locations, as well as international offices in Dubai, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) today (January 23) announced the successful trial commissioning of the first barge near the Port of Al Shuqaiq on the western coast of the kingdom. This is in line with a SR760 million (($207 million) agreement signed by Bahri with Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), to transport desalinated water from three floating stations to desalination tanks in Saudi Arabia for a 20-year period. Once operational, each station will have a capacity of 50,000 cu m per day with a total capacity of 150,000 cu m a day, said Bahri in its filing to the Saudi bourse Tadawul. The barges will be transported as per the needs of regions across the kingdom. The barges will ensure consistently high availability levels and compliance with all applicable international and local codes and standards, it added.-TradeArabia News Service New York, Jan 23 : The presence of a large number of mutations, and more than 30 on its spike protein makes antibodies ineffective against the Omicron variant of Covid-19, shows a study. According to research Peer-Reviewed and published in the Journal of Autoimmunity, an unprecedented number of mutations, particularly in the Spike (S) protein of the Omicron variant, has been related to its high transmissibility and infectivity. These mutations also allow it to evade pre-existing antibodies, both by infection and vaccination,in the human body, and accounts for an increased number of re-infections and breakthrough cases, the Jerusalem Post reported. The researchers from the University of Missouri set out to gather data on the mutations found in the S-protein of the Omicron variant. Using complete sequences of the Omicron variant, the team identified a total of 46 signature mutations within the variant, 23 of which were completely unique and had not been identified in any of the earlier variants of the virus. Two of the mutations had first been recorded in the Delta or Delta Plus variant. Of the 46 mutations found, 30 were identified in the S-protein while the remainder were located elsewhere in the virus cell, the report said. Further, the team used a preexisting S-protein structure, one which would theoretically prevent the binding of antibodies to a virus, to assess whether or not the Omicron mutations would similarly affect the Covid-19 S-protein, thus rendering antibodies ineffective. The team discovered that specific mutations create interference in the surface of the virus, preventing antibodies from binding to it, while others result in a complete loss of interaction between the antibodies and the virus, thereby rendering the antibodies ineffective against the highly-mutated variant, the report said. This suggests that preexisting immunisation (whether from vaccination or previous infection) may no longer be able to provide optimal protection against the Omicron variant, allowing it to bypass antibodies and enter into the immune system, the researchers said. "The purpose of antibodies is to recognise the virus and stop the binding, which prevents infection," Kamlendra Singh, Professor at the varsity's College of Veterinary Medicine was quoted as saying. "However, we found many of the mutations in the Omicron variant are located right where the antibodies are supposed to bind, so we are showing how the virus continues to evolve in a way that it can potentially escape or evade the existing antibodies, and therefore continue to infect so many people," he added. Chennai, Jan 23 : Actress and BJP politician Khushbu Sundar on Sunday paid glowing tributes to one of India's most loved freedom fighters, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary. Taking to Twitter, Khushbu said; "Remembering the hero who walked the path of right and the bold. Who fought for freedom and believed in what he said: 'Freedom is not given, it is taken!' We are here because he was there for us then. A symbol of courage for the country." Several people liked Khushbu's tweet, including actor Madhavan, who went on to quote the tweet on his timeline. Tamil film director Deekay, too, hailed the great freedom fighter by posting a black-and-white picture of the leader in Indian National Army gear and saying: "Remembering the legend." Chennai, Jan 23 : Tamil Nadu police are maintaining strict vigil at all the check posts bordering Kerala. With Sunday lockdown in place in both the states, and only the movement of essential vehicles allowed, the Tamil Nadu side has enforced strong monitoring at all the check posts in view of rising Covid cases. Deputy Superintendent (Dy SP) level officers are leading the police team that is monitoring the check posts in different parts of the state bordering Kerala. At Wayalar check post bordering Palakkad district, police have blocked the entry to Tamil Nadu and only a side road through which a single vehicle can travel, is open. To enter Tamil Nadu from Kerala, either RT-PCR negative certificate or two vaccination certificate is required on regular days but on the lockdown day, only people whose travel is indispensable are allowed into Tamil Nadu from Kerala. Medical emergencies and airport travel are the two areas that are given relaxation by the Tamil Nadu side. At Wandiperiyar, on the side of Tamil Nadu, police are also monitoring people reaching the state. Even those who reach the state walking are not allowed entry and all the pocket roads and forest path have also been cordoned off by Tamil Nadu police. State health minister told media persons on Sunday that the number of fresh and active cases in Tamil Nadu is much lower than in Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra. This is the reason why Tamil Nadu police are given instructions to prevent the entry of people, cattle, and vehicles from Kerala into the state. A strong contingent of Tamil Nadu police led by three Deputy SPs are monitoring the Kalliyakkavilai check post bordering Thiruvananthapuram. Police are not allowing vehicles going to the Tamil Nadu side unless there are genuine reasons like death in family or something of that importance. C. Raveendran, a businessman from Thiruvananthapuram who has relatives in Nagercoil and wants to visit there due to a function at his relative's place, had to return from Kalliyakkavilai. He told IANS, "Tamil Nadu police did not allow us to travel across the check post and hence had to cancel the trip." Los Angeles, Jan 23 : Actress Jasmin Savoy Brown says performing her 'Scream 5' monologue was "exciting and terrifying", and she has expressed her love for the franchise's passionate fandom. Savoy Brown said: "It was exciting and terrifying. There's this feeling of, I don't want to let anyone down. I know that I'm representing an entire community in this monologue and that these words are true, and that people do feel this way about this film and other films." The former 'Leftovers' star went on to insist that she has so much "love" for the 'Scream' fanbase and compared the "passion" of the community and the franchise itself to the love she herself feels for Broadway theatre, reports femalefirst.co.uk. She told Collider: "I have so much love for that community of people who are so passionate. I'm a nerd for Broadway. I feel like I could apply the same thing as you might feel about horror films to Broadway and musicals and I just had to approach it as if I was talking about the revival of 'Company' or something. "You know what I mean? Because I identify gutturally." Savoy Brown's co-star Mason Gooding, who plays her brother Chad Meeks-Martin in the film, chimed in to heap praise on his on-screen sibling, noting that she had had to deliver the monologue several times in "many" different takes but that her "enthusiasm" never wavered. He said: "I would like all attention pointed at how many times (Jasmin) had to do that monologue and how every single time it was done with the same amount of energy and enthusiasm." Hyderabad, Jan 23 : Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron, Lambda, and Delmicron in between. Since it was first notified in 2019, Covid-19 virus has changed into multiple variants and hundreds of mutations have taken place. While billions got affected by this deadly virus, more than five million have lost their lives. Even after two years since this novel coronavirus first started impacting human lives, Covid-19 crisis is far from over. While this virus is in no mood to leave us anytime soon, doctors are suggesting how to stay cautious, and learn to live with these conditions. Europe is set to relax all restrictions imposed since January 2020, and want people to get accustomed to the changed environment. People in India too will have to accept the fact that Covid-19 is now an endemic, and it is like any other coronavirus or flu which causes various ailments in all age groups. Commenting on the changing scenario, Dr Rohith Reddy Pathuri, Consultant Pulmonologist, Century Hospital, said that there is too much uncertainty about what shape and form the coronavirus will take with time. "Will it impact more people or less, a new variant will be more fatal or less, how many more mutations will we come across, have we acquired immunity against this virus; nothing is certain. While we doctors are still monitoring the traits of Covid-19 virus, it is important people continue to stay cautious, and ensure they follow all necessary safety protocols before we are fully out of this problem," he said. "Businesses cannot remain closed, people must step out to earn a living, students must attend physical classes for better academic progression, the world must move on. While we are worried about the continuing risk, it is also important people will have to step out for economic and livelihood reasons. Hence, it is important people follow necessary safety protocols and ensure they do not expose themselves to virus easily," said Dr S. Ravindra Kumar, Consultant Physician, SLG Hospital. According to Dr Sudhir Prasad, Consultant - Pulmonologist and Sleep Medicine, Aware Gleneagles, Global Hospital, world is witnessing a phase of transition and might have to start reacting a little differently to the changing times. "Our behaviour too will have to change from the past two years, because we will be more mobile for professional or economic reasons and will start interacting with others more frequently. According to Google, people started searching for the term "endemic" and want to understand what it means and how it is going to impact their lives. No educational institution or business establishment can remain shut forever, hence it is important people adapt to the changing scenario and start living with the challenges." "Across Metro cities and in rural locations, the number of deaths due to Covid-19 infection has reduced over the last couple of months. While the Omicron variant led to a drastic increase in the number of cases in India, and around the World; the medical fraternity is widely debating the risk associated with it. Because we do not see a radical rise in the number of deaths caused due to novel coronavirus, it is widely accepted that this new variant might not be as dangerous. Hence, people can start leading their normal lives, attend to work, and academic sessions. But continue to stay cautious," concluded Dr Mohd Vaseem, Consultant Pulmonologist, Kamineni Hospitals. "Attending to school is an important element in the overall evolution of a child! Covid-19 has kept students away from their classrooms for two academic years, and quite a few might have not interacted well with their friends. All this is likely to have a bearing on the mental health of children. It is important parents accept the fact that this virus might not leave us all anytime soon, hence stay cautious, follow Covid appropriate behaviour and send their children to schools for better academic and mental development," said Dr Mahesh Sarda, Consultant- Internal Medicine and Critical Care, Wockhardt Hospitals, Nagpur. Spain, the United Kingdom are relaxing Covid-19 restrictions, and few more European nations are even relaxing the mandatory wearing of mask norm to optional. The United States which witnessed a maximum number of infections and deaths over the past two years too might fully relax restrictions. Considering these changing times, India cannot stay behind and will have to catch up with the emerging trends. So, the best people can do is to practice self-discipline in following safety protocols, wearing masks and where possible social distancing, and move towards leading lives normally. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Chandigarh, Jan 23 : Former Director General of Police (DGP) Mohammad Mustafa, an advisor to state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, whose wife Razia Sultana is a party's candidate, was booked on Sunday for his 'hate speech' during canvassing in Malerkotla, the Muslim-dominated town. He has been booked for promoting enmity among communities. Responding to the registration of case, Mustafa said: "I did not target Hindus as is being alleged on social media. I used word 'Fitne', which means law breakers. I was angry at a group of Muslims who had tried to attack me. I was warning them, not Hindus." In his video Mustafa was purportedly heard allegedly threatening Hindus with dire consequences if they organise events near his event during a public meeting on January 20. Local AAP candidate Jamil-ur-Rehman said he had filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Mustafa. "He threatened to beat up AAP workers and candidate," Rehman had said. New York, Jan 23 : A Connecticut woman is suing Instagram's parent company Meta and Snap Inc, alleging that an addiction to their social media platforms led her young daughter to commit suicide, media reports say. Selena Rodriguez, an 11-year-old resident of the town of Enfield, committed suicide last year, the BBC reported. The lawsuit alleges that her death was caused by the potentially dangerous features of the platforms, the report said. The case comes amid growing fears over the impact of social media on children, it added. According to a statement from the Social Media Victims Law Center (SMVLC), which filed the suit in California on behalf of Selena's mother, Tammy - the young girl suffered from an "extreme" addiction to Instagram and Snapchat. Rodriguez confiscated her daughter's devices on multiple occasions, only to have her run away to use social media, according to the SMVLC. "On multiple occasions, Selena received mental health treatment for her addiction," the statement said. "One outpatient therapist who evaluated Selena remarked that she had never seen a patient as addicted to social media," it added. Before her suicide on July 21, 2021, Selena had allegedly suffered from sleep deprivation and depression for months, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic began and she spent more time on social media. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that Selena was repeatedly solicited for sexually exploitative content, which she ultimately shared. The images were then leaked and shared by her classmates, leading to a deterioration of her mental state and eventually to her suicide. The lawsuit, which was filed in a federal courtroom in California on Friday, alleges that both social media giants "knowingly and purposefully" designed and marketed products that were harmful to a "significant" number of their underage users. In a statement sent to the BBC, a Snap spokesperson said the company was "devastated" to hear of Selena's death, although it declined to comment on the lawsuit specifically. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the BBC. New Delhi, Jan 23 : The Jammu and Kashmir administration has authorised Sarpanches to grant permission for the construction, reconstruction or alteration of the residential houses in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory. According to the order issued on January 22 by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj of the J&K government, the Sarpanch will be assisted by a committee as well. "In exercise of power conferred by Section12, sub-section 2(iv) of Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act 1989, 1989 read with Rule 155 & 165 of J&K Panchayati Raj Rules, 1996,as amended from time to time. Sanction is hereby accorded to the designation of competent authority for grant of permission for construction/reconstruction/ alteration of residential/commercial buildings in rural areas of J&K," the notification issued on January 22 said, adding that a panel headed by Sarpanch of Panchayat will give permission in the rural areas. For permission to build residential buildings within the Panchayat jurisdiction, the Sarpanch of the Halqa Panchayat will grant permission and he will be assisted by the village level worker (Panchayat Secretary) and Patwari of the concerned Halqa. The order also issued permission for commercial building including shops in the rural areas, the authority has been given to a committee headed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of the concerned area while the Tehsildar, town planning concerned, BDO concerned and the Sarpanch of the Halqa Panchayat will be the members of the committee. Similarly, for the construction or renovation of any other buildings, including the government buildings in the rural areas, the committee, headed by concerned SDM who will be the chairman, concerned Tehsildar, Town planning officer, BDO and Sarpanch of the Halqa Panchayat as members of the committee, will grant permission. The officials of the J&K government said that this order, which has come into effect, will help people in the rural areas in getting permission for the construction or renovation of the residential houses and they will not have to run around to various government efficacies. New Delhi, Jan 23 : The non-BJP governments in four states have teamed up against the Centre's proposal to amend the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954. Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have written to the Prime Minister and urged him to roll back the decision, claiming that the change in the rules for central deputation of IAS officers will affect the states' administration. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written two letters to the Centre. In her second letter she says, "I find the revised amendment proposal more draconian than the former, and indeed its very grain is against the foundations of our great federal polity and the basic structure of India's Constitutional scheme. "The moot point of the further revised draft amendment proposal is that an officer, whom the Central government may choose to take out of a state to any part of the country without taking his/her consent and without the agreement of the state government under whom he or she is serving, may now stand released from his/her current assignment forthwith," Banerjee said. The states say that the power proposed to be usurped by the Central government by resorting to over-centralisation of powers is going to destroy the morale and freedom of the All-India Service officers. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren too wrote to the Prime Minister expressing his concern. He said, "I have written to @PMOIndia expressing strong reservations on the proposed All India Services cadre rule amendments by Govt of India. They promote 'unilateralism' rather than 'cooperative federalism'. I hope he will consider my request and bury the proposal at this stage itself." The Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel have also written letters to the Prime Minister opposing the move. The government has defended the move and has stated that working with the Centre and state governments both will broaden officers' perspectives and will advance the mission of the all-India services. He stated that the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers cannot always be posted in states since it is inefficient for both the service and the officers. It has said that working with the Central government provides them with a unique viewpoint for the personal development of officers after serving in the states and then returning to the Centre. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu too have decided to oppose the changes. New Delhi, Jan 23 : The grandson of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose has urged all political leaders to stop divisive politics and follow the leader's ideology. According to Chandra Kumar Bose, the government should think beyond the statue and adopt Netaji's ideology as he believed in. But even after 75 years, questions are being raised on the unity of the country. The partition of the country in 1947 was the result of communal strife that exists even today. "We have to protect our country and the only way to it is to follow Netaji's ideology," he claimed. Talking to IANS, he said: "The time has come to use Netaji's ideals in national politics. If we do not, the partition will happen again and we do not want to see 1947 again." On what should the government do to follow Netaji's ideology, Bose said: "Common man does not want division in society. Every one wants to live united. I urge all political parties to stop divisive politics and follow Netaji's ideals, failing which the country may see another partition in the next 50 to 100 years, and the future generations will be unable to see undivided India." "We should stop communal and divisive politics, because may be we can win elections with that but will lose the nation. When country will not exist, what good is of winning polls," he asked. When asked why he thinks the country will face another partition in 50 to 100 years, he said: "Bengal, Northeast, Kerala and Tamil Nadu may be separated, then you stay with Uttar Pradesh. Divide and rule policy of Britishers is still continuing. The state and central governments are also being run on divisive lines. Elections in Uttar Pradesh are being held on caste lines, but Netaji ended caste system. We all are one." On being asked why is he raising questions at the BJP-led government, as he has been a part of it, he said: "I don't like politics of the BJP, I follow Netaji's ideology and do not compromise on it. I joined the BJP because I was told that Netaji's ideology will be spread, but it has not happened. If they will tell me that it will not happen, I will leave the party." On installation of Netaji's statue at India Gate, Bose said, "We had sent a proposal on this to the government and ran a signature campaign along with Army veteran Major General Gangandeep Bakshi. An 85-member committee, including four members of the Netaji's family, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also formed." "I am also a member of the said committee and have proposed that installation of Netaji's statue at India Gate will send a good message," he said. When asked that Netaji's statue is being installed now... Don't you think it should have happened much earlier, he said, "I think till now, no party had got any opportunity to do it or may be they didn't want to." "Netaji resides in people's hearts. There is a temple in South India in which Netaji is worshipped. Political parties should protect the country following Netaji's ideology," he suggested. To draw the curtains on the rumours and speculations on Netaji's disappearance, Chandra Kumar Bose appealed to the government to form a special committee. According to him, the mystery can be solved by going through 77 files of Intelligence Bureau, conducting DNA test of bones of Netaji and seeking three documents from the Japan government. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, efforts were made for that but in vain. There are 77 files in IB about Netaji. Justice Mukherjee Committee has mentioned it, but a question persists on contents and whether they have been declassified," he added. "On the issue, Netaji's daughter Anita Bose had written a letter a year ago and we have also reminded about that. It is said that Netaji's bones are kept in a temple. If possible, a DNA test should be conducted as technology has advanced a lot," he added. Japan has five files. In 2016, after intervention of the then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, it declassified two files which only have photos and no documents. Three files have not been given yet. what do they contain? Work should be done on that and the mystery should be resolved, he said. The government should form a committee which will probe all the aspects and based on evidence, issue an official statement to the people of the country. Arabian Centres Company, a leading owner, developer and operator of lifestyle shopping centres in Saudi Arabia, has announced the resignation of its CEO Faisal Abdullah Al Jedaie effective January 31. Announcing this today (January 23), the board said that the shareholders have approved the elevation of the managing director Mohamad Rafic Mourad to the post of acting CEO effective February 1. On this occasion, the board and all employees commended Faisal for his valuable contributions to the company as CEO. Mourad brings along 28 years of global management experience in technology, retail, consumer goods and e-commerce top his new role. He holds a Bachelor of Science with Honors at Lebanese American University, in 1994. And an MBA at Insead, France, in 2001.-TradeArabia News Service Lima, Jan 23 : The Peruvian government has declared a 90-day environmental emergency in the coastal area of Lima which has been affected by a recent oil spill, the Ministry of the Environment said. The government has called it one of the "most important ecological disasters" on the coast in recent years, reports Xinhua news agency. The resolution was approved by Minister of the Environment Ruben Ramirez, who heads the Environmental Crisis Committee that is trying to mitigate the effects of the oil spill. The oil spill occurred on January 15 when an oil tanker was unloading at one of the terminals of La Pampilla Refinery, operated by Repsol, in the province of Callao, neighbouring Lima. Repsol reported on January 21 that the cleanup of the areas affected by the oil spill should be completed by the end of February, and that 1,580 cubic metres of contaminated sand had been removed. The spill has affected the beaches of Costa Azul, Ventanilla, Cavero and Playa Grande, among others, as well as 512 hectares in the Guano Islands, Islets, and Capes National Reserve System, and 1,758 hectares in the Ancon Reserved Zone. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana on Sunday said that over 27,000 personnel have been deployed in the national capital in view of the Republic Day. "A total force of 27,723 personnel are deployed in Delhi," the Delhi Police chief said in a press conference. He further said that the total force includes 71 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), 213 ACPs, 713 Inspectors, Delhi Police Commandos, Armed Battalion officers and Jawans and 65 companies of the Central Armed Police Force. The Commissioner said that for the past two months, the Delhi Police have been taking intensified anti-terror measures in the national capital. "Delhi has always remained a target for anti-social elements. This year too we are on alert. For the past two months, we are taking intensified anti-terror measures in Delhi in coordination with other security agencies," Asthana said. Notably, Delhi is currently under a heavy security cover after the intelligence agencies received inputs of a possible terror attack in the city in wake of the Republic day. New Delhi, Jan 23 : A man grievously injured his 22-year-old wife with a surgical blade in the national capital and later killed himself in a deserted house in Uttar Pradesh, an official said here on Sunday. According to the official, an information was received on January 20 at Khyala police station from Sri Balaji Hospital, Paschim Vihar in West Delhi that one Mansi Bajaj, a resident of Raghubir Nagar is admitted after she was assaulted by her husband. It was found that injured Mansi Bajaj and her accused husband identified as 32-year-old Ramkumar were having some differences due to which Mansi came to her mother's house on January 15. Four days later on January 19, the husband Ramkumar came and requested his wife to accompany him to their house at Naseeb Vihar, Village Ilaychipur, Loni, Gaziabad, UP, but Mansi refused. When she refused, Ramkumar stayed at his in-laws' house in the national capital till evening of next day and kept requesting his wife. Mansi's mother Rekha Bajaj was also present there. The police said that at about 7.30 p.m. on January 20, Mansi's mother went to the market leaving the couple in the house. "At this time, the accused husband Ram Kumar attacked his wife Mansi with a surgical blade to eliminate her and caused multiple severe injuries around the neck and over both cheeks. After assuring himself that Manshi had died, Ram Kumar fled away from the spot," the official said. When the injured wife was taken to the hospital, she had lost a lot of blood. A Delhi Police Constable then came forward and donated his blood to save the life of the injured wife. Accordingly, the police registered a case under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code and constituted a team to nab the accused husband. The police raided multiple locations in the Trans Yamuna area, but Ramkumar could not be found. During course of the investigation, on the basis of technical investigation and clues received from the complainant, on January 21, the police team along with Babulal (brother-in-law accused Ram Kumar) reached Ambedkar Colony under Pusta near Loni Border, UP where vacant house of Babulal was found latched from inside. "As the police team and Babulal peeked from the door, accused Ram Kumar was found hanging from a ceiling fan," the official said. Accordingly, local police from Signature City, Tronica City police station, Ghaziabad, UP were informed. The local police then broke open the doors in presence of local witnesses. The person found hanging was identified by Babulal as accused Ram Kumar. "Further legal proceedings (174 CrPC) in respect of the death of the accused are being done by local police," the police said. Meanwhile, the injured wife has been successfully operated on, however, she is still admitted at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. Sydney, Jan 23 : Australia's state of New South Wales (NSW) on Sunday announced a Covid-19 smart plan which aims to minimise the risk of infection after returning to school amid an uphill battle against the current wave of the pandemic. As part of the new measures, every student and teacher in NSW government and non-government schools will be able to receive rapid antigen test (RAT) kits before in-person classes begin on February 1, reports Xinhua news agency. Surveillance testing will be conducted twice a week for primary and high school students, school staff, and early childhood staff. Surveillance testing will be undertaken for the first four weeks of term, with two weeks of supply distributed before term starts. Face masks are mandatory for all staff and high school students and are encouraged for children in primary schools. There will be limited interaction between different year groups, and schools have to limit visitors. A number of staffing contingencies are also in place including utilising retired and studying teachers in case there are disruptions to the workforce. There are heated debates as to the most suitable time to reopen classrooms as NSW remains the epicentre of Australia's current wave of Covid-19 pandemic. The state recorded 20,324 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday. Despite the relatively flat epidemic growth curve in this week, the number of hospitalisation and deaths remain high, with 2,712 hospitalization and 34 deaths recorded on the same day. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said supporting students to return safely to the classroom is vital after two years of disruption to their education. "Students learn best at school, some students have spent a quarter of their schooling at home. We're committed to bringing students back safely," he said. The government is distributing more than 12 million RATs to over 3,150 government, non-government schools, and early childhood centers to assist with surveillance testing of staff and students, Perrottet said. The state has started vaccination for five to 11 years old children. The latest figure shows that 26.5 per cent of eligible children in NSW have received their first doses. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, Jan 23 : Amid sparring over alliance in Goa between Maharashtra MVA partners -- the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena, NCP leader Majeed Memon has lessons for Congress and asked them to put their house in order. Memon Tweeted, "Congress must set its house in order soon by declaring a regular chief and reconciliation with G22 members, if it has to play a significant role in forming a strong all India opposition front to take on the NDA in 2024." The unprecedented attack from the NCP leader comes in the wake of refusal by the Congress to ally with any party in Goa except with GFP. The three parties have formed Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra but in Goa the Congress is already in alliance with Goa Forward Party. The Congress is not willing to go in alliance and sources say it thinks that the NCP and the Shiv Sena in the fray will split BJP votes. The Shiv Sena leader in the past had met Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the same but things did not work out as Congress assessment is that people will vote for a change. NCP leader Praful Patel has said that his party will contest with Shiv Sena in the state. The Congress has been attacked by the Trinamool Congress and its Vice President Pawan Varma had said on Friday, that top Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and P. Chidambaram, have not been able to "rise above their narrow silos" to respond to the political challenges. Addressing a press conference here, Varma also cited Congress as the main impediment for parties like the Trinamool to take on the BJP. "The Congress is driven by the ambition of one leader whose inadequacy I do not need to explain. Since 2012, the Congress under this leadership has lost 90 per cent of the elections it has fought. If it could deliver, why would there be a need for change? You have seen the track record... 2014, 2019," Varma told reporters. Gaya : , Jan 23 (IANS) A pushcart tea seller from Dharmanagari in Bihar's Gaya, is feeding the poor, hungry and deranged people through the money he earns from selling tea, 'sattu' and juice. His family has been indulging in philanthropic work since India's Independence. Sanjay Chandravanshi, who sells tea on a handcart near Gol Pathar Mor of Gautam Buddha Marg in Gaya, is himself struggling to put food on the table. However, inspired by his father, Banwari Ram and grandfather, Zandu Ram, who always encouraged people to give back to the community, Sanjay has been serving the impoverished for several years now. A resident of Kendua village in Gaya's Imamganj block, Sanjay uses the lion's share of his earnings to assist at least 20-25 poor, disabled or physically challenged people daily. Talking to IANS, he said: "The tradition of helping people pushed to crisis is being followed in my family for almost six decades now. Before I reach my tea stall in the morning, a crowd of poor people or beggars gather over there, waiting for me to come and serve tea and biscuits to them. During summers, I also serve them two glasses of sattu in the afternoon. "During winters, I light a bonfire near my handcart. The homeless people then gather here to warm themselves. Apart from this, I also distribute blankets, sweaters and woollen wears among them every year." Sanjay also provides financial assistance to the less fortunate for their medical treatment. Pleased with his work, the doctors in his village have reduced their fees to treat the patients sent by him. He even mortgaged his house to serve the needy in his village. He wishes to build a night shelter soon, so that the homeless can seek refuge there at night. Talking about the apathy of the Central and state government, Sanjay said: "I had written a letter to the former Prime Minister. Then I wrote to the Chief Secretary of the Bihar government describing the situation of the less fortunate in the state. But till date nothing has been done by the Bihar government. I am still waiting for the Bihar government to respond to my request of building a night shelter in my village." Apart from Gaya, people from adjoining districts also reach out to him for help. Initially, his philanthropic nature was not appreciated by his wife Anita Devi, but now both his wife and son, Gautam Kumar, help him in running his business and doing charity work. Sanjay also said that he wishes to help the economically weak throughout his life. "I will continue to help the poor until my last breath. I hope my future generations also indulge in feeding the poor selflessly." Chennai, Jan 23 : Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, his cabinet colleagues and political party leaders paid floral tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary on Sunday. Ravi paid floral tributes at the statue of Netaji at the Raj Bhavan campus. In a statement, the Tamil Nadu Governor said: "The richness of Netaji's intellectual and spiritual footprints are ever-inspiring our people to the service of the nation in the spirit of patriotism and nationalism." The Tamil Nadu Governor called upon the youths to strengthen fraternity and promote the nation's vision for progress. Stalin in a social media post said that the late leader was a symbol of patriotism. He said: "His (Netaji's) fame is omnipresent like the rays of the sun across the nation, and let's march ahead with patriotism in the light shone by him." Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian paid floral tributes at the statue of Netaji at Kamarajar Salai along with senior officials of the Department of Information. AIADMK former general secretary V.K. Sasikala also paid floral tributes to the leader and said that Netaji, who had set up the Indian National Army (INA), had also set up a women's wing and named it 'Rani of Jhansi Regiment' after illustrious Rani of Jhansi. Melbourne, Jan 23 : Canadian star Denis Shapovalov remained calm and composed as he booked his Australian Open quarterfinal berth with a 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 victory over world No. 3 and Tokyo Olympic Games gold medallist Alexander Zverev of Germany at the Melbourne Park on Sunday. Shapovalov has now set up a quarterfinal showdown with Spanish stalwart Rafael Nadal, who is aiming for his second Australian Open crown after the title triumph in 2009. The searing Melbourne heat could not stop Shapovalov from extinguishing the hopes Zverev in the duo's first meeting at a major. The 14th-seeded Canadian had to take an ice bath after his gruelling five-setter against world No. 54 Soonwoo Kwon of South Korea in the second-round, but he kept a cool head throughout the tough encounter to brush past an inconsistent Zverev in the fourth round. "It's probably the one I least expected to finish in three (sets)," Shapovalov was quoted as saying by atptour.com on Sunday. "I'm very happy with my performance, definitely happy with where my game is at." With his returns sharp as ever, Shapovalov broke Zverev early for a 3-1 lead, the German dropping just his third service game of the tournament on the way to also losing his first set in Melbourne this year. Zverev looked frustrated as Shapovalov broke the German again immediately in the second. But seven double faults in the set from the Canadian helped Zverev claw back. Serving for the set at 5-3, Zverev's inconsistency again came to the fore at crucial moments and Shapovalov forced a tie-break. The Canadian looked more comfortable of the two, winning 7/5. "I think off the ground I was playing really well, really feeling my shots off both wings," said Shapovalov. "I played pretty smart today, it felt like things were going my way early on. I lost a little bit of momentum mid-way in the second set but fought well to come back and just kind of rolled with it after." Shapovalov's opponent in the quarterfinals will be Nadal, after the sixth-seed defeated Adrian Mannarino of France 7-6(14), 6-2, 6-2. Nadal holds a 3-1 lead in the ATP head-to-head against Shapovalov. "It's always an honour to go up against a guy like Rafa," said Shapovalov. "It's always going to be a battle against him. It's going to be a tough one and I'm definitely going to enjoy it." To jab or not? HCWs scepticism over safety, side-effects of Covid vax (File Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS) Image Source: IANS News New York, Jan 23 : Patients with cancer who receive chemotherapy and some targeted therapies may mount an inadequate immune response to Covid-19 vaccination, according to a study. Researchers at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center have found that targeted therapies, such as CDK4/6 inhibitors and therapies targeted at B cells, also may cut Covid vax response. "It is important for patients with cancer who are receiving chemotherapy to receive a Covid-19 vaccine," said Saranya Chumsri, a Mayo Clinic heematologist and oncologist, and author of the paper. Chumsri noted that this advice also applies to patients with cancer who are taking a CDK 4/6 inhibitors. These inhibitors are a newer class of medicines used to treat hormone-receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancers. While CDK 4/6 inhibitors are not conventionally considered to be as immunosuppressive as chemotherapy, Chumsri found that patients with breast cancer who take these drugs exhibited less optimal neutralising antibody activity. The study recommends that antibody levels be tested in these patients after vaccination, and they should consider receiving booster vaccinations for Covid-19. The findings are published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovation, Quality, and Outcomes. About 2 per cent of the global population is considered at increased risk of an inadequate response to a Covid-19 vaccine. This includes people with blood cancers or other cancers being treated with chemotherapy, patients on dialysis, those taking medications after an organ transplant or who are taking immunosuppressive drugs for conditions including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. A real-world retrospective study led by US drug maker Pfizer, involving nearly 1.2 million people, showed Covid-19 infections in the 'fully' vaccinated are rare but are more common and severe in people with weaker immune systems, which includes cancer patients. Another study, published recently in the journal Annals of Oncology, fully vaccinated patients with cancer who had breakthrough Covid-19 infections remain at high risk for hospitalisation and death. The World Health Organisation (WHO), in October, recommended that people with weakened immune systems should receive an additional dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, due to their higher risk of breakthrough infections after standard vaccination. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, Jan 23 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday said that they have arrested three Delhi Police officials including Station House Officer (SHO) of Kalindi Kunj Police Station in connection with a bribery case. "Bhushan Kumar Azad, SHO of Kalindi Kunj Police Station, Head Constable Rakesh Yadav and Constable Dinesh have been arrested by us in a bribery case. The SHO was allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 39,000 through head constable and other persons for the construction of a boundary wall," said a CBI official. A senior CBI official said that a case was registered, on a complaint against SHO, Police Station Kalindi Kunj, Head Constable and other unknown person for demanding a bribe. The victim alleged that the police officials were demanding a bribe of Rs 500 per square yard for allowing construction of a boundary wall of plot area measuring around 132 square yards at Madanpur Khadar Extension Part-3. This falls within the jurisdiction of Kalindi Kunj Police Station. The complainant alleged that the Police officials reduced the demand to Rs 300 per square yard and decided that he will give about Rs 39,000 to the police personnel. After receiving the compliant, the CBI lodged a case and formed a team of officials to arrest the Delhi Police personnel. The CBI laid a trap and caught the constable who received the bribe amount of Rs 39,000 in the presence of Head Constable from the complainant. Both the SHO and Head Constable were also caught by the CBI officials. Searches were conducted at the official and residential premises of arrested personnel. All the arrested accused will be produced before the Competent Court by the CBI. CHME, a key subsidiary of Seera Holding Group, the largest publicly listed travel company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, has opened two new properties in Saudi Arabia - Clarion Jeddah Airport and Comfort King Road Jeddah. Located on the Prince Majid Road, just three minutes away from the new King Abdul-Aziz International Airport and Jeddah Airport Train Station, the Clarion Hotel Jeddah Airport has 200 rooms. It is easily accessible from the Jeddah City Centre and also located close to the Mall of Arabia, one of the biggest shopping centres in Jeddah. The Comfort King Road, with 125 extended stay suites, is located in one of the most prominent areas of Jeddah and in close proximity to the Jeddah Corniche, Jeddah International Airport, and the Madinah Road. These two openings form part of an agreement signed by Seera Holding last year with Choice Hotels EMEA to open at least ten hotels in the Kingdom within a five-year period. Commenting on the new openings, Choice Hotels EMEA CEO Jonathan Mills said: "As guests continue to return to travel, they desire authentic hotels, and I am pleased Seera group and these two new properties are joining our portfolio." "The properties all differ in style but are all ideally located in central areas across the Kingdom. They have been designed with both a local and international audience in mind and I am sure our guests will be excited by their offerings," stated Mills. "We are the only global hotel company to first enter the Middle East market by opening a hotel in Saudi Arabia, a country placing a substantive focus on developing travel and tourism. These properties are a meaningful symbol of local and regional economic growth, and we are focused on continuing to increase Choice Hotels footprint in the region," he noted. Seera Group CEO Majed Alnefaie said: "Our partnership with Choice Hotels EMEA will further strengthen our credentials in delivering world-class travel and tourism services to our guests through hotel projects in prime locations." "This underlines our commitment to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to strengthen inward tourism and to build a robust infrastructure that will enable the Kingdom to realize the goals of economic diversification," he added. Chief Hospitality Officer Shuja Zaidi said: "Through this strategic partnership, we are further enhancing the hospitality infrastructure of the kingdom to welcome guests from around the world as well as support domestic tourism." "At CHME-Seera, we are focused on supporting hotel projects that not only reflect the warm hospitality of the Arab world but also deliver modern amenities that meet the requirements of todays travellers," observed Zaidi. Seera is at the forefront of travel and tourism recovery efforts in the kingdom and beyond, and as part of the agreement, currently there are several identified projects for Choice Hotels brands throughout Saudi Arabia in various stages of development.-TradeArabia News Service New Delhi, Jan 23 : Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana on Sunday said that over 27,000 personnel have been deployed in the national capital in view of the Republic Day. "A total force of 27,723 personnel are deployed in Delhi," the Delhi Police chief said in a press conference. He further said that the total force includes 71 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), 213 ACPs, 713 Inspectors, Delhi Police Commandos, Armed Battalion officers and Jawans and 65 companies of the Central Armed Police Force. The Commissioner said that for the past two months, the Delhi Police have been taking intensified anti-terror measures in the national capital. "Delhi has always remained a target for anti-social elements. This year too we are on alert. For the past two months, we are taking intensified anti-terror measures in Delhi in coordination with other security agencies," Asthana said. Notably, Delhi is currently under a heavy security cover after the intelligence agencies received inputs of a possible terror attack in the city in wake of the Republic day. "In the past two months you may have seen several police blockades around the city, checking of vehicles, hotels, lodges and verification of servants, tenants and labourers," Asthana said, adding that vehicles are being thoroughly checked at all the entry and exit points of the national capital. The Commissioner informed that the police have also secured the air space with 'Counter Rogue Drone' technology in and around the area where the celebrations will take place. "For this we have also taken help from other agencies to completely secure the area," he said. Commissioner Asthana had recently in an order said that as per the reports, certain criminal or anti-social elements or terrorists inimical to India may pose a threat to the safety of the general public, dignitaries and vital installations.In view of this, the Delhi Police chief put a ban on the use of sub-conventional aerial platforms like para-gliders, para-motors, hang gliders, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), micro-light aircraft, remotely-piloted aircraft, hot air balloons, small-size powered aircraft, quadcopters or even para-jumping from aircraft etc. Sharing more details about the security scenario, the top cop said that apart from Delhi Police's internal meetings for security arrangements, interstate coordination meetings were also held. "We also held meetings with DGPs, ADGs, CID Crime and ATS chiefs of other states to ensure full proof security," he said. As the social media remains a major tool for anti-social elements to spread misinformation, the Delhi Police chief said that their social media cell has been proactively monitoring all the activities. "Apart from awareness campaigns, we are also using social media to disseminate important and factual information so that no anti-social element is able to run a misinformation campaign," said the Commissioner. The Delhi Police chief added that the security arrangements have also been made after coordinating with the officers of all the agencies working in the Central Vista project. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi district) Deepak Yadav, while speaking to IANS, had informed that adequate arrangements have been made in and around the Rajpath for the Republic day parade. "Around 300 cameras with face-recognition facilities have been installed around the Rajpath to thwart any threat beforehand," Yadav said. In view of the existing threat, the New Delhi DCP said that specially trained commandos of the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces would be deployed to counter any threat. "Apart from the police commandos, assault teams of SWAT, Special Cell and Hit teams of NSG would also be deployed," Yadav said. As the usage of drone while carrying out terror attacks have risen in the recent past, the DCP said any flying object that breaches the security cordons in and around the area of Rajpath will be taken care of. Meanwhile, around 1,000 drones, 75 military aircraft and tableaux of 12 states and Union Territories and nine ministries will be part of the Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath in the national capital. Interestingly, the government has introduced two important changes -- Republic Day celebration week will be held from January 23 to January 30 and the main function will begin 30 minutes later on January 26. It will begin at 10.30 a.m. in place of 10 a.m. to let visibility improve by the time flypast takes place. The celebrations will begin from January 23 to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. It will end on January 30 to commemorate Martyrs Day. Further, a number of visitors at the Republic Day parade has been curtailed significantly. Last year when the first Covid-19 wave was ebbing down around 25,000 visitors were allowed. This year, the number has been significantly curtailed between 5,000 and 8,000 and still is being worked out as Covid-19 cases have increased significantly. Bhopal, Jan 23 : A post wedding celebration turned into a tragedy in Madhya Pradesh's Betul district when bridegroom's cousin collapsed while dancing and died. When the relatives and family members were celebrating the function, the 32-year-old man suddenly collapsed while he was dancing and died. A video of the incident which went viral on social media shows that the person who was dancing collapsed all of a sudden. Friends and family members present there thought that he was acting and will get up soon. When the youth did not stand up for a while, his friends reached out to him and noticed that he was unconscious. He was rushed to a local hospital in Betul where the doctors declared him dead. According to Dr Ashok Uike of Betul District Hospital, the youth was brought dead. "The exact reason of his death will be known only if the post-mortem is conducted, but sudden cardiac arrest could have possibly caused the death," Dr Uike said. The deceased has been identified as Antlal. A police official in Betul district talking to IANS said: "No complaint has been filed in the matter. If family person files any complain about it, the police will investigate the matter." A similar incident had occurred in November, 2021 in Bhopal where a senior doctor - C.S. Jain, who was dancing with his colleagues, had collapsed all of sudden. There were around 50 doctors in the party but before they could do something, the doctor died of cardiac arrest. Los Angeles, Jan 23 : "Harry Potter" star Rupert Grint loves the "attitude" and "confidence" of Noel and Liam Gallagher, and he wishes he also had the ability to "just not care". He said: "I wish I was a Gallagher. I actually wish I was a Gallagher more than I wish I was in a band. I love their attitude. I wish I had that confidence. That ability to just not care. "I've never met them. I was supposed to the day they split up. I think I live close to one of them so I've probably seen the back of Liam Gallagher's head or something." The 33-year-old actor went to his first-ever music gig alongside his "Harry Potter" co-star Emma Watson, when he was just 11 years old, reports femalefirst.co.uk. He went to watch Shakira at Wembley Arena in London, and he even got the chance to meet the chart-topping pop star. He told NME: "I went with Emma. I'd never been to a gig like that. I'd been to, like, banger racing previously. That's the only time I think I'd seen any sort of mass gathering of people there just to watch one thing." Grint didn't know any of Shakira's songs at the time, but he enjoyed the experience and described meeting the blonde beauty as a "very memorable" moment. He said: "I didn't really know any songs, but she was great. Very memorable. We met her afterwards. I was an 11 year old boy, so there was a lot going on. That time of my life was very exciting." Indore, Jan 23 : The management committee of the Khajrana Ganesh temple in Madhya Pradesh's Indore is planning to build a huge cowshed and a multi-story building called 'Bhakt Sadan'. While talking to IANS, a member of the management committee said the proposal has been passed and the design has been prepared by an Indore-based private construction firm. The committee has planned to setup a cowshed where at least 40-50 cows can be accommodated at one time. It was told that setting up a cowshed here has been a long pending proposal which could not get materilised due to lack of adequate land portion; however, the committee has now decided to go ahead with the project. Similarly, building a Bhakt Sadan was initiated in 2019, which got delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "As number of devotees visit this temple from across India and overseas, therefore, providing them with a safe lodging place has been a need. The new multi-story building will be called Bhakt Sadan, which will have at least 50 rooms and a big size gallery where 200-250 people can gather for prayer," a committee member said requesting not to be named. The member claimed that the development will cost around Rs 6 crore (for Bhakt Sadan and cowshed) and a land portion of around 7,000 sqm will be required. "The prabandhan samiti has decided to build both the cowshed and Bhakt Sadan with the money received from devotees as donation. Almost all preparations have been done, including necessary approval from the government authorities, but the only hurdle is acquisition of land. Once the land acquisition is done, the construction process will start," the committee member said. Khajrana Ganesh temple is considered one of the historical pilgrimages in northern part of India, which was built during the reign of Holkar dynasty. It is believed that the temple was built by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar in 1735, who had retrieved the idol of lord Ganesha from a well where it was hidden to keep it safe from Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb. New Delhi, Jan 23 : The BJP on Sunday slammed the Mamata Banerjee government after its Lok Sabha member from Barrackpore Arjun Singh was allegedly attacked by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers in Kankinara. The BJP said West Bengal under Mamata Banerjee has become lawless. Taking to twitter, West Bengal BJP vice-president and Lok Sabha member Singh said, "This morning, I was attacked by TMC goons in Kankinara when I reached for a program on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. TMC wants to isolate @BJP4Bengal leaders by dirty tricks so that the people are afraid of their 'Gundagiri'. It is not possible to stop me." West Bengal BJP co-incharge Amit Malviya said, "West Bengal under Mamata Banerjee has become lawless. From the gory post poll violence under her watch which saw men maimed and killed, women raped, there isn't a day her goons don't run amok. Today, BJP MP Arjun Singh was attacked while garlanding Netaji's statue, her police looked on." Sharing a video of the alleged attack on Singh, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "TMC and their goons have made Bengal a symbol of political violence under Mamata didi's government. When the MPs elected by the people in Bengal are not safe, then how will the people of Bengal be safe from TMC goons! This mob attack on MP Arjun Singh is a symbol of the law and order model of Bengal. "Quoting Singh's tweet, BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh said, "By Killing democracy in West Bengal, TMC is trying to establish one party democracy." Dubai, Jan 23 : South Africa opener Janneman Malan and Pakistan pacer Fatima Sana on Sunday were adjudged as the ICC emerging players of the year for 2021 in men's and women's sections respectively. Malan, named in ICC's ODI eleven of the year, had a stunning run in 2021 with the bat, making 715 runs in 17 international matches at 47.66 Average and 101.85 strike-rate, including two centuries and three fifties. He played a total of eight ODIs and nine T20Is in the year, but it was the 50-over format where he showed his real potential. His voyage started with the T20I series in Pakistan, followed by another ODI and T20I series against the same side at home. At the end of those two series, he had already shown the world his ability with two excellent knocks of 70 and 55 in Centurion. But his moment of fame arrived when he smashed an unbeaten 177, the fourth-highest score by a South African in ODIs, against Ireland in Dublin. He followed that up with another excellent knock of 121 against Sri Lanka in Colombo and thus ended the year on a good note. Malan's most memorable knock was an unbeaten 177 against Ireland. He looked absolutely on a song that day and played numerous exquisite shots around the ground. Whether it was a spinner or a pacer, he treated them with equal disdain. His innings consisted of a total of 16 fours and 6 massive sixes, which sums up how the bowlers suffered in that match. The 25-year-old also built a terrific 225-run opening stand with Quinton de Kock, who scored a century in that match as well. In the women's category, 20-year-old Fatima impressed one and all with her all-round efforts, picking 24 wickets at an average of 23.95 and scoring 165 runs at 16.50 in 16 international matches. She became an integral part of Pakistan's ODI and T20I side owing to her wicket-taking ability as a bowler, and ability to add handy runs down the order at the same time. Apart from playing at home, Sana toured Bangladesh, West Indies, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, delivering impressive all-round performances. In fact, 18 of her 24 wickets in the year came in the 11 matches she played against the West Indies. Fatima showed a lot of heart against the attacking West Indies batters and succeeded in keeping them at bay. Batting at No.8, she registered unbeaten scores of 28, 22 and 17 against strong sides like West Indies, South Africa and Zimbabwe respectively. Chennai, Jan 23 : The Hindu Munnani has called for a probe by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) into the suicide of a 17-year-old girl alleging conversion behind the reason of her death. The state president of the Tamil Nadu unit of the Hindu Munnani, Kadeswara Subramaniam in a statement on Sunday said that the Tamil Nadu police has already ruled out conversion and that only an investigation by the NIA will bring out the truth. He said that the Tamil Nadu police were trying to intimidate those who were trying to raise the issue of conversion and said that the statement of several senior officers of the police amounts to threatening the complainants. The Hindu Munnani leader said that in a video that has surfaced after her death, the deceased Lavanya was seen saying that she was forced to clean toilets after being tortured by three persons in the school administration. Kadeswara Subramaniam also said that two nuns and a priest who were involved in the case must be arrested and said that the Hindu outfit would conduct protest marches across the state. The senior leader said that the major political parties in Tamil Nadu were silent on the matter and reminded them as to why they were not creating a hue and cry just like they had done during an alleged sexual assault on a student in a school run by the Hindu management in Coimbatore a few months ago. The Hindu Munnani leader said that the women's wing of the organisation will conduct a black flag demonstration across Tamil Nadu on Tuesday and the youth wing would organise massive protests against the forcible conversion in the state on Thursday. New Delhi, Jan 23 : The celebration of Subhas Bose's 125th birth anniversary is a hollow hologram commemoration. It is a pretence; having dishonoured his memory and soul by not bringing his mortal remains from Japan for 76 years and respecting these with a final disposal in the Indian traditions, says Ashis Ray. Ray is an Academic Visitor at St Antony's College, Oxford. Ray said in an article that the Germany-based daughter of Subhas Bose, Professor Anita Pfaff, has been exceptionally - some would say needlessly - polite and respectful towards her extended family in India and the Indian government about bringing her father's mortal remains to India for the last rites. "As Bose's only child, now his sole heir since his wife and Pfaff's mother Emilie Schenkl is no more, complete legal and moral rights are vested in her regarding the remains", Ray said. India, Bose's family and followers have reason to be grateful to the Buddhist Renkoji Temple in Tokyo, where a succession of priests have piously preserved the remains ever since a memorial service there on 18 September 1945, he added. Bose died as a result of a plane crash at Taipei on August 18, 1945. Ray said New Delhi cannot lawfully take exception to the Japanese government handing over the remains to Pfaff. Ray pointed out that the Indian government has been underwriting the Renkoji Temple's costs since around 1951 for offering of prayers to and the upkeep of the remains, thereby upholding the truth that they are Bose's. Almost every Indian government since the country's freedom have regarded his death following the plane crash to be true. Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee have personally visited Renkoji Temple. In 2006, the only official Indian investigation that provided an inconclusive verdict on Bos's death and remains was rejected by the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The succeeding Narendra Modi government has abided by this view. In 2016, Ray said Modi declassified all Indian government files pertaining to Netaji. They officially rendered public and transparent what was known all along by informed and rational people. But he failed to undertake the next logical step of requesting the Japanese government to send the remains to India. On 31 May 2017, the Home Ministry of the Government of India in a reply under Indi's Right to Information Act stated: "After considering the reports of Shah Nawaz Committee, Justice G.D. Khosla Commission and Justice Mukherjee Commission of Enquiry, the Government has come to the conclusion that Netaji has died in (a) plane crash in 1945." Prime Minister Nehru in the 1950s and Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in the 1990s made sincere efforts to bring the remains to India; but were thwarted by opposition from some members of Bose's extended family and a section of politicians and bureaucrats. With Morarji Desai as the Janata Party prime minister influenced by MP Samar Guha into politicising a humanitarian matter, and Vajpayee later occupying the same office following suit, governments in India have increasingly lacked courage to take the bull by the horns. Neither the Indian nor Japanese government should in the eyes of the law be determining the fate of the ashes, as they have presumptuously been doing, Ray said. "Japan has held Bose in high esteem ever since their alliance in the Second World War. Indeed, the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on one of his trips to India, visited the house in Kolkata where Bose lived and worked - now known as Netaji Bhavan. But the Nippon government continues to err on its policy towards his remains. The best tribute it can pay to Bose is by rectifying its mistake. This means inviting Professor Pfaff to take possession of the remains in accordance with her wishes", Ray said. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 23 : A 33-year-old Kerala businesswoman in Dubai has an unending passion for collecting Disney plush toys and holds a Limca book of records for her hobby. Rizwana Ghori, who hails from Thrissur and has been living in Dubai for 28 years with her parents, Razack Khan Ghori and Shahida Bhanu, and eight-year-old daughter, Daanya, said that there is nothing that interests her more than her growing collection of Disney toys. Asked whether this is a continuing hobby, Rizwana said: "This is my life more than a hobby. It's part and parcel of who I am. My father had inculcated this interest in me. I have collection from across the globe and now have more than 1,350 Disney plush toys. I am the winner of the Limca book of records for the most number of Disney plush toys for an Indian." She said that although the collection is priceless, many people, had asked her to sell the toys. A very renowned person had also offered her Rs 80 lakh for the same. However, she rejected him. The toys may fetch more than Rs 3 crore in the market as her collection is unique and is not owned by many collectors, according to Rizwana. She owns a limited edition full life-size toy of 'Simba' the Lion which is a unique piece as only 40 such pieces were produced. The Simba, which is 5 ft and 3 inches tall, adores her toy room. Rizwana said that all these toys are sold in Disneylands, Disneyworld, parks, stores, and toy shops and she had been collecting them for more than 25 years. When she was seven, her mother narrated her the story of Cinderella that hooked her to the world of Disney plush and turned her into an avid toy collector. She got most of her toys from her father who bought them for her on his business trips to the US, the UK, and various European countries. The avid collector said that her aim is to break into the Guinness World records and she has also started applying for the same. She said: "I don't think there is anyone who has more than 1,350 Disney plush toys in their collection in the whole world and for that, I am applying to the Guinness... Let them verify and find out but I am confident that I will be having the maximum collection." The 33-year-old investment banker said that she had passionately collected the Disney plush toys from wherever she could and may auction some of them soon to use the money raised for charity work. Rizwana's great grandparents were from Afghanisthan but after her birth, her family settled in Thrissur. Geneva, Jan 23 : The Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been identified in 171 countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. In its latest technical brief, the global health body said that Omicron is soon set to replace Delta globally as a result of its immunity evading potential. It stated that Omicron has been found to have a significant growth advantage, higher secondary attack rates, and a higher observed reproduction number compared to Delta. "As of January 20, the Omicron variant has been identified in 171 countries. The variant has rapidly outpaced Delta in most countries, driving an upsurge of cases in all regions. "Omicron has a substantial growth advantage over Delta, and it is rapidly replacing Delta globally," the brief said. The global health body said there "is significant evidence" to show that immune evasion contributes to the rapid spread of Omicron. However, the WHO said further research is needed to better understand the relative contribution of intrinsic increased transmissibility and immune evasion in explaining transmission dynamics. Although the infection caused by the highly contagious strain is touted to be mild, the WHO said that current evidence shows that the overall risk related to Omicron remains very high and its spread in the community is much more than during previous Covid variants. Despite a lower risk of severe disease and death following infection than previous SARS-CoV-2 variants, the very high levels of transmission have also resulted in significant increases in hospitalisation. It continues to pose overwhelming demands on health care systems in most countries, and may lead to significant morbidity, particularly in vulnerable populations, the global health body said. The WHO also found "evidence that the Omicron variant infects human bronchus tissue faster and more efficiently than Delta". However, it has shown a predominance of viral replication in the upper respiratory tract, unlike Delta. Moreover, the technical brief also noted the increasing presence of Omicron sub-variants. While the BA.1 lineage has previously been the most dominant, recent trends from India, South Africa, the UK, and Denmark suggest that BA.2 is increasing in proportion, the WHO said. It added that the drivers of transmission and other properties of BA.2 are under investigation, but remain unclear to date. "Studies are needed to better understand the properties of BA.2, including comparative assessments of BA.2 and BA.1 for key characteristics such as transmissibility, immune escape and virulence," the WHO brief said. Omans Supreme Committee has limited to 50% the number of employees who attend at the workplace in units of the government units and other public entities due the pandemic situation for a period of two weeks with effect from January 23. It has also suspended all conferences and exhibitions, reported Oman News Agency (ONA). The Supreme Committee has halted congregational activities, advising the organizers to hold them without audience, while ensuring that the participants abide by the precautionary measures announced before, including showing proof of vaccination. It also suspended holding of Friday prayers, while allowing mosques to hold the five daily prayers at a capacity of 50% at each mosque and in line with the procedures announced by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs in coordination with the Ministry of Health. The Supreme Committee has urged all establishments permitted to practice their activities (like restaurants, cafeterias, commercial complexes, trade outlets and public halls) to stick to the measures set for such activities, especially the need to operate at a capacity of 50%, show proof of vaccination, observe physical distance and wear face masks, among other procedures. The Supreme Committee also urged all to take all pending vaccinations and go for booster doses. The authorities concerned are urged to show no lenience in applying the precautionary measures, namely to ensure commitment to all measures at residences, the workplace and public places. Bhopal, Jan 23 : The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Madhya Pradesh police on Sunday raided the premises of a state government employee in an alleged disproportionate assets case. As per officials in MP police, the raid was conducted in the premises of a state government employee associated with the Public Works Department (PWD) in Rewa district to unearth disproportionate assets worth Rs 1.5 crore. More assets are likely to be found as the raid and the estimated process was still underway, till 5 p.m. on Sunday, said a senior police official in EOW. Police said the raid was conducted following a complaint about the assets disproportionate to the known sources of income of Pannalal Shukla, the PWD employee. Shukla, who is from Mada village, is posted at Hanumana under Rewa district. Nine land registries, including those in the names of his son and wife, were seized from his possession in addition to one four-wheeler and four motorcycles, police claimed. Shukla's house, in which he resides with the family, is spread over half-an-acre of land in Rewa. One of his house is also located in Hanumana town where he was posted. "Raid is underway and the exact value of total recoveries will be known once the process gets over," EOW said. Bhubaneswar, Jan 23 : As many as 8,648 nomination papers submitted by candidates for election to various positions in the Panchayati Raj Institutions in Odisha were rejected during scrutiny, officials said on Sunday. During the scrutiny of the nomination papers, 5,544 nominations filed for the election to ward member position were rejected due to various reasons. Similarly, 1,753 nominations filed for post of Sarpanch, 1,119 for Panchayat Samiti member and 232 Zilla Parishad member were also got rejected, the officials said. After scrutiny, 2.20 lakh nomination papers have remained valid. Out of the total valid nomination papers, 1,56,753 have remained for the post of ward member, 32,860 for Sarpanch, 27,034 for Panchayat Samiti member and 3,767 for Zilla Parishad member. As the candidates can withdraw their nomination up to January 25, the final list of candidates to remain in fray for the poll will be known on that day, they said. The Panchayat elections in Odisha will be held in five phases on February 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 while results will be declared on February 26, 27 and 28. The election will be held for 91,913 ward member posts, 6,794 Sarpanches, 6,793 Panchayat Samiti members and 853 Zilla Parishad members. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Targeting opposition parties ahead of the first phase of polls, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday accused his predecessors of building bungalows for themselves first after coming to power. Hitting back, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati who said that the mutt of Gorakhpur, where Adityanath resides, is also no less than a big bungalow. Campaigning in Ghaziabad, Adityanath, in a voter dialogue programme, targeted the SP and Akhilesh Yadav, saying that when the SP government was formed, the Chief Minister and ministers built their own bungalows first, but under the BJP government, he and his ministers did not build their own residences, but provided house to 43 lakh poor people of the state. He claimed that the BJP government also provided toilets to 2 crore 61 lakh people in the state. No sooner did Yogi Adityanath said this, pat came the reply from former Chief Minister Mayawati. In a series of tweets, the BSP supremo targeted Yogi Adityanath and the BJP fiercely. Mayawati tweeted: "Perhaps the people of western UP do not know that the mutt built by Yogi ji in Gorakhpur, where he resides for most of the time, is no less than a big bungalow. It would have been better if he had told this to voters as well." Describing the achievements of the BSP government, Mayawati said in her next tweet: "Also, it would have been better if the UP CM, along with the praise of his government, also mentioned the works related to the public interest by the BSP government. They should know that the BSP government's track record in giving houses to the poor and land to the landless has been excellent." In her third tweet, Mayawati, claiming to have provided houses to the poor during her tenure, said, "Under Manyavar Shri Kanshi Ram Ji Shahari Garib Awas Yojana, more than one and a half lakh pucca houses were given in just two phases. Many families were benefited under the Garib Awas Ownership Scheme. Lakhs of landless families were also given land." The BJP is constantly targeting the Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav as the campaigning for the first phase intensifies. In the battle between BJP and the SP, the BSP and Mayawati are still lagging behind. But in the last few days, Mayawati has been continuously targeting her opponents and claiming to remain in the race. Amritsar: Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, a convict in 1993 Delhi bomb blast case, being taken to Government Medical College for medical checkup in Amritsar on June 12, 2015. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Chandigarh, Jan 23 : Five-time Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday called for the immediate release of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar "in the larger interest of consolidating peace and communal harmony in Punjab". In a statement here, Badal urged Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal not to allow a communal bias or political or electoral opportunism to dictate his decision and refusal to grant immediate clearance for Bhullar's release. "Bhullar must be released without even a moment's delay as he had already served his full term in jail. Punjab had suffered enough because of these petty communal and polarizing political conspiracies by the Congress rulers in the past. Arvind Kejrival must resist the temptation to walk the same path for the same petty reasons," said the elderly Badal in a statement. The former CM also drew Kejrival's attention to the serious health complications Bhullar is facing and said even the basic humanitarian concern, apart from just legal considerations, should compel "you to act expeditiously and positively in this case". "Arvind Kejrival mustn't try and polarize the peace loving Punjabis nor try and weaken the strong traditional brotherly bonds among different communities here," he said, adding, "communal politics doesn't help the cause of stability, peace and communal harmony." Badal urged the Delhi Chief Minister to "demonstrate sensitivity and responsibility towards society and the nation and not to do anything that strengthens a negative sentiment like communal polarisation. Punjab won't forgive anyone who messes with peace and communal harmony." The Akali stalwart said the release of Bhullar "will boost this sentiment of peace and brotherhood among communities in Punjab as it would help in mitigating the lingering sense of injustice against Bhullar," added Badal. Earlier in the day, in a recorded TV message from a Ludhiana hospital, Badal thanked Punjabis for their good wishes after he had tested positive for Covid-19. "I hope to be with my people in the next few days," the 94-year-old Akali Dal leader added. New York, Jan 23 : Two new studies, not yet peer-reviewed, have shown immune evasion is the reason behind the Omicron variant's increased transmissibility. The Omicron variant, first reported from South Africa and Botswana in late November, has now been detected in 171 countries so far. In many countries it has rapidly surged past other variants to become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 strain. The two studies show that the variant has achieved success despite causing viral levels in the body that are similar to -- or lower than -- those of its main competitor, the Delta variant, Nature reported. Omicron does not release large amounts of virus from infected people. The reason for its hyper-transmissibility stems from its ability to evade SARS-CoV-2 immunity caused by either vaccination or past infection, Emily Bruce, a virologist at the University of Vermont in Burlington, was quoted as saying. In the first study by Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, the researchers studied PCR-test results of nose and throat swabs collected from infected individuals and found that those who had Delta had a slightly higher peak viral load than did those with Omicron. "Naturally, you'd think that higher transmissibility must cause a higher viral load," Benjamin Meyer, a virologist at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, was quoted as saying. As a result, Meyer and team in their study measured only viral RNA. They also measured the number of infectious virus particles on swabs collected from a separate group of almost 150 infected people. This more stringent method found no significant difference between the viral loads of vaccinated individuals infected with Omicron and those infected with Delta. Further, the team also examined samples from people who had been vaccinated but nonetheless became infected with Delta. They found that about half of the samples still held infectious virus five days after the individuals tested positive, the report said. Similarly, Harvard researchers also found that five days after an initial positive test for Omicron, about half of tested individuals had viral loads high enough that they were probably still infectious. Such results are concerning, because guidelines published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allow people infected with the virus to end their isolation five days after either testing positive or experiencing their first symptoms, said Yonatan Grad, an infectious-disease specialist at Harvard. Brad's team also found more variability in viral load in individuals infected with Omicron than in people infected with Delta. "That means there's no clear 'one size fits all' approach," he noted. Bhopal, Jan 23 : A day after 'chance' meeting of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and state Congress chief Kamal Nath, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Sunday met the Chief Minister at his official residence along with Nath. The development came following a political drama on Saturday after Digvijaya Singh sat on protest outside CM's official residence, alleging that he was not given an appointment to meet the Chief Minister to discuss the plight of people affected by Tem and Suthalia irrigation projects. Surprisingly, when Singh was on dharna, Nath was meeting CM at a state hangar. After meeting Chouhan on Sunday, Singh said he has been seeking an appointment to meet him (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) but he did not give time. Singh also clarified that he was given an appointment for January 21 but it was cancelled suddenly by the CMO. "I had spoken to the CM office. It was not my mistake if officials didn't inform me (about cancellation of the meeting). I was writing letters to Chouhan on the issue of the project-affected people," Singh added. Nath, who was also present in the meeting, said that they together apprised the Chief Minister about some irregularities in the survey and compensation for farmers whose lands were acquired for Tem and Suthalia irrigation projects. He alleged that the government is not looking after farmers whose crops were damaged due to hailstorm and unprecedented spells of heavy rain last week in several parts of the state. "The farmers are distressed as they are not getting fertilisers, seeds and fair price for their produce in MP whereas their land is being taken away for big projects," Nath said. New Delhi, Jan 23 : One person who allegedly molested a female PhD student of the Jawaharlal Nehru University on campus has been arrested, a senior police official said on Sunday. More details are awaited. The incident took place on Monday around 11.45 p.m. when the research scholar was walking inside the campus. The student raised an alarm and shouted for help, but the accused fled from the spot by his motorcycle. A case under sections 354A (Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment), 354B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 379 (punishment for theft) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at the Vasant Kunj North police station and investigations launched. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that it is unfortunate that after Independence, along with the culture and tradition of the country, work was done to erase the contribution of many great personalities. "The penance of lakhs of freedom fighters was sought to be diminished, but now these wrongs are being corrected. "The freedom struggle involved the penance of lakhs of countrymen, but efforts were made to limit their history as well. But today, after decades of independence, the country is correcting those mistakes...," he said, after unveiling a hologram statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary. Prime Minister Modi, who also gave the Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskars, said that 'Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav' resolved that India will revive its identity and inspirations. "Netaji used to say, 'Never lose faith in the dream of an independent India, there is no power in the world that can shake India'. Today we have a target to build a New India before we complete 100 years of independence in 2047." About his visit to Bose's ancestral house in Kolkata, he said: "It is my good fortune that last year, on this very day, I had the opportunity to visit Netaji's ancestral residence in Kolkata. The car in which he left Kolkata, the room in which he used to study, the stairs of his house, the walls of his house, seeing him, that experience is beyond words. "I cannot forget the moment when I unfurled the flag at Red Fort on October 21, 2018, the day when the Azad Hind Government completed 75 years. It was my good fortune that our government got the opportunity to declassify the files related to Netaji." He said that the the hologram will be replaced by a granite statue. "The statue will not only remind us of our duties towards the nation but also inspire the generations to come," he said. The Prime Minister also said: "We have made all-round efforts to make disaster management more effective. We have not only focused on relief, rescue, rehabilitation but on reforms as well. We strengthened the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). From space management to planning and management, we adopted best practices. "We have seen a lot of joint military exercises in different countries... But for the first time, India has started the tradition of joint drill for disaster management." Chennai, Jan 23 : The opposition AIADMK on Sunday extended its support to the Tamil Nadu government for phase II of the Hogenakkal drinking water project in the state's Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts. AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, in a statement, also flayed the opposition of Karnataka to the project. "Karnataka doesn't have any moral or for that matter, legal rights to prevent the implementation of the Hogenakkal drinking water project within Tamil Nadu. The Karnataka side refuses to release the quantum of water in the Cauvery it is legally bound to do as per the Supreme court judgment unless all its reservoirs are filled up." He also said that the DMK government should implement the project and that the AIADMK led-opposition would extend its full support to it. Karnataka opposes any project in Tamil Nadu and the state does not have any right to do so, Panneerselvam said. Hesaid that a detailed project report on the Hogenakkal Drinking Water project was prepared in 1986 during the period of M.G. Ramachandran but could not be implemented due to a lack of funds. He said that in 1994 a DPR with a revised project report was domne. The AIADMK leader said that then Chief Minister and AIADMK leader, late J. Jayalalithaa had also sent a proposal to the Union government in 2005 and the foundation stone was unveiled in 2008. Gurugram, Jan 23 : At least 50 per cent of the eligible population in the 15-18 age group has been given the first dose of Covaxin in just 20 days. The campaign was started on January 3 in Gurugram. Gurugram Civil Surgeon, Virender Yadav informed that according to the data provided by the state government, a target has been set to vaccinate about two lakh adolescents in the age group of 15 to 18 years in the district. In this sequence, from January 3 to January 23, 1,00,711 people in the above age group have been vaccinated. "Covaxin has been approved by the Central Government for this age group. Under which its slots are being made available at all the health centres of the district. Apart from this, vaccination centres have also been set up in various government and private schools of the district," he informed. MP Singh, the nodal officer and deputy civil surgeon of the vaccination campaign in the district, said that 439 people have been vaccinated on Sunday. "At least 6,060 slots will be available as the first dose of Covaxin through offline and online medium. Along with this, vaccination centres have also been set up at GD Goenka School and Vedas International School in the area under Primary Health Ghanghola and SD Adarsh School located in Sector 47 under PHC Tigra," Singh said. Omans Public Establishment for Industrial Estates, Madayn, has officially launched its Industrial Innovation Academy in the Knowledge Oasis Muscat. The Academy has been set up to explore and study value-adding investment opportunities in various sectors, and develop and incubate these opportunities to enhance the local content. Under the patronage of Dr Khamis bin Saif Al Jabri, Chairman of the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-Up Unit, the launching ceremony was attended by Dr Saleh bin Said Masan, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP) for Commerce and Industry and Chairman of Madayn's Board of Directors; and Asila bint Salim Al Samsamiyah, Undersecretary of Investment Promotion at MOCIIP. Commenting on the launch, Hilal bin Hamad Al Hasani, CEO of Madayn said: The academy aims at boosting the performance of factories in Madayns industrial cities, enhancing their operations through incorporating innovation components, as well as developing the skills of the national cadres. Besides, the Industrial Innovation Academy focuses on keeping abreast of current and future phases, unifying efforts, enhancing performance, reducing costs, and achieving sustainable and added value to the factories in Madayns industrial cities. On his part, Dr Hussain bin Suleiman Al Salmi, Chairman of Industrial Innovation Academy Board of Directors, pointed out that the academy presents a valuable addition to the industrial sector with its six strategic programmes that address vital elements. These programmes were previously distributed over several sectors but are now under one umbrella to accelerate identifying challenges, finding solutions and exploring innovations while linking them directly to the academic sector in the Sultanate, Al Salmi added. SIX PROGRAMMES Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Ayman bin Abdullah Al Fudhaili, Acting CEO of Industrial Innovation Academy, stated that the launch comes along the lines of Madayn Vision 2040 which is centred around creating world-class business cities while maintaining the Omani identity to contribute to economic growth. Acting as an innovation arm of Madayn to ensure the realisation of its 2040 vision, the Industrial Innovation Academy revolves around achieving six strategic programmes that present a roadmap to enhance the objectives of Madayn, Al Fudhaili pointed out. He explained that the first programme Connection aims at linking the local products and services of companies operating in Madayns industrial cities with the government tenders, while the second programme Supply focuses on finding SMEs that provide goods and services within supply chains networks for the majority of economic sectors. Moreover, the third programme Development lays emphasis on maximising the use of local raw materials and building downstream industries through industrial complexes, and the fourth programme Sustainability aims at identifying the troubled factories in the industrial cities, identifying their challenges, and formulating innovative solutions. Additionally, the fifth programme Innovation corresponds in integration with Connection, Supply, Development and Sustainability programmes to emerge innovative products that are capable to compete in the local markets. Lastly, the sixth programme Omanisation pays attention to qualifying and training the national cadres to ensure the provision of job opportunities at the middle and senior levels. These programmes have been developed after conducting in-depth studies to get familiarised with the needs of the local market and taking into consideration that Oman Vision 2040 focuses on achieving a diversified and sustainable economy that is centred around technology, knowledge and innovation. COOPERATION PACTS A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed during the launching ceremony between the Industrial Innovation Academy and Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit to enhance joint cooperation between the two sides. This was signed by Dr Al Jabri and Al Hasani. Another Memorandum of Cooperation was signed with the National Employment Programme through which the Academy will act as the strategic partner and operational arm of the Supply programme. The programme aims at identifying priority sectors, analysing the supply chains of these sectors, and benefiting from the investment and employment opportunities emanating from the analysis of these chains. The second Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by Dr Al Fudhaili and Eng Al Azhar bin Ahmed Al Kindi, Technical Director of the National Employment Programme.-- TradeArabia News Service New Delhi, Jan 23 : Even as the PM installed the Subhas Chandra Bose hologram on his 125th birth anniversary, as part of his continued appropriation as a freedom movement icon in the magnum opus of throwing into stark relief Netaji's persona, the tower of babble over his role went into overdrive. There are some important data points in history which need to be factored into his exact positioning amongst the Congress Big Four - Gandhiji, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Bose. Since superficiality and vacuousness are the order of the day, institutional memory needs to be given a booster dose so that things are put in the right perspective. In many ways, 1938 and 1939 were the moment of truth in a large number of Indian Princely States as powerful people's movements flourished against the high handedness of the Ruling dispensation which directly drew its strength from the Paramount Power in the Princely States. The challenge to the troika of Gandhiji, Nehru and Patel also came around the same time. At the Haripura Congress, Subhas Bose became president of the Congress and a year later in Tripuri, he forced the issue again despite strident opposition from the trio and won the Presidency by 95 votes more than Gandhiji's candidate Pattabhi Sitaramayya. After Bose won convincingly, Gandhi said Pattabhi's defeat was "more mine than his". At Tripuri in March 1939, GB Pant moved a resolution asking Bose to appoint a Working Committee in line with Gandhi's ideas. Bose in a passionate presidential address on March 10, 1939, where very specifically focusing on the Princely States, his opinion coalesced with Nehru, stated, "But since Haripura much has happened. Today we find that the Paramount Power is in league with the State authorities in most places. In such circumstances, should we of the Congress not draw closer to the people of the States? I have no doubt in my own mind as to what our duty is today. Besides lifting the above ban, the work of guiding the popular movements in the States for Civil Liberty and Responsible Government should be conducted by the Working Committee on a comprehensive and systematic basis. The work so far done has been of a piecemeal nature and there has hardly been any system or plan behind it. But the time has come when the Working Committee should assume this responsibility and discharge it in a comprehensive and systematic way and, if necessary, appoint a special sub-committee for the purpose." At the session proper, Bose fell very ill and was bed ridden. The Presidential election was dramatic and certainly unlike previous humdrum ones. The election was followed by sensational developments culminating in the resignation of twelve out of fifteen members of the Working Committee, headed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Dr Rajendra Prasad. Another distinguished member of the Working Committee, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, though he did not formally resign, issued a statement which led everybody to believe that he had also resigned. On the eve of the Tripuri Congress, events at Rajkot forced Mahatma Gandhi to undertake a vow of fast unto death. Gandhi chose not to travel to Tripuri and instead deliberately went to Rajkot. The Congress closed ranks against Bose and the best description of what transpired at the fabled session came from Bose's brother Sarat Bose's sharply written letter to Gandhiji on March 21, 1939. It was a scathing fulmination: What I saw and heard at Tripuri during the seven days I was there, was an eye opener to me. The exhibition of truth and non violence that I saw in persons whom the public look upon as your disciples (targeting Nehru, Patel, Azad and company) and representatives has to use your own words, 'stunk in my nostrils'. The election of Subhas was not a defeat for yourself, but of the high command of which Sardar Patel is the shining light. The propaganda that was carried on by them against the Rashtrapati and those who happen to share his political views was thoroughly mean, malicious and indicative and utterly devoid of even the semblance of truth and non-violence. At Tripuri, those who swear by you in public offered nothing but obstruction and for gaining their end, took the fullest and meanest advantage of Subhas's illness. Some ex members of the Working Committee went to the length of carrying on an insidious and incessant propaganda that the Rashtrapati's illness was a 'fake', and was only a political illness. The letter was a denouement of the Congress and the way it had treated Subhas Bose. At Gandhiji's insistence, Sardar responded to Sarat Bose's letter where he went onto politely dismiss all the charges levelled by Sarat Bose. All this finally culminated over time in Subhas Bose being disqualified by the Working Committee as the president of the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee. Bose split from the Congress and started the Forward Bloc in opposition to the Congress. Narahari D. Parikh in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel writes that, "Although throughout this period the dispute was between the Working Committee and Subhas Bose, he and his followers blamed the Sardar for everything who was the main target of their wrath. For this the real reason was the Sardar's forthright manner -- for he spoke frankly and bluntly and never learnt the art of pleasing anyone by sweet words." In his letter to Jawaharlal Nehru on August 28, 1939, Netaji complained, "If the old guard wanted to fight why did they not do so in a straightforward manner? Why did they bring Mahatma Gandhi between us?" On April 4, 1939 Sarat Chandra Bose had written to Nehru along the same lines, "I believe I shall not be unjust if I say that the members of the Working Committee would have shown greater courage and straightforwardness if they had decided to act on their own and not used Mahatmaji as their cover. Their plain duty was to keep Mahatmaji above all controversy as he should be in our political life." Both missives slammed Gandhi's followers like Sardar Patel, Bhulabhai Desai etc. Bose wrote about this painful experience in his essay "My strange Illness". Patel was the focus of his wrath in his letter of 28 March too. Bose wrote to Nehru, "Was there nothing wrong in Sardar Patel making full use of the name and authority of Mahatma Gandhi for electioneering purposes?" The Bose brothers targeted Patel, but realised equally that Patel was a stalking horse and proxy for Gandhiji himself. The tricky relationship between the closed group controlled by Gandhiji in the Congress Working Committee those days was patently unhappy with the entry of a powerful and popular outsider in Netaji. Though Nehru privately and often publicly remained for most part on Netaji's right side in this tussle. This proxy war resulted in Netaji leaving the Congress and taking up the path of freeing his country from the yoke of British rule by raising an army through a war time collaboration with the help of Axis powers inimical to the British Empire. Kolkata, Jan 23 : In a major step towards streamlining the brewing agitation within its West Bengal unit, the BJP has issued showcause notices to two senior leaders, asking them to explain why action should not be taken against them for "indiscipline". The letter, signed by Office Secretary Pranmoy Roy and approved by state BJP President Sukanta Majumdar, read that the two long-time leaders - Joy Prakash Majumdar and Ritesh Tiwari were giving "anti-party statements" for the last few days which is considered to be a serious breach of discipline. The two leaders were asked to give reason, within 15 days, why action will not be taken against them. Sources in the party indicated that the state unit is going to take strong action against them and if they fail to give satisfactory answers, they might even be expelled. The letter comes few days after Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur had a meeting with the disgruntled BJP leaders of the state, including MLAs Subrata Tahkur and Ashoke Kirtaniya, and Sayantan Basu who has recently lost the post of state General sScretary. The meeting was also attended by Joy Prakash Majumdar - one of the prominent faces in Bengal BJP who has been demoted to a spokesperson from the party's state unit Vice-President. Apart from that, Tiwari, Tushar Mukhopadhyay and Debashis Mitra also joined the meeting. Just after the meeting, BJP state General Secretary, Organisation, Amitava Chakraborty had filed a complaint with the central leadership against 10 rebel leaders for indulging in anti-party activities and also breaking the basic protocol and discipline of the party. Sources in the party had said that the central leadership also assured the state unit that the matter will be taken up with all seriousness. Not only the meeting but recently the city roads were flooded with posters and hoardings against Chakraborty, which was allegedly masterminded by the rebel party leaders. Chakrabarty has mailed the pictures of such hoardings and posters to the party high command. Asked about the letter, Tiwari said, "I am not in the party on someone's mercy. I have been doing the party when I was just 18 and after 32 years, I am not supposed to justify my dedication towards the party. I shall definitely give my response." Interestingly enough though two leaders were given showcause notices, but there are several leaders - some very prominent faces in Bengal BJP who were not touched, such as Shantanu Thakur. "I cannot say whom the party will send a showcause notice. I shall hold a meeting with anyone who comes to me. I shall speak with the agitated leaders of the state. Will the party expel all of them? Is it possible?" Thakur said on the showcause issue of Majumdar and Tiwari from an event in Gobardanga in North 24 Parganas where he was present with all the leaders who are close to him. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Covid's Omicron variant is now in community transmission stage in India, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) said in its latest bulletin on Sunday, noting become dominant in multiple metros, where new cases have been rising exponentially. The centre's genome sequencing body has also said that an infectious sub-variant of Omicron BA.2 lineage has been reported in a considerable fraction in India. Talking to IANS, Dr Niraj Nischal, Additional Professor of Medicine, AIIMS, said: "Omicron is more infectious compared to Delta variant, but it has a survival advantage as it is not causing severe illness among masses as delta did. The variant has more transmissibility but without leading to serious problems for majority of individuals. "In due course, the variants are replaced always like Delta replaced the earlier variant and the Delta is expected to be replaced by Omicron." However, he also added that it doesn't create any differences for masses as the treatment protocol remains the same. He said that genome sequencing is done only for public health management perspective to monitor for emergence of new dangerous variants as the treatment protocol is same for all variants so far. The INSACOG has said that while most Omicron cases so far have been asymptomatic or mild, hospitalisations and ICU cases have been increasing in the current wave, and the threat level remains unchanged. "The recently reported B.1.640.2 lineage is being monitored. There is no evidence of rapid spread and while it has features of immune escape, it is currently not a variant of concern. So far, no case detected in India", the bulletin said. Dr Anshuman Kumar, a Delhi-based cancer specialist, said: "Declaring the community transmission helps in strategy making to curb the infections. Community transmission is defined as the index virus infection is detected majorly in the individuals who don't have any travel history or any contact with the infected persons." However, terming the Omicron community transmission declaration as illogical, Dr Kumar told IANS that there is no point to declare Omicron community transmission at this stage of time when the variant has already replaced the Delta variant in the country by over 80 per cent. He said that if such declarations are made beforehand, the government gets time to make strategy and extensive planning to curb the rising infection, said Dr Kumar. "Consider all cases Omicron now unless it is proved otherwise. If patient has lung symptoms or reducing oxygen levels, then it should be sent for genome sequencing to check whether it is Delta varaint because Omicron infection is common now," he said. Dr Abhishek Shankar, Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, AIIMS Patna, said: "Omicron has already achieved peak in many of the states in India and they are on the path of recovery. India being a large country has always witnessed variation in the Covid statistics in different states. We have already seen the different timing of peak of 1st and 2nd wave in different states and 3rd wave is not an exception." He added that unlike Delta wave, we are not expecting the fourth stage of pandemic for Omicron in view of affecting upper respiratory tract only. "Prevention with vaccination and maintaining hand and respiratory hygiene will be our best stand to fight Covid," he said. (Avinash Prabhakar can be reached at Avinash.p@ians.in) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, Jan 23 : One person who allegedly molested a female PhD student of the Jawaharlal Nehru University on campus six days back was arrested by the Delhi Police on Sunday, a senior police official said. "The accused, identified as Akshay Daulai, 27, a resident of 24 Parganas, West Bengal has been arrested," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Southwest, Gaurav Sharma told IANS. The accused was presently residing in a rented accommodation at Munirka area, adjoining the campus, and was working in a mobile repair shop at Bhikaji Cama place. The molestation incident took place on Monday at around 11.45 p.m. when the research scholar was walking inside the campus. She raised an alarm and shouted for help, but the accused fled from the spot by his motorcycle. Subsequently, a case under sections 354A (Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment), 354B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 379 (punishment for theft) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at the Vasant Kunj North police station and investigation was launched. The DCP further said on the day of the incident, before coming to the JNU campus, the accused drank alcohol with his shop owner because he had a fight with his wife. "Going to the JNU campus was a casual routine for him as he had been doing the job of ticket reservation from 2011-2015. During those years, he used to daily go to the ticketing counter in the campus because of which he was well aware of every street and road inside the university," he said. On Monday, when the accused reached the campus, he saw the student and followed her. "As the girl reached the east gate road of the university, the accused approached her and tried to molest her," the DCP said, adding that when the girl resisted and threatened to call the police, the accused fled the spot with her mobile phone. As the police began their investigation into the case, DCP Sharma said they faced several challenges. "The first challenge was that there was no entry of the motorcycle registered in the register book at the University gate and secondly when we examined the CCTV cameras, their quality was very poor so the culprit and his motorcycle could not be identified," he said. The police then examined nearly 1,000 CCTV cameras to check the route of the accused and finally traced him to Munirka from where he was apprehended. "We have recovered the mobile phone which was stolen by him and also the clothes he was wearing on the day of the incident," the official added. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Industry leaders are happy after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, where he dwelt on India's infrastructure development mission in detail, informing the world leaders that an investment of $1.3 trillion is being made, especially on connectivity infrastructure. Through innovative financing tools like asset monetisation, a target to generate $80 billion has been set and India has also launched the 'Gati Shakti National Master Plan' to bring every stakeholder on the same platform for promoting development. Under this National Master Plan (NMP), work will be done on infrastructure planning, development, and implementation in an integrated manner. This will give a new impetus to seamless connectivity and movement of goods, people, and services. Budget 2021-22 seems set to reflect the government's commitment to boost economic growth by investing in infrastructure development. This was substantiated by an increase in capital expenditure by 34.5 per cent (Rs 1,42,151 crore) over BE 2020-21. In the last three Budgets, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' demand for grants shows the total Central expenditure on the sector was Rs 78,248.72 crore in Budget 2019-20, which was later increased up to Rs 10,1823.22 crore in Budget 2020-21, and Rs 11,8101.00 crore in Budget 2021-22. The Prime Minister's 'Gati Shakti National Master Plan' echoes the sentiments of industry and trade bodies. Asked about the expectation from the government in the infrastructure sector in the upcoming budget, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) says that the government should focus more on strengthening logistics and related infrastructure, rationalise the time across all major ports and customs,and encourage membership to the authorised economic operator (AEO) programme, which carries several benefits for industry. On infrastructure, the CII says that the government should promote digitisation of court procedures, facilitate publication of model contract templates and promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism, create dedicated benches of the NCLT for matters related to IBC, revamp cost of electricity supply from the grid to reduce costs, and standalone captive generators should not be penalised with electricity duty. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) seeks that the government resolve the issue of non-fund credit to the infrastructure sector. It says that industry has a problem with non-fund-based credit. The major problem relates to bank guarantees, in the way such BGs are required by clients, the way they are issued by banks, and most importantly, the way they are extinguished. This is adding unnecessarily to project costs and will be the single biggest obstacle to rapidly completing construction under the NIP. Typically, 20 per cent of the project cost is locked up in BGs that extend into over 4 to 10 years. Hence, if the NIP is targeting Rs 40 trillion in FY 21 and FY22, the BGs of Rs 8 trillion would have to be taken by the private sector only in 2 years. It is time to go for revolving bank guarantees or insurance surety bonds, it said. Along with this, the FICCI requested the government to issue a quarterly bidding calendar for the National Infrastructure Pipeline as well as the National Monetisation Pipeline as this will help the private sector in active participation. ASSOCHAM thinks that the launch of the PM Gati Shakti programme is a landmark policy and execution enabler for providing ultra-speed to crucial infrastructure projects as India would see a cohesive approach to a holistic development with the Gati Shakti multi-modal connectivity, through a common technology-driven platform, not only bringing 16 different Central ministries to a common goal and vision but also taking the state governments on board. That is going to make a critical difference to the speed and cost-effectiveness of the projects, it said. ASSOCHAM Secretary General said the Gati Shakti programme would infuse a great sense of urgency to the $1.5 trillion National Infrastructure Pipeline across different sectors, be it railways, ports, airports, waterways, and gas pipelines. Its execution would lead to a huge reduction in transaction costs and improvement in ease of doing business, as it is addressing a critical issue of quality infrastructure. Besides, at this point in the global economic paradigm, more and more progressive nations are focussing on raising spending on infrastructure as that has a great multiplier for the rest of the economy. Kolkata, Jan 23 : The scuffle between West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress and BJP over garlanding the statue of Netaji SubhashChandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary on Sunday at Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas snowballed into a political controversy with both parties levelling charges at each other. Trinamool legislator from the district's Naihati Assembly constituency, Partha Bhowmick, alleged that security personnel of BJP's local Barrackapore Lok Sabha MP Arjun Singh fired seven rounds while the latter accused ruling party workers of opening fire, hurling bombs and vandalising his car. "Does the Trinamool hold exclusive rights to honouring Netaji? I was targeted. My security personnel were attacked with guns and bombs. My car was damaged. What can the Police Commissioner do? He is helpless. It is the job of the local police to track my movements and provide security cover but it is never done," said Singh. "A bullet narrowly missed one of the Central Industrial Security Force personnel accompanying Singh. We demand a probe by the Centre. Singh enjoys 'Z' category security cover," said state party chief Sukanta Majumdar who immediately rushed to the spot. Trinamool MP Sougata Roy said: "Bhatpara is a disturbed area and everybody knows that. It is disturbed because of Arjun Singh and one should not have any doubt who is behind it. It is definite that the Trinamool was not behind but it would have been better if the thing didn't happen on the birth anniversary of Netaji." Congress lader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said: "The warring political parties should have been careful about the image of West Bengal. They have tainted the image of the state. This is not acceptable." "I cannot believe that two political parties are fighting with each other on the issue of who would garland the statue first. Nothing can be more ridiculous than that. What precedent are they setting? They have humiliated the people of the state," CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty said. The scuffle between Trinamool and BJP workers over garlanding a statue marred the celebration of the freedom fighter's 125th birth anniversary. The programme was organised by the Trinamool-controlled Bhatpara municipality, and Singh alleged that he was stopped from garlanding the statue and subsequently attacked. "The fiasco started after a minor scuffle between two men. Only one man was injured. It has been alleged that shots were fired but no cartridge case was found from the spot. We are looking into this. The Member of Parliament went to the celebration without informing the administration, which is mandatory according to protocol. Policemen deployed at the spot said there was no violence or bombing," a senior district police officer said. New Delhi, Jan 23 : Two Ugandan nationals have been held here at the IGI airport while trying to smuggle in drugs, officials said on Sunday. The Customs Department said it has arrested one Ugandan national who was trying to smuggle in drugs by swallowing them. Heroin capsules valued at Rs 7 crore were recovered from his abdomen following an operation at the RML Hospital. The official said that the individual was apprehended on January 16. "Subsequently, on thorough checking of his baggage, 53 capsules of off-white coloured substances in his black coloured hand bag were recovered. The passenger admitted that he had also swallowed some capsules of narcotic substance," said the Customs official. The official said that a total of 91 capsules were recovered from him. The Customs Department said that another Ugandan national -- a woman, was arrested on January 19 for smuggling narcotic substance valued at Rs 9 crore. Her belongings were thoroughly checked by the customs official. Some material was also found to be concealed in her undergarments. "On detailed examination, it yielded a total of 1,293 grams of off-white powdery substance suspected to be heroin. On being subjected to diagnostic test, prima facie, it appears to contain commercial quantity of heroin having international value of Rs 9 crore," said the custom official. Further investigation into the matter is underway. New Delhi/Mumbai, Jan 23 : A day after a western disturbance and cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan brought unseasonal rains it, Mumbai on Sunday had a thick layer of haze settled over it. According to weather experts, the haze was attributed to "dust-raising winds", brought as a result of the same Western Disturbance which caused Saturday's rains and a drop in Sunday's temperature. It was further said that since everybody was wearing mask due to Covid-19, no other precautions were required. "This haze consists of mainly sand because it originates from the Middle East where the conditions are sandier. It cannot be defined as smog, which comprises a more complex mixture of pollutants," said Gufran Beig, Project Director, SAFAR. The Weather Department said that the dust winds phenomenon is going to last for Sunda only, but again from Monday onwards, there is a possibility of a dip in temperature in Maharashtra for the next few days. The maximum temperature of Mumbai's Santacruz stood at 23.8 degrees Celsius, which is lowest in the last 10 years. The dip in temperature was a result of the cloudy sky over north Konkan. It brought day time temperatures to as low as 23-24 degrees Celsius, which is the lowest maximum temperature in the last 10 years or maybe more, for the month of January. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said that after affecting normal life in Karachi, a massive dust storm headed towards Gujarat and south Rajasthan on Saturday evening and it may continue to have an effect till next 12 hours. Karachi was caught off guard on Saturday morning when a dust storm that travelled from Pakistan's west disturbed the normal life there with visibility reduced to less than or about 500 metres. "Saurashtra coast has been getting dust rising winds from afternoon. Dwarka station reported 400 m visibility, at Porbandar, wind speed was more than 10 km per hour with visibility of less than 1 km," the IMD said. Winds carrying dust blew from south Pakistan areas and adjoining the Arabian Sea towards Kutch and Saurashtra towards evening. The 'Sand and Dust Storms Risk Assessment in Asia and the Pacific' report for 2021, published by the Asian and Pacific Centre for the Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM), which is a regional institution of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), had said more than 500 million people in India and more than 80 per cent of the populations of Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Iran are exposed to medium and high levels of poor air quality due to sand and dust storms. Lahore, Karachi, and Delhi are the three most affected cities, the report had said. Dust storms, if severe, and over a longer time, also adversely affect agriculture, especially cotton. Shillong, Jan 24 : A middle-aged couple from Shillong on Sunday started their 'indefinite hunger strike till death' in protest against the alleged atrocities committed against the people belonging to non-tribal communities in Meghalaya. However, they ended their stir before evening as the authorities allowed them to hold the protest for six hours. The Bengali couple -- Sushit Kanti Choudhury and Kalpana Choudhury -- began their silent protest at Khyndai Lad, near old Meghalaya assembly gate in Shillong, alleging over 40 years of atrocities against non-tribal people in the mountainous state and the government not taking appropriate actions against the culprits. Their hunger strike coincides with the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The Choudhury couple in their letter to East Khasi Hills District Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo claimed that not a single murderer, attackers, looters, gang of money extortionists and several other criminals have not been properly booked or punished as per the law of the land. "We being the peace loving citizens of India are ill treated in Meghalaya as third grade Indians. We have our democratic rights to protest in a noble silent method against such atrocities and crimes committed for more than 40 years," Choudhury told the media. He said: "Until the Meghalaya government protects our fundamental rights and punishes those accused, we shall not end our fasting." Choudhury said that the non-tribal communities including Bengalis in Meghalaya have been facing atrocities since 1979 by the miscreants. The couple had earlier sought permission from the Deputy Commissioner to undertake the indefinite hunger but the district administration allowed the couple to hold the protest only for six hours and imposed certain restrictions, including not allowing a gathering of more than 10 people at the venue. Members of other non-tribal communities took part in the sit-in to express their "fear and uncertainty" of their lives in the northeastern state. Referring to the January 20 broad daylight attack, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangha leader Homnath Gautam said "such an assault is meant to create an atmosphere of fear in the minority communities of the state since 1979". On January 20, unidentified miscreants criminally assaulted eight non-tribal people near a police station in the Lumdiengjri locality. Three of the injured persons, including two Muslims had to be admitted to the hospital. Members from the indigenous Khasi and other local tribal communities also expressed their solidarity with the agitating couple. "Despite sporadic violent incidents, police have not arrested the offenders. A civil society cannot support hatred among people of different communities," rights activist Agnes Kharshiing said. Congress MLA, Mohendro Rapsang condemned the recent attack and asked Home Minister Lakhmen Rymbui to take stern action against the culprits. The Home Minister was not available for his comment. Tehran, Jan 24 : Iran has regained its right to vote at the UN General Assembly after its membership dues to the organisation were paid by South Korea with frozen Iranian funds, Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations announced. Majid Takht-Ravanchi said late on Saturday that as soon as Iran's arrears are received in New York, the country's voting rights should naturally be restored, official IRNA News Agency reported on Sunday. South Korea confirmed on Sunday that it has paid Tehran's membership delayed dues, amounting to $18 million, to the UN from Iranian funds frozen in the country, Xinhua news agency reported. Earlier, Takht-Ravanchi told IRNA that negotiations were underway between Tehran and the world body to lift the suspension of the country's right to vote at the General Assembly and enable the country to pay its membership dues to the organisation, expressing hope that the talks would soon yield favourable results. He noted that Iran, as an active UN member, has always been committed to paying up its membership dues on time and has proven this in practice. The Ambassador stressed that Iran has faced problems with the payment of its membership fee for the second consecutive year due to the sanctions imposed by the US, which have not only undermined Iran's ability to purchase humanitarian items and medical devices but are also impeding the UN's work. Iranian assets of over $7 billion are frozen in two South Korean banks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced earlier in Janury that Iran and seven other countries have had their voting rights suspended over late dues. Iran had also lost its voting rights in 2021 when the US sanctions had blocked Iranian access to its billions of dollars frozen abroad. The US sanctions have been imposed since 2018 when former President Donald Trump withdrew from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal. Since April 2021, rounds of talks have been held between Iran and other remaining parties, namely Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, in the Austrian capital of Vienna to restore the nuclear pact, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with the US indirectly involved. Woburn, MA (01801) Today Rain. High 54F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 48F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Smart transportation, cyber security for transportation and regional transport will be focus areas of a three-day transport event at Israel's Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai from January 24 to January 26. Hosted by the Israel Ministry of Transport and Road Safety, the event will be attended by C-level executives of transport companies and authorities from Israel and the UAE. Day one will look at smart transportation, the day will start with a talk on smart mobility for smart and resilient cities, followed by a panel on planning the city of the future and advanced traffic management. The day will also include some technology talks. Speakers on the first will include Merav Michaeli Minister of Transport who will be joining via video conference and Shay Soffer, PhD Chief scientist at the Ministry of Transport. Cyber security for transportation will be the topic of the second day. Throughout the day issues such as challenges and solutions in cyber protection for maritime, aviation and land transportation, will be discussed. Also on the agenda of the day is a discussion on the threats and solutions within cybersecurity, for the civil aviation sector. The final day is entitled Regional Transport Freight, Logistics and Maritime: Regional Transport in a New Geopolitical Reality and Regional Transport Corridors. The day will include two expert discussion panels on alternative trade routes in the Middle East and maritime transport and smart Logistics. The day will also see a lecture on advanced technologies in port infrastructure. The event will conclude with talks on innovations for ports. Among the notable speakers on the final day will be Opher Eliashar, Director of Economic Planning. Dr Soffer said: "In the past 135 years the invention of the car and the internal combustion engine have taken humanity an enormous step forward. This revolution has also taken a large toll causing widespread congestion, road accidents and high air pollution, resulting in significant mortality rates. This is both a huge problem in Israel and worldwide. Governments have the power to make a big difference both in the field of smart mobility, automated electrically powered vehicles and in promoting public or shared travel, these options have proven to lead to a dramatic reduction in congestion, pollution and road accidents. Smart transportation, cyber security used for safety of transportation and regional transport are amongst the most important topics in our domestic and regional policy. We have wonderful collaboration between our UAE partners and with colleagues from the Israels Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I invite all attendees to be as proactive as possible and join us at this important transport event for the benefit of the citizens of our countries and for the future of our children."-- TradeArabia News Service Mogadishu, Jan 24 : Somali National Army (SNA)'s special forces, Gorgor, killed six al-Shabab militants and foiled a car bomb attack at a military base in Guriel town in Galgudud region in central Somalia, officials have said. Odawa Yusuf Rage, Commander of SNA told SNA Radio Mogadishu on Sunday that the militants' commander who was in charge of Guriel and El-bur town in the region, was among those killed there, Xinhua news agency reported. "We killed six al-Shabab terrorists and foiled a car filled with explosives in which they wanted to detonate at SNA base in Guriel overnight," Rage said. He added that the Army recovered weapons and a vehicle during the operation, adding that the Army will remain vigilant and are committed to counter terrorists. Al-Shabab militants did not comment on the latest onslaught by the government forces. Wellington, Jan 24 : New Zealand recorded 24 new community cases of Covid-19, said the Ministry of Health in a statement. Among the 24 new community infections on Sunday, 16 are in the largest city Auckland, five in the Lakes region, two in Northland and one in Waikato. In addition, the country recorded 47 new imported cases of Covid-19 at the border, the Ministry added. Nine Covid-19 cases reported on Saturday in the Nelson/Tasman region have been confirmed as with the Omicron variant. A further case from the same household involved was confirmed late Saturday. These cases were in a single-family who flew to Auckland earlier in January attending several big events. This cluster has already led to an additional infection of a fully vaccinated Air New Zealand flight attendant, said the Ministry. Ashley Bloomfield, Director-General of Health from the Ministry of Health, said that the risk of transmission by the confirmed Omicron cases is considered high. The source of the infection is not known yet. New Zealand will move to Red Light settings from 11:59 p.m. Sunday, announced Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier on Sunday, in an effort to prevent the Omicron infections from spreading quickly in the community, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the Red Light settings under the Covid-19 Protection Framework, gatherings will be limited to 100 people in places where Covid-19 vaccine passports are used. Face covering will be mandatory in many indoor spaces such as public transport, public venues and retail shops. There are currently eight Covid-19 patients being treated in New Zealand hospitals, with none in the intensive care unit. The country has recorded 15,175 cases of Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, including 11,490 cases from the latest Delta variant outbreak in the community. Ardern urged the public to take a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible and to get tested if they have any symptoms of infection. Ninety-three per cent of the eligible people in New Zealand are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Gary Neal has been named President of MEC General Contractors and will succeed Luke Miorelli in the position, as well as be the first grandchild of firm founder Joseph Miorelli to hold the role of President. Luke Miorelli joined the company full-time in 1980 and took on the role of President in 1995, running the company alongside his sister Lisa Neal, who retired in 2019. As a Certified General Contractor in the state of Florida, as well as a Professional Engineer, he was a part of growing the company, both in revenue and in service offerings. Vice President Joe Neal shared, His tremendous contributions to the business are countless and have led MEC into a stronger position than ever before. His mentorship will be missed, and we wish him the best in his future adventures. Just as outgoing President, Luke Miorelli worked for his father on and off prior to joining MEC full-time, Gary Neal worked alongside his uncle Luke during summers while he was in school, which gave him a sense of familiarity with the companys core values and vision prior to becoming part of the leadership team, as Vice President of Florida, East Coast in 2013. With a Master of Science in Structural Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida, as well as nearly 20 years of experience on projects nationwide, Neal has led the organizations overall strategic goals while reinforcing the mission. Neals ability to grow and foster industry relationships has proven to be a key asset for him. When discussing his vision for the future, Neal said, I believe that to lead, you must first serve. Im excited to continue the legacy my grandfather began. As a third-generation family construction business, I hope to inspire the fourth generation of MEC to carry on the family business. Outside of MEC, Neal is a board member of Leadership Brevard and is a member of the Rockledge Rotary Club. He was the recipient of LEAD Brevards 4 Under 40 award for 2017 and the Brevard County Sheriffs Public Service Emerging Influence award in 2016. Neal and the MEC team believe that it is imperative to be active in and contribute to the communities the company serves. Director of Business Development and Marketing, Casey Duranczyk-Neal said, Im excited to see what the future brings as the MEC family steps into the next chapter of our story and grows both our team and our client relationships. About MEC MEC is a family owned and operated, third generation business serving the entire state of Florida for almost fifty years. As a full-service commercial construction company with locations in Melbourne and Orlando, Florida, the companys services include General Contracting, Pre-Construction Services, Design-Build Services and Project Management for retail, convenience, restaurants, healthcare, industrial, office and educational facilities. Jan Willem Roel stands in front of the Rotterdam Floating Pavilion during its construction. FlexBase leverages Dutch expertise and experience with floating structures to enhance urban resilience. Its expansion to Singapore enables hybrid marine urban forms to reinforces coastal cities worldwide against sea level rise. Leading Dutch floating engineer Jan Willem Roel is internationalising his firm, FlexBase, through the launch of an international office to address global markets, in Singapore. The firm will initially focus on the Southeast Asia and subsequently the broader Indo-Asia Pacific (Indo-APAC) region. Established in 2013 by Roel after a long career with Kingspan Unidek in the Netherlands, Roel pioneered the development of floating structures based on a hybrid polystyrene- concrete model. Called the "FlexBase Concept System", it enables affordable development of very large floating structures (VLFS) at scale while minimising the use of concrete and steel, reducing the carbon footprint of such structures. It is also significantly less expensive and lighter than marine-grade steels. Roel has partnered with Shiwen Yap, a former business journalist and ex-ambassador of the Seasteading Institute, to establish FlexBase International from Singapore. The Seasteading Institute was established by Patri Friedman, grandson of Nobel laureate Milton Friedman, with financial backing from Peter Thiel, former Paypal co-founder and an early Facebook investor. Yap initially approached Friedman through Pronomos Capital, his charter city investment fund backed by notable tech investors like Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen. As a VLFS company, FlexBase International was off-thesis for the fund, but with Friedmans long history of involvement with innovative marine engineering, he was personally excited by the opportunity. Speaking on his investment, Friedman said, I am excited about the application of FlexBase's proven VLFS technology to urban and offshore needs in Asia in the near term; and to its long-term potential to ameliorate rising sea levels due to climate change. Real activists build, and the FlexBase team is building the safest and most affordable way to turn water into a foundation for development." Yap has left his seasteading days and is now focused on implementation of the FlexBase Concept. Key to the business thesis of FlexBase International is the belief that VLFS can address the challenges of rising sea levels, as well as facilitating marine urbanisation in general and the use of water estate. This is one key way coastal cities like Singapore can transcend its physical boundaries, as well as building a foundation for floating real estate as an asset class. Information from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes how sea levels have risen 2124 centimetres since 1880. 2020 saw global sea levels set a record high 91.3 mm above 1993 levels. Sea level rise has accelerated, doubling from 1.4 millimetres per year throughout most of the 20th century to 3.6 millimetres per year from 20062015. Estimates of global sea level rise range from a conservative 0.3 metres to 2.5 metres in the worst-case scenario by 2100. With the increase in global temperature likely to exceed 1.5 Celsius by 2100, the city-state of Singapore is particularly vulnerable. It could face a mean sea level rise of up to 1 metre by 2100, with 30% of its main island less than 5 metres above sea level. Netherlands, which could face actual sea level rise as much of 2m or higher by 2121 land subsidence in large parts of the country exacerbates the challenge is utilising floating structures on a growing scale to meet these challenges. The City of Rotterdam, the site of Europes biggest port and ~90% of which is below sea level, is already exploring the use of VLFS in marine urbanisation. It hosts the worlds largest floating office building the headquarters of the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) - and a floating automated dairy farm that supplies dairy products to local grocery stores. Its also home to the Floating Pavilion since 2010, a solar-powered meeting and event space in Rotterdams' harbour whose foundation was built by FlexBase. Roel said, Singapore excites me so much, the way they have achieved their urbanisation and environmental quality is globally renowned. ASEAN looks to Singapore as a model of development, therefore it made absolute sense for FlexBase to become part of that model for the future. Roel sees massive opportunities in coming years in Southeast Asia and beyond as nations and cities start to grapple with the hazards of rising sea levels. Not everyone can afford to build a six-meter sea wall around the island like Singapore. A new hybrid marine urban form is emerging. We did it in the Netherlands, and now we will do it in Asia. In fact, floating houses in the Netherlands used to be low-cost and perceived as low class. But now? These are seen as highly desirable assets. Flowing and living with water is now generally accepted in Holland. I was involved in drafting the building codes for building structures on water and hope to help Singapore do the same, Roel adds. Roel & Yap have been laid the groundwork for their venture through various commentaries in business media, alongside other thought leaders in the space. Currently, the firm is running a private placement, raising capital from investors in both Singapore and the US. To date, investors include Friedman, who is syndicating the deal through AngelList, an angel investment platform for accredited investors; family-owned Oilfield Services & Supplies (OSS Group), a Singapore-based oil & gas firm seeking to diversify business lines; and a family investment vehicle in the city-state. Other conversations are ongoing. Commenting on their involvement with FlexBase, Kenneth Loh, Business Development Manager of OSS Group, said: We are actively looking to partner with solution providers which are focused on strong future themes such as climate change adaptability and environmental sustainability. The Company believes that FlexBase can leverage its technical expertise and experience in prior projects to establish successful operating models in Asia. Roel plans to further establish FlexBase International in Singapore and the wider region through collaborations with local stakeholders. He has already established a partnership with a Singapore-based shipyard and intends to relocate to Singapore in February 2022. He welcomes opportunities to meet with the different communities of developers, architects and engineers who can envisage the future. Volkswagen Wheel Tire Mac Volkswagen in McMinnville, Oregon, has revealed their new offer on tire store price match guarantee. The dealership is home to an array of new and used Volkswagen models and offers convenient service specials. To receive the price match, the customer must purchase tires that meet the vehicle's Owner's Manual specifications through Volkswagen Tire Store. The representatives of Mac Volkswagen shall present a lower printed competitor pre-tax price quote for identical tires dated within 30 days of the customer's tire purchase. If a customer finds a lower price within 30 days, the difference is refunded. Competitor price quote must be from a competitor with a retail location within 50 miles of the dealership location. Resident customers may want to look into the offer's details before proceeding further. Details of the Volkswagen Tire Store Purchase Guarantee offer are provided below for better insight. The offer gives eligible tires purchased at the participating VW dealership to add the 24-Month Road Hazard Coverage protection. 100% coverage for the first year and 50% coverage for the second year are included in the coverage protection. The buyers must note that the offer applies to and is valid for the participating Volkswagen dealers only. However, the offer is not available on competitor quotes where rebates, clearance, closeout, promotional, or special prices are included in pricing. The road hazard protection coverage expires 24 months from the date of replacement tire purchase. It is important to note that only the VW original equipment tires, alternative tires, winter tires, and wheel and tire packages are eligible for participation. The offer expires on December 12, 2022. Customers can check Mac Volkswagens website for more information regarding the offer. We are forever grateful for the longtime support of Lisa Walsh. Lisa helped make NEW what it is today, & its no exaggeration to say it would not be the organization it is without her. We will also miss Chris, Cassandra, Ellen, and Kim, and thank them for their hard work and devotion to our mission. The Network of Executive Women has named three new members to its board of directors effective 2022, and a new board chair, Abbe Luersman, Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer, Otis Worldwide Corporation. Joining the NEW Board of Directors are Wendy Davidson, President, Americas, Glanbia Performance Nutrition; Al Dominguez, Vice President Customer Development-Walmart. Inc., Kimberly-Clark Corporation; and Veronica Fernandez, SVP, Regional Head - North America Business Solutions, Visa, Inc. Abbes years of service on the board have shown, again and again, her commitment to our mission of advancing all women in business, said NEW President and CEO Sarah Alter. And our three new Directors At-Large, Wendy, Al, and Veronica bring expertise that will help guide us in a year of thrilling change for NEW. We are honored to have these individuals at the helm in 2022. The NEW board of directors welcomes an all-new Executive Committee: Immediate Past Chair Monica Turner, President - North America, Procter & Gamble; Vice Chair Dagmar Boggs, Chief Customer Officer for the North America Operating Unit (NAOU), The Coca-Cola Company; Treasurer Beth Marrion, Senior Managing Director, Global Retail Consulting Practice, Accenture; and Secretary Melody Richard, Merchandising VP, Pets, Walmart. The 2022 NEW board committee chairs will be Audit Chair Christina Bieniek, Chief Commercial Officer, Deloitte Consulting, LLP; Strategic Value Chair Dagmar Boggs; Regional Advisory Chair Marla Daudelin, SVP, Sales with PepsiCo; Technology Chair Nicola Johnson, Principal, Consumer & Industrial Products Practice, Deloitte Consulting; Finance Chair Beth Marrion; Compensation Chair Mike Theilmann, EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer, Albertsons Companies; and Governance Chair Monica Turner. In addition to the three Directors joining the board in 2022, NEWS 2022 Directors-At-Large will be Chau Banks, SVP, Chief Information and Enterprise Analytics Officer, The Clorox Company; Valerie Jabbar, Senior Vice President of Retail Divisions, The Kroger Company; Diana Marshall, Executive Vice President, Southwest Operations, Walmart; Andi Marston, SVP, Corporate and Global Human Resources, Target; Chris Skyers, Vice President, Own Brands, Wakefern Food Corp.; Mike Theilmann; and Jen Wilson, SVP Brand Marketing Lowe's. NEW board members completing their terms are Chris Baker, SVP and Head of Retail North America, Visa; Cassandra Johnson, EVP of Global Customer Care & Vendor Management Office for Google Devices & Services; Ellen Siebenborn-Forsyth; Kim Underhill; and Lisa Walsh, Operating Advisor, Atlantic Street Capital Advisors, Inc. We are forever grateful for the longtime support of Lisa Walsh, said Alter. Lisa helped make NEW what it is today, and its no exaggeration to say it would not be the organization it is without her. We will also miss Chris, Cassandra, Ellen, and Kim, and we thank them for their hard work and devotion to our mission. Tabletop and Home Decoration Brand FIFTYEIGHT PRODUCTS Receives German Design Award for CEELINGS Lamp Canopies "We sincerely hope that the pandemic will soon be behind us and that our bowls with masks will remain as reminders of a time when people came together in unity and kept one another safe from infection, - Marc Eckart. Award-winning style for light fixtures! German designer brand FIFTYEIGHT PRODUCTS is proud of receiving the German Design Award 2022 in the category Excellent Product Design Lighting for the CEELINGS line of canopy covers. The German Design Award is voted upon by the German Design Council, a collection of leading experts in branding and design. The award ranges among the highest honors in international design. Released in 2020, the CEELINGS collection presents a significant style upgrade for the canopies on top of ceiling lamps. Available in two designs, CEELINGS decorate lamp hangings with three-dimensional ornaments: First, the Handful of Light is an oversized hand that dangles a pendant lamp from the ceiling. And second, Happy Hermann is a charming character that brings new life and emotions to the home. When we first started working on the idea for CEELINGS in 2017, we knew that there was nothing like it on the market. Bringing these unique products to market despite the adversities of the pandemic was a major success, thanks to the hard work of the entire team. And receiving the German Design Award in recognition of this new and unexplored product category is a great honor and the icing on the cake, said Max Zimmermann, Designer, CEO and Co-Founder at FIFTYEIGHT PRODUCTS. Since launch, CEELINGS have come to decorate boutique hotels, designer stores and private homes across the world. The canopies have also proven hot sellers on U.S. ecommerce platforms such as Touch of Modern. For a chance to witness CEELINGS and the rest of the FIFTYEIGHT PRODUCTS collection, visit Las Vegas Market tradeshow from January 23-26, 2022 at booth E-1322. Retailers and B2B partners are also encouraged to obtain the FIFTYEIGHT PRODUCTS Spring 2022 catalogue available now for download. The latest product releases from FIFTYEIGHT PRODUCTS presented in the Spring 2022 catalogue include: Customers will be delighted by the fourth Medium Bowl Set Winking & Laughing Face. Made in Germany porcelain bowls in compact size at 6.7 oz capacity. Perfect for serving dips and small snacks in a cute and handy format. The Winking Bowl made its debut only recently in early 2021 as a 500ml bowl, inspired by the popular emoji of the same name. In a double package with the Laughing Bowl it brings twice the fun to the table. FIFTYEIGHT PRODUCTS also launched a brand-new product category: textiles! The line of dish towels from organic cotton is adding style to the kitchen. First in line is the Dish Washing Aid design in a retro look from the brands Vintage Edition designed in the style since 1958. Another helpful addition is the Dish Towel Tasty featuring the popular TASSEN bowl with the cheeky tongue. The brand not only brings style to the ceilings, but also to the walls: The new, decorative Tin Sign Full of Joy depicts the popular Laughing Bowl in a retro look. The sign is part of the newly launched Vintage Edition of products designed according to the motto: What would the companys products look like, had it been founded in 1958? The answer arrives in a stylish line of items for kitchen and household with a classic, retro look. The Las Vegas show will also introduce the new Candle Cuddlers from FIFTYEIGHT PRODUCTS: These are pretty candle holders crafted from porcelain that snugly fit a tea light. Available around March 2022 in two designs, each at a different height: Cuddly and Cozy. Crafted from Made in Germany porcelain, ships in a pretty gift box. Last but not least, the Drinking Mug with a Bite features the signature bite mark known from the porcelain plates. It also packs a bit more volume for delicious drinks: At a capacity of 400ml (13.5 fl oz), Made in Germany according to high standards just like the other mugs in the line. Please note: The CANDLE CUDDLERS and new MUG WITH A BITE will be available in late February/Early March 2022 in the United States. Well be in touch with an availability update following our showcase at Las Vegas Market 2022. Just in time for the new year, FIFTYEIGHT PRODUCTS received a product shipment to refresh previous bestsellers and stock up on the latest releases. At the same time, the brand is also looking forward to return to the U.S. tradeshow circuit after a year of Covid-19 related absence. Looking ahead, were excited to see all of our retailers and partners in the United States again after almost two years of travel restrictions and cancelled events. Come see us in January at the Las Vegas Market January 23 26 and find us at booth E-1322 and see our latest release live and talk to us in person. We look forward to seeing you! said Marc Eckart, CEO and Co-Founder at FIFTYEIGHT PRODUCTS. More than $50,000 Donated to COVID-19 Relief Launched at the height of the pandemic in 2020, the HOPEFUL bowl with a 16 oz. capacity wears a protective face mask as a reminder to keep each other safe by wearing PPE. For every HOPEFUL bowl sold, the company is donating 1.00 EUR ($1.15) to relief initiatives. So far, more than $57,000 (about $5,700 per charity) have been donated to programs in the United States and United Kingdom as well as Poland, Austria, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. Thanks to everyone who purchased a HOPEFUL bowl so far and thanks to all the retailers for their support. We sincerely hope that the pandemic will soon be behind us and that our bowls with masks will remain as reminders of a time when people came together in unity and kept one another safe from infection, said Marc Eckart. Download catalog, product images, and information here. For more information, visit the official FIFTYEIGHT PRODUCTS website and follow the brand on Instagram and Facebook. Also subscribe to the Official US YouTube Channel featuring animated video clips starring the brands cheeky porcelain characters. Dealer inquiries can be directed to edina@58distribution.com [Edina Poric __title__ ] at FIFTYEIGHT INC. Please use the B2B platform on the official U.S. distribution website to register as retail partners in the United States. About FIFTYEIGHT PRODUCTS Started in 2007, the FIFTYEIGHT PRODUCTS family consists of quality porcelain bowls, plates, cups, coffee mugs, flower vases, storage jars and more. The line-up also includes TALENT coffee cups featuring lifelike portraits of artistic geniuses such as Beethoven and Shakespeare, as well as the design driven CEELINGS lamp canopies, decorated with the 2022 German Design Award in the category Best Lighting Design. Cherished by fans in more than 60 countries across the world, FIFTYEIGHTs premium products add a spark of fun and emotion to everyday life. All products are 100% Made in Germany according to environmental standards and fair labor practices. Since 2017, the brand has been serving customers in the United States directly through a dedicated distribution company, FIFTYEIGHT INC, with headquarters in Miami, Florida. Find more information at http://www.58products.us About CEELINGS Level up your lights with the CEELINGS series of designer canopies. Launched in 2020 as an entirely new product category, the bright idea has been recognized with the German Design Award for 'Best Lighting Design', one of the highest honors in European design. About the German Design Council The German Design Council, the expert for brand and design in Germany, bestows the German Design Award. Commissioned by the highest authority to represent new developments in the German design industry. Established on the initiative of the German Bundestag (the lower house of German parliament) as a foundation in 1953, it supports the industry in all matters consistently aimed at generating an added brand value through design. As a result, the German Design Council is one of the worlds leading competence centres for communication and brand management in the field of design. Find more information at http://www.german-design-award.com/en/. Vermont continues to be a global leader in the captive industry and has proven, once again, to deliver high-quality regulatory oversight and partnership that also meets the unique needs of captive businesses. Forty-five new captive insurance companies were licensed this year in Vermont, making 2021 Vermonts 4th highest year of growth in its 40-year history. Vermont is now home to 620 licensed captives, consisting of 589 active and 31 dormant captives. Vermont continues to be a global leader in the captive industry and has proven, once again, to deliver high-quality regulatory oversight and partnership that also meets the unique needs of captive businesses, said Governor Phil Scott. Vermonts 52 sponsored cell captives currently host nearly 500 cells and separate accounts, in addition to the licensed captive companies. The new captives were licensed in 17 different industries, the main industries being healthcare, real estate, manufacturing, insurance, and transportation. At least 5 of Vermonts new captives in 2021 were formed by companies with international roots, including Japan, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Not only are new captives forming at a rapid rate, but fewer captives have been dissolving this year than we typically see, said Brittany Nevins, Captive Insurance Economic Development Director. We issued 45 new licenses, and only 14 captives were dissolved due to mergers, acquisitions, and other business reasons. This speaks to the strength of captive insurance as a long-term risk management tool and is something we expect to continue to see with the continuation of the hard insurance market. Vermont has been experiencing growth in the number of new cells within sponsored captives, at a similar pace as new company licenses, with nine of the 45 new companies formed this year being sponsored cell companies. Vermont continues to see the growth in sponsored cell captives following consistent legislative updates over the recent years, said David Provost, Deputy Commissioner of Captive Insurance. Many companies are realizing the opportunity and flexibility the cell structure provides for their company. Throughout 2021, Vermont celebrated its 40th anniversary in the captive industry, which included a recognition of the key players that have made Vermont successful. Vermont has a robust captive infrastructure consisting of over 22 captive management firms, and a host of other skilled service providers, added Sandy Bigglestone, Director of Captive Insurance. These experts right here in our state work closely with regulators to ensure the best outcomes for captives. Its been an incredible year of celebrating Vermonts rich 40-year history, said Rich Smith, President of the Vermont Captive Insurance Association (VCIA). The growth this year speaks to the expertise of Vermonts regulators and industry service providers, the consistency of support for captives in the legislature, and the ability of all involved to adapt to the fast-changing needs of the industry during these volatile times. Vermont has licensed a total of 1,242 captive insurance companies since 1981 and remains, by far, the largest U.S. domicile for captive insurance and third largest in the world. Vermont was named "Domicile of the Year for a record 8th time by industry publication, Captive Review. With an active pipeline of prospective new captive insurance companies already underway for 2022, the state expects continued growth in the coming year. For more information on Vermonts captive insurance industry, visit http://www.vermontcaptive.com, call Brittany Nevins at 802-398-5192 or email Brittany.nevins@vermont.gov. ### About Vermont Captive Insurance Captive insurance is a regulated form of self-insurance that has existed since the 1960s and has been a part of the Vermont insurance industry since 1981, when Vermont passed the Special Insurer Act. Captive insurance companies are formed by companies or groups of companies as a form of alternative insurance to better manage their own risk. Captives are commonly used for corporate lines of insurance such as property, general liability, products liability, or professional liability. Inspired by the classic book, the telenovela tells the story of a romance between two characters with different personalities and from two different worlds in the early 20th century. It is written by Marcos Bernstein and Victor Atherino, with the collaboration of Juliana Perez and Giovana Moraes, with art direction of Fred Mayrink.The romantic and comedy-sprinkled story shows the conflicts of Elisabeta (Nathalia Dill), a simple young woman decided to conquer the world in a society where marriage is seen as the only possible future for a girl from a good family, going completely against what the family wishes for her. However, everything changes when she meets Darcy (Thiago Lacerda) a wealthy man with an admirable character and with a social position totally opposite from hers. Globo's story has been an audience leader in access primetime in Brazil and has already been licensed to countries such as Chile, Costa Rica and El Salvador. It approaches issues pertaining to customs of the time, such as the value of marriage in society, feminism and financial crisis.The telenovela has thrill, drama and comedy, always with a romantic background wrapping the entire plot, commented writer Marcos Bernstein. Added director Fred Mayrink: Despite being a period drama, Pride and Passion presents a dynamic text, very light and fresh. Maersk Drilling has been awarded a 21-month contract with TotalEnergies E&P Denmark which will employ the high-efficiency jack-up rig Maersk Reacher for well intervention services in the Danish North Sea. The contract is expected to commence in July 2022 and includes options to extend the duration by up to 27 additional months. Were happy to build further on our long-standing collaboration with TotalEnergies by adding this long-term contract which means that two of our rigs will be working for TotalEnergies in Danish waters this year. Maersk Reacher will be available for the job after being released from its current work scope in Norway through the planned rig swap with Maersk Integrator, said Claus Bachmann, Head of North Sea Division in Maersk Drilling. Maersk Reacher is a 350ft, Gusto-engineered MSC CJ50 high-efficiency jack-up rig which was delivered in 2009. It is currently operating offshore Norway where it is scheduled to be replaced in a rig swap with Maersk Integrator end-February/early March 2022. Maersk Reacher will undergo a special periodic survey prior to commencing the contract with TotalEnergies. TradeArabia News Service By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/23/2022 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. alum Juliana Custodio de Sousa has been accused of cheating on Michael Jessen with his ex-wife Sarah Naso's husband Sean Naso.According to multiple sources, Juliana, who is currently pregnant , hooked up with Sean, an aspiring hip-hop artist, while the entire family lived together during the coronavirus pandemic in September 2021, In Touch Weekly reported A source told In Touch that an eyewitness had allegedly caught Juliana, 25, "making out" with Sean, 39, "in the kitchen" of the Connecticut home they had shared with Michael and Sarah, both 44, and the former spouses' two children, Max and Cece.The alleged kiss reportedly happened during a farewell party for Juliana, who was still married to Michael at the time and was preparing for a trip to Europe.Given Juliana announced her pregnancy with new boyfriend Ben Obscura in November 2021 -- just one month after she and Michael confirmed their split -- the source claimed Sarah had questioned the baby's paternity and whether Ben is actually the father.Sarah "thought the baby belonged to Sean" because of the alleged affair, an insider told the magazine.Juliana allegedly announced her new romance and pregnancy only 24 hours after Michael had attempted to win the Brazilian model back."[Michael] asked her to give their marriage another chance and asked for six months of therapy," the source said, adding that Juliana's public announcements were seemingly "in response" to Michael's phone calls and efforts.Michael was reportedly "in shock and devastated" to find out Juliana had allegedly cheated on him."He didn't want to believe that Juliana would stoop that low and betray his trust," the source said.It also reportedly hurt Michael to have learned about Juliana's pregnancy when "everyone else in the world did" on social media, according to the insider."Michael was physically ill and wept," the source claimed about his reaction to the baby news.And the insider added that Michael was "stunned" and "felt dizzy with confusion and disbelief."However, Juliana has firmly denied both cheating on Michael with Sean and speculation she's expecting Sean's baby.Juliana told In Touch she has "confirmation" that Ben is the father of her child."It's really sad that this family has nothing to use against me and they are using my baby and making these stories about me," Juliana said in a statement of her own to the magazine."I hope I never have to hear or see these people again."Ben was the person to first announce Juliana's pregnancy late last year.He wrote on Instagram in November, "Baby on the way! [Heart emoji]," alongside a picture of the couple embracing."A new adventure is about to begin! We are super excited and we can't wait to welcome our new addition into the family!"He added in his post, "Babyzinho we can't wait to meet you! We are now preparing for the most beautiful blessing we could ask for! The best is yet to come! [Heart emoji]."Juliana commented on the post with three red-heart emojis followed by emojis of a pregnant woman and a mother breastfeeding her baby.A confused or skeptical fan asked Juliana flat out in the comments, "You pregnant?"And Juliana replied, "Yes."One day later, Juliana made a post of her own -- a slideshow of photos that showed the model and Ben kissing, smiling and enjoying a nice dinner out."So excited for our new adventure. Words aren't enough to tell you how wonderful you are, I'm forever grateful for the happiness and joy you have brought into my life, and for [making] one of my biggest dream come true. We can't wait to meet you," Juliana wrote."I am the luckiest woman to be able to call you mine @ben_obscura. Pls: if you have nothing good to say, please just leave."Juliana first reportedly commented one of Ben's Instagram posts on October 7, 2021, and Michael -- who appeared on Season 7 of with Juliana -- proceeded to announce his breakup from Juliana on October 12.After weeks of breakup speculation prompted by their social-media activity, Michael took to Instagram at the time and revealed he and Juliana were divorcing and his "heart is broken." "A quick break from my social media break to say... #HappyAnniversary @julianacustodiooo," Michael began.After posting multiple heart, cake and champagne emojis, Michael continued, "Today is only our second wedding anniversary and, sadly, our last."The Connecticut native described his split from Juliana as "a COVID-19 casualty" that won't be showing up in any statistics.Michael went on to address Juliana and wrote, "Thankfully, you are quickly emerging healthier and stronger than ever. Some of the rest of us will likely be staying in intensive care for quite some time."Michael complimented his estranged wife by calling her resilient, independent and strong, but then he added, "I understand how our situation throughout the pandemic could slowly, and eventually completely, drain you of these qualities.""All of us were completely drained by the end of it and I did not maintain the strength of mind and the fortitude to be the husband that you wanted me to be."Michael admitted he was under great "stress" and "pressure" to take care of his family last year and he did not recognize at the time just how much Juliana had been there for him."I do not blame you for wanting to leave and for desiring a new start. You are more suited for the life that you had before we met and I can understand why you would want to return," Michael wrote.Michael insisted Juliana's happiness "is more important" to him than being a part of her "unhappiness.""My love for you remains true and will always be there for you. I am happy that you have moved on and have quickly found someone new," Michael revealed, suggesting Juliana had already found a new boyfriend."I hope that you will have lasting love and happiness and achieve every dream that you set out upon. If anyone can do it, it is you, and I will always be rooting for you. I will remain with you in the wonderful memories that we shared together."Juliana subsequently posted a statement of her own, claiming Michael had lied about why they're divorcing.Juliana insisted she had been the one supporting Michael financially and she "felt like a maid" in their house.Juliana wrote to Michael, "You pointed [out] the COVID-19 as one of the reasons we are [no] longer together, but we all know that there are more than that.""I am grateful for all the lessons and the moments we got to spend together and the beautiful memories with your family. As [you well] pointed out, we went through a lot together, the Covid was a hard time but the hardest part for me was to picture you as someone that would be by my side, and unfortunately, you showed something completely different."Juliana insisted she had done everything to keep Michael's family afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.As shown on a May 2020 episode of : Self-Quarantined on TLC, Michael and Juliana began quarantining in March 2020 with Sarah, Sean, Max and Cece.Sarah had been diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer in February 2020, and so the blended family decided to support one another -- although the living situation was a little hectic and became overwhelming at times, especially for Juliana, who confessed she was "frustrated" about constantly having to stay home."As everyone, we went through a hard time financially, but it was not a problem for me to help you, the kids, ex wife and her husband financially because I was the only one working at the time, but we all know how the situation wears out," Juliana wrote in October 2021."I wasn't part of the family anymore, I was feeling like a maid. It was toxic to a point. I was not living the life I wanted to live."Juliana, who moved to the United States in Summer 2019 and married Michael in October of that year, apparently lost sight of her own wants and needs in the relationship."I needed to leave because I wasn't recognizing who I am anymore. I left my life in Europe and career to live with you, because I loved you. But I love myself more, to the point to recognize I am important, and I want to be happy," Juliana explained.Juliana, however, refused to acknowledge she had already moved on and begun dating "someone new.""You say I have found 'someone new,' but the truth is, I found happiness within myself. I am happy with the new phase, and I ask you to let me go," Juliana insisted.She continued, "Stop making me feel guilty to put myself as the most important person because this is how we [are] supposed to do [things]. I apologize for the way this happened, but we talked multiple times about it and you never seemed to listen or try to understand me."Juliana went on to tell her followers that you must be happy in a relationship and stand up for yourself."Don't [be] afraid to live your best life because you're afraid of what people will think," Juliana explained."You are the only person that [knows] what you've been through. Everyone deserves respect, protection, understanding, love and kindness. Your value doesn't decrease based on someone's inability to see your worth."Juliana insisted that someone who values you would never put themselves "in a position to lose you," and no one should ever be afraid to start over.On September 30, Michael posted a picture with his daughter on Instagram and answered a few questions about his relationship status at the time.When an Instagram user asked if it's true Juliana had cheated on him, Michael replied, "I hope not!"And another follower asked Michael, "Did you divorce or not?"Michael firmly replied, "No."Juliana had alluded to a breakup with Michael in a series of September TikTok videos. Michael and the kids did not appear in any of her videos, and she complained about having to do all the grocery shopping.Juliana was previously married once before. She said on a episode she had felt pressure to enter an arranged marriage at age 19 and the union only lasted for one year.As for Michael, he had been married to Sarah for 20 years prior to Sarah officiating his wedding with Juliana. And Sarah tied the knot with Sean in November 2019.Juliana and Sarah ultimately became very close friends and got along well, and they made sure Michael's children were being raised in a loving environment with no hostility or resentment.During an April 2020 broadcast of Tamron Hall , Tamron videochatted with Michael, Juliana, Sarah and Sean, while they were all quarantining under one roof in Greenwich, CT.Sarah said she and her husband were planning a move to Los Angeles, CA, soon, and Michael was happy about his entire family being together, despite the group having little altercations here or there.Michael said there was no jealousy or rivalry between Juliana and Sarah, but he revealed how COVID-19 had a negative impact on Juliana's blossoming career."Juliana is just on the cusp of getting modeling jobs. She signed with a really great agency in New York City, and then suddenly, this happens and it's frustrating for her," Michael said.But Juliana and Michael agreed at the time their marriage hadn't crumbled under the stress of quarantining because Juliana was being "very patient."When asked to share the most difficult part of self-isolating together, Juliana joked, "Him having to see my face every day.""I love that!" Michael responded with a laugh, before Juliana admitted the hardest part was having to do all the housework solo.Michael appeared in distress based on Juliana's comment, so she kissed him on the cheek and assured him, "I love you. It's okay! I know you do everything, like pay the bills."Juliana had also shared how she didn't miss her old life in Brazil."To be honest, not really, because I always wanted to work to have a family in the future," Juliana told Tamron. "And now I have a family, so it's my dream come true."Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/23/2022 ADVERTISEMENT [ Spoiler Warning: This report features spoilers about the current status of Mike and Ximena's relationship and if the couple split up or took their romance to the next level]. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT So what is the latest on Mike and Ximena's relationship status? Is the : Before the 90 Days couple still together now? ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. : Before the 90 Days couple Ximena Morales Cuellar and Mike Berk have chosen to stay together despite facing adversity very early in their relationship, so what happened between this pair? Did Ximena and Mike break up or do spoilers reveal that they're still together now?On Season 5 of : Before the 90 Days, Mike, a 34-year-old IT support technician and volunteer firefighter from Thiells, NY, revealed how he had met Ximena, a 24-year-old from Pereira, Colombia, on a dating app after being single for 20 years or so.Mike hadn't been in a serious relationship since high school and he wanted to find a woman with whom to settle down."Since I went 34 years without finding a woman in my local area, I just decided to change my location in the dating app and switched it over to Colombia, and I met someone that made my dreams come true," Mike explained in a confessional.When Mike saw Ximena, he thought she was "the most beautiful woman in the world." The pair went on to communicate for about a year."She's the first person I truly feel like I fell in love with, and we even went as far as talking about getting married and having kids together. We have that connection, both mentally and emotionally," Mike revealed.However, there was a language barrier between them since Mike only spoke a little Spanish and Ximena only spoke Spanish.Regardless, Mike said he couldn't stand to be apart from Ximena any longer and so he had booked a ticket to Colombia and couldn't wait to hold her and be with her in person.Mike planned to propose marriage if everything went according to plan. He trusted Ximena, pointing out how she had never lied to him.Mike dreamt of Ximena and her two sons, Harold and Juan, moving in with him in the United States. (Mike lived with his father and grandfather at the time). He gushed about really wanting to "go for it" and start a family.But Mike's friends were concerned about Mike sending Ximena money for rent and other things such as her refrigerator and washing machine. Mike's pals worried Ximena had "guys all over" sending her money, and they didn't want to see a woman "milking" Mike for his cash."This relationship seems like it's too good to be true, but at the end of the day, I know this is real and it makes me happy. So I'm just going to go with it," Mike acknowledged.Mike then packed his belongings, as well as an engagement ring, for a two-week trip to Colombia.Mike's father and grandfather advised Mike to be careful and cautious, but Mike revealed how he wanted to start the K-1 visa process and then move Ximena -- and her three and seven year olds -- to America."I'm 34 years old and I've never been in love, but with Ximena, I've found happiness and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with her. It's been my fantasy -- seeing her face, her beautiful eyes and her beautiful body," Mike told the cameras.Mike said if he discovered Ximena had been using him the whole time, his heart would be broken.Prior to Mike's arrival, Ximena shared how she lived in Pereira in Colombia with her two boys and being a mother was her joy and main priority."Juan's dad was a one-night stand, and that was it," Ximena revealed. "And Harold's dad is in jail. He wanted to defend his uncle and acted without thinking, and so that's what he's paying for now."Ximena had met Harold's dad on Facebook and talked to him for four or five months, and she said she loved him very much. Ximena apparently visited this man in jail and got it in her head that she wanted to have a child and so she got pregnant on her second visit to the jail.Since Harold's dad would be locked up for a long time, Ximena said she wanted to find another man who could support her and love her.Ximena was also struggling financially as a manicurist amid COVID-19. Mike had therefore been sending her money for a couch, dining table, refrigerator, stove, blender, coffee maker and more. Mike had also been sending her money for food and rent."I stay afloat with what Mike contributes to me," Ximena said. "But Mike is not the kind of guy I'm usually attracted to because I like big men. My ex-boyfriends have been policemen, tattoo artists, farmers, even drug dealers."Ximena admitted that she didn't find Mike physically attractive but she was attracted to his heart.Ximena, however, had been keeping some secrets from Mike about her past and she was afraid how he'd react."Maybe I'm not what he was expecting to find," Ximena explained.Ximena and Mike had a sweet meeting at the airport in which they hugged and kissed on the lips, and Mike said he was "extremely happy" seeing Ximena for the first time.But Ximena admitted her first kiss with Mike wasn't passionate, adding, "I think there will be more kisses better than that one."Ximena said Mike looked like "a sweetie" with his little glasses but he's also shorter than she thought he'd be.In the cab ride to a restaurant, Ximena grilled Mike on the text messages in his phone, and he just hoped Ximena would learn to trust him. However, he appreciated Ximena acting like he's all hers and didn't seem to mind her being a little jealous.Ximena proceeded to introduce Mike to her family, including her sister, brother, stepmother Derly and father Jamir. Mike also met nine-year-old Juan and three-year-old Harold.Mike was a little overwhelmed and nervous to meet Ximena's entire extended family, and he struggled to talk to them and be understood.Ximena felt bad because Mike clearly appeared to be uncomfortable, but her boys said they loved Mike after meeting him and would want him to be their stepfather.Mike and Ximena then spent the night together once the boys got settled in their own beds.Mike said his first night with Ximena in bed was "the best time" he's ever had with a woman."Ximena knocked it out of the park. We had a great time over and over again," Mike said.But Ximena said the sex was just "normal" for her and "nothing out of this world," even though it seemed to be the best moment of Mike's life.Ximena, however, had yet to tell Mike that she can't have any more kids, and Mike definitely wanted a child of his own."I suffered a lot with my two deliveries because to have a child Caesarean is the worst pain a mother could go through. So I decided to get operated [on] and they cut my tubes and burned them, so that I definitely couldn't have more kids," Ximena revealed in a confessional.She admitted it was a mistake not to warn Mike of this before his trip to Colombia but she wanted to tell him in person."I feel super nervous because I feel like I love him," Ximena said. "So for me it would be fatal if he ended it and left."Ximena ended up sharing this news with Mike, and although he was very disappointed, he took the letdown pretty well.Mike wished he had been told this sooner because he didn't like having secrets between them, but he said other things could be done if they want to have a child together.Ximena asked Mike what he would do if having a kid isn't possible, and he replied, "This is really big news and it's something I really have to think about."Mike admitted he would be "really devastated" if he couldn't have any children of his own and so he didn't know where to go from there with Ximena.Ximena explained to Mike how she had suffered a lot of pain with the contractions and got really scared. She didn't think she'd have a partner again since she had repeatedly been disappointed by men. She said she had gotten involved with men she shouldn't have."I didn't think that I'd meet you. It's not my fault," Ximena said.Ximena told the cameras having a baby with Mike would make a perfect family, and so she was clearly upset about her past decisions.Mike asked if Ximena could undo the surgery, but she said "no" because she had cut and burned her tubes instead of just tying them. It was the most definitive way to ensure she'd never be able to have another baby.Mike asked Ximena why she thought their relationship would work when he's always wanted a child, and she didn't know how to respond."Do you regret having come to Colombia?" Ximena asked Mike."I don't know," Mike replied.Ximena told Mike that Juan and Harold never had a father before and he could be their dad. She suggested how Mike leaving them would devastate her family.Mike acknowledged that he loved Harold and Juan like his own children and they're amazing."I wouldn't want to hurt them," Mike told Ximena."Forgive me for not being able to give you a child," Ximena requested."It's okay," Mike responded. "We can raise Harold and Juan together."Ximena cried with happiness and said she would like that. Mike, however, still had to grasp the idea of giving up on a biological family of his own. Mike also made Ximena swear that she wouldn't keep any more secrets from him.The pair hugged and expressed love to one another, and Mike said his gut was telling him that they're meant to be together. However, Mike noted how Ximena had to win back his trust.After choosing to stay together, Mike booked a romantic getaway so he could get to know Ximena better and they could have some privacy as well as deep conversation.When the couple sat in a hot tub together outside of their villa, Ximena opened up about her past "crazy" relationships with "aggressive partners" -- and she once lived with a hitman who claimed to be a tattoo artist!"He ordered to have me killed. Well, he had me locked up," Ximena revealed.Ximena said the man threatened to kill her after he found out he was a hitman and attempted to end the relationship. She said after they parted ways, she never heard from him again.Mike therefore became worried for his life, but Ximena said this happened two years ago and she believed her family would be okay.Ximena recently posted two videos on her TikTok account -- which have since been deleted -- indicating she and Mike are still together.Not only that, it appears Mike and Ximena got engaged, Soap Dirt reported.In the first of two videos Ximena posted that no longer appear on her TikTok account, she showed a picture of Mike holding a ring box as well as her wearing an off-the-shoulder sparkly wedding dress.Since the couple was not together for either picture, Mike may have waited to pop the question once he returned to America after his visit to Colombia."I love you my life. Thank you for so much happiness," Ximena wrote in Spanish, according to Soap Dirt.In the second video, Ximena shared a picture of another wedding dress hanging up as well as a ring box by itself.She simply captioned the post, when translated from Spanish to English, "Marry me!"It's very possible Mike and Ximena also tied the knot, but evidence suggests they got engaged at the very least.Mike has also led his Instagram followers to believe that he and Ximena are an item.Mike frequently posts lovey-dovey "throwback" photos with Ximena, and if he was hurting or their relationship ended badly, he'd be less likely to share those happy memories so often.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! Several estimates now suggest oil reaching triple digit market this year as supply struggles to cope up with rising demand led by years of underinvestment coupled with retrained supplies from not just Opec but even non-Opec producers worldwide, a report said. Sentiments in the oil market remained upbeat as we entered 2022 with expectations of higher demand coupled with dwindling supplies at some of the key producers worldwide, added the report titled Oil Market : 2021 - The Year That Was... by Kamco Invest, a leading financial services company in Kuwait. The lowering of risk related to the Omicron variant further added to the positive sentiments as oil hovered around the $90 per barrel mark. The recent surge in crude oil price was also supported by higher demand for refined products. The arctic weather in the US Northeast boosted demand for diesel as a heating fuel at a time when demand from the road transportation sector was also seeing a surge. Gasoline prices also surged across the globe due to increased mobility. Other factors that contributed to the price surge included limited supply quotas for exports from China, fuel switching from natural gas to diesel for heating oil and electricity generation, a broader commodity rally globally as well as untapped demand in several oil end markets like jet fuel. In addition, the USD has broadly shown a downward trend against a basket of currencies after peaking in November-2021. The latest data on Covid-19 suggested that the Omicron variant is signalling a shift to an endemic phase as despite rising cases, the current situation is more manageable than the previous versions of the coronavirus. Recent announcements from several firms in the Europe showed lowering of restrictions and opening of offices to more staff. A similar stance was seen in the US, although the travel issue with China is yet to be resolved and has got more to do with protocols rather than covid-19 cases. Moreover, almost 10 billion vaccine doses have been administered globally. On the oil supply front, there were production disruptions reported in several countries including Libya and Ecuador while the unrest in Kazakhstan led to fears of supply disruptions. Russia also mentioned that restoring output after the Opec+ reductions wont be as easy due to technical challenges and underinvestment in oil production over the last few years of oil glut. Opec oil production showed a marginal growth during December-2021 and stayed above the 28 million barrels per day (mb/d) mark at 28.09 mb/d with an increase of 90,000 barrels per day, according to Bloomberg data. Opec secondary sources showed a slightly higher growth as the steep decline in output mainly from Libya and Nigeria was partially offset by higher output by Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Angola. US crude oil production remained flat at 11.7 mb/d during the week ended January 14, 2022. TradeArabia News Service Coyotes more often heard, hauntingly, than seen, more often misunderstood than appreciated are mating. By spring, there will be pups and a family unit, yipping and howling at night, the few sounding like the many. By fall, the kids will be grown up and leave home, finding a new place to hunt and mate and vocalize. That place? Wherever. They are the most adaptable predator around. Theyre very smart and very social, said urban wildlife expert Laura Simon. Which is why coyotes which only migrated eastward into the state about 70 years ago are now found everywhere in Connecticut. They live in the woods, in the fields, in suburbs and cities. They live close by us, said Paul Colburn, master wildlife conservationist with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. They are much more enterprising and opportunistic than other animals. Theyve learned to live the way we live. Colburn gave a Zoom talk about coyotes last week to the Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy. Paul Elconin, the conservancys director of land conservation, said coyotes show up with regularity on nature cameras set up at various spots on its 13,000 acres. He said he hears them at his home in Westchester County, when the windows are open and the coyotes are talking. Bethany Sheffer, naturalist and volunteer coordinator at the Sharon Audubon Center, said shes seen and heard coyotes are there as well. Both, she said. Nor are they only howling at a distance Sheffer said she heard up close and personal yipping one night when she was checking on injured birds in the centers avian rehab center. Coyotes are the only canid predator native to North America. From the Great Plains, theyve spread north to Canada and Alaska, south to Central America. The coyotes we see in Connecticut are eastern coyotes. They have a healthy dash of wolf DNA in their genetic makeup with some domestic dog DNA thrown in as well. That makes them larger than their western counterparts. Colburn said that unlike wolves, coyotes hunt in small family units mother, father and offspring. The parents are monogamous and both share in raising their young. One reason they are so adaptable is that they are omnivores. They mostly eat small rodents mice, rats, squirrels, rabbits. But theyll also feast on roadkill carrion and, in winter, take down an ailing or injured white-tailed deer. In season, theyll feed on fruits, nuts and berries. They have molars to grind as well as incisors to slash. In the suburbs, alas, they can also nab small dogs and cats for a meal. They poach poultry pens and kill unguarded calves and lambs. We have a farmer on one of our properties that raises sheep, and coyotes are a problem for him, Elconin said. Colburn said people can guard against coyotes by keeping their small pets in at night, by not leaving pet food and garbage where coyotes can find it and by keeping their livestock well-penned. The DEEPs factsheet on coyotes is at portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Coyote Urban wildlife expert Laura Simon said communities in the west have learned collectively to move coyotes along by harassing them yelling, waving arms, making a fuss. Coyotes get the message, she said. They can be taught to stay away. Their howling, Colburn said, is just their way of communicating to greet one another, to call pups home. Sometimes, they just do it because they can, he said. It only takes a few coyotes to make an unholy racket. But they can harmonize. When they all howl together, it sounds like a symphony, Simon said. Modern humans have not done well by coyotes. The federal government tried to exterminate them, killing about 6.5 million by trapping, shooting and poisoning. Federal programs today now kill about 500,000 coyotes annually. Colburn said hunters and trappers in Connecticut kill 400 to 600 a year about a 10th of the 4,000 to 6,000 coyotes in the state. Yet, coyotes prevail too smart, too wary, too wily, too adaptable. When the population gets low, the females have more pups. They repopulate. Theyre still going, despite our best efforts, said Michelle Lute, national carnivore conservation manager for Project Coyote, a California-based organization that advocates for human-coyote coexistence. People are afraid of whats unfamiliar to them. But coyotes, even in Connecticut, are as American as mom and apple pie. Theyre quintessentially American, Lute said. Theyre our song dog. Contact Robert Miller at earthmattersrgm@gmail.com TRUMBULL Two Trumbull High School students have been picked to represent Connecticut at the United States Senate Youth Program later this year. Neya Kidambi and Eman Seyal, both seniors at the high school, will participate in the program from March 6 to 9, during the 60th annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week. The program will take place virtually, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The students were selected from the states top student leaders to be among 104 students taking part in the event. They will both receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study. The program was created in 1962 and is sponsored by the Senate and funded by The Hearst Foundations. The intent of the program is to provide young people with an understanding of the three branches of government, and to learn about the governmental decision-making process. The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service, according to a news release from the program. During the program week, the student delegates will attend online meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a Supreme Court justice, leaders of cabinet agencies, and others. Kidambi is secretary for the National Honor Society, editor in chief of the Trumbull High School newspaper, president of the model congress team, and a member of the state champion mock trial team. Seyal is the student representative to the Trumbull Board of Education and serves on the boards Later School Start Time and District Calendar committees. She is the founder of Allies for Angels, a club that raises awareness of pediatric diseases and raises money for hospitals and charitable organizations. Delegates and alternates are selected by departments of education in each state and the District of Columbia and Department of Defense Education Activity, after nomination by teachers and principals. The chief state school officer for each jurisdiction confirms the final selection. For more information on the program, visit https://ussenateyouth.org/. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD A astronomy center; a new animal shelter; upgrades for the citys historic community center; plenty of street paving all could be financed by this years capital budget, according to preliminary allocations from the planning board. Each fall, Stamfords planning board begins to carve out the capital budget, a hundred-plus page document of projects big and small. City agencies and local nonprofits pitch their ideas for improving Stamfords physical assets and then wait to see how the funds are dealt out. The planning boards yearly endeavor marks only the beginning of the budget season; its allocations are provisional and must be reviewed by the mayor and Board of Finance as the months progress. However, the board sets the tone for the discussions to come and sketches out early priorities for funding. So far, the planning board has roughly outlined a $46.3 million draft budget, down from $122.8 million in requests that members reviewed during the fall. The most considerable department-wide sums in the 2022-23 budget include the Board of Education, the engineering department and parks maintenance, receiving about $6.8 million, $8.5 million and $5 million, respectively. After hearing from the public earlier in January, the planning board will have a final deliberation session Tuesday. After we do our deliberation in the end of January, we will write our referral letter, and we will send it on to the mayor, explained planning board chair Theresa Dell. Mayor Caroline Simmons will receive the final planning board budget by the third week of February, she said. The largest single line item comes from the citys animal shelter, which supporters say is in dire need of an overhaul. According to city engineer Lou Casolo, who spoke at the November appeal, the current animal welfare facility was build in 1970 and received a structural addition in 1988. Its just really a horrific place for our animal control officers who work there, for the volunteers who go into that building regularly and for the public, Stamford Animal Shelter Alliance President Nancy Freedman told the board in November. So, thats just the people side. No ones speaking for the animals; the animals dont vote. If they did, we would probably have had this animal shelter built a long time ago. Public support for a new shelter was so intense that a cohort of city residents mounted a public push to ensure that the planning board fulfilled the engineering departments entire request for money. The petition, which gathered 801 signatures in less than a week, claimed that the (shelter) conditions... are unsuitable for the animals, the Animal Control Officers and staff who work there every day, the shelter volunteers and the public. Planning board members have allocated $4.4 million to demolish the 60-year-old shelter and build a new one on the Magee Avenue lot. However, the board expressed early worries over putting such a large sum toward the construction. Upgrading defunct or overlooked facilities became a recurring theme among this years largest line items. A proposal to replace the Stamford Museum and Nature Centers dilapidated astronomy center a mid-century cement structure tucked in the back of the complex and made to look like a silo was granted a $2 million allocation in the Planning Boards preliminary budget, with more money coming from the state. Some $2.8 million will go toward repairing roofs at Stamford Public Schools, though the allocation is less than 30 percent of what the Board of Education requested. Another significant contribution $1.5 million will go toward renovating the Yerwood Centers roof and HVAC system. On top of that, the floors at the center sustained substantial damage in 2021 from flooding, according to city operations manager Kevin Murray. The Planning Board also puts all requests into different tiers in its budgetary blueprint. Tier one projects are of the highest priority. Tier 2 initiatives are projects the board feels should be funded if there is extra money, according to board meeting minutes. Tier 3 projects are funded by money from the American Rescue Place and Tier 4 projects are those tabled by the board for future years. Simmons will have the chance to add to any of the planning boards appropriations as she goes through the budget with a fine-toothed comb. Additions to the capital budget stop with the mayor, though the finance board and the Board of Representatives can take money away from projects. The Board of Finance and the Board of Reps can only deduct; they cannot add anything to any item that is sent to them, Dell said to attendees at the Tuesday meeting. So if you disagree with anything that the planning board finalizes in January, you may then write a personal letter to Mayor Simmons asking that she reconsider the amount that the planning board has put into the capital budget. veronica.delvalle@hearstmediact.com Support local journalism We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story. The rise in exports of Chinese medicine products comes amid Xi Jinping's global 'Belt and Road' drive. A massive rise in the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products in a number of African countries in recent years is fueling demand for endangered species whose body parts are used to make certain ingredients, a recent report has found. The Chinese government has been ramping up the export and production of TCM products in Africa as part of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping's Belt and Road global connections drive, with chains of TCM suppliers and clinics across the continent, according to a report from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). "The aggressive expansion of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in many African countries is posing a direct threat to the future of some endangered species," the group said in a statement. Pangolin scales are in high demand for Chinese traditional medicine. (Associated Press) EIA campaigner Ceres Kam said traditional medicine is integral to many cultures and plays an important role in global healthcare. "However, while the majority of TCM treatments are plant-based, some pharmaceutical companies continue to source ingredients from threatened animals, aggravating the pressure on the survival of these species," Kam said. "Our very real concern is that such a huge expansion of TCM in Africa, as is happening under Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, will have the knock-on effect of drastically increasing demand for treatments containing wildlife and, in turn, cause more species to become threatened or extinct," she said. "Any utilization of threatened species in TCM could potentially stimulate further demand, incentivize wildlife crime and ultimately lead to over-exploitation," Kam warned. Hong Kong writer and activist Riki Ueda, who has volunteered in wildlife conservation in South Africa, agreed. "The demand for traditional Chinese medicine will increase, and the pressure on these animals will definitely increase," she said, citing a recent rise in ivory poaching following the legalization of trade in existing ivory. "Is the legal trade contributing to the illegal trade? Both seem to be growing in parallel ... and the [legal trade] is bound to have a negative impact on the species and the illegal wildlife trade alike." Ueda called for research to support replacing animal parts with plant-based remedies throughout TCM practice. Confiscated rhino horns (top) and ivory tusks are displayed during a news conference at Hong Kong Customs in 2013. A total of 1,120 ivory tusks, 13 rhino horns and five pieces of leopard skin were found inside a container from Nigeria. (Reuters) While the impact of the illegal ivory trade on elephants has been well documented, rhinos are another highly endangered species, with only about 25,000 rhinos left in the wild. "Since 2008, 5,940 rhinos have been recorded as hunted and killed in Africa," TCM doctor and former Taiwan health ministry official Huang Lin-huang told RFA. "Scientists believe this number is an underestimate." Now based at Taiwan's embassy in Eswatini, Huang said he has never believed in the efficacy of powdered rhino horn, which was banned in China, before being made legal again in 2018. "I never believed it had any special curative effects," Huang said. "Folks believe that rhino horn can reduce fever, but salicylic acid can reduce fever." "Even water poplar bark can do that ... this amplification of the superstitions and traditional uses of rhino horn have contributed to a disaster for rhinos," he said. Hundreds of rhinos killed According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in South Africa, poachers killed 394 rhinos in the whole of 2020. But the number rose to 249 in the first half of 2021 alone. In Botswana, at least 100 rhinos have been killed by poachers in the last three years, since President Mokgweetsi Masisi took office in 2018 and disarmed anti-poaching squads, taking away their right to kill poachers on sight. According to Ueda, the illegal trade in powdered rhino horn has gotten cleverer at covering its tracks, and many operations now grind the horn into powder and disguise it as beads or other substances before shipping to East Asia. To combat poaching, the horn of this black rhino in Kenya has been cut and a tracking device fitted to the animal to monitor its movements. Illegally poached rhino horn brings in large sums of money. (AFP) "These professional poachers are well-trained and can cut off rhino horns within minutes," Huang said. "In South Africa, you can get up to six years for manslaughter, but up to 15 for killing a rhino, and yet the [poachers] aren't deterred ... because of the huge profits involved," he said. And there are fears that poaching gangs are infiltrating conservation organizations, too. Ueda, who has volunteered on a South African nature reserve, said staff on the reserve were very cautious about sharing any rhino-related information with her. "Some staff were more careful with me at the beginning of my assignment, or were not very willing to talk to me at all," she said. "Sometimes they would make jokes about 'you Asians coming to poach our rhinos'," she said. For Ueda, the key lies in educating people back home about the damage their medicines are doing. "Buyer ignorance and indifference to wild animals is the first target for education," she said. "It's demand from [East] Asia that is killing wild animals in Africa, so we can't just stand by and watch that happen." Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Pope Francis has called for an international day of "prayer for peace" on January 26 to stop the Ukraine crisis, and called for political talks that put at the center human brotherhood instead of partisan interests." "I am following with concern the rising tensions that threaten to inflict a new blow to peace in Ukraine, and put in question the security in Europe with even wider repercussions," Francis said on January 23 during his address and blessing to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square. The Vatican gave no immediate details on how the pope would mark the day. The United States and NATO have warned that Russia's massing of more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine's borders is a possible prelude to an invasion. Moscow, which has denied it seeks to invade Ukraine as it did in 2014, has demanded guarantees that NATO will not allow former Soviet states such as Ukraine to enter the Western military alliance. Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP Lufthansa, Germanys largest airline, is set to buy a 40% stake in Alitalia's successor ITA Airways and a deal could be unveiled next week, reported Bahrain News Agency (BNA), citing Italian daily Il Foglio. ITA Airways started flying on Oct. 15 with nearly 2,300 employees and a fleet less than half the size of that operated by Alitalia, the 75-year old one-time symbol of Italian style and glamour, which passed through a dizzying succession of restructurings and changes of ownership. An ITA spokesperson said that the airline's top management would present a strategic plan to board on January 31, and a data room would be opened in the following days, as stated in a parliamentary hearing on Thursday. Sources told Reuters on January 12 that the Italian carrier was in contact with Lufthansa, British Airways and US-based Delta Air Lines for an equity partnership, adding that formal talks could start by the end of March, added the BNA report. According to Il Foglio, Lufthansa and ITA are very close to agreeing over some key terms of the deal, such as the role of Fiumicino airport as a hub for direct flights to Africa and some routes to the Americas. The deal will be subject to European Union approval, the paper added. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has rejected calls for preemptive sanctions against Russia, saying that doing so would undermine the West's ability to deter Moscow from any further potential aggression against Ukraine. Russia's military buildup in occupied Crimea and near Ukraine's borders has raised alarm bells in Western capitals that an invasion of Ukraine may be imminent. If Russia were to attack Ukraine, the United States and its European allies have vowed crushing economic sanctions. Russia denies it is planning to attack Ukraine. "When it comes to sanctions, the purpose of those sanctions is to deter Russian aggression," Blinken told CNN's State of the Union program. "So if they're triggered now, you lose the deterrent effect. All of the things that we're doing, including building up in a united way with Europe, massive consequences for Russia, is designed to factor into President [Vladimir] Putin's calculus and to deter and dissuade them from taking aggressive action, even as we pursue diplomacy at the same time," he added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wants the West to impose sanctions now, arguing powerful punitive measures after a potential Russian attack do nothing to help his country. "Sanctions are considered to be a preventive tool because they can be applied and then lifted. If there is an invasion by Russia, do you introduce powerful sanctions after we might have already lost several territories? Once you introduce sanctions, what will Russia do?" Zelenskiy said in an interview with The Washington Post earlier this week. "I support imposing sanctions now," he said. Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized what he called the "passive deterrence" of waiting to impose sanctions. "The noose is tightening around Ukraine," McCaul told CBS's Face the Nation program on January 23. "If we don't do something strong right now, I'm afraid that he's [Putin] going to invade Ukraine." In the interview with CNN, Blinken warned that "a single additional Russian force" entering Ukraine in an "aggressive way" would trigger a swift and severe united sanctions response from the United States and Europe. The comments again sought to clarify the U.S. position, after President Joe Biden this week misspoke at a press conference, saying a "minor incursion" by Russia might not trigger the same response as a full-blown invasion. The White House quickly clarified that "any Russian military forces" moving across the Ukrainian border would constitute a renewed invasion and be met with severe consequences. With reporting by CBS, CNN, and The Washington Post Georgian activists gathered outside the Ukrainian Embassy in Tbilisi on January 23 to demonstrate their solidarity with Ukraine amid Russia's military buildup. The rally was also joined by Ukrainians and Belarusians based in Georgia. The protesters urged the Georgian government to send a clear message of solidarity with Ukraine. About 20 percent of Georgian territory is held by breakaway regions controlled by Russia. South Korea has paid Tehran's dues to the United Nations using $18 million of frozen Iranian assets, Seoul said. The payment was made on January 21 in cooperation with the United States and the UN after Iran made an emergency request to South Korea, the Finance Ministry said in a statement on January 23. Iran has more than $7 billion in funds for oil shipments frozen at two South Korean banks due to U.S. sanctions. "Iran's voting right at the UN General Assembly is expected to be immediately restored with the payment," the ministry added. The Islamic republic was South Korea's third-largest Middle Eastern trade partner before the United States unilaterally withdrew from a 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and reimposed crippling sanctions. The UN cited unpaid dues when it suspended Iran's voting rights at the General Assembly earlier this month. Iran lost its vote over unpaid dues last year as well. After months of negotiations Tehran was granted an exemption and allowed to access money blocked by the U.S. Treasury. It got back its vote in June in time for the election of new members of the Security Council. Based on reporting by AFP Order has been restored in Kazakhstan after days of unrest during which President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev gave police and the army orders to shoot to kill. The consequences of that order, and of the heavy hand Kazakh security forces used to quell the unrest, are starting to become clear. More than 10,000 people were detained, and officially, at least 225 people are dead. Victims and witnesses are recounting the tales of indiscriminate shooting by law enforcement, beatings of people being detained, and wounded people being taken from hospitals by security forces. Some people still don't know what happened to relatives and friends who disappeared during the unrest. Rights and activist groups in Kazakhstan are looking into multiple abuses committed during the state or emergency and calling for an independent investigation into the authorities' reaction to the unrest. On this week's Majlis Podcast, RFE/RL's media-relations manager, Muhammad Tahir, moderates a discussion that looks to the efforts of some individuals and organizations to obtain a full accounting of the actions of the authorities during the worst turbulence Kazakhstan has seen in its 30-year history. This week's guests are all from Kazakhstan: Yevgeny Zhovtis, the director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law; Asia Tulesova, co-founder of the Oyan Qazaqstan (Wake Up Kazakhstan) movement for political reform; Dana Zhanai, the director of the Qaharman (Hero) rights foundation; and Bruce Pannier, the author of the Qishloq Ovozi blog. Listen to the podcast above or subscribe to the Majlis on iTunes or on Google Podcasts. Amid a Russian military buildup, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called on the United States and Europe to treat Ukraine as part of the West that will never again be dominated by Moscow. Russia's buildup near Ukraine's borders has spawned mounting concerns that an invasion may be imminent, prompting a flurry of diplomacy against the backdrop of the drumbeats of war in Europe. If Russia were to attack Ukraine, the United States and its European allies have vowed crushing economic sanctions and other "severe consequences," including bolstering NATO's eastern flank. Although Russia denies it is planning an attack, Moscow has spouted belligerent rhetoric alongside demands for a laundry list of security guarantees, including commitments that NATO never admit Ukraine and a significant retreat of the alliance from Eastern Europe. Despite Russian threats and sharp rhetoric, Ukraine's Western partners "continue to help us because they understand that the future of Euro-Atlantic security will be decided in Ukraine in these very months, this year," Kuleba told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service in an interview published on January 22. Kyiv is not a NATO member and doesn't benefit from the alliance's mutual defense pact. But much to the ire of Moscow, it has received significant Western military support since Russia annexed Crimea and began backing separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014. To help Ukraine fend off further Russian aggression, the United States, Britain, and NATO's Baltic states have ramped up new military aid to Ukraine in recent days, including anti-tank and antiaircraft missiles. Several other NATO members may follow suit. Ukraine hopes to one day join NATO and the EU, a prospect that even the United States and European states recognize is far off due to the simmering conflict in eastern Ukraine, a democratic deficit, and entrenched corruption. "The likelihood that Ukraine is going to join NATO in the near term is not very likely, based on much more work they have to do in terms of democracy and a few other things going on there," U.S. President Joe Biden said at a press conference on January 19. Although Ukraine's prospects of integrating into key Western institutions are not on the horizon, the West says most Russian dictates on redrawing the security architecture in Europe are nonstarters. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on January 23 summed up the West's position rejecting Moscow's demands regarding the expansion of NATO. "The accession of further countries from Eastern Europe to NATO is currently not on the agenda at all. What is the point of the Russian demand? There can be no such guarantee," Scholz told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper. Scholz said Europe's security and cooperation in Europe would only work without the idea of zones of influence in which countries would be unable to decide on their own positions. Addressing ongoing tensions in eastern Ukraine and Russian aggression, Kuleba said the West must view "Ukraine as a self-standing important part of the West." "This conflict unleashed by Russia against Ukraine will only end once the West sends a very simple message to Russia: Ukraine is not just a country that we support; it is a part of our world, it is one of us, and it will never return to you," he said. The West has repeated it wants diplomacy, but with positions entrenched on both sides, successive talks between Western and Russian officials in Geneva, Brussels, and Vienna this month failed to yield any breakthrough. BISHKEK -- Authorities in Bishkek have charged prominent investigative journalist Bolot Temirov with "possessing illegal narcotics," hours after conducting a search of his office during which he said security forces put illegal narcotics in his pocket. The charge announced by the police on January 23 came after Temirov released an investigation into the business of a powerful politician. Temirov was detained late on January 22 after the police raided his office. He was released on bail hours later amid a protest outside the Interior Ministry by journalists, human rights advocates, and activists calling for his release. A police statement said Temirov and his colleague, Bolot Nazarov, had been arrested on a charge of drug possession. Temirov was charged and released following detention but is barred from leaving the country. Nazarov is still being held, a police spokesman said. Security forces conducted the investigation on January 22 at the office of the founder of the YouTube channel Temirov Live, which had launched a report about President Sadyr Japarov and the head of the State Committee for National Security, Kamchybek Tashiev. Earlier, lawyer Nurbek Toktakunov told reporters that he was trying to find out the reason Temirov had been detained. According to Toktakunov, investigators said that Temirov was being questioned as a witness. Toktakunov told RFE/RL that Temirov had not been charged but was not released. "We don't understand what they want," the lawyer said. Another lawyer, Nurbek Koktakunov, said Temirov had been charged with a drug offense. The Norwegian Helsinki Committee said on Twitter that the authorities must investigate claims that the police planted marijuana on Temirov. Temirov said as he was being taken away that during a search security officers planted drugs in his back pocket and all computers were confiscated from the office. He was then escorted to a drug center accompanied by law enforcement officers. Makhabat Taichibek kyzy, an employee of the editorial office of Temirov Live, told journalists that several law enforcement officers, including men in civilian clothes, broke into the office. "I witnessed how drugs were planted. It was a dark green substance in a bag," she said. The press service of the Bishkek Department of Internal Affairs said an investigation into the detention of the journalist was under way, and more information would be provided later. The YouTube channel Temirov Live launched a series titled 37 Million Soms In Two Days? The Scheme Of Sadyr Japarov And Tashiev. The investigation looked into the alleged involvement of relatives of Tashiev in the activities of the state oil company. Tashiev wrote on his Facebook page that the information published about him by Temirov Live "was a complete lie." Temirov last year was among 12 people recognized by the U.S. State Department as anti-corruption champions. The winners of the new International Anti-Corruption Champions Award were announced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said in a statement that the award recognized people who have worked tirelessly, often in the face of adversity, to combat corruption in their own countries. Temirov was attacked near his website's office in Bishkek in January 2020 after the website FactCheck published an investigation together with open-source investigative organization Bellingcat about Raimbek Matraimov, the controversial former deputy chief of the State Customs Service, and his relatives. The Matraimovs at the time were at the center of an alleged corruption scandal involving the funneling of close to a billion dollars out of Kyrgyzstan. Matraimov was rearrested in February 2021 on corruption charges. With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service and AKIPress BUCHAREST -- In Romania, the word "Roexit" has been making up for lost time. After years of rarely being used, the Romanians' portmanteau for quitting the European Union, inspired by Britain's "Brexit," has suddenly flooded social and digital media. And the trend looks set to continue in 2022, with 545 "Roexit" or #roexit posts on Facebook, the world's most popular social network, so far in the first half of January. That's more than eight times the number for all of 2017, when the term first emerged to push back against EU pressure on Bucharest for judicial and other reforms. Analysts blame the rise of right-wing elements like the two-year-old Alliance for the Unification of Romania (AUR) party, a populist party whose leadership has embraced traditionalism and xenophobia. But they also cite appeals among prominent Romanians bucking the country's historical enthusiasm for European integration in favor of Euroskepticism, sometimes echoing Russian and other outside narratives. "The increasing influence of narratives promoted from the east in Romanian media shows worrying signals," says Florin Zeru from the Center for the Promotion of Participation and Democracy, part of Romania's National School of Political and Administrative Studies (SNSPA) in Bucharest. "These narratives are starting more and more, in the past two or three years, to cross over from obscure areas and become mainstream elements." There are no indications that current levels of support for "Roexit" would threaten the status of roughly 19 million Romanians as citizens of the European Union. But any dramatic turn away from shared goals and priorities with the bloc could hamper Romanian progress in crucial areas like fighting notoriously widespread corruption, reducing income and other inequalities, and improving infrastructure to boost economic development. On And Off -- But Mostly Off -- For Years After 47 years in the European Union or its predecessor, the European Communities, Britain became the only country to quit the bloc with its "Brexit" after a bitterly divisive referendum in 2016. In January 2017, exactly a decade after Romania joined the EU, the term "Roexit" first appeared online in an appeal by a group called Credinta (Faith) against Brussels' increasingly urgent appeals for reform by Bucharest. It received just one "like." A year and a half later, Roexit picked up steam ahead of a grassroots referendum to redefine "family" in the Romanian Constitution to effectively ban same-sex marriages. The term appeared more than 1,100 times over the span of a week on Facebook alone, triggered in part by a senior EU official's characterization of the referendum as an effort to turn the constitution into "a weapon to justify homophobia." But the tide quickly subsided -- and remained generally low -- until last fall. Then around three-quarters of the more than 5,700 online posts explicitly mentioning "Roexit" throughout all of last year appeared in the last three months of 2021. Zeru called lawmaker Mihai Ioan Lasca, who was elected on the upstart AUR's list in 2020, "the most important promoter of the Roexit message," although he cited others including prominent vaccination critic Senator Diana Sosoaca. Lasca was expelled from AUR a year ago after a conviction for beating up someone in a road-rage incident, and was targeted by investigators last year for suggesting COVID-19 vaccinations paralyze and kill people. He has continued to lean heavily on populist messages. On December 5, 2021, Lasca posted a message to his 76,000 Facebook followers warning against anti-pandemic restrictions. He said it was a "crucial moment" to protect Romanian "sovereignty and freedom" and urged Roexit as an "exit and release from the yoke of slavery imposed by the European Union, the destroyer of national identities." Amplifying her own widely shared diatribes of the previous two months, Sosoaca warned the same day that "traitors to the nation and country...will die" along with Europe, while Romanians will "rise and live forever." Both posts bounced around and were echoed by fellow vaccine skeptics, especially. With the new year, well-known actor, director, and former lawmaker Mihai Malaimare stirred the pot again, listing Roexit atop a post, which was later deleted, of "exactly what I would like" 2022 to bring. Popular news sites including Stiripesurse.ro and Bugetul.ro quickly shared the post with their 4 million or so combined followers. 'More Hostile Toward Everything' Romania spent much of 2021 mired in political crisis, capped by the installation of the country's 10th prime minister in as many years in November, with former army General Nicolae Ciuca as prime minister. Many rounds of protests and government crises have been fueled by public perceptions of rampant corruption and economic imbalances, while the COVID-19 pandemic has further slammed the country. "We're seeing an increase, especially in the second half of last year, of more hostile positions toward everything -- hostile toward the European Union, hostile toward institutions, hostile toward politicians, hostile toward anything," Barbu Mateescu, a sociologist and independent political consultant, told RFE/RL's Romanian Service. Mateescu conceded that it was difficult to know whether the current "Roexit" flurry will persist and eventually influence Romanian society more broadly. There are no indications that anything but a small minority of Romanians favor "Roexit," with polling consistently showing that they are among the most ardent supporters of a united Europe. An INSCOP Research survey warned in October 2021 that an alarming 80 percent of Romanians felt that events in the country were "headed in the wrong direction," up from around 68 percent in midsummer. But the survey, commissioned within a U.S.-backed research project, also said nearly 62 percent of respondents "think the U.S. and EU have a positive influence on the country." And while nearly two out of three Romanians in the survey believed the country should defend its national interests ahead of EU requirements even if it risks a loss of membership, two-thirds of those people think exiting the bloc would harm national interests. Expert Zeru described the suddenly accelerated spread of the Roexit message as a consequence of four elements: the explicit messages from prominent Romanians and the rising influence of Sputnik, the Russian state-controlled news agency; the rise of ultranationalist and populist groups like the AUR; coordinated efforts on Facebook; and finally, public disappointment with Romania's financial and social situation combined with the fractured political landscape. Written by Andy Heil based on reporting by Oana Despa of RFE/RL's Romanian Service in Bucharest The U.S. Navy has announced that it seized a ship carrying fertilizer used to make explosives as it traveled from Iran along a route previously used to smuggle weapons to Yemen's Huthi rebels. The navy said on January 23 it boarded and searched the ship, which last year was caught carrying thousands of weapons and handed to Yemen's coast guard, after intercepting it in international waters in the Gulf of Oman on January 18. A U.S. guided-missile destroyer and patrol ship "interdicted the stateless vessel transiting from Iran...along a route historically used to traffic weapons to the Huthis in Yemen," the Bahrain-based U.S. 5th Fleet said. The same "stateless fishing vessel" was found to be carrying thousands of AK47 assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and other weapons when it was stopped in February 2021, the U.S. Navy said. The seizure comes at a time of high tensions in the region after a deadly drone-and-missile attack on Abu Dhabi claimed by the Iranian-backed Huthis prompted the Saudi-led coalition to launch air strikes on Yemen this week. Saudi Arabia and the United States have long accused Iran of supplying military hardware to the Huthis, including parts for drones and missiles. Tehran denies charges it gives financial and military aid to the group. The coalition acknowledged strikes on Sanaa and Hodeida that killed at least 17, including children, and triggered an Internet blackout across the impoverished country. The military coalition was also accused by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) of having carried out air strikes on a prison facility in the northern city of Saada, which killed at least 70 and wounded more than 100 others. The coalition has refused to acknowledge the deadly attack on the Huthi-held Saada. "This is the latest in a long line of unjustifiable air strikes carried out by the Saudi-led coalition on places like schools, hospitals, markets, wedding parties and prisons," Ahmed Mahat, the MSF head of mission in Yemen, said. The Saudi-led coalition has pummeled the Arab world's poorest country with more than 23,000 air strikes since it intervened in 2015, killing at least 18,000 Yemeni civilians, UN experts said last year. With reporting by AFP and AP MOSCOW, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday criticized the U.S. Department of State for publishing a fact sheet full of false information about Russia's policy on Ukraine. The Russian ministry in a commentary called the sheet "an overt provocation" by Washington to publish the "Fact vs. Fiction: Russian Disinformation on Ukraine" just a day before Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in Geneva on Friday. The Russian Foreign Ministry provided article-by-article refutation on the U.S. fact sheet, saying that since Dec. 15, 2021, when Moscow officially sent Washington its draft treaty and agreement on security guarantees, the U.S. side has mostly made obvious attempts to drag out discussions at expert levels and in various formats. Meanwhile, the United States and its Western allies have launched a "very toxic information and propaganda campaign" by depicting Russia as an "aggressor," an "enemy of civilized Europe" and a "threat" to the international stability, the ministry said. It also blasted the Western countries' "endless threats of painful sanctions against Russia that are designed to bleed our economy dry." The Lavrov-Blinken negotiations in Geneva on Friday ended with no breakthroughs in the establishment of legally binding security guarantees between Russia and the West, with the Ukrainian crisis as a core issue. In 2019, the Moscow publishing house URSS put out a monograph by A. V. Nikolashchenko World Diamond Market. From Inception to the Present State. This very voluminous work (over 700 pages) was created by the author having over 35 years of experience in the diamond market as an employee of the Market Research Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Trade of the USSR, Almazyuvelirexport, and ALROSA. The abstract positions the work as the one slightly pulling back the curtain over the world of the diamond trade closed from outsiders and intended for specialists in the field of diamond mining and trade, diamond manufacture, as well as for economists, historians, political scientists. Such extensive monographs are published rather rarely. It is all the more surprising that in the two years that have passed since its publication, the book by Nikolashchenko has not received any serious reviews and responses in specialized publications. Perhaps, this is due to the fact that the book does not have an electronic version, and the circulation of its paper version turned out to be insufficient to cover an adequate audience. Meanwhile, the work by Nikolashchenko deserves the closest attention, at least, because of its rather unexpected claim to be absolutely exclusive. Neither in the Russian nor in the foreign press, the specifics of the diamond market and trade have never been covered in any detail by people professionally connected with this area. This book is an attempt of this kind1. How come!?, an astonished reader can exclaim. The collective monographs The History of Diamond (1997), The World Diamond Market (1999), World Diamond Production (2000), The Phenomena of the World Diamond Market and Russia (2017) are well known, as well as other comprehensive books; and the ALROSAs presidents, analysts of diamond companies and the Ministry of Finance, discoverers of diamond deposits, participants in negotiations with De Beers were among the authors and editors of these books. Is it possible to deny that those people were professionally connected with this area!? It turns out it is possible, dear reader! In the book by Nikolashchenko, you will not find a single reference to the listed works - apparently, in his view, their amateurish attempts are not worth mentioning. Although such a bold Nikolashchenkos move strongly resembles a joke about Lieutenant Rzhevsky and DArtanyan, popular in the Russian-speaking audience, I still have to admit that his book is really exclusive. But not so much in terms of any new information about the diamond market, as in the methodological principle used by the author. This principle can be briefly described as follows: the diamond market should be studied exclusively as a closed system of production and trade relations, without trying to explain the course of events by the factors lying outside the boundaries of the diamond market. To put it even simpler: you cannot interfere with politics in the market analysis, because in this case, it is a conspiracy based on rumours, conjectures and irrelevant information instead of analysis. Nikolashchenko writes, The most daring speculations said that De Beers was part of the global power brokers connected with the intelligence services of the leading world powers, with the British crown, as well as with the financial elite - from the Rothschilds to the Morgans. The monopoly seemed like some kind of octopus with tentacles to every part of the world, it seemed like an all-searching eye from which it was impossible to hide2. Further, as an example of this kind of harmful conjectures is a quotation from my book The Battles of the Diamond Barons (2013), to which the author has clearly negative emotions, and all ends with a peremptory verdict the bridge thrown to geopolitics collapsed at the slightest touch3. Nikolashchenko tries to consistently use this methodological principle declared on the first pages of his monograph through the entire text. The result is a very interesting experiment that consists in trying to free the diamond market from the influence of political factors as much as possible and studying the market in such a refined form. Lets try to assess how successful this experiment was. Most of Nikolashchenkos monograph is, in fact, a literary review of various public sources available in English, from comprehensive monographs to journal articles and corporate reports. The review is great! I have not seen anything like this in the Russian- or English-language literature on the diamond market. His impeccable scrupulousness in describing events, his attention to minor but vivid details, very particular details and nuances of mergers and acquisitions, an elegantly presented history of the pricing control mechanisms - all this makes the book by Nikolashchenko a must-buy for any analyst, journalist or historian writing on the diamond industry. And up to a certain point, the author succeeds in following this methodological principle; he devotes only a few lines even to the political biography of C. Rhodes, although huge volumes have been written about this exceptional man. Politics is separate, market is separate - no conspiracy! But everything changes when the author starts describing the diamond market during World War Two. At this point, the diamond market and geopolitics intersect so clearly that Nikolashchenkos methodological underpinnings burst like a soap bubble. Until now, no one in the world historiography has been able to give a clear answer to the question Where did Hitlerite Germany, fascist Italy and imperial Japan receive industrial diamonds from and on what terms? The Axis Powers did not control a single diamond mine, but their industry had been able to produce huge amounts of the most advanced weapons for many years using technologies identical to those used by the United States, England and the USSR. Therefore, the consumption of industrial diamonds should have been comparable, if not equal. And any researcher who has taken the trouble to study the history of the diamond market has to answer this question. Nikolashchenko also answered it: The Nazis continued to receive rough diamonds during the war. The US Office of Strategic Services (OSS, the forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency) found out that the source was the Forminiere mines in the Chicapa region, the Belgian Congo. The Belgian police chief in Leopoldville was involved in this. All the attempts to trace the chain further ended in the arrest of the informant and the deportation of the OSS agent from the country. De Beers was deeply involved in the diamond industry of the Belgian Congo, and was also involved in ensuring the security of the diamond mines, and could, at least, have information about what was happening4. Only one paragraph in the 700-page book, and no conspiracy. Unfortunately, thats not an answer. This is a farce. The Wehrmachts large formation of tanks, the Mussolinis Mediterranean armada, the excellent carrier-based aircraft of Japan could not arise and develop without industrial diamonds. And was all this provided by the native policeman from Leopoldville? The publicly available English-language sources used by Nikolashchenko to write his version of the diamond story do refer to the OSSs report, which tells about the leak of rough diamonds from the Belgian Congo to Germany in 1944. But this is just a small episode, that delivery did not cover even ten percent of the annual needs of the German (only German) military industry. Today, the documents of the Committee on captured enemy equipment chaired by K. Voroshilov are at our disposal; the Committee was engaged in recording the industrial diamonds and diamond tools captured by the USSR in the Third Reich. The amount of this equipment was impressive - at least, the volume equal to the 3-year consumption by the Soviet defense industry. These tools were enough for three years of work of the new Soviet factories manufacturing the turbojet engines copied from the German samples, and some tools were left for S. Korolev so that he could imitate the FAU-2 engines. And in the documentation captured with these rough diamonds and tools, the source of supply is clearly seen. And this was not the Belgian Congo. So, when another Wernher von Brauns masterpiece of engineering fell on the heads of the residents of Kent, Essex and Norfolk, they had to thank not the chief of the Belgian police for the unforgettable experience, the well-doer was much closer. The military industry of Nazi Germany did not suffer from a shortage of industrial diamonds from 1933 to 1945. Moreover, the supplier was so generous that the diamond tools captured by the USSR allowed the Soviets to create new industrial sectors in the engine building (the first Soviet plant for the production of diamond tools was launched only in 1959). The motives for this kind of supplies are convincingly described in the monograph by Guido Preparata Conjuring Hitler: How Britain and America Made the Third Reich and I will not dwell on them in detail here. I would only like to note that today, we have the opportunity to document these conspiracy theories. The beautiful and harmonious model of the refined diamond market collapses completely when Nikolashchenko comes to the export-import rough diamond operations and the formation of the USSR diamond industry. Here, we witness an outright fiasco. Were industrial diamonds imported to the USSR? It was not possible to find information on the import of rough diamonds to Tsarist Russia and the Soviet Union. Judging by individual references, they were imported, but the imports covered only about half of the countrys needs5. It was not possible to find, it is sad... In 2019... The first-ever book on the diamond market written by a professional, and such an unfortunate failure! All he should have done was to go to the State Archive of the Russian Federation, find case 965 in fund 5446 and open page 3. Voi la! The pattern of the USSRs rough diamond imports is given here as described in the report of the Peoples Commissar of Heavy Engineering V. Malyshev to A. Mikoyan, Chairman of the Economic Council under the Council of Peoples Commissars of the USSR. All the information is given - both in terms of money, for various years, the commissariats involved, and the areas of use. But there is no complaint that the imports met only half of the requirements. Because this is nonsense - how was the second half covered, in Nikolashchenkos opinion? Thanks to Holy Spirit or how? The document was declassified 20 years ago. But...it was not possible to find! However, Nikolashchenko did manage to do something, But M. F. Shestopalov initiated more than just an idea. The letter he wrote to I. V. Stalin, resulted in the establishment of a profile Geological Administration in 1946 that was later transformed into a Second Trust, which included the Central Geological Exploration Department (GED) the task of which was to search for diamond deposits. In 1946, M. F. Shestopalov was appointed the chief engineer and later the head of the VSEGEIs Central GED.6 (Note: VSEGEI is the A. P. Karpinsky Russian Geological Research Institute ed.). Generally speaking, mentioning the legendary diamond hero Shestopalov and his miraculous letter to Stalin vividly tells about the authors lack of adequate understanding of the development of the Soviet diamond industry. Another thing is striking - every author who enthusiastically tells about Shestopalovs letter to Stalin finds new details of this sacral deed that were not found in the previous tall stories. And where do they get them from? I have read the improbable stories about how Stalin sent a limousine and even an airplane to bring Shestopalov, how he stayed in a suite at the best hotels in Moscow, and how he spoke at the Kremlin angrily denouncing the stupid Stalins ministers of their unwillingness to explore and mine diamonds. Now, thanks to the efforts made by Nikolashchenko, Shestopalov was appointed to VSEGEI in 1946. Especially for Mr. Nikolashchenko and other lovers of diamond epic ballades, we publish a photo made in 1946 where Comrade Shestopalov is depicted in the uniform of a captain of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In this rank, Comrade Shestopalov served in 1946, in 1947, in 1948, and in 1949 and, of course, had no relation to VSEGEI. During these years, Comrade Shestopalov was the Chief Engineer of the Uralalmaz Trust, and concurrently Deputy Head of the Kusinsky Penal Labour Camp (KUSINLAG). And the letter written by Comrade Shestopalov to Comrade Stalin resulted in only one thing: instead of a prison uniform (on which L. Mekhlis, Minister of State Control Comrade, insisted for Shestopalov for his theft and sabotage) or even a bullet (on which the Minister of Non-Ferrous Metallurgy insisted), Comrade Shestopalov received the shoulder straps of the captain of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and was sent to be the head of the prison camp at the Ural diamond mines. Comrade Stalins sense of humor was... peculiar. While Shestopalovs adventures, although suitable for a book in the spirit of Dumas the Father, still do not critically affect the overall picture of the Soviet diamond industry development, another Nikolashchenkos revelation is much more serious. According to hints in some sources, it can be assumed that during the Second World War, the USSR bought rough diamonds for technical needs, and these purchases were made in England, which means, highly likely, through the rogue companies used by De Beers. With the onset of the Iron Curtain, the supplies stopped, which led to a surge in diamond prospecting and exploration in the country7. The mysterious hints in some sources - this is just the Pravda newspaper dated June 11, 1944, which provided accurate data on the supply of industrial diamonds from England under Lend-Lease. But the assertion that, with the onset of the Iron Curtain, the import of rough diamonds to the USSR stopped is an outright lie. The rough diamond supplies from England to the USSR did not stop in the post-war years, but increased several times compared to the pre-war supplies, and in 1952, they exceeded the pre-war supplies by an order of magnitude! As a result, Gokhran accumulated a rough diamond stock that met the needs of the Soviet industry for future 10-15 years. Consequently, the reason for the surge in diamond prospecting could in no way be associated with the fictitious diamond embargo. Since we published the archival documents on these deliveries in 2018 (that is, a year before the publication of the book by Nikolashchenko), I have to state that Nikolashchenko deliberately resorted to falsification fundamentally distorting the history. I could have mentioned many more serious mistakes in Nikolashchenkos book, but my publication would have turned into a book instead of an article. This is, perhaps, too early, since we have published so far no more than a quarter of the declassified archival documents that are at our disposal, and there are still many wonderful discoveries in the future. It should only be noted that we, as conspiracists relying on rumours and conjectures, are ready to put a dozen, or even a hundred, declassified archival documents to prove each of our conspiracy thesis, and we know exactly where the rest ones are. But in the epic work by Nikolashchenko, there is not a single correct reference to the archival documents. We would very much like to receive an answer from Nikolashchenko and other real experts in the rough and polished diamond trade to our question - why all the documents on the purchase of rough diamonds in England in 1951 to 1953 were classified top secret? Secret from whom? The Soviet side was in the know, the British side was in the know. Who shouldnt have known anything about these deals? About deals in London at the height of the Korean War, when the Soviet, British, American, Canadian, Australian, South African pilots shot down each other by the hundreds in the name of the triumph of the ideals of communism or democracy - whichever they preferred? And why is nothing mentioned about these supplies of industrial diamonds (perhaps, the largest ones in the history of the diamond market) in the English-language sources so carefully studied by Nikolashchenko? Isnt there a conspiracy, plot, tentacles of the global power brokers? Or heres another good question - why are the 2nd and 3rd volumes of the Report of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs Brigade on the Results of the Survey of the Vilyui Diamondiferous Region declassified, and the 1st volume is still classified? Volumes 2 and 3 describe in detail what diamond deposits should be developed by the GULAG in Yakutia in 1952, how many prison camps were to be set up for this, how many prisoners were required there, where roads were to be laid, where harbours and power plants were to be built. Whats in Volume 1? Well, we are the conspiracists guided by speculation, all sorts of rumours... So, we can assume (just assume, of course) that there is an explanatory note (as in any project) describing why the Yakut diamond deposits needed to be developed, where these rough diamonds were to be sent... Maybe, they were planned for an immediate export and the counterparty was indicated there. And maybe, out of respect for this counterparty today, 70 years later, such documents continue to remain classified in violation of all legislative norms. Why are the data, for example, on the mission of the officers (mining engineers) of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs to South Africa in 1946 to study the experience of diamond mining still classified? There is a decree signed by Stalin, and it has been declassified, but the report on this business trip is not available. The reader is completely at a loss - who was the host, who mined diamonds in South Africa in 1946? To be continued Sergey Goryainov, Rough&Polished 1 A. V. Nikolashchenko. World diamond market. M., URSS. P. 9-10. 2 A. V. Nikolashchenko. World diamond market. M., URSS. P. 10. 3 Ibidem. 4 A. V. Nikolashchenko. World diamond market. M., URSS. P. 461. 5 A. V. Nikolashchenko. World diamond market. M., URSS. P. 641. 6 A. V. Nikolashchenko. World diamond market. M., URSS. P. 619. 7 A. V. Nikolashchenko. World diamond market. M., URSS. P. 642. By Ali Gillani, Rough Diamond Evaluator at Trans Atlantic Gem Sales My wife asked me to buy her a gold ring: Wife: Can you buy me a gold ring as a present this year for my birthday? Me: Of course, I will buy you a nice diamond ring on your birthday. Wife: I dont want a diamond ring I want a gold ring. Me: But why, Honey? Wife: I want to buy a gold ring as an investment. Me: Buying a diamond ring can become an excellent investment if you buy a significant stone. Wife: Diamonds do not have an intrinsic value I will not be able to resell it at the same price or more than the price I buy it; therefore, it is an investment with no deal. Me: Ok, I understand your point, but I am a diamond expert. I will buy an excellent Round Shape, a 1 Carat, F Color, VS clarity stone is a good investment product, and even the price will appreciate with time. Wife: If I need or want to sell my ring at some point, where do I find the right market to sell it? Secondly, if I find a place to sell it, how do I find out the prevailing price of my diamond ? Unlike Gold, which has a uniform price per gram worldwide, while selling my diamond, I must believe the price offered by the salesman because I have no relevant price reference for diamonds. Me: Ok, honey, I will buy a gold ring. In the above conversation with my wife, you must have noticed that I failed to convince her to buy a diamond ring . The questions she has asked are straightforward but are directed to a significant problem being a diamond trader, selling millions of dollars of rough diamonds all my life, I could not answer those simple questions asked by a consumer. Why was I not able to answer my wife? Transparency of pricing at consumer level: Diamond Traders, Manufacturers, and Governing bodies emphasize traceability of origin information to specify the standards so that consumers know where the diamond they are buying originates from. The regulating bodies ensure that diamonds should not trade with illegitimate funding, not be used for money laundering, or that diamond mining is doing no harm and stressing the importance of due diligence. Still, NO ONE TALKS ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE PRICING PROCESS FROM TRADERS TO RETAILERS TO THE CONSUMER LEVEL. The clarity in the pricing process is the key to buying a diamond by a consumer for wealth preservation. Diamonds are not trading as a commodity: Diamonds are a commodity, and their value can go up and down like any other commodity. Yet, there is no universal pricing index available for consumers to buy and sell diamonds. For example, the transactional prices of gold and silver commodities are available in ounces, grams, and kilograms in the market tracker section of almost every newspaper or internet platform. Yet, there is no such information available for consumers who buy diamonds. There is a counter-argument about the fungibility problem in diamonds as a commodity. However, significant diamonds of higher grade could formalize to indicate the prevailing prices to the consumer or something along the lines of the Rapnet price list that is available only to traders should be open to the consumer for buying diamonds as a commodity and wealth preservation. 2. Consumer-driven pricing system: Today, the internet provides a piece of free-flowing information to everyone worldwide. Keeping the prices of any product secret is near to impossible. Social media and consumer feedbacks are challenging for a company to set prices on their own. The same formula applies to diamond trading as a commodity let the consumer decide what diamond to purchase and set the price they are willing to pay for it. The retailers must focus on providing general education to the consumer to understand the characteristics specified on a certificate of a specific diamond that count towards its value. Let the consumer analyze the characteristics of a diamond and match it with the price list to determine the actual value of a diamond. How does a Layman Buy A Diamond? Diamonds are a luxury product, and only the rich can keep them in their investment portfolio. This statement is valid to some extent, but diamonds can also be a part of an investment portfolio of an average earning layman. The question is what type of diamond to buy that can easily be resold with price appreciation? The most important thing is to buy a certified diamond When I say certified, it means a certificate from an authentic lab like GIA & HRD DO NOT BUY A DIAMOND WITH A CERTIFICATE PROVIDED BY A SHOP. Secondly, buy a Round brilliant diamond because it is the most popular diamond shape with more price appreciation at resale. Lastly, I dont think the enormous size of the diamond is more valuable than the smaller one, and it is the most common mistake people make when they buy a diamond for wealth preservation. Always buy the best quality, which means an Excellent Cut grade with higher Color and Clarity. Any round-shaped diamond that ranges between 0.39 and 10+ carats with the best rate is an asset to add to your investment portfolio. Conclusion: One should understand that there will be a supply shortage in diamonds because rough diamonds are dominated by a handful of companies such as De Beers, Alrosa, and Rio-Tinto. They hold more than 60% of the global diamond mine production. Last year, we witnessed a shortage of polished diamonds, which plummeted consumer demand. We need to improve price transparency from Trader to Retailer to Consumer by introducing an easy-to-understand Diamond Price Book For The Consumer for significant small-sized diamonds. A non-specialist can buy a diamond at a low price to sell at a higher price. We must give consumers a good reason to add a diamond to their investment portfolio, and diamonds should trade like any other commodity. Further to the conversation with my wife, explaining to her the value of buying a diamond for wealth preservation: Me: I am sure now you understand why I suggested you buy a diamond ring. Wife: All right, I know you fought tooth and nail to convince me to buy a diamond but lets try with a small one, half a carat round shape with an excellent cut. Me: Lets shop! The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity. No one should act upon any opinion or information without consulting a qualified professional adviser After nearly 12 years on the market, the former site of the oldest school in Santee has finally been sold. The Santee School District School Board on Aug. 15 accepted a bid for $11.1 million from the Lincoln Property Co., locally known as LPC West, for the13-acre parcel at 10335 Mission Gorge Road near Cottonwood Avenue. School Superintendent Kristin Baranski said the proceeds from the Santee School sale will be used for building modernization throughout the district. Santee City Councilman Ronn Hall said he has been in talks with LPC West about development on that site, including restaurants or mixed-use housing with businesses. Santee Elementary School, built in 1891, was closed in 2003 because of declining enrollment. The schools population dropped by 300 in the five years leading up to its closure. Advertisement The district saved about $600,000 annually when it closed the school, but has struggled since then to sell or lease it for a variety of reasons. In 2005, a housing developer withdrew an offer to buy the site for $14 million after city officials said they wanted to see stores on the property. Plans from 2011 for a lease to a Los Angeles-area retail developer for at least $250,000 annually were scrapped. In 2015, only one company met the districts then-required $8.5 million minimum bid, with Shea Properties offering $8.63 million, but that deal never went through. The minimum bid this year was $9 million. Three groups were in the running for the property LPC West, Haagen Co. and Cameron Brothers. Santee School Board President Elana Levens-Craig said that at a subsequent board meeting, a purchase and sale agreement will need to be approved. The district will then make final plans to work with a brokerage firm for the sale. Then escrow will open, which could be as long as a year, Levens-Craig said. During the escrow period, the developer will work with the city to obtain approval of their plans. Part of the site, vacant for more than a decade, was under the jurisdiction of the Santee City Council. Last September, the council agreed at a public hearing to change the zoning type for a portion of the land so that the entire area would be available to potential buyers. In April, Santee City Manager Marlene Best, Mayor John Minto, Hall, and Santee Economic Development Manager Pam White attended the International Council of Shopping Centers convention in Las Vegas. While there, they as well as a marketing broker hired by the school district spoke to several interested parties about the former school site, including LPC representatives. The group handed out to developers a 53-page marketing document that the city and school district worked on together. It included color maps of where other popular retail chains are located in relation to the property and highlights of the community. It touted Santees schools, parks, recreation opportunities, public transportation availability and quality of life. It noted that the citys population of nearly 57,000 has a median income of nearly $79,000, highest in East County and seventh highest of the 18 cities in San Diego County. Hall said he and one of the developers talked about coming in with a big store, like Bass Pro Shops. Hall said discussion also centered around something similar to Stater Brothers or a small restaurant row, maybe with some housing. Hall said that the Mission Gorge site is part of a vision he has for Santee as a go-to destination, with unique offerings not found elsewhere. The city has plans to open a theater and full-service restaurant as soon as next year on a 7-acre parcel at Towne Center Parkway, next to the Parc One apartment complex that recently became available. These properties are zoned for job-creating types of development, Best said. This means new jobs, new revenue, new services in Santee. The former school site is near other retail outlets and is close to Gillespie Field. The land has most recently been home to a Little League, was once the site of a farmers market and is used occasionally by the Santee Chamber of Commerce. karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com by Xinhua writers Shang Hao, Lyu Yingxu, Wang Hao JERUSALEM, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Though 4,000 miles (about 6,437.4 km) away from each other, China and Israel, since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, have seen bilateral cooperation developing and expanding to the great mutual benefit. Especially in 2017, China and Israel announced the establishment of innovative comprehensive partnership, which opened a new chapter of their friendly cooperation. From the Belt and Road cooperation to technology and innovation exchanges, over the years, China-Israel relations have achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields. BRI PROMOTES COOPERATION Busily and efficiently, the new port in northern Israeli city of Haifa, a transportation and industrial center of the country, deals with tons of cargo every day. Inaugurated in September 2021, this port is expected to decrease import costs and present an economic boon for Israel, where most international trade is handled via maritime routes. The new port is an automated container port constructed primarily by the China Shanghai International Port Group, which was franchised to run the new port for 25 years. With 1.7-billion-U.S.-dollar investment, the new port has an annual handling capacity of 1.86 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs). "The new port opened a new gateway to the world," said Merav Michaeli, Israeli transportation and road safety minister, at the inauguration ceremony, adding that the new port will accelerate Israel's economic development, increase export and trade, bridge social gaps and lower prices. Supported by the Israeli government, the Haifa new port becomes a microcosm of the win-win cooperation between China and Israel, under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aiming at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes. Data released by the Israeli Ministry of Transportation shows that the country is now investing 4-5 billion dollars each year to upgrade its transport infrastructure and is building airports, seaports, railroad tracks, roads and tunnels, which reflects the huge complementarity of the respective economic advantages between the two countries. In recent years, Chinese companies are handling major infrastructure and transportation projects in Israel, including winning the tenders to build new ports in Haifa and southern Israeli city of Ashdod, as well as building a key section of the Tel Aviv light rail system. Chinese companies and investment have brought tangible benefits to Israel. So far, over 30 Chinese enterprises are operating in Israel, creating around 10,000 jobs for Israel, figures from the Chinese embassy in Israel show. "The Belt and Road Initiative is a vision that reflects the ability of people to connect and work together across the world, to build bridges for all peoples, and eventually a better future for all," said former Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. INNOVATION AS BOOSTER During the past 30 years, innovation has been playing one of the leading roles in promoting China-Israel relations, especially after the establishment of their innovative comprehensive partnership in 2017. "Israel is widely regarded as the innovation hub of the world, but its economy size is limited, while China is a giant economy with significant manufacturing power, which makes Israel and China the perfect match and highly complementary," said Qiang Hao, general manager of the China-Israel (Shanghai) Innovation Park. Also, as China is transforming the economy to focus quality-oriented development, innovation cooperation between China and Israel has started to span from modern agriculture to medical devices, from cybersecurity to smart cities. Eying China's tremendous market, Israel is trying to form a long-term strategic relationship with the oriental country. Supported by the two governments, more and more Israeli start-up companies have obtained investment from China and accesses to its market. China-Israel Changzhou Innovation Park, the first experimental zone for innovation cooperation established by the two governments and inaugurated in 2015, can be an example. Located in east China's Jiangsu Province, the park provides physical proximity for Israeli firms to get funds and collaborate with Chinese companies in industrial research and development, becoming a prototype project for innovative cooperation between the two countries. "By the end of 2021, the park has gathered 155 Israeli-owned and China-Israeli joint ventures and facilitated 40 China-Israel scientific and technological cooperation projects," said Chen Shunming, deputy director of the management office of the park. Another milestone in scientific cooperation between the two countries is the China-Israel (Shanghai) Innovation Park inaugurated in 2019. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, some 70 companies were attracted to operate in the park with an outcome of some 200 intellectual property rights, according to Qiang, general manager of the park. Focusing on design innovation, Israeli company GIAYO Studio began operating in the park in last August. "I think we bring something new, new design, new experience and new product to our customers," said Roy Grinfield, founder of GIAYO Studio. "I think China is amazing at the moment. There are so many opportunities here. We're currently recruiting and trying to grow the team, because we have a lot of requests from new clients. We have big plans for 2022," said Grinfield. Like Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a phone conversation with his Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog, in November, "Innovation has become a highlight and booster of bilateral relations." MORE FRUITFUL OUTCOMES EXPECTED "A decade ago, very little was happening between our two countries. In the subsequent years, relations grew significantly on almost every front, from academic exchange and cooperation to scientific collaboration and joint research, from business investment to infrastructure development," said Carice Witte, founder & executive director of Sino-Israel Global Network & Academic Leadership, an Israeli policy organization that specializes on China-Israel relations. Despite setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries have not stopped their efforts to enhance cooperation. Data from China Customs showed that bilateral trade in goods between China and Israel amounted to 20.4 billion dollars in 2021 from January to November, up 28.9 percent year-on-year. Also, China and Israel are working on a bilateral free trade agreement, which will boost the economic cooperation and bring more benefits to people and businesses from both sides. As the year of 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties, people from the two countries are looking forward to further cooperation in all areas for mutual benefit. Yoav Kisch, member of Knesset, the Israeli parliament, described China as a growing player in the Middle East "without using military force at all, but only as of its strength in the economic and tech areas." "I believe that Israel must develop a rational, wise, and close relationship with China, which is a great friend and a leading country with growing influence," said Kisch. According to Chen, the China-Israel Changzhou Innovation Park will be expanded from five square kilometers to 72.8 square kilometers. "We will build the park into a model of innovative comprehensive partnership between the two countries and help apply the innovation resources and technological achievements from Israel to Chinese industries," said Chen. "I hope that the two countries will promote cooperation in innovation of life and health, and overcome the COVID-19 pandemic as soon as possible," said Qiang. He also hoped that the ending of the pandemic and China-Israel interaction and cooperation without COVID-19 limitations will bring bilateral ties "to a new level." Dai Yuming, charge d'affaires ad interim at the embassy of China in Israel, made an analogy saying China's growth is like an express train heading to the future despite all odds. "We welcome all countries, including Israel, to hop onto the train and get a share from China's growth dividends," said the Chinese diplomat. Enditem (Xinhua reporters Wang Jingyuan, Yang Kai and Xu Xiaoqing in Shanghai, Chen Shengwei and Zhang Zhanpeng in Nanjing also contributed to the story.) Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam attends a press conference in Hong Kong, south China, Jan. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai) HONG KONG, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong reported 26 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours on Saturday, taking the total tally to 13,146, according to data from the Center for Health Protection. The newly reported cases consist of one imported case, 19 cases epidemiologically linked with imported cases, three local cases, and three cases epidemiologically linked with local cases. Twenty-five of the cases involve mutant strains, and the mutation test result of one case is pending, the center said. Meanwhile, the whole genome sequencing analysis of 11 cases announced earlier confirmed they all carried the Omicron variant of COVID-19, bringing the total number of Omicron infections to 517 in Hong Kong. Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, told a press conference Saturday that Hong Kong residents should avoid unnecessary gatherings recently, and those who have not been vaccinated should get vaccinated as soon as possible. Since the launch of a mass inoculation program in February 2021, about 5.23 million people, or 77.7 percent of the eligible population, have taken at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, while about 4.74 million, or 70.5 percent of the eligible population, have taken two doses. Meanwhile, 776,322 people in Hong Kong have taken the third booster shot as of 8:00 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) Saturday. 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. Late last year, members of a Black family from the North Bay alleged that an appraiser lowballed them by hundreds of thousands of dollars before they whitewashed their home. It was only after they removed personal items and asked a white friend to stand in for a second appraisal, according to the familys lawsuit, that the homes perceived value shot up by $487,500. The case was an extreme example of similar complaints by non-white homeowners from Oakland to Stockton to Los Angeles, putting high-priced California at the center of a national debate over how to address concerns about lingering racism in the home appraisal process. Last week, a new report to federal financial regulators cites the North Bay familys case in a review of how racial bias in home appraisals has evolved since last centurys explicitly discriminatory housing laws and lays out a potential path to reform. Among the recommendations: changing the way appraisals are regulated, doing more to diversify the ranks of appraisers and releasing more federal appraisal data. As it stands, local fair housing attorneys say the appraisal process can amount to present-day redlining, because of how non-white residents are still disproportionately locked out of the wealth that favorable home financing can provide. But its only in recent years, the report notes, that more cases like the North Bay familys have made it to the courts and media. Its not that the problems didnt exist before, said Peter Christensen, an attorney who contributed to the new report to appraisal regulators. But the complaints that were hearing now thats the new phenomenon. Cases like the one brought by Paul Austin and Tenisha Tate-Austin in Marin City illustrate how high the financial stakes of appraisal issues can be in expensive housing markets like the Bay Area. The North Bay couple alleged in a federal fair housing lawsuit last year that their renovated home was unreasonably devalued by an appraiser initially hired during a refinancing. That is, until the family ordered a second appraisal, swapped their own photos with a white friends and left their home during the follow-up visit. The Austins erased any evidence of their racial identities inside their house, even asking a white friend to pose as the homeowner during the inspection, according to the lawsuit. This different appraiser arrived at a value of $1,482,500 nearly half a million dollars higher. Part of the challenge in addressing concerns like the Austin familys is that appraisals are a technical and subjective business, which the new report notes is largely self-regulated and severely lacking non-white professionals. A private organization, The Appraisal Foundation, was authorized by Congress in 1989 to set most day-to-day standards. States have their own oversight agencies to clarify localized standards, like Californias Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers. The new report was created for regulators on an Appraisal Subcommittee of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, an interagency group with ties to agencies including the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The appraisal report was authored by the National Fair Housing Alliance and attorneys focused on fair housing and appraisals. In addition to the appraisal industrys unusual system for regulation, the new report explains how the process grew out of the countrys legacy of discriminatory housing policies that relied on an unfounded association between race and risk. One 1967 appraisal textbook quoted in the report noted that values change when people who are different from those presently occupying an area advance into and infiltrate a neighborhood. Many state and federal laws have since barred racial discrimination in housing, and government bodies like the Federal Housing Financing Agency have specified in recent years that racial and ethnic composition of the neighborhood should never be a factor that influences the value of a familys home. Industry groups including the Appraisal Foundation have also vowed to invest in rooting out bias. Still, the new report cites current examples of appraisers injecting racially coded language into reports, like one unspecified instance where a once White-Only neighborhood was also described as a White-Flight Red-Zone that is now mostly Working-Class Black. It all comes with a high financial cost. The Brookings Institution estimates that owner-occupied homes in majority-Black U.S. neighborhoods are undervalued by some $156 billion. Freddie Mac has calculated a 5.2% appraisal gap between white and Black neighborhoods, where about 12.5% of properties in Black census tracts receive a lower appraised value than the contract price, compared to 7.4% of properties in white areas. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The issue was not limited to just a few bad apples, the new report noted. Rather, the majority of appraisers reviewed were more likely to show an appraisal gap for properties in Black or Latino census tracts. Report contributor Christensen notes that frustration with appraisals has become widespread, transcending racial lines, during the surge in COVID-era bidding wars and low-interest refinancing. In busy markets like the Bay Area, it can take weeks to arrange an appraisal, and the results are often difficult for home buyers or owners to contest. The report the first of several expected to propose new reforms to regulators in the coming months suggests several ways to both ease the pressure and increase equity. To lower barriers to entry to becoming an appraiser, the report suggests revising requirements for the number of hours would-be appraisers must work, and whether they must work under a supervisor already well-connected in the field. The authors also propose ways to change the power structure of the governing Appraisal Foundation. Among the suggestions are repealing a requirement for financial donations to appoint board members, and adding consumer and civil rights advocates to the body. Christensen said policymakers could ultimately go farther. Theyre like, How is it that this private group of people over there is making all these rules and standards? Christensen said. That is something that will really be looked at. Lauren Hepler is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hepler@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LAHepler What is believed to be a national first is happening in an East Bay Assembly race: Two of the top candidates are refusing to take corporate campaign contributions. There have been top candidates who have refused corporate cash before, most prominently Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. But two in the same field would be unheard of, especially for a state house race, said Mike Oles, national field director for Our Revolution the Sanders-inspired organization whose endorsed candidates frequently make similar pledges. This is a high-water mark for progressives. Said Bill Wong, political director for the California Assembly Democrats and a 34-year veteran of politics: Ive never heard of such a thing. Its another sign of the frustration and anger toward a corporate class that has profited during the pandemic while the working class particularly people of color have borne the brunt of COVIDs impact. In Washington, Democratic senators are about to introduce a measure that would ban for-profit corporations from creating and managing political action committees. Its also a statement of a candidate or an organizations values. Next month, the California Democratic Party is scheduled to decide whether to forgo contributions from fossil fuel companies and police unions. That federal legislation is unlikely to go anywhere in gridlocked Washington, but whats happening in the 20th Assembly District, which is centered in Hayward and stretches east toward Dublin, will be watched nationally. It is a test albeit in the laboratory of a safe Democratic, largely working class district of whether candidates can raise enough money through unions and individual donors to win without mainlining corporate cash. It wont be easy. It takes $900,000 to $1.3 million to fund an Assembly campaign, Wong estimates. Jennifer Esteen knows how tough it is to raise money without taking corporate donations. The 41-year-old nurse and union organizer is one of the candidates who has taken the pledge. She spends three hours a day, four days a week on what political candidates refer to as call time. Dialing for campaign dollars. One of the first questions people ask me is, How much money have you raised so far? Esteen told me. And Im like, Oh, my God, again with this? She said that since starting her campaign in July, she has raised $165,000 from about 800 individuals who have made about 1,000 contributions. Thats more than most people make in a year, Esteen said. Thats more than a lot of people make in several years. True. And in that context, it may sound like a lot of money, but its not in terms of what it takes to run a campaign in California. Born and raised in Louisiana, she couldnt tap into family money or a network of rich friends for help. Her dad was a teacher, her mom a nurse. They are giving the campaign $30 a month. One of her campaign volunteers urged Esteen to hit up her extended family for contributions. Esteen replied that many of them had more pressing concerns like evacuating from Hurricane Ida last summer. Her fellow politicos were not much more sympathetic. When she told several current and former legislators about her plan to go corporate-free, their reaction was swift and definitive. One said, Thats stupid. Literally, thats a direct quote, Esteen said. Another told her, You should figure out how to walk that back. Shes not going to walk it back. This is a system that makes us have to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars just to get access to a seat of power with 120 people in the Legislature, Esteen said. We have to bring fresh ideas, fresh conscientiousness and if we dont, then we end up with the same. And, frankly, I dont want the same. Joining her in the no-corporate cash pledge is Liz Ortega, executive secretary-treasurer of the Alameda Labor Council. After more than two decades in the labor movement, Ortega said she wanted her campaign to reflect my values, and who I am as a person and professionally. I represent workers and communities who have struggled through this pandemic. And I want to make sure that my campaign and the folks that are contributing to it are a reflection of those values, Ortega, 44, said. Ortega said the move is a reflection of the times. People are upset and angry. Weve seen folks getting richer, corporations getting richer, while the rest of us are struggling. Besides, she said, Teslas (headquarters) are in my backyard. I do not see Elon Musk writing me a check. A third candidate in the race, Shawn Kumagai, did not make a similar pledge. The Dublin City Council member, the only elected official in the race, said that no matter whom he accepts campaign contributions from Im always going to vote for my constituents. 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. I have taken money from developers and its kind of interesting to me that they become so vilified in our local political discussion, Kumagai, 44, said at a recent candidate forum sponsored by the TriValley Democratic Club. Theyre the ones that are building our homes. Theyre the ones that are working with the (building trades unions) to make sure that were providing homes and commercial development in our communities. (Quick aside: Kumagai won the clubs endorsement. Then again, hes the hometown candidate who most club members knew. The clubs president told me he doubted the no-corporate pledge was much of a factor in the endorsement.) Kumagai said that hes taken contributions from developers and voted against their projects, just like hes accepted union money and voted against their interests. But, he, too, has drawn the line on whose money is dirty. Nothing from tobacco or fossil fuel companies and nothing from police unions for him. Thats the challenge with making a blanket no-corporate cash pledge. What is a corporation? Do Native American tribes count? They run hotels and casinos and donate a ton of money to political campaigns. Esteen and Ortega are raising a lot of challenging questions at least for Democrats. For Republicans, this isnt an issue. The more corporate cash, the merrier. With police unions, you know, theyre still union members and weve always taken union money, Wong said. Do we not take nurse money if the nurses union works with a health care corporation? It just goes down this kind of rabbit hole. Wong said, Were in this era of kind of a purity test, but its not altogether clear. I think its gonna be hard to really find something that is an absolutely pure source of money. I asked Ortega if she was comfortable not taking any corporate money, even if it was from a corporation that didnt hold any anti-union positions. Is she closing the door on everybody? Im closing the door, Ortega said, to corporations. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The rare winter coastal blaze near Big Sur, dubbed the Colorado Fire, threatened 200 structures Sunday after overnight winds pushed flames onward before calming somewhat, and fire crews fought to increase containment beyond 35%. Hundreds of people remained evacuated. Highway 1 remained closed Sunday evening from Andrew Molera State Park in the Big Sur area to Granite Canyon Bridge just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Caltrans said. Residents of about 500 homes who had been forced to flee after the blaze erupted Friday waited Sunday for the flames to abate so evacuation orders could be lifted, said Cecile Juliette, a Cal Fire spokesperson. No injuries were reported, though the evacuation remained in place Sunday night. Juliette said the area where the fire was burning is not heavily populated, although a community in the region was threatened by the flames. The amount of acreage consumed so far was actually reduced to 700 acres on Sunday because of more accurate mapping, Cal Fire said. Fire crews increased containment of the blaze to 35%. The eruption of the January blaze underscored a warning increasingly issued by Cal Fire amid wildfire seasons that have been longer and fiercer in recent years: Californias fire season now is almost year-round. Usually were sliding, not burning, said Monterey County spokesperson Maia Carroll said Sunday in reference to wet-weather mudslides that sometimes make Highway 1 impassable. We get some pretty big fires in Big Sur so this is something wed expect in the late summer. Its very unusual. The Colorado Fire at one point jumped Highway 1, to the west side of the scenic coastal route, the California Highway Patrol said. Photos over the weekend showed the flames lighting up the sky along the roadway and burning near the routes often-photographed Bixby Bridge. Weather forecasts anticipate breezier conditions moving into Monterey County on Tuesday, with 15 to 20 mph winds not as strong as gusts that whipped up the Colorado Fire on Friday and Saturday. The weather should remain fairly quiet, said David King, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Firefighters hope that expected higher humidity heading into Monday will help dampen the dry ground vegetation and pine needles that fueled the blaze. Humidity levels approaching 40% were forecast by Tuesday morning, up from 20% to 30% during the weekend. Were starting to see gradual improvement, but its still pretty dry, King said. Juliette called wildfires at this time of year extremely rare, but becoming more commonplace. She added, Its the multiyear drought, climate change and a hundred years of great fire suppression. Dousing wildfires over many decades instead of leaving more acreage to burn naturally has meant that unburned underbrush and ground vegetation have built up into dry, dense beds of fuel that intensify fires. Despite periods of soggy weather in recent months, the vegetation dried out quickly enough to spark and spread the flames. The Colorado Fire is the first in a decade to surpass 100 acres in the immediate coastal vicinity of its burn area, though some, including the large and costly 2016 Sobranes Fire, burned nearby, Juliette 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. National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Walbrun characterized Californias long drought as acting like a chronic illness where even recent rains and cold winter (weather) isnt helping to keep fires from developing, A boil water notice was in place for the evacuation zones because of damage to local water infrastructure and loss of pressure from power failures. Residents were advised to use bottled water or boiled water. The Red Cross opened a shelter for evacuees at Carmel Middle School, but few people came through and it was set to close Monday morning. When it comes to fires in Big Sur, were very resilient and used to being evacuated; a lot have places to stay, Carroll said. The countys SPCA supplied pet food and pet supplies, and said it was housing six cat evacuees and a dog. Gwendolyn Wu is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: gwendolyn.wu@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @gwendolynawu Beach-goers along San Francisco Bay Area coastlines should beware of sneaker waves starting on Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon, National Weather Service officials said Saturday. Sneaker waves, named for their nature of sneaking up unexpectedly along the coast, are capable of pulling humans and animals into the cold waters even at 1 to 2 feet of height, said Roger Gass, a meteorologist with the National Weather Services Bay Area office. A lot of times the waters can look very calm and quiet and one of these waves will approach the coast and it basically catches people off guard, Gass said. Long period swells are initially only going to be about 1 to 2 feet in height, but theyre coming in at about 20 to 22 seconds. There will be long lulls of up to 30 minutes between hazardous waves, weather service officials said. Gass said the waters can look deceptively calm looking in these types of situations before a sneaker wave reaches the shoreline. During a tragic 7-week stretch last winter, eight people were fatally swept into the ocean along the Northern California coast. All occurred on days authorities had issued coastal hazard warnings about sneaker waves, extreme high tides and rip currents. Gass cautioned that the sneaker wave swells can be between 1 and 2 feet in the open ocean, but can break and reach up to 6 feet by the time it hits the coastline. National Weather Service officials said on Twitter that 3 to 6 foot waves are enough to overtake a human and knock them off of rocks, outcroppings, etc and into the ocean where the risk of hypothermia any other hazards is high. People can still safely visit beaches along the Bay Area and central coast beaches, Gass said, but cautioned beach goers to stay a comfortable distance from the water, never turn their back to the beach and warned the coastal rocks and jetties are susceptible to sneaker waves. 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. A lot of people playing on those rocks and jetties, you can get a wave every once in a while that is going to be larger than what youre expecting, and they can come crashing on the rocks and jetties as well, and pull people into the ocean, Gass said. The sneaker wave hazard will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday and last through 1 p.m. Monday. Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez The battle over abortion continues to be one of the most divisive issues in America, despite the constitutional ruling made exactly 49 years ago Saturday backing a womans right to choose. On the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade, as in most years past, activists from both sides again gathered in the Bay Area and across the country to hold competing events and rallies celebrating or denouncing the decision. But this year was different because the stakes have never been higher. While federal courts have heard cases for years that sought to limit abortion access and weaken reproductive choice, the current Supreme Court has shown unprecedented sympathy to laws that could upend Roe v. Wade entirely. Within a matter of months, a majority of justices on the nations highest tribunal could effectively overturn Roe and send reproductive rights back a half-century. The constitutional right established in Roe v. Wade 49 years ago today is under assault as never before, said President Biden in a statement. We must recommit to strengthening access to reproductive care, defending the right established by Roe, and protecting the freedom of all people to build their own future. Bay Area representatives noted the anniversary with a sense of foreboding. Today, America marks nearly half a century since the courts affirmed the constitutional right of every woman to have the freedom to make her own decisions about her body, health and family, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. But, Roe v. Wade now faces its most alarming threat in decades. Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed to uphold the right to abortion in California. Were committed to not just protecting the constitutional right to abortion, but to expanding access to reproductive care, Newsom said during a virtual rally Saturday. While some of the others are working to turn back the clock, we will never waver on our commitment to ensuring California remains a beacon of hope for reproductive freedom nationwide. The historic Roe v. Wade ruling made abortions legal until a fetus could survive outside the womb, which is typically around 24 weeks. The Supreme Court is expected to rule in coming months on the constitutionality of a Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15 weeks. If the Mississippi law is not overturned by the nations highest court, more than 20 states will follow, dramatically curtailing abortion rights or seeking outright bans, with laws ready to go into effect immediately, according to the Associated Press. California lawmakers are also considering a plan to make California a sanctuary state for those seeking reproductive care, which could include paying for travel, lodging and procedures for people coming from other states. Roe v. Wade didnt mark the beginning of women getting abortions, it marked the end of women dying through abortions, said California first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. So today we are here to say we wont go back. The Supreme Court, however, has already weighed in on a Texas law, which, in September, banned abortions after six weeks, with an enforcement mechanism that gives private citizens the right to sue anyone who aids or abets any termination of pregnancy after that. A majority of justices declined to intervene in the case, meaning challenges will continue in state court rather than federal court, where a 5th Circuit judge had previously blocked the law. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. In San Francisco, abortion opponents gathered at Civic Center Plaza for a rally and Walk for Life event, which was organized in part by the Silent No More Campaign, which promotes testimony from those whove chosen an abortion and regretted it. Congresswoman Jackie Speier, however, offered her own testimony on Saturday. Lets talk about the facts 1 in 4 women has had an abortion & benefited from the freedom to make that decision, she said in a tweet. Im 1 of those women. The abortion I had later in pregnancy saved my life & allowed me to have another child, care for my family & dedicate my life to public service. Speier then posted a photo of herself in Washington, D.C., at a large abortion rights rally. Todays anniversary of Roe v. Wade is cast in shadow, she said. Were facing the possibility there may not be a 50th anniversary. But our fight for Roe, & for better than Roe, will never end. In a statement, Speier took aim directly at six of the Supreme Court justices who declined to hear the Texas case. I refuse to allow six people to tell 80 percent of the population that their interests dont count, that precedent in the Supreme Court doesnt count, she said. I refuse to accept that the Supreme Court can turn back the clock to a time when women were not allowed the freedom to choose what to do with their bodies. Jill Tucker and Danielle Echeverria are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com danielle.echeverria@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker @danielleechev SHANGHAI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai recorded 60 new regional headquarters of multinationals in 2021, bringing the total number of such regional headquarters to 831, said Gong Zheng, the mayor of Shanghai, at a press conference Sunday. The number of foreign-invested research centers in Shanghai reached 506, with a rise of 25 in 2021. "The city remains a hot destination for foreign investment to expand their industrial chains and beef up innovation," said Gong. Statistics showed the actual use of foreign capital in Shanghai reached 22.55 billion U.S. dollars last year, up 11.5 percent year on year, a record high despite COVID-19. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Redress for historical injustices was a focus during Rep. Barbara Lees panel discussion on racial healing and reparations on Jan. 18, which is why the Oakland Democrat also talked about her House bill to create a Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Commission to study slaverys legacy in the U.S. In the nearly two years since being introduced, the bill hasnt received a committee hearing, much less a vote on the House or Senate floor. Calling this legislation a long shot would be too kind. Congress is jammed up by angry Republicans and moderate Democrats aligning themselves with conservative agendas. This is the kind of environment where forward-thinking legislation like Lees gets introduced, then quickly dies. I understand the political context were all dealing with, she said during the panel. What shes saying is she understands America. This country was founded on the violent, subhuman treatment of people with melanated skin. It has rarely chosen to look back. Other, braver countries have reaped the benefits of interrogating past sins. A key difference is they didnt wait hundreds of years to do so. South Africa started its Commission of Truth and Reconciliation one year after the countrys 34-year apartheid regime ended in 1994 to explore painful human rights violations, including abductions and killings. The commissions discoveries led to sweeping reforms in health care and educational institutions, along with reparations for the families of victims. About 60 years after mandatory attendance for Canadas brutal Indian residential school system ended, the country created its own Truth and Reconciliation Commission. From the late 1800s to the mid-1940s, this school system prioritized the erasure of Indigenous culture in Canada. Earlier this month, Canadas government agreed to pay $31.5 billion to fix countrys welfare system and to pay reparations to indigenous people harmed by it, a settlement aided by what the country learned from its commission. Chattel slavery cemented Americas racial hierarchy where whiteness is at the top and people of color are at the bottom. California sees this in modern racial disparities in vaccine access issues for the Black and brown communities hardest hit by the pandemic; Black homeowners facing modern day redlining; and the achievement gaps between white students and Black, Latino and poor students. Yet the closest thing America has to any of the aforementioned commissions is Californias first-in-the-nation reparations task force, which started in 2021, roughly 400 years after slavery first began and 156 years after Congress abolished it. Californias task force understands the landscape its navigating. Last year, the group spent a significant amount of time in its public meetings breaking down chattel slaverys history in America, including California. Based on the upcoming agenda for its Jan. 27-28 meetings, the topics have matured into nuanced terrain: discrimination in technology, reparations eligibility and how the disenfranchisement of the Black community impacts our mental health. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The lack of serious consideration for Lees bill should serve as a reminder that America has a limited desire to dive deep into the ways slaverys legacy still shapes this country. It may also indicate that Californias reparations task force faces an even greater challenge this year in educating an increasingly apathetic public about the past. We cant assume California is immune to a specific, modern struggle we see throughout America: an inability to reach a consensus about the history of racism and its prevalence today. Its heartening to see politicians such as Lee, a former Black Panther and a pioneer of progressive ideas, push the U.S. to buy into the work California is doing around reparations. The fact that America wont only amplifies the importance of our state task force. Lees legislation says slavery fractured our nation. This remains the case, which is why Californias reparations task force has an unenviable mission in 2022 of convincing more folks that racism isnt individual, its systemic, and our state cant heal until weve all embraced that fact. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Justin Phillips appears Sundays. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips Regarding PG&E puts profits before the public good (Letters, Jan. 12): I agree with Trout Blacks grandfather James, who believed that PG&E exists to benefit the communities we are privileged to serve. I also agree that doing so safely is our most important responsibility. James Black, who served as PG&Es president when the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937, was a wise man. I joined PG&E as CEO last year and share his vision for the role that PG&E should play both in our state and our society. My goal of a triple bottom line focused on people, the planet and Californias prosperity is in keeping with that legacy. In 2021, we opened a new era at PG&E. We have new leadership that is implementing a proven, tested way of doing business. We are taking bold actions to reduce risk and make our system safer, every day. We will demand excellence of ourselves, and we stand ready to partner with policymakers and state leaders to reimagine our electric and natural gas system for a cleaner, safer and more reliable energy future. Trout Black is right that Californians deserve better. I am confident this PG&E team will deliver for them. More for you As waterfront ballpark plan wins key vote in environmental review Patti Poppe, CEO of PG&E Corp., San Francisco Halt new solar rules Regarding State plans to dim incentives for solar (Front Page, Jan. 19): Its no surprise PG&E seeks another power and money grab. It has convinced the Public Utilities Commission and the governor that customers who invested thousands of dollars on rooftop solar did so on the backs of low-income customers. Its laughable PG&E pretends they arent the Goliaths in this scenario. PG&E now threatens that low-income customers rates will soar without a new punitive proposal on rooftop solar. We need to advance renewable energy, fast. It would be foolish for the commission to disincentivize new rooftop solar in the existing built environment. Any responsibility for soaring rates for PG&E customers sits squarely on the shoulders of PUC President Alice Reynolds and commissioners. It would be a welcome day on Jan. 27 for them to say no to the too-big-to-fail energy corporations never-ending requests to legally pickpocket their customers. Yvette DiCarlo, San Francisco High court too powerful The Supreme Court voted down the Bidens administration effort to mandate that private companies with more than 100 employees to vaccinate their employees against COVID-19 or have them tested weekly. After the decision, Starbucks ended its plan to require worker vaccination and testing. No doubt many private companies will follow Starbucks path. It is interesting that one arm of our government, the judiciary, has the power to make health care decisions without any scientific members on its court, and the administrative arm, which has the worlds best scientists, is not allowed to make health care decisions for the benefit of all Americans. As consumers, we can simply express our feelings about Starbucks decision by not visiting its shops, but with Supreme Court decisions the individual has no immediate recourse. I pray for our democracy. Richard Odom, San Francisco Keep sick workers home As a parent, grandparent and mom of a hospital nurse, I urge the governor and the California Department of Public Health to rescind the decision allowing asymptomatic health care workers who test positive for the coronavirus or who have been exposed and asymptomatic to return to work without isolation or testing. These guidelines will guarantee more transmission, infections, hospitalizations and deaths. Nurses and health care professionals report extreme levels of moral distress, injury and burnout. Nevertheless, the burden for dealing with the omicron surge falls squarely on the shoulders of devoted workers without care for their health or that of their families or patients. If you want to serve the people of California, is public office the best place for you? The question came up again as one of our most accomplished state legislators, Assembly Member Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego, resigned her seat to take a leadership role at the California Labor Federation, a powerful alliance of unions. Gonzalez, best known for legislation regulating freelance work, had different reasons for leaving, from redistricting to her health. But theres also this: She will have more power to shape Californias future in the labor movement than in the Legislature. Thats because, in California, much of our governing power lies outside the government. Over generations, California has constructed a complicated governing system that prizes limiting the power of our public officials. Interest groups then fill the void, writing legislation themselves and sponsoring ballot measures that impose their preferred formulas on taxation and spending. Our representatives are left with little discretion and less control over state dollars than we imagine. And when politicians create a new program, they often must seek donations from companies, philanthropies or individuals. Gov. Gavin Newsom has secured more than $200 million in such donations to support COVID relief and commissions on climate change and aging. This state of affairs can be frustrating for the most creative and public-spirited minds in public office, who earnestly seek to use their offices to get things done. Add that to the increasing threats against public officials and the relatively lower pay of their jobs, is it any wonder that accomplished public servants are open to better offers? The departures come not just among the legislative branchs term-limited members. For me, the most noteworthy resignation came last fall, when California Supreme Court Justice Tino Cuellar departed. Why leave a seat on a court seen as second in influence only to the U.S. Supreme Court? Cuellar was thriving in the job. But the former justice, a 49-year-old legal and international affairs scholar previously at Stanford, agreed to become president of a leading international think tank, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The post offers not just higher pay than state service, but the possibility of making a greater impact. A state supreme court is limited to the California cases that come before it. At Carnegie, Cuellar can work to address a tsunami of global challenges crashing down on all of humanity from climate change to economic inequality, and from mass migration to technological disruption. And he doesnt even have to leave California to do it. Carnegie is opening a Silicon Valley office. Unfortunately, the most skilled politicians in some of our neediest places no longer hold public office. Take the San Joaquin Valley, where two former mayors and huge political talents, Ashley Swearengin of Fresno and Michael Tubbs of Stockton, seem unlikely to return to elected seats. Swearengin did so well in her two terms as mayor of Fresno that Newsom publicly expressed relief when she decided not to seek the governorship in 2018. She opted for philanthropy instead. She leads the Central Valley Community Foundation, where she spearheads one of the smartest community investment efforts in the state, Fresno DRIVE (Developing the Regions Inclusive and Vibrant Economy). She also co-chairs the California Forward Leadership Council, which works to improve the states regional economies. Put those roles together, and Swearengin looks like a public official without public office the unofficial governor of the undeclared state of San Joaquin Valley. Tubbs, elected Stockton mayor at age 26, was voted out after one term. But his record in office was so strong including an innovative basic income program that Gov. Newsom gave him a job, and he got a book contract. Tubbs, with a powerful poor-kid-to-Stanford personal story, would be a strong contender for any California elected position. But Tubbs writes in a memoir, The Deeper the Roots, that holding political office could be a distraction from serving the public. I was often too busy with reality to worry about politics, he writes. Now he prefers building a new social movement to end poverty in California to campaigning. In this, Tubbs is following the new conventional wisdom that social movements are better at moving public policy than politicians. I enjoyed my eight years in local politics, Tubbs recently told a journalist. But Im enjoying even more not being an officeholder. Such comments may seem self-serving. But as tempting as it is to rail against public officials as a class as Californians are prone to do we ought to remember that the excellent public servants have other, better options than taking our abuse. Its a problem when politics become too dull or demoralizing for politicians. California and its governments cant succeed if our most talented leaders conclude that serving in public office is not the best way to serve the public. Joe Mathews writes the Connecting California column for Zocalo Public Square. Li Bolin (C) plays game with students at Suyu Hope Primary School in Huitong County, central China's Hunan Province, Nov. 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Ge) CHANGSHA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- "The cotton spits out the harvest." -- Moved by the verse of her student three years ago, Li Bolin, a 26-year-old teacher started a poetic journey with her students in rural China. Li teaches in Suyu Hope Primary School in Huitong County, central China's Hunan Province. Roughly half of the school's students lack the company of their parents since they migrate to remote cities for higher-paid work. AMAZING VERSES "When I grow up, I will definitely spend time accompanying my own kids, otherwise they would not be able to learn very well at school," wrote a student of Li's. The words reminded Li of her childhood when she was an introverted girl since her family was impoverished. She realized that some of her students had emotional needs and desires to express themselves beneath their silent and seemingly rebellious exterior. "In retrospect, I didn't often speak to my teachers during my school days. But they still tried to get to know me, accompanied by encouragement with great care and love," Li said. Her personal experiences inspired her to become a teacher. After completing her education in pedagogical training, Li returned to her hometown to teach the Chinese language in a town-level elementary school. As she explored ways to enrich the spiritual world of her students, Li found the value of verse and poetry. Many questioned Li's plan and insisted that her way is not imparting knowledge and there was no use of teaching poetry writing to children in the impoverished mountainous area, where life is far from sublimated. However, Li's poetry-writing activities produced enough inspiring works and gave her great confidence to keep going. "Perhaps, winter is the lover of plum blossoms," a girl wrote. "Why do the plum blossoms keep blooming despite the freezing winter? Because the blossoms want to meet the winter and they love each other. If only my mom and dad were like them," she told her teacher. Li believes that writing poetry can help children solve their emotional problems to some extent. WHAT IS POETRY? "Poetry is not a rose, but the scent of the rose." -- This is Li's favorite answer to the question. Li believes life itself is poetry. She encourages her students to play with grasshoppers, speak to grass, and share their secrets with the breeze. Only through seeing, hearing and touching the world can they feel the poetry of life, she said. Initially, the students were happy to play but were reluctant to write anything down. "Write whatever comes to your mind," she told her students. At first, one of them wrote: "I can not write a poem." Li keeps an open mind and thinks the children's poetry shall not be bound by tonal patterns, rhetoric or rhyme. "Their expressions, filled with childishness and naivety are all precious," she said. Li never directly revised their works but guided them to ponder on their own. When a second-grader was writing a poem about blue sky, "what does the blue sky remind you of?" Li asked her. "The sea," the student replied. "Then what does the sea have?" "There are fish." "What does the sky have?" "Floating and moving clouds." "What can the fish do? What can clouds do?" "Fish can sing, dance, and spit bubbles." Then a clever line popped up in the student's mind: "Why can't clouds spit bubbles?" EMOTION VENTED Li's school has over 1,400 students and about half of them are away from their parents and are cared for by grandparents or relatives. For some students who find it hard to speak their minds, poetry is a channel to express their emotional needs. "My little sister got spanked because I broke the vase. But she was nice and didn't turn me in," a student wrote. Li was pleased that her students were willing to share with her their little secrets. "In a fairy tale, a little tadpole got lots of help and finally found its mother frog on a lotus leaf," a student wrote. "But no one showed me the way when I tried to find my mom." After reading this, Li came to the student and lent an ear to her talks about her feelings. Another student was too shy to hand in his writing, which was actually quite good. Li wrote the poem out on the blackboard and got the entire class to read it together aloud. The next day, the boy submitted his homework on time and neatly. Inspired by him, Li hosted a poetry reading session and invited all students to read their poetry works aloud to their classmates. Now Li has a "box of treasures" -- a collection of poems created by her students. The parents of her students who work far away from home are touched by the writings and some are surprised by how the children actually feel. Li holds that poetry is like a door to the heart of children who live in the mountains. "Beyond this door, you will see how much they love the world, and will also realize what can be done to love them more," Li said. Li Bolin (C) explains poems for students at Suyu Hope Primary School in Huitong County, central China's Hunan Province, Nov. 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Ge) Li Bolin explains poems for students at Suyu Hope Primary School in Huitong County, central China's Hunan Province, Nov. 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Ge) LIMA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Peruvian government has declared a 90-day environmental emergency in the coastal area of Lima which has been affected by a recent oil spill, the Ministry of the Environment said on Saturday. The government has called it one of the "most important ecological disasters" on the coast in recent years. The resolution was approved by Minister of the Environment Ruben Ramirez, who heads the Environmental Crisis Committee that is trying to mitigate the effects of the oil spill. The oil spill occurred on Jan. 15 when an oil tanker was unloading at one of the terminals of La Pampilla Refinery, operated by Repsol, in the province of Callao, neighboring Lima. Repsol reported on Friday that the cleanup of the areas affected by the oil spill should be completed by the end of February, and that 1,580 cubic meters of contaminated sand had been removed. The spill has affected the beaches of Costa Azul, Ventanilla, Cavero and Playa Grande, among others, as well as 512 hectares in the Guano Islands, Islets, and Capes National Reserve System, and 1,758 hectares in the Ancon Reserved Zone. Actors perform a dragon dance during the Lunar New Year celebrations at Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim, the United States, on Jan. 21, 2022. Disney's California Adventure Park kicked off celebrations of the Year of the Tiger Friday, featuring a string of Chinese culturally-themed performances, art shows, lantern decorations and Asian-inspired dishes. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) by Tan Jingjing, Gao Shan LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Disney's California Adventure Park kicked off celebrations of the Year of the Tiger Friday, featuring a string of Chinese culturally-themed performances, art shows, lantern decorations and Asian-inspired dishes. Visitors from around the world joined the special celebrations which run from Jan. 21 through Feb. 13, immersed in a festival atmosphere and sharing wishes for good health, luck and prosperity throughout the year ahead. The 2022 Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 1. It is based on a 12-year Zodiac cycle of characters, with 2022 being the Year of the Tiger. The colorful Chinese Lunar New Year theme has turned the park into a sea of red and gold -- the Chinese New Year's traditional colors -- and a wonderland of festive Asian holiday cheer. This year's Lunar New Year celebrations highlighted a new float for China's legendary warrior character Mulan, accompanied by traditional Chinese drummers performing powerful rhythms. Decorated in red and gold to symbolize good fortune and happiness, the float features bright bunches of red firecrackers that hang together with golden tassels, and delicate red and gold lanterns come aglow for after-sunset performances. During the procession, Mulan and her wisecracking dragon friend Mushu were surrounded by performers bringing cultural artistry and dance to life. Disney characters, including Tigger, Mulan and Mushu, Mickey and Minnie, and the Three Little Pigs, all dressed in Chinese festive attire, and greeted visitors. San Francisco-based musical group Melody of China performed a fusion of Chinese folk, classical and contemporary instrumentals. During Disney's Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, park visitors could enjoy traditional Asian fare, like Shrimp Fried Rice, Char Siu Pork Bao, and many others. They are also invited to try Chinese arts and crafts, such as Chinese calligraphy, and dragon's pearl coloring craft. "It is amazing to see Mulan float," Jailyn Mitchell, a local visitor, told Xinhua. "I love Chinese culture, and I like the different ways to celebrate it," said Mitchell, who has experienced Disney's Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations for several times. Alexa Garcia, a Disneyland Resort spokesperson, told Xinhua the Lunar New Year celebrations have been a "fan favor" for a few years, showing diversified cultures and offering a lot of fun things for visitors to do, to see, and to taste. People love to experience and engage in Chinese culture in different ways, she said. A person dressed as the cartoon character Tigger performs for visitors during the Lunar New Year celebrations at Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, the United States, on Jan. 21, 2022. Disney's California Adventure Park kicked off celebrations of the Year of the Tiger Friday, featuring a string of Chinese culturally-themed performances, art shows, lantern decorations and Asian-inspired dishes. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) Chinese-style items are displayed during the Lunar New Year celebrations at Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, the United States, on Jan. 21, 2022. Disney's California Adventure Park kicked off celebrations of the Year of the Tiger Friday, featuring a string of Chinese culturally-themed performances, art shows, lantern decorations and Asian-inspired dishes. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) A calligrapher shows a Chinese character to visitors during the Lunar New Year celebrations at Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, the United States, on Jan. 21, 2022. Disney's California Adventure Park kicked off celebrations of the Year of the Tiger Friday, featuring a string of Chinese culturally-themed performances, art shows, lantern decorations and Asian-inspired dishes. (Xinhua/Gao Shan) Visitors watch a float during the Lunar New Year celebrations at Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, the United States, on Jan. 21, 2022. Disney's California Adventure Park kicked off celebrations of the Year of the Tiger Friday, featuring a string of Chinese culturally-themed performances, art shows, lantern decorations and Asian-inspired dishes. (Xinhua/Gao Shan) A performer dressed as the cartoon character Mulan takes part in the Lunar New Year celebrations at Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, the United States, on Jan. 21, 2022. Disney's California Adventure Park kicked off celebrations of the Year of the Tiger Friday, featuring a string of Chinese culturally-themed performances, art shows, lantern decorations and Asian-inspired dishes. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) Visitors pose for photos with the cartoon character Tigger during the Lunar New Year celebrations at Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim, the United States, on Jan. 21, 2022. Disney's California Adventure Park kicked off celebrations of the Year of the Tiger Friday, featuring a string of Chinese culturally-themed performances, art shows, lantern decorations and Asian-inspired dishes. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) File photo taken on Jan. 17, 2020 shows characters of Disney greet visitors during the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations at Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim, the United States. (Xinhua/Li Ying) This year's Lunar New Year celebrations highlighted a new float for China's legendary warrior character Mulan, accompanied by traditional Chinese drummers performing powerful rhythms. by Tan Jingjing, Gao Shan LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Disney's California Adventure Park kicked off celebrations of the Year of the Tiger Friday, featuring a string of Chinese culturally-themed performances, art shows, lantern decorations and Asian-inspired dishes. Visitors from around the world joined the special celebrations which run from Jan. 21 through Feb. 13, immersed in a festival atmosphere and sharing wishes for good health, luck and prosperity throughout the year ahead. The 2022 Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 1. It is based on a 12-year Zodiac cycle of characters, with 2022 being the Year of the Tiger. The colorful Chinese Lunar New Year theme has turned the park into a sea of red and gold -- the Chinese New Year's traditional colors -- and a wonderland of festive Asian holiday cheer. This year's Lunar New Year celebrations highlighted a new float for China's legendary warrior character Mulan, accompanied by traditional Chinese drummers performing powerful rhythms. Undated photo shows the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations at Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim, the United States. (Courtesy of Disneyland Resort) Decorated in red and gold to symbolize good fortune and happiness, the float features bright bunches of red firecrackers that hang together with golden tassels, and delicate red and gold lanterns come aglow for after-sunset performances. During the procession, Mulan and her wisecracking dragon friend Mushu were surrounded by performers bringing cultural artistry and dance to life. Disney characters, including Tigger, Mulan and Mushu, Mickey and Minnie, and the Three Little Pigs, all dressed in Chinese festive attire, and greeted visitors. San Francisco-based musical group Melody of China performed a fusion of Chinese folk, classical and contemporary instrumentals. During Disney's Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, park visitors could enjoy traditional Asian fare, like Shrimp Fried Rice, Char Siu Pork Bao, and many others. Undated photo shows the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations at Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim, the United States. (Courtesy of Disneyland Resort) They are also invited to try Chinese arts and crafts, such as Chinese calligraphy, and dragon's pearl coloring craft. "It is amazing to see Mulan float," Jailyn Mitchell, a local visitor, told Xinhua. "I love Chinese culture, and I like the different ways to celebrate it," said Mitchell, who has experienced Disney's Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations for several times. Alexa Garcia, a Disneyland Resort spokesperson, told Xinhua the Lunar New Year celebrations have been a "fan favor" for a few years, showing diversified cultures and offering a lot of fun things for visitors to do, to see, and to taste. People love to experience and engage in Chinese culture in different ways, she said. The mother of an 11-year-old child, Selena Rodriguez, from Enfield, Conn. has filed a lawsuit against two social media giants, arguing a lack of adequate safeguards led her daughter to take her own life in July 2021. A wrongful-death lawsuit against Snap Inc., which runs Snapchat, and Meta Platforms Inc. - the parent company of Facebook and Instagram - was filed Thursday at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division, by the Social Media Victims Law Center (SMVLC), a Seattle-based legal advocacy group. The lawsuit alleges that Selena Rodriguez's suicide was "caused by the defective design, negligence and unreasonably dangerous features of their products," the SMVLC said in a statement. The statement also says the tech giants "knowingly and purposefully designed, manufactured, marketed, and sold social media products that were unreasonably dangerous because they were designed to be addictive to minor users." Neither Meta nor Snap immediately responded to a request for comment from The Washington Post but have previously said they work to protect minors using their platforms and continually build features to better protect young users. Selena had struggled for more than two years with an extreme addiction to Instagram and Snapchat, the court documents said. Her mother and administrator of her estate, Tammy, had confiscated her electronic devices, but that led Selena to run away to use social media platforms. In the months leading to her death last year, the court filing said Selena had experienced "severe sleep deprivation that was caused and aggravated by her addiction to Instagram and Snapchat, and the constant 24-hour stream of notifications and alerts." It said that during the coronavirus pandemic she spent even more time on the platforms, "which only worsened her depression." While using the apps - where millions share photos, videos, memes and life updates - the court documents said Selena "had been messaged and solicited for sexual exploitive content and acts on numerous occasions by adult male users of Instagram and Snapchat." It said the feature of disappearing messages and a lack of verification of ID and age made such activities possible. It said Selena succumbed to pressure to send sexually explicit images on Snapchat that were later leaked among her classmates, "increasing the ridicule and embarrassment she experienced at school." Her social media addiction also led to multiple absences from school and an investigation by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, the law firm said. She was hospitalized for emergency psychiatric care and experienced poor self-esteem, eating disorders, self-harm and, ultimately, suicide. She had received mental health treatment for her addiction on multiple occasions, it added. The product liability action contends that the two companies are "responsible for causing and contributing to burgeoning mental health crisis perpetrated upon the children and teenagers in the United States," the court documents said. "Specifically, for the wrongful death of 11-year-old Selena Rodriguez caused by Selena's addictive use of and exposure to Defendants' unreasonable dangerous and defective social media products." A spokesperson for Snap Inc. told CBS News: "We are devastated to hear of Selena's passing and our hearts go out to her family. While we can't comment on the specifics of active litigation, nothing is more important to us than the wellbeing of our community." The spokesperson continued: "In fact, Snapchat helps people communicate with their real friends, without some of the public pressure and social comparison features of traditional social media platforms, and intentionally makes it hard for strangers to contact young people." On Thursday, Meta launched a feature called Pledge Planets on Messenger Kids, an activity to help children learn how to use the Internet safely and practice making healthy decisions online. The company said in a news release it had developed the interactive features "in close partnership with experts in online safety, child development and children's media." "Kids can explore different planets based on the tenets of the Messenger Kids Pledge: Be Kind, Be Respectful, Be Safe, and Have Fun." In September, Meta said it was pausing plans to build an Instagram app for children amid growing pushback from child welfare advocates, policymakers and law enforcement officials who contend that such efforts could harm a generation of users. Facebook's own internal research has also previously found that teen girls reported Instagram had made their body image issues worse. In October, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen stunned lawmakers at a Senate committee testimony when she alleged the company systematically and repeatedly prioritized profits over the safety of its users, and she painted a detailed picture of an organization where hunger to grow governed decisions - allegations the company has pushed back on. Nonetheless, lawmakers from both parties have galvanized around regulatory efforts to tamp down on how the services of tech giants can affect children's mental health. Executives from the companies have also committed to sharing internal research on how their products may affect children. - - - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800-273-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 741741 Paris-based Chinese artist Chen Jianghong displays the Year of Tiger commemorative stamps designed by him during an issuing ceremony in Paris, France, Jan. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Since 2005, the French post office has been celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year each year by issuing stamps featuring the year's zodiac animal. PARIS, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- French postal service company La Poste on Saturday issued two stamps to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year of Tiger, which starts on Feb. 1. Featuring a crouching tiger on a red background, one stamp applies to the domestic mail service in France for a face value of 1.16 euros. The other, with a standing tiger looking to the distance on a blue background, has a denomination of 1.65 euros for international mail service. Chinese artist Chen Jianghong, designer of the stamps, said the two tigers represent respectively strength and hope. Paris-based Chinese artist Chen Jianghong signs on the Year of Tiger commemorative stamps designed by him during an issuing ceremony in Paris, France, Jan. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) "Tiger is seen as the 'King of the beasts' in China. It represents justice, majesty and strength. Tiger also bears witness to the extraordinary efforts of the Chinese people in the protection of biodiversity and the harmonious coexistence of man and nature," Chinese ambassador to France Lu Shaye said at the issuing ceremony. For his part, Philippe Wahl, president and chief executive officer of La Poste, said that the zodiac is a key part of Chinese culture, reflecting Chinese people's thinking on the relations between man and nature. Wahl said La Poste has issued special-event stamps of the Chinese zodiac for many years, which helps the French people understand Chinese culture. Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye (L), Chief Executive Officer of La Poste Philippe Wahl (C) and Paris-based Chinese artist Chen Jianghong (R) pose for a photo during an issuing ceremony for the Year of Tiger commemorative stamps in Paris, France, Jan. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Since 2005, the French post office has been celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year each year by issuing stamps featuring the year's zodiac animal. The Chinese Zodiac is represented by 12 animals to record the years and reflect people's attributes, including the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. TEHRAN, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran has regained its right to vote at the UN General Assembly after its membership dues to the organization were paid by South Korea with frozen Iranian funds, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations announced. Majid Takht-Ravanchi said late on Saturday that as soon as Iran's arrears are received in New York, the country's voting rights should naturally be restored, official IRNA News Agency reported on Sunday. South Korea confirmed on Sunday that it has paid Tehran's membership delayed dues, amounting to 18 million U.S. dollars, to the UN from Iranian funds frozen in the country. Earlier, Takht-Ravanchi told IRNA that negotiations were underway between Tehran and the world body to lift the suspension of the country's right to vote at the General Assembly and enable the country to pay its membership dues to the organization, expressing hope that the talks would soon yield favorable results. He noted that Iran, as an active UN member, has always been committed to paying up its membership dues on time and has proven this in practice. The ambassador stressed that Iran has faced problems with the payment of its membership fee for the second consecutive year due to the sanctions imposed by the United States, which have not only undermined Iran's ability to purchase humanitarian items and medical devices but are also impeding the UN's work. Iranian assets of over 7 billion U.S. dollars are frozen in two South Korean banks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced earlier this month that Iran and seven other countries have had their voting rights suspended over late dues. Iran had also lost its voting rights last year when the U.S. sanctions had blocked Iranian access to its billions of dollars frozen abroad. The U.S. sanctions have been imposed since 2018 when former President Donald Trump withdrew from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal. Since April 2021, rounds of talks have been held between Iran and other remaining parties, namely Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, in the Austrian capital of Vienna to restore the nuclear pact, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with the United States indirectly involved. By Bay City News The San Mateo Sheriff's office announced Thursday that 30 illegal firearms were seized and four people were arrested after a three-month investigation conducted with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco Drug Enforcement Administration Metro Task Force. The investigation uncovered the trafficking and sales of firearms brought in from Arizona, according to the Sheriff's office. Undercover agents purchased firearms, including privately made firearms (commonly referenced as ghost guns), serialized firearms, high-capacity magazines, armor-piercing ammunition and automatic rifles. On Thursday searches were conducted throughout San Mateo County and in Oakland. Investigators seized multiple guns, thousands of rounds of ammunition, a suppressor attachment, automatic pistols, high-capacity magazines and a 3D printer, a technology often used to make illegal guns. Copyright 2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2022 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Chip and Joanna Gaines made their hometown of Waco, TX, famous on their hit show "Fixer Upper." But Grand Rapids, MI, may be next, given the Gaineses' Magnolia Network has launched a new show here called "The Established Home." On the show, designer Jean Stoffer renovates homes in the area with timeless, English-inspired style. And in the latest episode, "Grace's House," Stoffer helps her daughter (and design assistant) Grace Start make over parts of her houseand, in the process, realizes she may have someone who can carry on the family business one day! "The Established Home" is a new show on the Magnolia Network. Magnolia Network Together, this mother and daughter renovate the mudroom, bathroom, and bedroom with some smart, budget-friendly upgrades. Here's how they pull it off, with plenty of before-and-after photos that might inspire you to switch things up around your own place, too. Every mudroom needs smart shoe storage Before: This home addition was dated and not very functional. Magnolia Network Grace and her husband, Ted Start, have been in the process of renovating their home and have done a great job on their kitchen and living room. But now, they're turning their attention to an awkward L-shaped addition they hope to turn into a dual laundry and mudroom. "My challenge is to take the high design and bring it down to a level that Ted and I can afford, while also having some really interesting design elements," Grace says. After: This dual mudroom and laundry room even has boot storage. Magnolia Network Grace chooses a dark green color for this room, paired with a simple, white porcelain floor tile. The look is dramatic and cozy, but Grace knows her moody mudroom won't be complete without some storage space. She adds a Wellington boot racka peg rail that holds boots upside down. This is a simple feature, made of inexpensive materials, but it adds ideal storage for a mudroom. "My kids might actually do that 'cause they would think it's kind of cool to hang their boots up," Grace says. The boot rack looks perfect in this space. It's an inexpensive storage solution that gives off a charming old-timey vibe. When Stoffer finally sees the room, she's impressed with Grace's daring style and thriftiness. "These are not expensive materials," Stoffer says. "These are just put together in a way that's just beautiful." Create a welcoming entry with a door that makes sense Before: Grace Start and Jean Stoffer chat about the soon-to-be laundry room. Magnolia Network This laundry room is all about function, so when Grace brings up the drafty door, Stoffer insists on replacing it. Not only is the door single pane, letting the cold winter air in, but it also swings the wrong way, cutting off the flow going in and out. "It's going to create a chokepoint," Stoffer says as she inspects the corner of the room. "You really can't put anything here." Ted switches out the old door with a new one that swings correctly. Plus, the simple design and light wood door look great next to the dark green walls, creating an elegant space. The unusable space has been turned into a useful room! "We took the mudroom from a carpeted, paneled room that had almost no function into probably the most functional room in our house," Grace says. After: This door looks beautiful and keeps the cold out. Magnolia Network Add windows to a small space Grace and Ted Start's bedroom Magnolia Network Grace knows that her new bedroom won't be very large, but Stoffer knows that adding some natural light will make it seem a little more spacious. "Since Grace's bedroom is actually just a bedroom, meaning the only thing there's room for in the room is a bed, we decided to add a couple of windows to make it feel larger," Stoffer explains. The two small windows flanking the bed add a perfect amount of light and create the illusion of more space. To finish the bedroom, Grace puts up some inexpensive peel-and-stick wallpaper with a natural, grass-cloth look. "From a design standpoint, it needed some texture. We were maybe going to put some panel molding on, and Ted has just been so busy, so I thought I would take it into my own hands and put up this wallpaper," Grace says. Leftovers from past projects can help save money Grace covered the walls with a timeless, white subway tile. Magnolia Network In the en suite bathroom, Grace explains that she's cutting costs by using tiles left over from one of her mom's past projects. "This didn't turn out exactly how I imagined; I wanted a checkerboard," she says, examining the floor with her mom. "What we did was more just a random pattern." This floor tile looks lovely. Magnolia Network Still, in the end, the bathroom looks elegantand you'd never know these tiles were castoffs. It's a good lesson to work with what you have whenever possible, rather than buying new. Even if the results aren't exactly what you'd planned, the money you save may well be worth it. Add trim to make cabinets look custom These basic cabinets look like pricey built-ins. Magnolia Network Grace and Ted's new bedroom also includes a roomy walk-in closet, which Grace furnishes with drawers and an inexpensive cabinet. Ted then elevates the look by adding trim to the cabinet. "We used these simple, basic cabinets and then added the trim to make it more custom," Grace says. The trim is another cost-effective feature that gets this home looking great. The trim on these cabinets looks lovely. Magnolia Network Accent walls work outdoors, too Grace and Ted want to update their yard. Magnolia Network To finish this renovation, Grace and Ted want to update the backyard by extending the garage and creating a cozy sitting area with lots of greenery. To give the space a dramatic look, they paint the garage the same dark green they used for the mudroom. "It'll be the most beautiful backdrop for their outdoor living room," Stoffer says. "I love the idea of having something dark to set furniture in front of and for vegetation to be in front of. It's cozy and interesting, so I think it's a great choice." In the end, the green garage looks beautiful next to the upgraded yard. It just goes to show that an outdoor living space isn't much different from an indoor one. A patio space could benefit from furnishings, decor, and even an accent wall! After: The dark green adds some dimension to this new sitting space. Magnolia Network The post Will Chip and Joanna Gaines' New Project Make This Place Famous, Too? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. In January 1986, surveyors from Caltrans were hiking above the Lookout Roadhouse near Lake Elsinore when they stumbled onto a human skull. An autopsy revealed whoever it was had been shot and killed, left for years above California's Ortega Highway. "It's going to be a long process to identify the remains," Riverside County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Sgt. Donald Larsen told the Los Angeles Times at the time. Larsen was right. Thirty-six years after the remains were found and 45 years after she went missing Linda LeBeau has finally been identified. The process began last August when the Riverside County Regional Cold Case Homicide Team submitted exhumed remains in several cold cases for possible DNA identification. The skull came back with a familial match in the Department of Justice's Missing Unidentified Persons database. That match was to Linda Durnall LeBeau, born in 1950 in San Gabriel. LeBeau was 27 when she went missing on Oct. 6, 1977. That day, she was seen meeting her ex-husband, Phillip LeBeau, at a Love's Restaurant in Tustin. According to the Charley Project, which runs a database of missing persons cases, Linda was Phillip's third wife and there were allegations of domestic violence in the marriage. After their divorce was finalized, Phillip allegedly tormented Linda, reportedly breaking into her apartment and vandalizing her new boyfriend's car. On the day she went missing, Linda was reportedly collecting $300 from Phillip to pay for the damage. According to police, Linda was last seen arguing with a man believed to be Phillip in her 1971 Volkswagen microbus. The vehicle was found several days later on the side of southbound I-5 near the Red Hill Avenue freeway onramp. Linda's remains were found about 50 miles away. Police still believe Phillip LeBeau to be the prime suspect in Linda's disappearance and murder. He allegedly returned home very late the night she went missing, and was wet and wearing different clothes than he left the house in. Phillip LeBeau died in 2008, so while Linda's remains have finally been identified, her murder case still officially remains unsolved. SHELTON Anna Valenti locked the doors of her bar, Annas Place, at 8 p.m. March 16, 2020, telling one of her customers she would see them in a couple of weeks. More than a year later, she is finally reopening her doors. I never dreamed that it would be 13 months, Valenti, owner and operator of Annas Place for 29 years, said about finally be allowed to reopen Wednesday after being shut down because of the pandemic. It was just wonderful, she said about the reopening. It had been so long, I was nervous surprising, but I was nervous. It really felt like I was opening for the first time. These customers are my friends like second family. Valenti said the bar like nearby Cuppys Cafe which was also closed for the past year is a staple of the downtown, one of those true neighborhood bars where nearly everyone knows each other's names. Annas had been closed for so long, she said, routines that had become nearly unthinking action had truly escaped her. I didnt even remember the prices, where the bottles were located when I went to mix drinks it was weird, like I had to take a few minutes to relearn things that had become second nature over the past 29 years, she said. Valenti said she was in the dark from day one during the pandemic, with no guidance from the state except she needed to remain closed as COVID-19 cases continued to rise throughout Connecticut. She remembers in April hearing a rumor that bars may reopen then she watched a Lamont press conference and the word bar was covered with a big red X. Luckily, she said, she did not have to go into personal savings for business expenses but her barrels of beer didnt make the transition. Alcohol can be saved, but not the beer on tap. I poured thousands of dollars down the drain, Valenti said. In the end, the reopening went without a hitch as her regulars showed up as if the doors had never closed, she said. "They were all looking forward to me reopening, Valenti said. It was a good night. Now it feels like I never left. Valenti owns the building at 352 Coram Ave., which she says was a saving grace when no income was coming from her business. Because she did not have a regular dining menu, she was forced to remain closed where other bars that served food were allowed to open under limitations. But a strong 2019 allowed her to survive and not have to dip into personal savings to cover costs, she said. Frank Capece Jr., owner of Cuppys Cafe, which was first opened in 1972 by his uncle, said he also owns his building but the need to cover a mortgage and other regular expenses forced him twice to apply for Paycheck Protection Program loans. Its a fun business, a great business, Capece said. There are few mom and pops like us left. When all this started, I really thought about selling. I was frustrated, but this is my baby. It sucks the life out of you, but I love it. Capece took over the business in 1986 by chance. He said he had just left a job in Florida, and while driving to New Hampshire to start his new life, stopped to visit his family in the Shelton area. In the end, he never left. Capece reopened Cuppys Cafe at 366 Coram Ave. located only steps away from Annas Place on Friday. And with the reopening comes a fresh look which he said he hopes his returning regulars will appreciate. I put a lot of money into the bar, Capece said. The new equipment, new bar, renovated interior and the addition of a small kitchen cost in the thousands of dollars he said. It really started when a friend of mine helped me refinish the floors. I was really thinking about selling, but then I moved on to the next project. The place is totally redone now, Capece said. I know people are excited to see the changes. I know when I look at what we did there were so many people who helped out here I am amazed. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden (Xinhua) The Russian Foreign Ministry provided article-by-article refutation on the U.S. fact sheet "Fact vs. Fiction: Russian Disinformation on Ukraine." MOSCOW, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday criticized the U.S. Department of State for publishing a fact sheet full of false information about Russia's policy on Ukraine. The Russian ministry in a commentary called the sheet "an overt provocation" by Washington to publish the "Fact vs. Fiction: Russian Disinformation on Ukraine" just a day before Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in Geneva on Friday. The Russian Foreign Ministry provided article-by-article refutation on the U.S. fact sheet, saying that since Dec. 15, 2021, when Moscow officially sent Washington its draft treaty and agreement on security guarantees, the U.S. side has mostly made obvious attempts to drag out discussions at expert levels and in various formats. Meanwhile, the United States and its Western allies have launched a "very toxic information and propaganda campaign" by depicting Russia as an "aggressor," an "enemy of civilized Europe" and a "threat" to the international stability, the ministry said. It also blasted the Western countries' "endless threats of painful sanctions against Russia that are designed to bleed our economy dry." The Lavrov-Blinken negotiations in Geneva on Friday ended with no breakthroughs in the establishment of legally binding security guarantees between Russia and the West, with the Ukrainian crisis as a core issue. NSW government agencies are at odds over steps needed to safeguard the public from toxic contamination as a result of a proposal to resurrect a ferry service in Botany Bay. The disagreement has alarmed community members given the projects location, with sludge on the sea floor set to be disturbed within about 100 metres of a beach popular with families. La Perouse residents Lynda Newman and Mark Baker are concerned about contamination to beachgoers from the construction of a new ferry wharf. Credit:Rhett Wyman Transport for NSW has downplayed the risk to the public from the installation of the ferry wharves at La Perouse and Kurnell, arguing sediment plumes would quickly disperse without causing harm. However, the NSW EPA was critical of the plans, finding the nature and extent of contamination set to be disturbed by construction have not been fully assessed. COVID is generally extremely mild in young children. Any children who are household contacts will continue to need to be in isolation for seven days, along with children who have COVID. Families can still access rapid antigen tests or PCR tests for free for children who have symptoms at state testing centres. Children who have any symptoms, however mild, should stay home and get tested for COVID. What proof is required that children/staff have had a RAT? This is a strong recommendation, rather than a mandate, so proof wont be required but we know families are extremely keen to protect themselves and their communities. Will the government be providing saliva RATs to all schools for younger kids who get severely distressed by the nasal swabs? We have worked hard to secure 14 million RATs to ensure that every Victorian student is able to take part in this highly recommended surveillance testing. We know that there will be cases in schools but Doherty modelling shows early surveillance testing will help to drive numbers down and stop chains of transmission. Will RATs reach Catholic schools by this coming Friday, as this is when some students are returning to school? Many of the tests will reach schools throughout this week, but they will all be in place by Monday January 31. Families should check with their schools regarding distribution. Masks Why do the plans ask for surgical masks to be worn when experts are saying N95 or KN95 masks are better? We are delivering 31 million surgical masks to schools in the first four weeks of term, including 5.8 million masks to be delivered in the first week. This includes N95 masks, child-sized surgical masks and adult surgical masks. They will be recommended to be worn and available at the school. Loading Teachers will be required to wear masks at all times when not actively teaching or communicating with students. To clarify, does this mean that teachers do NOT have to wear a mask while talking to students, working with small groups and during whole class teaching? Teachers are required to wear masks unless its not practical, i.e. if its challenging for them to communicate with masks. Do these rules and availability of tests, masks apply to the Catholic and private teaching sector? I teach at a low-fee Catholic secondary school and weve had no information on what applies to us or what changes have been made, eg HEPA filters in classrooms. Air purifiers have been provided to low-fee non-government schools. The free rapid tests will also be provided to all non-government schools. Vaccination Will kids have to get their first COVID-19 dose to attend school? While the vaccination is not mandatory for children, we cant stress enough the protection it will provide to all students and entire schools communities and we encourage every parent to book their child in as soon as possible to be protected. How do we manage the risk unvaccinated children or children from unvaccinated guardians bring to schools? We need to get as many children vaccinated as possible to protect our school communities. The best thing all Victorian families can do is book their children in for their first and second doses, and book their own third doses. Staff shortages Most retired staff have let their Victorian Institute of Teaching registration lapse. It is very difficult and expensive to re-activate. Will the government allow changes to this process? All staff employed through the pool must hold a valid Working with Children Check or valid Victorian Institute of Teaching registration prior to the commencement of employment. Will staff only be required at their workplace to perform duties which cannot be undertaken remotely and in particular will staff meetings and planning sessions (including any scheduled for January 28) be held in-person? Will days of work missed by teachers and school staff due to contracting COVID or due to isolation requirements be deducted from leave entitlements or pay? All school staff are expected to work on site, except for medically vulnerable staff and staff required to quarantine. Staff can apply for infectious diseases leave, which provides up to three months leave outside of personal leave. Ventilation What obligations are being put on higher-fee paying private schools to provide ventilation and air purification in classes? There should not be different rules for state versus private sector. Weve provided air purification devices to low-fee non-government schools as part of the rollout of the 51,000 air purifiers, and worked closely with the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria and Independent Schools Victoria to provide consistent guidance to all schools on health and safety measures including ventilation. Enforcing the new rules How is a class of grade 3 and lower children together in a room with optional surgical masks and maybe a single dose of vaccination (which is not protective) different to a COVID party? The Back to School plan provides a range of measures to ensure that schools are as safe as possible for staff and students. This includes requiring all teachers and staff to have three vaccination doses, promoting vaccinations for children aged 5-11, recommended surveillance testing for all students, bolstering ventilation measures in all schools and kindergarten services, including 51,000 air purifiers for schools and ventilation grants for not-for-profit kindergarten services, along with other vital COVID-safe measures, including mask requirements, staying at home when unwell, handwashing and good hygiene, physical distancing, and outside learning when appropriate. Loading How can it make sense to combine classes in large venues like gyms which would increase the risk of exposure? How can teachers teach effectively outdoors? I rely on technology and use my computer and screen in almost every lesson. Are teachers once again expected to come up with another new way of teaching? The health advice is that there is a lower risk of transmission in outdoor areas. This is consistent with broader community settings and will enable clear and logical communication to schools that is consistent with broader community settings and expectations. Schools are encouraged to hold lessons outdoors where appropriate for the subject. Many students and teachers will be close contacts but will test negative until they test positive. Will the parents whose children are in classrooms all day with these close contacts be notified of this? For example, if my child is in a room all day with five students plus a teacher who are all close contacts, will I be told so I can choose whether to send my child to school? Contact-tracing requirements in schools and early childhood education and care services will be replaced by a communicable disease approach, where parents and carers at a school are informed when a COVID-positive person has attended at the school or ECEC service and what their next steps are (including watching for symptoms and what to do if symptoms appear). Will the staff to student ratios to ensure student safety still be enforced or will teachers be expected to teach classes with numbers outside of the agreement? Staff to student ratios will be maintained wherever possible. However, in the instance of staff absences due to COVID a tiered approach will be implemented. This could include drawing on teachers from the casual relief pool and using staff from the newly announced Job Opportunity Pool. In some cases schools may be required to combine cohorts for a short period of time. Vulnerable students, staff Medically vulnerable children attend mainstream schools too. What is the process for parents of vulnerable children advised by treating doctors to delay return until fully vaccinated? All students are expected to attend on site unless they are formally registered as being home-schooled. Parent preference is not an approved reason for students to be absent due to COVID-19. Students who do not attend school due to medical advice should be supported in the same way as students with an extended absence due to illness or injury, with learning materials provided to support their continued learning. What is the plan for medically vulnerable staff? Employees should seek advice from their medical practitioner about working on site if they are at greater risk of more serious illness with COVID-19. Where the employee is unable to work on site and wants to work remotely or take personal leave, they should provide a medical certificate. Where remote work is not available, the employee can access leave available to them or return to duty once the medical advice is that it is safe for them to do so. My wife is pregnant and a teacher. I am already nervous about her returning to school. How can the government mandate a third dose of vaccine when the GP has advised us not to get a booster at 28 weeks pregnant because there are no studies on the effect of a booster dose on the child? Surely this can be medically exempt? Staff who are considered medically exempt by their doctor and have a certificate will not be required to have a third dose. Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has advised the Victorian government that due to the high rates of community transmission of the virus, education settings are likely to be linked to a significant number of cases once the academic year commences. The state government has already ordered 51,000 air purification devices, which they say will be in classrooms and high-risk areas, like staff rooms, by the first day of the school year. Parents and carers are expected to be asked to pick up the rapid antigen tests directly from schools. Mr Merlino said he believed the government had enough rapid antigen tests to cover the surveillance testing of students and staff for the first four weeks, with the testing program to be reviewed at the end of that period. Fewer patients in intensive care but hospitals still under strain Mr Andrews said there were fewer people in intensive care than during previous outbreaks, but hospitals were still under strain from the sheer number of people needing care in COVID wards. When youve got more than 1000 people that are in general ward beds, and theyre still very unwell, theyre just not critically unwell, he said. That does put an enormous pressure on the health system. If we can play our part all of us to avoid any more of those admissions... then we can live with this. We cant normalise this, but we can reduce the burden and the pressure on families and businesses and most particularly on our health system. Pool of staff ready, willing and able to plug teaching gaps Loading The Victorian government has devised a tiered program to assist schools struggling to stay open due to staffing shortages as a result of COVID-19. At the first level of staff shortages, schools will be required to utilise their usual relief teachers and casual support staff to fill gaps in their workforce. At tier two, schools may have to condense classes together in venues like gyms to ensure students can stay at school and continue to learn. If a school reaches the third tier of shortages, they will be able to draw from a pool of retired teachers, final-year education students and other support staff to plug gaps in their staff. We will have a pool of people ready, willing and able to support schools, if they are having those challenges, Education Minister James Merlino said on Sunday. Parents and carers will again receive notifications of positive COVID cases at their childrens school or child care centre, under the new plan. If your child is sick, just dont send them to school Professor Sharon Goldfeld, a paediatrician at the Royal Childrens Hospital, said there were a number of simple but really important measures parents could take to keep children safe, such as vaccinations and mask wearing. If your child is sick, just dont send them to school if they have anything a runny nose, cough, all those things that we know kids get, she said. In other years we might have sent our kids to school but this year in particular as we start school, if there any symptoms, keep the kids at home. For five-to-11 year olds, youre already hearing theyre stepping up (getting vaccines). Its important because vaccinating those kids who are primary school aged children is keeping them safe and preventing hospitalization and severe disease, and thats what the vaccination is about. Victoria records 13,091 new cases, 14 deaths Victoria recorded 13,091 COVID-19 cases on Sunday and 14 deaths on Sunday. There are now 1002 people in hospital with the virus in Victoria, with 44 people on a ventilator and 120 in intensive care. More than 32,435 PCR tests results were returned on Saturday. Victorias active cases dropped about 12 per cent compared to Saturdays numbers, with 191,058 people now infected with COVID-19. Its the first time the state has been under 200,000 active cases for almost two weeks. The Health Department said on Saturday night that around 35,000 historic rapid test cases would be removed from the active case totals this weekend as part of the transition to a permanent rapid antigen test reporting system. Of the new cases reported on Sunday, 6625 came from PCR tests, 6466 while were from self-registered rapid antigen tests. The Andrews government has been adamant that remote learning is not in the plan for term one, whatever disruption the rampant Omicron variant creates. Education Minister James Merlino said this week that Victoria the state where students missed as many as 170 days of face-to-face learning, more than any other supports national cabinet principles that schools will be the first to open and the last to close in 2022. The days of system-wide remote learning in line with lockdowns no one is talking about that, he said this week. We want our students back in classrooms, face-to-face with their teachers, with their peers. Meanwhile, health data obtained by The Sunday Age, the median age of COVID-19 patients in Melbourne hospitals in January is 62 years and 67 years in regional hospitals. Loading There have been more than 300 COVID-19 deaths in Victoria since December 22. Of about 10 per cent of deaths analysed thorough genomic screening, six were with Omicron. Their median age was 67.5. Another 26 died with the Delta variant. With 26,581 doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Victorias state-run hubs on Saturday, 31 per cent of over-18s in the state have received a booster dose. Data obtained by The Sunday Age showed that just 45 people who have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have needed a hospital bed due to illness from the virus less than 5 per cent of the 1029 coronavirus patients in hospitals on Saturday. The majority were aged 70 or over. The Victorian government has announced changes to how students will return to classrooms at the start of the 2022 year to contain the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The measures will be in effect from the start of term 1, with most students returning to school on Monday, January 31. The Victorian government has announced its back-to-school plan. Credit:Penny Stephens Testing Rapid antigen testing will be in place for at least the first four weeks of term one. After months of waiting for a positive announcement by the Australian government, Afghans in urgent need of Australias protection will feel abandoned. On Friday, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced that the Australian government will be allocating 15,000 visas to Afghan nationals 10,000 humanitarian visas, and 5000 for family visas under the migration program. While this was welcome news, what was missing from the headline was the fact that the allocation would be made over the next four years, and the humanitarian visas would come out of an already existing annual humanitarian program of 13,750. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced that the Australian government will allocate 15,000 visas to Afghan nationals. Credit:AP It thus failed to address an urgent need for an expansion of protective resettlement for Afghans who are in imminent danger from the Taliban regime. For many, a wait of four years may have lethal consequences as the Taliban are stepping up their brutal crackdown on Afghans who worked with international forces over the last two decades, human rights defenders, minority groups or anyone who criticises their new regime. Soon after the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, the Morrison government allocated an initial 3000 humanitarian visas to Afghan nationals in urgent need of protection. It is estimated that some 145,000 people are included in the 32,500 applications already lodged for these visas. Australians are willing to vote for a republic by a narrow majority of 54 per cent but are split over the best way to choose the head of state to replace Queen Elizabeth after calls this month for a new model to elect the leader in a popular vote. Support for a republic is strong enough to gain formal approval in the biggest states, with 56 per cent backing the idea in NSW, 54 per cent in Victoria and 52 per cent in Queensland. But an exclusive survey shows there is no momentum for the republican cause compared to opinion polls over the past two decades, while only 38 per cent back the proposal from the Australian Republic Movement (ARM) to elect the head of state. Support is also low for legislating an Indigenous voice to Parliament in the constitution, a proposal backed by Labor but rejected by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in favour of a plan to legislate a new structure to give First Nations people a say on key policies. Back from the beach, he also had his eye on Elanora Heights, Narraweena and Beacon Hill, where he estimated prices had come back about 5 per cent as more homes hit the market late last year predominantly in the $2 million to $2.2 million range enabling better buying for house hunters. However, prices would only pull back so far before fewer homes started hitting the market and prices rose again. Loading Theres going to be more opportunity [for buyers], particularly for B- and C-grade properties, but A-grade will always be competitive, he added. On the north shore, Greenwich and Crows Nest were the respective top picks of BresicWhitney head of sales Thomas McGlynn and Starr Partners chief executive Douglas Driscoll. While Greenwich was popular with locals, it was often overlooked by out-of-area buyers despite providing many of the same lifestyle opportunities for better value than some of its contemporaries like Hunters Hill and Mosman, Mr McGlynn said. I would say [Greenwich is] one to watch, especially because [of the demand for] prestige property and from what I can see at the moment if there is one category that will continue to have good growth its that, Mr McGlynn added. Crows Nest is tipped to be popular for its high street, comparative affordability and future metro station. Credit:Nick Moir Crows Nest was similarly overlooked, Mr Driscoll said of the suburb he himself has called home for the past couple of years. While often seen as one of the poorer relations to other parts of the north shore, it had a more vibrant cafe and dining scene than other pockets and was increasingly attracting young families drawn to the areas comparative affordability. The metro station under construction and the suburbs proximity to North Sydney, which has undergone a bit of a renaissance in recent years, were also key drawcards. South Arncliffe, Bexley and Banksia in the citys south are suburbs to watch in 2022, according Michelle May, of Michelle May Buyers Agents, as buyers priced out of the inner west look further afield. The suburbs are now drawing a younger demographic, as first-home buyers and upsizers look for more affordable alternatives to the inner west that still have good public transport links to the city. Arncliffe homes have been seeing growing interest from first-home buyers and upsizers priced out of the inner west. Inner westies are being pushed further out, as the eastern suburbs buyers are being pushed further into the inner west, Ms May said. While all three suburbs had seen good growth over the past year, they still have room for more due to their comparative affordability, Ms May said. Arncliffe, for comparison, recorded a median house price of $1.35 million in the year to September, while nearby Marrickvilles median hit $1.7 million. If youve got $1.5 million you can still buy a house, which isnt possible in much of the inner west unless you want to live on Parramatta Road, she said. Loading The region was also a pick of buyers agent Lloyd Edge, managing director of Aus Property Professionals, though he is looking to the likes of neighbouring Kogarah and Rockdale less than 20 minutes from the city by train. They had always been a bit underrated, he said, adding that the hospital and proximity to the beach were also key drawcards. East Edge also had the beachside suburbs of Maroubra and Coogee on his radar for 2022. While expensive, with respective house medians of $2.41 million and $3.5 million, he felt that both but Maroubra in particular offered better value for money than other waterfront suburbs in the east, and would continue to draw upsizers from neighbouring suburbs. Nearby Kingsford and Kensington were also likely to be popular, for both upsizers and first-home buyers looking to units with good proximity to the city, beach and parks. The south-east was also seeing increased interest due to the light rail line, he added, and this would likely grow as more people returned to the office. Maroubra is increasingly drawing buyers from other parts of the eastern suburbs. Credit:Peter Rae Closer to the city, Rosebery and Waterloo could represent good buying for those looking for apartments, Ms May said, but warned buyers would need to be selective and do their due diligence checking a buildings strata history. There may be some good opportunities now there is a lot more supply there. I think they will become more desirable with the new train line station and [nearby] Green Square becoming more of a real suburb as opposed to a ghost town with just high rise. West Stanmore in the inner west was the other top pick for Mr McGlynn, who said it was often overlooked for the likes of neighbouring Annandale the second most searched suburb in Australia last year. Its only on the other side of Parramatta Road from Annandale, you get freestanding homes and semis, all of which have similar or greater proportions than more popular suburbs like Annandale or Balmain, he said. House prices in Stanmore climbed more than 30 per cent last year. While Stanmore has already seen significant price growth with the median up about 31.7 per cent over the year to September it still had more to go, Mr McGlynn said, noting the suburb record sat at less than $4.3 million, compared to Annandales $8.7 million. Nearby Lewisham, Summer Hill and Dulwich Hill were also ones to watch, according to Mr Edge, but he noted his top picks for investors would be suburbs like Ingleburn and Glenfield in the south-west, as they offered higher rental yields and low vacancy rates. Murayev called the accusations stupid and absurd, saying he himself had been subject to Russian sanctions. Loading He told the London Telegraph: Unless I missed something, they [Russia] have another candidate and theyre not even hiding it. I am a patriot of my country. The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed the comments as disinformation, accusing Britain and NATO of escalating tensions over Ukraine. We urge the Foreign Office to cease these provocative activities, stop spreading nonsense and finally concentrate its efforts on studying the history of the Mongol-Tatar yoke, the ministry said on its verified Facebook account. Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to meet Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu for talks in Moscow. No timing has been given for the meeting, which would be the first UK-Russia bilateral defence talks since 2013. The US has mounted an aggressive campaign in recent months to unify its European allies against a new Russian invasion of Ukraine. The White House called the UK government assessment deeply concerning and said it stands with the duly elected Ukrainian government. Members of Ukraines Territorial Defence Forces, volunteer military units of the Armed Forces, train in a city park in Kyiv, amid fears of a Russian invasion. Credit:AP This kind of plotting is deeply concerning, said National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne. The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically elected partners in Ukraine. The assessment came as Biden spent Saturday at the presidential retreat Camp David outside of Washington huddling with his senior national security team about the Ukraine situation. In another development, the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania plan to send US-made anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, a move that the United States fully endorsed Saturday amid Kyivs escalating tensions with Russia. Loading The defence ministers of the three Baltic states said in a joint statement that they stand united in our commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in face of continued Russian aggression. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a tweet that Washington saluted the NATO nations and former Soviet republics for their longstanding support to Ukraine. I expedited and authorised and we fully endorse transfers of defensive equipment @NATO Allies Estonia Latvia Lithuania are providing to Ukraine to strengthen its ability to defend itself against Russias unprovoked and irresponsible aggression, Blinken said in another tweet. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier this week described the West supplying arms to Ukraine as extremely dangerous and said the shipments do nothing to reduce tensions. Moscow has massed tens of thousands of troops near the Russia-Ukraine border, leading to fears of an invasion. The West has rejected Moscows main demands promises from NATO that Ukraine will never be added as a member, that no alliance weapons will be deployed near Russian borders, and that it will pull back its forces from Central and Eastern Europe. A meeting Friday between Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ended with no breakthrough. Amid the uncertain security situation, the US State Department has been considering a range of options to ensure the safety and security of the US embassy in Kyiv and its employees by moving to reduce its diplomatic presence there. The defence ministers of the Baltic states said in their statement that Estonia would provide Javelin anti-tank weapons while Latvia and Lithuania were sending Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and other related equipment to bolster Kyivs defensive military capabilities. It wasnt immediately clear when the weapons and equipment would be sent to Ukraine. Today, Ukraine is at the forefront of separating Europe from the military conflict with Russia. Lets face it, the war in Ukraine is ongoing and it is important to support Ukraine in every way we can so that they can resist the aggressor, Estonian Defence Minister Kalle Laanet said. Estonia also is seeking Germanys approval to send Soviet-made howitzers, which once belonged to East Germany, to Ukraine. Estonia acquired the howitzers from non-NATO member Finland, which in turn had bought them from Germanys military surplus supply in the 1990s. Loading The German government said Friday that it was considering Estonias request to pass the howitzers on to Ukraine but gave no timeline for a decision. Berlin said it planned to coordinate the issue with Finland, which has received a similar approval request from Estonia. Berlin routinely demands a say when German-sold weapons are transferred to third countries. But some recent media reports suggested German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs cabinet could block Estonias transfer of weapons to Kyiv, highlighting divisions in the Wests response to the Ukraine crisis. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba alleged on Saturday that Germany was not showing adequate support for Ukraine. Kuleba said in a Twitter post that the weapons transfer issue and remarks by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressing scepticism about cutting off Russia from the SWIFT global payments system do not correspond to the level of our relations and the current security situation. Also Saturday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador to object to recently circulated video in which the head of the German navy said that Ukraine would not regain the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin deserved respect. The comments by vice admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach sparked consternation and a swift rebuke back in Berlin. By late Saturday, the German navy chief had tendered his resignation, saying he wanted to prevent further damage resulting from his ill-considered statements in India. The US State Department is currently warning US citizens not to visit Ukraine due to the coronavirus pandemic but is also advising them to reconsider travel there due to potential Russian aggression. Speculation that an announcement about the US diplomatic presence in Ukraine may be imminent has increased since the embassy in Kyiv announced it would hold a virtual town hall meeting about the security situation with US citizens in Ukraine on Tuesday. Amsterdam: A stowaway was discovered in the landing gear of a Cargolux freight plane that arrived at Amsterdams Schiphol airport from Africa on Sunday, Dutch military police said. It is believed the man flew from either Johannesburg in South Africa or Nairobi in Kenya a flight time of between eight hours and 12 hours, depending on the origin. The man is doing well considering the circumstances and has been taken to a hospital, the police said in a statement. The man travelled to Amsterdam from either Johannesburg or Nairobi in the landing gear of a Boeing 747 freight plane. Credit:AP Joanna Helmonds, a spokeswoman for the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, a branch of the national police force responsible for airports, said the mans age and nationality had not yet been determined. ~Hints at possible Parliamentary inquiry at PJIA~ PHILIPSBURG:--- President of Parliament, the Honourable Grisha Heyliger-Marten, says the revelation of the existence of a "potentially damning" dossier on PJIA may well shed light on shortcomings at the top levels of the Government-owned Company, The document will be formally booked into Parliament early this week, and Parliamentary officials indicate that this time around, the PJIA dossier will follow the proper channels for accepting official documents. If the alleged contents are factual, uncovering these truths can result in swift action to remove any impediments to the long-awaited rebuilding of the Airport. "The contents of the PJIA dossier might provide even more reasons for an urgent Parliamentary inquiry in the interest of transparency and good governance. Many questions regarding PJIA have remained unanswered since Hurricane Irma. I, therefore, believe it is in the general interests that a public debate on this matter and how to move forward takes place as soon as possible," said Heyliger-Marten Sunday. On Sunday evening, MP Heyliger-Marten issued a press release clarifying her position on the PJIA dossier's recent discovery. Since the news of its existence surfaced on St. Maarten, many people have speculated that its contents will reveal misspending and other wrongdoings by the Supervisory Board of Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) and its once ousted Chief Executive Officer Brian Mingo. However, Heyliger-Marten said she will not act on speculation but would await the document's arrival at Parliament. "Up to last week, the Parliament of St. Maarten was not officially aware that someone had sent "the PIJA dossier" to both the Parliament and the Council of Ministers." It seems although it was delivered to Parliament, the document may have fallen through the cracks and never underwent the proper process. "This is very serious and problematic in itself," said Heyliger-Marten. According to Heyliger-Marten, in June 2020, Independent MP Christopher Emmanuel had hinted at the dossier's existence. According to Emmanuel, someone had already submitted the PJIA dossier to Parliament and the Council of Ministers. Back then, she told Emmanuel she would need the time to investigate if Parliament received the dossier since it never crossed her desk as Member of Parliament. Talks about "the PJIA dossier" again emerged during last weeks handling of the national budget for 2022. "At that time, I had no facts and could not confirm the dossier's existence or contents, and therefore could not publicly go on the record making statements without having the facts. Naturally, informal discussions between MP's can and do take place about their thoughts and opinions on matters. Still, as representatives of the people, we should be mature and disciplined enough not to publicly make statements until we know they are factual and can be substantiated." That same evening after the meeting was adjourned, I followed up on inquiries I had already started making to establish who initially received the dossier at the Parliament. During the meeting, National Alliance MP William Marlin had requested this investigation. I also called an urgent meeting of the Presidium for 9 a.m. the following day to finalize the investigation. Heyliger-Marten said, "During the Presidium meeting, it was definitively established who had signed for receipt of the document. When contacted, the person in question confirmed that, as customary, she had either handed over the dossier to the former Chair of Parliament or placed it on his desk for further handling. It remains unclear why the document was not officially booked in at Parliament. "This error further emphasizes why the efficiency of the functioning and processes within Parliament needs to be addressed," said Heyliger-Marten. Heyliger-Marten said that during her first address to Parliament as Chairlady, she pledged to adhere to the principles of discipline, efficiency, and transparency for the Parliament of St. Maarten moving forward. "The mishandling of the PJIA dossier is an excellent example of why these principles are essential." Heyliger-Marten also said Parliament's investigation of the receipt of the dossier had gone as far as it can for the time being. She said the documents would be resent and booked in correctly Parliament, after which all MPs will receive a copy. "Depending on the dossier's contents, Members of Parliament are free to request a meeting for Parliament to discuss this matter and decide the next steps by Parliament and the Council of Ministers related to PJIA", Heyliger-Marten said. Heyliger-Marten herself has consistently advocated for the speedy reconstruction of the Airport. On May 14th, 2021, she sent a letter to the Honourable Prime Minister with several questions seeking clarity on "developments" at PJIA. "In that letter, I indicated that, depending on the answers received to my questions, I would consider seeking an inquiry/investigation at the Parliamentary level into the reconstruction and financing agreements for PJIA and related matters." CAIRO, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in's three-day visit to Egypt concluded on Friday pushes forward bilateral ties and paves the way for a new stage of partnership, according to political and economic experts. Moon's visit to the Egyptian capital Cairo, the first visit to Egypt by a South Korean president in 16 years, was part of his regional tour after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. "It is mainly an economy-driven visit, considering South Korea's strategy in the past few years to reinforce investments in Middle Eastern countries, especially in the three countries," said Mokhtar Gobashy, vice chairman of Cairo-based Arab Centre for Political and Strategic Studies. "Egypt is the first African country that Moon visits during his presidential term. South Korea views Egypt as a center of gravity for business and politics in the Middle East and Africa," South Korea's Ambassador to Cairo Hong Jin-Wook told a press conference last week. "The main objective of the visit is to activate and enforce the comprehensive partnership agreement signed between the two countries during Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi's visit to Seoul in March 2016," said Gobashy. With the ambition to be an important player in the African arena, South Korea hopes to access the continent through Egypt, he said, noting that "Egypt is an important base for attracting investments and resolving regional political issues." On Thursday, Egyptian and South Korean presidents witnessed the signing ceremony of several memoranda of understanding, including a one-billion-U.S. dollar deal on financial cooperation from 2022 to 2026, and a 251-million-dollar loan provided by South Korea to upgrade the Luxor-High Dam railway line. The two sides also signed a Korean grant worth 8 million U.S. dollars. "Egypt seeks to attract South Korean companies and investments in major development projects and infrastructure projects, as well as in the fields of energy, mining, transportation, communications, and information technology," according to a statement by Egypt's presidency. The two countries agreed to form a joint committee that will examine for six months the possibility of drafting "a free trade agreement." "The visit is an opportunity to push the bilateral ties forward," said Egyptian economist Walid Gaballah. During the visit, South Korean companies have promised to provide technical support for the construction of Egypt's Dabaa nuclear power plant west of Alexandria, in cooperation with the Russian state company of Rosatom. "South Korea's choice of Egypt as a strategic partner in the Middle East and North Africa reflects the success of Egypt's economic reform policies," added the economic expert. Meanwhile, Tariq Fahmy, professor of political sciences with Cairo University, said that "Egypt was one of the first countries that recognized the independence of South Korea in 1948 and the two countries have a long history of cooperation." Choosing Egypt as a strategic partner means "bilateral ties will see momentum in the field of localizing Korean technologies in the country." French Quarter:---The Les Fruits de Mer association has published a new book, Stories of St. Martin. In this book, twelve St. Martiners tell stories from their lives in their own words. Each story captures a unique part of life on St. Martin, and each story captures a unique voice. They are stories of work, hardship, accomplishment, and inspiration. Reading this book is like sitting down with a neighbor while they tell you a story, said co-editor Jenn Yerkes. Its a great way for St. Martiners of all ages to share the living history of this place, from major events to daily life back in the day. The stories really come alive because each one is told in a unique voice. These stories were recorded on St. Martin between 2016 and 2021. Topics include salt and salt harvesting, storms and renewal, work and service, and local traditions. Each one is part of an oral history tradition on St. Martin that stretches back hundreds of years and continues today. This important process has preserved knowledge, customs, and culture, including the local language, bypassing them down from generation to generation. We are excited to publish this book in French as well as English, added co-editor Mark Yokoyama. People living here who dont speak the islands mother tongue dont have many opportunities to learn about the lives of St. Martiners. We hope this book promotes deeper understanding and connection. Free copies of Stories of St. Martin will be given away at Amuseum Naturalis on Saturday, January 29th from 9 am to noon thanks to sponsoring Delta Petroleum. Amuseum Naturalis is a free museum of nature and heritage located in French Quarter, St. Martin. It is open every day from sunrise to sunset. The book is also available as a free download from http://lesfruitsdemer.com and for purchase worldwide at amazon.com. Teachers and youth group leaders interested in copies are encouraged to contact Les Fruits de Mer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Companies or individuals interested in sponsoring copies for schools are also encouraged to contact the association. The Les Fruits de Mer association has published twelve books about St. Martin's nature and heritage. All are available in both English and French. The association is currently working to develop new books on local topics for all different ages. Their long-term goal is to give a free book about St. Martin to every student on the island, every year they are in school. Stories of St. Martin was produced with support from the Collectivite de Saint-Martin, the Agence nationale de la cohesion des territoires, and Delta Petroleum. ~Our Land Matters, today it's us, tomorrow might be you.~ MARIGOT:--- Rinaldo Webster and Ferdinand Beauperthuy has once again called on the population of St. Martin to come out on Monday morning to support their cause as they continue to fight for what is theirs. The younger Webster told SMN News on Sunday that his father bought land in 1985 and 20 years later they are being told that his father bought the land that is succession land. He said that his father used a well-known notary to execute the purchase and he is in possession of a legal deed. Webster presented a copy of the deed to SMN News as proof and he also provided a letter from the Prefecture that certified that the land that his father purchased is legally registered to him. Besides that Webster said that the courts in Paris have decided that his fathers land will be placed on auction on Tuesday in Paris. His uncle Ferdinand Beauperthuy explained that they are being disadvantaged because the list of 255 persons in France and Venezuela does not include his grandfather who is supposed to be an heir. The Beauperthuy and Webster land matters dated back to quite a number of years and the situation has worsened. So far the local government did not voice an opinion or intervene in the situation but promises are now being made that a meeting will be held with the President of the Collectivity and the family. Several politicians that are gearing up for the March 20th and 27th Territorial Election have already voiced their opinion on the matter. It is expected that this matter will be a major topic during this election campaign. The full interview can be viewed: https://www.facebook.com/stmartinnewsnetwork/videos/526834935131252 Somerset, KY (42501) Today Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 68F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Berlin (Germany), Jan 19, 2022 (SPS) - The German NGO "Freedom for Western Sahara" Wednesday asked the new German government not to give in to the blackmail of the Moroccan occupation state to the detriment of international legality in the conflict of the Western Sahara, an issue that is registered as a case of decolonization. In a statement made public yeserday, the German NGO "condemned the displays of bias discovered in a document issued by Berlin regarding relations between the two countries and that supports Moroccan expansionist claims embodied in the so-called" autonomy plan ", in clear violation of the resolutions of the United Nations that call for the conclusion of the process of decolonization of the last colony of the African continent, Western Sahara. The statement highlighted the policy of impunity enjoyed by the Moroccan occupation and the absence of international sanctions for its illegal occupation of Western Sahara, which deepen the suffering of the indigenous inhabitants of the territory, who survive in extreme conditions in refugee camps. , while the Moroccan regime expands its policy of settler settlement and the indiscriminate plundering of the natural resources of the Saharawi people, with the complicity of international companies and the European Union itself, Morocco's main trading partner. SPS 125/090/tra This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD Tuesday is once again special election day in Stamford. Its the citys fourth special election for a General Assembly seat in the past 12 months. Last year, Democrat Patricia Billie Miller was elected to replace Carlo Leone as the state senator for the 27th District after Leone, a fellow Democrat, stepped down for a job at the state Department of Transportation. Democrat Corey Paris was then elected to take Millers place in the state House as the representative of the 145th District. Months later, after Democrat Alex Kasser resigned, Republican Ryan Fazio won election to represent the state Senates 36th District. Tuesdays election in the 144th state House District was triggered by Caroline Simmons election as mayor in November. The Democrat had won the seat representing parts of several neighborhoods in the center of Stamford in 2014 in an upset over Republican incumbent Michael Molgano. Voters will now pick between Republican Danny Melchionne, a 33-year-old registered respiratory therapist and personal trainer, and Democrat Hubert Delany, a 28-year-old U.S. Army reservist and public affairs adviser who has served as a co-chair of a panel focused on veterans affairs as part of Simmons transition team. Both are Stamford natives and first-time candidates. The winner will have to mount another campaign later this year to keep the seat. That election will be held in an updated version of the 144th District, reflecting changes a bipartisan panel of state lawmakers made to Connecticuts district lines in light of the 2020 Census. Melchionne, who lives in Belltown, would have to move to remain in the district. Delany, who lives in Bulls Head, wouldnt need to move. Unlike the other special elections that have taken place in the past year, voters cannot use the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason for requesting an absentee ballot for Tuesdays election. They can only use the usual reasons: illness, physical disability, active duty in the U.S. military, religious restrictions, absence from the city throughout Election Day or duties as an election official. However, like other recent elections, voters can drop off their absentee ballots at drop boxes until 8 p.m. Tuesday. One box is in the parking garage of the Stamford Government Center at 888 Washington Blvd. Another is at the Harry Bennett Branch library at 115 Vine Road. Polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The polling places are: Voting District 12: Stillmeadow Elementary School, 800 Stillwater Road. Voting District 13: Rippowam Middle School, 381 High Ridge Road. Voting District 14: Dolan Middle School, 51 Toms Road. Voting Districts 16 and 18: Turn of River Middle School, 117 Vine Road. Voters can double check their polling place here: https://www.stamfordct.gov/government/registrar-of-voters/find-your-voting-location. Voting districts and locations for state elections are not the same as the districts and locations for municipal elections. Voters who participated in the November election may have a different polling place for Tuesdays election. There are about 16,000 registered voters in the 144th District, including about 6,300 Democrats, 3,400 Republicans, 300 Independents and 5,900 unaffiliated voters, according to data provided by the Stamford Registrars of Voters office. brianna.gurciullo@hearstmediact.com MOGADISHU, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA)'s special forces, Gorgor, killed six al-Shabab militants and foiled a car bomb attack at a military base in Guriel town in Galgudud region in central Somalia, officials said Sunday. Odawa Yusuf Rage, commander of SNA told SNA Radio Mogadishu that the militants' commander who was in charge of Guriel and El-bur town in the region, was among those killed there. "We killed six al-Shabab terrorists and foiled a car filled with explosives in which they wanted to detonate at SNA base in Guriel overnight," Rage said. He said that the army recovered weapons and a vehicle during the operation, adding that the army will remain vigilant and are committed to counter terrorists. Al-Shabab militants did not comment on the latest onslaught by the government forces. DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least five people from the same family have been killed by unidentified assailants in Tanzania's central region of Dodoma, police said on Sunday. The victims were a husband, a wife, two children and a grandchild, said Onesmo Lyanga, the Dodoma regional police commander. Lyanga told a press conference that initial investigations showed that the victims were hit by heavy objects. Lyanga said the bodies of the deceased have been taken to hospital for postmortem to find out how they were killed. He said after the postmortem is done, police will issue a statement, vowing that police will leave no stone unturned in hunting for the assailants. Noah Kapande, a relative of the victims, told local media the bodies of the deceased were found in their house in Zanka village on Saturday at 4 p.m. local time by children who had gone to graze cattle near the house of the deceased. Anthony Mtaka, the Dodoma regional commissioner, visited the scene on Sunday accompanied by the regional defense and security committee and urged the villagers and relatives to give cooperation in identifying the assailants. "This incident might be done in collaboration with residents of this area and not a person from far. No one can come from far and kill five people of the same family without having enough information," he said. Energy Minister Virgil Popescu, attending on Saturday an informal meeting of the EU Energy and Environment Ministers in Amiens - France, informed the European Commission about the Romanian authorities' plans to adopt additional short-term measures to step up energy support to final consumers. "We had a new round of ministerial debates on the EU energy price crisis. The energy crisis is a major concern in all EU member states, with national measures proving the most effective at the moment for mitigating the negative effects. On this occasion I reiterated the measures adopted by Romania at the end of last year for the protection of vulnerable consumers and various consumer categories such as households, SMEs, hospitals etc. (...) I highlighted the steps taken by the competent national authorities in monitoring the implementation of the existing legislative framework in order to protect consumers, including by correct billing," Virgil Popescu wrote on Facebook. He mentioned that the ministerial debates also envisaged energy efficiency in the context of the current European negotiations on the Fit for 55 legislative package. "Together with my colleagues from other member states, I emphasized the importance of maintaining a flexible framework for member states in choosing the economically most viable measures, taking into account national circumstances. During the working lunch, I had an exchange of views on the development of the EU hydrogen market, on which occasion I expressed Romania's interest in stepping up the development of hydrogen from renewable sources, with low carbon emissions and an appropriate infrastructure," Popescu said. The Energy Ministry launched for public debate the draft Emergency Ordinance on a new set of consumer support measures, which provides among others for a lower price cap for both gas and electricity, and a higher consumption for eligibility for state budget compensations. According to the draft piece of legislation, household customers are in for a compensation of no more than RON 0.291/kWh for electricity, and of a maximum of 40 percent of the price component of the gas supply contract; there is also a maximum consumption limit of 2,500 kWh of electricity, divided in equal monthly tranches, and the equivalent in kWh of 1,500 cubic metres of natural gas at a conversion factor of 10.6 kWh per cubic metre, also split in equal tranches (compared to the previous threshold of 1,500 kWh of electricity, allocated in monthly installments and the equivalent in kWh of 1,000 cubic metres of natural gas at a conversion factor of 10.6 kWh per cubic metre). The President of Romania bestowed on Wednesday the National Order of Merit upon a priest who reposed earlier this month and who was instrumental in the fight for Romanian democracy in the early 1990s. Fr. Sorin Grecu held a hunger strike before the statue of Lenin that once stood on Bucharests Free Press Square, which led to the monuments dismantling. The President of Romania bestowed the Order as a sign of high appreciation and gratitude for the courage with which he defended religious freedom and the principles of democracy, both before and after the events of December 1989, as well as for his significant contribution to the coagulation and support of the Romanian community in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Fr. Sorin reposed in the Lord on January 6 at the age of 61. He served in the priesthood for 41 years. The first church he served was in Peretu, Teleorman County, which he himself founded despite persecution from the Securitate. He became known in March 1990, when he went on a hunger strike in front of the Lenin statue on Free Press Square, demanding the removal of all communist symbols, namely the statues of Lenin and Peter Groza, reports the Basilica News Agency. Later, in April, the longest anti-communist protest in the history of Romania began on University Square in Bucharest, brutally ending with the arrival of miners in Bucharest and the violence of June 14-15, 1990. Disappointed with the situation in the country, Fr. Sorin emigrated to London, where he founded a parish in 1993. Today, the Wings statue stands on Free Press Square where Lenin once stood, dedicated to the victims of communist repression. The procession with Fr. Sorins body stopped on this spot, where he once led his hunger strike for deliverance from communism, and a memorial service was served the repose of his soul. Fr. Sorin was buried near the church that he founded in Peretu on Thursday. Romania's crude and gas imports in the first ten months of 2021 amounted to 2.831 billion euros, up 52.6 pct YoY, show figures centralized by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). Crude and gas exports in the reporting period amounted to 168 million euros, by 741.7 percent higher YoY, with Romania thus recording a deficit of 2.663 billion euros for trade in these fuels. The domestic crude oil production over January - October 2021 was somewhere above 2.677 million tons, by 116.300 tons less (-4.2 pct) from the same period of the year before, while the country's usable gas production was 7.428 bln cubic metres (+25.9 ml cubic metres or +0.3 pct). EDWARDSVILLE Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine filed a lawsuit Friday in an attempt to block what he called a dubious new Illinois law that requires judicial elections to be decided by voters in new sub-circuits rather than countywide. Illinois GOP leaders have called the new law a judicial power grab in the Metro East county where much of the nations lucrative asbestos litigation is filed but voters have lurched to the right in recent elections. The lawsuit followed a 21-2 vote last week at the Madison County board condemning the law and authorizing Haine, a Republican, to take legal action, the Edwardsville Intelligencer reported. The law passed both chambers of the Democrat-dominated Illinois Legislature on Jan. 5, the same day an amendment inserting the judicial sub-circuit provision was added to a bill originally dealing with court security. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed it two days later. The bills sponsors argued the new sub-circuits would allow voters to choose more diverse judges in some counties. But while most Illinois judicial circuits that had judicial sub-circuits added wont use them to choose judges until 2024, the law takes immediate effect in the states Third Judicial Circuit covering Madison County, where two Republicans appointed to fill vacancies are up for election to full six-year terms in November. This sub-circuit law has serious Constitutional issues and is being rushed forward in a reckless way, Haine said in a statement Saturday. We are arguing that a pause is warranted here to let clearer heads prevail. With this pause, our upcoming 2022 judicial elections can be held countywide, as they have always been, while the courts closely review this very dubious new sub-circuit scheme. Under the law, the next three Madison County judges would be chosen by voters in a sub-circuit hugging the Mississippi River from Alton to Granite City, considered a strongly Democratic area. The two Republican judges running in 2022, Amy Sholar and Christopher Threlkeld, also have to move to the new sub-circuit to run to retain their judgeships. Currently, Madison County voters elect eight judges at large in the county. Bond County, which is also in the Third Judicial Circuit, elects one judge. After the first sub-circuit elections for the next three judges, a second sub-circuit covering the more urban areas of Collinsville and Edwardsville would select the next three. A third sub-circuit covering much of the rural portions of Madison County would then select the next two judges. All three sub-circuits have between 88,000 and 90,000 people, according to Haines lawsuit. No explanation is provided in the act for the disenfranchisement of the 3rd sub-circuit, which assigns only two resident judgeships even though the population is substantially similar to the 1st and 2nd sub-circuits, Haines lawsuit says. Haine argues the act used out-of-date precincts to draw the new sub-circuits. He also argues that the immediate application will confuse voters, and that voter registration cards that dont contain the new sub-circuit information have already been processed and reviewed by the Madison County clerk. Madison County, for years a Democratic bastion, has moved to the right since 2016. But the county is big business for plaintiff firms in the multimillion-dollar asbestos litigation industry. In 2020, more asbestos lawsuits were filed there than anywhere else in the country, according to consulting firm KCIC. Its so-called rocket docket is set up to resolve asbestos claims quickly, and the largest firms in the industry are based in the St. Louis region, including the Gori Law Firm and Simmons Hanly Conroy. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Plenty of U.S. veterans of the countrys 21st-century forever wars men and women who lost buddies and limbs to roadside bombs and suffer psychic scars struggle to understand the why behind them. Some wonder: Were they instruments of less-than-noble imperialist adventures? A century ago, a gimlet-eyed Marine who featured in pretty much every early U.S. empire-building expedition in Cuba, the Philippines, Panama, Mexico, Nicaragua and Haiti asked himself the same question. His answer: Yes. Smedley Butler was the tip of the spear in democracy-thwarting invasions and occupations beginning in 1898, whose beneficiaries included the banker J.P. Morgan and Standard Oil. Jonathan M. Katzs lively, deeply researched Gangsters of Capitalism tracks Butlers three decades of foreign conquest. The 344-page biography follows the blood-soaked transformation of Butler, a Quaker from Philadelphias Main Line suburbs and congressmans son, from capitalist tool to repentant antiwar activist. Why havent we heard of Butler before? Perhaps because theres little to glorify here. The book combines history, scholarship and travelogue. Katz visited nine countries to report it, including China, where Butler was wounded trying to put down the Boxer Rebellion, to help understand how the United States got to where it is now. Perhaps its no surprise a defeated president was able to rally a violent mob to storm the U.S. Capitol a year ago and nearly thwart what had long been considered a stable democracy. Gangsters of Capitalism is in the vein of a number of recent histories a category we used to call revisionism that expose the brutality and racism in U.S. expansionism and cast doubt on the oft-repeated claim of American exceptionalism. They include Greg Grandins Pulitzer-winning The End of the Myth and Vincent Bevins The Jakarta Method. Katzs engaging style brings history to life. The foreign correspondent was employed by the Associated Press in Haiti when he learned how Butler and Marines had stormed its parliament in 1917, dissolving it at gunpoint for resisting a U.S.-penned constitution that granted foreigners property ownership rights in the Black Caribbean nation founded by formerly enslaved people. It is just one in a litany of violent power plays Butler orchestrated even while recognizing their moral bankruptcy in letters home. Among deeds weighing heavily on Butler in his later years was how he helped create domestic praetorian guardias nacionales in countries including Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic later used by ruthless strongmen as shock troops. Katzs book The Big Truck That Went By told how relief that was supposed to help Haitians recover from the terrible 2010 earthquake instead enriched aid workers, military contractors and foreign investors who set up shop to exploit Haitian labor. Gangsters of Capitalism tries to reckon how a highly decorated U.S. soldier Butler would attain the rank of brigadier general could act so flagrantly anti-democratic while abroad, overseeing extrajudicial killings, forced labor and election-rigging, then work to try to prevent America from dispatching its youth to die in foreign wars. There is no evidence Butler gained materially from being a racketeer for capitalism his words who helped rape a half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. His only reward, it seems, was the esteem of his fellow combatants and the veterans whose pension rights he fought for during the Depression. And maybe to teach us a lesson. JEFFERSON CITY Missouri lawmakers are kicking around work requirements for Medicaid enrollment for the fifth year running. This years push packages the work rules within a proposed constitutional amendment giving the Legislature legal authority to defund voter-approved Medicaid expansion, for which an estimated 275,000 residents are now eligible. That number includes nearly 127,000 low-income adults whose families include at least one full- or part-time worker. The legislation, sponsored by House Budget Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, would institute a requirement for Medicaid recipients to work or do qualified community engagement for 80 hours a month. If passed by lawmakers, the amendment would go on the November ballot for voters to decide. These requirements could take the form of traditional employment or fall under the community engagement as outlined in the resolution education, substance abuse treatment, community service, volunteer child care, and job search or readiness training. Having those requirements alongside a benefit package like Medicaid is helpful it helps people enter the workforce, or provide community service, or further their education, Smith said. Those are all positive outcomes. The proposed work requirements would apply to applicants between ages 19 and 65 and allow for some exemptions. Exemptions include people with disabilities or serious illnesses, certain caregivers, those with limited access to public transportation or education, and those suffering from traumatic or exceptional circumstances. The proposal allows the Department of Social Services to use discretion in determining a candidates eligibility for an exemption. The House Budget Committee conducted a public hearing on the resolution Wednesday, which is further than past proposals have progressed in recent years. While Missouris debate may be gathering momentum, similar work requirement programs around the country have been collectively hitting a wall. Other states In 2018, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services leadership under President Donald Trumps administration sent a letter to states greenlighting potential work requirement programs, a reversal of former CMS policy. States could institute work requirements by passing the policy and applying for a federal CMS waiver. The letter led to a wave of attempts to pass work requirements, but court rulings and then the COVID-19 pandemic stalled the states programs or applications. At the time President Joe Biden took office last year, none of the 17 states that had attempted work requirements had succeeded. Bidens administration halted further attempts at implementation, and CMS has indicated it will not approve new applications. I have noted that CMS has not looked favorably upon the requirements in recent past, said Smith, adding that he felt charged to put forth good public policy for the state regardless. It would be unfortunate if CMS denied our ability to govern as we see fit in Missouri, Smith said. Im hopeful that they would take the will of the people and a constitutional change as a signal that this is how we want our Medicaid program to work and that they would try to help accommodate that rather than oppose it. Effect on enrollment Testimony at Wednesdays budget committee hearing was split on the likely end result of the policy an increase in employment or a decrease in health care. Proponents argued the requirements built in a path to independence. Others countered that barriers to health care were more likely to drive people further from economic stability. Most testimony opposed the legislation, with many fearing that new bureaucratic and administrative barriers would result in significant disenrollment, even with the exemptions. Emily Kalmer, representing the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, cited the experience of Arkansas, the only state to fully implement a work policy. The program lasted nearly a year, she said, before a federal judge halted it in 2019. Kalmer said the requirements resulted in the about 18,000 people disenrolling from Medicaid in the first six months. In Arkansas, many individuals who met an exemption category were unaware that they were exempt, while others were unable to successfully navigate work requirement reporting and lost their Medicaid coverage, said Kalmer. Letters that CMS sent last year to inform states of the work rule reversal cited similar concerns. A letter to South Carolina, for example, referenced a Kaiser Family Foundation study that found 77% to 83% of disenrollments would likely be caused by simple nonreporting, based on a nationwide model. The CMS letter said that work requirements had only modest and temporary effects on employment, failing to increase long-term employment or reduce poverty. Similarly, a 2020 Harvard study reviewing the effect of Arkansas Medicaid work requirements on employment found the policy had failed to boost employment. Opponents noted the requirements leave large gaps in types of employment. People with temporary or seasonal work, gig jobs or those with unpredictable or irregular hours, and other nontraditional work have reportedly been unable to consistently meet requirements, as noted in the CMS letters. Policy costs Debate has also centered on the cost of the policy. Though lower Medicaid enrollment decreases the cost, running the work requirement program takes significant funding, critics say. The administrative costs in five states with approved work requirement proposals, according to a 2019 Government Accountability Office report, ranged from $6 million to $270 million. These costs would be shared between states and the federal government. At the high end, Kentuckys estimate included significant technology updates. But Smith said he believes those costs in Missouri would be minimal. We do already, obviously do eligibility checks, and enrollment, verification, those types of things, he said. Im hopeful that we could fold additional reporting requirements into the process already. The legislation is House Joint Resolution 117. Grace Zokovitch gzokovitch@post-dispatch.com ST. LOUIS Area hospitals reported another drop in coronavirus hospitalizations Saturday, but the numbers remained far from where leaders want them. The St. Louis Metropolitan Task Force said a census across the regions five largest health systems included 1,327 hospitalizations. That was about 8% less than the all-time record set Monday but still well above the peak of the surge in December 2020, 962 hospitalizations. The task force, representing BJC HealthCare, SSM Health, Mercy and St. Lukes plus the Veterans Affairs hospital system, told the same story with new hospital admissions, reporting 197 Saturday. That marked a decrease from highs earlier in the month. But the average for the past week remained about 27% higher than the record set last winter and 50% higher than it was in the last week of 2021. Deaths were also down from highs earlier this month. But at roughly 18 per day over the past week, they were still coming at double the rate they were three weeks ago. Locally and in some parts of the country, health officials have reported a slight decline in COVID-19 cases and admissions since hitting all-time highs earlier this month. But task force leaders say its way too early to celebrate. This past week, 11 area hospitals requested emergency staffing help from the federal government to manage the surge with one getting it. The state as a whole is also struggling. Its data show its adding new cases at a weekly rate near double last winters record, and hospitalizations are about a third higher. Meanwhile, Missouri continues to lag behind the country as a whole in vaccinating residents. About 54% of people here have been fully vaccinated; nationwide, the number is 63%. About a fifth of Missourians have received a booster dose. The state offers free, at-home test kits for COVID-19 that can be ordered online. A set quantity is made available each morning. The limit is normally reached by afternoon. Information about state-sponsored COVID-19 testing sites and free, at-home test kits are available on the state health department website: health.mo.gov. Things are not much more encouraging across the river. Illinois notched its new monthly case record on Jan. 12, and COVID hospitalizations remain close to all-time highs. Illinois is doing better than Missouri with vaccinations. Approximately 65% of the state is fully vaccinated. Information about state-sponsored COVID-19 testing sites in Illinois is available at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/testing.html. Stay up to date on life and culture in St. Louis. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PHNOM PENH, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Three Cambodian deminers were killed and one seriously wounded on Monday after an anti-tank mine exploded during a demining and explosive ordnance disposal operation in northwestern Preah Vihear province, officials said. The accident took place at 11:30 a.m. local time in a remote village in Choam Ksant district, said Heng Ratana, director general of the Cambodian Mine Action Center, adding that the victims worked for a non-profit NGO Cambodian Self Help Demining. Ly Thuch, first vice president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), said the anti-tank mine erupted when the demining experts were trying to defuse it at the request of villagers. "This is a big loss of human resources in the demining sector," he told Xinhua. "They had saved many people's lives from landmines during their lifetime, and we will remember their great courage in mind forever." Thuch said all the victims were males. Cambodia is one of the countries worst-affected by mines. An estimated 4 million to 6 million landmines and other munitions have been left over from three decades of war and internal conflicts that ended in 1998. Landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) explosions killed 11 people and injured 33 others in 2021, said a CMAA report, adding that from 1979 to 2021, landmines and UXO explosions had claimed a total of 19,808 lives, and either injured or amputated 45,156 others. The right-wing cable channel One America News is among the worst purveyors of disinformation today, spewing a steady stream of lies regarding the pandemic, election integrity and other issues. But OANs pipeline for its toxic product just got narrower. DirecTVs recent announcement that it will soon stop carrying the channel has riled some congressional Republicans, but in fact its solidly grounded in a principle that conservatives claim to cherish: Let the market decide. One America News was founded in 2013 as an even further-right platform than Fox News. It rose to national prominence in conservative circles as a staunch Donald Trump backer. Where Fox frequently flirts around the edges of the disinformation sewer on issues like the pandemic and the 2020 election, OAN dives right in. Its anchors and reporters have outright stated that coronavirus vaccines are causing massive death (they arent), that the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the capital was a false flag operation organized by leftists (it wasnt), and, of course, that Trump actually won the 2020 election (he didnt). The network is currently facing nine-figure defamation lawsuits from two election-technology companies it slandered with outrageous conspiracy theories about the election. OAN goes out to America via several carriers, but DirecTV is by far its most important. A Reuters report last year revealed that 90% of OANs revenue came from a contract with AT&T through its subsidiary media platforms, primarily DirecTV. (AT&T owned DirecTV before spinning it off into a separate company last year and still holds a majority stake.) DirecTV announced without fanfare that it wont renew its contract with One America News when it expires later this year. The carrier said only that it made the decision after a routine internal review. As a private business, its not obligated to say even that much neither OAN nor any other enterprise has some God-given right to a distribution contract regardless of its behavior. But some Republicans in Congress are acting as if this perfectly valid business decision is a personal affront. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is canceling his DirecTV account, tweeting, Why give money to people who hate us? Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, called it part of the Lefts purge. Complaints and boycotts are a legitimate (if snowflake-y) reaction from lawmakers. But Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., arguably abused his authority with a letter ominously telling DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow that there has not been sufficient justification for the decision, and calling it unacceptable. Whats unacceptable is that a political party which once prided itself on a hands-off approach to free enterprise now ditches that principle any time a social-media platform or carrier makes the responsible decision to refrain from spreading Trumpian lies. Those lies are bad for the country. Its encouraging to see that corporate America at least some of it recognizes that theyre bad for business as well. Subsidiary Tongsuh Petrochemical becomes the first acrylonitrile manufacturer in Asia to acquire ISCC PLUS certification NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Asahi Kasei, a diversified Japanese multinational company, announces that on October 21, 2021, Tongsuh Petrochemical Corp., Ltd. (TSPC), a wholly owned subsidiary in South Korea, acquired the widely recognized international certification ISCC PLUS1 for its acrylonitrile (AN) as a sustainable product, and production of AN using biomass propylene is scheduled to begin in February 2022. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220121005060/en/ In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the Asahi Kasei Group will continue efforts to further reduce CO emissions by improving the AN catalysts and processes based on original technologies as well as the procurement of biomass raw material, aiming to contribute to global sustainability in line with its Care for People, Care for Earth philosophy. (Photo: Business Wire) AN is used as a raw material to make ABS resin, acrylamide, acrylic fiber, and various other chemical products. Recent demand growth has been particularly robust in the applications of carbon fiber as a material to reduce the weight of wind turbine blades, etc., and nitrile rubber for medical gloves whose use is expanding due to heightened awareness for hygiene. In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, measures to reduce CO emissions throughout the product chain of fossil fuel-derivatives are gaining momentum, and AN customers are increasingly seeking to manufacture products using AN with low CO emissions in order to contribute to GHG reduction. Under these circumstances, Asahi Kasei and TSPC sought to reduce CO emissions across the AN supply chain, and in October 2021, TSPC became the first AN manufacturer in Asia to acquire ISCC PLUS certification. The certification system enables TSPC to produce and sell AN using biomass raw material allocated by the mass-balance method2. TSPC is scheduled to begin producing AN using biomass propylene in February 2022. In order to contribute to societys carbon neutrality, the Asahi Kasei Group will continue efforts to further reduce CO emissions by improving the AN catalysts and processes based on original technologies as well as the procurement of biomass raw material, aiming to be a global sustainable partner for its customers. 1 ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) is an international certification system that offers solutions for the implementation and certification of waste and residue raw materials, non-bio renewables and recycled carbon materials and fuels. ISCC PLUS is a certification system that covers mainly bio-based carbon materials which are produced outside the EU and supplied globally, and to manage and ensure sustainable raw materials in the supply chain. 2 In the case of a mixture of biomass raw materials, etc., and fossil fuel-derived raw materials in the production process, the portion of biomass product, etc., produced is assigned to certain products (biomass AN) based on ISCC PLUS System Documents and its recognized management methods. Sustainability at Asahi Kasei https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/ About Asahi Kasei The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber businesses, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 40,000 employees around the world, the company contributes to a sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care. For more information, visit www.asahi-kasei.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220121005060/en/ Media Inquiries ATTN: Jonathan Todd Asahi Kasei America, Inc. [email protected] https://www.asahi-kasei.com Source: Asahi Kasei Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jan. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- APTIM, a global industry leader in resilience, environmental and sustainability solutions, as well as critical infrastructure, is excited to announce that its Baton Rouge office will relocate to new headquarters at The Water Campus, a 35-acre research and business complex residing along the Mississippi River. The companys new location will be at 1200 Brickyard Lane, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and it expects to move into the new space in Fall 2022. APTIM is proudly based in Baton Rouge and operates across the United States, Peru, and Canada. This move closer to downtown Baton Rouge will begin a new chapter in APTIMs role as a Louisiana-based employer and corporate citizen. The Water Campus is the countrys first major center dedicated to the study of coastal restoration and sustainability. APTIM will be right at home as a leader in designing and delivering solutions that make Louisiana and the world more resilient. The Water Campus headquarters is a long-term investment in our people and purpose, worthy of the important work we do every day for our clients across the globe. We are excited to be moving to a corporate headquarters that offers our people a beautiful and state-of-the-art facility to collaborate and innovate, that strengthens the relationship with our home city and state, and that connects our headquarters to the river and the levee. This location speaks directly to APTIMs purpose and leadership in resilience and sustainability, from Mark Fallon, APTIM Chairman and CEO. The Water Campus is an idea based on attracting top talent who are confronting some of societys biggest challenges. A company of APTIMs caliber certainly fits this mold and is an incredible addition to the growing campus, from George Bonvillain, Jr., Partner at Elifin Realty. APTIM is currently hiring for an array of positions in Baton Rouge. For career opportunities, visit aptim.com/careers. About APTIM APTIM is a global industry leader headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. With more than 6,000 employees worldwide, APTIM specializes in critical infrastructure, technical and data solutions, program management, environmental services, resilience, as well as sustainability and energy solutions. Our dedicated people have the proven experience and expertise to provide integrated services and solutions to government agencies, commercial, industrial and energy customers. APTIM is committed to accelerating the transition towards a clean and efficient energy economy, building a sustainable future for our communities and natural world, and creating an inclusive equitable environment that celebrates the diversity of our people. BALTIMORE, Jan. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GrandView Aviation, one of the nation's fastest-growing private jet charter operators, is moving on January 31st to new headquarters at 425 Williams Ct., Suite 100 Middle River MD, in the Greenleigh Community development. GrandView has grown dramatically over the past year, from 65 employees to over 120 today, with plans to hire another 100+ in 2022 including professional pilots, flight dispatchers, mechanics, and more. The company posted over $50 million in revenue in 2022 and has been a multi-year winner of the Inc 5000 Fastest-Growing companies in the US. It is the largest private aviation employer in Maryland. The firm logged 11,000 flight hours in 2021. In addition to private jet charters, the company is a leader in organ transplant team transportation and carried over 276 life-saving surgical teams in 2021, with over 2,220 since its inception. General aviation companies contribute significant economic benefits to local communities with a highly compensated, highly skilled workforce, providing wonderful jobs to Marylanders and attracting out-of-state talent to live and work in the region. Every direct job in general aviation supports 3.3 jobs elsewhere in the US. According to a 2020 study, It is estimated that Maryland has a general aviation workforce of 1500 direct jobs (Source: https://www.nata.aero/assets/Site_18/files/GIA/GA_Contribution_US_-Economy_2020_study.pdf). "Maryland has traditionally ranked as one of the smallest general aviation workforces," said Jessie Naor, GrandView Aviation's COO. "But we are rapidly changing that; we have ambitious growth plans for our headquarters here in Middle River and look forward to growing our team as well as our positive impacts on our community." GrandView AviationGrandView Aviation operates a fleet of Phenom 300 private charter jets and helicopters giving access to departure points across the United States from the company's bases in Boston, Baltimore/DC, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Austin, Phoenix, and Denver. GrandView Aviation is a FAA Part 135 certificated aircraft operator & carries the elite Wyvern Wingman safety rating. For more information about GrandView Aviation, please visit www.flygv.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grandview-aviation-moves-to-new-headquarters-in-middle-river-md-301465728.html SOURCE GrandView Aviation Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See more stories here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. WASHINGTON In the eight years she has worked at nursing homes, LaToya Francis, 34, has been yelled at, kicked at and had feces thrown at her for little more than the minimum wage. She endured it because she loved being a certified nursing assistant, she said. But she's not sure she can hold out much longer. As the omicron variant of the novel coronavirus drives record staff shortages at nursing homes nationwide, Francis has increasingly found herself alone on her $19-an-hour overnight shifts at Bridgepoint Healthcare's skilled nursing facility in Southwest Washington, fighting off panic attacks as she tries to feed, clean and rotate more bed-bound residents than she can handle. Some nights, she retreats to a corner of the facility, where she calls her partner and sobs. Other nights, all she can feel is anger. "I've never, ever felt this disrespected," Francis said. Frustration is surging among the low-wage workers who make up the backbone of the nursing home industry, as tens of thousands of their colleagues call out sick with covid-19, inflaming shortages that already were at crisis levels. Hailed as "heroes" during the early months of the pandemic, these workers, most of whom are women and people of color, say they're facing untenable levels of pressure. Government support has failed to end the crisis, advocates say, allowing care for the elderly and the infirm to worsen, forcing facilities to limit admission or close entirely and clogging up hospital beds. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nursing home industry has lost more than 420,000 jobs since the start of the pandemic, reducing its workforce to the size it was 15 years ago. Some employees chose to retire early rather than face the intense workload and coronavirus risks at their jobs; others have been lured away by companies, including Amazon, that offer wages with which nursing homes say they cannot compete. And even as the coronavirus's omicron variant retreats, the staffing crunch will persist, nursing home leaders and unions say. At community colleges, interest in skilled nursing courses has plunged, with some class sizes dropping to half what they were before the pandemic. Of those training to become nursing assistants, many are avoiding nursing homes - where they would earn a median annual wage of $30,120, according to BLS data and are looking instead for jobs as travel nurses or home health aides. Meanwhile, the aging trend that the U.S. Census Bureau calls the "gray tsunami" looms ever closer, with all baby boomers the original cohort was more than 70 million people set to be at least age 65 by 2030. That threat is now prompting alarm among elected officials over what workers such as Francis say they have known for years: They're essential but underpaid and overworked. "This is a crisis on steroids," said David Grabowski, a Harvard researcher who studies the economics of long-term care. "The long-standing issue of underinvesting and undervaluing this workforce is coming back to bite us." Bridgepoint Healthcare chief executive Marc Ferrell said that his company has tried to offer competitive wages but that it's a "well-known fact" that the nursing home workforce has shrunk. "This is a national issue," he said, "not a Bridgepoint issue." I cant live like this Few places in the United States have been harder hit by the virus's omicron variant than the District of Columbia and the surrounding states, where new-case counts per capita rose sharply in early January, outpacing the rates of infection in many less-vaccinated jurisdictions. In Virginia, where 9,500 or so nursing home workers have left the industry since February 2020, about 2,700 care workers have tested positive for the coronavirus this month. In Maryland, 7 in 10 nursing homes have reported new outbreaks, and as many as 5,000 workers have had to stay home after testing positive, said Joseph DeMattos Jr., the president of the Health Facilities Association of Maryland. Washington D.C.'s health department did not respond to inquiries on infections at its long-term-care facilities, but leaders at 1199 SEIU, a union that represents health-care workers in Washington, said the staffing situation has never been worse. All three jurisdictions recently reissued states of emergency to ease the staffing shortages, including by extending the expiration dates for nursing licenses and allowing nursing graduates to start work more quickly. On Jan. 13, Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan also implemented testing requirements for staffers and visitors at nursing homes. But such efforts fall far short of what is truly needed, workers say. "It seems like the folks in charge . . . are trying everything except what the front-line workers want," said Yvonne Slosarski, a spokeswoman for the 1199 SEIU Maryland/DC Division. "We know what actually retains workers: It's more pay, more leave and safer working conditions." Rhonda Davis and Darrie Neely, both 61, agree. They left their nursing home jobs in Baltimore last year after contracting covid-19. Neely, who previously worked 30 years as a housekeeper, said she passed the virus on to multiple members of her family in the fall of 2020, which is when she decided the nursing home job wasn't worth it. "No one wants to stay for the money that they're paying," she said. Davis, who previously was a cook for 19 years, said she's passionate about caring for older adults but grew sick of spending vacation days working because her supervisors were taking months to replace employees. Isolating alone in her apartment last November, the decision to resign became clear. "I can't live like this," she remembers telling herself. Davis said what she grew to resent was the inequity. Nursing home workers are the lowest paid in the health-care industry. "Whether you scrub the floor in a nursing home or cook the meals, it matters," she said. "It matters to the residents." Grabowski, the Harvard researcher, said the low pay for nursing home workers partly reflects the type of work and the type of worker that the country values. "There's some ageism, classism and racism at work here," he said. But it also reflects the challenges of trying to fix an industry that is being taken over by large corporations, private-equity groups and investment-management firms seeking to profit off elder care, Grabowski said. The federal government is the biggest payer for long-term care through its Medicaid program. And while advocates within and outside the industry agree that nursing home workers ought to earn more, some worry that higher Medicaid reimbursement rates would just end up lining the pockets of facility owners, not staffers. "If we're going to pay more," Grabowski said, "we also need to make sure the money is going toward what it's intended for." A group of U.S. senators tried last year with the Nursing Home Improvement and Accountability Act, which would, among its provisions, establish minimum staffing levels at nursing homes and increase federal oversight of care. Some aspects of the bill were folded into President Biden's Build Back Better spending plan, which has been caught in congressional gridlock. Were going to get through tonight Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of nursing home workers nationwide continue to clock in. In Northeast Washington one recent evening, Francis leaned her 5-foot-9 frame over her kitchen counter, tapping on her phone to figure out her schedule. She recently started a second job as a home health aide, picking up shifts on days off to help with the mad scramble she goes through at the end of every month to afford rent ($1,250), car payments ($200), gas and food. "My social worker just called," Candace Johnson, her fiancee, said. "We can get the car seat Tuesday." "Oh, clutch," Francis replied, looking up. "Oh, wait, no, no. I'm working the new job Tuesday." There was only one pickup day for the free seat. Johnson, 43, sighed. "I know, that thing saves us $80," Francis said, biting her lip. "Let me check the schedule again." Johnson nodded. She had quit her job as a mechanic last year after the symptoms of her sickle cell disease worsened, becoming a stay-at-home parent to Francis's two children. It hurt her when Francis called from work to say she was again the only certified nursing assistant in her unit, or when she found Francis holding back tears as she stripped out of her scrubs at the door, afraid that she may have brought the virus home. Most days, she said, Francis got less than three hours of sleep before it was time to pick up the children from school. "Everrrrrly!" Gabriel, Francis's 11-year-old son, screeched. His 2-year-old sister was making a mess again. Francis marched into the little girl's room, picking her up with one hand and tickling her with the other. These two hours she had with her children before work were precious. Even when she was exhausted, she tried to be present. "Good job, big girl," she said, stroking Everly's hair as she swung her hips to the soundtrack of "Frozen" blaring from a tablet. In an ideal world, Francis said, she would be working during the day and taking classes at night to become a registered nurse. Other RNs had told her she'd be great at it, and she knew she would be, too. But she couldn't afford the time or the money, so she was stuck, she said, in a job that felt impossibly hard but far from "heroic." "When I can't even spend time sitting with someone in hospice who is near dying because I know there are 14 other people waiting for me, I don't feel like a hero," she said. "How can I?" Just after 6:30 p.m., Francis packed up her lunch and hugged her children. "We're going to get through tonight," Johnson said as she kissed her partner goodbye. Francis tightened her mouth into a small smile and headed out. The following night, as the city sheltered from a snowstorm, the nursing assistant did it all over again. AVDIIVKA, Ukraine (Tribune News Service) In his raspy smokers voice, the middle-age Ukrainian soldier urged a visitor to hurry through a stretch of muddy trench that traversed an open clearing. Gesturing eastward, he warned of snipers lurking only a few hundred yards away. We must run until we reach cover, he said. On the front lines of Ukraines long-running conflict with Russian-backed separatists, the smells, sights and sounds are in many ways reminiscent of trench warfare waged more than a century ago in Western Europe during World War I. The slog of fighting could also serve as an ominous precursor of what could flare into the continents first major land war in decades. While the worlds attention is focused on high-stakes diplomacy aimed at staving off a new Russian incursion, this grinding standoff in eastern Ukraine has for years remained largely out of sight except to weary combatants and a handful of unfortunate civilians who have nowhere else to go. Its an experience I wouldnt wish on my worst enemy, said Sofia Anatoljevna, one of only eight residents who remain in the red zone, a heavily militarized area that includes the ruined village of Pisky. At 83, she is partially blind, with no relatives to help her and no means of resettling elsewhere. Her son died in earlier fighting. The fierce combat that broke out eight years ago between Russian proxies and Ukrainian forces in two separatist statelets was at least partly overshadowed at the time by Russian President Vladimir Putins seizure and subsequent annexation of the Crimean peninsula, some 320 miles to the southwest. That brazen grab drew Western opprobrium and tough sanctions, but the strategic Black Sea peninsula remains firmly in Russian hands, and Putin who considers the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union to be one of historys great catastrophes has redoubled his insistence that Ukraine, an independent country of more than 40 million people, is inextricably linked to Russia. For weeks now, the Russian leader has signaled he might be poised to tear away another chunk of Ukraine. More than 100,000 Russian troops, with tanks and artillery, are massed near Ukraines borders, and the Kremlin has batted aside both threats and appeals from Western interlocutors. The latest of those came Friday in Geneva, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met for 90 minutes with no outward sign of progress. Moscow renewed its demand that NATO pledge that Ukraine will never become a member of the alliance; Blinken told Lavrov to expect written U.S. responses to Russias proposals this week. But public assessments by both U.S. and European officials have been bleak. My guess is, I think he will move, President Joe Biden said last week, when asked whether Putin was likely to send in troops despite U.S. and European vows of severe but unspecified consequences in the event of an invasion. Along the line of contact between Ukrainian and Russian-backed separatist forces in eastern Ukraine, the diplomatic maneuvering can seem like an abstraction compared with the harsh realities of daily existence. In Pisky, rows of crumbling concrete apartment blocks and bullet-ridden houses are testament to chaotic combat during 2014 and 2015, before a tenuous cease-fire took hold. But the fighting never really stopped, an unreconciled history on a frozen landscape. There are no big changes here there is always a danger for us, said the 46-year-old Ukrainian serviceman navigating the muddy trench, whose name was not allowed to be publicized under army rules. Soldiers who have been identified in news accounts have found themselves and their families attacked and threatened by online trolls. On a crisp, sunny morning last week, snow coated the ground and slicked the interiors of the meandering network of narrow trenches. The Ukrainian defensive line runs the length of the de facto border of the Donbas, the colloquial name for the Donets Basin, a mining and industrial region. Ukrainian forces hand-dug the trenches with shovels, often working under cover of darkness. Corrugated steel sheets line the trenchs earthen walls, but roots and branches poke through large gaps. Wooden planks form a makeshift footpath, but it shifts perilously underfoot with changing weather conditions: rain and snow, freeze and frost. The Ukrainian troops are well aware the harsh conditions hark back to battles from a bygone era. Canadian trainers who visited, they said, were taken aback by what they saw, never having experienced trench warfare themselves. Every few hundred yards there are observation points where Ukrainian soldiers can view enemy movements through binoculars or periscopes. The unpredictability is nerve-racking; sometimes there is incoming fire for days in a row, followed by a week of silence. Such lulls are considered the most dangerous times, soldiers say, because its so easy to let ones guard down. In the summertime, under cover of long grass, separatist fighters can come within 50 yards of the trenches. Front-line fatalities, from snipers and occasional shelling, are a regular occurrence. The noncommissioned junior officer showing a journalist around tallied up 29 comrades in arms he knew personally who had died in fighting since 2014. He himself suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2015, when a shell landed near him, and spent two months in a hospital. Data from monitors for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE, recorded 80,000 explosions in the separatist regions since 2018, when the monitoring began. In all, the conflict has claimed more than 14,000 lives. The privations of the front lines sometimes yield a bizarre yet tender domesticity. An army couple named Nika and Alexander, who met five years ago, live together in a makeshift bunker. Their room is warm and well lit, with a comfortable bed. He is 47 and she is 50; Nika says their field existence has come to feel like a normal life. Above their bunker home is a mess hall and billets for other troops. Soldiers cook homestyle meals and play with adopted dogs, some of them the offspring of abandoned domestic pets whose owners fled. In the trenches, there are few illusions about the strength of this defending force against a full-scale invasion by the far more powerful Russian military, should it occur. But Ukrainian officers say the battlefield picture is different than it was in 2014. Cmdr. Dzhemil Izmailov, who leads a Ukrainian mechanized infantry battalion, said the Russian army would face stiff resistance along the Donbas front line, citing multiple lines of defense. We are prepared, he said. Longtime Putin watchers say the stakes in Ukraine have repercussions far beyond the region. Fiona Hill, an author and former senior official for Russia affairs at the U.S. National Security Council, said Moscows moves amounted to a threat to the entire postwar order. If Russia can do this to Ukraine, whats to stop countries doing this to neighbors? she said on Newsnight, a BBC current affairs program. This is exactly what we fought two world wars against weve had a whole system in place thats supposed to be pushing back against. ... This is really one of those game changers internationally. Los Angeles Times special correspondent Adler reported from Avdiivka and Times staff writer King from Washington. 2022 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. SYDNEY, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Australia's state of New South Wales (NSW) announced on Sunday a COVID-19-smart plan which aims to minimize the risk of infection after returning to school amid an uphill battle against the current wave of the pandemic. As part of the new measures, every student and teacher in NSW government and non-government schools will be able to receive rapid antigen test (RAT) kits before school returns on Feb. 1. Surveillance testing will be conducted twice a week for primary and high school students, school staff, and early childhood staff. Surveillance testing will be undertaken for the first four weeks of term, with two weeks of supply distributed before term starts. Face masks are mandatory for all staff and high school students and are encouraged for children in primary schools. There will be limited interaction between different year groups, and schools have to limit visitors. A number of staffing contingencies are also in place including utilizing retired and studying teachers in case there are disruptions to the workforce. There are heated debates as to the most suitable time to reopen classrooms as NSW remains the epicenter of Australia's current wave of COVID-19 pandemic. The state recorded 20,324 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday. Despite the relatively flat epidemic growth curve in this week, the number of hospitalization and deaths remain high, with 2,712 hospitalization and 34 deaths recorded on the same day. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said supporting students to return safely to the classroom is vital after two years of disruption to their education. "Students learn best at school, some students have spent a quarter of their schooling at home. We're committed to bringing students back safely," he said. The government is distributing more than 12 million RATs to over 3,150 government, non-government schools, and early childhood centers to assist with surveillance testing of staff and students, Perrottet said. The state has started vaccination for five to 11 years old children. The latest figure shows that 26.5 percent of eligible children in NSW have received their first doses. Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See more stories here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. Thousands of protesters from across the country including some of the biggest names in the anti-vaccination movement descended on the nations capital Sunday for a rally against vaccine mandates. Almost two years into a pandemic that has killed more than 860,000 Americans, the gathering on the Mall was a jarring spectacle: A crowd of demonstrators, many unmasked, decrying vaccine mandates in the middle of a city that has adopted mask and vaccine mandates to reduce sickness and death from the surge of the viruss omicron variant, which has battered D.C. for weeks. Organizers had estimated that 20,000 people would attend the rally, marching from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, according to a permit issued by the National Park Service. A smaller crowd of several thousand had arrived on the Mall by early Sunday afternoon. Some were white-haired; others were being pushed in strollers. Most were White and many wore gear with slogans supporting former president Donald Trump. A group of men in front of a cart with a Dont Tread On Me flag started a chant of Lets go Brandon and F--- Joe Biden at around 10:30 a.m. to cheers. The few who wore masks risked the tirades of a man screaming Take those masks off! and Its all a lie! Later about 10 men wearing the insignia of the Proud Boys, an extremist group involved in the Jan. 6 attack at the U.S. Capitol, lingered on the Lincoln side of the Reflecting Pool. They briefly engaged in a shouting match with a small group of counterprotesters at the edge of the rally, then walked away. The marchers carried posters and flags that included false statements such as Vaccines are mass kill bio weapons and Trump won. A bus was parked beside the Washington Monument, wrapped in signs with ARREST OR EXILE and displaying pictures of Anthony S. Fauci, Bill Gates and Jacob Rothschild the last an echo of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories involving the Rothschild family. A speaker blared Kelly Clarksons Stronger (What doesnt kill you). Justin Perrault was demonstrating in D.C. for the first time. The 38-year-old from Fairhaven, Mass., said he had watched business to his body therapy and spiritual counseling business dry up as clients afraid of catching the virus from an unvaccinated practitioner stopped coming. He said he started using food stamps for the first time in his life, but was ashamed and worried what his children, ages 8 and 4, would think of him. He said he came to D.C. with his wife and her best friend not only to protest vaccination mandates, but also to take a stand against the scientific consensus that the vaccines are safe. Jaedyn Wetzel, 12, stood nearby holding a sign that read I have natural immunity. She said she was sickened with the coronavirus over Thanksgiving. She stood with her sister, Jessie, 14, and parents, who didnt want to be named for fear of discrimination based on the familys unvaccinated status. They drove to the District for the day from Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania, for their first protest in the nations capital. They said they havent faced coronavirus vaccine mandates in their schools or workplaces, but wanted to protest because they are fearful mandates may be imminent. Their mother heard about the protest through Telegram channels, including one she said calls for auditing the Pennsylvania presidential election results, and doesnt like using Facebook or Twitter because she says those companies employ censorship. Police had a visible but not overwhelming presence on the Mall on Sunday, with about 10 mounted officers lining the march route and U.S. Park Police vehicles parked nearby. Officers were also at the Lincoln Memorial, where fences had been erected to prevent people from walking up the steps. A Metro police officer paced the area around the exit of the Smithsonian stop as march-goers carrying signs passed barefaced in violation of the transit systems mask mandate. Metro officials said they are investigating an alleged assault Saturday night aboard a Red Line train in the District. In a Reddit post, the victim reported being attacked for wearing a mask by a man without a face covering. Sherri L. Ly, a Metro spokeswoman, said the incident was reported to the Metro Transit police through an online harassment Internet portal. It was unclear if the victim is the one who reported the incident. Investigators are reaching out to the victim and are investigating, Ly said. Attempts by The Washington Post to reach the victim were not successful. D.C. police were fully activated from Friday Jan. 21, during the annual March for Life, through Sunday for the anti-vaccine mandate rally, spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said. The march was billed as a protest of mandates, rather than the medicines themselves. But similar rhetoric emphasizing individual autonomy rather than untenable scientific ideas has long characterized the broader anti-vaccine movement, and the marchs speakers included movement veterans such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Del Bigtree , founder of the anti-vaccine group Informed Consent Action Network. The event was being live-streamed on the website of Bigtrees website, The High Wire, a which includes a prominent link that allows viewers to donate to ICAN. Other speakers included physician Robert Malone, a critic of the coronavirus mRNA vaccines, and former CBS News correspondent Lara Logan, who in a November appearance on Fox News compared White House chief medical adviser Anthony S. Fauci to the Nazi doctor Josef Mengele. Public employee associations that have formed to protest their employers vaccine mandates, such as Feds for Medical Freedom and D.C. Firefighters Bodily Autonomy Affirmation Group, also participated. The goal is to show a unified front of bringing people together vaccinated, unvaccinated, Democrats, Republicans, all together in solidarity, said organizer Matt Tune, an unvaccinated 48-year-old from Chicago. He said he wants the event to help change the current narrative which is basically saying that were a bunch of weirdos and freaks who dont care about humanity. And thats not true at all. As speakers took to the stage including a group of doctors in white physicians coats the crowd roared its approval at lines comparing vaccine mandates to the actions of authoritarian regimes such as Nazi Germany and the former Soviet Union and railing against the news media for its reporting on the scientific evidence supporting the coronavirus vaccines. (The Post, like many other large employers, requires its workers to be vaccinated against the virus.) Two days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its first studies based on real-world data showing that the vaccines continue to provide strong protection against hospitalization from omicron, Malone stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and falsely told thousands of cheering spectators that the science is settled. Theyre not working. Anti-vaccine activist Kevin Jenkins, who is Black, invoked the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. as he stood on the same site where the civil rights legend delivered his best-known speech. The people in this crowd are on the right side of history, Jenkins declared. Suzanne Robertson, 52, traveled from New Jersey for the anti-mandate march, carrying a sign that said she was a lifelong liberal Democrat until the last year. Robertson, who works in sales, said she contracted the coronavirus in March 2020 but only had mild symptoms. She said she campaigned for Bernie Sanders and voted for President Biden and had never before voted for a Republican until recently when she stopped identifying with a political party all together, disappointed in Bidens chastisement of those who choose not to get the shot. This is not a political thing, Robertson said. If you want to get the vaccine, get it. Lindsay Mikus, 38, traveled from Westchester County, N.Y., to oppose the mandates. Her 14-year-old son lives with his father and is vaccinated, she said, but her 7-year-old daughter whom she home-schools is not. I have children and I believe they should live in a free country, Mikus said. Mikus and Robertson said they are not vaccinated. I would die first, Robertson said. An overwhelming body of evidence demonstrates that the coronavirus vaccines are safe and effective for most who receive them. As of October, according to the most recent estimates from the CDC, those who received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines and a booster were 40 times less likely to die of the virus than the unvaccinated. The CDC on Friday released studies showing that the vaccines continue to provide robust protection against hospitalization from the omicron variant, even if they no longer ward off infection as effectively. Nevertheless, national surveys show about 1 in 5 U.S. adults remain unvaccinated. Among children ages 5 to 11, who became eligible for the shots in November, fewer than 20 percent are vaccinated. The rally benefited extensively from publicity in recent weeks on prominent social media and podcasting platforms. Tune said the marchs website saw a huge spike in traffic after Malone mentioned it on Joe Rogans popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. Malones appearance provoked a condemnatory letter to Spotify, which hosts the podcast, from hundreds of doctors and public health experts. Tucker Carlson also plugged the event during an interview with Malone. More than 15,000 people joined a Facebook group for the rally, with many saying they would stay overnight and eat in Northern Virginia to avoid the Districts vaccine mandate. Some commenters on the groups page have compared vaccine mandates to the Holocaust and urged people not to get tested for the virus. Aaron Simpson, a spokesman for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, said that because the page is ostensibly opposed to vaccine mandates rather than vaccines it does not violate the platforms policies on COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation, which prohibit content calling to action, advocating, or promoting that others not get the COVID-19 vaccine. However, some individual posts and comments that contain misinformation have been removed, he said. Voicing opposition to government mandates is not against Metas policies, Simpson said. What we dont allow is content that promotes harmful false claims about the vaccines themselves and we remove those posts including in this group. WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken rejected pressure to immediately escalate sanctions on Russia for its military buildup around Ukraine, saying it would limit the Wests options in the future. The U.S. is tracking the security situation in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, and a U.K. warning that Russia is plotting to install a pro-Kremlin government in Ukraine is part of the Kremlins playbook for encroaching on its neighbor, Blinken said in a round of interviews on U.S. Sunday news shows. Weve been concerned and have been warning about exactly these kinds of tactics for weeks, he said on NBCs Meet the Press. As the U.S. weighs whether to pull out from Ukraine the families of diplomats, Blinken said, were tracking intensely, hour by hour and certainly day by day whether Kyiv is still safe. Blinken said the U.S. has focused with its European allies on building up the threat of massive consequences for Russia to dissuade President Vladimir Putin from sending forces into Ukraine and on leaving the door open to diplomacy. The purpose of those sanctions is to deter Russian aggression and so if theyre triggered now, you lose the deterrent effect, he said on CNNs State of the Union. As part of deterrence, the Biden administration has provided more defensive military aid to Ukraine last year than in any previous year, Blinken said. Almost 200,000 pounds (91 metric tons) of aid, including ammunition for the front line defenders of Ukraine arrived on Friday, according to the U.S. embassy in Kyiv. Russia is continuing a military buildup, sending troops and armor to within a few miles of the Ukrainian border in neighboring Belarus for joint military drills that start Feb. 10. Russia denies that its planning a further invasion into Ukraine. Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held inconclusive talks in Geneva last week that failed to resolve the standoff over Ukraine. Blinken earlier visited his Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv and held talks in Berlin with U.K., German and French allies. The U.S. this week plans to present written responses to Russia addressing its concerns. The Foreign Ministry in Moscow on Sunday dismissed the U.K.s allegation of a Russian plan to install a friendly regime in Ukraine as nonsense. We have rallied allies and partners around the world, Blinken said on NBC. We are preparing massive consequences for Russia if it invades Ukraine again. Some U.S. lawmakers joined Ukraine in calling for a sharper response now. Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, argued for a bipartisan bill that would apply some sanctions now. But the very strongest sanctions, the sorts of sanctions that we used to bring Iran to the table, is something that we should hold out as a deterrent to prevent Putin from taking the last step of invading Ukraine, Coons said on This Week. Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, said President Joe Bidens administration has pursued a doctrine of appeasement against Russia. So lets make sure that we are pushing back right now, with stiff sanctions, making sure that we are showing Putin we do mean business, she said. 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Adrian Rowan opened her own boudoir photography studio during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing the business on erotic, sensual portraits that she says empower her photos subjects and promote positive body image. The focus is a long way from how she started her career as a photographer in the U.S. Air Force. In 2001, Rowan of Merchantville, N.J., enlisted in the U.S. Air Forces New Jersey Air National Guard and served for 13 years. To be honest I was a bit aimless after high school. I tried college for a bit but wasnt self-motivated enough A.K.A. I flunked out and I knew I had to do something to support myself financially and start being an actual adult, Rowan said. While serving in the Air National Guard, Rowan landed her first photography job as a civilian photographer in 2011 for the Dover Air Force Base where she photographed Dignified Transfers of fallen soldiers returning from overseas. It was humbling, rewarding and incredibly sad all rolled into one. I was incredibly honored to be able to provide those photos for the families of the fallen and give them their last photo memory, but at the same time I was taking the last photos of someones loved one, Rowan said. About a year and a half later, Rowan was hired to run the photography studio at the Pentagon for the Marine Corps as a civilian photographer where she took over 6,500 photos of numerous military personnel, including former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and the Marine Corps mascot, an English bulldog. Today, Rowan is a full-time boudoir photographer. I really enjoyed everything that Ive done, but I am doing something that is more creative now and more along the lines of something Ive always wanted to do, Rowan said. Every step along the way gave me the technical skills and the discipline obviously with the military and working in those environments, to be able to run my own business. So, everything Ive done brought me to the point that Im finally at. In 2020, Rowan opened a new studio for her business Adrian Rowan Photography , at 1 E. Chestnut Ave., in Merchantville. In high school I thought the only avenue to make a living as a nude photographer was to work for Playboy or a similar magazine, Rowan said. While the magazine has changed a lot since my high school days, back then the male gaze was overtly apparent in their work so I kind of dropped the idea of being a professional nude photographer, but still pursued photography. Rowan said her business offers a luxury, empowering, body acceptance experience for women. A great boudoir session should be an experience thats empowering and fun. Boudoir photography is all about empowering you. Showing you another side of yourself, your inner self and the self you want to manifest, Rowan said. The you that wants to shine. We have created a body positive, judgment free, self-love zone in which you can explore your different sides. We provide a full-service boudoir experience catered to the individual. When choosing a new location for her studio, Rowan said she decided to purchase an 1888 Queen Anne Victorian house. During the pandemic, I started to notice a lot of things in my home werent working for me and my grandfather encouraged me to start house hunting. I really hadnt planned on moving for a few more years, but I indulged and looked to see what was on the market, Rowan said. As soon as I saw this house it was love at first sight, and as I read the listing and saw it had the option of commercial and residential use, well Im not often one to say something is meant to be, but this was meant to be, she said. In July 2020, Rowan said she officially purchased 17th century old house and hired a contractor from Phoenician Construction to renovate it, all while taking care of her of then five-month-old son. It wasnt as bad as I expected. The contractor was great about communicating with me and I was on site every day. This is the second home Ive renovated so I was a bit more prepared the second time around, Rowan said. The most stressful part was going to stores since my son couldnt wear a mask. I tried to limit store visits as much as possible, and my aunt would watch him when she could to help us out, she said. Rowan said she hopes her work inspires her clients to ask for more out of life and give them a sense of empowerment. I dont want people to feel like they cant do something because Im a single parent by choice, and Ive done everything on my own. So, I hope that Im empowering women to be like, oh, maybe I want to ask for a promotion or maybe I want to do this, Rowan said. This month, Rowan also opened House of Rowan Boutique, which shares the same address as her studio. I wanted to be more of a concierge service for my clients and help them with one of their biggest questions, what do I wear? she said. Rowan said she also wanted an avenue to reach more women and give them a body accepting and judgment free space to exist in, whether it was through the lingerie boutique or through boudoir photography. Im empowering women. Im telling them like you can do anything you want, and its possible just take a chance. I know everybodys at a different stage of their life or a different level but just because guys can do it women can do it too, or whatever gender you identify as, Rowan said. To give back to her community, Rowan donated $1,800 from her sales of sessions to the South Jersey Food Bank during the first year of the pandemic. My son was born 13 days before lockdown. I was fortunate to have my maternity leave coincide with the pandemic, so I was prepared to be out of work for a few months, Rowan said. At first, I thought it was going to end in a few weeks and I relished the extra time I was able to spend with my son with no distractions. As time went on, it kept getting extended and I started to see people I cared about struggling. Rowan said she wanted to help local families somehow and wasnt sure what she could do while home with a newborn. I decided to offer a sale on boudoir sessions and donate the session fees to a local organization, Rowan said. I researched a few and I really liked what South Jersey Food Bank did for the community, they not only provided food to families but education and other resources to members of the community and local schools. Rowan also donated to a few businesses in Haddonfield, she said. For more information about Adrian Rowan and her photography, visit www.arowanphoto.com . vharris@njadvancemedia.com . 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit nj.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) A photo shows John Hughes and four other Marines hunkered down on a airfield shooting rifles at attacking Japanese planes overhead. Black smoke and explosions surround them. But it was years before the humble yet highly decorated Marine aviator, the last known Pearl Harbor veteran living in Orange County, really told his family about his World War II experiences and yes, bravery. Hughes died earlier this month at age 102, just shy of his 103rd birthday. He was laid to rest Wednesday, Jan. 19. Hughes was a man of great humility, who loved his country and served it proudly for decades, those who knew him said. He enjoyed a healthy lifestyle, though smoked the occasional cigar and enjoyed a martini. At 69, he graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in history. He was there with two sons, but graduated ahead of them. He lived through a lot of history that he learned about there, and sometimes he had a different version, said his son Jerry Hughes, 70. And, he made quite a bit of military history, too. The beginning of World War II On Dec. 7, 1941, Hughes, who grew up on a modest farm in the then-community of Rivera and joined the Marine Corps shortly after graduating high school in 1937, was based at Mooring Mast, Ewa, Oahu, Hawaii. He was just headed out to grab the paper when he heard a low-flying sound and looked up to see airplanes with a big red ball on the side and torpedoes underneath. He and other Marines were briefed that the Japanese might be up to something. He knew what it was and he mustered everybody he could up and they started shooting, Jerry Hughes said. He said it was pretty hairy, but it was all he could do. A snapshot of those heroics is captured in that photo by an unknown photographer. Just minutes later, there were more Japanese planes. Hughes and other Marines tried push the planes parked on the airfield apart, so one wouldnt blow up the next one. Then Hughes heard what sounded like massive thunder coming from Pearl Harbor and he figured the USS Arizona was hit. In two hours, the attack on Pearl Harbor was over. The cost at Ewa: 33 airplanes destroyed, 14 damaged, four Marines killed. Despite the drama and historical significance of this event that launched the U.S. into World War II, Jerry Hughes said his father didnt talk much about that incident or the many other missions he would fly during the war and then later during the Korean War. Most of those who served then didnt talk about, Jerry Hughes said. He liked flying and he talked about that, but not about the horrors of war. Uncovering John Hughes service It wouldnt be until much later that Hughes children would learn more about their fathers career and his significance to Marine aviation. On the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor in 2011. Hughes and his family traveled to Hawaii. As part of the event, Hughes was interviewed for a living history segment by Danny Martinez, a host for the National Park Service and Discovery Channel. Jerry Hughes and his siblings listened in. We found out things we didnt know, Jerry Hughes said, and learned more about his experiences during the war. They found out how the once airplane mechanic turned into a pilot and the effect the Pearl Harbor attack had on that. Hughes volunteered and received orders to attend flight school in Pensacola. After training, he was deployed again to the South Pacific where the Marines were fighting the Japanese across the many island chains. Hughes job was to dive-bomb the enemy. He flew at least 50 missions over Guadalcanal, a critical battle for the Americans. The fight in the Solomon Islands was the first step toward the surrender of Japan. The Marines lost 1,152 on the ground and 55 in the air. By 1945, his combat missions had stacked up to 150. While Hughes children only got a better insight into his service after the visit to Pearl Harbor, some local Orange County Marine veterans knew of his heroics. One such man is Dwight Hansen, a retired Marine aviation electrician who served at the El Toro Marine base from 1987 to 1993. Though he is half Hughess age, he became fascinated by the elder Marines tales. Passionate about the military and military history, Hansen attended annual Memorial Day celebrations in the county. He was especially fascinated with the guys in the white caps who had served at Pearl Harbor. At appropriate occasions, hed ask for them to pose in photos with him and his three children, he said. They drew me in because my father was in World War II, and I love history, especially living history, said Hansen, 52, of Irvine. Hansen also attended monthly meetings of the Chapter 14 Pearl Harbor Survivor Association, which is where he first met Hughes. That chapter was disbanded in 2014, because so few of the veterans remained. The last surviving member, Dick Higgins, who served in the Navy and whose barracks on Ford Island were the first to be bombed, moved out of Orange County in 2013. He is 100 and now lives in Oregon. Higgins last saw Hughes in 2016, he said, at the 75th Pearl Harbor anniversary in Hawaii. Its nice to have been with the other veterans, Higgins said from Bend, where he lives with his granddaughter, Angela Norton. We were a band of brothers. Norton recalls the visit how excited her gramps was to see Hughes. They chatted all night long swapping stories, she said. Its a special camaraderie that can never be broken. The years of that camaraderie with Hughes was also something Hansen said he enjoyed. He was very understated and acted like what he did was no big deal, Hansen said of the man he had become good friends with. Theyd meet for lunch, celebrate the Marine Corps birthday and travel to Pearl Harbor anniversaries in Hawaii. My son calls these Marines Men of Legends, Hansen said, adding his son was a Marine combat photographer. And that sums it up. As Marines, we were told the stories of those before us, and we are huge into tradition. To meet a Man of Legend, who was at Pearl Harbor and the Guadalcanal and all over the South Pacific, is amazing. Hansen said it was also Hughes example that inspired his children to serve. One is in the Army, one was in the Marines, and his youngest just signed up for the Marines. Growing up around these World War II veterans and seeing the kind of men they were and how they were willing to die for our county and freedoms, he said. My kids want to help pay back what they have given and follow in their footsteps. The legend continues After serving in World War II, Hughes continued his Marine Corps career and was assigned to the El Toro base. Not long after, he married Mary Duba from Libertyville, Ill. But by 1952, he was back in action after having worked with famed aviator Igor Sikorsky to develop the Sikorsky helicopter. He flew that same helicopter in medi-evac and rescue missions during the Korean War. He would later tell fellow Marines like Hansen and his children that these missions to save others were more important to him than any of the dive-bombing flights during World War II because it was doing good. After continued his military service at Cherry Point, N.C., at military schools and at the Pentagon, Hughes returned to El Toro to teach young aviators to fly helicopters in 1961. He retired there in 1964. Jerry Hughes said he and his siblings take great satisfaction in their fathers life well-lived. He said his father didnt consider a civilian flying career because if you dont have ordnance, whats the point? Instead, he managed a small store. We are incredibly proud and we know the sacrifices all those guys made, Jerry Hughes said. He was a true Marine who honored everything about the Corps. Basically, whatever they did, he was ready to do it. Hughes lived the rest of his life in the home he and Mary bought in Santa Ana in 1961. He died there, too, on Jan. 7. He was a calm man who never raised his voice, and he taught his children the values of humility, hard work and service, his son said. For Jerry Hughes, he said he will most remember that his father lived a life of no regrets. He didnt dwell on the past, but was proud of the past, Jerry Hughes said. He was proud of his service and what America stands for. He didnt boast and he knew he did his duty. And, he respected other Marines for doing the same, especially ground troops, those were the real heroes. Hughes is survived by his children: Lorie Franck, John Hughes, Jerry Hughes, Nancy Hughes and Jim Hughes and nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. 2022 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.) at www.ocregister.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Fish leaping into boats, transporting cream by horse and cart, haymaking in the 40s, fancy dress parties, socials and dances - it all comes to life in a newly-published book on the history of Omokoroa. One thing is clear on reading Omokoroa Farming Families 1900 to 1970: the Western Bay suburb was, and still is, a caring community of generous civic-minded people. The rich tapestry of the lives of the farming families has been beautifully portrayed thanks to a team effort, support from the Omokoroa Centre Trust and contributions of photos, recollections and many interviews. Researched, collated, compiled and edited by Maureen and Norm Bruning, Valerie and Jerry Hale and Christine Wright for the Omokoroa History Group, the 336-page book is brimming with colour photos and packed with memories, information and thoughts about farming life on the peninsula. Originally, Omokoroa covered the area from the Waipapa River to the Te Puna River, including both the Omokoroa and Huharua peninsulas separated by the Mangawhai estuary right back to the Old Highway, which still exists. Place names changed, with Huharua peninsula having different names at different times. It is now commonly known as Plummers Point. The book follows on from an earlier title on Omokoroa written by Jenny Woods and updated by Colin Pettigrew. The foreword, by Western Bay Mayor Garry Webber, also recommends reading the 2010 Waitangi Tribunal report titled Tauranga Moana 1886 2006 Volume 1, to gain further insight into the areas history - particularly pre-European. The book is dedicated to Jocelyn Hicks, who sadly passed away before the book was completed. Photo: Supplied. Dedicated to Jocelyn Hicks, who alongside Colin was co-founder of the Omokoroa History Group in 2008, this book on farming families was initiated by Jocelyn who sadly passed away in November 2020. Jennys book covered the first European settlers to Omokoroa, says Maureen. Jocelyns thought was to capture the stories of the settlers who came after that to work the land. A piece written by Jocelyn on Omokoroa dairy farming history in 2010 has been used as the preface. Jocelyn was passionate about recording Omokoroas farming and social history. Front cover photograph of Omokoroa peninsula in 1956 was taken by Alf Rendell. At the books core are farming stories from 23 contributions. The front cover photograph, by Alf Rendell, shows the peninsula in 1956, while the back cover is an aerial photo of Omokoroa from 2017. Chapters cover cream carriers from konaki to tanker, World War One and Two servicemen, haymaking in the 1940s, country women, school histories and the life of a country teacher, country stores, the postal service, butchers every aspect of life seems to be included. The railway line built in 1928, and the main highway built in the early 50s, had a huge impact on the community, and just about everyone mentions fishing and the abundance of fish. Colourful glimpses into the lives of early families show a lively, vibrant and growing community of people who enjoyed a lot of fun, including the mock debutante ball where farmers dressed up in wigs, jewellery and gowns. There were also drama groups and the coming together of volunteers to build halls, a school and storage rooms. Generosity is at the heart of this community, from the gifting of land to helping each other with haymaking or when illness struck. Colin Pettigrews extensive photographic archives, as well as Tauranga City Library photos and historical archives, have been well utilised. Information and data has also been sourced from school history books, jubilee books and previous historians. Written in chronological order, from farming families in the 1890s right up to the 1970s when many farms were being converted into orchards or subdivisions, the chapters are accompanied by a timeline that extends from 1877 to 2021, which shows there is only one dairy farm remaining. There is also a map of both peninsulas, with approximate farm locations showing where people farmed which will be of interest to todays property owners. People will be able to discover upon whose previous farm their new home now sits, says Maureen. Whats ahead for the Omokoroa History Group? Chris says the next book will look at Omokoroa beach and bach life. It is well worth $45, so to purchase a copy of Omokoroa Farming Families 1900 to 1970 from the Omokoroa History Group, email: chris.warwick@omox.co.nz, bruning.farm@gmail.com or sjvjhale@gmail.com The Ministry of Health is reporting 24 new community cases, 47 new cases identified at the border and eight people are in hospital. More than 40,000 booster doses were administered on Saturday across New Zealand. From the 24 new community cases, two are in Northland, 16 in Auckland, one in Waikato and five in the Lakes DHB region. Of the eight cases in hospital, five are in North Shore, two in Auckland, and one in Middlemore Hospital. New Zealand moves to Red setting in the Covid-19 Protection Framework at 11.59pm tonight, Sunday January 23. The nine Covid-19 cases reported on Saturday in the Nelson/Tasman region have now been confirmed as the Omicron variant, and a further case from the same household was confirmed late Saturday. These cases are in a single family who flew to Auckland on January 13 to attend a family event and other events on the weekend of January 15 and 16 and initial estimates suggest there were at least 100 people at these events. This cluster has already led to an additional infection of a fully vaccinated Air New Zealand flight attendant who was infected on flight 5083 on January 16 from Auckland to Nelson which the family was on. That flight attendant has worked four additional flights while infectious. The five flights are: Flight NZ 5083 from Auckland to Nelson at 5.20 pm on 16 January Flight NZ 5080 from Nelson to Auckland at 4 pm on 19 January Flight NZ 5077 from Auckland to Nelson at 2pm on 19 January Flight NZ 5049 from Auckland to New Plymouth at 7.50 pm on 19 January Flight NZ 5042 from New Plymouth to Auckland at 1.50 pm on 20 January The Ministry of Health was also informed late Saturday of a further case who was a guest at the family event. Whole genome sequencing is urgently being carried out but we are treating this as the Omicron variant, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. Locations of interest, testing Initial locations of interest have been identified across Auckland and the Nelson Tasman region and these will be published on the Ministrys website as they are confirmed. We are encouraging everyone in these regions to check the locations of interest and follow the public health advice. There is a Section 70 notice in place that puts a legal requirement on all people who were at locations of interest at the relevant times to follow the instructions regarding isolation and testing. Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to $4,000 or imprisonment for up to six months. At this stage, we are doing what we have already successfully done with Delta to slow the spread of the virus, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. If you are unwell, stay home and get a test at the moment, that is the same PCR test with a nasopharygeal swab that we have used successfully over the last two years. If you are required to isolate, you will receive advice and if needed support to do so; at this stage you will need to isolate for 14 days if you are a case, and 10 days if you are a close contact. All testing locations nationwide are available at Healthpoint.co.nz. We expect there will be high demand, and its important that those who need to be tested are the ones who we test first. Anyone with symptoms, anyone who has been to a location of interest at the times notified, should isolate immediately and get tested promptly. New Zealand moves to Red at 11.59pm tonight We dont yet have a clear lead on the source of infection which links this family to the border, as we have with our other Omicron cases to date, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. Based on the information available, the risk of undetected community transmission is considered high. On that basis, Ministers have agreed that New Zealand will move into the Red setting of the traffic light system at 11.59pm tonight, Sunday January 23. At Red, we need to take action to protect our vulnerable communities and our health system from Covid-19. Learn what we all need to do here. The vaccine remains New Zealands key defence against all variants of Covid-19, including Omicron. The Ministry continues to encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. We are strongly recommending boosters for anyone over the age of 18 who had their second dose of the vaccine at least four months ago, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. We are also asking parents with children aged 5-11 years to get all the information they need for vaccination. As part of our collective preparations for Omicron please check your details are up to date with your regular healthcare provider and in the Covid-19 Tracer app. Covid-19 vaccine update Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 3,995,827 first doses (95%); 3,910,251 second doses (93%); 36,582 third primary doses; 974,784 booster doses Vaccines administered yesterday: 695 first doses; 1,407 second doses; 144 third primary doses and 41,934 booster doses. Maori (percentage of eligible people): 509,044 first doses (89%); 480,298 second doses (84%). Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people): 275,641 first doses (96%); 266,967 second doses (93%). Vaccination rates by DHB with active cases (percentage of eligible people) Northland DHB: First doses (89%); second doses (86%) Auckland Metro DHBs: First doses (97%); second doses (95%) Waikato DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (92%) Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (92%) Lakes DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (90%) MidCentral DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%) Wairarapa DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%) Capital and Coast DHB: First doses (98%); second doses (97%) Hutt Valley DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (95%) Nelson Marlborough DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%) Canterbury DHB: First doses (99%); second doses (97%) Hospitalisations Cases in hospital: 8; North Shore: 5; Auckland: 2; Middlemore: 1 Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (1 cases / 14%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (0 case / 0%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (5 cases / 71%); unknown (1 case / 14%). Average age of current hospitalisations: 62 Cases in ICU or HDU: N/A Cases Seven day rolling average of community cases: 25 Seven day rolling average of border cases: 39 Number of new community cases: 24 Number of new cases identified at the border: 47 Location of new community cases: Northland (2), Auckland (16), Waikato (1), Lakes (5) Number of community cases (total): 11,490 (in current community outbreak) Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 8,726 Number of active cases (total): 466 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered) Confirmed cases (total): 15,175 Contacts Number of active contacts being managed (total): 5,031 Percentage who has received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 79% Percentage who has returned at least one result: 77% Tests Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 13,453 Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 13,336 Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 7,206 Wastewater No unexpected results. NZ Covid Tracer Poster scans in the 24 hours to midday yesterday: 2,625,671 Manual diary entries in the 24 hours to midday: 38,160 My Vaccine Pass My vaccine pass downloads total: 4,881,926 My vaccine pass downloads (last 24 hours): 8,786 New cases identified at the border Arrival date From Via Positive test day/reason Current MIQ/F 8/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 12 / Routine Auckland 10/01/2022 Sweden United Arab Emirates Day 10 / Routine Auckland 13/01/2022 United States of America Direct Day 6 / Routine Christchurch 14/01/2022 Scotland United Arab Emirates Day 7 / Routine Auckland 14/01/2022 Denmark United Arab Emirates Day 6 / Routine Auckland 15/01/2022 Turkey United Arab Emirates Day 5 / Routine Auckland 15/01/2022 Turkey United Arab Emirates Day 5 / Routine Auckland 15/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 5 / Routine Auckland 15/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 5 / Routine Auckland 16/01/2022 Australia Direct Day 5 / Routine Auckland 16/01/2022 Full travel history not yet obtained United Arab Emirates Day 5 / Routine Auckland 16/01/2022 Full travel history not yet obtained United Arab Emirates Day 5 / Routine Auckland 17/01/2022 Switzerland United Arab Emirates Day 4 / Routine Auckland 17/01/2022 Turkey United Arab Emirates Day 3 / Routine Auckland 17/01/2022 Ireland United Arab Emirates Day 3 / Routine Auckland 18/01/2022 Travel history not yet obtained United Arab Emirates Day 3 / Routine Rotorua 18/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 3 / Routine Rotorua 18/01/2022 Travel history not yet obtained United Arab Emirates Day 3 / Routine Rotorua 18/01/2022 Travel history not yet obtained United Arab Emirates Day 3 / Routine Rotorua 19/01/2022 United Kingdom Singapore Day 1 / Routine Auckland 19/01/2022 United Kingdom United Arab Emirates Day 2 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 Travel history not yet obtained Qatar Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 Travel history not yet obtained Qatar Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 1 / Routine Rotorua 20/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 Turkey Qatar Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 Full travel history not yet obtained NA Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 Kenya Qatar Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 1 / Routine Rotorua 20/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 1 / Routine Rotorua 20/01/2022 Kenya Qatar Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 Full travel history not yet obtained United Arab Emirates Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 Pakistan United Arab Emirates Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 Singapore Direct Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 United Kingdom Qatar Day 1 / Routine Auckland 20/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 1 / Routine Auckland 21/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 0 / Routine Auckland 21/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 0 / Routine Auckland 21/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 0 / Routine Auckland 21/01/2022 India United Arab Emirates Day 0 / Routine Auckland Todays cases We are reporting new community cases in Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Lakes. The tenth household member in Nelson Tasman to test positive will be officially added to the case numbers tomorrow. Regional updates We are continuing to ask anyone in New Zealand with symptoms no matter how mild to get tested, even if youre vaccinated. Please stay at home until you return a negative test result. We are also asking people to regularly check the locations of interest as these are regularly updated and to follow the advice provided. Testing and vaccination centre locations nationwide can be found on the Healthpoint website. Please also continue to check for any updated Locations of Interest and appropriate health advice, updated regularly on the Ministrys website. Northland There have been two new cases in the Kaitaia area. Both are household members of an existing case. Two cases were also reported last night and will be added to the case numbers tomorrow. This included one linked case in Whangarei who is a close contact of a case and was already in isolation. The other case was in the Kaitaia area and investigations are continuing to establish a link to previous cases. Whole genome sequencing is underway for this case. Auckland There are 16 cases to report in Auckland today. Health and welfare providers are now supporting 682 people in the region to isolate at home, including 154 cases. Summerset by the Park Rest Home Flat Bush An Auckland aged residential care worker associated with the family from Nelson, has tested positive for COVID-19. The worker is fully vaccinated and Whole Genome Sequencing is being carried out however we are treating this as a contact of a known Omicron case. The resthome is now closed to visitors and testing is being carried out on residents and staff. Anyone who has visited the rest home since Friday 21 January and has symptoms of COVID-19 is asked to isolate and get a test as soon as possible. Waikato There is one new case in the Waikato today. The case is in Hamilton and is linked to previous cases. In the Waikato, Public Health, primary care and manaaki providers are supporting 15 cases to isolate at home. Lakes There are 5 new cases to report in the Lakes DHB region today, all in the Rotorua District. Three of todays cases are linked to previously reported cases; two are still being investigated to determine any links. All cases are isolating at home or in managed accommodation. GNS Science have requested that New Zealanders send in their observations following the Tongan eruption and tsunami. We are interested in your observations of the sea and coastal areas following the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption on 15 January 2022, says a Geonet spokesperson. We would also like to know about booming sounds heard around the time of the eruption Saturday evening. A pressure surge from the latest eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano in Tonga was observed by New Zealand weather stations across the country. The pressure wave from the Tongan volcano was recorded at weather stations at Cape Reinga, Auckland, Tauranga, Gisborne, Taupo and Wellington between 6.50pm - 7.45pm on Saturday January 15. Reports of explosions were heard in New Zealand which is over 2000km from Tonga. The shock wave from the Tonga eruption rippled out at about 1000km per hour. Many people across New Zealand reported hearing explosion and booming sounds following the eruption. SunLive readers reported hearing what sounded like explosion noises Our researchers would love to hear from you if you noticed any unusual behaviours of the sea or coastal areas in the hours and days following the eruption, or have photos and videos of this happening, says a Geonet spokesperson. We are also interested in experiences from people who heard the booming sounds that travelled around the world during the eruption. Please follow the link below to share experiences with GNS Science. Complete the survey here The data we collect could be used in the New Zealand historical tsunami database in our write-up about these events, says a Geonet spokesperson. This information can help improve tsunami forecasts and can assist in education about tsunami. Providing any personal data is optional, your data will be used for research purposes and will be kept anonymous. King tides, increased surf activity from tropical cyclones and outgoing tides during the hottest part of the day are contributing factors to the huge number of rescues lifeguards in the region have carried out this summer. In the week ending Sunday, January 16, there were 13 rescues of note in the Western Bay of Plenty and 44 assists as lifeguards helped people back to safety, says Eastern Region surf lifesaving manager Chaz Gibbons-Campbell. The week culminated in large swells from Cyclone Cody. Beaches were red flagged, with people asked to stay out of the water because of the tsunami warning after underwater volcano Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai erupted on Saturday. The red flags started to come down on Monday as individual surf clubs assessed the conditions, but the danger remains says Chaz The risky time for us is actually when the surf gets a bit smaller - that sort of half-a-meter to a meter swell - because theres still a lot of water moving around, he says. This causes a lot of rips along the coast. That's when we urge caution. We ask to people to check the conditions and find a patrolled beach. Chaz says the majority of rescues last week were outside of flagged areas. The importance of swimming at a patrolled beach was also highlighted by three major water incidents that occurred near Omanu Beach during the holiday period. A man died and two men were taken to hospital in a critical condition in three separate water incidents between January 4 and January 8. Chaz is imploring people to swim at a patrolled location, especially as two of the critical incidents occurred in Arataki, where it can take lifeguards up to 30 minutes to patrol there in a buggy. If you're not going to swim at a patrolled location, please make sure you're swimming within your limits. Some of the lifeguards involved in the three rescues at Omanu Surf Lifesaving Club are pretty shaken up, he says. All three men required CPR after being removed from the water, which was a first for some of the guards says Chaz. Ambulance staff who attended the incidents returned to the club to explain things to the team from a medical perspective which really helped, says the lifesaving manger. Surf Life Saving New Zealand provides support to active and current members and their families through Benestar, a counselling and wellbeing provider. Weve also got a fantastic peer support program, which sees fellow lifeguards come in after a critical incident and debrief the lifeguards, says Chaz. Patrolled locations in the Western Bay of Plenty are Waihi Beach, Bowentown, Mount Maunganui, Tay Street, Omanu Beach, Papamoa Beach, Papamoa East and Pukehina. To check if a beach near you is patrolled, visit: www.safeswim.org.nz Chaz recommends going to the beach with friends so you can keep an eye on each other, assessing the conditions and looking out for rip currents. How to spot a rip Look out for calm patches in the surf with waves breaking at each side, a ripple pattern on the sand or small holes beneath your feet in the water, and discoloured or foamy water. Other signs are regions of deeper, darker water with less wave breaking activity between areas of white water; think of them as rivers of the sea. The discoloration is created by the current picking up sand in the water as it moves out to sea. Be wary around rocky headlands and rocky groins. Rip currents are also common in areas with piers, jetties and anything else that sticks out from the beach that could catch a longshore current and cause it to start flowing away from shore. Most importantly, if youre unsure about conditions ask the nearest lifeguard. Otherwise, stay out. If you are caught in a rip remember the Three Rs. Relax and float to conserve your energy. Raise your hand to signal for help. Ride the rip until it stops and you can swim back to shore or until help arrives. I encourage people to do a little bit of homework before you leave the house to make sure that you prepare for a day at the beach, says Chaz. The launch of a new health shuttle service is making it a lot easier for people in the Kawerau district to manage their health. An opening ceremony and blessing was held for the St John Kawerau Health Shuttle at the towns St John building on Tuesday. The new service boasts two new vehicles, a van and a five-seater car, and nine freshly trained volunteer drivers who will undergo training and man the service. It is for anyone in the Kawerau district who experiences barriers getting to their health appointments, either within Kawerau or at hospitals in Tauranga, Whakatane and Rotorua. Anyone needing help getting to an appointment can book a shuttle by phone and be picked up from their homes and driven home again after their appointment. The service is free, although a koha is welcome and for patients eligible for a travel allocation, these can be administered through the service. The new service was instigated by a phone call to St John from Kawerau Mayor Malcolm Campbell in December 2019. Campbell saw the community need for help in getting to medical appointments, particularly for elderly people who are no longer able to drive, and asked that St John consider providing a service to the district. Kawerau District Council has been a strong supporter of the service since that time. A working group of community volunteers was formed and the community was surveyed as to the need for the service. With no taxi service in the town, a limited bus service and many people needing to access medical services out of town, it was decided to go ahead. The two vehicles were purchased in July last year, thanks to $40,000 funding from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council via the St John Fleet Division. Funding for the service has also been provided by Kawerau Training and Education Trust and a gift from the whanau of the late Tracey Neilsen, who was a dedicated St John member. Regional council chairman Doug Leeder and Kawerau deputy mayor Faylene Tunui officially handed over the keys of the vehicles to long time St John member Lyn Price. St John Community Health Services deputy chief executive Sarah Manley addressed those attending, saying it was the services 54th shuttle service that had been launched nationwide since the first service was launched in 1991 in Hamilton and Feilding. Since then, 93 vehicles have been introduced into the fleet, and this was the first time two vehicles had been launched together. In the Eastern Bay a similar service was launched in Opotiki in August 2020. Being able to get to medical appointments supports patients and whanau in proactively managing their health and for the health system to provide continuity of care. This is part of our work to improve access to services and to generate more equitable health outcomes in our communities, Ms Manley said. Campbell was unable to attend the launch as he was spending time with family but Deputy Mayor Faylene Tunui, who had been closely involved with the process, spoke for the council, thanking all those who had worked to bring the shuttle service to the town, including those members of the community working group. She says the service is about more than just transport but to advocate for patients where necessary. She gives an example of someone who might be given an appointment at 8am that required a two- or three-hour drive to get to. Some of us just need a little bit of a hand to advocate on our behalf. A dedication was made by St John Chaplain, Reverend Tom Poata and a blessing in te reo Maori was made by Matua Te Haukakawa Te Rire. Nine volunteers have completed an intensive training course to become drivers for the shuttles and more volunteers are currently going through the training course. The training includes first aid and cultural safety aspects. Most of the volunteers have previous experience with St John, including Brian Dent, who was an ambulance officer for 12 years. They welcome the opportunity to be out and about and giving back to the community. Bookings for the shuttle can be made by calling 0800 824 325 at least 24 hours ahead of the scheduled appointment. WELLINGTON, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand recorded 24 new community cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, said the Ministry of Health in a statement. Among the 24 new community infections, 16 are in the largest city Auckland, five in the Lakes region, two in Northland and one in Waikato. In addition, the country recorded 47 new imported cases of COVID-19 at the border, said the Ministry. Nine COVID-19 cases reported on Saturday in the Nelson/Tasman region have been confirmed as with the Omicron variant. A further case from the same household involved was confirmed late Saturday. These cases were in a single-family who flew to Auckland earlier this month attending several big events. This cluster has already led to an additional infection of a fully vaccinated Air New Zealand flight attendant, said the Ministry. Director-General of Health from the Ministry of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, said that the risk of transmission by the confirmed Omicron cases is considered high. The source of the infection is not known yet. New Zealand will move to Red Light settings from 11:59 p.m. Sunday, announced Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier on Sunday, in an effort to prevent the Omicron infections from spreading quickly in the community. According to the Red Light settings under the COVID-19 Protection Framework, gatherings will be limited to 100 people in places where COVID-19 vaccine passports are used. Face covering will be mandatory in many indoor spaces such as public transport, public venues and retail shops. There are currently eight COVID-19 patients being treated in New Zealand hospitals, with none in the intensive care unit. The country has recorded 15,175 cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, including 11,490 cases from the latest Delta variant outbreak in the community. Ardern urged the public to take a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible and to get tested if they have any symptoms of infection. Ninety-three percent of the eligible people in New Zealand are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Weather Alert ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of Arkansas and Oklahoma, including the following counties, in Arkansas, Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Madison, Sebastian and Washington AR. In Oklahoma, Adair, Cherokee, Choctaw, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Haskell, Latimer, Le Flore, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, Rogers, Sequoyah, Tulsa, Wagoner and Washington OK. * WHEN...Through Thursday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff will likely result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, especially in areas that have already received heavy rainfall over the past few days. Several main-stem rivers could go into flood. A few locations could see significant flash flooding. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are expected today through Thursday afternoon with the potential for very heavy rainfall. Widespread 2 to 3 inches of rain is expected with locally higher amounts of 5 to 6 inches. The heavier rain will begin to shift east of far southeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas Thursday afternoon. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. && The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. BUDAPEST, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday inaugurated the country's new contemporary cultural landmark, the House of Music, here in the capital Budapest on the occasion of the National Culture Day. "The House of Music is not a standalone project, but an integrated part of a huge cultural investment," Orban said at a ceremony, adding that being a cultural nation is an extremely important part of Hungarians' self-definition. The 9,000-square-meter building is part of the Liget Budapest Project, a large urban cultural development project that envisions the renewal of Budapest's central public park. Designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, the House features a vast undulating roof and has three levels to encourage visitors to participate and interact with sound and music: subterranean exhibition level, ground floor performance area, and rooftop level with museum education. The new building is nestled amongst the trees of the City Park. The designers have taken inspiration from the synergy between sound and nature, presenting the building as a continuation of its park context. The House's facade is panelled in a curtain of glass to create a completely translucent building that blurs boundaries between indoor and outdoor space. Hungarians have been celebrating the National Day of Hungarian Culture since Jan. 22, 1989, in memory of the birth or the completion of the manuscript of the national anthem on this day in 1823. Thank you for Reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and Purchase a Subscription to continue reading. Some teachers are now criticizing TikTok challenges. They shared how social media platforms worsen the negative behavior of their students. The educators added that this significantly affects their jobs, making their work harder than it is. Right now, TikTok is among the rising online platforms. The social media giant became popular when the pandemic started, allowing people to share their creativity. Many TikTok users created some challenges that became popular until now. However, some of these trends have a negative impact on young individuals' behavior. TikTok Challenges Affect Students' Behavior? According to Global News' latest report, one of the New Westminster, B.C. high school teachers said she notices that students' behavior is worsening. Also Read: TikTok's Nick Tran Booted Out of Company; Is This Because of TikTok Kitchens? Pam Johnson shared that soap dispensers in some of the bathrooms are missing. She added that she is also noticing a streak of vandalism inside the school. Now, the teacher claims that all these negative happenings inside their school are inspired by some viral challenges in TikTok and other social media platforms. "It's like Whack-A-Mole. Every day, it feels like there's something new. The increase we've seen in just overall troubling behavior, it's exhausting and it's very, very concerning," said Johnson. SocMed Platforms Focus on Students' Lives? Pam explained that when social media platforms became more popular, teachers' jobs became more difficult since they affected their students' mental health challenges and negative habits. Aside from this, she also explained that right now, TikTok and other apps are focusing more on students' lives. On the other hand, Teach Starter provided some of the trends that are specifically for students to do: "Mess up school signs" "Make a mess in the courtyard or cafeteria" "Ditch day" "Flip off in the front office" In other news, the iPhone Shower meme recently is trending once again. On the other hand, McDonald's "Steal a Fry" tweet was criticized in South Korea. For more news updates about TikTok and other popular platforms, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: TikTok Pushes for Monetization, is Currently Testing Support for Paid Subscriptions This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. by Alessandra Cardone ROME, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- After the massive eruption near the island of Tonga last week, Italian media for days run headlines and in-depth articles, and talk shows focused on one same topic: volcanoes. They meant to report about the real dimension and aftermath of the submarine volcano's eruption that hit the south Pacific island on Jan. 14. They also wanted to address Italian audience's fresh curiosity about the domestic situation. Would a similar eruption be possible in Italy? Which -- among the many domestic volcanoes -- was the most dangerous in the immediate? What was surveillance system? Experts were called in to provide an accurate picture. Journalists and people became aware of an interesting, although disregarded, detail: there were submarine volcanoes in their own backyard too. QUIESCENT GIANTS "Indeed, there are several submarine volcanoes of various shapes and sizes in the Tyrrhenian Sea and in the Strait of Sicily," Guido Ventura, volcanologist with Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), told Xinhua in an interview. Some of them showed a very low-energy seismic activity and emission of hot fluids, so they could be called "active but in a state of quiescence." "The two largest ones are the Marsili -- which is 60 to 70 km long and 25 to 30 km wide -- and the Palinuro; both are peculiar because they are volcanic complexes characterized by linear structures," he said. Ventura has been senior INGV researcher since 2003. His researches have brought him to collaborate, among other institutions, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Jilin University in Changchun, and the Jilin Earthquake Agency of the China Earthquake Administration. The scholar confirmed the priority in Italy is assigned to other volcanoes (all of which above the waters), in terms of prevention, monitoring, and emergency plans. In some areas of Italy, people are used to live and thrive under the shadow of an active volcano. This is the case of Catania in eastern Sicily, where the Etna -- one of the most active volcanoes in the world -- is affectionately nicknamed by residents as "the mountain." There is Stromboli, the most northeast among the Aeolian Islands, famous for its persistent mild to moderate activity, which provides explosive (or "Strombolian") spectacular eruptions. There are the Vesuvio and the Campi Flegrei in southern Campania region, both located in densely populated areas. The red zone outlined by the emergency plan for them comprises 25 municipalities across the Naples and Salerno provinces. LOW RISK Nonetheless, the public and scientific interest around submarine volcanoes is growing, according to the volcanologist. Would they pose a concrete risk in terms of eruption and a consequent possible tsunami? Should people be specifically concerned in Italy? "A risk linked to possible eruptions exists, although we have discovered through recent studies that the Marsili's last eruption dates back some 3,000 years," Ventura replied. He noted that while the Marsili's apical part is at 500 meters of depth, that of the Palinuro is only 80 meters under water, which means a latter's possible eruption would pose a greater risk for the Italian coasts. "Overall, the entire central Mediterranean has a tsunami risk factor, not only for the presence of submerged volcanoes, but due to possible earthquakes and underwater massive landslides," he added, recalling that the INGV plays the role of Tsunami Service Provider for the whole Mediterranean. "We are currently running simulations of tsunamis from submarine landslides ... And, for the Marsili and the Palinuro, the results we have already published indicate a minimal risk." Yet, Ventura and other top Italian scientists highlighted that submarine volcanoes are not currently monitored 24/7, nor in the Mediterranean. "There are two reasons for that, the first of which is that continued monitoring has very high costs -- a day of oceanographic ship costs around 20 thousand euros (some 22,000 U.S. dollars), just to have an idea," he explained. The second reason is the above-mentioned priority set by Italy's Civil Protection Agency on the other volcanoes. "The Italian situation therefore is normal, we could say ... yet, our hope is to be able to carry out as many oceanographic campaigns as possible, in order to collect data over the time that would allow us to observe possible changes," he stressed. A girl carries a face-masked toy as she heads for vaccination at a vaccination clinic in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Jan. 22, 2022. Canada confirmed 13,555 new COVID-19 cases Saturday afternoon, elevating its national caseload to 2,905,560 with 32,502 deaths, CTV reported. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua) OTTAWA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Canada confirmed 13,555 new COVID-19 cases Saturday afternoon, elevating its national caseload to 2,905,560 with 32,502 deaths, CTV reported. Ontario, the most populous province, reported 6,473 new cases with 47 additional deaths while Quebec, another populous province, announced 5,547 new cases with 68 new deaths. Both provinces reported a drop in COVID-19-related hospitalizations but a jump in the number of patients being treated in intensive care units (ICU) on Saturday. Ontario reported nearly 600 ICU patients while Quebec confirmed 275 ICU patients. A total of 10,745 patients with COVID-19 were being treated in hospitals across Canada on Saturday, still surpassing peak daily numbers in all previous waves of the pandemic. The daily COVID-19 case number, positivity rate and wastewater surveillance issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada showed that the Omicron-driven wave has peaked in the country. Despite signs of stability in the patient numbers in some provinces, the toll on hospitals remains heavy and many hospitals across Canada are under intense strain, said Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer. With lab-based testing capacity deeply strained and increasingly restricted, medical experts said Canada's true COVID-19 case counts are likely far higher than reported. Hospitalization data at the regional level is also evolving, with several provinces saying they will report figures that separate the number of people in hospital because of COVID-19 from those in hospital for another medical issue who also test positive for COVID-19. A staff member shows people the direction of a vaccination clinic in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Jan. 22, 2022. Canada confirmed 13,555 new COVID-19 cases Saturday afternoon, elevating its national caseload to 2,905,560 with 32,502 deaths, CTV reported. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua) People walk past a sign of a vaccination clinic in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Jan. 22, 2022. Canada confirmed 13,555 new COVID-19 cases Saturday afternoon, elevating its national caseload to 2,905,560 with 32,502 deaths, CTV reported. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua) People line up for vaccination at a vaccination clinic in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Jan. 22, 2022. Canada confirmed 13,555 new COVID-19 cases Saturday afternoon, elevating its national caseload to 2,905,560 with 32,502 deaths, CTV reported. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua) Lafayette artist Francis X Pavy and his wife, Cathi, are taking his art in a new direction with the launch of a wallpaper and textiles line from their new company, Pavy Art + Design. The line, officially launching Tuesday, includes eight fabric patterns in two to three colorways each and seven wall coverings in one to three colorways each, printed with Louisiana-inspired imagery from Pavys body of work and previously unseen sketches. The project has been nearly four years in the making, the couple said. In 2018, Cathi Pavy retired from BBR Creative, a Lafayette advertising agency she co-founded, and the couple took the transitional moment to re-evaluate what they wanted professionally and as a family. Cathi Pavy said after years of support from her husband while building her business, she saw an opportunity to put his art at the forefront and push it into new frontiers, while building a legacy company for their two children. For Francis, the new outing was an opportunity to bring an idea the couple had batted around for over 25 years a home goods line from concept to reality, he said. Its always a gambleYou dont know whether its going to be fruitful or not but why not? Francis Pavy said. Ive had like a hundred ideas but eventually this came around so many times that its time to try it and see what happens. The artist, whose career has spanned 40 years, said reinvention and trying new things is a key part of his process. Francis Pavy got his artistic start as a child watching Saturday morning drawing lessons on his familys television and later attending classes in a local park, before exploring mediums such as photography, ceramics, glass work and printing, he said. I try to keep asking questions and challenging myself. Its just what comes about. I like to paint. I enjoy making imagery, so Im always looking for other ideas, other venues to work in trying to expand what I do. I almost feel like its like a ball of wax Im adding to, like its a cumulative effort, he said. Its challenging myself to work outside the boundaries of what Ive done before. Production of the home goods line began with painting, Francis Pavy said. Each artwork was painted on a piece of canvas wrapped around a large tube, ensuring the repeating design connected seamlessly at each edge. Then, the paintings were photographed meticulously and moved into Photoshop for adjustments and stitching where Francis worked to ensure the integrity of the colors, the translation of the paint strokes and sharpness of the pattern. Catching the bus outside Lafayette High? Theres a new covered stop in hopes more students ride free Lafayette Transit System riders catching the bus at Lafayette High School will have a more comfortable wait thanks to a covered stop installed The digital fine tuning took from 40 hours for some pieces to over 100 hours for others, he said. Once completed, the digital files were sent to the couples manufacturer in Connecticut, which created strike offs, or samples of the printed fabric, for the couple to review. Each piece was sent back and forth for tweaks until completion, he said. Selecting which prints to use for the first collection was a collaborative effort. +14 New carwashes are opening everywhere in Lafayette: 'Why the sudden rush?' It's official. Carwashes have joined the ranks of Mexican restaurants, mattress stores and locations of Legends Bar & Grill, with each new Cathi Pavy said the duo would hold up a piece of cork board they fashioned into a frame to paintings in Francis studio, trying to home in on what icons and details would look best isolated into repeating prints. Francis Pavy said his wife also unearthed the inspiration for his favorite print of the collection, Tunica, while digging through sketchbooks of unused concepts. Inside info on doing business in Acadiana In an ever-evolving business landscape, you need trusted information from a reliable source to help you make decisions. We provide that daily data, analysis and insights from local experts. e-mail address * Sign Up The goal for each selection was to communicate the culture, history and spirit of south Louisiana, Cathi Pavy said. Everything is stamped with Made with love from French Louisiana because one thing were trying to do is really elevate the brand of south Louisiana and share it with the rest of the world. We both truly believe that we have a culture thats special. We just want to make sure that people get to understand what it is and hopefully experience it one day, she said. +6 Lafayette man takes passion to next level with new karaoke bar: 'This is How We Do It' When Jeramie Kinnerson wants to get a crowd psyched up at a karaoke event, he usually turns on the first song he ever sang on stage, Montell J Working as a husband-wife team, the duo has gotten to see each other and their work from a new perspective. We share the same values, which is critical to partnership, and work ethic. And also the vision of where were going. Sometimes we can get in the weeds because my background is marketing and his is artit can be one of the areas we have the most friction, because hes focused on maintaining the integrity of the artwork and Im always trying to maintain focus on the customer and what they need and want, but I think those two things together are the perfect balance, she said. While a longtime dream, the experience has been challenging, she said. +3 Black Pumas keyboardist and Acadiana native JaRon Marshall on 'super special' Grammy nom JaRon Marshall described Hollywood as a ghost town when he arrived at Capitol Studio A last year to record a live album with Black Pumas. There was the learning curve of entering a new industry and understanding what it means to produce an appealing, high quality product for designers and how to capture their attention. Add to that the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused supply delays and starts and stops in the production process, and the last few years have been both exciting and scary, Cathi Pavy said. The line of wallpapers and fabrics are available for purchase at the Pavy Art + Design website, but the couple said for now their primary focus is business-to-business sales, working with designers, design showrooms and fabric sales representatives to get their fabric into the market and into the hands of professionals in the interior design and decorating community. For launch day Tuesday, the couple is hosting an open house for interior designers, architects and trade professionals from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pavy Art + Design Studio at 100 East Vermilion Street, Cathi Pavy said. +8 After seven-year journey, new LFT terminal a reality: 'You got it done' Lafayette Parish Councilman A.B. Rubin drives every night from Lafayette to New Orleans for his job with UPS. But he also flies out of Lafayet With the initial market push underway, the Pavys said theyre already looking ahead and thinking about next steps. Francis Pavy said he envisions fleshing out the existing collection with an expanded range of colorways in coming months, while also brainstorming what iconography might be ripe for use in a second collection. Cathi Pavy said the long term possibilities for growing the business are endless; the marketing strategist said shes partial to one day producing a line of dog beds, inspired by the familys pugs, Otis and Lincoln. For now, the couple is focused on growing business around their current products and excited to see how the products are translated into spaces. Historic church building on Jefferson Boulevard latest acquisition for local developer An old church on Jefferson Boulevard that dates back to the World War II era has been sold to a local development group. The warmth of our home and the joy that we have in our home is what we want to bring to the homes and interiors of others, Cathi Pavy said. Im anticipating its going to be beautiful. I have no idea what people are going to do or how theyre going to combine the stuff. Im anxious to see how its used and where its going to be used, Francis Pavy said. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission A retired judge presiding over Judge Beau Higginbotham's lawsuit against his 19th Judicial District Court colleagues is a "co-equal" judge who is powerless to grant "any kind of relief to resolve a legal dispute amongst judges." That is the position that a half-dozen 19th JDC judges and one of Higginbotham's former colleagues are taking as Higginbotham, a criminal court judge, presses his seniority-based claim to a civil seat on the Baton Rouge state court. When the Louisiana Supreme Court appointed retired Judge Emile St. Pierre last January to preside over Higginbotham's lawsuit against East Baton Rouge Parish's clerk of court, Higginbotham's 14 fellow 19th JDC judges were not named as defendants. Now that Higginbotham has added his fellow judges and several of his former colleagues as defendants and now that St. Pierre has dismissed Clerk of Court Doug Welborn from the lawsuit six 19th JDC judges and retired Judge Janice Clark are arguing that the ad hoc judge has no authority over them in the matter. Higher courts told a Baton Rouge judge to sue his colleagues. He did, and here's why Baton Rouge criminal court Judge Beau Higginbotham, who claims he was unlawfully passed over for a seat in civil court despite his seniority, "The judge ad hoc has the same power and authority as any other Nineteenth Judicial District Court judge. The Honorable Emile St. Pierre, Judge ad hoc, sitting as a member of the Nineteenth Judicial District Court, has no general or specific supervisory subject matter jurisdiction or personal jurisdiction over other judges of the Nineteenth Judicial District Court," attorneys for the six 19th JDC judges and Clark contend in court papers filed Tuesday. Louisiana law has long recognized that co-equal courts don't have jurisdiction to issue orders directed to each other, the attorneys for Judges Tiffany Foxworth-Roberts, Don and Ron Johnson, Tarvald Smith, Trudy White, Wilson Fields and former Judge Clark said. "It necessarily and logically follows that a co-equal judge sitting by ad hoc appointment does not have jurisdiction to preside over another co-equal judge or to give any kind of relief to resolve a legal dispute amongst judges," they wrote. Higginbotham and his attorney beg to differ and maintain that the ad hoc judge is the presiding judge," not a co-equal judge. They say the 19th JDC judges and former judges are not above the law. Whitney Higginbotham Greene, who is Higginbotham's sister and lawyer, argues the state Supreme Court appointed St. Pierre to avoid the appearance of impropriety. "There is no provision that requires a judge at least a `level higher' is necessary to properly adjudicate matters concerning judges," she wrote in an opposition to the filing by the six 19th JDC judges and Clark. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Greene noted that after St. Pierre ordered Higginbotham to add his colleagues as defendants and "indispensable parties" to the lawsuit, the Supreme Court reviewed his ruling and let it stand. "Even after the knowledge that the 19th JDC judges would have to be added to move forward, the Louisiana Supreme Court allowed Judge St. Pierre to remain as the presiding judge," she stated. "Judge St. Pierre is not a `co-equal' judge in this matter; he is the duly appointed presiding judge. Judge St. Pierre has been appointed to preside over all further proceedings and the disposition of this case," she added. St. Pierre is scheduled to hear motions in the case Tuesday. The six current 19th JDC judges and Clark also are claiming judicial immunity from being sued. But Greene argues that judicial immunity is not absolute and does not exist "to allow judges to shirk responsibility for their actions." Higginbotham claims in his lawsuit that some of his colleagues ignored the 19th JDC's seniority rule and unlawfully passed him over for a seat on the court's civil bench. The judges contend they did nothing wrong or unlawful. Higginbotham was elected to the 19th JDC Division M seat in 2014, then to the Division C seat nearer to his home in 2019. Both seats are criminal divisions. When Clark retired at the end of 2020, Higginbotham claimed he was "next in line" based on seniority to move to the civil bench. But a majority of Higginbotham's colleagues decided he lost his seniority on the court when he switched criminal divisions, and lost his right to lay claim to Clark's old civil seat. Higginbotham claims there was "no gap" in his service on the court and that he has a "rightful claim to the civil bench." His lawsuit says that at a Dec. 9, 2020, meeting of the 19th JDC judges, he formally moved to be assigned to the civil bench, and Judge William Morvant seconded the motion, but it did not pass. Judge Don Johnson then offered a motion to assign the civil spot to Judge Ron Johnson, his twin brother, and the motion was approved. +3 Why judge Beau Higginbotham is suing to move into a vacant civil seat in Baton Rouge Judge Beau Higginbotham, who has sat on the 19th Judicial District Court's criminal bench for six years, is fighting for what he calls his "ri Nine of Higginbotham's 19th JDC colleagues told Welborn's office in a Jan. 4, 2021, to allot the civil cases that formerly would have gone to Clark to Ron Johnson, who was elected in 2019. A week later, a second order from 10 of the court's 15 judges informed the clerk's office that Ron Johnson and fellow 19th JDC Judge Kelly Balfour would evenly share those civil cases while also splitting a criminal docket. Higginbotham is the son of former state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Toni Higginbotham and ex-19th JDC Judge Leo Higginbotham. Former Gov. Edwin Edwards, who died at 93 in July, left all of his assets to his eight-year-old son Eli, according to a handwritten document with his signature that was filed in Ascension Parish on Wednesday. His will is valid. I dont think anyone can argue with that fact, Trina Scott Edwards, his widow and Elis mother, said in an interview Saturday. But Anna and Stephen Edwards, two of the former governors older children, question whether the signature on the one-page legal size paper was actually his. They and a third Edwards child, David, said in interviews, however, that they will not contest the validity of the will, which is dated July 7, 2017. Daddy did what he did, David said before ending a short interview. That, however, is not the view of Victoria Edwards, the former governors fourth older child. She has filed a legal challenge to her fathers will, stating she is entitled to her share no matter whether he provided for her because her bipolar medical diagnosis means she cannot care for herself financially. Victoria is citing the states forced heirship law in making her claim. None of Edwards older children is questioning the close relationship between their father and Eli. Edwin W. Edwards was in the news constantly during four decades in political office, highlighted by being the only person in Louisiana history to serve four terms as governor. He last left office in 1996, and in 2000, he was convicted of extorting money from riverboat casino owners and spent 8 years in prison. He and Trina met while he was incarcerated, married in 2011 after his release, and Eli was born in 2013. Edwin Edwards is still making news in death. The dispute over the will is the second time that three of Edwards older children have been in open conflict with Trina since their fathers death on July 12. They are in their 60s and 70s old enough to be grandparents of their young brother while Trina Edwards is 43. She was his third wife, while their mother was Edwards first wife, Elaine. In October, Anna, Stephen and Victoria went public with their dismay over Trinas decision to have their father dug up from a Baton Rouge cemetery and cremated. The word for me is astonished and horrified, Anna said then, adding that her father had always abhorred the idea of cremation. Trina Edwards said then that her decision was legal and appropriate and was best for her and Eli. On Saturday, Anna, Stephen and Victoria said they learned of the will filed with the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court from a news report Friday by WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge. 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 Anna said she had advised her father years ago that she didnt want anything. I knew if he left anything of value to us, it would be a problem, she said. Said Stephen: I never intended on getting a nickel from either my parents. They did what they had to do for me. Trina said Edwin Edwards had told her several times of his desire to provide for Elis education and well-being. The eight-year-old received half of the family home in Pelican Pointe, a tony subdivision near Gonzales, plus a smattering of investments. Trina, as his widow, received no assets but retains control of half the house under the states community property laws rather than the succession laws that govern the will. Homes in Pelican Pointe were for sale between $300,000 and $600,000 on Saturday. Eli got far, far less than Edwin Edwards other children during their lifetimes, Trina said. Her husband handwrote his will in 2013 and then again in 2017, Trina said. He told me at the time that he had written it, and he told me where it was, she said. Leo Honeycutt, who wrote Edwards authorized biography and was among those with him when he died at home in July, said Edwards love for Eli was off the charts. The kid loved being with him, joking and laughing. That was the one thing Edwards really needed laughter. He needed to hear his child laughing. That probably kept him going as long as it did. Stephen agreed. My dad was always concerned about Elis welfare, Stephen said. Stephen and Anna both support Victorias claim that she deserves her share of their fathers assets to provide for herself. Thats not Trinas view. Shes suing her eight-year-old brother for his inheritance, Trina said. Its very unfortunate. For years, White legislators have neutered minority participation in Louisiana politics and that needs to be corrected, at least so say the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and 15 other human rights organizations that have submitted dozens of proposals redrawing district lines from where candidates for legislative, congressional, and other offices will run for election. The latest Census Bureau count gives legislators the opportunity to do just that as Louisianas Black population increased by 3.78% during the past decade to 33% of the states total population. The White population decreased by 6.3%. But among the 144 seats in the state Legislature, only 37 are held by Black lawmakers or just under 26% of members. The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana illustrated two possible plans that would provide nine additional majority-Black opportunity House districts and four additional Black opportunity Senate districts. After nine town halls where more than 800 residents gave their input, many of whom said they want to see more minorities in the Legislature, lawmakers are putting pencil to paper to produce new maps. They will gather next week on Feb. 1 for the sole purpose of redrawing districts that fit the shifting population. But properly apportioning voters by race is difficult, as state Rep. Tanner Magee pointed out at a hearing Thursday. Looking at a map advanced by the ACLU for Houma-based Senate District 8, Magee noted no roads cross the marshes from the east Terrebonne Parish part of the proposed district to Chalmette and Port Sulphur. The senator would have to drive a couple of hours: up to New Orleans then down the Mississippi River to Port Sulphur. And what commonalities do these communities share? Did you send people out to like Bourg, Louisiana, and see what their interests were, asked Magee, a Houma Republican who is the Houses second highest leader. ACLU redistricting plan ACLU plan for redistricting Louisiana House and Senate seats Reapportionment is basically a math problem guided by law, specifically Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits dilution of minorities' electoral power packing all available Black people into some districts and dispersing the rest over multiple majority White districts where they have little influence. All of this is overseen by politicians who want to keep as constituents the people who elected them and jettison those who didnt. As far as communities of interests go, the priority is Section 2 compliance, said Chris Kaiser, advocacy director for the ACLU of Louisiana. Redistricting is not a simple recipe because communities of interest impacts the science. Its a term that will be repeated, a lot, during the next few weeks as the redistricting maps are negotiated. It means something different for every person, said state Rep. John M. Stefanski, who as chair of the House & Governmental Affairs committee is a point person for redistricting. To me, its part of my cultural identity. Think about the Cajun culture. My grandparents spoke French. My Dad speaks French. Thats a commonality. Crawfish boils, all these things we kind of do in a region that are very identifiable. Its also about where people go to church, the neighborhoods they live in, the traditional boundaries that form a cohesive community. Though Black population increases statewide, numbers decrease on legislative level State Rep. Sam Jenkins says his House district within the city of Shreveport is compact enough that he would have noticed stores closing and h Apart from the increase in minority populations, the trend most apparent in the decennial U.S. Census are the losses in rural areas and gains in urban regions. A Crowley Republican, Stefanskis 42nd House District has 37,368 people, which is 6,992 shy of the necessary population for a House seat. The mostly rural 42nd likely will have to pick up population from nearby urban districts to reach the legal requirement. Theres an argument to be made that if you live in a rural community, you feel like youve been evaporated. There is a strong sentiment to make sure rural communities have a strong identity, said Stefanski. He likely will be running for state attorney general next year so wont go to the mattresses trying to fill the 42nd with voters who support him as representative. There are a number of colleagues, including myself, where it is probably less about them personally and more about the communities, Stefanski said. Throughout history, District 42 has been a Lafayette and south Acadia Parish district. You want to keep communities that have always been together, together, he concluded. At the same time, you have to follow the numbers and the law. Thats the rub. The earth will move again as production of Hollywood TV series La Brea is to return to Australia for a second big-budget, effects-driven season. The high-octane adventure show about a sinkhole that opens up near the famous La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles, creating a portal to the same location in 10,000 BC debuted on NBC last September and has to date been watched by more than 47 million viewers in the States. The network commissioned a second season in November, before the first had even finished airing. Eoin Macken as Gavin Harris and Zyra Gorecki as Izzy Harris in season one of La Brea. Credit:Sarah Enticknap/NBC The show was filmed in Victoria between May and September last year, attracted by a combination of tax incentives and Australias success (at the time) in keeping COVID-19 case numbers low. NBC Universal senior vice-president of production Richard Ross told this masthead last May that the savings from shooting in Australia due to lighter COVID protocols alone amounted to about $300,000 per episode. Top lawyers have warned that a proposal by the federal government to change defamation laws in an attempt to target online trolls is likely to increase legal costs, waste court time and make it harder to get defamatory posts removed. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Attorney-General Michaelia Cash announced in November that they would amend defamation laws, traditionally a state and territory responsibility, to provide an easy and quick way for people to complain to social media platforms and have allegedly defamatory material taken down. Scott Morrison and Michaelia Cash announced the defamation proposal last year. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen, Getty Images They said the proposal would also help people unmask anonymous commenters, whom they dubbed trolls, as the first step to suing them for defamation. In a submission to the federal government, top defamation barristers including Sue Chrysanthou, SC, say the draft bill bears no relationship to the governments stated objectives and offers platforms immunity not accountability. TAFE teachers have warned that thousands of students are facing enrolment difficulties and delays in starting a range of upgraded courses due to changes in national regulations. Students waiting to enrol in a diploma course in sound production, for example, were told last week courses would start in March, rather than in February as they were promised. An email from TAFE NSW said: This is a courtesy email to let you know that we are definitely offering the Diploma Sound Production in Sem 1, 2022, however it will be starting at the beginning of March. This was a TAFE NSW decision across the state. Steffen Faurby, former managing director of TAFE NSW, warned there would be delays to courses starting this year. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Newcastle student Amy, who did not want her surname published, told the Herald she was disappointed when she received the email on January 18 after being told enrolment for the course would open in late December or early January. After she contacted the Newcastle TAFE campus she was told the course would be starting later than originally planned. Just after he became Prime Minister, Scott Morrison launched a predictable defence of leaving Australia Day where it was he condemned indulgent self-loathing. Then, in what at first seemed a nod towards greater complexity than usually allowed by those making this argument, he proposed another day should be used to honour Indigenous Australians, but said, That is a topic for another day. Illustration by Jim Pavlidis Credit: At the time, Morrison was prodded on this but had no answers. The proposal was vague; he could not even say whether it would be a public holiday. When he said it was a topic for another day, he had clearly meant it. Three and a half years later, that day has still not arrived. The proposal had problems. Morrison did not seem to mean the day as a recognition of past wrongs, but as a day of celebration and respect. As some pointed out at the time, this left the impression and impressions are important, when it comes to symbols that what was on offer was a kind of segregated set of occasions: one day to celebrate Indigenous people and another to celebrate everyone else. This also left the issue of truth-telling unaddressed. The fact Morrisons idea has never really resurfaced, then, is no bad thing. But there is something strange about the whole episode. A bold proposal was put forward by a prime minister. He is still in power, and has not made that many other bold proposals that might distract us. And yet, neither Morrison nor most of the rest of us have ever returned to the idea. This should feel surprising, but somehow does not. Families with immunocompromised members say they have been left at risk by the governments COVID-19 back-to-school plan, which they have criticised as light on detail and low on options. Northcote mother Kate Ellis said on Sunday she felt completely invisible after the announcement. Kate Ellis with her partner Peter Long and 13-year-old son Henry. Credit:Chris Hopkins Ms Ellis has cystic fibrosis. Her oldest son Hugo, 18, is staying with a family friend to decrease the risk of transmitting COVID-19 to his mother during his final high school year, but there is no option to isolate from her younger son Henry, 13, due to the single bathroom in her home. Listening to the press conference, my main reaction was that I just couldnt believe there was no mention of families who have family members with vulnerabilities ... I felt completely invisible, she said. I feel incredibly nervous. I think that we all know that Omicron is out of this world in terms of its virulence. As debate rages in Western Australia over the downfalls of holding off the inevitable spread of Omicron at a time when vaccination rates are high, the Australian Nursing Federation is calling for fast-tracked solutions to the states crippled hospital system. It has partly succeeded in getting healthcare workers expedited into WA quarantine ahead of February 5, but wants a more streamlined approvals process. WAs hospital system has recruited up to 200 healthcare workers to help tackle Omicron. Credit:Michele Mossop ANF WA secretary Mark Olson said it would only take a simple form that could be filled out by WA nurse managers, then signed off by hospital chief executives, which could be taken straight to the police department. So that when people are applying for their G2G pass, it is as simple and straightforward as possible for them to be accepted under the specialist skills not available in Western Australia, he said. Australians hoping to book a holiday in Europe may be locked out after the European Council advised member states to block visitors from Australia, which it singled out as a COVID danger zone due to surging Omicron case numbers. The directive, which applies regardless of vaccination status, means people wanting to undertake non-essential travel to Europe from Australia could face restrictions ranging from a total ban on entry to having to quarantine or face extra testing requirements. Australians hoping to book a European holiday have been put on notice. Credit:AP Cyprus, Greece and Italy dissented from the European Councils decision to ban Australian travellers. The European Council listed Australia, Canada and Argentina as COVID-19 hotspots in its official directive, issued as countries in Europe prepare to ease travel restrictions for countries on the so-called EU white list. Overseeing a small island dominated by a castle, seals and a pub, an English council is searching for a new king or queen. Claimants to the ancient throne, carved from old oak and soaked in the beer of coronations past, can apply for the job through the local governments website. The job listing, posted this week by the Barrow Borough Council in Cumbria, is technically seeking someone to run the pub on Piel Island, half a mile off Englands north-western coast. Winters are wet, travel is limited and an eccentric tradition of naming a king survives at the islands old pub. Piel Island is seeking applicants for a king or queen to reign over the remote island, and to look after its pub. Credit:Alamy Were not talking about St Lucia or the Hawaiian islands, said John Murphy, a 73-year-old resident of nearby Walney Island, and the guide of walking tours of the area for four decades. Were talking about a small and very isolated island in the north of England. Kyiv/London: The UK has followed the US in ordered the families of embassy staff in Ukraine to leave the country amid heightened fears of a Russian invasion. While other European nations ruled out any embassy withdrawals, NATO has put extra forces on standby and will send more ships and fighter jets to eastern Europe. NATO said that its beefing up its deterrence presence in the Baltic Sea area. A number of members of the 30-country military organisation have offered troops and equipment. Denmark is sending a frigate to the Baltic Sea and deploying F-16 war planes to Lithuania. Spain is sending ships to join NATOs standing maritime force and considering sending fighter jets to Bulgaria. France stands ready to send troops to Bulgaria, NATO said. NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to protect and defend all Allies, including by reinforcing the eastern part of the Alliance. We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, including through strengthening our collective defence, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement. Regional Editor Brett Rowland has worked as a reporter in newsrooms in Illinois and Wisconsin. He most recently served as news editor of the Northwest Herald in Crystal Lake, Illinois. He previously held the same position at the Daily Chronicle in DeKalb. Towanda, PA (18848) Today Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 66F. SSW winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Click the image to the left and log in to get your exclusive reader perks. In this special episode, we sat down with China economic analyst Antonio Graceffo and Paz Gomez, a researcher at Impunity Observer. They talk about the first female president in Hondurus, how that could change diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and how the Chinese regimes economic stake in Latin America ripples over into the United States. Graceffo said, One of the things that China is doing thats very clever is that theyre going right to the tree. When you want to find a good apple, you go right to the tree. So one of the things theyre doing is theyre offering scholarships for students, police, and military, but theyre taking junior officers, young people. So they go to China, theyll have a good experience, and theyll alwaysmaybe learn to speak Chineseand then theyll always be somewhat pro-China. So China will slowly and organically grow support in those countries from China. And then they produce mega projects in these countries through the Belt and Road Initiative and through other programs. So basically, these programs work like this: China will come and build a very highly visible infrastructure project, they will loan the host country the money to pay for the project, the host company country will then use the money to pay Chinese companies to build the project. Gomez said, As China gains more influence in [manufacturing and infrastructure] projects in [South America], they are also kind of removing key points for the United States. Not because the United States have been intervening, like, explicitly in the countries, but because at the end, if something happens in a geopolitical situation, the logical allies of the United States were the Latin American countries. If they have a commitment with other countries, it will be more difficult for these countries to say, for example, Honduras in the case that they decide to go with China, it is going to be more difficult to say, Yeah, I logically support the United States, I logically support their republican democratic system, because they have some commitments with China. Watch the full episode online. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China. For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter. Husband Dies in Texas Hospital After Legal Fight to Get Him Transferred Anne Quiners husband Scott died in an undisclosed Texas hospital on Jan. 22 after Anne sought legal counsel to have him transferred out of Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, where doctors planned to take Scott off life support. We got him too late in the process, Quiners lawyer, Marjorie Holsten, told The Epoch Times. We should have gotten him sooner. He was malnourished, dehydrated, and 30 pounds underweight. Holsten said that doctors in Texas reported that they were shocked by Scotts depleted condition when he finally arrived. Doctors at Mercy Hospital told Quiner they were taking Scott off his ventilator because they believed he would not recover due to what they said were his destroyed lungs from COVID pneumonia, and that their attempts at decreasing sedation only caused him pain. Anne is devastated, Holsten said. Quiner had told The Epoch Times that she began to question Mercy Hospitals medical plan for Scott, who was admitted for COVID-19 complications in November, when they refused alternative treatments while keeping him on sedatives and the opioid fentanyl. Her petitions for alternative treatments, as well as to keep Scott on a ventilator, had been met with contempt, Quiner said. In addition, Quiner had been experiencing discrimination from the hospital because of Scotts unvaccinated status, she said. She had received several random phone calls from people stating they hope Scott dies; he should have gotten vaccinated, Quiner said. Quiner said some doctors at Mercy Hospital expressed disdain for his unvaccinated status, as heard in one phone call Quiner recorded in which a doctor stated, Unfortunately, if we could turn back time and he had gotten the vaccine, then he wouldnt be here. The recording of this conversation that Quiner uploaded on YouTube has now been removed for what YouTube said was a violation of community guidelines. Quiner has not disclosed where in Texas Scott was transferred because of the phone calls she had received and the negative media reports, she said. Scott contracted the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus in October and was hospitalized at Mercy Hospital in November. When doctors notified Quiner that they would be taking Scott off the ventilator on Jan. 13, Anne contacted Minnesota State Rep. Shane Mekeland, who then contacted Stew Peters of The Stew Peters Show. Quiner went on his show to discuss her situation, then Peters and his audience called Mercy Hospital by the thousands, Quiner said, which led to the hospital shutting down its phone lines. Our audience flooded the hospital and Frederickson & Byron Law Firm (the firm that represents Mercy Hospital) with calls, making them all aware that the world was watching, Peters told The Epoch Times previously. The Stew Peters Show put together a group that coordinated with a doctor to take Scotts case at the hospital he was transferred to on Jan. 15. Holsten filed a motion for a temporary restraining order that prevented the hospital from taking Scott off the ventilator. Mercy Hospital then hired its own law firm that objected to the temporary restraining order on the basis that Holsten and Quiners position isnt supported by medical science. Because of this, Mercy Hospital requested that the court issue an order authorizing the hospital to take Scott off the ventilator. The judge sided with Holsten, issuing the order based on the standard that irreparable harm would result if not issued, Holsten said. Both Holsten and Quiner said that doctors in Texas were horrified by Scotts condition when he arrived. One doctor said he didnt know how Scott made it out of that hospital alive, Quiner said. He looked at his chart and said, I cant believe the heavy sedating drugs they put him on. Allina Health, the hospital system encompassing Mercy Hospital, previously told The Epoch Times that it has great confidence in the exceptional care provided to our patients, which is administered according to evidence-based practices by our talented and compassionate medical teams. Due to patient privacy, we cannot comment on care provided to specific patients. It wished the patient and his family well. After Scotts arrival in Texas on Jan. 20, Holsten said that Scott became responsive and began making tremendous progress. Holsten said the Quiner family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time. If you like to loll on magnificent beaches, visit Aruba. When seeking immersion in a fascinating multiracial culture, think Aruba. Want to combine a long list of activities with an otherworldly moonscape setting? Yes, Aruba. This tiny Caribbean island more than makes up in appeal what it lacks in size. Many people go there for the beacheslong stretches of white sand shaded by towering palm treesthat are rated high among those throughout the world. The water that laps them ranges from turquoise to deep blue and serves as the playground for a long list of activities. Jet skis and motorboats zip back and forth offshore. Sailboats catch the breeze and excursion vessels offer ersatz pirate cruises and other seaborne experiences. Inland, the scenery changes dramatically. There Aruba presents an arid extraterrestrial landscape of rock-strewn desert pocked by towering cacti. Some goats graze in fenced fields while not far away their cousins roam free. Many visitors spend their time at seaside resorts, but the islands interiorwhat I call the real Arubaoffers much to enjoy. My introduction to the long list of places to visit began at the Aloe Museum and Factory. After watching men use machetes to cut aloe plants growing in fields around the museum building, I was surprised to learn about the many ways theyre used in medicines and cosmetics. Workers at the Aloe Museum and Factory in Aruba use machetes to harvest aloe. (Victor Block) Ancient chapters of Arubas past come alive in Arikok National Park, an ecological preserve that sprawls over nearly one-fifth of the island. The park attracts some of the 230-plus species of birds that reside on Aruba or pass through during their migratory journeys to North and South America. Ancient caves dotted about Arikok recall the time when only natives lived in Aruba. Crude brownish-red drawings that they made on the walls and ceilings are said to date back to about 1000 B.C. The Arawaks were on Aruba when the Spanish claimed it in 1499. Great Britain and Holland later gained control, and it has remained a relative of the Netherlands for most of the time since 1636. This background, and close proximity to South America, account for the melting pot of people who make up Arubas population. Many of them speak some English, and thatalong with the islands reputation as welcoming and safe for visitorshelps to explain its popularity among Americans. The locals truly exemplify the motto One happy island. The capital of Aruba is Oranjestad (locals say orahn-yuh-staad), a low-rise setting over which towering cruise ships loom when theyre in port. Some of the hotels, restaurants, and shops display the whimsical shapes and subtle pastel colors of Dutch colonial architecture. Other hints of the islands connection with that country include signs in Dutch identifying the names of streets and items on the menus of restaurants that would be at home in the Netherlands. The oldest structure on Aruba is Fort Zoutman, which was built from 1796 to 1798 to ward off pirates. A turret was added later to serve as a lighthouse. Another landmark is the Old Windmill (De Oude Molen), which was built in the Netherlands in 1804 and used to drain water from that countrys lowlands and grind grain. After suffering damage from storms, the windmill was disassembled, shipped to Aruba and reassembled. The Old Windmill in Aruba was first built in the Netherlands, then taken apart and reassembled in Aruba. (Victor Block) A good way to take in many of the sights in Aruba is to join a guided excursion. De Palm Tours is the proverbial king of the island in terms of variety and quality. Its offerings range from trips in comfortable buses to self-drive off-road outings and from catamaran snorkeling itineraries to sunset sails. The company even has its own island, which offers a water park, banana-boat rides, guided snorkeling tours, and beaches. Add-on activities include underwater walks wearing a diving helmet for face-to-face meetings with sea life and SNUBA swims through coral formations, breathing through a regulator to avoid having to surface. While January through March is the peak visitation period, the weather in Aruba doesnt vary much throughout the year. Fall and early winter are the rainy season, but that usually means a shower that stops after a few minutes. Accommodations run the gamut from high-rise hotels and small luxury resorts to all-inclusive properties and villas. If the culture of destinations may be experienced when dining at restaurants, that certainly applies to Aruba. Along with fresh-from-the-sea fish, many menu items merge Caribbean, Dutch, South American, and international cuisine with local touches. Dining often is outdoors and portions are large, so my wife and I usually shared an entree. Whether enjoying close-up encounters with fish, exploring a diverse and different landscape, or delving into an enticing history and multicultural lifestyle, the choices leave visitors wondering how so many alternatives share such a small plot of land. When You Go For more information: Aruba.com Victor Block is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at Creators.com. Copyright 2022 Creators.com Secretary of State Antony Blinken listens as President Joe Biden speaks during a conference call on Sept. 17, 2021, in Washington. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images) Biden Administration Vows Severe Response If Single Additional Russian Force Enters Ukraine Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Jan. 23 said the United States would initiate a swift and severe response if Russias military enters Ukraine. If a single additional Russian force goes into Ukraine in an aggressive way, as I said, that would trigger a swift, a severe, and a united response from us and from Europe, Blinken said in response to a question about sanctions during a CNN interview on Jan. 23. He didnt elaborate on what the response would be. His comment came as tens of thousands of Russian troops have amassed near Russias border with Ukraine in recent days amid fears that Moscow is planning to invade its neighbor. In 2014, Russia used its military forces to annex the Crimean Peninsula, a move that drew sanctions from then-President Barack Obama. Moscow has long said that it has no plans to invade Ukraine. While the United States said it has engaged in diplomacy with Russia in a bid to ease tensions, no breakthroughs have occurred. Blinken said that while its preferable to use diplomatic means, other measures are on the table. At this point the choice is Vladimir Putins and there, the paths are clear: diplomacy, dialogue, seeing if we can build collective security in a way that is good for everyone is clearly the preferable path, but were prepared, Blinken told CNN on Jan. 23. His comments came days after President Joe Biden publicly discussed the possibility of tolerating a minor incursion by Russia in Ukraine. Biden later attempted to clarify his remark by saying Moscow will pay a heavy price if the country is invaded. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News on Jan. 23 that Blinken made a much stronger statement than Bidens comments. However, he argued that the Biden administration should go a step further. If theres room for doubt, if there is space, Vladimir Putin will drive a truck through that gap, Pompeo said. Russia would also face severe economic sanctions by the UK if it installs a puppet regime in Ukraine, British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said during a Sky News interview on Jan. 23, citing a UK foreign ministry report on the countrys plans that was scant on evidence. Therell be very serious consequences if Russia takes this move to try and invade but also install a puppet regime, Raab said. The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed Raabs comments as disinformation, accusing the UK and NATO of escalating tensions. The historical stereotype of oppressed women strapped into suffocating corsets is being challenged by research suggesting they may have been more comfortable than contemporary bras. The controversial take has been put forward by Australian academic Dr. Sarah Bendall, the author of a new book Shaping Femininity: Foundation Garments, the Body and Women in Early Modern England. The Australian Catholic University researcher based in Sydney says corsets were far less restrictive than people think and their main advantage was in providing breast support before bras were invented. For some women at least, she says they were probably more comfy than todays brassieres with their straps and underwires. They supported the whole torso, so they didnt cut into the back, Bendall says. For big-breasted women, that is probably more comfortable than a modern bra. Bendall concedes its not possible to directly compare contemporary notions of comfort with those experienced by women of yesteryear. Womens bodies were different with large numbers of pregnancies and extended breast-feeding. Todays clothing designers also have access to materials such as stretch fabrics and techniques like princess seams, that give shape and comfort, and werent available to previous generations. However historical women were not mere fashion victims or slaves to male ideas of the body, Bendall says. Corsets were not silly garments worn by silly women. They were not always boned or tightly laced and they were not just instruments of oppression. The foundation garments women wore in this period tell a story of female agency and shape Western perceptions of the female body to this day. To get some sense of what it was like to wear 17th century corsets and undergarments like farthingales, busks and bum rolls, Bendall made her own based on patterns created from those which have survived the period. She wore them or gave them to models who fitted the designs and then interviewed the wearers. Womens embodied experience is largely absent from the literature, so historians have relied on mens voices, the material culture historian said. These men were often ridiculing womens fashion or using it to make a moral point about these silly women who wear these ridiculous garments. Even the second wave feminists of the 1970s who focused on womens experience and saw these garments as an example of male oppression were relying on what men had written for their sources. From a modern perspective, corsets are probably not the most comfortable thing to wear, Bendall says. But they were no more restrictive than high heels. Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh arrives for a Great Chanting Ceremony at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, on March 16, 2007. (AP Photo) Buddhist Monk Who Popularized Mindfulness in the West Dies at Age 95 Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, who popularized mindfulness in the West, has died at the age of 95, his Zen teaching organization announced on Jan. 22. The peace activist and meditation master passed away peacefully at Tu Hieu Temple in Hue, Vietnam, at midnight on Jan. 22, according to the Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhisms statement. We invite our beloved global spiritual family to take a few moments to be still, to come back to our mindful breathing, as we together hold [teacher] in our hearts, the organization said. Born as Nguyen Xuan Bao in 1926 in Hue, Nhat Hanh was ordained as a monk at age 16. He traveled to the United States to teach comparative religion at Princeton and Columbia universities in 1961. According to Plum Villages website, Nhat Hanh founded a grassroots relief organization of 10,000 volunteers based on Buddhist principles of non-violence and compassion. He also founded a Buddhist university, a publishing house, and an influential peace activist magazine. He traveled to the United States and Europe in 1966 to call for an end to hostilities in Vietnam, during which he met U.S. civil rights leader Martin Luther King, who nominated him for the Nobel Prize a year later due to his efforts to promote reconciliation between the U.S.-backed South and communist North Vietnam. Following his mission to call an end to the Vietnam-American War, Nhat Hanh refused to take sides in the conflict and was subsequently banished from his homeland, forcing Nhat Hanh to live in exile for 39 years. He was only allowed back into the country in 2005, when the communist-ruled government welcomed him back in the first of several visits. Nhat Hanh remained based in southern France. Nhat Hanh had a stroke in 2014 that left him unable to speak. He returned to Vietnam in October 2018, spending his final years at the Tu Hieu Pagoda, the monastery where he was ordained nearly 80 years earlier. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) China Continues Suppression of Falun Gong, With 16,413 Arrests and Harassment Cases Confirmed in 2021: Report The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continued arresting and harassing Falun Gong adherents during 2021, as part of its nationwide suppression campaign launched more than two decades ago against the spiritual discipline. According to a report from Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that tracks the persecution of Falun Gong in China, 5,886 arrests and 10,527 harassment cases of practitioners were confirmed in 2021. However, out of the cases reported in 2021, 841 arrests had occurred in 2020, while 7 cases of harassment took place in 2016, and 1,275 in 2020, but had not been previously confirmed because of difficulties to obtain information from China due to the CCPs heavy censorship. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline involving meditative exercises and moral teachings based on three core principles: truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. The practice gained popularity in China during the 1990s, with estimates putting the number of adherents at 70 million to 100 million. The communist regime, fearing the number of practitioners posed a threat to its authoritarian control, initiated a sweeping campaign to suppress the practice and its adherences in July 1999. Since then, millions have been detained inside prisons, labor camps, and other facilities, with hundreds of thousands tortured while incarcerated, according to the Falun Dafa Info Center. Thousands have been confirmed dead as a result of torture and abuse under detention, though this number is likely to represent the tip of the iceberg, experts say, due to the extreme difficulty in verifying information from China. One of the CCPs strategies to eradicate the practice includes subjecting practitioners to torture and brainwashing in a bid to force them to renounce their faith. The CCPs systemic campaign of repression against Falun Gong practitioners has been labeled a cold genocide by experts, due to the regimes gradual and persistent efforts to annihilate the faith group over the past two decades. This term is used in contradistinction to a hot genocide which aims to eliminate a group in a short period. As reported by Minghui, in 2021 a peak of arrests and harassment cases occurred between April and June, as part of the continuation the CCPs Zero-Out campaign, a zero-tolerance policy towards Falun Gong that first appeared in southwest Chinas Guizhou Province in March 2020 and then spread to other provinces. The campaign consists of harassing blacklisted practitioners one by one, to have them renounce their faith. The peak also coincides with two important dates for Falun Gong practitioners: World Falun Dafa Day on May 13; and the anniversary of practitioners peaceful protest outside the Chinese Communist Party headquarters in Beijing on April 25, 1999, when they appealed to authorities for the right to practice their faith freely. This appeal occurred months before the CCP launched the persecution. Arrests and harassment escalate around these dates in order to hinder practitioners efforts to spread the word about the persecution, says Minghui. Such was the case for 13 practitioners arrested in Suzhou city of eastern Chinas Jiangsu Province, on May 10, 2021, plus two that went missing on the same day whose arrests were later confirmed. The authorities did not give information on the adherents whereabouts to their families. On Oct. 23, 2021, Minghui reported that 14 of those Falun Gong adherents were still held under detention in a secret hotel-turned- brainwashing center, where they were subjected to physical and verbal abuse aimed at forcing them to renounce their beliefs, according to information obtained by the detainees families from an insider. Brainwashing centers have recently re-emerged in China to detain practitioners who refuse to renounce Falun Gong despite harassment under the Zero-out campaign, according to Minghui. Nine new centers opened in Wuhan, adding to the 60 already-existent ones, states the report. In one of those new centers Falun Gong adherents were confined in dark rooms, made to watch videos that slander their spiritual practice and were subjected to sleep deprivation, while others started hunger strikes but were force-fed. Current Literature Market Is Woke From Top to Bottom: Heroes of Liberty Editor Heroes of Liberty Editor Bethany Mandel says her companys books provide parents with a much-needed choice for wholesome, pro-America stories in what is currently a progressive childrens literature market. Mandel told American Thought Leaders host Jan Jekielek that the Heroes of Liberty project was started because we saw a hole in the market (for), wholesome patriotic, pro-America, really educational books for children that were captivating. Mandel is a writer, history major, and mother of five who homeschools with a literature-based curriculum. The childrens book industry, as it stands now, is extremely woke, Mandel said, referring to books focused on racial justice, equity, and inclusion, terms often used by advocates of critical race theory (CRT), a quasi-Marxist school of thought that claims that the United States is systemically racist. CRT promotes a curriculum that advocates for critiquing social problems through the lens of racial struggle, and claims that racism is inherent in the foundational values of Western societies. It seeks to fundamentally transform social institutions in the name of ending this racial oppression. Opponents say the ideology has been promoted in schools through training and programs on equity and other topics given to teachers and students. While schools have for years been quietly infusing CRT into their curriculums, it wasnt until the lockdowns were enacted in response to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, that parents were able to see what their children were being taught. Since then, parents have been stepping forward to oppose CRT due to its racially divisive, sexually explicit, and anti-American concepts. People hold up signs during a rally against critical race theory (CRT) being taught in schools at the Loudoun County Government center in Leesburg, Virginia, on June 12, 2021. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Its a pretty toxic way to raise a child to either peg them as victim or victimizer, and all of those things come with emotional baggage, said Mandel about the books used to teach CRT. A white 4yearold boy is not a victimizer, and a black 4yearold girl is not a victimthey are equal humans. Theres a new picture book out The ABCs of AOC. So, A is for activist, B is for the Bronx, and theres all of that very overt indoctrination, but I think whats more damaging is the very subtle indoctrination. The first three books in the Heroes of Liberty series tell the story of three conservative leaders, economist Thomas Sowell, president Ronald Reagan, and Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Mandel said parents will not have to preview these books to ensure they are appropriate for their young children to hear or read. Im happy with a book that I dont have to filter in any way and that I can just read to my kids. Thomas Sowell would probably be the best example of the first three, Mandel said. You learn about Jim Crow and civil rights, and you follow him through his life of what it was like to be a black American from when he was born until the present day. She said the idea is not to preach to children, but to give them the full story about each persons life and let the reader see how they each took responsibility for their life. Thomas Sowell in 2018 at the Hoover Institute. (Hoover Institute/YouTube) One of the things parents across the country have been objecting to is that the curriculum in their childrens schools are teaching them to see themselves as either victim or victimizer and that America is fundamentally a bad country. In other instances, parents are objecting to sexually explicit or irrational concepts of gender being taught. Public school teachers see it as their job because these knuckle-dragging, bigoted parents are not going to introduce these topics to their children, Mandel said of a teacher she recently spoke to concerning the teaching of topics like gender and racial justice. Mandel said the book on Justice Barrett highlights her role as a mother as well as a Supreme Court justice. She said appreciation for motherhood is missing from mainstream childrens books and that is what the book on Barrett showcases. The Heroes of Liberty series purposefully emphasizes the illustrations in the books, but finding an artist to do the drawings was so challenging they ended up hiring the artists from countries like Bulgaria and Brazil. Folks were interested until they heard who they were illustrating, and then when they heard they were illustrating books about Amy Coney Barrett and Ronald Reagan and Thomas Sowell, they were like, Im actually really busy for the next six months and cant illustrate any of those books for you,' Mandel said. And what it came down to was they were afraid being canceled, they were afraid that illustrating conservative books would sort of pigeonhole them and hurt their careers in the long term. Her company has also run into barriers on social media. When their Facebook advertising page was up, she said, we had a lot of negative comments [from those on the left], calling Ronald Reagan a war criminal and a fascist and Amy Coney Barrett a gender traitor to womankind.' She added that they likely reported the page to Facebook higher-ups, who overwhelmingly share their political stance. After the page was subsequently shut down, Mandel contacted Fox News. The exposure from various news reports on Facebooks censorship has since put the company back on track. Heroes of Liberty has moved to a subscription model to avoid future censorship issues. Masooma Haq Follow Masooma Haq began reporting for The Epoch Times from Pakistan in 2008. She currently covers a variety of topics including U.S. government, culture, and entertainment. Russian army's self-propelled howitzers fire during military drills near Orenburg in the Urals, Russia, on Dec. 16, 2021. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP) Deeply Concerning, Says US After UK Alleges That Russia Plans to Install Pro-Kremlin Leader in Ukraine The White House has called a UK government assessment that Russia is seeking to replace Ukraines government with a pro-Russian administration deeply concerning, and said that it stands with the duly elected Ukrainian government. This kind of plotting is deeply concerning, said U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne. The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine. UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement in the early hours of Sunday: We have information that indicates the Russian Government is looking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine. The former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate. Murayev is head of the small pro-Russian party Nashi, which currently holds no seats in Ukraines parliament. The British foreign ministry did not provide evidence to explain its assessment. The office also named four Ukrainian politicians it said has links with the Russian intelligence services. They include Serhiy Arbuzov, Andriy Kluyev, Vladimir Sivkovich, and Mykola Azarov, who all formerly served in Ukraines leadership. Some of these have contact with Russian intelligence officers currently involved in the planning for an attack on Ukraine, the UK government alleged of the individuals. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss at Admiralty House, in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 21, 2022. (Bianca De Marchi/Pool/Getty Images) The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking, Truss said in a statement. Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy. As the UK and our partners have said repeatedly, any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs. The UK government said it unequivocally support[s] [Ukraines] sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, including Crimea. In 2014, Russian troops seized and annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Shortly after, Russia began supporting separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine; the ongoing war has killed over 13,000 people since. Top U.S. and Russian diplomats on Jan. 21 failed to make a major breakthrough in talks to resolve the crisis over Ukraine, but they agreed to continue talks. A convoy of Russian armored vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea on Jan. 18, 2022. (AP Photo) Russia has sent an estimated 100,000 troops with tanks and other heavy weapons to its borders with Ukraines northeastleading to fears of an invasionbut denies it is planning an attack. The amassing of troops and weapons is believed by the West to be preparation for a war to prevent Ukraine from joining the NATO Western security alliance. Russia recently demanded written guarantees that NATO will give up any military activity in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as promise that Ukraine will never be added as a member, but member countries have refused to make such promises. The United Kingdom recently sent 2,000 anti-tank missile launchers in the airlifts to Ukraine, alongside 30 elite troops to provide training, in efforts to support the government in Kyiv against a potential Russian attack. Several other NATO members have also signaled support for Ukraines defense in various initiatives, from providing weaponry and troops, to training and offering loans. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Did I Predict the Global Financial Crisis? Commentary The 2008 recession, known as the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) outside the USA and the Great Recession inside, was the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression, and before the COVID-19 recession. It was also caused by the financial sectorwhich is obviously a part of the economyrather than by an exogenous shock (something emanating from outside the economy, like COVID-19). And yet almost all economists were taken completely by surprise by it: the vast majority had expected that 2008 would be a fabulous year. The OECDs confident prognostication in June 2007 is an outstanding example of what most economists thought was going to happen in 2008: The current economic situation is in many ways better than what we have experienced in years . Our central forecast remains indeed quite benign sustained growth in OECD economies would be underpinned by strong job creation and falling unemployment (Achieving Further Rebalancing, OECD 2007). Two months later, the crisis began. Im one of a handful of economists to claim to have seen It coming, because, unlike the mainstream, I worry about private sector debt. In 2007, the level of debt was too high, and its rate of growth was also too high. I expected that a recession would occur when the rate of growth of debt dropped significantlyand especially if it turned negative. You might think that mainstream economists would welcome alternatives that got right what they got so spectacularly wrongin which case, you would also be spectacularly wrong! The universal reaction of mainstream economists to the claims of heterodox economists to have seen the crisis coming was to disparage and belittle their intellectual rivals. As the most prominent economist to claim to have warned of the crisis, I cop this a lot. The latest instance occurred during a discussion of my new book The New Economics: A Manifesto (Polity Books, 2022), with my fellow heterodox economist Ann Pettifor and the mainstream economist Peter Bofinger. Peter and I had a very heated exchange about 57-and-a-half minutes into the seminar, in which he claimed (a) that I predicted a crisis for Australia, but Australia didnt have one, and (b) a paper by me claiming to predict the Global Financial Crisis was written after it had already started. I replied vociferously that he was wrong on both counts. It is often said of academic conflicts that the disputes are so acrimonious because the stakes are so smalla storm in a teacup. But this storm is over whether it is possible to predict economic tsunamis in the real world. So, the question of whether or not a crisis can be predictedand, with better economic policy, preventedmatters a great deal. Ironically, Peters attempt to prove that I didnt predict the crisis pointed to the best evidence that I didand also, that I explained how Australia could avoid one. This was an Australian government inquiry into home lending, which cited my submission (pdf) (which was written between July 18 and 25), in which I said that I expected a recession to occur when the rate of growth of private debt fell: 6.17 Associate Professor Steve Keen believes that reduced lending standards and increased household debt will not exacerbate an economic downturn, but instead cause a downturn. Associate Professor Keen asserted: At some point the ratio of debt to GDP must at least stabilise, and that when it does, the economy will go into recessionunless a substantial external stimulus counteracts the depressing impact of a debt correction. At their public hearing, which coincidentally was held on the very day that the crisis began (Aug. 10, 2007, New York time, when the BNP shut down three funds based on the U.S. Subprime Housing Market), the inquiry asked the Reserve Bank of Australia to comment on my argument: 6.18 These conclusions were rejected by the RBA during the roundtable 6.19 Chris Aylmer of the RBA stated: A slowdown in credit growth does not necessarily lead to a marked slowing in consumption and an economic downturn. In mainstream economic theory credit doesnt matter, but in the real world, yes it does! Credit in the USA fell from 15 percent of GDP in 2006 to minus 5 percent in 2009, and this set off the deepest downturn in America since the end of World War II. However, in Australia, while credit fell substantiallyfrom 23 percent to 2.5 percent of GDPit did not turn negative. Growth slowed down markedly, but Australia did not experience a recession. Chart showing credit (the annual change in private debt) as a percentage of GDP. (BIS) Australia prevented a recession, as I said that it could, via a substantial external stimulus. Australias chief economic bureaucrat advised the government to go hard, go early, go households, and thats precisely what it did. It gave every taxpayer an AU$1,000 tax rebate, to encourage immediate spending. It undertook numerous spending programs of its ownincluding insulating houses for free, and building school meeting halls across the country. Most effectively of all, it restarted Australias housing bubble, by giving first home buyers grants of up to AU$34,000. This easily covered as much as 10 to 15 percent of the purchase price of a new house. So yes, I predicted the crisis, and yes, I explained how Australia could avoid it as wellthough the policies Australias government followed had the side effect of giving Australia the second-highest level of household debt in the world today. But thats just the storm in the teacup. The important point is that economic tsunamis like the GFC can be avoided, by controlling how much credit banks create. Were not likely to do this, unfortunately, because, despite their failure to see the crisis coming, conventional economic thinkerslike Peter Bofinger, and the Reserve Bank of Australia economist who assured the committee that a slowdown in credit wouldnt have a significant impact on the economystill dominate how politicians think about the economy. They refuse to learn the lesson of history, that credit matters. And while they continue to do so, well continue running into economic crises that no-one saw coming. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Dont Believe the Medical Bankruptcy Narrative Commentary Americans collectively have about $140 billion in outstanding medical debts, according to a recent study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association. Those hefty bills are driving many people into bankruptcyat least according to prominent progressives. Left-wing leaders have long stoked fears of medical bankruptcy to boost support for government-run, single-payer healthcare. During his last run for president, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) declared that enormous medical bills force a staggering 500,000 people to declare bankruptcy each yeara fact that, if true, would justify drastic reforms to the healthcare system. But the dystopian portrait painted by Sanders and his allies doesnt reflect reality. Medical bills can certainly be onerous to many families. But theyre rarely the sole, or even the main, cause of personal bankruptcies. Sanders based his numbers on a 2019 editorial published by the American Journal of Public Health. The authors conducted a study in which about two-thirds of the 700,000 debtors surveyed said medical expenses contributed somewhat or very much to their bankruptcy. Thats not exactly a direct, causal relationship. A more accurate conclusion would be that medical expenses played a role in families deteriorating finances. Often, the main cause of bankruptcy isnt a surge in debtits a precipitous drop in income. Someone diagnosed with cancer may certainly face burdensome medical bills. But the far bigger threat to ones finances comes from no longer being able to work full-timeor at allduring a treatment regimen. Other research confirms that healthcare bills alone rarely drive people into bankruptcy. A 2018 study in the New England Journal of Medicine analyzed the percentage of people with medical bills who went bankrupt, rather than how many bankruptcy filings included some level of medical debt. The study concluded that medical bankruptcies, specifically those caused by hospitalization, make up just 4 percent of all bankruptcies. Facts like these havent slowed the push for single payer. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, seized upon the JAMA studys $140 billion statistic soon after it was published, tweeting that the solution was Medicare for All. The thinking goes that enrolling most Americans in a fully government-run healthcare system funded by tax dollarsrather than the current mix of public and private moneywill prevent people from going bankrupt. But once again, the math doesnt check out. Government-sponsored, single-payer healthcare isnt free. Its funded by enormous, broad-based taxes on businesses and workers alike. Those taxes constrain economic growth and, by definition, leave people with less cash on hand to meet their other financial obligations. Consider Canada, which has a single-payer system revered by American progressives. A family making the average income of 75,300 Canadian dollarsabout US$59,700pays $6,500 in taxes just to cover its share of the national health insurance tab, according to a September 2021 report from the Fraser Institute, a Canadian think tank. An average family of four pays an estimated $15,039 in healthcare taxes. Those figures are on top of all the other taxes Canadians pay to support everything from education to national defense. Canadians pay a higher share of their total compensation to the government than Americans, according to OECD data. That explains, in part, why Canadians declare bankruptcy at higher rates than their U.S. counterparts. In 2019the year before the pandemic and its ensuing flood of stimulus programs caused a marked decrease in bankruptcies in both countriesabout 137,000 Canadians sought protection from insolvency, out of a total population of almost 38 million, a rate of 3.6 bankruptcies per 1,000 residents. That same year, slightly more than 770,000 Americans declared bankruptcy, out of a total population of 329 million at the timea rate of 2.3 bankruptcies per 1,000 residents. Medical bills dont cause nearly as many bankruptcies as progressive lawmakers want people to believe. And single payer certainly wouldnt prevent people from going insolvent. From RealClearWire Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Eyewitness to Tonga Volcano, Tsunami: It Was Almost Biblical In this edition of Indo-Pacific: Behind the Headlines we speak with Mr. Tevita Motulalo, a veteran journalist, security analyst and strategic communications consultant from the Kingdom of Tonga. Communications with Tonga have been largely cut off since a major volcanic eruption on 15 January broke the countrys underwater fiber optic cable and triggered a tsunami that was felt as far away as Japan and California. Mr. Motulalo, who is in Tonga, answered questions by text during a brief window of stable communications. Q: Can you describe what happened? One could see the huge smoke column from the volcano shoot straight up from the horizon into the sky, until you couldnt see it anymore. Its almost as if it was erupting into space itself. A: It started a few weeks earlier. The volcano had been spewing out ash and smoke for weeks, but because the usual wind direction is east-south-easterly, it carried the effluents northeast towards Fiji. When there were signs of the volcano reigniting and showing signs of erupting. The National Meteorological Office did the best they could. But theres relatively little public or political attention to key vital and security issuesincluding and especially non-traditional security threats like environmental disasters. The Friday before the eruption, after more violent eruption were recorded and sulfuric fumes reached entirety of the main island Tongatapu, a tsunami warning was issued. The wind turned in the opposite direction because of a [weather] depression ongoing just above north Island of New Zealand and that whipped the huge ash column towards Tongatapu, where the majority of the population lives. A photo of the area taken right before the eruption. (Tevita Motulalo) Evacuations were held, but it was all too novel. By the end of Friday all we saw were dramatic tidal shifts in the afternoon. And the tsunami warning issued earlier was cancelled. On Saturday, at around 5 p.m. in the afternoon, the first of the now very loud explosions were heard. Its like the heavens were about to rip into pieces. There were very loud cracks not experienced in our lived experiences since antiquityand the elders have lived through a few eruptions and national evacuations of their own. Glass and curtains were blown off the windows in places. Shortly afterwards, the first of the waves arrived. It has to be said, none of the early warning systems worked. What worked was the loud explosions from the volcano. We were joking to each other that it was loud enough for even the deaf to hear it and the blind to see it. Traffic started to jam on the main vein leading traffic out of the city towards the more elevated portions of the island. When the waves arrived, most of the peoplehaving been aware of the tsunami warning issued a day earlierhad moved inland. The warnings systems failed on the spot. The national meteorological office went offline with the previous days tsunami cancellation still up. No updates. And at the moment of the explosion, Cabinet was on the outskirts of the island for some occasion. They had to fight through the outpouring traffic jam to get back to stations. One could see the huge smoke column from the volcano shoot straight up from the horizon into the sky, until you couldnt see it anymore. Its almost as if it was erupting into space itself. Then the huge vague shadow of dust mushroomed behind the heavens and covered half the sky. A photo of the area taken right before the eruption. (Tevita Motulalo) An hour or so after the explosions, small volcanic pumice and pebbles of half a centimeter made landfall. Shortly afterwards, the ash arrived. It also arrived with a strong gust that blew the debris everywhere. This forced cars full of women and children to close their windows, which made the insides of cars like small ovens. When the waves hit, the western strip of the islandabout two miles widewas overrun by the waves. Waves broke at one beach, ran through overland, and flowed out on the other side. Immediately, internet and cellular communications were in and out. A few hours later, the power had to be cut as the piling ash was causing transformers to short. And so we were in a darkness with an orange-reddish hue, at the hilltops and evacuation centers inland. It was almost Biblical: The strong gusts, the stinging falling pebbles and the blinding ash were accompanied by the wailing of women and the screeching cries of babies and infantsand the whispers among fathers and sons standing guard outside their vehicles that the waves have wiped out part of the island and are now heading their way. From fear, from the hot weather, lack of water, and the entire situationif there was a picture of Sheol where theres crying and gnashing of teeth that would probably be the closest Id get. Evacuees were stranded on the hills thirsty, right next to the national water companys reservoirs. I managed to get through the line to a cousin at the company to ask for the facility operator to open up the taps. But in a couple more hours the ash cloud waned to just sprinkles, and after a few hours it was clear the waters have retreated and the waves receded. Tevita Motulalo (Courtesy of Tevita Motulalo) Q: Whats the situation like now? A: We are living the experience of the shockwave of several Hiroshima bombs going off in the neighborhood. There have been three deaths. Most of the waterfront [in the capital, Nukualofa] is gone. The Hihifo strip was overrun from coast to coast. The port in the capital, the fuel depot and the fuel terminal lines are out. But people are amazing. Our greatest challenge at moment is energy. The offloading lines from tankers were damaged. Im not sure how much we have in stock. Tongatapu [the capital] has some leeway in whatever stocks of fuel are available. But it wont last. They said theres enough but I have a feeling theyre just saying that to quell fears of shortage. But if we are out of fuel, then water and power are out. All communications are out. Relief operations are out. Food supply on the main island is ok. The outer islands may need food, and they were hit with the waves so their crops and soils are saltwater damaged. Damage surveillance is ongoing in Haapai [one of the outer island groups]. By the time the tsunami hit we were expecting a serious [atmospheric] depression potentially developing into a cyclone between us and Samoa. People are preparing for the next one. Until yesterday [Saturday in Tonga] only local FM stations were still operational. Our communication infrastructure was almost completely totaled. There was no communication. All lines were down. Satellite phones are limited. Were in the dark. So the situation in other parts of the country is not clear. So far, there hasnt been any adverse issues arising out of the recovery and there are no reports of extreme human suffering except loss of homes and entire villages dwellings, and the three fatalities. There were other injuries, but none reported on life support or life threatening apart, of course, from the systemic failures of institutions suffering from either incompetence, corruption, maladministration, or all simultaneously. A photo of the area taken right before the eruption. (Tevita Motulalo) One good story? Atata island inhabitants were all wiped out into the ocean. All but one returned. A massive search operation went out. The missing guy managed to swim from Atata to the main island [around 13 kms, via two small islands], and reported himself found again at the central police station. Q: How is the recovery going? A: The recovery is handled by government to the best of its abilities. Its a new government, just sworn in. Cabinet is still operating directly. But there is no depth in government planning. Everything is almost ad hoc. No contingency, no redundancy. And were in the middle of the cyclone season. We have full moons so there were King Tides last week. It was a perfect stormwe got away easy so far. Communications infrastructure is laughable at moment in spite of the millions poured into it over the years. So super-redundant services like Starlink are absolutely relevant at this point. This applies to energy also in terms of decentralized virtual power plants and letting homes be net generators not just consumers. The bureaucracy needs to upgrade its operational systems, and Parliament and Cabinet need to consider security (not securitization) properly and not relegate entirely to traditional military doctrine. Civil defense, which seems to work best thus far in mobilization against non-traditional security events, is something to consider. Q: Are there any other issues developing that you are concerned about? A: The retail industry, which feeds households with proteins, drinking water, and other household groceries, is majority controlled by Chinese investment. It has very often attempted price gouging in times of national shortageand Im not just talking about since the pandemic. There were a lot of instances where people turned up for water or food on the night of the tsunami and they shut their doors or credit to people in trouble. Which should be illegal. Also in the event those shops get hit, theyll be at the forefront of government assistance out of Tongan taxes. People might not too much mind them bribing officials to get into the country and make their fortunes out of Tongan poverty, but if they behave this way itll get really ugly. And the sentiment is starting to sour out of those reports. Q: Anything you are watching in terms of foreign assistance? A: We could really use something like a US Marines HA/DR logistics and training center in the regionmaybe even Quad. Or during this crisis a visit from a Marine Expeditionary Unit or the sort of U.S. Navy deployment we used to see in the area in a time of crisis, like an LHD. In the meantime, China is about to offer huge assistance following the event. Tevita Motulalo was the co-Founder of the Royal Oceania Institute, the Kingdom of Tongas independent think tank, and was formerly a Senior Researcher at Gateway House think tank, Mumbai. He was awarded his Masters from the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal, India. Cleo Paskal is The Sunday Guardian Special Correspondent and a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of democracies. Republished from The Sunday Guardian Fact-Checkers Are Used to Confuse the Public: Sharyl Attkisson Five-time Emmy Award-winning journalist Sharyl Attkisson says shes seen an increased effort to manipulate the public to appreciate censorship and disapprove of journalism. One of the strategies that have been employed is the use of third-party fact-checkers, she said. Nearly every mode of information has been co-opted, if it can be co-opted by some group, [and] fact-checkers are no different, Attkisson told EpochTVs American Thought Leaders. Either theyve been co-opted, in many instances, or created for the purpose of distributing narratives and propaganda. This is all part of a very well-funded, well-organized landscape that dictates and slants the information they want us to have. Attkisson said she first started to notice news being controlled in the early 2000s, when the media company she was working for was actively trying to suppress certain stories. The pushback came to be more about keeping a story from airing or keeping a study from being reported on the news, not just giving the other side, not just making sure it was accurately reported, she said of pharmaceutical company stories she was covering at the time. In 2016, Attkisson heard President Barack Obama say news needed to be curated, after which mainstream media outlets started to consistently use the term fake news to describe mostly conservative news stories that went against the narrative. And I remember thinking that was such a strange thing to say, because there was no big movement among the public that people needed to have their information curated, that someone needed to step in and tell us what to think, curate what was online. But after that, if you look at the media, day after day, there were headlines about fake news and curation of what should and shouldnt be reported, she said. Attkisson was referring to Obamas comment at the White House Frontiers Conference in Pittsburgh, in October 2016. Its relevant to our democracy, citizenship, Obama said. Were going to have to rebuild, within this wild, Wild West of information flow, some sort of curating function that people agree to. Because Attkisson was curious about this idea of curating news, she researched the topic of misinformation, which led her to a nonprofit called First Draft, which was funded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. President Barack Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton wave to delegates after Obamas speech during the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, on July 27, 2016. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo) And if you looked at the nonprofits website when they said fake news, they meant entirely conservative-base fake news and their viewpointthere was no liberal version of fake news. And then within a matter of weeks, President Obama gives the speech, the media takes off and runs with it, she said. Attkisson said the fake news phrase was actually started by the left but was effectively turned on its head by President Donald Trump, and now most people think he coined the phrase. But its actually well-documented as an invention of political activists on the left during the time period I described, she said. For her book Smear, she interviewed people who work to spread misinformation and propaganda with the goal of confusing the public. And they explained to me that if they do nothing more than confuse the information landscapemaybe you dont totally buy what they say, but theyve done enough to make you not sure of anything, she said. Censorship During the Pandemic Attkisson criticized large news outlets for being a mouthpiece of the government or other special interest groups instead of challenging them or holding them accountable, particularly as it relates to the pandemic. She said that soon after the pandemic began, she spoke to many scientists, government as well as private, about the virus and the course it was taking before she formed an opinion. She asked some of the scientists to speak out, but they were afraid. They said they dare not speak out for fear of being controversial, and for fear of being called coronavirus deniers, because that phrase was starting to be used in the media. And secondly, they feared contradicting Dr. Fauci, who they said had been kind of lionized or canonized in the press for reasons that they couldnt understand, she said. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 11, 2022. (Shawn Thew/Getty Images) Dr. Anthony Fauci has been the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) since 1984, which allowed him to advise seven presidents on public health issues, including COVID-19. He has been accused of misleading the public about funding gain-of-function research in China. Attkisson said the National Institutes of Health used taxpayer money to fund gain-of-function research in partnership with China, but media reports were to the contrary. And then, the narrative is being managed another way I remember, after reviewing the grants themselves to my satisfaction, because I didnt know what was true till I found the documentation and then still hearing, not just public health figures, but reporters claim as if they know the truth, that none of this had happened, she said. She said that another way to confuse the public about the truth is to label something a conspiracy, such as the lab leak theory connected to the coronavirus. And yet when you hear people say conspiracy theory, thats designed to pluck this little part of your brain that says, well, that things not true, she said. I always keep an open mind and say, that crazy thing that they say is a conspiracy theory may well have some truth in it. Attkisson believes the reason some people can be manipulated into believing the narrative put out by corporate media is that they live in a box, meaning the internet is their only source of information. And the people that want to control the information understand that if they can only control really a few basic sourceswere talking about Google and Twitter and Facebook and Wikipediatheyve got a lock on information, because weve all been funneled to those few sources, she said. She said their goal is to make you believe youre in the minority and make you afraid to raise objections to the narrative. You can be made to believe that, if you live in the box, so Im constantly telling people, live outside the box, she said. Yes, you can get information there and do what you do online. But certainly, trust your cognitive dissonance. Talk to the people around you. Masooma Haq Follow Masooma Haq began reporting for The Epoch Times from Pakistan in 2008. She currently covers a variety of topics including U.S. government, culture, and entertainment. 5 Jailed for Helping China Meddle in Taiwans Presidential Election Five Taiwanese businesspeople working in China were found guilty of taking money from Chinese authorities to buy votes for a pro-Beijing candidate in Taiwans 2020 presidential election. On Jan. 17, the Taipei District Court indicted five businesspeople on charges of using Chinese government money to encourage Taiwan nationals living abroad to return home and vote for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate Han Kuo-yu during his presidential bid in January 2020. KMT is the largest opposition party in Taiwan, known for its China-friendly stance. However, despite Beijings efforts to meddle in Taiwans democratic election, Han lost his bid to unseat President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) by a wide margin. Among those found guilty, Lin Huai, chairman of a Taiwanese business association in Changsha, the capital city of Chinas Hunan Province, received a 46-month prison sentence and was deprived of his civic rights for four years for breaching the election and recall laws, according to Taiwans Central News Agency (CNA) citing the courts ruling. Four others received 20-month prison terms and deprivation of civic rights for two years. The other four convicted were China New Family Association chairwoman Chiang Ming-sia, Hunan Shaoyang City Association in Taiwan director Chang Kuo-chun, Hengyang-based businessman Chuang Huan-chang, and Chinese Womens Federation deputy secretary Shen Bin. They had conducted business in Chinas Hunan Province, according to the Taipei Times. According to CNA, citing the prosecutors, Lin and the four others hosted a year-end event at a Changsha hotel on Dec. 11, 2019, to encourage Taiwanese based in Hunan to return to Taiwan to vote in the 2020 presidential and legislative elections while offering them food and accommodation. Lin and the other defendants organized gatherings, banquets, and raffles for China-based Taiwanese businesspeople and students in a bid to convince them to vote for Han, the pro-Beijing KMT presidential candidate. They also rolled out a special program that provided approximately $244 per person in airfares, helping Taiwan nationals based in China to return home before election day on Jan. 11, 2020, the investigation found. A former professor at Beijings Capital Normal University, Li Yuanhua, told The Epoch Times that Taiwans Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) was initially anti-communist before being infiltrated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP has always tried to infiltrate and influence Taiwan. It never stopped. [The CCP] has funds dedicated to that cause. Lin Huais case is a great example, Li said. At least 200 Taiwanese were confirmed to have taken advantage of the offer, while many more applied for the money. Therefore, Lin and the defendants were charged with vote-buying, breaching the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act, the ruling said. According to the Taipei Times, the money to fund the vote-buying scheme came from the Changsha City authorities and the local Taiwan Affairs Office. The Chinese city authorities allocated approximately $550,000 to support subsidies for Taiwanese to return home to vote, with Lin and the others applying for and receiving about $235,000, citing the investigation. CCPs Infiltration in Taiwan Politics The Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted a total of seven individuals on May 8, 2020, for breaching the election and recall laws. Two of them were acquitted of the charges due to insufficient evidence. Tung Chien-hua, vice chairman of the Taiwanese business association in Changsha, and Ho Jianhua, head of the Taipei-based Chinese womens federation, were acquitted of the charges. However, the prosecutors said the rulings could still be appealed. Notably, Ho Jianhua, one of the two acquitted, was a Chinese-born national who married a Taiwanese man and later obtained Taiwanese citizenship. She is a member of the Chinese Unification Promotion Party, also known as the Unionist Party, the Taiwan branch of a pro-CCP political party that advocates the unification of China with the self-ruled, democratic island. The party was also known for intimidating pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong and pro-Taiwan independence leaders in Taiwan, as well as the triad background of its members. According to a CNA report, Ho appeared to have obtained sufficient funding without needing a legitimate employment income since her affiliation to a CCP-backed organization. She is also a legislator candidate in the running for the Unionist Party. If elected, her role in Taiwan would be similar to that of a senator in the United States. After learning the sentences of the five Beijing-affiliated Taiwanese businesspeople, former presidential candidate Hans office said he was not aware of the events, nor did his election campaign headquarters receive any funds from the event organizers, reported CNA. Taiwans Hardening Attitude Toward China Han Kuo-yu or Daniel Han is the former mayor of Taiwans southern port city of Kaohsiung, whose status was similar to that of a governor in the United States. However, Han was also the first mayor in Taiwan to be ousted from office during the first term. Adding insult to inquiry, Han did not even make it halfway through his first term before facing a recall election. Han Kuo-yu (center) takes a bow during a press conference following a local recall election in Kaoshiung, Taiwan, on June 6, 2020. (Central News Agency) On June 6, 2020, voters in Kaohsiung city voted overwhelmingly to remove Han from office, just months after losing his presidential bid against President Tsai Ing-wen, who is now serving her second term in the highest office. The recall had a 42 percent turnout, the highest in Taiwans recall history, and was supported by all but 2.6 percent of the votes cast. Han, of the largest opposition party, KMT, had campaigned for president on a platform of forging closer ties with the Chinese regime, which claims Taiwan as its territory but has never ruled it. Hans pro-China stance and his taking leave from the mayoral duties to run for president greatly upset Kaohsiung residents. The recall election, with a stunning turnout, reflected Taiwans hardening attitude toward China, rejecting the regimes intensifying efforts to bring Taiwan under its control. On Dec. 31, 2019, Taiwans legislature passed the Anti-Infiltration Act, a law regulating the influence of entities deemed hostile foreign forces on the political processes of Taiwan, including elections and referendums. The law aimed to further limit Beijings tactics to subvert Taiwanese democracy. However, Lin Huai and the other defendants illegal acts took place just before the new law was promulgated. They were able to avoid sentences and punishments that could have been more severe. Germany Roiled as Navy Chief Resigns After Saying Putin Deserves Respect The former chief had said Russia should be tapped to deal with Chinese regime Germanys naval chief, Vice Adm. Kay-Achim Schoenbach, announced his resignation on Jan. 22 after he received criticism at home for comments he made on escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. During remarks in India on Jan. 21, Schoenbach said Ukraine would never again recapture the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. He also publicly questioned Western leaders recent critical comments against Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is easy to accord him the respect he wants, and which he also probably deserves, Schoenbach said, calling the notion that Moscow wants a military incursion in Ukraine part of an absurdity. Does Russia really want a small and tiny strip of Ukraine soil to integrate into their country? No, this is nonsense. Putin is probably putting pressure because he knows he can do it, and he splits EU opinion. Schoenbach said during the Jan. 22 event that Western powers should instead court Russia to go against China, which he described as a hegemonic power thats using money and resources to apply pressure on the international order. In its dealings with other countries, the Chinese regime has a hidden agenda and operates as if it were an enemy, he said. Ukrainian soldiers stand on a check-point close to the line of separation from pro-Russian rebels, Mariupol, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Andriy Dubchak) Western powers, including the United States, have supplied weapons to Ukraine, although Germany has refused the Eastern European nations request for ammunition. Russia has denied that its planning to invade Ukraine, while Putin has frequently issued demands to the West that he claims are over Russias security and has said that Ukraine cant be allowed to join NATO. On the evening of Jan. 22, Schoenbach said he resigned over what he described as his own ill-considered statements on the geopolitical hotspot. In a statement, Germanys Navy said it accepted his resignation and appointed a new interim naval chief. I have asked Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht to relieve me from my duties with immediate effect, Schoenbach said in a statement that was obtained by Reuters. The minister has accepted my request. Ukraines Foreign Ministry over the weekend called on Germany to reject Schoenbachs comments on Crimea, saying the statements run counter to efforts to contain Russian aggression. Ukraine is grateful to Germany for the support it has already provided since 2014, as well as for the diplomatic efforts to resolve the RussianUkrainian armed conflict. But Germanys current statements are disappointing and run counter to that support and effort, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter. The German partners must stop undermining unity with such words and actions and encouraging Vladimir Putin to launch a new attack on Ukraine. Reuters contributed to this report. People wait in a line to receive a swab test for COVID-19 at a walk-in portable testing center operated by the ambulance service in Dublin, Ireland on March 25, 2021. (Paul Faith/AFP via Getty Images) Growing Number of European Countries Roll Back COVID-19 Restrictions Major economies in Europe have started to roll back COVID-19 restrictions that were implemented in recent weeks in response to a spike in cases and hospitalizations. In England, people wont have to wear masks in public or show proof that theyve been vaccinated to enter some venues, beginning on Jan. 27, according to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Because of the extraordinary booster campaign, together with the way the public have responded to the Plan B measures, we can return to Plan A in England and allow Plan B regulations to expire as a result from the start of Thursday next week, Johnson said last week. He cited data suggesting the Omicron variant surge has now peaked nationally. And having looked at the data carefully, the Cabinet concluded that once regulations lapse, the government will no longer mandate the wearing of face masks anywhere, Johnson said. In nearby Ireland, nearly all COVID-19 rules expired on Saturday, including capacity limits for outdoor and indoor events. Early closing times and some so-called social distancing measures have also been ended. Spring is coming and I dont know if I have ever looked forward to one as much as this one. Humans are social beings and we Irish are more social than most. As we look forward to this spring, we need to see each other again, we need to see each other smile, we need to sing again, said Micheal Martin, Irelands prime minister. French Prime Minister Jean Castex last week said the country will start to roll back restrictions within weeks, asserting that Frances COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations have improved. A protester holds a placard reading The truth will set you free during a demonstration against the health pass and COVID-19 vaccines, on Trocadero plaza in Paris, on Jan. 15, 2022. (Geoffroy van der Hasselt/AFP via Getty Images) This exceptional wave is not over, but the situation is starting to evolve more favorably, Castex said on Jan. 20. However, he tied the easing of restrictions with Frances new COVID-19 vaccine passport that will take effect on Jan. 24, which some critics have described as draconian and has drawn mass protests in recent days. Castex and other French officials said that the vaccine passport system may be eliminated if the COVID-19 situation in the country continues to improve. That would depend on how many people are hospitalized, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Jan. 20. We are a bit more confident in saying we can relax some of these constraints and let people return to life as normal as possible, Veran said, according to France24. Outdoor mask mandates, audience capacity limits at some venues, and working from home wont be required as of Feb. 2, French officials said. Nightclubs will also be permitted to reopen in mid-February. On Jan. 20, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters that the European Union should approach COVID-19 in the same manner that it approaches influenza, as frequent studies and data have shown the Omicron variant is far less virulent than previous variants. What we are saying is that in the next few months and years, we are going to have to think, without hesitancy and according to what science tells us, how to manage the pandemic with different parameters, he said on Jan. 17, according to The Associated Press. Meanwhile, Germany and Austria appear to be forging ahead with plans to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for everyone who is eligible in the coming weeks. Austrian rules stipulate massive fines of thousands of euros and other penalties for those who wont comply. But the nearby Czech Republic has abandoned plans to make the shot compulsory, following widespread protests in Prague and other cities, according to the office of new Prime Minister Petr Fiala. Weve agreed that vaccination against COVID-19 wont be mandatory, Fiala said during remarks last week. This does not change our stance on vaccination. It is still undoubtedly the best way to fight COVID-19. However, we do not want to deepen fissures in society. Hamilton: Statesmanship at the Service of a Natural Rights Republic Commentary In recent years, American civic culture has suffered deep cleavages. Civil conversations have been poisoned by battles over the meaning of Americas past, and which figures we should revereand condemn. Even Americas Founding Fathers have come under the microscope, but oneAlexander Hamiltonhas been spared such judgments by the massive popularity of Lin-Manuel Mirandas runaway hit musical, Hamilton. Miranda has made Hamilton by far the most popular Founder, at least for the time being. Hamiltons new stature is heartening, though its unlikely that it has led to a significantly deeper understanding of his contribution as a thinker and statesman in helping to establish the American constitutional order. Hamilton came to the American colonies as a young immigrant as the tensions with Great Britain were coming to a head in the mid-1770s. He studied ancient and Enlightenment thinkers at Kings College and developed a Lockean political philosophy that prized natural rights and republican self-government. In his 1775 Farmer Refuted pamphlet, he argued for universal natural rights. The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records, he wrote. They are written, by the hand of divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power. The purpose of government was to protect the natural rights of the sovereign people, who could overthrow an unjust government that failed to fulfill its purpose. Hamilton was not content with writing about American republicanism. He was a man of action who sought fame and personal honor in a war for liberty. He served in the army of his adopted country, perhaps to seal with my blood the sentiments defended by my pen. He used sword and pen in the war as the hero of the Battle of Yorktown and General George Washingtons most trusted staff officer. Washington facilitated Hamiltons meteoric rise and fundamentally shaped the trajectory of his statesmanship. Washington gave opportunities to Hamilton and others in the officer corps based on merit and talent, rather than birthright. The general also fostered a continental outlook and forged an American character in the army. At the end of the war, he promoted a strong national Union, and urged the national government to adopt greater powers adequate to an independent sovereign nation. These ideas profoundly shaped Hamiltons thinking. The inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the United States in 1789. Also present are (from left) Alexander Hamilton, Robert R. Livingston, Roger Sherman, Mr. Otis, Vice President John Adams, Baron Von Steuben, and General Henry Knox. Original Artwork: Printed by Currier & Ives. (MPI/Getty Images) Americas frustrating wartime experience under the Continental Congress led Hamilton to become a nationalist and firm advocate of a stronger central government. The fundamental defect, as he saw it, is a want of power in Congress and too much power in the sovereign states. He supported constitutional revision of the Articles of Confederation, the new nations first constitution, even before all the states ratified it. In the summer of 1781, he began a series of essays entitled The Continentalist. He wrote: There is something noble and magnificent in the perspective of a great federal republic, closely linked in the pursuit of a common interest, tranquil and prosperous at home, respectable abroad. After serving a brief time in Congress, Hamilton became an attorney in New York. His dedication to natural-law justice prompted his courageous defense of the rights of unpopular Tories who had had their property confiscated under New York law. He believed that the laws violated equal justice, the rights of minorities, and the Peace Treaty of 1783. In January 1784, he wrote Letter from Phocion, stating that a natural-rights republic holds the rights of every individual sacred and punishes no man without regular trial. Most famously, he represented a widow in Rutgers v. Waddington, making a case for judicial review when state laws conflicted with national ones, individual rights, and natural law. During the 1780s, Hamilton joined the antislavery New York Manumission Society. He believed that slavery was a moral evil and a contradiction of any natural-rights regime. During the war, he had backed friend John Laurens plan to emancipate slaves in South Carolina if the slaves would bear arms for the patriot cause. Ultimately, though, abolition was not Hamiltons main cause. He adopted a longer view, one devoted to building a well-governed republic that protected the inalienable rights of all. In 1786, Hamilton attended the abortive Annapolis Convention to create uniform commercial regulations for the nation. He discussed the problems of the Confederation with a handful of fellow nationalists, including James Madison, and wrote the resolution calling for a Philadelphia convention the following May to render the constitution of the federal government adequate to the exigencies of the Union. Hamiltons political philosophy has often been misunderstood. He supported a strong national government, but he was no monarchist, later claims of the Jeffersonians notwithstanding. He sought a stronger central government because he believed that a weak government was the greatest threat to individual liberty. A weak government was susceptible to chaos, which opened the path to demagoguery and tyranny. Weakness endangered national security and honor, inviting the great European empires to carve up North America according to their own interests. At the Constitutional Convention, Hamilton was continually frustrated by his role and the course of the deliberations. New York governor George Clinton and his allies in the state assembly sent Hamilton as part of a three-man delegation with two anti-federalists, who outvoted Hamilton at every turn and foiled his nationalist designs. Eventually, they went home and left the state delegation without a quorum or vote. On June 18, 1787, Hamilton delivered a six-hour speech that stretched republican principles as far as they would go, describing an elective executive, a senate for life, and a democratic house. While he sincerely believed in the ideas and principles of his proposed plan, many scholars have reasonably suspected that he introduced it to help moderate the Virginia Plan in the minds of the delegates. Hamilton signed the Constitution but seemed to offer it only the most lukewarm approbation, saying that it was better than nothing. Such a comment belied the role that he played in the ratification debate. He was the most prolific author of the Federalist essays as Publius and the main proponent of the Constitution at the New York ratifying convention. His efforts reflected his belief that Americans faced a deliberative moment to decide the question of whether human beings were capable of establishing good government from reflection and choice. After playing a key role in ratification, Hamilton was instrumental in forging the new government in the Washington administration. As Treasury secretary, he worked with Congress to establish the public credit on a solid footing and create a national bank. More fundamentally, he laid the foundation for private enterprise to thrive in a capitalist economy and for the various players in the national economymanufacturers, merchants, plantation owners, yeoman farmers, shippers, and artisansto be integrated into a united whole and enjoy prosperity. Congressional debate over Hamiltons plans was spirited, to say the least. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and other critics argued that creating a national bank was not an enumerated power of Congress; doing so violated the Tenth Amendment and improperly exercised power under the Necessary and Proper Clause of Article I, section 8. Hamilton penned a lengthy defense of implied powers and argued that the powers of a bank were related to other powers of Congress under that clause, and thereby constitutional. Hamilton quickly became Washingtons key cabinet member and adviser. They agreed on almost all domestic and foreign policy; Secretary of State Jefferson and Representative Madison were increasingly shut out and became Hamiltons political rivals. They formed a political partydespite the universal antipathy to parties as factionsand opposed his centralizing policies at nearly every turn. A statue of the first United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton stands in front of the Treasury building in Washington on Sept. 19, 2008. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Washington and Hamilton agreed to send an army to western Pennsylvania to enforce the rule of law and avert another Shays Rebellion when farmers protested a tax on whiskey passed by Congress and signed by the president. On foreign policy, the pair agreed to a 1793 Proclamation of Neutrality and the 1795 Jay Treaty, with the overriding goal of averting war because the new nation was ill-prepared to fight with France or Great Britain. Hamiltons diligent efforts to defend the national interest by pursuing peace through strength demonstrated that he was no warmonger. Weary of the partisan rivalries that divided his administration, President Washington reluctantly accepted a second term. By 1796, however, he was unalterably committed to retire to Mount Vernon under his vine and fig-tree. Madison had written a 1792 draft of Washingtons Farewell Address, which was shelved until 1796. Hamilton rewrote the address as a practical guide to republican political principles. It has endured as one of the key documents of the American Founding. The Farewell Address was Washingtons guide to his fellow Americans about achieving political prosperity. He advised them to cherish the national Union as the main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize. He warned them against the dangers of political party as inimical to the public good and unity. He thought the basis of republican government was a virtuous and knowledgeable citizenry. To that end, he promoted education and religion. Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports, he wrote. Finally, he thought that the United States should steer clear of permanent alliances; it should seek to defend American national interests while treating other nations with liberality and justice. Hamilton spent a lifetime defending his personal honor and the national honor. He perished in a duel while fighting to protect an eighteenth-century ideal that seems anachronistic to Americans today. Hamilton has never garnered more interest or been as closely examined in the popular imagination as he is now. Yet, we collectively seem to miss the mark on how much he contributed to the shaping of the American republican institutions that support the ideals of liberty and self-government, free enterprise, and civic culture. A better understanding of Alexander Hamilton, and his political principles and statesmanship, could teach Americans important lessons today. From RealClearWire Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Empty boxes lay scattered near the railroad tracks after ongoing train robberies in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles on Jan. 14, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Lawmakers Send Letter Urging US Attorney General to Counter LA Train Thefts Eighteen U.S. representatives sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Jan. 20 urging him to take action on the recent train robberies occurring in downtown Los Angeles. Los Angeless newest thefts, which went viral last week, have left Union Pacific train tracks in the area littered with opened boxes, scattered merchandise, and trash. Losses from the thefts have been so high that Union Pacific is considering diverting their railroad shipping routes away from the area. The letter from the lawmakers, led by Rep. Michelle Steel of Californias 48th Congressional District, details that there has been a 160 percent increase in thefts along the tracks since December 2020, with concerns that they are being committed by well-organized crime rings. Given the ongoing supply chain crisis occurring at the Los Angeles ports and the shortage of truck drivers in the state, the train thefts are making it even more difficult for businesses and customers to get the supplies they need. As COVID-19 cases are on the rise, necessary medical items, including COVID-19 test kits and personal protective equipment, could become scarcer, according to the letter. The representatives called on the attorney general to prosecute the thieves to prevent the situation from worsening, arguing the need for the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to become involved because this epidemic of robberies on all freight transportation has been affecting not only California but also interstate and international commerce. We urge you to expeditiously prosecute and hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable, they wrote. Bottlenecks at our local ports and the soft-on-crime approaches by the Los Angeles District Attorney have contributed to these types of thefts in our local communities. Your office must use every tool available to end this type of violence and organized crime. Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam is seen via videoconference during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic and the Omicron variant, in Ottawa on Jan. 7, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang) Modelling Suggests Omicron May Have Peaked in Canada, Tam Says The Omicron wave in Canada has likely peaked, says Canadas chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam. Speaking at a virtual press conference on Jan. 21, Tam said the latest modelling update from Jan. 14 suggests that Omicron infections across the country will likely peak in January and recede going into February. In the week since the modelling update, there are early indications that infections may have peaked at the national level, including daily case counts, test positivity, Rt or effective reproduction number, and wastewater surveillance trends, she said. Her comments echoed statements the previous day from several provinces, including Alberta, where Premier Jason Kenney said cases were starting to plateau, and Ontario, where Premier Doug Ford is so confident the fifth wave has crested that he announced restrictions on public spaces will start to be lifted in 10 days. Tam said that on a national level, the average daily case count has decreased by 28 percent compared to the previous week. But she cautioned that the figure could be an underestimation since current lab testing couldnt keep pace with the Omicron spread. With the seven-day average of daily cases at almost 27,000 and test positivity of over 22 percent, the chief public health officer added that COVID-19 remains widespread in Canada. She noted that while the modelling suggested Canada may have passed the Omicron peak, daily hospitalizations and intensive care admissions are still rising steeply, and many hospitals across the country are under intense strain. Asked about a projection by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington that the emergency phase of the pandemic is winding down with COVID-19 becoming like a seasonal flu possibly by April, Tam said its one possible scenario. There are many experts in the world trying to work out this question, she said. I dont think [this is] necessarily the scenario, but it is a possible scenario, so I think we need to prepare for different potential futures. When asked for her thoughts regarding the lifting of vaccine mandates and passports, Tam said the goal of public health is to strike a balance between reducing severe illness and mortality as well as reducing societal disruption. There is no doubt that nobody wants to have all these restrictive measures anymore, and Omicron may or may not have put us one step toward that new reality, she said. We need to plan for the different scenarios and just be ready for a time of emergence of new variants. But weve got to move on and see how we can make our societal functions closer to what they were before the pandemic. The Canadian Press contributed to this report. More Than 150 Comparative Studies and Articles on Mask Ineffectiveness and Harms Commentary It is not unreasonable to conclude that surgical and cloth masks, used as they currently are being used (without other forms of PPE protection), have no impact on controlling the transmission of Covid-19 virus. Current evidence implies that face masks can be actually harmful. The body of evidence indicates that face masks are largely ineffective. My focus is on COVID face masks and the prevailing science that we have had for nearly 20 months. Yet I wish to address this mask topic at a 50,000-foot level on the lockdown restrictive policies in general. I build on the backs of the fine work done by Gupta, Kulldorff, and Bhattacharya on the Great Barrington Declaration (GBD) and similar impetus by Dr. Scott Atlas (advisor to POTUS Trump) who, like myself, was a strong proponent for a focused type of protection that was based on an age-risk stratified approach. Because we saw very early on that the lockdowns were the single greatest mistake in public health history. We knew the history and knew they would not work. We also knew very early of COVIDs risk stratification. Sadly, our children will bear the catastrophic consequences and not just educationally, of the deeply flawed school closure policy for decades to come (particularly our minority children who were least able to afford this). Many are still pressured to wear masks and punished for not doing so. I present the masking body of evidence below (n=167 studies and pieces of evidence), comprised of comparative effectiveness research as well as related evidence and high-level reporting. To date, the evidence has been stable and clear that masks do not work to control the virus and they can be harmful and especially to children. The Evidence on COVID-19 Face Masks and Mask Mandates and Harms MASK-INEFFECTIVENESS 1) Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Danish Mask Wearers, Bundgaard, 2021 Infection with SARS-CoV-2 occurred in 42 participants recommended masks (1.8 percent) and 53 control participants (2.1 percent). The between-group difference was 0.3 percentage point (95 percent CI, 1.2 to 0.4 percentage point; P = 0.38) (odds ratio, 0.82 [CI, 0.54 to 1.23]; P = 0.33). Multiple imputation accounting for loss to follow-up yielded similar results the recommendation to wear surgical masks to supplement other public health measures did not reduce the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate among wearers by more than 50 percent in a community with modest infection rates, some degree of social distancing, and uncommon general mask use. 2) SARS-CoV-2 Transmission among Marine Recruits during Quarantine, Letizia, 2020 Our study showed that in a group of predominantly young male military recruits, approximately 2 percent became positive for SARS-CoV-2, as determined by qPCR assay, during a 2-week, strictly enforced quarantine. Multiple, independent virus strain transmission clusters were identified all recruits wore double-layered cloth masks at all times indoors and outdoors. 3) Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses, Jefferson, 2020 There is low certainty evidence from nine trials (3507 participants) that wearing a mask may make little or no difference to the outcome of influenzalike illness (ILI) compared to not wearing a mask (risk ratio (RR) 0.99, 95 percent confidence interval (CI) 0.82 to 1.18. There is moderate certainty evidence that wearing a mask probably makes little or no difference to the outcome of laboratoryconfirmed influenza compared to not wearing a mask (RR 0.91, 95 percent CI 0.66 to 1.26; 6 trials; 3005 participants) the pooled results of randomised trials did not show a clear reduction in respiratory viral infection with the use of medical/surgical masks during seasonal influenza. 4) The Impact of Community Masking on COVID-19: A Cluster-Randomized Trial in Bangladesh, Abaluck, 2021 Heneghan et al. A cluster-randomized trial of community-level mask promotion in rural Bangladesh from November 2020 to April 2021 (N=600 villages, N=342,126 adults. Heneghan writes: In a Bangladesh study, surgical masks reduced symptomatic COVID infections by between 0 and 22 percent, while the efficacy of cloth masks led to somewhere between an 11 percent increase to a 21 percent decrease. Hence, based on these randomized studies, adult masks appear to have either no or limited efficacy. 5) Evidence for Community Cloth Face Masking to Limit the Spread of SARS-CoV-2: A Critical Review, Liu/CATO, 2021 The available clinical evidence of facemask efficacy is of low quality and the best available clinical evidence has mostly failed to show efficacy, with fourteen of sixteen identified randomized controlled trials comparing face masks to no mask controls failing to find statistically significant benefit in the intent-to-treat populations. Of sixteen quantitative meta-analyses, eight were equivocal or critical as to whether evidence supports a public recommendation of masks, and the remaining eight supported a public mask intervention on limited evidence primarily on the basis of the precautionary principle. 6) Nonpharmaceutical Measures for Pandemic Influenza in Nonhealthcare SettingsPersonal Protective and Environmental Measures, CDC/Xiao, 2020 Evidence from 14 randomized controlled trials of these measures did not support a substantial effect on transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza none of the household studies reported a significant reduction in secondary laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infections in the face mask group the overall reduction in ILI or laboratory-confirmed influenza cases in the face mask group was not significant in either studies. 7) CIDRAP: Masks-for-all for COVID-19 not based on sound data, Brosseau, 2020 We agree that the data supporting the effectiveness of a cloth mask or face covering are very limited. We do, however, have data from laboratory studies that indicate cloth masks or face coverings offer very low filter collection efficiency for the smaller inhalable particles we believe are largely responsible for transmission, particularly from pre- or asymptomatic individuals who are not coughing or sneezing though we support mask wearing by the general public, we continue to conclude that cloth masks and face coverings are likely to have limited impact on lowering COVID-19 transmission, because they have minimal ability to prevent the emission of small particles, offer limited personal protection with respect to small particle inhalation, and should not be recommended as a replacement for physical distancing or reducing time in enclosed spaces with many potentially infectious people. 8) Universal Masking in Hospitals in the Covid-19 Era, Klompas/NEJM, 2020 We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection. Public health authorities define a significant exposure to Covid-19 as face-to-face contact within 6 feet with a patient with symptomatic Covid-19 that is sustained for at least a few minutes (and some say more than 10 minutes or even 30 minutes). The chance of catching Covid-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefore minimal. In many cases, the desire for widespread masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic . The calculus may be different, however, in health care settings. First and foremost, a mask is a core component of the personal protective equipment (PPE) clinicians need when caring for symptomatic patients with respiratory viral infections, in conjunction with gown, gloves, and eye protection universal masking alone is not a panacea. A mask will not protect providers caring for a patient with active Covid-19 if its not accompanied by meticulous hand hygiene, eye protection, gloves, and a gown. A mask alone will not prevent health care workers with early Covid-19 from contaminating their hands and spreading the virus to patients and colleagues. Focusing on universal masking alone may, paradoxically, lead to more transmission of Covid-19 if it diverts attention from implementing more fundamental infection-control measures. 9) Masks for prevention of viral respiratory infections among health care workers and the public: PEER umbrella systematic review, Dugre, 2020 This systematic review found limited evidence that the use of masks might reduce the risk of viral respiratory infections. In the community setting, a possible reduced risk of influenza-like illness was found among mask users. In health care workers, the results show no difference between N95 masks and surgical masks on the risk of confirmed influenza or other confirmed viral respiratory infections, although possible benefits from N95 masks were found for preventing influenza-like illness or other clinical respiratory infections. Surgical masks might be superior to cloth masks but data are limited to 1 trial. 10) Effectiveness of personal protective measures in reducing pandemic influenza transmission: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Saunders-Hastings, 2017 Facemask use provided a non-significant protective effect (OR = 0.53; 95 percent CI 0.161.71; I2 = 48 percent) against 2009 pandemic influenza infection. 11) Experimental investigation of indoor aerosol dispersion and accumulation in the context of COVID-19: Effects of masks and ventilation, Shah, 2021 Nevertheless, high-efficiency masks, such as the KN95, still offer substantially higher apparent filtration efficiencies (60 percent and 46 percent for R95 and KN95 masks, respectively) than the more commonly used cloth (10 percent) and surgical masks (12 percent), and therefore are still the recommended choice in mitigating airborne disease transmission indoors. 12) Exercise with facemask; Are we handling a devils sword?- A physiological hypothesis, Chandrasekaran, 2020 Exercising with facemasks may reduce available Oxygen and increase air trapping preventing substantial carbon dioxide exchange. The hypercapnic hypoxia may potentially increase acidic environment, cardiac overload, anaerobic metabolism and renal overload, which may substantially aggravate the underlying pathology of established chronic diseases. Further contrary to the earlier thought, no evidence exists to claim the facemasks during exercise offer additional protection from the droplet transfer of the virus. 13) Surgical face masks in modern operating roomsa costly and unnecessary ritual?, Mitchell, 1991 Following the commissioning of a new suite of operating rooms air movement studies showed a flow of air away from the operating table towards the periphery of the room. Oral microbial flora dispersed by unmasked male and female volunteers standing one metre from the table failed to contaminate exposed settle plates placed on the table. The wearing of face masks by non-scrubbed staff working in an operating room with forced ventilation seems to be unnecessary. 14) Facemask against viral respiratory infections among Hajj pilgrims: A challenging cluster-randomized trial, Alfelali, 2020 By intention-to-treat analysis, facemask use did not seem to be effective against laboratory-confirmed viral respiratory infections (odds ratio [OR], 1.4; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.9 to 2.1, p = 0.18) nor against clinical respiratory infection (OR, 1.1; 95 percent CI, 0.9 to 1.4, p = 0.40). 15) Simple respiratory protectionevaluation of the filtration performance of cloth masks and common fabric materials against 20-1000 nm size particles, Rengasamy, 2010 Results obtained in the study show that common fabric materials may provide marginal protection against nanoparticles including those in the size ranges of virus-containing particles in exhaled breath. 16) Respiratory performance offered by N95 respirators and surgical masks: human subject evaluation with NaCl aerosol representing bacterial and viral particle size range, Lee, 2008 The study indicates that N95 filtering facepiece respirators may not achieve the expected protection level against bacteria and viruses. An exhalation valve on the N95 respirator does not affect the respiratory protection; it appears to be an appropriate alternative to reduce the breathing resistance. 17) Aerosol penetration and leakage characteristics of masks used in the health care industry, Weber, 1993 We conclude that the protection provided by surgical masks may be insufficient in environments containing potentially hazardous sub-micrometer-sized aerosols. 18) Disposable surgical face masks for preventing surgical wound infection in clean surgery, Vincent, 2016 We included three trials, involving a total of 2106 participants. There was no statistically significant difference in infection rates between the masked and unmasked group in any of the trials from the limited results it is unclear whether the wearing of surgical face masks by members of the surgical team has any impact on surgical wound infection rates for patients undergoing clean surgery. 19) Disposable surgical face masks: a systematic review, Lipp, 2005 From the limited results it is unclear whether wearing surgical face masks results in any harm or benefit to the patient undergoing clean surgery. 20) Comparison of the Filter Efficiency of Medical Nonwoven Fabrics against Three Different Microbe Aerosols, Shimasaki , 2018 We conclude that the filter efficiency test using the phi-X174 phage aerosol may overestimate the protective performance of nonwoven fabrics with filter structure compared to that against real pathogens such as the influenza virus. 21) The use of masks and respirators to prevent transmission of influenza: a systematic review of the scientific evidence, Bin-Reza, 2012 The use of masks and respirators to preventtransmission of inuenza: a systematic review of thescientic evidenceNone of the studies established a conclusive relationship between mask/respirator use and protection against influenza infection. Some evidence suggests that mask use is best undertaken as part of a package of personal protection especially hand hygiene. 22) Facial protection for healthcare workers during pandemics: a scoping review, Godoy, 2020 Compared with surgical masks, N95 respirators perform better in laboratory testing, may provide superior protection in inpatient settings and perform equivalently in outpatient settings. Surgical mask and N95 respirator conservation strategies include extended use, reuse or decontamination, but these strategies may result in inferior protection. Limited evidence suggests that reused and improvised masks should be used when medical-grade protection is unavailable. 23) Assessment of Proficiency of N95 Mask Donning Among the General Public in Singapore, Yeung, 2020 These findings support ongoing recommendations against the use of N95 masks by the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic.5 N95 mask use by the general public may not translate into effective protection but instead provide false reassurance. Beyond N95 masks, proficiency among the general public in donning surgical masks needs to be assessed. 24) Evaluating the efficacy of cloth facemasks in reducing particulate matter exposure, Shakya, 2017 Standard N95 mask performance was used as a control to compare the results with cloth masks, and our results suggest that cloth masks are only marginally beneficial in protecting individuals from particles<2.5 m. 25) Use of surgical face masks to reduce the incidence of the common cold among health care workers in Japan: a randomized controlled trial, Jacobs, 2009 Face mask use in health care workers has not been demonstrated to provide benefit in terms of cold symptoms or getting colds. 26) N95 Respirators vs Medical Masks for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Personnel, Radonovich, 2019 Among outpatient health care personnel, N95 respirators vs medical masks as worn by participants in this trial resulted in no significant difference in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza. 27) Does Universal Mask Wearing Decrease or Increase the Spread of COVID-19?, Watts up with that? 2020 A survey of peer-reviewed studies shows that universal mask wearing (as opposed to wearing masks in specific settings) does not decrease the transmission of respiratory viruses from people wearing masks to people who are not wearing masks. 28) Masking: A Careful Review of the Evidence, Alexander, 2021 In fact, it is not unreasonable at this time to conclude that surgical and cloth masks, used as they currently are, have absolutely no impact on controlling the transmission of Covid-19 virus, and current evidence implies that face masks can be actually harmful. 29) Community and Close Contact Exposures Associated with COVID-19 Among Symptomatic Adults 18 Years in 11 Outpatient Health Care Facilities United States, July 2020, Fisher, 2020 Reported characteristics of symptomatic adults 18 years who were outpatients in 11 US academic health care facilities and who received positive and negative SARS-CoV-2 test results (N = 314)* United States, July 129, 2020, revealed that 80 percent of infected persons wore face masks almost all or most of the time. 30) Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19 in Europe: a quasi-experimental study, Hunter, 2020 Face masks in public was not associated with reduced incidence. 31) Masking lack of evidence with politics, CEBM, Heneghan, 2020 It would appear that despite two decades of pandemic preparedness, there is considerable uncertainty as to the value of wearing masks. For instance, high rates of infection with cloth masks could be due to harms caused by cloth masks, or benefits of medical masks. The numerous systematic reviews that have been recently published all include the same evidence base so unsurprisingly broadly reach the same conclusions. 32) Transmission of COVID-19 in 282 clusters in Catalonia, Spain: a cohort study, Marks, 2021 We observed no association of risk of transmission with reported mask usage by contacts, with the age or sex of the index case, or with the presence of respiratory symptoms in the index case at the initial study visit. 33) Non-pharmaceutical public health measures for mitigating the risk and impact of epidemic and pandemic influenza, WHO, 2020 Ten RCTs were included in the meta-analysis, and there was no evidence that face masks are effective in reducing transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza. 34) The Strangely Unscientific Masking of America, Younes, 2020 One report reached its conclusion based on observations of a dummy head attached to a breathing simulator. Another analyzed use of surgical masks on people experiencing at least two symptoms of acute respiratory illness. Incidentally, not one of these studies involved cloth masks or accounted for real-world mask usage (or misusage) among lay people, and none established efficacy of widespread mask-wearing by people not exhibiting symptoms. There was simply no evidence whatsoever that healthy people ought to wear masks when going about their lives, especially outdoors. 35) Facemasks and similar barriers to prevent respiratory illness such as COVID-19: A rapid systematic review, Brainard, 2020 31 eligible studies (including 12 RCTs). Narrative synthesis and random-effects meta-analysis of attack rates for primary and secondary prevention in 28 studies were performed. Based on the RCTs we would conclude that wearing facemasks can be very slightly protective against primary infection from casual community contact, and modestly protective against household infections when both infected and uninfected members wear facemasks. However, the RCTs often suffered from poor compliance and controls using facemasks. 36) The Year of Disguises, Koops, 2020 The healthy people in our society should not be punished for being healthy, which is exactly what lockdowns, distancing, mask mandates, etc. do . Children should not be wearing face coverings. We all need constant interaction with our environments and that is especially true for children. This is how their immune system develops. They are the lowest of the low-risk groups. Let them be kids and let them develop their immune systems . The Mask Mandate idea is a truly ridiculous, knee-jerk reaction and needs to be withdrawn and thrown in the waste bin of disastrous policy, along with lockdowns and school closures. You can vote for a person without blindly supporting all of their proposals! 37) Open Schools, Covid-19, and Child and Teacher Morbidity in Sweden, Ludvigsson, 2020 1,951,905 children in Sweden (as of December 31, 2019) who were 1 to 16 years of age, were examined social distancing was encouraged in Sweden, but wearing face masks was not . No child with Covid-19 died. 38) Double-Masking Benefits Are Limited, Japan Supercomputer Finds, Reidy, 2021 Wearing two masks offers limited benefits in preventing the spread of droplets that could carry the coronavirus compared to one well-fitted disposable mask, according to a Japanese study that modeled the dispersal of droplets on a supercomputer. 39) Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. Part 1Face masks, eye protection and person distancing: systematic review and meta-analysis, Jefferson, 2020 There was insufficient evidence to provide a recommendation on the use of facial barriers without other measures. We found insufficient evidence for a difference between surgical masks and N95 respirators and limited evidence to support effectiveness of quarantine. 40) Should individuals in the community without respiratory symptoms wear facemasks to reduce the spread of COVID-19?, NIPH, 2020 Non-medical facemasks include a variety of products. There is no reliable evidence of the effectiveness of non-medical facemasks in community settings. There is likely to be substantial variation in effectiveness between products. However, there is only limited evidence from laboratory studies of potential differences in effectiveness when different products are used in the community. 41) Is a mask necessary in the operating theatre?, Orr, 1981 It would appear that minimum contamination can best be achieved by not wearing a mask at all but operating in silence. Whatever its relation to contamination, bacterial counts, or the dissemination of squames, there is no direct evidence that the wearing of masks reduces wound infection. 42) The surgical mask is a bad fit for risk reduction, Neilson, 2016 As recently as 2010, the US National Academy of Sciences declared that, in the community setting, face masks are not designed or certified to protect the wearer from exposure to respiratory hazards. A number of studies have shown the inefficacy of the surgical mask in household settings to prevent transmission of the influenza virus. 43) Facemask versus No Facemask in Preventing Viral Respiratory Infections During Hajj: A Cluster Randomised Open Label Trial, Alfelali, 2019 Facemask use does not prevent clinical or laboratory-confirmed viral respiratory infections among Hajj pilgrims. 44) Facemasks in the COVID-19 era: A health hypothesis, Vainshelboim, 2021 The existing scientific evidences challenge the safety and efficacy of wearing facemask as preventive intervention for COVID-19. The data suggest that both medical and non-medical facemasks are ineffective to block human-to-human transmission of viral and infectious disease such SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, supporting against the usage of facemasks. Wearing facemasks has been demonstrated to have substantial adverse physiological and psychological effects. These include hypoxia, hypercapnia, shortness of breath, increased acidity and toxicity, activation of fear and stress response, rise in stress hormones, immunosuppression, fatigue, headaches, decline in cognitive performance, predisposition for viral and infectious illnesses, chronic stress, anxiety and depression. 45) The use of masks and respirators to prevent transmission of influenza: a systematic review of the scientific evidence, Bin-Reza, 2011 None of the studies established a conclusive relationship between mask/respirator use and protection against influenza infection. Some evidence suggests that mask use is best undertaken as part of a package of personal protection especially hand hygiene. 46) Are Face Masks Effective? The Evidence., Swiss Policy Research, 2021 Most studies found little to no evidence for the effectiveness of face masks in the general population, neither as personal protective equipment nor as a source control. 47) Postoperative wound infections and surgical face masks: A controlled study, Tunevall, 1991 These results indicate that the use of face masks might be reconsidered. Masks may be used to protect the operating team from drops of infected blood and from airborne infections, but have not been proven to protect the patient operated by a healthy operating team. 48) Mask mandate and use efficacy in state-level COVID-19 containment, Guerra, 2021 Mask mandates and use are not associated with slower state-level COVID-19 spread during COVID-19 growth surges. 49) Twenty Reasons Mandatory Face Masks are Unsafe, Ineffective and Immoral, Manley, 2021 A CDC-funded review on masking in May 2020 came to the conclusion: Although mechanistic studies support the potential effect of hand hygiene or face masks, evidence from 14 randomized controlled trials of these measures did not support a substantial effect on transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza . None of the household studies reported a significant reduction in secondary laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infections in the face mask group. If masks cant stop the regular flu, how can they stop SAR-CoV-2? 50) A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers, MacIntyre, 2015 First RCT of cloth masks, and the results caution against the use of cloth masks. This is an important finding to inform occupational health and safety. Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection the rates of all infection outcomes were highest in the cloth mask arm, with the rate of ILI statistically significantly higher in the cloth mask arm (relative risk (RR)=13.00, 95 percent CI 1.69 to 100.07) compared with the medical mask arm. Cloth masks also had significantly higher rates of ILI compared with the control arm. An analysis by mask use showed ILI (RR=6.64, 95 percent CI 1.45 to 28.65) and laboratory-confirmed virus (RR=1.72, 95 percent CI 1.01 to 2.94) were significantly higher in the cloth masks group compared with the medical masks group. Penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97 percent and medical masks 44 percent. 51) Horowitz: Data from India continues to blow up the Delta fear narrative, Blazemedia, 2021 Rather than proving the need to sow more panic, fear, and control over people, the story from India the source of the Delta variant continues to refute every current premise of COVID fascism . Masks failed to stop the spread there. 52) An outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant (B.1.617.2) in a secondary care hospital in Finland, May 2021, Hetemaki, 2021 Reporting on a nosocomial hospital outbreak in Finland, Hetemali et al. observed that both symptomatic and asymptomatic infections were found among vaccinated health care workers, and secondary transmission occurred from those with symptomatic infections despite use of personal protective equipment. 53) Nosocomial outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in a highly vaccinated population, Israel, July 2021, Shitrit, 2021 In a hospital outbreak investigation in Israel, Shitrit et al. observed high transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant among twice vaccinated and masked individuals. They added that this suggests some waning of immunity, albeit still providing protection for individuals without comorbidities. Again, despite use of personal protective equipment. 54) 47 studies confirm ineffectiveness of masks for COVID and 32 more confirm their negative health effects, Lifesite news staff, 2021 No studies were needed to justify this practice since most understood viruses were far too small to be stopped by the wearing of most masks, other than sophisticated ones designed for that task and which were too costly and complicated for the general public to properly wear and keep changing or cleaning. It was also understood that long mask wearing was unhealthy for wearers for common sense and basic science reasons. 55) Are EUA Face Masks Effective in Slowing the Spread of a Viral Infection?, Dopp, 2021 The vast evidence shows that masks are ineffective. 56) CDC Study finds overwhelming majority of people getting coronavirus wore masks, Boyd/Federalist, 2021 A Centers for Disease Control report released in September shows that masks and face coverings are not effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19, even for those people who consistently wear them. 57) Most Mask Studies Are Garbage, Eugyppius, 2021 The other kind of study, the proper kind, would be a randomised controlled trial. You compare the rates of infection in a masked cohort against rates of infection in an unmasked cohort. Here things have gone much, much worse for mask brigade. They spent months trying to prevent the publication of the Danish randomised controlled trial, which found that masks do zero. When that paper finally squeaked into print, they spent more months trying desperately to poke holes in it. You could feel their boundless relief when the Bangladesh study finally appeared to save them in early September. Every last Twitter blue-check could now proclaim that Science Shows Masks Work. Such was their hunger for any scrap of evidence to prop up their prior convictions, that none of them noticed the sad nature of the Science in question. The study found a mere 10 percent reduction in seroprevalence among the masked cohort, an effect so small that it fell within the confidence interval. Even the study authors couldnt exclude the possibility that masks in fact do zero. 58) Using face masks in the community: first update, ECDC, 2021 No high-quality evidence in favor of face masks and recommended their use only based on the precautionary principle. 59) Do physical measures such as hand-washing or wearing masks stop or slow down the spread of respiratory viruses?, Cochrane, 2020 Seven studies took place in the community, and two studies in healthcare workers. Compared with wearing no mask, wearing a mask may make little to no difference in how many people caught a flu-like illness (9 studies; 3507 people); and probably makes no difference in how many people have flu confirmed by a laboratory test (6 studies; 3005 people). Unwanted effects were rarely reported, but included discomfort. 60) Mouth-nose protection in public: No evidence of effectiveness, Thieme/ Kappstein, 2020 The use of masks in public spaces is questionable simply because of the lack of scientific data. If one also considers the necessary precautions, masks must even be considered a risk of infection in public spaces according to the rules known from hospitals . If masks are worn by the population, the risk of infection is potentially increased, regardless of whether they are medical masks or whether they are so-called community masks designed in any way. If one considers the precautionary measures that the RKI as well as the international health authorities have pronounced, all authorities would even have to inform the population that masks should not be worn in public spaces at all. Because no matter whether it is a duty for all citizens or voluntarily borne by the citizens who want it for whatever reason, it remains a fact that masks can do more harm than good in public. 61) US mask guidance for kids is the strictest across the world, Skelding, 2021 Kids need to see faces, Jay Bhattacharya, a professor of medicine at Stanford University, told The Post. Youngsters watch peoples mouths to learn to speak, read and understand emotions, he said. We have this idea that this disease is so bad that we must adopt any means necessary to stop it from spreading, he said. Its not that masks in schools have no costs. They actually do have substantial costs. 62) Masking young children in school harms language acquisition, Walsh, 2021 This is important because children and/or students do not have the speech or language ability that adults have they are not equally able and the ability to see the face and especially the mouth is critical to language acquisition which children and/or students are engaged in at all times. Furthermore, the ability to see the mouth is not only essential to communication but also essential to brain development. 63) The Case Against Masks for Children, Makary, 2021 Its abusive to force kids who struggle with them to sacrifice for the sake of unvaccinated adults . Do masks reduce Covid transmission in children? Believe it or not, we could find only a single retrospective study on the question, and its results were inconclusive. Yet two weeks ago the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sternly decreed that 56 million U.S. children and adolescents, vaccinated or not, should cover their faces regardless of the prevalence of infection in their community. Authorities in many places took the cue to impose mandates in schools and elsewhere, on the theory that masks cant do any harm. That isnt true. Some children are fine wearing a mask, but others struggle. Those who have myopia can have difficulty seeing because the mask fogs their glasses. (This has long been a problem for medical students in the operating room.) Masks can cause severe acne and other skin problems. The discomfort of a mask distracts some children from learning. By increasing airway resistance during exhalation, masks can lead to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. And masks can be vectors for pathogens if they become moist or are used for too long. 64) Face Covering Mandates, Peavey, 2021 Face Covering Mandates And Why They ARENT Effective. 65) Do masks work? A Review of the evidence, Anderson, 2021 In truth, the CDCs, U.K.s, and WHOs earlier guidance was much more consistent with the best medical research on masks effectiveness in preventing the spread of viruses. That research suggests that Americans many months of mask-wearing has likely provided little to no health benefit and might even have been counterproductive in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus. 66) Most face masks wont stop COVID-19 indoors, study warns, Anderer, 2021 New research reveals that cloth masks filter just 10 percent of exhaled aerosols, with many people not wearing coverings that fit their face properly. 67) How face masks and lockdowns failed/the face mask folly in retrospect, Swiss Policy Research, 2021 Mask mandates and lockdowns have had no discernible impact. 68) CDC Releases School COVID Transmission Study But Buries One of the Most Damning Parts, Davis, 2021 The 21 percent lower incidence in schools that required mask use among students was not statistically significant compared with schools where mask use was optional . With tens of millions of American kids headed back to school in the fall, their parents and political leaders owe it to them to have a clear-sighted, scientifically rigorous discussion about which anti-COVID measures actually work and which might put an extra burden on vulnerable young people without meaningfully or demonstrably slowing the spread of the virus that a masking requirement of students failed to show independent benefit is a finding of consequence and great interest. 69) World Health Organization internal meeting, COVID-19virtual press conference30 March 2020, 2020 This is a question on Austria. The Austrian Government has a desire to make everyone wear a mask whos going into the shops. I understood from our previous briefings with you that the general public should not wear masks because they are in short supply. What do you say about the new Austrian measures? Im not specifically aware of that measure in Austria. I would assume that its aimed at people who potentially have the disease not passing it to others. In general WHO recommends that the wearing of a mask by a member of the public is to prevent that individual giving the disease to somebody else. We dont generally recommend the wearing to masks in public by otherwise well individuals because it has not been up to now associated with any particular benefit. 70) Face masks to prevent transmission of influenza virus: a systematic review, Cowling, 2010 Review highlights the limited evidence base supporting the efficacy or effectiveness of face masks to reduce influenza virus transmission. None of the studies reviewed showed a benefit from wearing a mask, in either HCW or community members in households (H). 71) Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks in protecting health care workers from acute respiratory infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Smith, 2016 Although N95 respirators appeared to have a protective advantage over surgical masks in laboratory settings, our meta-analysis showed that there were insufficient data to determine definitively whether N95 respirators are superior to surgical masks in protecting health care workers against transmissible acute respiratory infections in clinical settings. 72) Effectiveness of Masks and Respirators Against Respiratory Infections in Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Offeddu, 2017 We found evidence to support universal medical mask use in hospital settings as part of infection control measures to reduce the risk of CRI and ILI among HCWs. Overall, N95 respirators may convey greater protection, but universal use throughout a work shift is likely to be less acceptable due to greater discomfort . Our analysis confirms the effectiveness of medical masks and respirators against SARS. Disposable, cotton, or paper masks are not recommended. The confirmed effectiveness of medical masks is crucially important for lower-resource and emergency settings lacking access to N95 respirators. In such cases, single-use medical masks are preferable to cloth masks, for which there is no evidence of protection and which might facilitate transmission of pathogens when used repeatedly without adequate sterilization . We found no clear benefit of either medical masks or N95 respirators against pH1N1 . Overall, the evidence to inform policies on mask use in HCWs is poor, with a small number of studies that is prone to reporting biases and lack of statistical power. 73) N95 Respirators vs Medical Masks for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Personnel, Radonovich, 2019 Use of N95 respirators, compared with medical masks, in the outpatient setting resulted in no significant difference in the rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza. 74) Masks Dont Work: A Review of Science Relevant to COVID-19 Social Policy, Rancourt, 2020 The use of N95 respirators compared with surgical masks is not associated with a lower risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza. It suggests that N95 respirators should not be recommended for general public and nonhigh-risk medical staff those are not in close contact with influenza patients or suspected patients. No RCT study with verified outcome shows a benefit for HCW or community members in households to wearing a mask or respirator. There is no such study. There are no exceptions. Likewise, no study exists that shows a benefit from a broad policy to wear masks in public (more on this below). Furthermore, if there were any benefit to wearing a mask, because of the blocking power against droplets and aerosol particles, then there should be more benefit from wearing a respirator (N95) compared to a surgical mask, yet several large meta-analyses, and all the RCT, prove that there is no such relative benefit. 75) More Than a Dozen Credible Medical Studies Prove Face Masks Do Not Work Even in Hospitals!, Firstenberg, 2020 Mandating masks has not kept death rates down anywhere. The 20 U.S. states that have never ordered people to wear face masks indoors and out have dramatically lower COVID-19 death rates than the 30 states that have mandated masks. Most of the no-mask states have COVID-19 death rates below 20 per 100,000 population, and none have a death rate higher than 55. All 13 states that have death rates higher 55 are states that have required the wearing of masks in all public places. It has not protected them. 76) Does evidence based medicine support the effectiveness of surgical facemasks in preventing postoperative wound infections in elective surgery?, Bahli, 2009 From the limited randomized trials it is still not clear that whether wearing surgical face masks harms or benefit the patients undergoing elective surgery. 77) Peritonitis prevention in CAPD: to mask or not?, Figueiredo, 2000 The current study suggests that routine use of face masks during CAPD bag exchanges may be unnecessary and could be discontinued. 78) The operating room environment as affected by people and the surgical face mask, Ritter, 1975 The wearing of a surgical face mask had no effect upon the overall operating room environmental contamination and probably work only to redirect the projectile effect of talking and breathing. People are the major source of environmental contamination in the operating room. 79) The efficacy of standard surgical face masks: an investigation using tracer particles, Haeri, 1980 Particle contamination of the wound was demonstrated in all experiments. Since the microspheres were not identified on the exterior of these face masks, they must have escaped around the mask edges and found their way into the wound. 80) Wearing of caps and masks not necessary during cardiac catheterization, Laslett, 1989 Prospectively evaluated the experience of 504 patients undergoing percutaneous left heart catheterization, seeking evidence of a relationship between whether caps and/or masks were worn by the operators and the incidence of infection. No infections were found in any patient, regardless of whether a cap or mask was used. Thus, we found no evidence that caps or masks need to be worn during percutaneous cardiac catheterization. 81) Do anaesthetists need to wear surgical masks in the operating theatre? A literature review with evidence-based recommendations, Skinner, 2001 A questionnaire-based survey, undertaken by Leyland in 1993 to assess attitudes to the use of masks, showed that 20 percent of surgeons discarded surgical masks for endoscopic work. Less than 50 percent did not wear the mask as recommended by the Medical Research Council. Equal numbers of surgeons wore the mask in the belief they were protecting themselves and the patient, with 20 percent of these admitting that tradition was the only reason for wearing them. 82) Mask mandates for children are not backed by data, Faria, 2021 Even if you want to use the 2018-19 flu season to avoid overlap with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC paints a similar picture: It estimated 480 flu deaths among children during that period, with 46,000 hospitalizations. COVID-19, mercifully, is simply not as deadly for children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, preliminary data from 45 states show that between 0.00 percent-0.03 percent of child COVID-19 cases resulted in death. When you combine these numbers with the CDC study that found mask mandates for students along with hybrid models, social distancing, and classroom barriers did not have a statistically significant benefit in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in schools, the insistence that we force students to jump through these hoops for their own protection makes no sense. 83) The Downsides of Masking Young Students Are Real, Prasad, 2021 The benefits of mask requirements in schools might seem self-evidentthey have to help contain the coronavirus, right?but that may not be so. In Spain, masks are used in kids ages 6 and older. The authors of one study there examined the risk of viral spread at all ages. If masks provided a large benefit, then the transmission rate among 5-year-olds would be far higher than the rate among 6-year-olds. The results dont show that. Instead, they show that transmission rates, which were low among the youngest kids, steadily increased with agerather than dropping sharply for older children subject to the face-covering requirement. This suggests that masking kids in school does not provide a major benefit and might provide none at all. And yet many officials prefer to double down on masking mandates, as if the fundamental policy were sound and only the people have failed. 84) Masks In Schools: Scientific American Fumbles Report On Childhood COVID Transmission, English/ACSH, 2021 Masking is a low-risk, inexpensive intervention. If we want to recommend it as a precautionary measure, especially in situations where vaccination isnt an option, great. But thats not what the public has been told. Florida governor Ron DeSantis and politicians in Texas say research does not support mask mandates, SciAms sub-headline bellowed. Many studies show they are wrong.If thats the case, demonstrate that the intervention works before you mandate its use in schools. If you cant, acknowledged what UC San Francisco hematologist-oncologist and Associate Professor of Epidemiology Vinay Prasad wrote over at the Atlantic:No scientific consensus exists about the wisdom of mandatory-masking rules for schoolchildren . In mid-March 2020, few could argue against erring on the side of caution. But nearly 18 months later, we owe it to children and their parents to answer the question properly: Do the benefits of masking kids in school outweigh the downsides? The honest answer in 2021 remains that we dont know for sure. 85) Masks dont work, are damaging health and are being used to control population: Doctors panel, Haynes, 2021 The only randomized control studies that have ever been done on masks show that they dont work, began Dr. Nepute. He referred to Dr. Anthony Faucis noble lie, in which Fauci changed his tune, from his March 2020 comments, where he downplayed the need and efficacy of mask wearing, before urging Americans to use masks later in the year. Well, he lied to us. So if he lied about that, what else has he lied to you about? questioned Nepute. Masks have become commonplace in almost every setting, whether indoors or outdoors, but Dr. Popper mentioned how there have been no studies which actually examine the effect of wearing a mask during all your waking hours. Theres no science to back any of this and particularly no science to back the fact that wearing a mask twenty four-seven or every waking minute, is health promoting, added Popper. 86) Aerosol penetration through surgical masks, Chen, 1992 The mask that has the highest collection efficiency is not necessarily the best mask from the perspective of the filter-quality factor, which considers not only the capture efficiency but also the air resistance. Although surgical mask media may be adequate to remove bacteria exhaled or expelled by health care workers, they may not be sufficient to remove the sub-micrometer-sized aerosols containing pathogens to which these health care workers are potentially exposed. 87) CDC: Schools With Mask Mandates Didnt See Statistically Significant Different Rates of COVID Transmission From Schools With Optional Policies, Miltimore, 2021 The CDC did not include its finding that required mask use among students was not statistically significant compared with schools where mask use was optional in the summary of its report. 88) Horowitz: Data from India continues to blow up the Delta fear narrative, Howorwitz, 2021 Rather than proving the need to sow more panic, fear, and control over people, the story from India the source of the Delta variant continues to refute every current premise of COVID fascism . Unless we do that, we must return to the very effective lockdowns and masks. In reality, Indias experience proves the opposite true; namely: 1) Delta is largely an attenuated version, with a much lower fatality rate, that for most people is akin to a cold. 2) Masks failed to stop the spread there.3) The country has come close to the herd immunity threshold with just 3 percent vaccinated. 89) Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant Among Vaccinated Healthcare Workers, Vietnam, Chau, 2021 While not definitive in the LANCET publication, it can be inferred that the nurses were all masked up and had PPE etc. as was the case in Finland and Israel nosocomial outbreaks, indicating the failure of PPE and masks to constrain Delta spread. 90) Aerosol penetration through surgical masks, Willeke, 1992 The mask that has the highest collection efficiency is not necessarily the best mask from the perspective of the filter-quality factor, which considers not only the capture efficiency but also the air resistance. Although surgical mask media may be adequate to remove bacteria exhaled or expelled by health care workers, they may not be sufficient to remove the submicrometer-size aerosols containing pathogens to which these health care workers are potentially exposed. 91) The efficacy of standard surgical face masks: an investigation using tracer particles, Wiley, 1980 Particle contamination of the wound was demonstrated in all aexperiments. Since the microspheres were not identified on the exterior of these face masks, they must have escped around the mask edges and found their way into the wound. The wearing of the mask beneath the headgear curtails this route of contamination. 92) An Evidence Based Scientific Analysis of Why Masks are Ineffective, Unnecessary, and Harmful, Meehan, 2020 Decades of the highest-level scientific evidence (meta-analyses of multiple randomized controlled trials) overwhelmingly conclude that medical masks are ineffective at preventing the transmission of respiratory viruses, including SAR-CoV-2 those arguing for masks are relying on low-level evidence (observational retrospective trials and mechanistic theories), none of which are powered to counter the evidence, arguments, and risks of mask mandates. 93) Open Letter from Medical Doctors and Health Professionals to All Belgian Authorities and All Belgian Media, AIER, 2020 Oral masks in healthy individuals are ineffective against the spread of viral infections. 94) Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks against influenza: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Long, 2020 The use of N95 respirators compared with surgical masks is not associated with a lower risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza. It suggests that N95 respirators should not be recommended for general public and nonhigh-risk medical staff those are not in close contact with influenza patients or suspected patients. 95) Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19, WHO, 2020 However, the use of a mask alone is insufficient to provide an adequate level of protection or source control, and other personal and community level measures should also be adopted to suppress transmission of respiratory viruses. 96) Farce mask: its safe for only 20 minutes, The Sydney Morning Herald, 2003 Health authorities have warned that surgical masks may not be an effective protection against the virus. Those masks are only effective so long as they are dry, said Professor Yvonne Cossart of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University of Sydney. As soon as they become saturated with the moisture in your breath they stop doing their job and pass on the droplets. Professor Cossart said that could take as little as 15 or 20 minutes, after which the mask would need to be changed. But those warnings havent stopped people snapping up the masks, with retailers reporting they are having trouble keeping up with demand. 97) Study: Wearing a Used Mask Is Potentially Riskier Than No Mask at All, Boyd, 2020 Effects of mask-wearing on the inhalability and deposition of airborne SARS-CoV-2 aerosols in human upper airway According to researchers from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and California Baptist University, a three-layer surgical mask is 65 percent efficient in filtering particles in the air. That effectiveness, however, falls to 25 percent once it is used. It is natural to think that wearing a mask, no matter new or old, should always be better than nothing, said author Jinxiang Xi. Our results show that this belief is only true for particles larger than 5 micrometers, but not for fine particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, he continued. MASK MANDATES 1) Mask mandate and use efficacy for COVID-19 containment in US States, Guerra, 2021 Calculated total COVID-19 case growth and mask use for the continental United States with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. We estimated post-mask mandate case growth in non-mandate states using median issuance dates of neighboring states with mandates did not observe association between mask mandates or use and reduced COVID-19 spread in US states. 2) These 12 Graphs Show Mask Mandates Do Nothing to Stop COVID, Weiss, 2020 Masks can work well when theyre fully sealed, properly fitted, changed often, and have a filter designed for virus-sized particles. This represents none of the common masks available on the consumer market, making universal masking much more of a confidence trick than a medical solution . Our universal use of unscientific face coverings is therefore closer to medieval superstition than it is to science, but many powerful institutions have too much political capital invested in the mask narrative at this point, so the dogma is perpetuated. The narrative says that if cases go down its because masks succeeded. It says that if cases go up its because masks succeeded in preventing more cases. The narrative simply assumes rather than proves that masks work, despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary. 3) Mask Mandates Seem to Make CCP Virus Infection Rates Climb, Study Says, Vadum, 2020 Protective-mask mandates aimed at combating the spread of the CCP virus that causes the disease COVID-19 appear to promote its spread, according to a report from RationalGround.com, a clearinghouse of COVID-19 data trends thats run by a grassroots group of data analysts, computer scientists, and actuaries. 4) Horowitz: Comprehensive analysis of 50 states shows greater spread with mask mandates, Howorwitz, 2020 Justin Hart How long do our politicians get to ignore the results? The results: When comparing states with mandates vs. those without, or periods of times within a state with a mandate vs. without, there is absolutely no evidence the mask mandate worked to slow the spread one iota. In total, in the states that had a mandate in effect, there were 9,605,256 confirmed COVID cases over 5,907 total days, an average of 27 cases per 100,000 per day. When states did not have a statewide order (which includes the states that never had them and the period of time masking states did not have the mandate in place) there were 5,781,716 cases over 5,772 total days, averaging 17 cases per 100,000 people per day. 5) The CDCs Mask Mandate Study: Debunked, Alexander, 2021 Thus, it is not surprising that the CDCs own recent conclusion on the use of nonpharmaceutical measures such as face masks in pandemic influenza, warned that scientific evidence from 14 randomized controlled trials of these measures did not support a substantial effect on transmission Moreover, in the WHOs 2019 guidance document on nonpharmaceutical public health measures in a pandemic, they reported as to face masks that there is no evidence that this is effective in reducing transmission Similarly, in the fine print to a recent double-blind, double-masking simulation the CDC stated that The findings of these simulations [supporting mask usage] should neither be generalized to the effectiveness nor interpreted as being representative of the effectiveness of these masks when worn in real-world settings. 6) Phil Kerpin, tweet, 2021 The Spectator The first ecological study of state mask mandates and use to include winter data: Case growth was independent of mandates at low and high rates of community spread, and mask use did not predict case growth during the Summer or Fall-Winter waves. 7) How face masks and lockdowns failed, SPR, 2021 Infections have been driven primarily by seasonal and endemic factors, whereas mask mandates and lockdowns have had no discernible impact 8) Analysis of the Effects of COVID-19 Mask Mandates on Hospital Resource Consumption and Mortality at the County Level, Schauer, 2021 There was no reduction in per-population daily mortality, hospital bed, ICU bed, or ventilator occupancy of COVID-19-positive patients attributable to the implementation of a mask-wearing mandate. 9) Do we need mask mandates, Harris, 2021 But masks proved far less useful in the subsequent 1918 Spanish flu, a viral disease spread by pathogens smaller than bacteria. Californias Department of Health, for instance, reported that the cities of Stockton, which required masks, and Boston, which did not, had scarcely different death rates, and so advised against mask mandates except for a few high-risk professions such as barbers . Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on mask use, generally more reliable than observational studies, though not infallible, typically show that cloth and surgical masks offer little protection. A few RCTs suggest that perfect adherence to an exacting mask protocol may guard against influenza, but meta-analyses find little on the whole to suggest that masks offer meaningful protection. WHO guidelines from 2019 on influenza say that despite mechanistic plausibility for the potential effectiveness of masks, studies showed a benefit too small to be established with any certainty. Another literature review by researchers from the University of Hong Kong agrees. Its best estimate for the protective effect of surgical masks against influenza, based on ten RCTs published through 2018, was just 22 percent, and it could not rule out zero effect. MASK HARMS 1) Corona children studies: Co-Ki: First results of a German-wide registry on mouth and nose covering (mask) in children, Schwarz, 2021 The average wearing time of the mask was 270 minutes per day. Impairments caused by wearing the mask were reported by 68 percent of the parents. These included irritability (60 percent), headache (53 percent), difficulty concentrating (50 percent), less happiness (49 percent), reluctance to go to school/kindergarten (44 percent), malaise (42 percent) impaired learning (38 percent) and drowsiness or fatigue (37 percent). 2) Dangerous pathogens found on childrens face masks, Cabrera, 2021 Masks were contaminated with bacteria, parasites, and fungi, including three with dangerous pathogenic and pneumonia-causing bacteria. 3) Masks, false safety and real dangers, Part 2: Microbial challenges from masks, Borovoy, 2020/2021 Laboratory testing of used masks from 20 train commuters revealed that 11 of the 20 masks tested contained over 100,000 bacterial colonies. Molds and yeasts were also found. Three of the masks contained more than one million bacterial colonies . The outside surfaces of surgical masks were found to have high levels of the following microbes, even in hospitals, more concentrated on the outside of masks than in the environment. Staphylococcus species (57 percent) and Pseudomonas spp (38 percent) were predominant among bacteria, and Penicillium spp (39 percent) and Aspergillus spp. (31 percent) were the predominant fungi. 4) Preliminary report on surgical mask induced deoxygenation during major surgery, Beder, 2008 Considering our findings, pulse rates of the surgeons increase and SpO2 decrease after the first hour. This early change in SpO2 may be either due to the facial mask or the operational stress. Since a very small decrease in saturation at this level, reflects a large decrease in PaO2, our findings may have a clinical value for the health workers and the surgeons. 5) Mask mandates may affect a childs emotional, intellectual development, Gillis, 2020 The thing is we really dont know for sure what the effect may or may not be. But what we do know is that children, especially in early childhood, they use the mouth as part of the entire face to get a sense of whats going on around them in terms of adults and other people in their environment as far as their emotions. It also has a role in language development as well . If you think about an infant, when you interact with them you use part of your mouth. They are interested in your facial expressions. And if you think about that part of the face being covered up, there is that possibility that it could have an effect. But we dont know because this is really an unprecedented time. What we wonder about is if this could play a role and how can we stop it if it would affect child development. 6) Headaches and the N95 face-mask amongst healthcare providers, Lim, 2006 Healthcare providers may develop headaches following the use of the N95 face-mask. 7) Maximizing Fit for Cloth and Medical Procedure Masks to Improve Performance and Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Exposure, 2021, Brooks, 2021 Although use of double masking or knotting and tucking are two of many options that can optimize fit and enhance mask performance for source control and for wearer protection, double masking might impede breathing or obstruct peripheral vision for some wearers, and knotting and tucking can change the shape of the mask such that it no longer covers fully both the nose and the mouth of persons with larger faces. 8) Facemasks in the COVID-19 era: A health hypothesis, Vainshelboim, 2021 Wearing facemasks has been demonstrated to have substantial adverse physiological and psychological effects. These include hypoxia, hypercapnia, shortness of breath, increased acidity and toxicity, activation of fear and stress response, rise in stress hormones, immunosuppression, fatigue, headaches, decline in cognitive performance, predisposition for viral and infectious illnesses, chronic stress, anxiety and depression. 9) Wearing a mask can expose children to dangerous levels of carbon dioxide in just THREE MINUTES, study finds, Shaheen/Daily Mail, 2021 European study found that children wearing masks for only minutes could be exposed to dangerous carbon dioxide levels . Forty-five children were exposed to carbon dioxide levels between three to twelve times healthy levels. 10) How many children must die? Shilhavy, 2020 How long are parents going to continue masking their children causing great harm to them, even to the point of risking their lives? Dr. Eric Nepute in St. Louis took time to record a video rant that he wants everyone to share, after the 4-year-old child of one of his patients almost died from a bacterial lung infection caused by prolonged mask use. 11) Medical Doctor Warns that Bacterial Pneumonias Are on the Rise from Mask Wearing, Meehan, 2021 Im seeing patients that have facial rashes, fungal infections, bacterial infections. Reports coming from my colleagues, all over the world, are suggesting that the bacterial pneumonias are on the rise . Why might that be? Because untrained members of the public are wearing medical masks, repeatedly in a non-sterile fashion . Theyre becoming contaminated. Theyre pulling them off of their car seat, off the rear-view mirror, out of their pocket, from their countertop, and theyre reapplying a mask that should be worn fresh and sterile every single time. 12) Open Letter from Medical Doctors and Health Professionals to All Belgian Authorities and All Belgian Media, AIER, 2020 Wearing a mask is not without side effects. Oxygen deficiency (headache, nausea, fatigue, loss of concentration) occurs fairly quickly, an effect similar to altitude sickness. Every day we now see patients complaining of headaches, sinus problems, respiratory problems and hyperventilation due to wearing masks. In addition, the accumulated CO2 leads to a toxic acidification of the organism which affects our immunity. Some experts even warn of an increased transmission of the virus in case of inappropriate use of the mask. 13) Face coverings for covid-19: from medical intervention to social practice, Peters, 2020 At present, there is no direct evidence (from studies on Covid19 and in healthy people in the community) on the effectiveness of universal masking of healthy people in the community to prevent infection with respiratory viruses, including Covid19. Contamination of the upper respiratory tract by viruses and bacteria on the outside of medical face masks has been detected in several hospitals. Another research shows that a moist mask is a breeding ground for (antibiotic resistant) bacteria and fungi, which can undermine mucosal viral immunity. This research advocates the use of medical / surgical masks (instead of homemade cotton masks) that are used once and replaced after a few hours. 14) Face masks for the public during the covid-19 crisis, Lazzarino, 2020 The two potential side effects that have already been acknowledged are: (1) Wearing a face mask may give a false sense of security and make people adopt a reduction in compliance with other infection control measures, including social distancing and hands washing. (2) Inappropriate use of face mask: people must not touch their masks, must change their single-use masks frequently or wash them regularly, dispose them correctly and adopt other management measures, otherwise their risks and those of others may increase. Other potential side effects that we must consider are: (3) The quality and the volume of speech between two people wearing masks is considerably compromised and they may unconsciously come closer. While one may be trained to counteract side effect n.1, this side effect may be more difficult to tackle. (4) Wearing a face mask makes the exhaled air go into the eyes. This generates an uncomfortable feeling and an impulse to touch your eyes. If your hands are contaminated, you are infecting yourself. 15) Contamination by respiratory viruses on outer surface of medical masks used by hospital healthcare workers, Chughtai, 2019 Respiratory pathogens on the outer surface of the used medical masks may result in self-contamination. The risk is higher with longer duration of mask use (> 6 h) and with higher rates of clinical contact. Protocols on duration of mask use should specify a maximum time of continuous use, and should consider guidance in high contact settings. 16) Reusability of Facemasks During an Influenza Pandemic, Bailar, 2006 After considering all the testimony and other information we received, the committee concluded that there is currently no simple, reliable way to decontaminate these devices and enable people to use them safely more than once. There is relatively little data available about how effective these devices are against flu even the first time they are used. To the extent they can help at all, they must be used correctly, and the best respirator or mask will do little to protect a person who uses it incorrectly. Substantial research must be done to increase our understanding of how flu spreads, to develop better masks and respirators, and to make it easier to decontaminate them. Finally, the use of face coverings is only one of many strategies that will be needed to slow or halt a pandemic, and people should not engage in activities that would increase their risk of exposure to flu just because they have a mask or respirator. 17) Exhalation of respiratory viruses by breathing, coughing, and talking, Stelzer-Braid, 2009 The exhaled aerosols generated by coughing, talking, and breathing were sampled in 50 subjects using a novel mask, and analyzed using PCR for nine respiratory viruses. The exhaled samples from a subset of 10 subjects who were PCR positive for rhinovirus were also examined by cell culture for this virus. Of the 50 subjects, among the 33 with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, 21 had at least one virus detected by PCR, while amongst the 17 asymptomatic subjects, 4 had a virus detected by PCR. Overall, rhinovirus was detected in 19 subjects, influenza in 4 subjects, parainfluenza in 2 subjects, and human metapneumovirus in 1 subject. Two subjects were co-infected. Of the 25 subjects who had virus-positive nasal mucus, the same virus type was detected in 12 breathing samples, 8 talking samples, and in 2 coughing samples. In the subset of exhaled samples from 10 subjects examined by culture, infective rhinovirus was detected in 2. 18) [Effect of a surgical mask on six minute walking distance], Person, 2018 Wearing a surgical mask modifies significantly and clinically dyspnea without influencing walked distance. 19) Protective masks reduce resilience, Science ORF, 2020 The German researchers used two types of face masks for their studysurgical masks and so-called FFP2 masks, which are mainly used by medical personnel. The measurements were carried out with the help of spiroergometry, in which patients or in this case the test persons exert themselves physically on a stationary bicyclea so-called ergometeror a treadmill. The subjects were examined without a mask, with surgical masks and with FFP2 masks. The masks therefore impair breathing, especially the volume and the highest possible speed of the air when exhaling. The maximum possible force on the ergometer was significantly reduced. 20) Wearing masks even more unhealthy than expected, Coronoa transition, 2020 They contain microplasticsand they exacerbate the waste problem Many of them are made of polyester and so you have a microplastic problem. Many of the face masks would contain polyester with chlorine compounds: If I have the mask in front of my face, then of course I breathe in the microplastic directly and these substances are much more toxic than if you swallow them, as they get directly into the nervous system, Braungart continues. 21) Masking Children: Tragic, Unscientific, and Damaging, Alexander, 2021 Children do not readily acquire SARS-CoV-2 (very low risk), spread it to other children or teachers, or endanger parents or others at home. This is the settled science. In the rare cases where a child contracts Covid virus it is very unusual for the child to get severely ill or die. Masking can do positive harm to childrenas it can to some adults. But the cost benefit analysis is entirely different for adults and childrenparticularly younger children. Whatever arguments there may be for consenting adultschildren should not be required to wear masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Of course, zero risk is not attainablewith or without masks, vaccines, therapeutics, distancing or anything else medicine may develop or government agencies may impose. 22) The Dangers of Masks, Alexander, 2021 With that clarion call, we pivot and refer here to another looming concern and this is the potential danger of the chlorine, polyester, and microplastic components of the face masks (surgical principally but any of the mass-produced masks) that have become part of our daily lives due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We hope those with persuasive power in the government will listen to this plea. We hope that the necessary decisions will be made to reduce the risk to our populations. 23) 13-year-old mask wearer dies for inexplicable reasons, Corona Transition, 2020 The case is not only causing speculation in Germany about possible poisoning with carbon dioxide. Because the student was wearing a corona protective mask when she suddenly collapsed and died a little later in the hospital, writes Wochenblick. Editors Review: The fact that no cause of death was communicated nearly three weeks after the girls death is indeed unusual. The carbon dioxide content of the air is usually about 0.04 percent. From a proportion of four percent, the first symptoms of hypercapnia, i.e. carbon dioxide poisoning, appear. If the proportion of the gas rises to more than 20 percent, there is a risk of deadly carbon dioxide poisoning. However, this does not come without alarm signals from the body. According to the medical portal netdoktor, these include sweating, accelerated breathing, accelerated heartbeat, headaches, confusion, loss of consciousness. The unconsciousness of the girl could therefore be an indication of such poisoning. 24) Student Deaths Lead Chinese Schools to Change Mask Rules, thats, 2020 During the month of April, three cases of students suffering sudden cardiac death (SCD) while running during gym class have been reported in Zhejiang, Henan and Hunan provinces. Beijing Evening News noted that all three students were wearing masks at the time of their deaths, igniting a critical discussion over school rules on when students should wear masks. 25) Blaylock: Face Masks Pose Serious Risks to the Healthy, 2020 As for the scientific support for the use of face mask, a recent careful examination of the literature, in which 17 of the best studies were analyzed, concluded that, None of the studies established a conclusive relationship between mask/respirator use and protection against influenza infection.1 Keep in mind, no studies have been done to demonstrate that either a cloth mask or the N95 mask has any effect on transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Any recommendations, therefore, have to be based on studies of influenza virus transmission. And, as you have seen, there is no conclusive evidence of their efficiency in controlling flu virus transmission. 26) The mask requirement is responsible for severe psychological damage and the weakening of the immune system, Coronoa Transition, 2020 In fact, the mask has the potential to trigger strong psychovegetative stress reactions via emerging aggression, which correlate significantly with the degree of stressful after-effects. Prousa is not alone in her opinion. Several psychologists dealt with the mask problem and most came to devastating results. Ignoring them would be fatal, according to Prousa. 27) The physiological impact of wearing an N95 mask during hemodialysis as a precaution against SARS in patients with end-stage renal disease, Kao, 2004 Wearing an N95 mask for 4 hours during HD significantly reduced PaO2 and increased respiratory adverse effects in ESRD patients. 28) Is a Mask That Covers the Mouth and Nose Free from Undesirable Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of Potential Hazards?, Kisielinski, 2021 We objectified evaluation evidenced changes in respiratory physiology of mask wearers with significant correlation of O 2 drop and fatigue (p < 0.05), a clustered co-occurrence of respiratory impairment and O 2 drop (67 percent), N95 mask and CO 2 rise (82 percent), N95 mask and O 2 drop (72 percent), N95 mask and headache (60 percent), respiratory impairment and temperature rise (88 percent), but also temperature rise and moisture (100 percent) under the masks. Extended mask-wearing by the general population could lead to relevant effects and consequences in many medical fields. Here are the pathophysiological changes and subjective complaints: 1) Increase in blood carbon dioxide 2) Increase in breathing resistance 3) Decrease in blood oxygen saturation 4) Increase in heart rate 5) Decrease in cardiopulmonary capacity 6) Feeling of exhaustion 7) Increase in respiratory rate 8) Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath 9) Headache 10) Dizziness 11) Feeling of dampness and heat 12) Drowsiness (qualitative neurological deficits) 13) Decrease in empathy perception 14) Impaired skin barrier function with acne, itching and skin lesions 29) Is N95 face mask linked to dizziness and headache?, Ipek, 2021 Respiratory alkalosis and hypocarbia were detected after the use of N95. Acute respiratory alkalosis can cause headache, anxiety, tremor, muscle cramps. In this study, it was quantitatively shown that the participants symptoms were due to respiratory alkalosis and hypocarbia. 30) COVID-19 prompts a team of engineers to rethink the humble face mask, Myers, 2020 But in filtering those particles, the mask also makes it harder to breathe. N95 masks are estimated to reduce oxygen intake by anywhere from 5 to 20 percent. Thats significant, even for a healthy person. It can cause dizziness and lightheadedness. If you wear a mask long enough, it can damage the lungs. For a patient in respiratory distress, it can even be life threatening. 31) 70 doctors in open letter to Ben Weyts: Abolish mandatory mouth mask at schoolBelgium, World Today News, 2020 In an open letter to the Flemish Minister of Education Ben Weyts (N-VA), 70 doctors ask to abolish the mandatory mouth mask at school, both for the teachers and for the students. Weyts does not intend to change course. The doctors ask that Minister Ben Weyts immediately reverses his working method: no mouth mask obligation at school, only protect the risk group and only the advice that people with a possible risk profile should consult their doctor. 32) Face masks pose dangers for babies, toddlers during COVID-19 pandemic, UC Davis Health, 2020 Masks may present a choking hazard for young children. Also, depending on the mask and the fit, the child may have trouble breathing. If this happens, they need to be able to take it off, said UC Davis pediatrician Lena van der List. Children less than 2 years of age will not reliably be able to remove a face mask and could suffocate. Therefore, masks should not routinely be used for young children . The younger the child, the more likely they will be to not wear the mask properly, reach under the mask and touch potentially contaminated masks, said Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Childrens Hospital. Of course, this depends on the developmental level of the individual child. But I think masks are not likely to provide much potential benefit over risk until the teen years. 33) Covid-19: Important potential side effects of wearing face masks that we should bear in mind, Lazzarino, 2020 Other potential side effects that we must consider, however, are 1) The quality and volume of speech between people wearing masks is considerably compromised and they may unconsciously come closer2) Wearing a mask makes the exhaled air go into the eyes. This generates an impulse to touch the eyes. 3) If your hands are contaminated, you are infecting yourself, 4) Face masks make breathing more difficult. Moreover, a fraction of carbon dioxide previously exhaled is inhaled at each respiratory cycle. Those phenomena increase breathing frequency and deepness, and they may worsen the burden of covid-19 if infected people wearing masks spread more contaminated air. This may also worsen the clinical condition of infected people if the enhanced breathing pushes the viral load down into their lungs, 5) The innate immunitys efficacy is highly dependent on the viral load. If masks determine a humid habitat where SARS-CoV-2 can remain active because of the water vapour continuously provided by breathing and captured by the mask fabric, they determine an increase in viral load (by re-inhaling exhaled viruses) and therefore they can cause a defeat of the innate immunity and an increase in infections. 34) Risks of N95 Face Mask Use in Subjects With COPD, Kyung, 2020 Of the 97 subjects, 7 with COPD did not wear the N95 for the entire test duration. This mask-failure group showed higher British modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale scores and lower FEV 1 percent of predicted values than did the successful mask use group. A modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale score 3 (odds ratio 167, 95 percent CI 8.4 to >999.9; P = .008) or a FEV 1 < 30 percent predicted (odds ratio 163, 95 percent CI 7.4 to >999.9; P = .001) was associated with a risk of failure to wear the N95. Breathing frequency, blood oxygen saturation, and exhaled carbon dioxide levels also showed significant differences before and after N95 use. 35) Masks too dangerous for children under 2, medical group warns, The Japan Times, 2020 Children under the age of 2 shouldnt wear masks because they can make breathing difficult and increase the risk of choking, a medical group has said, launching an urgent appeal to parents as the nation reopens from the coronavirus crisis . Masks can make breathing difficult because infants have narrow air passages, which increases the burden on their hearts, the association said, adding that masks also raise the risk of heat stroke for them. 36) Face masks can be problematic, dangerous to health of some Canadians: advocates, Spenser, 2020 Face masks are dangerous to the health of some Canadians and problematic for some others . Asthma Canada president and CEO Vanessa Foran said simply wearing a mask could create risk of an asthma attack. 37) COVID-19 Masks Are a Crime Against Humanity and Child Abuse, Griesz-Brisson, 2020 The rebreathing of our exhaled air will without a doubt create oxygen deficiency and a flooding of carbon dioxide. We know that the human brain is very sensitive to oxygen depravation. There are nerve cells for example in the hippocampus, that cant be longer than 3 minutes without oxygenthey cannot survive. The acute warning symptoms are headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, issues in concentration, slowing down of the reaction timereactions of the cognitive system. However, when you have chronic oxygen depravation, all of those symptoms disappear, because you get used to it. But your efficiency will remain impaired and the undersupply of oxygen in your brain continues to progress. We know that neurodegenerative diseases take years to decades to develop. If today you forget your phone number, the breakdown in your brain would have already started 20 or 30 years ago . The child needs the brain to learn, and the brain needs oxygen to function. We dont need a clinical study for that. This is simple, indisputable physiology. Conscious and purposely induced oxygen deficiency is an absolutely deliberate health hazard, and an absolute medical contraindication. 38) Study shows how masks are harming children, Mercola, 2021 Data from the first registry to record childrens experiences with masks show physical, psychological and behavioral issues including irritability, difficulty concentrating and impaired learning.Since school shutdowns in spring 2020, an increasing number of parents are seeking drug treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for their children.Evidence from the U.K. shows schools are not the super spreaders health officials said they were; measured rates of infection in schools were the same as the community, not higher.A large randomized controlled trial showed wearing masks does not reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2. 39) New Study Finds Masks Hurt Schoolchildren Physically, Psychologically, and Behaviorally, Hall, 2021 https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-124394/v2 A new study, involving over 25,000 school-aged children, shows that masks are harming schoolchildren physically, psychologically, and behaviorally, revealing 24 distinct health issues associated with wearing masks . Though these results are concerning, the study also found that 29.7 percent of children experienced shortness of breath, 26.4 percent experienced dizziness, and hundreds of the participants experiencing accelerated respiration, tightness in chest, weakness, and short-term impairment of consciousness. 40) Protective Face Masks: Effect on the Oxygenation and Heart Rate Status of Oral Surgeons during Surgery, Scarano, 2021 In all 20 surgeons wearing FFP2 covered by surgical masks, a reduction in arterial O 2 saturation from around 97.5 percent before surgery to 94 percent after surgery was recorded with increase of heart rates. A shortness of breath and light-headedness/headaches were also noted. 41) Effects of surgical and FFP2/N95 face masks on cardiopulmonary exercise capacity, Fikenzer, 2020 Ventilation, cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and comfort are reduced by surgical masks and highly impaired by FFP2/N95 face masks in healthy individuals. These data are important for recommendations on wearing face masks at work or during physical exercise. 42) Headaches Associated With Personal Protective EquipmentA Cross-Sectional Study Among Frontline Healthcare Workers During COVID-19, Ong, 2020 Most healthcare workers develop de novo PPE-associated headaches or exacerbation of their pre-existing headache disorders. 43) Open letter from medical doctors and health professionals to all Belgian authorities and all Belgian media, The American Institute of Stress, 2020 Wearing a mask is not without side effects. Oxygen deficiency (headache, nausea, fatigue, loss of concentration) occurs fairly quickly, an effect similar to altitude sickness. Every day we now see patients complaining of headaches, sinus problems, respiratory problems, and hyperventilation due to wearing masks. In addition, the accumulated CO2 leads to a toxic acidification of the organism which affects our immunity. Some experts even warn of increased transmission of the virus in case of inappropriate use of the mask. 44) Reusing masks may increase your risk of coronavirus infection, expert says, Laguipo, 2020 For the public, they should not wear facemasks unless they are sick, and if a healthcare worker advised them. For the average member of the public walking down a street, it is not a good idea, Dr. Harries said. What tends to happen is people will have one mask. They wont wear it all the time, they will take it off when they get home, they will put it down on a surface they havent cleaned, she added. Further, she added that behavioral issues could adversely put themselves at more risk of getting the infection. For instance, people go out and dont wash their hands, they touch parts of the mask or their face, and they get infected. 45) Whats Going On Under the Masks?, Wright, 2021 Americans today have pretty good chompers on average, at least relative to most other people, past and present. Nevertheless, we do not think enough about oral health as evidenced by the almost complete lack of discussion regarding the effect of lockdowns and mandatory masking on our mouths. 46) Experimental Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Content in Inhaled Air With or Without Face Masks in Healthy ChildrenA Randomized Clinical Trial, Walach, 2021 A large-scale survey in Germany of adverse effects in parents and children using data of 25 930 children has shown that 68 percent of the participating children had problems when wearing nose and mouth coverings. 47) NM Kids forced to wear masks while running in 100-degree heat; Parents are striking back, Smith, 2021 Nationally, children have a 99.997 percent survival rate from COVID-19. In New Mexico, only 0.7 percent of child COVID-19 cases have resulted in hospitalization. It is clear that children have an extremely low risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19, and mask mandates are placing a burden upon kids which is detrimental to their own health and well-being. 48) Health Canada issues advisory for disposable masks with graphene, CBC, 2021 Health Canada is advising Canadians not to use disposable face masks that contain graphene. Health Canada issued the notice on Friday and said wearers could inhale graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms. Masks containing the toxic particles may have been distributed in some health-care facilities. 49) COVID-19: Performance study of microplastic inhalation risk posed by wearing masks, Li, 2021 Wearing masks considerably reduces the inhalation risk of particles (e.g., granular microplastics and unknown particles) even when they are worn continuously for 720 h. Surgical, cotton, fashion, and activated carbon masks wearing pose higher fiber-like microplastic inhalation risk, while all masks generally reduced exposure when used under their supposed time (<4 h). N95 poses less fiber-like microplastic inhalation risk. Reusing masks after they underwent different disinfection pre-treatment processes can increase the risk of particle (e.g., granular microplastics) and fiber-like microplastic inhalation. Ultraviolet disinfection exerts a relatively weak effect on fiber-like microplastic inhalation, and thus, it can be recommended as a treatment process for reusing masks if proven effective from microbiological standpoint. Wearing an N95 mask reduces the inhalation risk of spherical-type microplastics by 25.5 times compared with not wearing a mask. 50) Manufacturers have been using nanotechnology-derived graphene in face masks now there are safety concerns, Maynard, 2021 Early concerns around graphene were sparked by previous research on another form of carbon carbon nanotubes. It turns out that some forms of these fiber-like materials can cause serious harm if inhaled. And following on from research here, a natural next-question to ask is whether carbon nanotubes close cousin graphene comes with similar concerns.Because graphene lacks many of the physical and chemical aspects of carbon nanotubes that make them harmful (such as being long, thin, and hard for the body to get rid of), the indications are that the material is safer than its nanotube cousins. But safer doesnt mean safe. And current research indicates that this is not a material that should be used where it could potentially be inhaled, without a good amount of safety testing first . As a general rule of thumb, engineered nanomaterials should not be used in products where they might inadvertently be inhaled and reach the sensitive lower regions of the lungs. 51) Masking young children in school harms language acquisition, Walsh, 2021 This is important because children and/or students do not have the speech or language ability that adults have they are not equally able and the ability to see the face and especially the mouth is critical to language acquisition which children and/or students are engaged in at all times. Furthermore, the ability to see the mouth is not only essential to communication but also essential to brain development. Studies show that by age four, kids from low-income households will hear 30 million less words than their more affluent counterparts, who get more quality face-time with caretakers. (https://news.stanford.edu/news/2014/november/language-toddlers-fernald-110514.html). 52) Dangerous pathogens found on childrens face masks, Rational Ground, 2021 A group of parents in Gainesville, FL, sent 6 face masks to a lab at the University of Florida, requesting an analysis of contaminants found on the masks after they had been worn. The resulting report found that five masks were contaminated with bacteria, parasites, and fungi, including three with dangerous pathogenic and pneumonia-causing bacteria. Although the test is capable of detecting viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, only one virus was found on one mask (alcelaphine herpesvirus 1) . Half of the masks were contaminated with one or more strains of pneumonia-causing bacteria. One-third were contaminated with one or more strains of meningitis-causing bacteria. One-third were contaminated with dangerous, antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens. In addition, less dangerous pathogens were identified, including pathogens that can cause fever, ulcers, acne, yeast infections, strep throat, periodontal disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and more. 53) Face mask dermatitis due to compulsory facial masks during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: data from 550 health care and non-health care workers in Germany, Niesert, 2021 The duration of wearing masks showed a significant impact on the prevalence of symptoms (p < 0.001). Type IV hypersensitivity was significantly more likely in participants with symptoms compared to those without symptoms (p = 0.001), whereas no increase in symptoms was observed in participants with atopic diathesis. HCWs used facial skin care products significantly more often than non-HCWs (p = 0.001). 54) Effect of Wearing Face Masks on the Carbon Dioxide Concentration in the Breathing Zone, AAQR/Geiss, 2020 Detected carbon dioxide concentrations ranged from 2150 192 to 2875 323 ppm. The concentrations of carbon dioxide while not wearing a face mask varied from 500900 ppm. Doing office work and standing still on the treadmill each resulted in carbon dioxide concentrations of around 2200 ppm. A small increase could be observed when walking at a speed of 3 km h1 (leisurely walking pace) concentrations in the detected range can cause undesirable symptoms, such as fatigue, headache, and loss of concentration. 55) Surgical masks as source of bacterial contamination during operative procedures, Zhiqing, 2018 The source of bacterial contamination in SMs was the body surface of the surgeons rather than the OR environment. Moreover, we recommend that surgeons should change the mask after each operation, especially those beyond 2 hours. 56) The Damage of Masking Children Could be Irreparable, Hussey, 2021 When we surround children with mask-wearers for a year at a time, are we impairing their face barcode recognition during a period of hot neural development, thus putting full development of the FFA at risk? Does the demand for separation from others, reducing social interaction, add to the potential consequences as it might in autism? When can we be sure that we wont interfere with visual input to the face recognition visual neurology so we dont interfere with brain development? How much time with stimulus interference can we allow without consequences? Those are all questions currently without answers; we dont know. Unfortunately, the science implies that if we mess up brain development for faces, we may not currently have therapies to undo everything weve done. 57) Masks can be Murder, Grossman, 2021 Wearing masks can create a sense of anonymity for an aggressor, while also dehumanizing the victim. This prevents empathy, empowering violence, and murder. Masking helps remove empathy and compassion, allowing others to commit unspeakable acts on the masked person. 58) London high school teacher calls face masks an egregious and unforgivable form of child abuse, Butler, 2020 In his email, Farquharson called the campaign to legislate mask wearing a shameful farce, a charade, an act of political theatre thats more about enforcing obedience and compliance than it is about public health. He also likened children wearing masks to involuntary self-torture, calling it an egregious and unforgivable form of child abuse and physical assault. 59) UK Government Advisor Admits Masks Are Just Comfort Blankets That Do Virtually Nothing, ZeroHedge, 2021 As the UK Government heralds freedom day today, which is anything but, a prominent government scientific advisor has admitted that face masks do very little to protect from coronavirus and are basically just comfort blankets the professor noted that those aerosols escape masks and will render the mask ineffective, adding The public were demanding something must be done, they got masks, it is just a comfort blanket. But now it is entrenched, and we are entrenching bad behaviour all around the world you can look at mask mandates and superimpose on infection rates, you cannot see that mask mandates made any effect whatsoever, Axon further noted, adding that The best thing you can say about any mask is that any positive effect they do have is too small to be measured. 60) Masks, false safety and real dangers, Part 1: Friable mask particulate and lung vulnerability, Borovoy, 2020 Surgical personnel are trained to never touch any part of a mask, except the loops and the nose bridge. Otherwise, the mask is considered useless and is to be replaced. Surgical personnel are strictly trained not to touch their masks otherwise. However, the general public may be seen touching various parts of their masks. Even the masks just removed from manufacturer packaging have been shown in the above photos to contain particulate and fiber that would not be optimal to inhale . Further concerns of macrophage response and other immune and inflammatory and fibroblast response to such inhaled particles specifically from facemasks should be the subject of more research. If widespread masking continues, then the potential for inhaling mask fibers and environmental and biological debris continues on a daily basis for hundreds of millions of people. This should be alarming for physicians and epidemiologists knowledgeable in occupational hazards. 61) Medical Masks, Desai, 2020 Face masks should be used only by individuals who have symptoms of respiratory infection such as coughing, sneezing, or, in some cases, fever. Face masks should also be worn by health care workers, by individuals who are taking care of or are in close contact with people who have respiratory infections, or otherwise as directed by a doctor. Face masks should not be worn by healthy individuals to protect themselves from acquiring respiratory infection because there is no evidence to suggest that face masks worn by healthy individuals are effective in preventing people from becoming ill. From the Brownstone Institute Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A high school student, 17, receives her first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine administered by Medical Assistants from St. John's Well Child and Family Center at Abraham Lincoln High School in Los Angeles on April 23, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) New Bill Would Give California Minors 12 and Older Vaccine Autonomy SAN FRANCISCOCalifornia lawmakers introduced a bill on Jan. 20 designed to allow children 12 and older to receive any U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved vaccination, including the recent COVID-19 vaccine, without parental consent. The Teens Choose Vaccines Act, or Senate Bill 866, builds on an existing state law that gives autonomy for minors 12 and older to receive both the hepatitis B and Human Papillomavirus vaccine. Giving young people the autonomy to receive life-saving vaccines, regardless of their parents beliefs or work schedules, is essential for their physical and mental health, Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) said in a statement. Wiener, who co-authored the bill with eight other Democratic lawmakers, said parents and guardians who refuse to vaccinate their children are keeping them from participating in sports, extracurricular activities, or spending time with friends. Hundreds of parents, teachers, and students rallied near the Huntington Beach pier as part of the statewide walk-out to denounce Californias COVID-19 vaccine mandate for K12 students in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Oct. 18, 2021. (Vanessa Serna/The Epoch Times) Dozens of parents and students rally in response to the statewide school walkout to protest Californias COVID-19 vaccine mandate for schools in front of the Bonita Unified School District building in San Dimas, Calif., on Oct. 18, 2021. (Linda Jiang/The Epoch Times) According to the statement, unvaccinated people are approximately 20 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than the fully vaccinated, and about 28 percent of the legislations targeted age group, Weiner said, remain unvaccinated since the FDA approved the vaccine for children five and older. Medical professionals, students, and nonprofits statewide who advocated for Wieners proposal called it a step in the right direction for adolescents to learn an assumed responsibility for public health and safety. Nyla, a 7th-grade student in San Francisco, was quoted in Wieners statement, I cant think of a good reason why laws shouldnt let people my age choose to lower our risk of getting really sick. And vaccines not only make us safer, they keep our friends and family safe, too. Read More Teacher Potentially Facing 4 Years Jail Time for Allegedly Vaccinating Teen Without Parental Consent As of Jan. 19, of the more than 77,000 COVID-19 related deaths reported in California since March 2020, 47 were under 17 years oldless than 0.1 percentaccording to the state Department of Public Health. Robert Crane, a California parent who opposes the legislation, said that giving minors the freedom to decide whether to take the COVID-19 vaccine infringes on parental rights and is a step toward allowing the state to enforce vaccinations. Most children dont make decisions adults make because they dont do all the research that is out there, Crane told NTD News, sister media outlet of The Epoch Times. Crane, along with other concerned parents and medical professionals, looks to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System for COVID-19 vaccine-related side effects and deaths. Over the past two years, according to the reporting system, over 2,100 cases of myocarditis or pericarditis have been reported out of the 529 million COVID-19 vaccines administered. To date, about 11,500 post-vaccination deaths0.0022 percenthave been reported to the system, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which stated that adverse events following vaccination, including deaths, do not necessarily mean that a vaccine caused a health problem. The unveiling of the legislation also comes at a time when a recent CDC study showed that natural immunitygained through a previous infectionis much stronger against the Delta variant than immunity gained through vaccination. According to the CDC study, released on Jan. 19, vaccinated people without natural immunity are three times more likely to test positive than unvaccinated people with natural immunity in California. This legislation is absolutely bizarre, unconstitutional, and its child abuse, Dr. Masha Rechkunova-Goodson, member of the California Naturopathic Doctors Association, told The Epoch Times. The vaccine is so new, we wont know what will happen to them in the future. Brad Dacus, president and founder of the Pacific Justice Institutea legal nonprofit defending parental rights established in 1997told The Epoch Times the Teen Choose Vaccines Act is alarming. He said that a large contingency of parents would pull their children from California government-funded schools and redirect them toward private education alternatives if the bill passes. Dacus said that the U.S. Supreme Court has consistently ruled that parents have a fundamental right over their childs health, education, supply, and welfare over the last century. A large part of that right is the ability for them to decide medical and health decisions for their child, he said. This legislation is assuming that the masses of California parents are willing to surrender the welfare of their child to the state over a medical vaccine that could be very harmful and dangerous. Read More Pandemic Lessons Learned: Rushed COVID Vaccines Wiener, co-author of the bill, also mentioned that under California law, children over 12 also have the right to consent access for birth control, abortions, or treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. Dacus, however, called the comparison an egregious violation of parental rights that doesnt add much credibility to the argument. If The Teen Choose Vaccines Act passes, it could go into effect early next year. California would then join Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Washington, D.C., in allowing children as young as 12 to receive vaccinations without a parent or guardians approval. Wieners office didnt respond to requests for comment by press time. NYC Mayor Asks Washington to Help Control Flow of Guns Into City After Officers Shot New York City Mayor Eric Adams is calling on the federal government to step in and help block the constant flow of guns into his city after two NYPD officers were shot, one fatally. During an appearance on ABCs Good Morning America on Jan. 23, Adams said the coordination with the federal government would be part of his soon-to-be-unveiled plan to deal with underlying reasons for New York City to experience such a surge in violence. The police department is doing their job taking thousands of guns off the streets, yet each time you take a gun off, theres a constant flow of new guns coming here, the former police captain-turned-mayor said. If we dont coordinate to go after those gun dealers that are supplying large cities in America such as New York, we are losing the battle, and the federal government must step in and play a role in doing so. Adams, a Democrat, listed some other factors that are contributing to the growth in violent crime, including the citys public education system, which he said has failed children for years, while leading the nation in terms of average spending on each student. Were dealing with a city that is feeding the many rivers of crime that feeds the sea of crime, he told the host. Those rivers included an educational system that has failed children for years. It also includes the fact that COVID has devastated our city. We have laws that are not facing the reality of whats taking place on the ground. Its imperative that our city, state, and federal government coordinate together as we did during the terrorist attack on our soil, he said, referring to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Another part of the mayors plan is to bring back the plainclothes police unit that was dismantled in 2020 by his Democratic predecessor, Bill de Blasio. Pro-police groups advocated in favor of that strategy, saying that proactive policing tactics have been effective in preventing violent crimes that involve guns. Were going to roll out a smart way of policing, putting in place again a modified version of a plainclothes anti-gun unit thats going to go after those known shooters and people who are actually creating the devastation in our city, Adams said. Adamss comments come after a series of tragedies, including an 11-month-old girl in the Bronx who was struck by a stray bullet that hit the parked car she was in, and more recently, a fatal shooting of a police officer. Officer Jason Rivera, 22, died on Jan. 21 as he responded to a domestic violence call in Harlem. Another officer who was shot, Wilbert Mora, remains in critical condition. The NYPD initially reported that the suspect, LaShawn McNeil, was killed by a third unnamed police officer at the scene, but later clarified that he was shot and critically wounded. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla talks during a press conference at the factory of Pfizer in Puurs, Belgium, on April 23, 2021. (John Thys/Pool via Reuters) Pfizer CEO Hopes for Annual COVID-19 Vaccine Over More Frequent Boosters Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer, said on Jan. 22 that he would prefer an annual COVID-19 vaccine over booster shots that are issued at more frequent intervals. In an interview with Israels N12 News, he was asked whether he sees booster shots being administered every four to five months on a regular basis. This will not be a good scenario, Bourla said, What Im hoping (is) that we will have a vaccine that you will have to do once a year. Once a yearit is easier to convince people to do it, it is easier for people to remember. So from a public health perspective, it is an ideal situation. We are looking to see if we can create a vaccine that covers Omicron and doesnt forget the other variants and that could be a solution, he said. He noted that Pfizer is looking to file approval for a vaccine targeted toward the Omicron variant and could be able to mass produce it as soon as Marchrepeating what he told CNBC earlier this month. The EUs drug regulator, European Medicines Agency, earlier this month warned about having frequent vaccine boosters, saying it may not prove to be a sustainable long term approach. Israels Sheba Medical Center published a preliminary study on Jan. 17 that found a fourth shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine increases antibodies to even higher levels than the third shot, but still cannot protect people against contracting the Omicron variant. The studys lead researcher, Prof. Gili Regev-Yochay, said she still supports Israels decision to provide people over 60 and at-risk groups a fourth shot. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Jan. 21 came out with three studies that support the use of an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine amid the Omicron variants spread. Omicron currently accounts for over 99 percent of COVID-19 cases in the United States. The first study is published in the CDCs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and analyzed hospitalizations and emergency room and urgent care center visits in 10 states, from August 2021 to January 2022. The findings suggest that a third dose (a first booster dose) of the mRNA-based Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines was at least 90 percent effective at preventing hospitalizations. The second study, also published by the CDC, looked at case and death rates in 25 states from April through Christmas. The findings suggest that people who took booster shots had the highest protection against COVID-19 infectionboth during the time the Delta variant was dominant and also when the Omicron variant was taking over. A third study, led by CDC researchers, and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), examined people who who tested positive for COVID-19 Dec. 10, 2021, to Jan. 1 throughout 4,600 testing sites across the United States. The findings suggest that receipt of three doses of mRNA vaccine, relative to being unvaccinated and to receipt of 2 doses, was associated with protection against both the Omicron and Delta variants, the authors wrote. The CDC also released data on Jan. 19 that suggested that natural immunity was better than the protection from COVID-19 vaccines against the Delta virus variant. Specifically, hospitalization records from California showed that people who had not received a COVID-19 vaccine but did have a prior COVID-19 infection were less likely to be hospitalized, compared to those who were vaccinated but had not yet had a prior COVID-19 infection. Reuters contributed to this report. Demonstrators supporting Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Hong Kongers take part in a protest against the Chinese Communist Party as they march along Regent Street toward the Chinese Embassy in London on Oct. 1, 2021. (Matt Dunham, File/AP Photo) Research Paper Taken Down for Sourcing Non-Consensual DNA Samples From Tibetans and Uyghurs A respected science journal has withdrawn a study that collected DNA samples from Tibetans and Uyghurs without informed consent. It comes against a backdrop of Chinas increasing clampdown on ethnic minorities in Tibet and Xinjiang, China, using tactics such as cultural and religious suppression, mass internment, forced labor, and the separation of families. Human Genetics published a retraction note to the article in early January, stating that the authors have not been able to verify whether appropriate informed consent was obtained from all study participants. The study, which set out to reexamine the male genetic landscape of China based on almost 38,000 DNA samples for Y chromosome variation across Chinese ethnic communities, used genetic data from Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Kazakhs. It was published in Human Genetics in 2017, the same year reports emerged about Chinese police collecting Uyghurs DNA samples for mass surveillance, UK solicitor Samuel Pitchford wrote in a post for Human Rights Pulse on Jan. 5. Supporters of the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement rally in front of the British Embassy in Washington on April 16, 2021. The group is calling for Uyghurs and other Turkic people fleeing Xinjiang, China, to be granted refugee status and calling for an international boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Like other retracted papers on the same topic, the study failed to evidence that the authors complied with international ethical standards under the Declaration of Helsinki, which require physicians to protect the life, health, privacy, and dignity of the human subject. The purpose of medical research is to benefit human beings, but that can only happen if physicians respect the human rights of their subjects, Pitchford wrote. The study first caught the attention of Yves Moreau, a bioinformatician at KU Leuven in Belgium, who found the sheer volume of data and the participation of coauthors from Chinese law enforcement organizations in the study to be particularly problematic. He then asked the journals editors in June 2020 to withdraw the indefensible paper, prompting an investigation by the journals publisher, Springer Nature. The study was finally taken down in December 2021, splitting its Chinese and German authors, with some agreeing to the retraction and others opposing it. DNA Samples as Tools for Surveillance This isnt the first time a science paper has faced pushback due to the use of nonconsensual DNA samples. In August 2021 and September 2021, two medical studies by Chinese researchers involving the gathering of DNA variants in the Eurasian community have been retracted by the International Journal of Legal Medicine and Human Genetics, respectively, which cited concerns over ethics and consent procedures. Since 2019, Moreau has reported more than 80 China research papers to almost every major academic publisher for investigation, but most of the time, his efforts have fallen on deaf ears. Its really quite embarrassing that no one, especially these journals, thought of this, he told the South China Morning Post on Sept. 12, 2021. We dont realise that we are doing a lot of research that contributes to very dangerous surveillance technology across the world, not just in China But I focus on China because this is where I see the biggest problems right now. The U.N. Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy has also noted that DNA databases are subject to potential misuse for government surveillance, including identification of relatives and non-paternity, and the risk of miscarriages of justice. Mass DNA collection by the powerful Chinese police absent effective privacy protections or an independent judicial system is a perfect storm for abuses, said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. China is moving its Orwellian system to the genetic level. China Science Research Stumbles Over Ethical Standards But while the misuse of nonconsensual DNA samples in research papers has only surfaced recently, other ethical lapses have not, such as the lack of transparency in the reporting of Chinas organ donors, Pitchford said. According to a 2019 study published by British Medical Journal, between 2000 and 2017, 99 percent of publications involving organ transplantation in China (435 publications) failed to prove that organ donors gave consent, while 92.5 percent (412 publications) failed to clarify whether organs were sourced from executed prisoners. The findings have resulted in the retractions of more than two dozen science papers, Pitchford wrote. The retraction comes as an independent tribunal by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC concluded (pdf) that Chinese doctors, under orders from the state, have killed thousands of innocents for their organs. Chinese bioethicist Nie Jing-Bao, who now works at the University of Otago in New Zealand, told Science on Aug. 10, 2021, that it can be very difficult to judge the validity of informed consent in China. Explicit and especially implicit pressure [to give consent] often exists in various forms, he said. However, Springer Nature Director of Journal Policy Ed Gerstner said in 2021 that theres no merit in boycotting studies from an entire country. All research deserves to be assessed on its own meritsand adherence to ethical standardsregardless of its country of origin, Gerstner said. Russia Responds to UKs Very Dangerous Coup Allegations Russias Foreign Ministry on Sunday dismissed claims from the United Kingdom that Moscow wanted to install a pro-Russia leader in Kyiv while it considers whether to invade the beleaguered Eastern European nation. We have information that indicates the Russian Government is looking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine, the UK statement, published Saturday, started by saying. The UK further suggested that the Kremlin currently is maintain[ing] links with former officials including Serhiy Arbuzov, a former deputy prime minister of Ukraine between 2012 to 2014; Andriy Kluyev, first deputy prime minister from 2010 to 2012; former deputy chief of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council Vladimir Sivkovich; and Mykola Azarov, the prime minister of Ukraine from 2010 to 2014. Whats more, the UK statement alleges that former Ukrainian Parliament Member Yevhen Murayev is being considered by Russias leadership as a potential candidate to lead the Ukrainian government. The UK did not provide evidence for its claim. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss asserted, however, that Moscow must deescalate tensions and end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy. But over the weekend, Russian officials said the UKs Foreign Office should stop publishing nonsense and disinformation. We strongly urge London to stop foolish rhetorical provocations, which are very dangerous in the current overheated situation, and contribute to the real diplomatic efforts to ensure reliable guarantees for European security, the statement issued by the Russian Embassy in the UK said. The embassy further alleged that the UKs strategy is to accuse Russia of plotting inevitable invasion of Ukraine and try to play the role of an ideological leader, defending itself from autocrats and aiming to free the world.' Murayev, meanwhile, responded to the UKs statement by dismissing the claim. Youve made my evening. The British Foreign Office seems confused, Murayev told outlets, saying he has been under Russian sanctions since 2018. In a statement to Strana.news, he also remarked, How the UK secret services and the Foreign Office square [the sanctions] with Russia supposedly wanting to make me the head of an occupation governmentthats a question for Mr. Bean, referring to the famous British sitcom character played by comedian Rowan Atkinson. This morning I already read in all the news publications this conspiracy theory: absolutely unproven, absolutely unfounded, Murayev told Reuters on Sunday, adding he was considering legal action. In a message to Reuters, Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian adviser to the presidential office, said the allegations should be taken seriously, acknowledged there was doubt among Ukrainians as to whether Murayev was too ridiculous a figure to be the Kremlins pick to lead Ukraine. But he added that Russia had propped up previously minor figures in leadership positions in annexed Crimea and separatist-held Donbass. Therefore one should take this information as seriously as possible, he said. On Saturday, U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne appeared to endorse the UK assessment that the Kremlin is plotting to install a Moscow-friendly puppet administration. This kind of plotting is deeply concerning, Horne said. The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine. Reuters contributed to this report. Sen. Sinema Censured by Arizona Democratic Party Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) was censured by the Arizona Democratic Partys executive board over the weekend for voting to keep the Senates filibuster, which effectively blocked congressional Democrats voting legislation. The symbolic gesture was handed down on Jan. 22 as Democrats sought to pass sweeping measures that would supersede efforts by states to strengthen their own voting laws, including requiring identification to vote, in the wake of the 2020 election. Earlier this month, House Democrats passed the sweeping election overhaul measures on party-line votes, including one that would create federal standards for voting by mail, early voting, and voter ID. Another bill approved by House Democrats would restore some aspects of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. When the bill reached the Senate floor, Sinema and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) were the only two Democrats to vote against a measure that would change the 180-year-old filibuster. Democrats had sought to change the rule so they could pass the election overhaul bill with a simple majority, or 51 votes. Currently, Democrats control the 5050 Senate because Vice President Kamala Harris casts tiebreaking votes. I want to be clear, the Arizona Democratic Party is a diverse coalition with plenty of room for policy disagreements; however, on the matter of the filibuster and the urgency to protect voting rights, we have been crystal clear, Arizona Democratic Party Chair Raquel Teran said in a statement to news outlets. In the choice between an archaic legislative norm and protecting Arizonans right to vote, we choose the latter, and we always will. We were counting on Sen. Sinema to fight for Arizona, find a path forward, and protect our democracy, but on this issue, she has fallen short. Right now, Arizona is ground-zero for the modern-day fight for voting rights, and we dont have any time to waste. However, the filibuster was often used by Democratic senators when they were the minority party in the Senate during the 115th and 116th Congresses. They used the filibuster 314 times during former President Donald Trumps years in office; the GOP used the legislative device 175 times during former President Barack Obamas eight-year tenure. In response to the Arizona Democratic Partys bid to censure her, Sinemas office defended her record. During three terms in the U.S. House, and now in the Senate, Kyrsten has always promised Arizonans she would be an independent voice for the statenot for either political party. Shes delivered for Arizonans and has always been honest about where she stands, Sinema spokesperson Hannah Hurley told news outlets over the weekend. And while Sinema, who is up for reelection in 2024, supports certain Democratic-backed voting rights provisions, she says that she is opposed to actions that would deepen our divisions and risk repeated radical reversals in federal policy, cementing uncertainty and further eroding confidence in our government, according to her office. As Democrats have tried to push the voting measures through Congress, theyve garnered virtually no Republican support. Republicans have said that Democrats voter overhaul bids are merely an attempt to federalize elections. Sinemas office didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Jeff and Melonie Eastham at the Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Union Colony Civic Center - Monfort Concert Hall in Greenley, Colo., on Jan. 21, 2022. (Sally Sun/Epoch Times) GREELEY, Colo.With people having to tolerate the disruption to daily life brought about by the pandemic over the past two years, the presentation of Shen Yun Performing Arts in Greeley, Colo., was a welcome change. For Melonie and Jeff Eastham, driving two and a half hours to the Monfort Concert Hall to see Shen Yun was a chance to experience another side of life. After enjoying the artistic cultural experience in a theater with others, they commented on what stood out for them. Its beauty and grace. Its really nice, said Jeff, president of a small contracting company. Melonie, a teacher of literature, said, I love the color and just the fluid movement. Its just lovely. Beauty and History Take-Aways New York-based Shen Yun presents traditional classical Chinese dance and folk dances supported by a unique orchestra made up of both orchestral instruments from the West and traditional Chinese instruments. Tracey Sanders, a high school teacher, and her husband Bohdi, a martial artist and author, were also in the audience. Bohdis latest publication is The Art of Inner Peace. He has studied Taoism and Sun Tzu. Beautiful dancers, incredible history, said Tracey. Shen Yun depicted Beautiful spiritual feelings and beautiful people. You can see the character and the deep spirituality of the people through the dances. Its beautiful. Tracey Sanders You can see the character and the deep spirituality of the people through the dances. Its beautiful, she said. Shen Yuns mini-dramas, told through dance, draw their themes from 5,000 years of Chinese history, with dancers depicting moral and legendary tales from Chinas spiritual teachings and dynastic periods. Bodhi was impressed by the flexibility of the dancers. I also like the pageantry, the colors, and the history of China. Shen Yun has highlighted the differences between the beauty of ancient Chinese culture and China today, he said. They cant even show the [Shen Yun] show in China, which is sad because, if they did, people would not be satisfied with what they have now, Bohdi explained. Shen Yun has set itself the mission of reviving the authentic traditional Chinese culture which has been deliberately destroyed by the communist regime. For this reason, Shen Yun has been banned from performing in communist China. As a writer, Bohdi appreciated the stories portrayed by the Shen Yun dance pieces. Each individual piece is an individual story and individual time in Chinese history, he noted. Reporting by Sally Sun, Nancy Ma, and Diane Cordemans. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. South Dakota Governor Announces 2 Pro-Life Bills That Would Ban Almost All Abortions South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Jan. 21 announced two bills that would ban almost all abortions in the state, with one seeking to ban abortions in which a fetal heartbeat is detectable, and the other seeking to ban telemedicine abortions. Every human life is unique and beautiful from the moment it is conceived. Every life is worthy of our protection, worthy of the right to live, Noem, a Republican, said in a statement. These bills will ensure that both unborn children and their mothers are protected in South Dakota. The governor for weeks previewed the heartbeat bill, which received an enthusiastic reception from fellow Republicans who dominate the states legislature. It would prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detectable, usually at around six weeks of gestation, before some women know theyre pregnant. The law has no exception for rape or incest. Under the measure, state officials have no role in enforcing it. However, private citizens can file lawsuits against anyone who aids someone in getting an abortion, with a minimum $10,000 penalty, in addition to legal fees and other potential compensation, if the lawsuit is successful. A man who commits the rape or incest cant sue. The enforcement mechanism is similar to that of a Texas abortion law thats currently being challenged in court. Because no state officials are involved in enforcing the law, abortion providers have found it difficult to bring legal challenges against particular individuals. The second proposal stipulates that women seeking a medical abortion can only take mifepristone or misoprostol for up to nine weeks after conception. The two drugs are commonly used to start and finish an abortion, with mifepristone acting to block progesterone, thereby depriving the unborn child of nutrients and stopping the pregnancy from progressing; and misoprostol acting to induce labor to expel the unborn child. Currently, women can take both drugs at home before scheduling a follow-up appointment two weeks later to ensure the abortion is complete. The measure would require women to return to the abortion clinic after having taken the first drug, mifepristone, in order to collect the second drug, misoprostol. Abortion facility staff also are required to monitor the pregnant woman for complications for a medically necessary period after each abortion drug, and must schedule a follow-up appointment with the pregnant woman to return to the abortion facility on the 14th day after taking the medication to confirm that the fetus, placenta, and membranes have been fully expelled. A pro-life campaigner displays a plastic doll representing a 12-week-old fetus as she stands outside the Marie Stopes Clinic in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 7, 2016. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Telemedicine abortions have been blocked in the state since September 2021 after Noem issued an executive order in anticipation that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would later allow abortion drugs to be dispensed through the mail or virtual pharmacies. The FDA in December 2021 did just that, lifting restrictions on the prescribing of mifepristone. Noems executive order requires women to have an in-person consultation with a doctor licensed in South Dakota before they can be prescribed abortion drugs. The order also blocks the drugs from being delivered via mail, and also prevents the drugs from being provided in schools or on state properties. Chemical abortions are a dangerous procedure that are four times more likely to cause the woman getting the abortion to end up in the emergency room, according to Noems office. Current South Dakota law requires that a pregnant woman must wait 72 hours before an abortion procedure. Pregnant women seeking to undergo an abortion after the 12th week of pregnancy are required to have the procedure performed in a hospital. Abortions are outlawed after the 22nd week of pregnancy, with the exception of medical emergencies. Last year, Noem signed into law a ban on abortions based on a diagnosis of Down syndrome, as well as a bill to protect children born alive. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is seen at the Chancellery in Berlin, July 12, 2021. (Pool Photo via AP/Stefanie Loos) Special Partnership: Canadian Loan of $120 Million Welcomed by Ukrainian President OTTAWAThe president of Ukraine has thanked Canada for a $120-million loan aimed at bolstering his countrys economy amid a hostile buildup of 100,000 Russian troops and hundreds of tanks and armoured personnel carriers along its borders. Volodymyr Zelensky, through a statement issued late Friday by the Ukrainian Embassy in Ottawa, said the loan represents another example of the special partnership between the two countries. The brief statement, written by Andrii Bukvych, Ukraines charge daffaires to Canada, said Ukraine is grateful to Canada for working with international partners to provide financial support, making it clear Russian aggression is absolutely unacceptable. Contributing to Ukraines financial strength and resilience reinforces Canadas firm political position in support of Ukraine, Bukvych wrote. Outside of Ukraine and Russia, Canada has the worlds largest Ukrainian population at about 1.3 million inhabitants identifying as such for the 2016 census. Russias troop movements near Ukraine have prompted speculation across Europe about an imminent invasion, something Russia has denied. The Ukrainian statement from Ottawa goes on to say Ukraine remains optimistic about receiving more support, which could include unlocking financing tools offered by Export Development Canada. Considering the ongoing cyberattacks against Ukraines infrastructure, we would also appreciate the relevant technical and experts assistance by Canadian agencies, Bukvych wrote. Earlier on Friday, the embassy issued a blunt statement with a much different tone. At that time, the embassy called on Canada to provide weapons to Ukraines military and to impose further sanctions on Russia. Facing the risk of a further Russian invasion, we need to defend our land, the statement said. The U.K. and the U.S. have already shipped the military equipment and we would appreciate if Canada follows suit. The first statement also said Canadas support of Ukraine could be reinforced by the extension and expansion of the Canadian military training mission known as Operation UNIFIER. About 200 members of the Canadian Armed Forces have trained 32,000 Ukrainian military personnel to NATO standards, but that mission is set to expire at the end of March. In light of a serious threat of another wave of Russian aggression, we have been in consultations with NATO member countries, including Canada, about means to strengthen Ukraines defence capacities, the first statement said. We are confident that ongoing talks with our Canadian partners will deliver the results soon. That statement was Ukraines initial response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus announcement of the $120-million loan, which he billed as one of the top things Ukrainian officials had asked for during meetings earlier in the week in Kyiv with Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly. After the meetings, Global Affairs Canada issued a statement saying Joly had reaffirmed Canadas support for Ukraines sovereignty and condemned Russias military buildup. There was also a commitment to provide additional support to Ukraine, but no details were offered. Canadians of Ukrainian descent, including Conservative MP James Bezan, expressed frustration with Jolys position. In Ottawa, NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson said the party supported Trudeaus announcement. With the escalating threats of further Russian invasion, we must stand in solidarity with Ukraine and its people, McPherson said in a statement. We urge the government to continue working with our allies to pressure Russia to back down before they take drastic measures. Meanwhile, a spokesman for U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement Saturday confirming that Joly and Blinken had discussed the latest developments in Ukraine a day earlier, including efforts to encourage Russia to choose diplomacy and de-escalation. Secretary Blinken stressed the United States unwavering support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity and our readiness to co-ordinate to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia for further aggression against Ukraine, Ned Price said in the statement. By Michael MacDonald Texas Republicans Urge Court to Reconsider Decision That Stripped AG of Power to Prosecute Election Fraud At least 100 Texas Republican lawmakers and party leaders are urging the states highest criminal court to revisit a decision that they say dealt a major blow to the states ability to prosecute election fraud and jeopardized election integrity laws. A friend-of-the-court brief filed by 14 Republican state senators on Jan. 19 called on the states all-Republican Court of Criminal Appeals to reconsider a decision that stripped the attorney general of the ability to unilaterally prosecute election fraud. There is no question its a huge case, state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Republican, told The Epoch Times. I hope this gets their attention. Other friend-of-the-court briefs filed this month include one by the Texas Republican Party and another signed by 85 U.S. and state House GOP lawmakers and prominent party leaders such as Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Texas gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines. Matt Rinaldi, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, called the courts decision incomprehensible. If this decision is allowed to stand, it will cause irreparable damage to the integrity of elections in Texas, Rinaldi told The Epoch Times in an email. Bettencourt added that the justices ultimately listened to an attorney for the Democrats arguing the case. They found a weak spot, he wrote. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, a Democrat, applauded the courts decision in a tweet. This is a big win for local government and Texans who are tired of state officials exaggerating voter fraud claims to undermine elections, Menefee wrote. In December 2021, with little fanfare, the Criminal Appeals Court struck down the Texas attorney generals authority to prosecute criminal election law violations granted by legislation some 70 years ago, saying the provision violated the separation of powers clause in the states constitution. The legal decision involved a case against Jefferson County Sheriff Zena Stephens. After the county district attorney declined to prosecute Stephens over campaign-finance allegations stemming from the 2016 election, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stepped in and obtained an indictment from a grand jury in neighboring Chambers County. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals opinion overturned a lower-court ruling that said the election code clearly and unambiguously gives the attorney general power to prosecute criminal laws prescribed by election laws. In light of the appellant ruling, the attorney general must now be asked to be involved in a case by a district or county attorney. Bettencourt said he believes the court should revisit the issue, based on provisions in the Texas constitution that require legislators to detect and punish fraud in elections. The senators brief further states the state constitution gives the Legislature the power to assign duties to the attorney general. Poof, its gone, Bettencourt said of the long-held law, adding that the attorney general is an important tool in prosecution. They need to rethink what they have done. The Texas Supreme Court is the highest civil court in the state but doesnt have jurisdiction over most criminal cases, making the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals the highest criminal court in the state. Paxton, a Republican who has been keen on rooting out voter fraud, wrote on Twitter that the ruling could be devastating for future elections in Texas and filed a motion this month seeking a rehearing with the Court of Criminal Appeals. The courts decision to suddenly remove our authority to prosecute election fraud can only empower dishonest campaigns to silence voters across the state, Paxton said in a statement. Last years election cycle shows us that officials in our most problematic counties will simply let election fraud run rampant. State Rep. Steve Toth, who signed on to the Jan. 14 brief, said he doubts the court will revisit the issue even with overwhelming Republican support. The Republican lawmaker called for an immediate fourth special session to draft new legislation to allow a neighboring district attorney to prosecute alleged election fraud, if the official in the county in question doesnt, as a potential solution to the ruling. No one saw this coming, Toth said in an interview. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals said its basically OK to cheat in Texas. State Rep. Cecil Bell, who signed the brief as well, agreed that the state Legislature must act if the court doesnt. What it does, I think that is so problematic, is it means there are no checks and balances, Bell, a Republican, said of the ruling in an interview. If we learned nothing else about the election in 2020, people can be very blatant in what they do. Bell pointed to election issues in Harris County in 2020, which includes the Democratic stronghold of Houston. That county sent applications to vote by mail to nearly 377,000 registered voters 65 years of age or older, according to news reports. The county had planned to mail out unsolicited applications to all of its 2.4 million voters, although the effort was blocked by the Texas Supreme Court. Harris County also allowed for controversial drive-thru voting during the 2020 election. The first phase of a Texas forensic audit, which focused on four of the states largest counties, found thousands of possible non-U.S. citizens and deceased persons registered to vote statewide. However, the state didnt find problems on a scale large enough to alter the election, according to the Texas Secretary of States Office. Overall, Donald Trump carried Texas with 52.1 percent of the vote to President Joe Bidens 46.5 percent. The Texas Legislature approved legislation last year in an effort to stop drive-thru voting, mass distribution of unsolicited mail-in-ballot applications, and to require ID to vote by mail. The law also provided for election audits of select counties. British Conservative Party MPs Nusrat Ghani (C), Sir Iain Duncan Smith (R), and UK director of the World Uyghur Congress UK Director Rahima Mahmut at a demonstration call on the British Parliament to vote to recognise alleged persecution of China's Muslim minority Uyghur people as genocide and crimes against humanity in London on April 22, 2021. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images) UK Lawmaker Claims She Was Sacked as Minister for Muslimness A Conservative MP has said she was told that she was sacked from her ministerial post because her Muslimness was making colleagues uncomfortable. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Nusrat Ghani said when she lost her job as a transport minister in 2020, a government whip told her that Muslimness had been raised as an issue at a Downing Street meeting to discuss the reshuffle. The claim was denied by Chief Whip Mark Spencer, who said her allegation was defamatory. Reacting to the allegation on Sunday, a Number 10 spokesman said that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had met Ghani after learning of her extremely serious claims in July 2020. He then wrote to her expressing his serious concern and inviting her to begin a formal complaint process. She did not subsequently do so, the spokesman said. The Conservative Party does not tolerate prejudice or discrimination of any kind, he added. Talking to Sky News, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said while Ghanis allegation was incredibly serious, there will be no specific investigation into her claim unless she submitted a formal complaint. If there are any claims like this they should result in a formal complaint which allows a formal investigation to take place, Raab said, adding that she had not made a formal complaint despite having been asked to do so. In her Sunday Times interview, Ghani said she was shocked when the issue of her background and faith was raised during a meeting in the whips office after the mini-reshuffle in February 2020. I was told that at the reshuffle meeting in Downing Street that Muslimness was raised as an issue, that my Muslim women minister status was making colleagues uncomfortable and that there were concerns that I wasnt loyal to the party as I didnt do enough to defend the party against Islamophobia allegations. In the following weeks, I was informed that if I persisted in raising this that I would be ostracised by colleagues and my career and reputation would be destroyed. Following the allegations, Spencer publicly identified himself as the individual who spoke to Ghani. To ensure other whips are not drawn into this matter, I am identifying myself as the person Nusrat Ghani MP has made claims about this evening, he said in a statement posted on Twitter. These accusations are completely false and I consider them to be defamatory. I have never used those words attributed to me, he wrote. The main opposition Labour Party has called for an independent inquiry into the matter. Labours shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry told Times Radio, I would like to see an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in the Tory Party in the same way that we quite rightly held an independent inquiry into the poison that is anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. Some Conservative MPs have also condemned what allegedly happened to Ghani. Former Brexit minister Steve Baker wrote on Twitter: That Nus could be treated like this is completely intolerable. I value Nus Ghani as a great colleague and Im appalled. We must get to the bottom of it. Ghani, 49, was born in Kashmir to Pakistani parents and grew up in Birmingham. She worked in an investment bank, charities, and the BBC World Service before entering politics. PA Media contributed to this report. A China Southern Airlines Airbus A380 taxis at Beijing's Daxing International Airport in China on May 13, 2019. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) US Suspends 44 Flights by Chinese Carriers in Response to Beijings Cancellations The U.S. Transportation Department said its suspending 44 China-bound flights by four Chinese carriers after Beijing suspended dozens of flights by U.S. airlines. Biden administration announced on Jan. 21 that the United States would ground Xiamen Airlines scheduled flights from Los Angeles to Xiamen starting Jan. 30. In addition, the United States will also cut China-bound flights by Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern. The action is the Biden administrations response to Chinas recent suspension of 44 flights by U.S. carriers to China, which cited its strict COVID-19 control rules. On Jan. 20, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued another circuit-breaker order to suspend two Delta Air Lines flights to Shanghai from Feb. 7, as eight passengers on the carriers Detroit-to-Shanghai flight tested positive for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus on Jan. 12. In addition, China has also canceled six Dallas-to-Shanghai flights by American Airlines scheduled for late January and early February; six United Airlines San Francisco-to-Shanghai flights in late January; and all of Delta Air Lines Shanghai-bound flights. The Chinese regime announced its first airline circuit-breaker measures for the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The measures, according to CAAC, say that if five to nine passengers test positive for COVID-19 after arriving in China, the flight route will be suspended for two weeks; if more than 10 passengers test positive, the flight route must be suspended for four weeks. A man (L) disembarking from a Xiamen Airlines plane at the Tianhe Airport in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on Jan. 31, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Citing the circuit-breaker measure, China has suspended 70 flights between the United States and China since the start of the year, intensifying the dispute between the two countries over air travel. After Chinas suspension of more U.S. flights this month, Chinese travelers have posted from overseas on Chinese social media platform Weibo. Going back to China now seems like mission impossible. More and more flights are being suspended. I havent been home for two years, one user wrote. The U.S. Department of Transportation said that Beijings flight suspensions are adverse to the public interest and warrant proportionate remedial action. In addition, the statement stressed that Beijings unilateral actions against the named U.S. carriers are inconsistent with a bilateral agreement between the United States and China. At the same time, the Biden administration said it has left a path to deescalation. The Transportation Department said its prepared to revisit the action if China changes its policies to bring about the necessary improved situation for U.S. carriers. However, the United States also warned that if China cancels more U.S. flights, we reserve the right to take additional actions. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the United States and China have clashed several times over air service. Before this round of flight cancellations, three U.S. airlines and four Chinese airlines operated about 20 weekly flights between the two countries, well below the more than 100 weekly flights operating before the pandemic. According to Reuters, there are currently only about 200 international flights to China every week, just 2 percent of the pre-epidemic level. Its created inconvenience for a large number of Chinese citizens overseas who want to return home, and Chinas economic activities also have been greatly affected. Reuters contributed to the report. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab arrives at BBC Broadcasting House ahead of his appearance on "Sunday Morning," in London, on Jan. 23, 2022. (Hollie Adams/Getty Images) Very Significant Risk of Russia Invading Ukraine: UK Minister There is a very significant risk that Russia will carry out an invasion of Ukraine, Britains Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has said. Western allies have made clear there would be very severe economic consequences for Russia if its troops cross the border into Ukraine, Raab told the BBCs Sunday Morning programme. We want allies across NATO to understand the seriousness of what is going on, he said. Raab said the UK wants Russian President Vladimir Putin to step back from the brink, but said he thinks there is a very significant risk of the invasion taking place. He added, The world needs to keep its eye on this and be very clear with President Putin that it would not do this cost-free, that there would be a pricea price in terms of the strenuous defence that we would expect the Ukrainians to put up, but also the economic cost through sanctions, which are of course more effective if the international community speaks as one or at least with a broad consensus. Raabs warning came as the UK accused Putin of plotting to install a pro-Moscow leader as head of the Ukrainian government. In an unusual step, the UK Foreign Office on Jan. 22 named former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev as a potential Kremlin candidate to take over in Kyiv. In a statement, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the Russian plotting showed the lengths to which the Kremlin was prepared go to subvert Ukraine. Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy, she said. The Russian foreign ministry accused the UK of circulating disinformation, and urged the UK Foreign Office to cease these provocative activities and stop spreading nonsense. Talking to Times Radio on Sunday, Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraines ambassador to the UK, said a Russian invasion is very likely but there is still room for diplomatic resolution. He said Ukraine is prepared to fight but said the country is not well-equipped for a prolonged fight. Britains main opposition Labour Party said it is completely unified with the government on its approach to Russian aggression in Ukraine. Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry told Sky News, We have to be strong and we have to be unified, whether it is in NATO, our surrounding allies, and we have to play our part as the opposition also in making sure we in Britain stand unified against this threat. Thornberry also urged the government to utilise a new generation of sanctions, including investigating the unexplained wealth of Putin allies living in the UK. PA Media contributed to this report. EDWARDSVILLE Madison County has filed a lawsuit to stop the state from dividing the Third Judicial Circuit into four subcircuits. Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine on Saturday announced he has filed a lawsuit to halt the enforcement of the recently-enacted House Bill 3138 splitting the circuit, which includes Madison and Bond counties, into four subcircuits. The suit seeks a temporary restraining order "barring defendants from taking any steps to enforce or institute" the new law until the court can consider the county's request for preliminary injunction. The county was joined in the lawsuit by Christina Wiley of Bethalto, a pro se plaintiff (a person not represented by a licensed attorney). The suit was filed in Sangamon County; a hearing on the issue could be scheduled as early as this week. Defendants include Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois Supreme Court Clerk Cynthia Grant and the Illinois State Board of Elections, which includes Tonya Genovese This subcircuit law has serious Constitutional issues, and is being rushed forward in a reckless way, Haine said. We are arguing that a pause is warranted here to let clearer heads prevail," he said. "With this pause, our upcoming 2022 judicial elections can be held county-wide, as they have always been, while the courts closely review this very dubious new subcircuit scheme. On Jan. 13, following a special Madison County Board meeting on the new subcircuits, Haine indicated the lawsuit was imminent. The board voted 21-2, with five absent, at that meeting to condemn the state law signed Jan. 7 by Pritzker that divides the Third Judicial Circuit into four subcircuits. The bill, amended and passed within hours on Jan. 5 by both houses of the General Assembly, required candidates for one of the new Madison County subcircuits to begin circulating nominating petitions on Thursday, Jan. 13. Current judges Amy Sholar and Christopher Threlkeld, both Republicans, had previously announced they would seek retention in the November election that originally included the entire circuit. Because of the new law, within a week both established new residencies inside the newly created Subcircuit 1, a heavily Democratic region, so they could seek to continue their positions. The suit states the act's "ambiguity and inconsistency place an undue burden on Madison County to interpret and successfully implement new subcircuits for the 2022 elections." The suit argues Madison County "will sustain substantial, irreparable harm by forcing the application of an unconstitutional law suddenly drafted and immediately applied here (but not other places in Illinois) without adequate review which will risk confusion and defects in the upcoming 2022 judicial election. The suit also states the act is unconstitutional, ambiguous, and poorly-drafted and required to be implemented immediately with no time for a cleanup, clarification, or judicial review. The acts ambiguity and inconsistency place an undue burden on Madison County to interpret and successfully implement new subcircuits for the 2022 elections. Wiley, in her filing, asks that implementation of the new law be stayed "until the many confusions" in the law are clarified. "...All of the voters of Madison County should be able to vote to select their judicial candidates as they always have," her suit states. It notes that Madison County is the only county required to immediately implement subcircuits where they formerly did not exist. State Rep. Amy Elik, R-Fosterburg, who voted against the bill, said Democrats in the General Assembly rushed the legislation through in the only day lawmakers have met during this session. "The actual bill was filed at around 11:15 a.m. on Jan 5," she said in her district report. "There was a brief hearing on the bill which began at around 1 p.m. that day. "Later in the evening, a House bill was amended in the Senate, to pass this new map in the Senate," she said. "Then it passed the House, strictly on partisan lines, at around 10:30 p.m. that night. The governor quickly signed the bill on Jan. 7." The new law created four judicial subcircuits effective immediately. The circuit has nine judges. Madison County's subcircuit change would begin with the June primary and November elections in Subcircuit 1 a strongly Democrat area. Ensuing elections would depend on vacancies and their subcircuits, meaning some Madison County residents may not get to vote for a judicial post for many years. The suit states that the licensed Madison County attorneys in Subcircuits 2 and 3 will not be able to file candidacy petitions or appear on the ballot, and be elected to a subcircuit judicial vacancy, until at least 2024 "but more than likely 2026 or beyond." The suit also states that Madison County's Geographic Information System site contains an initial representation of the boundaries of Subcircuit 1, but it "does not have proper resolution," nor does it correspond to the precincts and census blocks listed in the law. Instead, it uses information from the Democrats Redistricting Committees' Google map. The suit states the county will have to create new ballots for the June primary and November election because the current ones are based on old precincts. It states a complete redrafting, reformatting and reprocessing of voter registration cards will be necessary because of the law. The law also created new subcircuits in the Seventh Judicial Circuit which includes Morgan, Sangamon, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin and Scott counties. Those changes, however, do not take effect until 2024. Madison County Republicans claim dividing the Third Judicial Circuit disenfranchises two-thirds of its voters in the next judicial election. They said Chief Circuit Judge William Mudge, a Democrat, was not consulted about the subcircuits. The bill originally dealt with court security and was introduced in the House in February 2021 by state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville. It was originally sponsored in the Senate by state Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon. Stuart and state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, voted for the legislation while Elik and state Reps. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville; Charles Meier, R-Okawville; and Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, voted no on the bill. Crowe voted yes on the bill, as did state Sens. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, and Chris Belt, D-Swansea. Voting no were state Sens. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, and Steve McClure, R-Springfield. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Venetia Pinkston Show More Show Less 2 of 3 For the Telegraph Show More Show Less 3 of 3 ORLANDO Sometimes to honor someone, a person only needs one penny. Jedd Price, of Florida, has been doing that and then some. Born in Alton and raised in Troy, Price has been on a journey to place 100,000 pennies on the gravesites of veterans across the country. The idea came after Price returned to Illinois for Memorial Day in 2020. While visiting, he noticed that his grandfather's gravestone was dirty. When he returned a year later to clean the gravestone he took to Facebook to ask fellow Floridians if anyone would be interested in him doing the same thing for their loved ones, but he got no responses. If you have been itching to become more involved in your neighborhood, heres your chance. New Yorks borough presidents recently opened up applications for membership in the citys 59 community boards. The application deadline is March 1. Click here for the application portal. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine made a pitch for the all-volunteer positions during his January 14 community update. Theres also a good overview of community board responsibilities in this Gothamist piece. Community Board 3 covers the East Village, the Lower East Side and most of Chinatown. As the Manhattan Borough Presidents website explains, Community Board members must live, work, or have an otherwise significant interest in the neighborhoods served by the community district, and be a New York City resident. Instant unlimited access to all of our content on thenewsguard.com. The News Guard E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari over secrecy in the spending of loans so far obtained, the unsustainable level of borrowing by the government and the 36 states, debt crisis, and the disproportionately negative impact of these retrogressive measures on poor Nigerians. In the suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/05/22 filed last week before the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, SERAP is seeking: An order directing and compelling the Federal Government to issue an immediate moratorium on borrowing by itself, and the 36 states, in conformity with the countrys international human rights obligations. SERAP is also seeking an order directing and compelling the Federal Government to publish details of spending of the loans obtained by governments since 1999 including the list of projects and locations of any such projects on which these loans have been spent. In the the suit filed by SERAP and behalf of concerned Nigerians, the organization contends that, Persistent and unsustainable borrowing by the federal and state governments and the crippling debt burden undermine the rights of Nigerians to economic and social development, and are antithetical to the public interest. SERAP is arguing that, The crippling debt burden is a human rights issue within the jurisdiction of the ECOWAS Court because when the entire country is burdened by unsustainable debts, there will be little money left to ensure access of poor and vulnerable Nigerians to legally enforceable socio-economic rights. SERAP is also arguing that, There is lack of transparency and accountability in the spending of the loans so far obtained, and opacity around the terms and conditions in loan agreements, including repayment details for these loans. The details of the projects on which the loans are spent are shrouded in secrecy. SERAP is also seeking an order directing and compelling the Federal Government to conduct assessment of the borrowing by governments since 1999 to address the dire consequences of unsustainable debts on people and communities and to ensure that borrowing at all levels of government considers the human rights impacts. In the suit filed by SERAP lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi, the organization contends that, Long-term unsustainable debt can be a barrier to the governments ability to mobilize resources for human rights, and may lead to taxes and user fees that impact negatively on vulnerable and marginalized Nigerians. The suit, read in part: If not addressed, the escalating borrowing and looming debt crisis would cripple the ability of both the Federal Government and the 36 states to deliver ensure basic socio-economic rights, such as quality healthcare, education, and clean water of the most vulnerable and marginalized sectors of the population. Without a moratorium on borrowing, the Federal Government and many of the 36 states may be caught in a process driven mostly by creditors needs. This will result in an exorbitant social cost for the marginalized and vulnerable sectors of the population. The ability of the Nigerian government to ensure human rights is inextricably related to the ability to spend needed resources. Growing debt burdens and debt repayment difficulties will have negative impacts on the ability of the Defendant to fulfill the basic socio-economic rights of poor and vulnerable Nigerians. Sustainable debt management by the Federal Government and state governments will contribute to mobilizing resources for human rights and essential public services, and promote a culture of responsible borrowing. The Federal Government and many of the 36 states would seem to be in debt distress or at high risk of debt distress. According to reports, the Senate and House of Representatives recently approved the loans of $5,803,364,553.50 and a grant component of $10m under the 2018-2020 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan of the Federal Government. This followed previous approvals by the National Assembly of $16.2 (16,230,077,718) billion loan; 1 (1,020,000,000) million and a grant component of $125 million loan; $36.8 billion, 910 million loans, and a grant component of $10 million; $8.3 billion and 490 million loans; $6.1 billion, $1.5 billion and 995 million loans; and $4(4,054,476,863), 710 million and grant component of $125 million. Several of the 36 states are also facing a debt crisis, and vicious debt cycles. According to the Debt Management Office, the foreign debt stock of the Federal Government, 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory presently stands at $37.9bn. The loans from China alone amount to $3.59bn. According to the UN Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights, Nigeria faces debt service relative to tax revenues that exceed 20 per cent, with escalating social tensions linked to poverty and inequality. According to the World Banks IDA FY21 Report, with debt exposure of $11.7 Billion US Dollars, Nigeria ranked fifth among the top 10 countries with highest debt risk exposure. The top four countries are India with $22 billion, Bangladesh ($18.1 Billion), Pakistan ($16.4 Billion), and Vietnam ($14.1 Billion). While it is critical for the Federal Government and state governments to have adequate resources to fund their budgets, it is equally critical for governments to give consideration to the human rights impact of borrowing. Persistent borrowing is inconsistent with the countrys human rights obligations. SERAP is also asking the ECOWAS Court for the following reliefs: A DECLARATION that the failure of the Defendant to halt the persistent and unsustainable borrowing amounts to a breach of the Plaintiffs and other Nigerians rights to the enjoyment of socio-economic rights, and development, as guaranteed under articles 2, 9, 11, 12 and 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and articles 2, 15, 16, 17, 22 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. A DECLARATION that the failure of the Defendant to halt the persistent and unsustainable borrowing amounts to a fundamental breach of Nigerias human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. AN ORDER directing and compelling the Defendant to adopt and ensure effective measures to address transparency and accountability gaps in spending of loans, and the systemic and widespread corruption in ministries, departments and agencies, as documented by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, including in the 2019 Audited Report. AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the Defendant and its agents from embarking on unsustainable borrowing until the human rights impact assessment of the previous borrowing is conducted and recommendations fully implemented. SUCH FURTHER orders the Honorable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this suit. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit. Kolawole Oluwadare SERAP Deputy Director 23/1/2022 Lagos, Nigeria Emails: [email protected] ; [email protected] Twitter: @SERAPNigeria Website: www.serap-nigeria.org For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202 Its Sunday, after a hectic week: The African Cup Of Nations (AFCON) is still in play at Cameroon. And it is so far so good for the Super Eagles. Also, there have been variants of killings in the Northern part of Nigeria and yet President Muhammadu Buhari and his crew have persisted that they have tackled the security challenges in the Nation successfully. We are now in a country where death of citizens have been politicized by our elites, this is really disheartening. And with all these occurrences, a group of Nigerians have either hinted or declared their interest to emerge in the 2023 presidential election. Politics would be the main issue and topic throughout this year. Occasionally, I was in a discourse with a citizen who shared his thoughts in this regard: Whats up brother? Are you seeing whats happening? This men arent changing. Changing? How do you mean?. With all the hype about youthful governance, persons like Tinubu still have the nerve to declare his Presidential ambition. This country is not serious. Oh, I understand you now, it is indeed interesting. I also thought more youths would throw their hats in the ring because i dont think theres anything that could hinder a youth from contesting for the position. Youths could actually mobilise to support a youth. Haha. Is that what you think? There are various factors hindering youths from contesting. Just imagine a youth in his 30s governing Nigerians in their 40s, 50s, 60s or even 80s and i am not talking about a Governor or a Senator, i mean a President. Lets face reality, it cant happen in this country, at least not yet. Thats an interesting school of thought right here, the restraints of African culture. But dont you think we are past that? We are supposed to be in the 21st century. 21st century you say ? Brother in Nigeria, theres nothing like that abeg. Did you hear about one Khadijah Lamidi, shes one of the youths vying for the position but honestly I think her efforts would prove futile. And I know youve heard about Governor Yahaya Bellos presidential ambition. The result is the same and i am sure he knows it. Why do you say that ? I thought you wanted a youth and now you have two, you are still skeptical. If Governor Bello knows he wouldnt win then I dont think he wouldve declared to run. I just gave you a reason why they wouldnt win. You of all people know what i am talking about. Nigerian elders want to be elders forever. I see your point now, although i have a different perspective but you are surprisingly correct.The younger generation should be given an opportunity to govern on a federal level. God will help us in this country. God wont come down to help us my brother, we can change the narrative ourselves. It is time for a real change around here. But if you believe a youth cant win, how do we submit a change? The basis of our franchise would be jeopardised. All I can say right now is, until our parents and the likes of them truly recognize our potentials as youths without citing age as a factor, Presidency is not for us. It is not about joining APC or PDP. Are you saying that youths should run independently? I know its part of the Not too young to run law enacted by this administration. What i mean is that, youths are subjugated in this country and it needs to change. Well, Change would come when it should because change is constant. We can change the narrative ourselves but it only takes one bold step and i am yet to see that. Culture is vital in every African society but we should also recognize that, Democracy is a system which represents people of different cultural dispensations and people from different age groups, in fact without democracy a multi-ethnic realm like Nigeria wouldnt function. The most important criteria to be elected into any office is competence and character, not age. I just hope this hype about the limitations of our culture would not haunt us in the end. Contact: [email protected] A lady in Chicago was reported to have used hammers to kill flies. When asked why, she replied that she wanted to make sure the sucker was dead! Ezeana Achusim President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the relevant bodies to ensure justice is served in the murder of Hanifa Abubakar, the five-year-old schoolgirl killed in Kano State. He specifically ordered the police and the Ministry of Justice to uphold the integrity of the detective work that busted the case by preparing well and presenting a good case that will earn the respect of the court. The President gave the directive on Friday in a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu, in reaction to the death of little Hanifa who was initially abducted in December last year. He expressed the nations condolences to the family of the schoolgirl whose body was discovered in a shallow grave in Kano after almost two months of fruitless search. President Buhari, however, commended the police and the secret service for unravelling the mystery behind the disappearance of Hanifa, and particularly for the arrest of her teacher and his accomplices suspected of the childs kidnap and murder. According to him, the family and the whole nation which followed up on Hanifas travail every day since her disappearance were hoping for the girl to have returned home alive and well. The President stated that the thorough and painstaking detective operation by the law enforcement bodies, leading to the discovery of her remains and the arrest of the suspects who have already made confessions, was commendable. He described it as an achievement that should instil more public confidence in the authorities, adding, when breakthroughs like this happen, people will talk differently of law enforcement. President Buhari prayed for the repose of the soul of the little schoolgirl and urged her parents to bear the sad loss with courage and fortitude in God. Until her death, Hanifa was a pupil of a private school Noble Kids Academy in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State. The Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed her death to journalists on Friday, saying her teacher, one Abdulmalik Tanko, was indicted in the murder. Abdulmalik, Kiyawa stated, confessed that he kidnapped Hanifa and took her to his house where he contacted her relatives and demanded a ransom of N6 million. He later conspired with one Hashim Isyaku to kill the girl on December 18, 2021, having realised that the victim had recognised him. Hanifa was buried in a shallow grave within the school premises located at Kwanar Yan Gana in Tudun Murtala Quarters. With the above I am almost done with this admonition. I recall that in February 2020 I had written about a nation that forgets quickly. ...So, Scientists are wrong, the Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano said with a warm smile on his face. Human beings are not made of atoms; they are made of stories. It is why we want to sing and draw, tell each other about our lives and our hopes, talk about the wonders in our lives and the wonders that we dream about. These dreams this art are what make us get up each day, smile, and go forward into the world. It is so common for human beings, even in the most wretched situation, to find a way to lift the spirit through our own forms of art. In Nigeria we seek refuge in God, pray about everything, blame everyone but ourselves soon we forget. And our art is to forget, painfully we forget and very quickly too. Stories of death, brutal death, corruption, maladministration, and poor leadership and in cases total lack of governance, and we carry on; we may never know the number of people that die every day, until death takes someone you know. Last week, our young friend John Elama was shot dead in circumstances that will never be unravelled. My painter Mohammeds father and sister were kidnapped in Kaduna after ransom paid, they released his father and kept on to his sister, the abductors said they did keep her as a booty. After long gruesome bargaining we got her out, but not after buying a motorcycle for the kidnappers. They even gave specifications of the type! We have a short fuse memory, preferring to largely forget very quickly from a point of learning slowly, we either never remember or we choose to totally forget. Two years ago, 30 were killed in two Katsina Villages, 13 killed in Plateau communities, how about that attack for which the president visited Borno state. The University of Maiduguri girl that was burnt or the lad from Plateau state that was murdered. We will forget that 11 members of the same family were locked up and burnt in their house in Kaduna by armed bandits who invaded their Bakali village in Fatika district of Giwa local government area. Remember Hanatu, the pregnant mother of two, and a pharmacist that was killed by bandits in Zaria. It was August last year and by October Operatives of the Force Investigation Bureau-Intelligence Response Team, FIB-IRT had arrested two suspected members of the gang responsible. Its months gone but I date say nothing will happen. Hanifas case is like the, Mocking bird, you are accused of insulting the king. It asked when would it have time to insult the king, seeing that it must sing two hundred songs in the morning, two hundred in the afternoon, and two hundred at night, mixing it all up with some frolicsome notes? Why should the President be involved in a matter that the law should ordinarily take its course, why all the drama for a seemingly straightforward case? Truth is that nothing is straightforward in Nigeria. The law, our politics, the people, our education, our health, the governance systems and structures. In another incident in Kaduna, an eight-year-old girl named Asmau was also killed in Zaria after a N3m ransom was paid. The father of the deceased, Alhaji Shuaibu Waalamu said: My daughter was abducted on the 9th of December 2021 and when she failed to return home, I lodged a formal complaint with the Police. I know those who abducted her and killed her. They are around us. I have strong evidence. I have told the Police. And they are on it. In fact, the suspects have been arrested, he said. Kaduna Police Command Spokesman, ASP Muhammed Jalige, confirmed the incident. He however said investigations were ongoing on the incident and that he needed to get more information from Zaria command in order to be able to give full details. The fact is that many people including the killers are sick, we have psychopaths, there are not just bandits, killers, kidnappers or terrorists; We do not have healers, or a solution to bring about healing as not much makes sense. While one weeps, one can still see. However, no matter how accommodating one is, one should never take leave of ones good judgement. I am personally accommodating of the present crop of leaders, but I do not see where they are bringing cure from, they still cannot seem to figure out how to make sense of the Nigerian project, in few months albeit weeks, we would have moved on, how long would we go on like thisOnly time will tell Gen. Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar (Rtd.) has revealed how the acclaimed winner of June 12 presidential elections, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola GCFR, died in detention. The Niger State born retired general, who ascended the throne of Leadership of Nigeria in 1998 after the death of former Head of State General Sani Abacha, disclosed this in an interview with Trust TV. In the interview, Abdulsalami recalled the events after leading to Abiolas death, the role Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, Abiolas running mate in the 1993 election in breaking the news to his family, among others. Abdulsalami said, Now during the incarceration of Moshood Abiola, except his personal doctor, to my knowledge, no member of his family saw him. So when I became head of state, based on consultation and interaction together with Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, I gave the family a date that they could come and see him. A day before he (Abiola) died, his family came to Abuja to see him. For one reason or the other, the whole family could not see him at the same time, so it was agreed that when this group of his family will see him today, tomorrow the next team will see him. So they saw him like yesterday, now this team from US came to see me and I said they could see him. Normally it was in the evenings the family go and see him. So, because I had authorised the American team to see him, the other part of the family were waiting to see him. So, it was at this meeting when the American team was meeting Abiola he fell sick and suddenly the security officers called the medical team to come and attend to him, and when they saw the situation they said it was severe and they needed to take him to the medical centre. So it was the medical team plus the American team that took him to the medical centre, unfortunately at the medical centre, he gave up. Then my security chief called and said I have bad news for you, I asked what it was, he said Abiola is dead. I was shocked. He told me he was there with the American team, at that time I was staying in the barracks, I had not moved to the villa, so I said okay, let him take the American team to my house, I will meet them at the house; so I closed from the office, and went there. The issue now was how do I break the news to Abiolas family and how do we tell the world Abiola had passed on. I must be thankful to God and again to Ambassador Kingibe because we called on him and asked him to bring the family of Abiola. So when they came I broke the news, that unfortunately this is what has happened. As you would expect, the family broke down and they started crying, I cant remember which of the ladies, I held her, she was crying, sobbing, it was then Susan Rice, that is why I always remember her, said Mr President that is not your job, let me do it, so she now held this lady until she settled down and she calmed down a little bit. Then we had to summon my second in command and other people and then strategized on how to break the news. That is why I always say I thank my God for guiding me, if I hadnt said the American team should go and meet Abiola certainly I dont know how I would explain to the world that Abiola had died, and the American team will they believe me that we had not killed Abiola at that time when they were requesting to see him? Briton killed, compatriot badly hurt in knife attack KANCHANABURI: Police have arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the killing of a Briton and wounding of his compatriot in front of a rented house in Muang district of Kanchanaburi in the early hours of yesterday (Jan 22). crimedeathviolencepolice By Bangkok Post Sunday 23 January 2022, 10:21AM A forensic officer examines a sickle found at the scene of the knife attack in Kanchanaburi yesterday (Jan 22). Photo: Kanchanaburi News Facebook Murder suspect Prasut Thipthep, 23, is taken to Muang district police station in Kanchanaburi after the killing of a British man and injury of another British national yesterday (Jan 22). Photo: Piyarat Chongcharoen Police and forensic officers inspect the crime scene in Muang district of Kanchanaburi following a knife attack on two British men. Photo: Pithakkan Foundation Prasut Thipthep was caught at 8:49am yesterday while hiding in the room of a relative opposite the house where the two British men were attacked, reports the Bangkok Post. The fatal assault occurred in tambon Tha Makham at 3:55am, Thai media reported. Pol Col Somkiart Chomchai, chief of Muang police station in Kanchanaburi, led a team of police, forensic officers, tourist police and a doctor to the crime scene. The dead Briton, 49, whose name was withheld pending notification of relatives, was found lying face down in a pool of blood with knife wounds to his neck near a marble bench in front of the house. Shaun Kevin Dagnan, 55, sustained serious knife injuries. A sickle and a pair of slippers believed to belong to a male attacker were found at the scene, police said. The injured victim is out of danger but is still receiving close medical care at Paholpolpayuhasena Hospital, police said. According to a police investigation, the two Britons had been drinking beer in front of the house and playing loud music late at night. Sometime well after midnight, a man walked towards them and attacked them before fleeing. Police initially believed the attacker might have been upset by the loud music. A neighbour, who was a relative of the dead victims girlfriend, told police that he heard a loud noise while sleeping. He came out of his house and found the two foreigners who had been attacked. The suspect lived nearby and had a hospital record of mental health problems, according to local residents and police. He was physically attacked by angry residents and treated at hospital. Police have charged him with murder and attempted murder. He is being held at the Muang district police station for further interrogation. Southern Pines, NC (28387) Today A mix of clouds and sun with a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 87F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 61F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Westerly, RI (02891) Today Showers this morning becoming a steady light rain during the afternoon hours. High 57F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 49F. Winds light and variable. Instant unlimited access to all of our content on tillamookheadlightherald.com. The Headlight Herald E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) Obituaries will be accepted only from funeral homes, or from an individual only when legal documentation is presented at our office, of that individual's executor status over the estate of the deceased. Obituaries must be received with prepayment before 4 p.m. for publication the following day. On holidays, obituaries must be received with prepayment before noon for publication the following day. If you have questions, please call (256)-340-2384. Bridging Time a monthly series featuring photos by Calvin Sneed highlights steel truss and concrete arch bridges throughout the United States. During his travels, Calvin has taken more than 30,000 photos of 900 or more bridges (mostly in the Southeast). This months featured bridges are the Thomas Bridge in Sullivan County, Tennessee, and the Bridgeport Bridge, on the Caddo-Canadian County line, near Hinton, Oklahoma. The Thomas Bridge The Thomas Bridge is one of the oldest highway steel truss bridges still standing in upper East Tennessee. Built in 1898 by the New Columbus Bridge Company of Columbus, Ohio, the Thomas Bridge crossing Beaver Creek in Sullivan County is a single-lane, Pratt steel through truss. It sits on two masonry abutments on either end. The span has pin-connected "eye bars" for stability (common to that time period) and is 171 feet long. The truss span also has decorative lace portals at either end. At one point, the Thomas Bridge carried State Route 37 from Bluff City to Blountville. It was closed in 1971 when the new Highway 37 connector was built (now State Route 394), and a new steel stringer replacement bridge was built just up the creek. Although the Thomas Bridge deck is partially collapsed, the trusses are intact. The historic Thomas Bridge is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The Bridgeport Bridge The Bridgeport Bridge, west of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is as much a part of American folklore as the historic highway it used to carry. Built in 1933, the crossing near the small community of Bridgeport formerly carried U.S. Route 66 across the South Canadian River, as "America's Mother Road" carried people from the East, Midwest and South across the plains seeking better lives in California. The bridge, in fact, makes a brief appearance in the movie "The Grapes of Wrath" as Henry Fonda led his family like so many others in real life west from Oklahoma to the Land of Milk and Honey. The Bridgeport Bridge was built by the Kansas City Bridge Company of Kansas City, Missouri. The structure is unique in that it consists of 38 "camelback" pony truss spans, all built one right after the other. Don't let the pictures fool you. It is not a short bridge. In fact, each of those spans is approximately 103.4 feet long. Total length, including two short concrete approach spans, is 3,944 feet, with only 125 feet of the bridge actually over the river channel. The rest of the bridge is over the floodplain that parallels the river. With 38 trusses, Bridgeport is the longest single-span pony truss bridge in America and a signature Historic Route 66 bridge. With U.S. 66 decommissioned, the bridge now carries U.S. Highway 281. It also holds the name "William H. Murray Bridge," named for the governor who built the crossing during Oklahoma's famed dust bowl days of the Great Depression. The bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in December 2020. Current plans call for a $22-million dollar renovation of the superstructure which will widen and strengthen it, but the iconic yellow steel pony trusses will remain, along with part of the original Route 66 pavement. The renovation is scheduled to begin this year. Kingsport, TN (37660) Today Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 78F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 51F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Kingsport, TN (37660) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 77F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low around 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Russia will face severe economic sanctions if it installs a puppet regime in Ukraine, a senior UK minister said on Sunday after Britain accused the Kremlin of seeking to install a pro-Russian leader there. Britain made the accusation late on Saturday, also saying Russian intelligence officers had been in contact with a number of former Ukrainian politicians as part of plans for an invasion. The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed the comments as disinformation, accusing Britain and the transatlantic military alliance NATO of escalating tensions over Ukraine. Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian adviser to the presidential office, said the allegations should be taken seriously. Therell be very serious consequences if Russia takes this move to try and invade but also install a puppet regime, British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab told Sky News on Sunday. The British accusations, first made in a statement by the foreign ministry, come at a time of high tensions between Russia and the West over Russias massing of troops near its border with Ukraine. Moscow has insisted it has no plans to invade. The foreign ministry said it had information the Russian government was considering former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevhen Murayev as a potential candidate to head a pro-Russian leadership. Murayev, 45, has promoted views that closely align with Russian narratives on Ukraine. According to a poll by the Razumkovs Centre think tank conducted in December 2021, he was ranked seventh among candidates for the 2024 presidential election with 6.3% support. Murayev himself poured cold water on Britains claims that Russia wants to install him as Ukraines leader, in comments to British newspapers. In a Facebook post later on Sunday, he called for an end to dividing Ukraine into pro-Western and pro-Russian politicians. The time of pro-Western and pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine is gone forever, he wrote. Ukraine needs new politicians whose policy will be based solely on the principles of the national interests of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. NONSENSE? Murayev told The Telegraph he was barred from Russia as a national security threat and had been under Russian sanctions for four years, making the British line on him nonsense. Also noting he was under sanctions, the Russian Embassy in London mocked the obvious deterioration of British expertise on the region. The British foreign ministry declined to provide evidence to back its accusations. A ministry source said it was not usual practice to share intelligence matters, and the details had only been declassified after careful consideration to deter Russian aggression. In a message to Reuters, Ukrainian adviser Podolyak acknowledged there was doubt among Ukrainians as to whether Murayev was too ridiculous a figure to be the Kremlins pick to lead Ukraine. But he added that Russia had propped up previously minor figures in leadership positions in annexed Crimea and separatist-held Donbass. Therefore one should take this information as seriously as possible, he said. The British claims came after the top U.S. and Russian diplomats failed on Friday to make a major breakthrough in talks to resolve the crisis over Ukraine, although they agreed to keep talking. Russia has made security demands on the United States including a halt to NATOs eastward expansion and a pledge that Ukraine will never be allowed to join the Western military alliance. read more U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said in a statement: This kind of plotting is deeply concerning. The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine. Britain, which this week supplied 2,000 missiles and a team of military trainers to Ukraine, also said it had information that Russian intelligence services were maintaining links with numerous former Ukrainian politicians, including senior figures with links to ex-President Viktor Yanukovich. Yanukovich fled to Russia in 2014 after three months of protests against his rule and was sentenced in absentia to 13 years in jail on treason charges in 2019. SOURCE: REUTERS Did you make a New Year's resolution this year? 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Get iBrave Cloud Web Hosting for $99.99 (reg. $2,997), a savings of 96 percent. 10. Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) Babbel is the world's top-grossing language learning software for good reason. Developed by more than 100 expert linguists, Babbel uses a bite-sized, conversation-focused curriculum to help you learn new languages quickly. It has more than 10 million users worldwide that have helped propel it to 4.5 stars on the Google Play Store and 4.6 stars on the App Store. Get Babbel for $199 (reg. $499), a savings of 60 percent. Prices are subject to change. Copyright 2022 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved ALBANY Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's top aides and his attorney are continuing a crusade to clear his name of sexual harassment allegations, citing a trove of materials, received through pre-trial discovery in his recently dismissed criminal case, that they say reveal inconsistencies in the accounts of some of the women who accused him of misconduct. Cuomo attorney Rita Glavin said documents turned over by the Albany County District Attorney's office also raise questions about the thoroughness of an investigation by the state attorney general's office last year that concluded Cuomo had sexually harassed or acted inappropriately with multiple women. Still, the documents in addition to the public statements of women who have accused Cuomo of misconduct also confirm that at times the governor's admitted behavior, including kissing, touching and hugging his aides and a female trooper on his protective detail, arguably violated the state's regulations governing workplace conduct. The attorney general's office and multiple district attorneys who investigated many of the women's allegations found their accounts credible. But under New York's statutes, three of the district attorneys said, the allegations could not be successfully prosecuted as crimes. An investigation by the state Assembly's Judiciary Committee also concluded that many of the allegations were valid and that the governor had engaged in sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. "Another day, another attempt by the former governor to attack the brave women who called out his abuse," state Attorney General Letitia James' office said in a statement issued after Glavin attacked the credibility of the investigation two weeks ago. "Thousands of pages of transcripts, exhibits, videos, and other evidence have already been publicly released, but these lies continue in an effort to mask the truth: Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women." Last week, James's office released what is said is the final series of depositions and exhibits from the investigation. They were made public after Glavin had already received many of those records through pre-trial discovery in the now-closed criminal case in which Cuomo was accused of groping a female aide at the executive mansion in December 2020. (An Albany City Court judge earlier this month granted motions filed by prosecutors and Glavin to dismiss the case, which Albany County District Attorney David Soares said could not be proven "beyond a reasonable doubt.") But other records that were not publicly released by the attorney general's office and information that was redacted from many of the transcripts reveal that the attorney general's investigators apparently did not follow up on leads that may have called into question some of the sworn testimony that formed the basis of their conclusion that Cuomo had sexually harassed multiple women. Glavin and Cuomo's former top aides, armed with many of those documents, have waged an aggressive public relations campaign in recent weeks questioning James' investigation. They have focused on the most serious allegations, leveled by former Cuomo aides Lindsey Boylan and Brittany Commisso. Conflicting accounts Boylan, who was the first woman to publicly accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment in a series of tweets in December 2020 detailed many of her allegations in a February post in Medium in which she described a toxic work culture under Cuomo and accused the former governor of kissing her on the lips in his Manhattan office without her consent. Glavin contends the newly released documents raise questions about Boylan's credibility. Specifically, she said Boylan gave misleading testimony under oath last May when she recounted "a very bad experience" with her former state government supervisor, Howard Zemsky, who was at the time chair and CEO of Empire State Development. She testified that during a workplace social outing in New York City in 2017, Zemsky "did kiss me and that was a big part of the reason why I moved to work for the governor, so I would get away from it." She also denied ever sitting on Zemsky's lap. In 2018, the governor's former general counsel, Alphonso David, had also questioned both Zemsky and Boylan, who had worked for Zemsky as his chief of staff at ESD since 2015, about their alleged intimate encounter at a bar that was witnessed by coworkers and reported. "He said there were rumors about it and I said we did not have a sexual, romantic relationship and we did not," Boylan testified in May, recounting David's questioning of her four years ago. But during an informal interview with the attorney general's investigators in July, less than three weeks after Boylan's deposition, Zemsky described a much more consensual and sexually charged encounter with his former chief of staff. His interview took place less than two weeks before Zemsky gave sworn testimony in a deposition to the attorney general's investigators. According to a summary of the informal interview which has not been made public "Zemsky said that the two of them were 'more than professional' one evening" during a workplace outing at a restaurant/bar in Manhattan. The interview lasted nearly five hours and was conducted by three investigators; Joon Kim, a former acting U.S. attorney in Manhattan who helped lead the attorney general's investigation of Cuomo, also was present for part of the interview. "Boylan came to sit on Zemsky's lap, put her arms around his shoulders, and began to kiss him, which Zemsky reciprocated," the interview summary states. "They kissed for 'some minutes,' in the presence of (a coworker) and others. Zemsky was sitting at the head of the table, and Boylan was turned away from the rest of the table when she sat on his lap." The summary, describing Zemsky's account, said he and Boylan kissed again on the bar's rooftop terrace and then took a cab, eventually going to Zemsky's apartment, "where they ... engaged in sexual acts but without sexual intercourse." It added that Zemsky said he and Boylan had both drank heavily that evening and that she quickly left the apartment. "Zemsky said that he believed the evening was consensual on both sides," the summary reads. Despite the conflicting descriptions of their encounter, Zemsky, who had once told Boylan the governor had "a crush" on her, was not questioned about the matter during his formal deposition on July 20. He did testify that he recalled Cuomo whom he also described as having an inappropriate interest in Boylan asking her once about playing "strip poker" during a government flight. That contradicted a public statement he had given five months earlier, in February, when he had said he did not remember the former governor making that remark. Zemsky and several other members of Cuomo's administration had signed that statement at the request of Melissa DeRosa, who was secretary to the governor. He testified he had felt pressured to sign that statement, and said his recollection changed after Boylan sent him a "jarring, threatening" message that made him "think about it differently," according to a transcript of his deposition. According to Zemsky, the message from Boylan was, "I can't wait to destroy your life, you s__ follower." He said she sent on the encrypted app Confide, which automatically deletes messages and does not allow a user to preserve a screen shot. In a recent news conference, Glavin said it's unclear why Kim and Anne Clark, that attorneys who led the attorney general's investigation, did not ask Zemsky about the relationship during his sworn testimony. Additionally, Glavin said, Boylan was not asked by the investigators about her text message to Zemsky including being re-interviewed about that or about why Zemsky's account of their intimate encounter conflicted with her description. "How can you say Lindsey (Boylan) is credible when you now know she didnt provide truthful testimony?" Glavin said. Zemsky could not be reached for comment for this story. "Ms. Boylan testified in two independent investigations, answered every question about this matter, and it was determined she was a credible witness," said Julie Gerchik, Boylans attorney. "In return, she has been attacked and retaliated against as part of Mr. Cuomos ongoing campaign to deflect blame and evade accountability." Date confusion Cuomo's team also has attacked the credibility of Commisso, a 33-year-old Executive Chamber staff member who accused the governor of groping her 13 months ago during a workplace encounter at the governor's mansion in Albany. They contend that the transcripts of witnesses, and evidence in the records they received through pre-trial discovery in the criminal case tied to Commisso's allegation, indicated she provided investigators and the Times Union with varying dates when she said the governor had groped her breast as he hugged her in his second-floor office at the mansion. Commisso's conflicting statements are also what led Albany County prosecutors, despite their statements that they found her credible, to seek to dismiss the criminal charge against Cuomo. In a series of interviews with the Times Union last year, Commisso said she could not recall the precise date of the encounter, but that she believed it happened in late 2020. She and her attorney, Brian D. Premo, had said it may have been in December, but that she believed it took place in late November. However, Albany County sheriff's investigators and investigators for the Assembly's Judiciary Committee gathered text messages from the State Police who guard the governor's mansion, swipe-card entry records from the Capitol, electronic communications and witness statements that they said confirmed Commisso had been alone with Cuomo at the governor's mansion on Dec. 7, 2020. Glavin noted that Commisso, during an informal interviews with the attorney general's investigators, initially told them that the encounter had occurred on Nov. 19 that year. More recently, she told the Times Union that it possibly occurred during Thanksgiving week. Commisso, however, had been consistent in her account to the newspaper that she could not recall the exact date. Sheriff Craig Apple, whose office filed the forcible touching charge against Cuomo, had said his investigators found Commisso's account to be credible. He noted that in her first meeting with a sheriff's investigator in early August, Commisso suggested they use a subpoena to gather electronic records to verify the date of a specific text that she had sent to one of Cuomo's top aides from his mobile phone, which she said would confirm the date of the alleged incident. That text, she had said, was sent just before he allegedly groped her. Cuomo's team has pointed to other discrepancies in Commisso's account, noting that she told the Times Union in an April 2020 interview that she recalled "exactly" what she was wearing when the governor allegedly reached under her blouse and groped her breast. She later told the attorney general's investigators that she could not recall the exact blouse that she was wearing, or the color, but that she remembered she could see the top of her bra. "I remember going up to his office. I remember having my coat on. It was November; it was cold," she testified, later adding: "I think he said why don't you take you coat off or something, and I said, 'well, I'm okay, I have to go back to the office.'" After she described the groping incident during her testimony, Kim pressed her on whether her coat, which she said had a zipper and belt that ties in the front, was still on during the encounter. She then said she may have taken it off and put it back on, but that she left it unzipped. "I believe that I think what I had done was I had taken it off when I sat down, when he said ... I think I did take off my coat; he was like, 'No, take your coat off.''' she testified. "I did take off my coat. I remember that is when I put it back on but I didn't zipper it back up. I just put it back on." In November, the Times Union reported that in her sworn statement, Commisso had misstated the sequence of events that she said unfolded in the governor's private office. She told the investigators that she and the governor had been alone in his second-floor office, when he came out from behind his desk and groped her breast before closing the door after she warned him that he would get them "in trouble." In a series of interviews with the Times Union last year, Commisso had said the governor hugged her, then slammed the door to his office and hugged her again, groping her breast. During her deposition, Commisso corrected her statement before the interview was over and outlined the same sequence of events she had described to the Times Union, according to her transcript. A key week Glavin contends the inconsistencies are not minor and that it's difficult to believe Cuomo would sexually grope Commisso on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, because earlier that day he had conducted a press conference in New York City where he was prepped ahead of time on how to respond to questions about tweets that Boylan had posted days earlier accusing him of fostering a toxic workplace environment. Glavin said the following weekend Dec. 12-13 Commisso had been working with the governor's top aides when she was asked to retrieve Boylan's personnel file and to get "white-out." She said the file was requested by Richard Azzopardi, a senior adviser to Cuomo, and DeRosa. The white-out was apparently used to conceal personal information in Boylan's file, which the administration would later leak to reporters including to the Times Union as part of a wider campaign they waged to try and discredit Boylan. The file was being worked on the same weekend that Boylan on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 13 escalated her allegations with a series of incendiary tweets accusing Cuomo of sexual harassment. Commisso testified that DeRosa eventually asked her to leave the office early. "I knew they were talking about the situation with Lindsey and didn't want me to hear it," she testified. Commisso said she believed that incident involving Boylan's file took place in January 2021. But Glavin contends it occurred five days after Cuomo had allegedly groped Commisso which the attorney said makes it hard to believe that Commisso could not pinpoint at least the week when it occurred. Commisso recently said that her inconsistent statements to the investigators were a result of nerves and anxiety she noted it was an interview that took place during the height of a difficult divorce proceeding, and it was the first time she had ever testified in a deposition. She also was consistent with other details, including recounting the exact bra she was wearing that day, and the way she said Cuomo's "big hand" covered her breast under her shirt as she looked down. "She was never, ever inconsistent about a date," said Premo, her attorney, adding that his client had always believed the incident took place in November or early December. "As far as the comments she made under oath (about the door slamming), she corrected it. It wasn't from any discussion. ... I let it stand. She corrected it on her own, later." Glavin has asked for the attorney general's office to reopen their investigation and "correct the record," but she has no legal authority to compel them to do so. Boylan and Commisso, and the other women who have accused Cuomo of sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct, have stood by their accounts. The attorney general's office has dismissed Glavin's request as baseless. "There is a mountain of evidence to support these findings, which were corroborated by the Assemblys report and deemed credible by multiple (district attorneys)," their office said in a statement. "New Yorkers are tired of these excuses." ALBANY The widow of a 67-year-old man who died after he was allegedly beaten by correction officers at Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Washington County has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against more than a dozen officers who were involved in the incident. John Wesley McMillan died while serving up to 50 years in prison after being convicted of trying to kill two Arab store clerks during separate robberies in 1993 in Erie County. His death in January 2019 occurred during a violent confrontation with multiple correction officers. The death of McMillan, who had schizophrenia and other mental health conditions, was ruled a homicide by a medical examiner but no criminal charges were filed, according the federal complaint. Great Meadow is one of the state's most violent prisons and data from the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision indicates it has had one of the highest rates of officers using force on inmates. The lawsuit, filed over the weekend in U.S. District Court in Albany, says McMillan became agitated when a correction officer ordered him to go to his cell after he left a dining hall. An officer subsequently punched McMillan in the face before he was taken to the ground and pummeled by other officers. They eventually applied pressure to his head and neck as they handcuffed him, according to the complaint. "Inmate witnesses have described observing the correction officers punch, kick, stomp on and choke Mr. McMillan during the incident," the complaint states. "After Mr. McMillan was placed in restraints ... McMillan was unable to stand on his own and was in obvious physical distress, to (the) point where a correction officer present stated that a stretcher was needed after an attempt to move Mr. McMillan was made." Instead, officers allegedly dragged McMillan, who had lost consciousness, by his handcuffed arms to the infirmary. A correction officer, as required, videotaped the incident and the officers' movement of McMillan to the infirmary, but he allegedly failed to focus the camera on the inmate so that little about the incident was visible, the lawsuit states. After McMillan was placed on a stretcher on his side in the infirmary, still handcuffed, a nurse instructed officers to call 911 and a defibrillator was used along with cardiopulmonary resuscitation to try and revive the dying man. It took 45 minutes for an ambulance to arrive at the prison and another 30 minutes to get him to Glens Falls Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about two hours after the incident began. The state Commission of Correction, which investigates inmate deaths, determined McMillan's death was a homicide due to the officers' use of force, which caused a fatal compression injury in his neck and thoracic cavity. The commission also found that the officer who videotaped the incident had failed to follow rules by not focusing the video camera and that a supervisor did not properly monitor McMillan's condition. McMillan's widow is seeking damages for her deceased husband's "physical injuries, severe emotional and psychological distress, fear of impending death, pre-death terror, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life." It's unclear whether any of correction officers involved in the incident faced discipline. Officials with the state's corrections department declined to provide that information. The Buffalo News reported in 1994 that McMillan had shot two store clerks with a small-caliber handgun during separate robberies. Both victims were injured but survived their gunshot wounds. I'm tired of being nice to these people even if the slightest criticism directed at my betters might land me in Guantanamo Bay. To wit . . . KANSAS CITY'S STRONGEST SOUTH SIDE POWER COUPLE WILL LECTURE THE PLEBS ON THE HOMELESS CRISIS!!! Here are the deets of the conversation . . . "Holmeswood Senior Pastor Rev. David McDaniel has elected to open a new year of Sunday services with a new speaker seriestitled Wont You Be My Neighborwhich will address the issue of houselessness and housing insecurity in Kansas City over the course of three sessions: Jan. 23, Jan. 30, and Feb. 6." Our condolences to locals having to endure listening to the city manager this morning. In upcoming chats the judge and his de-facto vote on the KCMO council will commend voters to carry out their charity work in parts of the urban core they don't dare to venture. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . . In January, locals have been quick to forget that this town still has a devastating and ongoing crime problem. Here's today's reminder that endemic violence hasn't found a local solution yet . . . Homicide 8000 block of Euclid This morning at approximately 11:15am, officers were called to the 8000 block of Euclid Ave on a reported prowler. While officers were enroute, the call was updated to a shooting. Upon arrival officers located the victim, an adult male, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds behind a residence. The victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition, however, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. Detectives and Crime Scene Personnel have responded to the scene. They will be processing the scene and speaking to witnesses. Detectives have a person of interest detained. Police are not looking for any additional parties involved at this time. If you have any information, please call detectives at 816-234-5043. Or if you would like to remain anonymous you can do so by calling the Tips Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. ################ Here's the MSM news coverage on the incident . . . Police: prowler call turns into homicide investigation Police are investigating after a deadly shooting Saturday morning.Officers were called to East 80th Street and Euclid Avenue on a reported prowler around 11:15 a.m.While on the way, the call was updated to a shooting. Officers found a man shot inside a nearby home. EMS rushed him to the hospital in critical condition. 1 killed in Saturday morning Kansas City, Missouri, shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One man is dead after a shooting Saturday morning in Kansas City, Missouri. Around 11:15 a.m., KCMO police responded to a report of a prowler in the 8000 block of Euclid Avenue. While officers were en route, the call was updated to a shooting. Moreover, here's TKC peek at the national discussion on urban crime as of late from both sides of the aisle . . . 'It's just crazy': 12 major cities hit all-time homicide records At least 12 major U.S. cities have broken annual homicide records in 2021 -- and there's still three weeks to go in the year. Of the dozen cities that have already surpassed the grim milestones for killings, five topped records that were set or tied just last year. States with weaker gun laws have higher rates of firearm related homicides and suicides, study finds A new study published Thursday by a leading non-profit organization that focuses on gun violence prevention found that there is a direct correlation in states with weaker gun laws and higher rates of gun deaths, including homicides, suicides and accidental killings. During the pandemic, gun violence has been devastating communities across the country Big cities in the U.S. are searching for ways to stem the sharp rise in homicides that has occurred over the past two years. A close look at Chicago, where nearly 800 people were killed in 2021. SCOTT SIMON, HOST: Throughout the pandemic, a scourge of gun violence has devastated families and neighborhoods across the country, including Chicago. Biden's Justice Department gives $1.6billion to battle violent crime President Joe Biden's Department of Justice will distribute $1.6 billion in grants to towns and cities to help reduce the dramatic rise in violent crime At least 12 major U.S. Attorney General Garland pledges a comprehensive response to violent crime Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday said the federal government wants to create a "comprehensive" response to thescourge of gun crime that involves working more with cities and states. "At the Justice Department, we stand shoulder to shoulder with you in the fight against violent crime and we will use every tool at our disposal to protect our communities," Garland said in remarks to the U.S. Developing . . . Retail is dead in every part of the nation and it's not even a good sell in the lily-white suburbs of nearly rural Kansas. Here's why this story is interesting . . . Here in KC proper we're coping with rising crime, a city hall administration that's hostile to every kind of biz, neighborhood and development . . . Along with the the threat of Amazon. However . . . Taxpayers in Kansas can't blame this impending demise on "urban youth" or some far away politico. This developer overreach problem in homegrown and apparently burning money just as fast as any urban trash fire. Now . . . We normally chide this news outlet as a mere "prog blog" but in this instance they offer some impressive journalism and state house reporting that contradicts so much local suburban cheerleading. Check the money line . . . Auditors with the Legislature said their analysis of the PrairieFire project built with capital raised through issuance in 2012 of Sales Tax Revenue Bonds, or STAR bonds, indicated the project wasnt generating enough sales tax revenue to repay debts in the required 20-year period. Originally, $64.9 million in bonds were issued for the project. Debt remaining to be paid: $64.8 million. Auditors predicted it could take until 2046 or 2104 to produce sufficient sales tax revenue to retire the PrairieFire obligations held by the city of Overland Park. They are in danger of default, said Andy Brienzo, of the Legislatures audit division. We cant say that definitively. There is some additional development that is slated to happen. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . . Legislative auditors skeptical Prairiefire development can pay off $64.8M in bond debt - Kansas Reflector TOPEKA - The Overland Park retail, office, hotel and residential development attached to the Prairiefire museum struggles to attract out-of-state tourists and could default on $64.8 million in bond debt issued through a state economic development program under scrutiny by the Legislature. Developing . . . Our sometimes daily print publication has mostly faded from relevance but every now and then they deserve a peek if only to bear witness to the decline of local journalism. Accordingly, a prom fashion story that's older than the better work of Kanye West likely supplied the majority of their readers today . . . Given that they no longer put out a paper on Saturday. Anyhoo . . . Here are the basics of a tale that shouldn't occupy much share of mind from anybody . . . "Sgt. Samantha Bell, an employee with the jail division for the sheriffs office, wore a red dress with the stars and bars to her senior prom at Wellington-Napolean High School in 2013. Bell has been employed with the sheriffs office for the past five years. Lafayette County borders Jackson County to the east." Accordingly . . . TKC has no idea why the newspaper is putting a low paid law enforcement official on blast without any accusation for a high school photo . . . But whatever this is, let's not pretend that it's journalism. Here's the link preview via www.TonysKansasCity.com and maybe a sign that the subscription price isn't really worth it . . . Brevard, NC (28712) Today Thunderstorms during the morning hours, then skies turning partly cloudy during the afternoon. High 82F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 53F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Annie Charnley Eveland is a retired newspaper editor and journalist. A freelance writer, she produces the weekly Etcetera column Sundays in the Union-Bulletin. Send news with contact name and daytime phone number to acereporter1979@gmail.com. The fire that burned through the Whitman County town of Malden in 2020 started miles away on a ridge where power lines ran down its length. In a message on Twitter, the Head of State said that Congress has approved by insistence a law that mutilates citizens' right to a referendum on a Constituent Assembly, thus putting the popular will at risk. "We will not allow Peruvians' political participation to be violated underestimating, conditioning, and subjecting their will to the mercy of the Congress's sole opinion," he expressed. According to the President, the country needs to be refounded in the face of an evident crisis, providing the only power to the citizens. "This affront to the population, which for years has demanded a change to a Constitution drawn up under a dictatorship, overlooks the fact that the power of the State emanates from the people, owing to its representativeness," he stated. In this regard, the Peruvian leader pointed out that citizens have the right to take care of their own well-being. As is known, the Executive Branch will file an unconstitutionality claim before the Constitutional Court against the regulation which establishes that any constitutional reform must be approved by the Legislative Branch before being submitted to referendum. In a statement, the Council of Ministers indicated that the aforementioned bill violates the fundamental right of citizens to direct political participation, recognized in Article 31 of the Constitution and Article 23 of the American Convention on Human Rights. The regulation also violates constitutional principles such as the balance of powers and democracy. "The referendum is the highest expression of the democratic principle, since it constitutes a statement by the people, who hold the constituent power, as established in Article 45 of the Constitution," it specified. El @congresoperu, con el objetivo de atentar contra la voluntad popular, aprobo una ley que mutila el derecho al referendum y que reclama una Asamblea Constituyente. Como Gobierno, recurriremos al @TC_Peru en vista de que esta ley es antidemocratica e inconstitucional. (1/3) Pedro Castillo Terrones (@PedroCastilloTe) January 23, 2022 No permitiremos que se vulnere la participacion politica de los peruanos, menospreciando, condicionando y sometiendo su voluntad a merced del parecer unico del Congreso. El pais necesita ser refundado ante una evidente crisis, dandole el unico poder a la ciudadania. (2/3) Pedro Castillo Terrones (@PedroCastilloTe) January 23, 2022 Este atentado contra la poblacion que ha exigido por anos el cambio de una Constitucion concebida en la dictadura, olvida que el poder del Estado emana del pueblo y se debe a su representatividad. Recae en los ciudadanos el derecho de apostar por su propio bienestar. (3/3) Pedro Castillo Terrones (@PedroCastilloTe) January 23, 2022 (END) VVS/RMB The President of the Republic Pedro Castillo on Sunday affirmed that the law that states that all constitutional reforms must be approved by Congress before being put to a referendum is anti-democratic and unconstitutional; consequently, the Government has decided to appeal to the Constitutional Court (TC).Published: 1/23/2022 Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope you are staying warm! Today I have some follow-ups I received to recent articles. I thought you might enjoy the additional information. First off, I am happy to report that we have the names of almost all the kids in the on the rail photo from Steve Fleming (Copley Street neighborhood), thanks to Cyndie Seamans. She sent the photo to her cousin Ernie Case, who didnt appear in the photo, but was able to identify all the boys anyway. Pictured from left are Steve Fleming, David Furnell, Gary Cuthbert, Jeff Treveal, Mark Sears, and the boy with the dog is Mike Coughlin. (My apologies, but I dont know the name of the little girl in the photo) Thanks so much, Cyndie! Next, I heard from a few people about some of the old-time bakeries in Auburn that I neglected to mention in a recent article. Gary Kromer reminded me that his family owned a very popular bakery, Kromers Bakery, located on North Street, just north of Genesee Street, which was wiped out by urban renewal. Gary said when people hear his last name (especially those 65 and older) they invariably ask, any relation to Kromers Bakery? By the way, Gary has moved back from Texas and lives at the Auburn Grove apartments, across the street from Standart Woods. Welcome back, Gary! And congratulations on your upcoming 70th birthday on Feb. 20! Many thanks also to Mike Lawn, who found in the 1940 Auburn City Directory, that White Eagle Bakery was located on Union Street, two blocks north off of State Street. And also that Vans Bakery had previously been known as Sally Ann bakery, before it was sold and became Vans. Thanks, Mike! In addition, I heard from Lanie (Willet) Pantori who had this to share: When I saw the headline for your article in The Citizen regarding Auburns past small town bakeries, I was intrigued to continue reading. My grandfather, George Willet, owned his own bakery in Auburn at 7 Hulbert St. (though not mentioned in the article) and I unfortunately was only 4 when he passed at the young age of 61. My father (age 80) had fond memories of the bakery and delivering bread in his truck to local stores. My mom remembers being pregnant with their first child and helping Grandpa in the bakery with his bread, pizza and wedding cakes. Though we do not have any photos, I am reaching out to see if anyone does? The only thing I have from his bakery is an original bakery bag that I have framed and proudly hanging in my kitchen! If anyone has any photos or information, please contact me at (315) 224-6522 or email lanieree@juno.com. Thank you, Lanie (Willet) Pantori" Thanks everyone for the great feedback! Stay safe and warm, Ormie Ormie King's column appears Sundays in The Citizen and he can be reached by email at ormie5king@gmail.com. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 New York, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jan, 2022 ) :Gun violence has rocked the first three weeks of Eric Adams' tenure as New York mayor, piling pressure on the former cop to deliver on his promise to improve public safety in America's largest city. A shooting in the neighborhood of Harlem Friday left one police officer dead and another in critical condition. It was the latest flashpoint of the Democratic mayor's nascent rule, in which he has yet to present a comprehensive plan to rein in the crime he has decried. "It is our city against the killers," said Adams, a retired police captain, on Friday night at Harlem Hospital, where the officers -- who had been responding to a domestic disturbance -- were taken following the incident. The recent shootings also include a shocking incident in which an 11-month-old girl was hit in the cheek by a stray bullet in the Bronx as she was in a parked car with her mother. They are seen as part of a broader trend of gun violence fueled by the accessibility of firearms, against the backdrop of the social and economic toll of the Covid-19 pandemic. And they're testing the new mayor's tough-on-crime campaign message, while setting up a potential showdown with the left flank of his party over police funding and crime reduction strategies. On Friday Adams urged Federal action on gun control while calling on New Yorkers to work with cops to stem violence. "No matter how painful this moment is, don't give up on these people in this city," he said. "Twitter and Instagram and social media -- they're not the people you're protecting," he continued in an apparent rebuke of his leftist critics, many of whom are vocal online and have pushed to "defund" the New York Police Department, the nation's largest. - Budget negotiations - Now that call may be coming to a head as Adams, whose position on policing has long rankled New Yorkers on the left, prepares to negotiate a new city budget. He said this week he would consider exempting the police force, with a budget exceeding $5 billion, from citywide cost-cutting measures. Politicians who use "defund the police" as a rallying cry appear unlikely to give Adams, who has already aggravated progressives over issues including remote learning, any leeway. Kristin Richardson Jordan, a leftist city council member, won her Harlem district on a "defund" platform, which advocates replacing policing with alternative public safety systems. She expressed sadness over the killing of the police officer Friday, but added: "To be clear, the death of police officers is not what abolition is. Abolition is an end to violence altogether." - 'Blueprint for safety' - Last year police recorded 488 homicides in the city of nine million people, up 4.3 percent from 2020 -- though Jeffrey Butts, director of the research and evaluation center at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, points out that 25 years ago the number of homicides in New York was quadruple what is seen today. While he said he disagrees with the notion of "defunding the police," he also told AFP "more police funding is not an appropriate response." "How are those resources used? To what end? What's the strategy?" Butts said. "The foundation of our approach has to be economic well-being, health and the well-being of communities, which is a much broader public policy conversation." Adriano Espaillat, a congressman whose district includes Harlem and parts of the Bronx, said Saturday "the federal government must play a pivotal role" in stemming the violence, citing a need for legislation mandating stronger background checks and accountability of gun manufacturers. Ken Sherrill, a professor emeritus of political science at Hunter College, expressed surprise that Adams has not yet unveiled his pitch to tackle crime -- but said this is the moment to "mold public opinion." "This hands the mayor an immense opportunity and if he doesn't seize it I'm sure he will regret it," Sherrill told AFP. On Saturday, Adams told journalists he was putting "final touches" on an as-yet unscheduled speech that would present a detailed vision on public safety. "We need a concerted, organized effort and you're going to see how we're going to accomplish that when we give my overall blueprint for safety," Adams said. Key to his plan would be "addressing the flow of guns."Without that, he said, "we're wasting our time." (@ChaudhryMAli88) Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jan, 2022 ) :Capitol Hill has begun to debate whether to ban US lawmakers from trading stocks, but despite some rare bi-partisan unity on the question it is far from settled. Legislation introduced earlier this month by Democratic senators Jon Ossoff of Georgia and Mark Kelly of Arizona would require members of Congress, their spouses and dependent children to place their investments in a blind trust. "Members of Congress should not be playing the stock market while we make federal policy and have extraordinary access to confidential information," Ossoff said. Republicans are also active on the issue, with Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri introducing similar legislation to Ossoff and Kelly's and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy saying he could push for a ban on stock trading if the Republicans take control in the November 2022 midterm elections. "I think any member of Congress who actively trades stock is crazy," Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida told AFP. "Let's say the price of that stock skyrockets, people are going to suspect you have insider information." - Potential conflict of interest - Under the STOCK Act, which took effect in 2012, lawmakers are required to publicly report transactions within 45 days. But critics say the law is neither adequately policed nor sufficient for addressing the obvious problem of conflict of interest. "The current problem is that the law is not enforced and it's not enough," said Kedric Payne, general counsel for the Campaign Legal Center, an NGO. "You see time and time again that members of Congress don't even disclose their stock trades on time. But even when members disclose their stock trades, we still see conflicts of interest with their transactions." The financial news website business Insider found that 54 members of Congress and 182 congressional staff members had violated the STOCK Act, with members of both parties failing to report transactions. In early 2020, four US senators came under scrutiny for selling stock just before the market plunged, as much of the US economy shuttered due to Covid-19. The Justice Department ultimately closed an investigation without charging lawmakers. The issue also surfaced in recent months at the Federal Reserve, where two regional presidents and a Fed vice chair resigned or departed earlier than planned, following revelations over financial trades as they helped set monetary policy. A September investigation by the Wall Street Journal showed that 130 federal judges violated US law and judicial ethics by overseeing court cases involving companies in which they or a family member owned stock. The Fed has announced stricter investment rules following the revelations, while the Supreme Court has promised to bolster judicial ethics. - Opposed to a ban - But the outlook for a proposed ban on Capitol Hill looks murky due to opposition from powerful figures, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has made known her personal opposition to a ban on stock trades. "We are a free-market economy; they should be able to participate in that," Pelosi said at a recent press conference at which she called for better enforcement of existing rules. But Pelosi, who has noted that the Justice Department can prosecute members of Congress for insider trading under existing law, has said in recent days she is open to a ban if it is supported by the Democratic caucus. While Pelosi herself has avoided trading stocks, her husband has been an active investor. The Pelosis in 2021 invested some $19 million in technology companies such as microsoft, Alphabet and Nvidia, according to the website Capital Trades. While the outlook for a ban looks uncertain, Washington insiders think the odds could improve suddenly if the issue emerges as a major focus of the November campaign. A poll released earlier this month by the conservative Convention of States Action found that 76 percent of voters say members should not trade stocks while serving in Washington. Hue, Vietnam, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jan, 2022 ) :Thousands of mourners packed a temple in Vietnam's Buddhist heartland early Sunday to pay tribute to the late Vietnamese monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, credited with bringing mindfulness to the West. The Zen master, whose reach within Buddhism was seen as second only to the Dalai Lama, died aged 95 on Saturday at the Tu Hieu Pagoda in the city of Hue. Thich Nhat Hanh spent nearly four decades in exile after he was banished from his homeland for calling for an end to the Vietnam War. He wrote more than 100 books on mindfulness and meditation and hosted retreats worldwide. Early on Sunday morning, chanting monks carried his body covered by a yellow sheet along with decorative umbrellas through the throng of mourners. The smell of incense wafted in the air, as they put his body in a wooden coffin and placed it in a hall decorated with yellow daisies. Buddhist monks in yellow and brown robes recited prayers and followers wearing grey stood in silent contemplation of a remarkable life. Among the mourners was Tran Dinh Huong, 46, who hastily travelled from Hanoi to pay her respects. "I read many of his books and his words helped me a lot when I was down or going through difficulties," she told AFP. "I think it will be a very long time until Vietnam and the world has such a great teacher again." Nguyen Nhat from Ho Chi Minh City said it was deeply moving to see the body. "I admire him for his simple and modest life," he told AFP. Thich Nhat Hanh spent 39 years in France and advocated for religious freedom around the world. Vietnamese authorities permitted him to return to the country in 2018 but plainclothes police kept a vigil outside the pagoda compound closely monitoring his activities. His messages have not always been welcomed as authorities in Buddhist majority one-party Vietnam are wary of organised religion: in 2009 his followers were driven from their temple in southern Lam Dong province by hired mobs. But Cong An Nhan Dan newspaper -- considered the official mouthpiece of the public security ministry -- published on Sunday a glowing tribute to the writer, poet, scholar, historian and peace activist. "Monk Thich Nhat Hanh from the Plum Village was a spiritual teacher who had a deep and widespread influence across the world," the obituary said. Thich Nhat Hanh's coffin is expected to remain in the hall for a week -- as mourners take turns to pray in front of it -- before a cremation ceremony next Saturday. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jan, 2022 ) :A renowned investigative journalist in ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan has been charged with possession of narcotics, police said Sunday, days after he released an investigation into the fuel business of a powerful political family. Bolot Temirov, whose YouTube channel Temirov Live is known for its hard-hitting anti-corruption investigations, was taken into custody Saturday night after police raided the media outlet's office. Around 200 supporters of Temirov including fellow journalists gathered outside the interior ministry on Sunday, with some calling for the minister's resignation. In a statement Sunday, police in the Central Asian country's capital Bishkek said Temirov and his colleague Bolot Nazarov had been arrested on a charge of "possessing illegal narcotics". Temirov was charged and released following detention but is barred from leaving the country. Nazarov is still being held, a police spokesman confirmed to AFP. In footage of the journalist filmed during his arrest, Temirov said he believed police had planted drugs in his pocket. The investigation comes after Temirov Live released a report on alleged profiteering in the fuel industry by a relative of Kamchibek Tashiyev, Kyrgyzstan's security committee chief, who came to power alongside current president Sadyr Japarov during unrest in 2020. Japarov said on Facebook Sunday he would ensure the case was "investigated fairly" but pledged support for Tashiyev, a long-term ally. "Kamchibek (Tashiyev) explained in detail ... that the accusations against him were completely false." Tashiyev during a Sunday press conference denied that his committee had influenced the investigation into Temirov and other employees of the channel, calling the investigation into his nephew's fuel business "a lie". "I have never been involved in corruption...that is my lifelong position," Tashiyev said. Tashiyev accused Temirov's colleague Nazarov of being "addicted" to narcotics and using a bong to smoke illicit substances without offering proof for the claim. Kyrgyzstan's vast, oil-rich neighbour Kazakhstan has been rocked by political unrest that authorities there said has left 225 people dead after protests against an energy price hike began at the turn of the year. But mountainous Kyrgyzstan has long been the region's most politically volatile country, with three of the country's six post-independence leaders forced out of office since 2005 amid street rallies over corruption, nepotism and rigged votes. tol-cr/jbr/cdw Nicosia, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jan, 2022 ) :Turkish Cypriots cast their ballots on Sunday in a snap legislative election in the breakaway northern third of the Mediterranean island after a campaign dominated by an economic crisis. The self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) -- recognised only by Ankara -- has been hit hard by the Covid pandemic and the plummeting value of the Turkish lira. Analysts said there has been a lack of interest in the poll among the roughly 204,000 voters mainly concerned with health, safety and economic welfare. "Compared to the previous elections in northern Cyprus, there is much less energy and enthusiasm in the air," political scientists Ahmet Sozen and Devrim Sahin wrote on the website of Italian think tank ISPI. Cyprus has been split since 1974 when Turkish forces occupied the northern part of the island in response to a military coup sponsored by the junta in power in Greece at the time. Unlike in previous TRNC elections, campaigning this time has focused on the territory's economic woes rather than any talk of a solution to the problem. Kyiv, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jan, 2022 ) :A former Ukrainian member of parliament that the UK said was being considered by Russia as a potential Kremlin-friendly head of state in Ukraine said Sunday that Kyiv needed fresh leadership. "The Ukrainian people need rule of law, peace, sound and pragmatic economic and social policies, and new political leaders," former MP Yevgen Murayev wrote on Facebook. (@FahadShabbir) BERLIN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd January, 2022) The head of the German navy, Vice Adm. Kay-Achim Schonbach has requested to be relieved of his post after a controversial statement that Crimea will never return to Ukraine, Spiegel reported Saturday, citing sources. According to Spiegel, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht held an urgent video call with Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Eberhard Zorn and a public relations consultant to discuss the vice admiral's words earlier on Saturday. On Monday, Schonbach is expected to give an explanation to the inspector about his remarks. Spiegel reported that Schonbach decided to get out of the awkward situation by asking to be relieved of his post. Schonbach said at a conference hosted by India's Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses that Crimea will never again be part of Ukraine and called the West's claims that Moscow was preparing for an invasion nonsense. The commander also noted that Putin wanted respect from his Western partners and that it was not that hard to show it to him since he "probably deserves it." (@FahadShabbir) ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd January, 2022) A Turkish court ordered to arrest prominent journalist Sedef Kabas for making offensive remarks about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on live television, CNN Turk reported on Saturday. The journalist mentioned an offensive saying about cattle in the palace when talking about Erdogan's policies on live tv. Her words received attention on social networks and caused severe backlash from several Turkish officials, including the press secretary of the ruling Justice and Development party, Omer Celik, who called the remark immoral and stupid. The Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council launched a probe into the broadcaster that hosted Kabas. On Saturday, a Turkish court ruled to arrest the journalist, according to CNN Turk. Under the Turkish law, insulting the president is a criminal offense punishable by fine. The move comes after the US Supreme Court rejected the automaker's bid to avoid lawsuits filed by officials in three states including Ohio in November 2021. German automobile giant Volkswagen AG has agreed to pay $3.5 million as a settlement with Ohio over claims that the automaker violated state laws by manipulating vehicle computer software in its vehicles to mask carbon dioxide emissions, reports Reuters. (Also Read: Volkswagen, Bosch partner for industrial production of EV battery cells) The move comes after the US Supreme Court rejected the automaker's bid to avoid lawsuits filed by officials in three states including Ohio in November 2021. The automaker argued that under the Clean Air Act, only the federal government can pursue emissions claims. Volkswagen also noted that it had already reached a settlement of more than $20 billion with the US EPA and affected VW vehicle owners. However, in its statement on Friday, the automaker has said that this agreement fully resolves Ohios legacy claims and puts this matter behind the company as we focus on building a future of sustainable mobility. While Volkswagen has reached a settlement in Ohio, Texas and two counties in Utah and Florida still have pending lawsuits. However, the settlement is a fraction of what Ohio had previously sought. Volkswagen reportedly said in prior court papers that Ohios claims could have totalled $350 million per day, or more than $127 billion per year, over a multi-year period. Back in 2015, Volkswagen disclosed that it had used sophisticated software to evade emissions requirements in nearly 11 million vehicles around the world. It also misled the EPA, which started asking questions in 2014. In addition to equipping its vehicles with emission cheating devices before they were sold, Volkswagen also installed software updates after the sale. The Volkswagen emission cheating software allowed the vehicle to be put into test mode which suspended normal driving operations and reduced emissions only during testing. First Published Date: MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd January, 2022) The Russian Foreign Ministry has commented on UK claims of Moscow's alleged plans to install a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine, saying that such statements are "nonsense" and a provocation aimed at escalating the situation. The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in a Saturday statement that the Russian government was "looking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kiev" and that former Ukrainian parliament member Yevhen Murayev was being considered as a "potential candidate." The UK foreign ministry also claimed that Russian intelligence was maintaining contact with numerous former Ukrainian politicians including Ukraine's ex-Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. No evidence was provided to support any of the claims. Commenting on these statements, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that "the disinformation spread by the British Foreign Office is yet another evidence that it is the NATO countries, led by the Anglo-Saxons, that are escalating tensions around Ukraine." The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the UK to "halt provocative activities, stop spreading nonsense." Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier on Saturday that Moscow expected military and informational provocations from the West and Ukraine on the eve of the Olympic Games in Beijing. (UroToday.com) The 2022 EAU Section of Oncological Urology (ESOU) Annual Meeting included a session on urothelial cancer and a presentation by Dr. Valeria Panebianco discussing how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has changed the bladder cancer pathway. Dr. Panebianco notes that for more than 30 years the diagnostic pathways for bladder cancer patients have remained largely unchanged, with TURBT as the initial diagnostic and staging tool. However, there are TURBT-related issues, such as understaging and residual tumor (~58%), which are often secondary to operator-dependent performance (experience, judgement, skill). The rationale and aim of VI-RADS was to define a standardized approach to imaging and reporting mpMRI for bladder cancer, defining the risk of muscle invasion.1 Furthermore, VI-RADS was created through a consensus using existing literature. The scoring is applicable to untreated patients and to treated patients having only received a diagnostic TURBT, but prior to re-TURBT. mpMRI is best performed before or at least 2 weeks after TURBT, bladder biopsy, or intravesical treatment. Administration of an intramuscular antispasmodic agent is recommended, in addition to adequate bladder distention. MRI does not necessarily have the ability to visualize all of the histological bladder wall layers, however, it is able to assess size, location, multiplicity, and morphology. A 5-point VI-RADS score is generated using the individual T2W, DWI, and DCE MRI categories and suggests the probability of muscle invasion. The dominant sequences for risk estimates are DWI (first) and DCE (second, especially if DWI is sub-optimal). The T2 sequence (structural category) is helpful as a first pass guide. The VI-RADS scoring is as follows: VI-RADS 1: SC CE and DW category 1 (muscle invasion is highly unlikely) VI-RADS 2: SC, CE and DW category 2; both CE and DW category 2 with SC category 3 (muscle invasion is unlikely to be present) VI-RADS 3: SC, CE, and DW category 3; SC category 3, CE or DW category 3, and the remaining sequence category 2 (the presence of muscle invasion is equivocal) VI-RADS 4: At least SC and/or DW and CE category 4; the remaining category 3 or 4 SC category 3 plus DW and/or CE category 4; SC category 5 plus DW and/or CE category 4 (muscle invasion is likely) VI-RADS 5: at least SC plus DW and/or CE category 5; the remaining category 4 or 5 (invasion of muscle and beyond the bladder is very likely) There are clinical implications in different settings for the utilization of VI-RADS, as highlighted in the following figure: Dr. Panebiancos group published a study prospectively validating VI-RADS for discrimination between NMIBC and MIBC at TURBT, and evaluated the accuracy of VI-RADS for identifying high-risk NMIBC patients who could avoid re-TURBT and detecting those at higher risk for understaging after TURBT.2 There were 231 patients with bladder cancer suspicion that were offered mpMRI before TURBT, and according to VI-RADS, a cutoff of 3 to define MIBC was assumed. mpMRI showed sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for discriminating NMIBC from MIBC at initial TURBT of 91.9% (95% CI 82.2-97.3), 91.1% (95% CI 85.8-94.9), 77.5% (95% CI 65.8-86.7), and 97.1% (95% CI 93.3-99.1), respectively. Furthermore, the AUC was 0.94 (95% CI 0.91-0.97). Among HR-NMIBC patients (n=114), mpMRI before TURBT showed sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 85% (95% CI 62.1-96.8), 93.6% (95% CI 86.6-97.6), 74.5% (95% CI 52.4-90.1), and 96.6% (95% CI 90.5-99.3) respectively, to identify patients with MIBC at re-TURBT (AUC 0.93, 95% CI 0.87-0.97). In 2020, Woo and colleagues performed a systematic review and meta-analysis3 to review the diagnostic performance of VI-RADS for the prediction of MIBC among six studies and 1,770 patients. For this study, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.83 (95% CI 0.70-0.90) and 0.90 (95% CI 0.83-0.95), and the area under the curve was 0.94 (95% CI 0.91-0.95). Meta-regression analyses showed that the number of patients (>205 vs 205), magnetic field strength (3 vs 1.5 T), T2-weighted image slice thickness (3 vs 4 mm), and VI-RADS cutoff score (3 vs 4) were significant factors affecting heterogeneity (p 0.03). In a more recent meta-analysis (December 2021) assessing VI-RADS accuracy, Jazayeri et al.4 included 22 eligible studies, consisting of 2,576 participants and 5,414 MRI reports. The area under curve of VI-RADS at cut-point values of 3 and 4 were 0.93 (95%CI: 0.91, 0.95), 0.93 (95%CI: 0.90, 0.95), respectively. The optimal VI-RADS cutoff value for predicting MIBC was determined as 3 which granted a pooled sensitivity of 89% (95%CI: 87%, 91%; I2=48%) and a specificity of 84% (95%CI: 80%, 87%; I2=90%). Based on meta-regression, the sources of inter-study heterogeneity for VI-RADS 3 were the sample size > 70, study design, single-center vs multi-center, patient population characteristics (i.e., gender, age), reference standard, histology, magnetic strength, T2WI slice thickness, and the number of radiologists reporting the MRI results. Dr. Panebianco notes that since their initial publication in 2018, there has been several studies that have provided (retrospective) validation of the scoring system, with a high inter-reader agreement: Initial results of the BladderPath study were recently published in 2021,5 randomizing patients to risk-stratified (5-point Likert scale) image-directed care with TURBT for patients with newly diagnosed bladder cancer. In this initial assessment, 279 patients were screened and 113 were randomized, with reporting on the first 100 participants to complete staging: 48 in pathway 1 (TURBT) and 52 in pathway 2 (mpMRI for possible MIBC, Likert 3-5). Fifty of 52 participants designated Likert 1-2 (probable NMIBC) from both pathways were confirmed as having NMIBC (96%). Ten of 11 cases diagnosed as NMIBC by mpMRI have been pathologically confirmed as NMIBC, and 10/15 cases diagnosed as MIBC by mpMRI have been treated as MIBC (5 participants underwent TURBT): The proposed MRI pathway for patient stratification prior to definitive treatment is as follows: Recently, Cao and colleagues assessed the application of VI-RADS in the post-treatment setting.6 Among 73 patients (n=42 with primary bladder cancer, n=31 with post-treatment bladder cancer), there was no difference between the AUCs in the primary and post-treatment groups (p = 0.870), with a cut-off for the post-treatment group of 4. Preliminary work has also assessed the utilization of VI-RADS for assessing response to systemic therapy for bladder cancer.7 In this study, 10 consecutive patients diagnosed with non-metastatic MIBC were prospectively enrolled to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy, as well as an mpMRI before staging resection and after the chemotherapy cycles. NacVI-RADS categories were able to match all the final radical cystectomy pathology both for complete pT0 responders and for the patients defined as partial or minimal responders, who only showed some radiologic assessment of response inter-scoring class downstaging. Dr. Panebianco concluded her presentation of VI-RADS and MRI for bladder cancer management with the following take-home messages: VI-RADS can assess risk of muscle invasion VI-RADS can be used to lower the burden of unnecessary TURBT procedures An MRI pathway should enhance patient satisfaction MRI has shown promising results for assessment of cancer response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy or immunotherapy Presented by: Valeria Panebianco, Professor, Sapienza Universita de Roma, Rome, Italy Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc Urologic Oncologist, Assistant Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2022 EAU Section of Oncological Urology (ESOU) Hybrid Annual Meeting, Madrid, Spain, Fri, Jan 21 Sun, Jan 23, 2022. References: (UroToday.com) In a podium presentation in the ESU-ESOU-ERUS session at the 19th Meeting of the EAU Section of Oncological Urology, Dr. Nina Harke presented on considerations for choosing transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approaches for robotic partial nephrectomy. As is often done, she highlighted current guideline recommendations in this space. In Europe, the guidelines are non-comital with a recommendation that either an open, pure laparoscopic or robotic-assisted laparoscopic approach may be used based on surgeon expertise and skills. In contrast, the American Urological Association guidelines recommend that a minimally invasive approach should be considered when it would not compromise oncologic, functional, and perioperative outcomes. However, among patients opting for minimally invasive surgical approaches, neither guideline comments on considerations for transperitoneal or retroperitoneal surgery. Dr. Harke emphasized that while it is important to decide and define our approach pre-operatively, we may need to be flexible and appropriate positioning on the flank with arms placed anteriorly may allow a transition from one approach to the other intra-operatively. She then discussed port placement. Clearly, this differs between transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches. While most are comfortable with port placement for transperitoneal partial nephrectomy, she highlighted important considerations for a retroperitoneal approach. In the case of retroperitoneal surgery, she emphasized that, as with transperitoneal surgery, she prefers a relatively linear placement of the ports. She emphasized the importance of initially identifying the iliac crest and 12th rib as key anatomic landmarks. Then, using a combination of blunt dissection and palpation, the first port is placed in the axillary line. Following balloon dilation, two trocars are inserted directly onto her finger in order to avoid injury to adjacent structures. At this time, the peritoneum must then carefully be dissected off the abdominal wall to allow placement of the other ports without entering the peritoneum. Notably, she highlighted the value of using the needle to visualize the trajectory of ports prior to their placement. As with transperitoneal surgery, she highlighted that she prefers to use 4 robotic arms. When beginning a program to approach retroperitoneal access, she emphasized that this is feasible using the da Vinci Si system, though this requires docking over the head. She then highlighted data from six matched pair analyses comparing transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches. Five of six studies showed a shorter operative time with the retroperitoneal approach, approximately 20-30 minutes in most studies. This is explained primarily by a shorter time accessing the renal hilum. Using surgical videos to highlight, she demonstrated that the retroperitoneal approach allows direct access to the hilum when the fourth arm is used to hold up the kidney and the psoas muscle is followed to identify the hilar vessels. As may be expected, tumor resection is equivalent between the approaches and as a result, warm ischemia time is comparable. She again utilized intra-operative footage to highlight this emphasizing that, particularly with the retroperitoneal approach, it is important to limit suction (especially when an AirSeal device is not being used) as this will diminish the operative space and increase bleeding. She highlighted that there are particular scenarios in which a retroperitoneal approach may be preferred. In particular, transperitoneal surgery can be more difficult in patients with prior major open abdominal surgery. A comparative analysis showed that a retroperitoneal approach was much more commonly utilized in these patients and was able to achieve outcomes (including operative time, warm ischemia time, and major complication rates) that are comparable to those achieved in patients who did not have prior open abdominal surgery. However, she highlighted that extremes of body habitus (very thing and the obese) may make retroperitoneal surgery more difficult. However, retroperitoneal robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy is feasible in obese patients with comparable outcomes. Dr. Harke highlighted that tumor location can contribute to decision making and that posterior tumors are more amenable to retroperitoneal approaches and these tumors have typically been the ones in which a retroperitoneal approach is used. However, this approach may be applied to anterior, lateral, and hilar tumors as well. Notably, tumor location (anterior, lateral, or posterior) does not appear to meaningfully affect operative time of ischemia time for patients undergoing retroperitoneal partial nephrectomy. However, other tumor characteristics may be important. She highlighted that she prefers a transperitoneal approach for cystic lesions given the small working space retroperitoneally and concerns of lesion rupture. In conclusion, Dr. Harke highlighted that there are advantages to each approach but that retroperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy is feasible in a variety of clinical scenarios. Presented by: Nina Harke, Clinic for Urology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Deutschland Written by: Christopher J.D. Wallis, University of Toronto Twitter: @WallisCJD during the 2022 EAU Section of Oncological Urology (ESOU) Hybrid Annual Meeting, Madrid, Spain, Fri, Jan 21 Sun, Jan 23, 2022. GRACE PIZZINI is a News and Features Reporter for The Vidette. Pizzini can be contacted at gepizzi@ilstu.edu. Follow Pizzini on Twitter at @gepizzini IF YOU SUPPORT THE VIDETTE MISSION of providing a training laboratory for Illinois State University student journalists to learn and sharpen viable, valuable and marketable skills in all phases of digital media, please contribute to this most important cause. Thank you. Music Time in Africa is VOAs longest running English language program. Since 1965, this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Ethnomusicologist and Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on whats happening in African music with exclusive interviews, cultural information, and of course, great music -- including rare recordings from the Leo Sarkisian Library of African Music. A French soldier has died after a rocket attack on the French army base in Gao, Mali. The French Armed Forces Ministry released a statement Sunday morning saying the attack occurred on the Gao, Mali, Operation Barkhane military base on Saturday. The statement claimed the attack was carried out by terrorists. Operation Barkhane, Frances counterinsugency military operation in the Sahel, has operated in Mali since 2014. It replaced Operation Serval, the French armys operation to regain control of northern Mali, which had been taken over by Islamists in 2012. This year, after what French President Emmanuel Macron called a drawdown of the French military presence in Mali, Barkhane forces were withdrawn from northern Malis Tessalit, Kidal and Timbuktu military bases. The Gao base continues to serve as the center of Operation Barkhane. Popular opposition to the French military presence in Mali has increased dramatically in recent years. France has backed recent sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States that were imposed following a 2026 presidential election plan proposed by Malis current military government. Thousands of Malians took to the streets in cities across the country this month to denounce the sanctions, with most also denouncing Frances presence in Mali. Afghan students studying at universities in the U.S. through scholarship programs face a more uncertain future since the Taliban took over and many say they cannot return to their home country because of concerns for their safety. More than 100 Afghan students came to the United States through the Fulbright program last academic year, some of them only days before the Taliban took power in Afghanistan and the U.S. embassy in Kabul was abruptly shut. Under the terms of the Fulbright scholarship program, recipients are required to return to their home countries at the end of their academic programs. Several Afghan students interviewed by VOA said their status as students studying abroad in America endangers their lives under a Taliban regime in Afghanistan. I have come to terms with the reality that is going back to my beloved Afghanistan and working there is no longer possible, said Maryam Rayed who left Afghanistan last August to pursue a master's degree in democracy and governance at Georgetown University in Washington. The U.S. government has evacuated tens of thousands of Afghans who had worked for or had affiliation with the U.S. in Afghanistan out of fear that the Taliban will target them. Immediately after seizing power on Aug. 15 last year, the Taliban announced a general amnesty for all Afghans who worked for the previous Afghan government and for the U.S. and its allies in Afghanistan. Human rights groups, however, accuse the Taliban of targeting and killing Afghans who had ties to the U.S. and to the former Afghan government. Before coming to the U.S. to study international affairs at the State University of New York in Albany, Ahmad Raheb Radfar worked as a foreign service officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of what was until August 2021 the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. My plan was to return to Afghanistan and resume my work at the ministry upon the completion of my program. But now, given the current situation of Afghanistan, I cannot do that, Radfar told VOA. Hopes lost Since 2003, more than 950 Afghans have received Fulbright scholarships, mostly 2-year master's degree programs. Many others earned sponsored educational opportunities at undergraduate and graduate levels at various U.S. academic institutions. The expectation was that these highly educated Afghans would contribute to the building of a stable democratic system in Afghanistan. The return of Taliban rule in Afghanistan has fundamentally altered my personal and professional trajectory and took all my hopes and plans and aspirations for the future, said Rayed, adding that she wanted to serve as a governance specialist in Afghanistan after her U.S. education. Under the Taliban, Afghan women have been effectively fired from all government jobs except those working in the health and education sectors. The Taliban have institutionalized large-scale and systematic discriminatory policies which constitute a collective punishment of women and girls, a group of three dozen U.N.-appointed experts warned last week. Taliban deprive women of livelihoods and identity, Human Rights Watch said in a joint report with the Human Rights Institute at San Jose State University on Jan. 17. One former Fulbright scholar, who did not want to be named out of fear of Taliban reprisal, said she was fired from a prominent job at the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock because of her gender. My education, work experiences, skills and dedication to my country dont matter for the Taliban. Theyre only obsessed with my gender, she said. Respect for womens rights, including the right to education and work, is a major condition set forth by the U.S. and many other countries for a possible recognition of the Talibans self-declared Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Taliban officials have said the regime is working to facilitate an Islamic environment for Afghan girls and women to return to schools and universities but have not committed to giving any representation to women in the government. The Talibans leadership, cabinet and senior government posts are entirely occupied by men. Students in limbo The U.S. government has offered special immigration and entry procedures to help Afghans settle in the U.S., including a humanitarian parole program which allows individuals to enter the U.S. without travel documents. Spokespeople at the Department of State and the Institute of International Education, which administers the Fulbright program, could not confirm to VOA whether there was a plan to waive the Fulbright requirement for the Afghan students to return to their home country after their studies are completed. We have been in touch with the [Fulbright] program administrators and have shared our concerns with them, but so far, they have not offered any assurance about our future, said Radfar. Two other students echoed similar concerns and added they were looking for an extension to their studies, primarily through PhD scholarships, in order to remain in the U.S. This ambiguity has affected our academic performance negatively and has taken any motivation from us, said Rayed. We desperately need some clarity on what our future will be. This limbo status is hurting us, said another student who did not want her name to be mentioned. While the Afghan Fulbright scholars who made it to the U.S. in the past two years complain about their uncertain future, those selected for the 2022 scholarships are stuck in Afghanistan with no guarantees they will start their classes in the U.S. in the coming fall. There is no U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan to process visas, and travel from the country is extremely restricted and complicated. "We are reviewing the significant safety, logistical, and programmatic constraints which must be overcome to successfully implement the 2022-23 Fulbright Program. We are committed to remaining in communication with the semi-finalist group about the status of the program, understanding they must pursue the choices that make the most sense for themselves and their families, a State Department of official told VOA. Its also unclear whether the Fulbright program will continue for Afghan students in the future because of the broken relations between the U.S. and Afghanistans de-facto Taliban rulers. Until the U.S. and Taliban figure out what kind of relations, if any, they will have in the future, everything remains shrouded in uncertainty for Afghans who have studied or aspire to study in the U.S. I cannot foresee anything right now and like most Afghans, I am facing an uncertain future, said 28-year-old Radfar. Nike Ching contributed to this story. Lamborghini sold 69 units in India last year, witnessing a growth of 86%.Lamborghini stated that India has the potential to go higher in its list of top 10 markets in the Asia Pacific region. Automobili Lamborghini is confident that India will rank higher in its top 10 markets in the Asia Pacific region as the company observes strong demand over the years in the country, shared senior company official. The Italian luxury automaker sold 69 units registering a growth of 86 per cent in the country last year making a place in the company's top 10 markets for the Asia Pacific region, however, it was way behind China, South Korea and Japan. China became the second-ranked market globally for the brand in 2021 as the sales figure stood at 935 units sold followed by South Korea which took deliveries of 354. In Thailand, Lamborghini sold 75 units. (Also read | Lamborghini to say goodbye to pure internal combustion engines this year) Automobili Lamborghini Asia-Pacific Regional Director Francesco Scardaoni stated India is among the top 10 countries for the Asia Pacific in 2021 following Thailand and the company believes that the country has the potential to rank higher in the list. Apart from the top three, the company hasn't disclosed the rankings of the top 10 APAC markets. In terms of market you can see how India is growing and of course, this growth will also be projected in the next few years...We are projecting really good and positive numbers, it means we have a really positive outlook for 2022 and 2023," Scardaoni said. (Also read | In 2021, Lamborghini sold more cars in Thailand than India. But that may change) Lamborghini reported that sales of 2021 have been its best ever, surpassing the record sales of 2019. In 2020, the brand sold only 37 units in India. The growth in India is expected to be driven by new products along with the Urus SUV, which not only accounts for 50 per cent of sales in the country but has brought the company many first time buyers. In a market like India, it is a perfect car and the results are showing us that we are on the right track. We are ready to let India grow even more...we are able and ready to support new customers that are joining the Lamborghini family," Scardaoni further added. First Published Date: The death toll from a Saudi-led coalition airstrike that hit a prison run by Yemen's Houthi rebels has climbed to at least 82 detainees, the rebels and an aid group said Saturday. Internet access in the Arab world's poorest country meanwhile remained largely down as the coalition continued airstrikes on the rebel-held capital, Sanaa, and elsewhere. The airstrike in the northern Saada province Friday was part of an intense air and ground offensive that marked an escalation in Yemen's yearslong civil war. The conflict pits the internationally recognized government, aided by the Saudi-led coalition, against the Iranian-backed rebels. The increase in hostilities follows a Houthi claim of a drone and missile attack that struck inside the United Arab Emirates' capital earlier in the week. It also comes as government forces, aided by UAE-backed troops and coalition airstrikes, have reclaimed the entire Shabwa province from the Houthis and pressured them in the central Marib province. Houthis have for a year attempted to take control of its provincial capital. Ahmed Mahat, head of Doctors Without Borders's mission in Yemen, told The Associated Press his group counted at least 82 dead and more than 265 wounded in the airstrike. The Houthis' media office said rescuers were still searching for survivors and bodies in the rubble of the prison site in Saada on the border with Saudi Arabia. Saudi coalition spokesperson Brig. Gen. Turki al-Malki said the Houthis hadn't reported the site as needing protection from airstrikes to the U.N. or the International Committee of the Red Cross. He claimed the Houthis' failure to do so represented the militia's "usual deceptive approach" in the conflict. The Houthis used the prison complex to hold detained migrants, mostly Africans attempting to cross through the war-torn country into Saudi Arabia, according to the humanitarian organization Save the Children. But Mahat, of Doctors Without Borders, said the airstrike hit a different part of the facility, and no migrants were killed. Al-Malki said reports that the coalition targeted the prison were inaccurate and that the coalition would correspond "facts and details" to the U.N. and the ICRC, according to Saudi state-run television. The Saada attack followed another Saudi-led coalition airstrike Friday at the Red Sea port city of Hodeida that hit a telecommunications center key to Yemen's connection to the internet. Access to the internet has remained "largely down for more than 24 hours" in the country, advocacy group NetBlocks said Saturday. The Saada airstrike, one of the deadliest of the war, was not the first to hit a Houthi-run prison. A September 2019 airstrike hit a detention center the southwestern Dhamar province, killing more than 100 people and wounding dozens. Rights groups have previously documented that the Houthis place civilian detention centers near military barracks under constant threat of airstrikes. Friday's airstrikes have renewed criticism of the coalition from the United Nations and international aid and rights groups, who just days previous had criticized the Houthis for the attack on the Emirates. The coalition continued its airstrikes on Sanaa and elsewhere Saturday, targeting a Houthi-held military facility and an abandoned headquarters of Yemeni state TV in the capital. The coalition said airstrikes also targeted the Houthis in the contested Harib district in Marib. And Yemeni forces closely allied with the UAE, known as the Giants Brigades, said they shot down three drones carrying explosives launched by the Houthis on government-held areas in Marib and Shabwa provinces. The rebels, meanwhile, held a funeral procession in Sanaa for a senior military official killed along with family members in a coalition airstrike last week. Hundreds of Houthi supporters attended the military funeral of Gen. Abdalla Kassem al-Junaid, who headed the Air Academy. U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken urged the warring parties to stop the escalation. "We urge all parties to commit to a peaceful, diplomatic solution to ending the conflict. The Yemeni people deserve to live in peace and determine their own future," he wrote on Twitter. The latest escalation comes almost a year after President Joe Biden's administration announced an end to U.S. support for the coalition and removed the designation of the Houthis as a terrorist group as part of American efforts to end the grinding war. he Houthi-claimed attack on the UAE on Monday prompted Biden to say that his administration would consider restoring the status of the Iranian-backed rebels as terrorists. In conflict-stricken Burkina Faso, hundreds marched in cities across the country to protest insecurity and show solidarity for Mali, recently placed under sanctions by the West African political bloc ECOWAS. On Saturday morning, just before 9 a.m., around 300 protesters gathered in downtown Ouagadougou, some to show their anger toward the governments handling of security, others to show solidarity with protests that took place in neighboring Mali last weekend. Ali Sankara, owner of a shop in the neighborhood of Koulouba, where the protests took place, told VOA, We are here to protect our property and people, and now [police] are shooting tear gas all over the place. If they cause a fire here, who's going to pay the price? We only came out to protect our property. On Thursday, authorities had banned the protests. As a result, the police Saturday were quick to enforce the restrictions after protesters began erecting blockades on one of the citys main roads. The police detonated a flashbang as they began to use force to break up the crowd. Since Jan. 10, the government has blocked access to Facebook throughout the country in an apparent effort to prevent protesters from communicating and turning out in large numbers. Ibrahima Maiga of the Movement to Save Burkina Faso, one of the organizations behind the protests, told VOA, I think the fact they banned the protests is something that gives us more reason to protest. It is something that should not happen in a country where people claim to be elected. This kind of behavior should happen only in a country where there is no freedom. Two of the protest organizers were detained Thursday by authorities. Burkina Fasos government has been under pressure from protesters since November. Demonstrations swept the country after an attack on a military base, which had not been supplied with food for two weeks, by terrorists linked to al-Qaida, killing at least 49 military personnel. In response, President Roch Kabore fired his Cabinet and formed a new one in December. He also fired many of the militarys top commanders to appease critics. Meanwhile, in neighboring Mali, thousands of citizens turned out last weekend to protest sanctions placed on the country by the West African political bloc ECOWAS. The countrys president, Assimi Goita, took power in a coup last year and is refusing to hold democratic elections for at least another five years, drawing pressure from the international community. Some of the protesters in Burkina Faso wore T-shirts with images of Goita and expressed solidarity with recent protests in Mali. Like Mali, Burkina Faso has been embroiled in a six-year conflict with terrorist groups linked to Islamic State, al-Qaida and local banditry. As he clean the tear gas from his eyes with water, protester Amidou Tiemtore told VOA, What is happening now in our country is sad And now, with all thats happening we are told now is not the time to take to the streets. If this is not the time to march, then when is the time? he asked. A government spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on the protests. Malaysias anti-corruption czar has sued a local journalist for defamation over articles questioning the legality of his past shareholdings in a case seen by some as a bellwether and test of the countrys rule of law. Azam Baki, chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, filed suit against Lalitha Kunaratnam January 12 seeking some $2.38 million in damages and costs over a pair of articles first published in October by the Independent News Service, a local online news outlet. In them, Lalitha catalogues Azams alleged business interests and connections and questions whether they were properly declared or pose a conflict of interest. According to the reports, Azam held nearly 3 million shares in a pair of companies and over 2 million warrants in another over the course of 2015 and 2016 while director of investigation at the MACC, also in possible breach of legal limits for public servants. Azams brothers, the articles add, built up their own extensive business interests during his rise through the ranks at the commission. Azam denied any wrongdoing at a January 5 press conference and said he no longer held shares in any company. He said his brother, Nasir Baki, had used his trading account to buy shares in 2015 and that those shares were transferred to his brothers account later that year. Hundreds of people rallied in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysias capital, Saturday calling on Azam to step down over the allegations. Police blocked off major roads and shut down metro stations around the rally site in advance in order, some protesters claimed, to curb the size of the crowd. Rights groups say Azams lawsuit is in keeping with a shrinking space for the free press and growing harassment of journalists since the collapse of the progressive Pakatan Harapan coalitions government in early 2020. Malaysia fell 18 spots in the Reporters Without Borders annual press freedom index from 2020 to 2021, the sharpest drop of any country that year. Definitely theres been a worsening trend from the time of Pakatan Harapan [collapsing] to the current administration in terms of how the government engages with the press, in terms of how the government understands the role of the press, said Alyaa Alhadjri, a representative for Gerakan Media Merdeka, known as Geramm, a local press freedom advocacy group. I think it [this lawsuit] is an example of that, Alyaa said. In general, obviously it was an attempt to intimidate, to harass, she added. Reporters Without Borders Asia-Pacific chief Daniel Bastard said Azams suit was clearly aimed at silencing debate about his alleged business interests, and that there was more on the line than the free press. He said the suit manifestly violates the mandate of the MACC, an agency that is itself supposed to investigate corruption cases. The rule of law in Malaysia is at stake. Malaysia has been battling a reputation for rampant government corruption for years. Corruption scandals involving the alleged embezzlement of billions of dollars in state funds helped bring down the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak at the polls in 2018. Najib, who remains in parliament, has since been convicted of abuse of power, breach of trust and money laundering and sentenced to 12 years in jail. He denies any wrongdoing and is out on bail pending appeal. Najibs tarnished party, the United Malays National Organization, has also managed to claw its way back to power without new elections through a series of political defections in parliament. Azams defamation suit against Lalitha now puts the reputation of the countrys premier corruption-fighting body at risk as well, said Cynthia Gabriel, executive director of the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, a local nonprofit. He should not have taken legal action, but cleared his name with facts, she said. As a central agency mandated to protect whistleblowers and improve its act, Azam has acted contrary to many efforts by the agency and has lent much disservice to the MACC, she added. In a joint statement, Geramm and the local nonprofit Center for Independent Journalism said Azams reaction to the allegations calls into question the role of MACC and, ultimately, the State in eliminating corruption in Malaysia. Gabriel and others have been calling for reforms to the MACC and Malaysias Whistleblower Protection Act for years. Their proposals include creating a new commission voted in by parliament to oversee the MACC, whose members are appointed, and lifting restrictions in the Whistleblower Protection Act that limit protection only to those who report alleged abuses to enforcement agencies. However, Gabriel said the current UMNO-led government has shown little interest in pursuing such reforms and that they were likely to gain traction only after Malaysians get another chance to vote on the government they want. Neither the MACC nor the law firm representing Azam, Zain Megat & Murad, replied to VOAs requests for comment or for an interview with the chief commissioner. Lalitha refused VOAs request for an interview. In a January 9 statement through her own lawyer, Manjeet Singh Dhillon, Lalitha said she stood by her reporting and that the articles were based on public records, regulatory reports and corporate filings. A group of migrants huddles beside a small, smoky fire inside an abandoned building in northern Serbia, the last moments of warmth before they set out into the driving snow toward the razor wire, cameras and sensors of Hungary's electrified border fence. A few hours later, they return, their efforts to cross through Hungary and toward Western Europe thwarted by the 3-meter fence and heavy Hungarian police patrols which, after intercepting them, escorted them back across the border into Serbia. Im going to Austria, Im going to Germany, Im going to the Netherlands," says Muhtar Ahmad, a 26-year-old from Aleppo, Syria, who is squatting with around 35 other migrants in the makeshift camp outside the Serbian village of Majdan, less than 2 kilometers from the Hungarian border. Im not staying in Hungary. Whats the problem? As migrants from Syria, Afghanistan and other countries embark on the last stretch of their long journeys toward Europe's wealthier nations, their efforts to cross irregularly into the European Union through Hungary and the country's contentious practice of returning them to Serbia when they are caught have made them part of a political campaign with which Hungary's nationalist leader hopes to win an upcoming general election. Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who polls suggest will face his closest election in more than a decade in April, is campaigning on a strict anti-immigration platform and is keen to use the prospect of a wave of migrants amassing at Hungary's border as a means to mobilize his conservative voter base. Just this year we stopped and detained ... more than 100,000 people, Orban claimed at a rare appearance before journalists in December. "If the Hungarian fence had not stood there, more than 100,000 more illegal migrants would be now first in Austria, then in Germany. One of the most outspoken opponents of immigration in Europe, Orban has said that migration threatens to replace the continent's Christian culture, and that illegal migrants are responsible for bringing infections like COVID-19 variants into his country. "We do not want to be an immigrant country, Orban said during an interview with state radio this week. As the April 3 election approaches, he has portrayed current migration pressures as higher than in 2015, when hundreds of thousands of refugees came into the EU fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere, and when he ordered the construction of the country's border barrier. But figures released by Serbian officials and the EU's border and coast guard agency suggest that far fewer individuals are attempting to enter Hungary than the right-wing leader claims. Its a little bit bigger number than, lets say, two years ago, but these are not big numbers. Its a small rise, said Nemanja Matejic, chief officer at a migrant reception center in the northern Serbian city of Subotica, of the current level of migrants along Hungary's border. While Hungarian police put the number of migrants intercepted by Hungarian authorities at more than 122,000, data from EU border agency Frontex showed that there were 60,540 illegal border crossing attempts last year on the Western Balkan migration route, which includes the Hungary-Serbia border. What's more, since most migrants are making repeated attempts to cross, the number of individuals involved is far smaller still. Serbia's Commissariat for Refugees and Migration reports that there are 4,276 migrants residing in reception centers in Serbia and another 1,000 sleeping rough. Frontex has noted that most Western Balkan crossings can be traced back to people who have been in the region for some time and who repeatedly try to reach their target country in the EU." Hikmad Serat, 20, from Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, took shelter in a remote abandoned building near the Serbian border town of Horgos this month as a cold snap brought temperatures to -10 C. Serat said he has been in Serbia for 15 months and has lost count of the number of times he has crossed into Hungary and been returned by police. Many times I try, 100 times, more than 100 times Every time, police arrest me and deport back to Serbia, Serat said. This practice where police deny migrants the right to apply for asylum and escort them back across national borders is known as a pushback. It has been declared unlawful by the EUs top court and is in violation of international asylum treaties. Matejic, the chief of the reception center, said that migrants making dozens of crossing attempts is typical. Sometimes a guy tries one time and goes, he has luck Sometimes they try over 50 times ... They try and try again, he said. Many migrants have reported abuse by police after they leave Serbian territory for Hungary, or for Croatia or Romania. This includes having mobile phones destroyed or stolen, being made to sit or kneel in the snow for hours and receiving beatings allegations which are very difficult to independently confirm. Romanian police didn't respond to questions from The Associated Press. But Hungary's National Police Headquarters wrote in an email that they strongly reject unsubstantiated allegations of abuse of migrants. Yet Matejic said 150 cases of broken limbs were recorded by the Subotica reception center in 2019. Sometimes they break their phones, the police. Sometimes they take their money. Sometimes they break their legs. Its a different experience for everybody, Matejic said. Orban has asked the EU to reimburse Hungary for at least half of the costs related to building, maintaining and patrolling its border fence, which he has said have amounted to $1.9 billion over the past six years. Ever at odds with the EU's more liberal member states, he has also threatened to open up a corridor along which migrants can march up to Austria, Germany and Sweden and whoever needs them. Despite the dangers, Faris al-Ibrahimi, a Moroccan migrant in the Subotica reception center who intends to travel on to Spain, said he was undeterred after being pushed back 27 times by Hungarian police. Im still going to try. I will not give up now I will try until I succeed," he said. Its an adventure. We cross, we go, they catch us, we come back, we go again. Its like a game for us." Two prominent political activists in military-ruled Myanmar have been sentenced to death for alleged involvement in terrorist activities, an army television station reported Friday. Myawaddy TV said on its evening news broadcast that Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Ko Jimmy, and Phyo Zeyar Thaw, also known as Maung Kyaw, were convicted under the country's Counterterrorism Law. They were found guilty of offenses involving explosives, bombings and financing terrorism. Both have been detained since their arrests, unable to comment on the allegations, and no lawyer ever emerged to comment on their behalves. Min Yu's wife, Nilar Thein, in October denied the allegations lodged against her husband. Details of their trials were unavailable because the proceedings were carried out in a closed military court. It was unclear if their two cases were linked. Modern-day Myanmar has a record of rarely carrying out death sentences. The two are among the most prominent activists to be given death sentences since the military in February last year seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Its takeover sparked wide-scale popular protests, which have since turned into a low-level insurgency after nonviolent demonstrations were met with deadly force by the security forces. Almost 1,500 civilians are estimated to have been killed, and more than 11,000 arrest carried out for political offenses. Some resistance factions have engaged in assassinations, drive-by shootings and bombings in urban areas. The mainstream opposition organizations generally disavow such activities, while supporting armed resistance in rural areas, which are more often subject to brutal military attacks. Kyaw Min Yu is one of the leaders of the 88 Generation Students Group, veterans of the popular uprising that failed to unseat a previous military government. He has been active politically ever since then and has spent more than a dozen years behind bars. His Oct. 23 arrest in Yangon was originally reported by his wife, an activist who also has been jailed in the past. Both went into hiding after the February takeover and she is believed to still be in hiding. Two weeks after his arrest, a statement from the military-installed government accused Kyaw Min Yu, of "conducting terrorism acts including mine attacks to undermine the state stability" and alleged he headed a group called Moon Light Operation to carry out urban guerrilla attacks. He had already been on the wanted list for social media postings that allegedly incited unrest. Phyo Zeyar Thaw is a former lawmaker with Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party. He was a hip-hop musician before becoming a member of Generation Wave, a political movement formed in 2007. He was arrested on Nov. 18 in possession of weapons and ammunition, according to a statement at the time from the ruling military. That statement also said he was arrested on the basis of information from people arrested a day earlier for carrying out the shootings of security personnel. Other statements from the military accused him of being a key figure in a network of dozens of people who allegedly carried out what the military described as terrorist attacks in Yangon. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has canceled her wedding as the nation imposes new restrictions to slow the community spread of the COVID-19 omicron variant, she told reporters. New Zealand will impose mask rules and limit gathering from midnight on Sunday after a cluster of nine cases of the omicron variant showed community transmission from the North to South islands after a wedding. A family traveled by plane from the North Island capital of Auckland to a wedding in the South Island attended by 100 people. The family and a flight attendant tested positive. New Zealand would move to a red setting under its COVID-19 protection framework, with more mask wearing, and a cap of 100 customers indoors in hospitality settings and events such as weddings, or 25 people if venues are not using vaccine passes, Ardern said. "My wedding will not be going ahead," she told reporters, adding she was sorry for anyone caught up in a similar scenario. Asked by reporters how she felt about her wedding cancellation, Ardern replied: "Such is life." She added, "I am no different to, dare I say it, thousands of other New Zealanders who have had much more devastating impacts felt by the pandemic, the most gutting of which is the inability to be with a loved one sometimes when they are gravely ill. That will far, far outstrip any sadness I experience." George Chens high-end China Live restaurant in San Franciscos Chinatown has lost 90% of its Lunar New Year bookings made by company parties and big families fearing the spread of COVID-19 as the omicron variant rampages across the United States. Three of his 100 employees have gotten the disease since the omicron surge began. But his three-floor restaurant is not turning away dine-in customers like a year ago. No state or local government has ordered shutdowns. Smaller parties can still come in for informal, private meals, and Chen hopes to see more of those gatherings ahead of the global Chinese populations major annual holiday, which falls on February 1 this year. Last year I think we were in the middle of a shutdown during that time we couldnt even [be] allowed to do outdoor seating, forget indoors, Chen told VOA on Tuesday. This year is tough. Well keep our fingers crossed and hopefully people will feel more comfortable, get vaccinated and come out and enjoy themselves. The 64-year-old career restaurateurs story serves as a microcosm for San Francisco, keeper of the best-known Chinatown in the United States, as the Year of the Tiger approaches. Countless individuals have decided on their own to stay home, auguring thin crowds, but San Franciscos signature Chinese New Year Festival and Parade are scheduled to roll floats and feature lion dances in densely populated hilly streets lined with red-festooned Chinese-owned shops. The city's annual Chinese New Year street fairs are on, as well. This year because of the vaccinations, because we have a better understanding of the variants and the pandemic, we are cautiously optimistic to proceed forward with a live parade, parade organizer spokesperson William Gee said. Were hoping to bring back a lot of the iconic memories and performances that people remember by just coming out and watching the parade. Event organizers ask that everyone there be vaccinated or come with proof of a negative COVID-19 test a few days ahead. Locals told VOA say theyve had enough of staying indoors. Lin Wei, 50, for example, says he plans to go out. The sanitation worker came from Guangdong province 11 years ago for work and misses the energy of a live Lunar New Year celebration. Lunar New Year in China involves large, extended family reunions, weeks of fireworks and the equivalent of a formal spring cleaning for each household. The last two years (the celebrations) stopped, so this year there might be a bit more, and if Ive got time Ill show up, Lin said. On the chance of catching COVID-19, he said, Ive grown numb to that over the past two years. But Lin said he would avoid taking his family to the festivities as a health precaution. Sherwin Won, 69, a retired university clinical lab scientist, plans to shun the traditional large family reunion and focus on spring cleaning. As a family, the San Francisco native said, we talked about it and discussed it and said, were going to celebrate it six months later. Like Chens restaurant, open events and spaces in San Franciscos Chinatown generally are expected to draw thin crowds as people decide to stay home and avoid the risk of contagion. Chen estimates that 50% of the districts stores have closed during the pandemic, possibly for good. Paper goods and variety stores in San Francisco did only sporadic business this week as supplies of holiday decorations became sparse. Holidaymakers normally buy Lunar New Year paper scrolls to hang on their front doors and red envelopes for cash that will be gifted to children in the family. The Buddha Exquisite Corp. paper goods shop has turned to airmail to import most of its made-in-China 2022 supplies because normal marine shipping takes a lot longer than usual, store operator Rebecca Cheung said, adding that prices on such goods have risen. COVID-19 restrictions and rising consumer demand have snarled marine shipping in much of the world. Elsewhere in the United States, Chicagos Chinatown is ready for an annual Lunar New Year parade and lion dances. The Seattle Chinatown International District has postponed its Lunar New Year celebration event until April 30. Events in Los Angeles and Houston are expected as well, while Washington, D.C., canceled its 2022 program. Michelle Quinn, Matt Dibble and Mike O'Sullivan contributed to this report. Voters in Senegal went to the polls on Sunday to elect mayors and local representatives in a vote seen as a key test of support for President Macky Sall. The election is the first in the West African country since deadly riots erupted last year following the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. The poll, which comes five months ahead of an eagerly awaited general election, is also the first since Sall won a second term in 2019. The president has come under increasing criticism since then, facing accusations of arranging court cases against his rivals and of planning a bid for a third presidential term in 2024. Long lines had formed outside polling stations before they opened at 8 am. Over six million Senegalese, around a third of the population, are eligible to cast votes for the mayors of more than 500 townhalls as well as the heads of 40 administrative areas known as "departments." Ibrahima Dieng, a 28-year-old mechanic, was among the first to cast his ballot at a primary school in the capital Dakar's Yoff district. "Voting is our only way of having a say in the running of the country," he said. Senegal was rocked by several days of clashes and looting in March 2021 after opposition leader Sonko was summoned to court to answer charges of rape in a case that he said was politically motivated. At least 12 people were killed nationwide, a toll that shocked a country considered a beacon of stability in a volatile region. Sall, 60, was first elected in 2012 on promises to help the poor in the nation of 17 million people. He is well respected on the international scene, but his critics view him as serving the business interests of Senegal's former colonial power France. The political opposition also fears that Sall will seek to exploit constitutional changes approved in 2016 to argue that a two-term limit for presidents does not apply, and run again. Several of his ministers are standing in Sunday's vote, including Health Minister Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, who is running for mayor of Dakar. Sonko, a failed 2019 presidential candidate, is running for mayor in the southern city of Ziguinchor. Using Iranian bank funds freed from American sanctions, South Korea has paid Iran's $18 million in delinquent dues owed to the United Nations, Seoul said Sunday. The step was apparently approved by Washington to restore Tehran's suspended voting rights at the world body. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the South Korean Foreign Ministry said Seoul had paid the sum using Iranian assets frozen in the country after consulting with the United States Treasury -- a potential signal of flexibility amid floundering nuclear negotiations. The ministry said it expected Iran's voting rights to be restored immediately after their suspension earlier this month for delinquent dues. The funds had been impounded at a Korean bank under sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump after he withdrew the U.S. from Tehran's landmark nuclear deal with world powers. The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control must grant a license for these transactions under the American banking sanctions imposed on Iran. The Treasury did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the unfrozen funds. The Biden administration wants to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, which granted Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. Diplomats are now engaged in delicate negotiations to revive the accord in Vienna, although a breakthrough remains elusive as Iran abandons every limitation the deal imposed on its nuclear enrichment. The country now enriches a small amount of to 60% purity -- a short, technical step away from weapons grade levels -- and spins far more advanced centrifuges than allowed. Under the United Nations Charter, a nation that owes the previous two full years' worth of dues loses its voting rights at the General Assembly. A letter from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres circulated earlier this month revealed that Iran was among several delinquent countries on that list, which also includes Venezuela and Sudan. The General Assembly can make exceptions to the rule, determining that some countries face circumstances beyond the control of the member. According to the secretary-general's letter, Iran needed to pay a minimum of $18.4 million to restore its voting rights. Iran also lost its voting rights in January of last year, prompting Tehran to lash out at the U.S. for imposing crushing sanctions that froze billions of dollars in Iranian funds in banks around the world. Tehran regained voting rights last June after making the minimum payment on its dues. Iran over the past few years has pressured Seoul to release about $7 billion in revenues from oil sales that remain frozen in South Korean banks since the Trump administration tightened sanctions on Iran. The frozen funds hang in the balance as diplomats struggle to revive the nuclear deal. Senior South Korean diplomats including Choi Jong Kun, the first vice foreign minister, flew to Vienna this month to discuss the fate of the assets with their Iranian counterparts. Two Sherpa brothers have proudly returned home after becoming the first Nepalis to reach the South Pole, part of their mission to achieve the hallowed Explorers Grand Slam. This holy grail of adventuring involves climbing the highest peaks in the seven continents Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson, and Puncak Jaya and reaching both poles. "We saw flags of many countries, but the flag of our country was not there," Chhang Dawa Sherpa said after returning from Antarctica where they also ticked off the 4,892-meter Mount Vinson. "We felt very happy to add Nepal's flag there," he told AFP on Friday. Sherpa and his elder sibling Mingma, due back in Nepal in the coming weeks, already hold the record for the first siblings to climb the 14 highest mountains in the world. Their little brother, Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, holds the crown as the youngest person, at 19, to climb Everest without using supplementary oxygen. For the Explorers Grand Slam, the siblings still must climb another five peaks and reach the North Pole, but they are confident they can complete it within a year. The brothers run the aptly named Seven Summit Treks in Kathmandu, the largest expedition organizer in Nepal, taking hundreds of climbers up Himalayan peaks every year. Nepali guides, usually ethnic Sherpas from the valleys around Everest, are considered the backbone of the climbing industry in the Himalayas for bearing huge risks to carry equipment and food, fix ropes and repair ladders. Long under the shadow as supporters of foreign climbers, Nepali mountaineers are slowly being recognized in their own right. Last year, a team of Nepali climbers made the first winter assent of K2, the world's second-highest peak the notoriously challenging 8,611-meter "savage mountain" of Pakistan shining a much-deserved spotlight on their own climbing prowess. Flagstaff is a beer town. There's simply no denying it. There's a brewery around seemingly every corner, and you can't walk around downtown without seeing someone enjoying a nice local brew or having the urge to stop in an enjoy one yourself. Flagstaff is also a beer-event town. Unfortunately, COVID-19 put a damper on the event part of that equation. Like many events that were supposed to take place in 2021, Flagstaff BrewHaha was cancelled. This year, however, the annual beer tasting extravaganza, which usually draws crowds of 400-500 people on average, is back. With safety precautions like proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test required to enter, organizer Greenhouse Productions is ready for another merry day of tasting. Matt Ziegler, owner of Greenhouse Productions pointed to the challenges of last year and the loss of funds as event after event was canceled. Like everything that got canceled it was a downer but it made sense at the time, Ziegler said. Challenges as a business were just paying the bills when we werent ale to do events for a while. BrewHaha has been a Flagstaff mainstay for several years. It started as a beer-exclusive event but has branched out to spirits and food over time. We have expanded in recent years to showcase some local distilleries as well. So its not just beer, theres also spirits and cocktail samples, Ziegler said. And it sort of celebrates the winter, its a winter time event, so a lot of places come out with their winter brews which they only have this time of year and we showcase those.. This years BrewHaha will feature more than 50 different brews, and more than 100 different craft beers. VIP tickets include a tasting luncheon that pairs meals with various drinks. Bratwurst will also be available for purchase and, of course, central to the event. BrewHaha will be put on in collaboration with Flagstaff Ski Club, which will receive a percentage of proceeds. So sit back, enjoy music from Flagstaffs own FoxyKoshka and take in the views from the High Country Conference Center, which has hosted BrewHaha since the very beginning. We love putting it on at High Country, its such a beautiful facility and has great views and such a cozy atmosphere, Ziegler said. Flagstaff BrewHaha will take place Saturday, Jan. 29 at the High Country Conference Center, 201 W Butler Ave. Tickets for BrewHaha are available online at www.flagstaffbrewhaha.com/. To forgo service fees, you can also buy tickets in person at Mountain Spirirts Co., 1490 S Riordan Ranch St. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Taliban delegation led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Sunday started three days of talks in Oslo with Western officials and Afghan civil society representatives amid a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The closed-door meetings were taking place at a hotel in the snow-capped mountains above the Norwegian capital and are the first time since the Taliban took over in August that their representatives have held official meetings in Europe. The talks were not without controversy, however, reigniting the debate over whether they legitimize the Taliban government, especially since they were being held in Norway, a NATO country involved in Afghanistan from 2001 until the Taliban take over last summer. Speaking at the end of the first day of talks, Taliban delegate Shafiullah Azam told The Associated Press that the meetings with Western officials were "a step to legitimize (the) Afghan government," adding that "this type of invitation and communication will help (the) European community, (the) U.S. or many other countries to erase the wrong picture of the Afghan government." That statement may irk the Taliban's Norwegian hosts. Earlier, Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt stressed that the talks were "not a legitimation or recognition of the Taliban." On Sunday, 200 protesters gathered on an icy square in front of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry in Oslo to condemn the meetings with the Taliban, which has not received diplomatic recognition from any foreign government. "The Taliban has not changed as some in the international community like to say," said Ahman Yasir, a Norwegian Afghan living in Norway for around two decades. "They are as brutal as they were in 2001 and before." Taliban leaders met with some women's rights and human rights activists on Sunday, but there was no official word about those talks. Starting Monday, Taliban representatives will meet with delegations from Western nations and will be certain to press their demand that nearly $10 billion frozen by the United States and other Western countries be released as Afghanistan faces a precarious humanitarian situation. "We are requesting them to unfreeze Afghan assets and not punish ordinary Afghans because of the political discourse," said Shafiullah Azam. "Because of the starvation, because of the deadly winter, I think it's time for the international community to support Afghans, not punish them because of their political disputes." The United Nations has managed to provide some liquidity and allowed the Taliban administration to pay for imports, including electricity. But the U.N. has warned that as many as 1 million Afghan children are in danger of starving and most of the country's 38 million people are living below the poverty line. Faced with the Taliban's request for funds, Western powers are likely to put the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan high on their agenda, along with the West's recurring demand for the Taliban administration to share power with Afghanistan's minority ethnic and religious groups. Since sweeping to power in mid-August, the Taliban have imposed widespread restrictions, many of them directed at women. Women have been banned from many jobs outside the health and education fields, their access to education has been restricted beyond sixth grade and they have been ordered to wear the hijab. The Taliban have, however, stopped short of imposing the burqa, which was compulsory when they previously ruled Afghanistan in the 1990s. The Taliban have increasingly targeted Afghanistan's beleaguered rights groups, as well as journalists, detaining and sometimes beating television crews covering demonstrations. A U.S. delegation, led by Special Representative for Afghanistan Tom West, plans to discuss "the formation of a representative political system; responses to the urgent humanitarian and economic crises; security and counterterrorism concerns; and human rights, especially education for girls and women," according to a statement released by the U.S. State Department. Thousands of anti-mask and vaccine mandate protesters rallied on the mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday to voice opposition to the Biden administration's COVID-19 mask and vaccine policies. Gathering at the base of the Washington Monument, and then marching to the Lincoln Memorial, the protesters held signs saying, "Make Love Not Mandates!!" and "Coercion is Not Choice." COVID-19 has killed more than 860,000 people in the United States and more than 5.5 million globally -- over the two-year-long pandemic and has weighed heavily on the economy. On January 13, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked President Joe Biden's COVID-19 vaccination-or-testing mandate for large businesses -- a policy the conservative justices deemed an improper imposition on the lives and health of many Americans -- while endorsing a separate federal vaccine requirement for health care facilities. Many U.S. companies have implemented mandatory mask-wearing policies to protect their workers, as have various municipalities and cultural organizations. Masks remain polarizing. Biden, a Democrat, recently urged people to wear masks and noted that about a third of Americans report they do not wear masks at all. Many Republican-leaning states have no mask requirements. Some Democratic-governed states such as California have reimposed indoor mask mandates. UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, is appealing for nearly $60 million for tens of thousands of victims of intercommunal clashes over dwindling resources in Cameroons Far North region. The United Nations Refugee Agency Friday released an appeal for just under $60 million for support for those fleeing intercommunal violence in Cameroons Far North region. The appeal is aimed at helping UNHCR and its partners provide needed humanitarian aid for those displaced by the crisis during the next six months. An ongoing dispute over diminishing water resources between herders on one side and fishermen and farmers on the other last month erupted into a violent confrontation. The U.N. refugee agency says 44 people were killed, more than 100 injured, and 112 villages burned to the ground. In the space of two weeks, UNHCR spokesman Boris Cheshirkov said 100,000 people fled to neighboring Chad or elsewhere in Cameroon. This has become a severe crisis because of the climate emergency. And the surface waters of Lake Chad shrinking and the Logone river, which runs along the border between Cameroon and Chad. It demarks the border and this is where the tensions began," he said. This crisis follows a previous deadly encounter in August. Some 45 people reportedly were killed, dozens injured, and more than 30 villages set ablaze. An estimated 23,000 fled to Chad or elsewhere in Cameroon. Cheshirkov said the appeal will provide critically needed relief over the next six months for both the displaced and those sheltering them in Chad and Cameroon. Priority needs, he said include shelter, blankets, mats, and mosquito mats. The funds will also cover growing water, sanitation, and hygiene needs. Child protection, prevention, and response to gender-based violence, documentation, educationall of these are urgent priorities. We estimate that 9 out of 10 of the Cameroonian refugees that are now in Chad as a result of this crisis are women and children, he said. Cheshirkov said the situation has calmed down in the last few weeks. He says security has been reinforced. He notes government-led reconciliation efforts, supported by the UNHCR are underway. He added urgent action is needed to address the root causes of the conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Russia on Sunday that Washington knows all of the tactics and techniques that Moscow can deploy to undermine the Ukrainian government but will continue to engage in diplomatic talks in hopes of easing tensions in eastern Europe. It is certainly possible that the diplomacy the Russians are engaged in is simply going through the motions and it won't affect their ultimate decision about whether to invade or in some other way intervene, or not in Ukraine, Blinken said on NBCs Meet the Press show. But we have a responsibility to see the diplomacy through for as far and as long as we can go because it's the more responsible way to bring this to a closure. Late Sunday, the U.S. State Department said that "due to the continued threat of Russian military action," it had ordered the family members of diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv to leave the country. It also approved the voluntary departure of non-essential embassy staff. The State Department said the move, which had been under consideration for some time, did not constitute an evacuation. It said the embassy in Kyiv would remain open. The statement issued a travel advisory, warning Americans to not travel to Ukraine and urged U.S. citizens in Ukraine to "consider departing now using commercial or other privately available transportation options. Meanwhile, in a separate interview on CNNs State of the Union show, Blinken ruled out the United States immediately imposing severe economic sanctions on Moscow, which it has vowed to do if Russian President Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine. Russia has massed 127,000 troops just across its border with Ukraine, a former Soviet republic. If theyre triggered now, Blinken said of the possible sanctions, you lose the deterrent factor. Watch related video by Arash Arabasadi: Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, following Blinken on CNN, accused the administration of President Joe Biden of a doctrine of appeasement in dealing with Russia over threats to Ukraine. The sanctions need to be imposed now, Ernst said. President Putin only understands strength and power. We need to have firm resolve. Blinken declined to comment on a British intelligence report that Russia was seeking to replace Ukraines government with a pro-Moscow administration. Moscow rejected the claim. The disinformation spread by the British Foreign Office is more evidence that it is the NATO countries, led by the Anglo-Saxons, who are escalating tensions around Ukraine," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on the Telegram messaging app. "We call on the British Foreign Office to stop provocative activities, stop spreading nonsense." Blinken, on NBC, said that aside from the worlds awareness of Russias massive troop deployment near Ukraine, It's also important that people around the world, whether it's in Europe, the United States, or beyond, understand the kinds of things that could be in the offing: a false flag operation to try and create a false pretext for going in. It's important that people know that that's something that's in the playbook too, as well as cyberattacks and other disruption targeting Ukraine. The top U.S. diplomat said that aside from diplomatic engagement with Russia, We are building up defense, we're building up deterrence; we've now provided to Ukraine more security assistance this year than in any previous year. On Saturday, Blinken said he had authorized the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to send U.S.-made anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. I expedited and authorized, and we fully endorse transfers of defensive equipment @NATO Allies Estonia Latvia Lithuania are providing to Ukraine to strengthen its ability to defend itself against Russias unprovoked and irresponsible aggression, Blinken said in a post on Twitter. We are preparing massive consequences for Russia if it invades Ukraine again, Blinken told NBC. So, you have to do both at the same time. You build up your defense, you build up your deterrence on the one hand; you engage in diplomacy and dialogue on the other. That's the way that I think it makes the most sense to carry this forward. Ultimately, weve given Russia two paths; it has to choose. The Russians have put concerns on the table that they say they have about their security, Blinken said. We've exchanged some ideas. We'll be sharing with the Russians in writing not only our concerns, but some ideas for a way forward that could enhance mutual security on a reciprocal basis. So, look, that is clearly the preferable path forward for everyone, he said. Its the responsible thing to do. And we'll pursue it as long as we can. At the same time, we'll continue to build up other defenses and deterrents that are necessary. Some material in this report came from the Associated Press. The United States began shipments of lethal aid to Ukraine after U.S. President Joe Biden recently said that any Russian troop movement into Ukraine would be considered an invasion. President Bidens comments come as Russian President Vladimir Putin stations more than 100,000 troops along Ukraines border. Russian and U.S. diplomats so far have agreed to keep working to lower tensions. VOAs Arash Arabasadi has more. President Joe Biden says there is some progress being made after eight rounds of talks between Iran and six major world powers over Irans nuclear ambitions. But a prominent member of that group, Russia, has been holding its own discussions with Irans leadership. VOAs Anita Powell reports U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday he authorized the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to send U.S.-made anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, a move that comes amid Ukraines rising tensions with neighboring Russia. I expedited and authorized, and we fully endorse transfers of defensive equipment @NATO Allies Estonia Latvia Lithuania are providing to Ukraine to strengthen its ability to defend itself against Russias unprovoked and irresponsible aggression, Blinken said in a post on Twitter. Blinken also thanked the former Soviet Republics and NATO members, for their longstanding support to Ukraine. Blinkens announced approval of the arms shipments came one day after the U.S. and Russia appeared to make little progress in the increasingly high-stakes standoff over Ukraine, each side leaving the latest round of high-level talks Friday promising only to keep talking. CNN and Fox News were reporting Saturday that the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv asked the State Department for authorization to allow all non-essential staff and their families to leave. A source close to the Ukrainian government confirmed to VOA that evacuation for families and non-essential personnel is indeed being considered. According to the source, the evacuation plan was relayed by the Americans to the Ukrainian government on Friday. A senior State Department official later told VOA that no order has come down, when asked if families of U.S. Embassy personnel in Ukraine have been ordered to begin evacuating as soon as Monday. A State Department spokesperson also told VOA in an email that no such order was given by the agency and We have nothing to announce at this time. We conduct rigorous contingency planning, as we always do, in the event the security situation deteriorates, the spokesperson added. We are already at a Level Four travel advisory for Ukraine for COVID and have advised that U.S. citizens should be aware of reports that Russia is planning for significant military action against Ukraine. The spokesperson said if U.S. diplomats and their families must be evacuated, American citizens should not anticipate that there will be U.S. government-sponsored evacuations, and noted commercial flights to leave Ukraine are currently available. Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met for about an hour and a half in Geneva, with both officials refusing to budge on core demands. The United States and Russia appeared to make little progress in the increasingly high-stakes standoff over Ukraine, each side leaving the latest round of high-level talks Friday promising only to keep talking. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met for about an hour and a half in Geneva, with both officials refusing to budge on core demands. Blinken, in particular, described the impasse in stark terms. If any of Russias military forces move across the Ukrainian border, thats a renewed invasion. It will be met with a swift, severe and a united response from the United States and our partners and allies, Blinken told reporters after the meeting. The West is demanding that Russia pull its troops and weapons away from the Ukraine border while Moscow is pushing for NATO to curtail its operations in eastern and central Europe and insisting that the Western military alliance reject Ukraines membership bid. Blinken said the U.S. and its allies are prepared to address Russias concerns, though not without conditions. The United States, our allies and partners are prepared to pursue possible means of addressing them in a spirit of reciprocity, which means simply put that Russia must also address our concerns, Blinken said. There are several steps we can take, all of us, Russia included, to increase transparency, to reduce risks, to advance arms control, to build trust, Blinken added. U.S. officials say Russia has amassed nearly 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine, including in Belarus and in occupied Crimea. Blinken warned earlier this month that Moscow could mobilize twice that number on very short order." They have a significant force posture there and that hasn't decreased. In fact, it has continued to increase. And we remain concerned about that, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters Friday. Despite such concerns from the U.S. and its allies, Lavrov on Friday sought to paint Ukraine as the aggressor. No one is hiding the fact that weapons are being handed over to Ukraine, that hundreds of military instructors are flocking to Ukraine right now, Lavrov said. Still, the Russian foreign minister called the talks constructive and useful. Lavrov also said talks would continue over the Kremlins security demands and that both Russia and the U.S. had committed to put their concerns in writing for further discussion. Both Lavrov and Blinken said there is a possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden could talk, if both sides feel it might be helpful. However, some of Russias renewed demands drew a sharper response from U.S. allies and partners, including NATO. NATO will not renounce our ability to protect and defend each other, including with the presence of troops in the eastern part of the alliance, spokesperson Oana Lungescu said in a statement Friday, rejecting demands that NATO pull troops from Bulgaria and Romania. We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, including through strengthening our collective defense, she said. The U.S. also sought to reassure allies, including Kyiv. Blinken reaffirmed the United States unwavering support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in a phone call Friday with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the State Department said. Amid the tensions and ongoing political maneuvering, the head of the United Nations appealed for calm. It is clear that my message is that there should not be any military intervention in this context, said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. I hope that this, of course, will not happen in the present circumstances. I am convinced it will not happen and I strongly hope to be right. But in a joint statement late Friday, the defense ministers of the three Baltic states said they stand united in our commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in face of continued Russian aggression. The statement said Estonia would provide Ukraine with anti-tank weapons, while Latvia and Lithuania were transporting anti-aircraft missiles and other equipment to strengthen Ukraines defensive military capabilities. It was not immediately clear when the weapons and equipment would arrive in Ukraine. The German government said Friday it was considering Estonias request to send Ukraine Soviet-made howitzers that East Germany once owned. Estonia acquired them from Finland, which purchased them from Germany's military surplus in the 1990s. VOA State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching and VOA Russian service correspondent Mykhailo Komadovsky contributed to this report. Some material came from the Associated Press and Reuters. The latest developments in the growing conflict between Russia and Ukraine: * U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted Saturday he authorized Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to send U.S.-made anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine as Ukraines tensions with neighboring Russia continue to escalate. Blinken also thanked the former Soviet Republics and NATO members for their continued support of Ukraine. * A senior State Department official told VOA Saturday that no order has come down, when asked if families of U.S. Embassy personnel in Ukraine has been ordered to begin evacuating as soon as Monday. CNN and Fox News were reporting Saturday the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv asked the State Department for authorization to allow all non-essential staff and their families to leave. * U.S. Secretary of State Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met for about 90 minutes Friday in Geneva to discuss the increasingly high-stakes standoff over Ukraine. Both officials, refusing to budge on core demands, left the talks promising only to keep talking. * The West is demanding that Russia pull its troops and weapons away from the Ukraine border while Moscow is pushing for NATO to curtail its operations in eastern and central Europe. Russia also insists that the Western defensive alliance reject Ukraines membership bid, a move the U.S. calls a non-starter. * U.S. officials say Russia has amassed nearly 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine, including in Belarus and in occupied Crimea. * U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said a Russian invasion of Ukraine would be against international law and appealed for calm. "I'm convinced it will not happen and I strongly hope to be right," he said. VOAs Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some material for this article came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. The battle for the control of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) continues with local and international branches of the party taking center stage in a fight pitting expelled vice president, Thokozani Khupe, and party leader Douglas Mwonzora. Khupe declared on Friday that she is the new president of the MDC-T claiming that Mwonzora expelled himself when he declared that he was the leader of the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa. The fight between the two party leaders has drawn in most of the provinces that are declaring alliance to either Khupe or Mwonzora in which appears to be an all out tussle for the control of the opposition group. The MDC-USA province says Khupe is expected to start revamping the party structures, which have been allegedly dismantled by Mwonzora. In a statement, provincial chairperson, Den Moyo, said they stand by the principles of the party in correcting problems caused by Mwonzora and his group in the last extraordinary congress. As MDC-USA, we have always stuck to our democratic values and principles without fear or favor. We speak truth to power and have over time refused to kowtow to individuals. Provincial Solidarity statements are a form of subjugation in my opinion. Everybody who cares to know already knows where we stand. We don't have to issue solidarity statements to prove what we believe in. We should continue with our brand of politics that respects the party constitution. Moyo said when Nelson Chamisa hijacked the party we stood firm and resilient, we condemned mobocracy. When Mwonzora declared himself president amid shenanigans at the Dec 2020 EOC, we once again condemned the unconstitutionality of the EOC (Exra-ordinary Congress). So we are basically back to square one. Dr. Khupe has a duty to build the party structures, hold a free and fair ordinary congress where every party member has a right to contest whatever party position they want. There should be no sacred cows. We shall remain MDC-USA that does not kowtow to individuals but remains guided by the sacrosanct party constitution. The Matabeleland North provincial executive also pleaded their support for Khupe, noting that her take over of the party was long overdue. In a statement signed by the partys secretary and chairperson, the provincial party executive said Khupes move was long overdue considering the rate at which as a party we were drifting away from our values that are enshrined in the constitution. The provincial executive added that with this development we hope all the confusion which was now the order of the day in our party will be a thing of the past. We have all the hope and trust in Khupes leadership capabilities and qualities. We welcome your president. There seems to be confusion in the South Africa provincial executive, which initially endorsed Khupes move but has now reversed its decision saying a statement attributed to the province was falsified by one aggrieved individual. Information secretary, Eliah Marume, said the MDC-South Africa province stands by president Mwonzora unreservedly. Murume said, The province has noted with grave concern the abuse of the MDC-T name and symbols by the suspended vice president Thokozani Khupe and her renegades at an event held in Bulawayo on the 21st January, 2022, where she claimed to be a leader of a faction of the MDC-T. She has been touted as a president of the MDC-T by some malcontents in some parts of Johannesburg in South Africa. The MDC-T would like to thank president Mwonzora and his team for suspending vice president Thokozani Khupe. It however feels the suspension of expulsion was long overdue as her shenanigans have been detrimental to the partys agenda since the days of president Morgan Tsvangirai. The Matabeleland South provincial executive is singing the same song, noting that some mischievous people endorsed Khupes declaration on Friday that she was the new leader of the opposition party. Provincial chairperson, Ekem Moyo, said, We are fully behind the suspension of the Honorable Thokozani Khupe from the position of vice president pending her appearance before the partys Arbiter. Moyo said they are backing Mwonzora who was elected overwhelmingly in the partys Exra-ordinary congress. In the same vein we also wish to state for the record that provincial members Younger Moyo and Bekezela Maplanka who attended the so-called Khupe presser which was not sanctioned by the party did so at their own agency without the mandate of the province nor the structures of the party in the province. Mwonzora was elected in an Extra-ordinary congress which was described by some members and observers as a shame due to alleged widespread electoral fraud. Hopefully youve had your tetanus shots, said Janie Agyagos as she put a foot on a rusty length of barbed wire and used the tension to coil the loose end. I havent gotten my shot it a while, she admitted. The wire creaked as she curled it over itself. Agyagos demonstrated the coiling technique to a small, volunteer crew of retired men. Outfitted with gloves, glasses and small bolt cutters -- better for snipping multiple wires at once -- they made a semicircle in the early morning fog that settled in the site off Beaverhead Road. One toed the red earth while he listened to Agyagos safety talk, mud coming over his boots. Another donned a pair of homemade denim holsters that hung bolt cutters around his belt, like some kind of conservation cowboy. In the distance, orange sandstone bluffs emerged from the low-lying clouds. You dont have to roll it too nicely; were not going to be able to recycle it, Agyagos said. The stuff were clearing out today is really old. A lot of it's buried. At least that means its not under tension. You dont have to worry about it whipping back when you cut it. She bent the wire back on itself and wrapped across the loops of coil to keep the barbed wire tightly together, then she tossed the thorny wreath into the bed of the pickup truck. Now, while were removing wire along this fence, look out for the posts, she said, gesturing to a line of mossed juniper trunks that poked gut-height from the ground. If theyre at an angle, they can catch wildlife, but they actually make good perches if theyre straight up. A wildlife biologist for the Coconino National Forest, Agyagos pays close attention to what harms and helps the living landscapes. At a site like this one -- decayed fence near a silted-in cattle tank -- shes most concerned with the safety of pronghorn antelope. Pronghorn on the Red Rock Ranger District used to occur all throughout the Verde Valley. All throughout everything, she said. And now the only place we have them is on the west side of (Highway) 89, in between Cottonwood and Sedona. That's it. They've been extirpated from 90% of the range. Theres a primary reason for this, Agyagos said. Range fences went in. Pronghorn do not like to jump fences, and they go under," Agyagos said. To spare the ducking animals a nasty snag, the Forest Service has been using fencing standards that include a smooth bottom wire since at least the 1990s. Unfortunately, this area of Arizona is crisscrossed by fencing that predates the current standard. Weve lost pronghorn on numerous occasions on my district alone, Agyagos said. Those deaths fall onto her agencys shoulders. The Forest Service manages the habitat. That means removing old unneeded fence or converting fence that's not to wildlife specifications. It sounds straight forward, but because national forest land is permitted for multiple-use, something like hazardous fencing can be left over when permits shift from one holder to another. Like trash left by a previous tenant, the burden of responsibility is a little unclear at times. I go around and clean up range messes, Agyagos said, But it really shouldn't be my job. The permittees should do it. There are more range messes than Agyagos can clean alone. She depends on volunteer hours served through work days like this one. But work days are not all hard labor. When she finished the fence-removal safety talk, Agyagos trailed the crew around the muddy cattle tank, then up and over a berm on the far side. She told the group how she discovered the fence in this area while removing scotch thistle, an invasive plant from the sunflower family that aggressively reduces biodiversity. Then she pointed out beautiful bursts of native bush Alkali Sacaton where they erupted in long golden angles over the edge of the tank. The group mused over the exuberant foliage, and then Agyagos identified areas where volunteers might break off and start removing the tangles of barbed wire fence. Thing about fences is theyre harder to put in than to take out, Agyagos encouraged. Across the berm, she joined first-time volunteer Jim Richards to give him some extra training. With a little instruction, Richards was cutting and coiling with ease, and in 20 minutes he had carried away several lengthy loops of spiked steel. Like the rest of the days volunteers, Richards was retired. More friends for the forest I did cancer research at Berkeley for 20-some-odd years, he shared. My wife passed away about a year ago, and so I'm filling my free time with worthwhile endeavors. He was new to this particular group, but Richards had participated in similar projects through the Friends of the Forest, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Forest Service in the Sedona area. Friends of the Forest connects people like Richards to service projects all across the land. Theres something satisfying about the work, Richards said. My philosophy has always been: when I leave the planet, I should have given more than I took," he said. Richards motivations were shared among the other volunteers. Once professionals from the fields of technology, education, medicine and more, the retired men largely agreed that volunteer work days were a great way to get outside, stay active and do something good for the land. It beats sitting and watching TV, eating potato chips, said Bob Bare, an engineer from Cincinnati. Ernie Demillo also connected to Agyagos fence removal project through Friends of the Forest. He shared that he had been volunteering on projects like this for ten years. You dont do it all the time, he said. You come out once a week, twice a week. Four hours. You dont go out 10 hours at a time. When it came to this particular fence removal site, the half dozen men wrapped up the work in less than two hours. The crew cleared enough fencing to overflow the bed of Agyagos pickup truck. Bare climbed atop the rusty snarl while Jim Manning, the man with the denim holsters, helped tie down the mess, threaded a roped through the biting coils and knotted it to the trailer hitch. The other men stood around and chatted happily, cursing bits of wire too buried to be removed, wondering about the species of tree that caught a few volunteers by its inch-long thorns, talking about work days past and future. Their services would be needed again as soon as the next day, at a trail project in Oak Creek. Next month, Agyagos would need help removing fence in an area near Clarkdale. This weekend, we put in trail over by Bell Rock, Richards said There must have been 20 of us. We were like an army. The reality of this volunteer army is bittersweet. Sweetly, it indicates an ample supply of Samaritan hands in the community. We have so many volunteers that are willing to do this work, Agyagos said. But the bitter truth is that without volunteers, many projects on the forest might not get done. I don't have anybody that works for me, Agyagos said. My volunteers are my program. She estimated that in her work alone, volunteer hours have provided the equivalent of five full-time positions. On the Red Rock Ranger District, volunteers contributed more than 360,000 hours of labor between 2017 and 2021. Thats equivalent to the labor of roughly 36 full-time jobs over five years. Its a figure that draws into question whether the needs of the Forest Service are being met by a federal budget adequate to hire sufficient staff, or if theyre getting by on good graces. Its a deficit worth contemplation, but in the meantime, the volunteer relationship is still mutually beneficial. When the mist lifted and the morning sun touched the land, the men of Agyagos crew were all smiles, their hearts made robust by the early exertion. It feels good to be needed, and when it comes to manning the unglamorous front lines of conservation and wildlife protection, willing hands are need. Especially in today's world, with our governmental funding buying missiles before it buys trails, you rely on citizen participation; it's just essential, said Richards. But if you take all the volunteer work, and were to try to pay for it he whistled in disbelief. Hol-y mama. Love 6 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. Anderson performs stand-up in Las Vegas in 2012. Photo: David Becker/WireImage It felt right that Louie Anderson hit the peak of his popularity playing a version of his own mother on the FX comedy series Baskets. Honoring his mother was Andersons lifes work, and the 68-year-old entertainer, who died on January 21 of cancer, accomplished it beyond his wildest imaginings. Throughout his long career as a stand-up comic, writer, actor, Family Feud host, and series creator (the animated Life With Louie), Anderson drew on what he called his poor white-trash Minnesota youth. He grew up in St. Paul in a house with 11 children where every month the family would have to decide whether to shut off the gas or the lights. He described his father, Louis William Anderson, a trumpeter who once played with Hoagy Carmichael, as a self-pitying alcoholic who invoked his World War II experience to win arguments (Oh yeah? Well, have ya ever been pinned down by a sniper in France?) and constantly groused and snarled at his spouse, his kids, and random strangers. Anderson described his mother, Ora Zella Anderson, as an upbeat and inexhaustible person the kind of housewife who mightve been a performer, entrepreneur, or politician had she not been born in 1912 who managed to be kind despite her husbands cruelty. He returned to the stark differences between his mother and father so regularly and incisively that he made it the text rather than subtext of his lifes work. He cast them as recurring characters in his routines, including his very first national TV appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1984, in which he described his father as the kind of guy who hates everybody and who would sometimes slow the family car down and glare at a stranger who had committed no offense besides being a little different. For crying out loud, Anderson growled, imitating his father. Get my rifle! Andersons mother, in contrast, was the sort of person who responded to the question of whether to shut off the gas or the lights by going without lights, because, as he told Conan OBrien, she had a million candles. Shed want to buy a broken 25-cent toaster at a garage sale, he joked in his 1987 special Live at the Guthrie, because the cords worth a quarter Then she says the real funny thing: Anyways, your father could always fix it. In another joke, Anderson said he couldnt throw a grocery bag away without hearing his mothers voice in his head asking, What are you doing? What are we, the Rockefellers suddenly? Talking to Hawaii Public Radio in 2017, Anderson told host Dave Lawrence that he had modeled his demeanor on Ora. When she walked into a room, she commanded it. She had a lot of charisma She put up with my dad, who was an extremely abusive alcoholic. But she never, ever let us feel the brunt of that. She always had a smile. She always got up every morning and made us breakfast our whole lives. I can still smell the oatmeal, the eggs, and the toast and bacon. Anderson strove to be more like his mother. The older he got and the more accomplished he became, the more obvious it seemed that he owed most of his success to her example and was proud to be able to honor her, even posthumously (Ora Zella Anderson died in 1990, a few years after her sons popular breakthrough). Late in life he managed to become her, in a sense, by playing Christine Baskets, the doting mother of two sets of identical twins (one played by Zach Galifianakis, the other played by Garry and Jason Clemmons). After decades of taking supporting and walk-on parts in comedies like Coming to America, Back by Midnight, and Do It for Uncle Manny, Andersons soulful work on Baskets cemented his bona fides as a screen actor (he was nominated for three Emmys as Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy, winning in 2016). Christine was acerbic but never wantonly vicious. When she laid a hand on her sons, it was comically exaggerated, like something out of a cartoon. Her unconditional love always shone through. The role opened new avenues for Anderson as a longform storyteller whose work was about more than setups and punchlines. He anchored a 2016 episode of the Comedy Central storytelling series This Is Not Happening, focused mainly on his upbringing, and authored the 2018 best seller Hey Mom: Stories for My Mother, But You Can Read Them Too, a rumination on the lessons his mother taught him. The cover showed Anderson dressed up as his mom. Anderson was so inspired by Ora that he made prenatal health the central focus of his philanthropy, promoting and donating to Make Your Date, a Detroit-based nonprofit that helps pregnant mothers get to their scheduled medical appointments. Anderson told Marc Marons WTF podcast in 2016 that he chose a prenatal health charity because their family wouldve had 18 children if his mom hadnt lost seven to miscarriages. Throughout his career, he expressed nothing but love for the woman, in public and private. To my mom, who raised 11 children, and my dad was mean to her, and no matter how tough it got for Ora Zella Anderson, she never lost her humanity, Anderson said while accepting his Critics Choice Award for his Baskets performance in 2016. She had so much of it that it dribbled onto me. I didnt want it, but I found it. Dad, not so much. In fact, Andersons stand-up and talk-show history is packed with fantasies of murdering his father, from the 2019 appearance on Conan when he described a coupon book he gave to his mother on her birthday, each pledging to complete an essential household chore (Ill wash the dishes Ill do the laundry Ill kill dad for you) to his much-shared 1988 routine about his fathers fixation on a Pontiac Bonneville sedan. This is my Bonneville, hed tell houseguests, according to his son, and thats my family over there. In the climax of the Bonneville routine, Anderson remembers how his father used to raise the car up with a jack to work on it and press the boy into service handing him tools: You looked down at that jack and thought, College or prison? Compare the glowing book Anderson wrote about his mother to the title of the 1991 book he wrote about his relationship with Louie Sr.: Dear Dad: Letters From an Adult Child, described by the publisher as a memoir of a household held hostage by the unpredictable and violent behavior of an alcoholic father. Its a volume of posthumous letters to a patriarch who died in 1980. He waited to write the book until the year of his mothers passing, presumably to spare her from having to react to it. But really, Dad, what did we do together? Anderson wrote. I cant think of anything. Or at least I cant think of anything fun. I guess maybe I should complain about that. After all, a boys got a right to share some quality time with his dad. But its funny how were taught not to complain. Childhood, family, and psychological development were what most interested Anderson as a writer-performer, and you could see his frustration at being forced to go the predictable route during the first decade of his stand-up career, thanks to his silhouette. As a self-described fat guy whose weight generally ranged between 270 and 400 pounds, Anderson knew he wouldnt be able to get peoples attention if he didnt lean into the obvious, so he told lots of fat jokes about himself. The jokes were preemptive: He knew if he didnt make them, someone else would. This is still a problem today, but it was a bigger one in the 1970s and early 80s when Anderson was working his way up through the club scene. Even his star-making Tonight Show appearance consisted of roughly 50 percent fat jokes, capped by his explanation that he felt he had to do them, otherwise viewers would be looking at the TV saying, Dya think he knows hes fat? Whats fascinating in retrospect about that appearance is how Andersons delivery changes when he shifts focus to telling tales of his childhood and painting verbal portraits of his parents. During the first part of his Tonight Show routine the fat-jokes part his face stays nearly immobile, just shy of a scowl. Hes doing whats expected before shifting to the unexpected. Even though the stuff about his father is (beneath the punchlines) unnerving, Andersons demeanor brightens when he talks about his youth. You can tell that, even back then, storytelling was the part of stand-up that excited him, not self-negation for laughs. By the end, Anderson had become an artist who projected into the world the nourishing warmth that radiated from his mother. The transformation was so full that he belatedly began directing a bit of that warmth toward his father. You can see it in a People magazine profile published the year Anderson won awards for channeling his mother on Baskets. He talked about his dad again, but in terms of recognizing his fathers darkness within himself (he told AOL that he had to apologize to somebody every two weeks after realizing, Oh, the mean persons coming out), trying to understand what caused it, and learning to forgive. Anderson spoke of his shock at learning, years after his fathers death, that the man had been separated from his sister at age 10 when both children were taken out of their home and put up for adoption Imagine being with your sister and having her go one place and you go another. Forgiveness was easy for me when I found that out. And I miss him. I love him. I miss the grumpy, coffee-sipping person that he was. One time my dad goes, I hate that guy. I go, You dont even know him. He goes, I dont need to know someone to hate them, Louie. Thank God for my dad Im still doing the humor. Anderson told Stephen Colbert in 2017 that a year before landing Christine on Baskets, he prayed for a part that would let him play a full range of emotions and experiences, and that when he got the call, he looked up and said, Thank you, Lord! When Anderson talked about his performance on the series, he described himself as being seized by or channeling his mother. I actually think Im a vehicle for this, I really do, he told Hawaii Public Radio. A vessel. And I try to make Louie Anderson the person disappear in there. Disappearing into the vessel of his mother helped Anderson find his truest voice as a comedian. In Hey Mom, he wrote about how, after Oras death, he made a commitment to dig deeper into his past and frame the stories in a way that were complex and unsettling as well as funny, because he wanted to try to get closer to the truth of his mothers experience, and since she wasnt around anymore, he would have to use his imagination. The last few years of his life were filled with public appearances where he exhorted anyone in the audience whose parents were still alive to try to get to know them as friends, or at least fellow adults, because that was the only way to get honest answers to the questions that adult children are obsessed with. Anderson wrote about feeling himself become stronger as a person and an artist by trying to understand his parents. Im finding new reservoirs of strength, he wrote in one of the posthumous letters of Hey Mom. I really love you and miss you and wish Id been nicer to you. Did I say that yesterday? Does everyone wish theyd been nicer to their dad or mom after its too late? Everyone should tell the people they love that they love them, at all times, because you never know. Placeholder while article actions load Where did all the oil go? According to the latest estimates, the world should still be awash in oil stockpiles built up during the pandemic. But thats not what the actual data on oil supplies show. The International Energy Agencys latest report, published on Wednesday, shows that, if their supply-and-demand numbers are right, the worlds oil stockpiles are about 660 million barrels higher than they were before the pandemic thats equivalent to more than a months worth of production by Saudi Arabia and Russia, the two biggest members of OPEC+. Yet oil inventories in the nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development including both commercial and government-controlled (strategic) stockpiles ended 2021 almost 220 million barrels lower than they were two years earlier. Adding in other things that can be measured with varying degrees of accuracy such as the volume of oil on tankers and stockpiles in floating-roof tanks in other parts of the world reduces the gap between theoretical and observed inventories to about 200 million barrels. Advertisement That discrepancy is only enough to meet the entire worlds oil needs for two days, or to power the U.S. for a week and a half. Of course, there will always be some unmeasurable oil inventories that need to be guessed, so that global supply-and-demand balances make sense. The IEA suggests in its latest report where some of those places might be for example, underground storage caverns, where fill levels cant be measured remotely; in new pipelines that need to be filled before they can be used; or in refined products in countries (like China) that dont report inventory levels. Nowadays, though, this notion of missing barrels is no longer good enough. We have remote monitoring of pipelines and refineries, satellite image analysis of storage tanks whose roofs rise and fall as they are filled and drained, advanced algorithmic ship tracking and almost unlimited computing power. Advertisement Clandestine Chinese imports of sanctioned Iranian and Venezuelan oil may account for some, perhaps even a large proportion, of the missing barrels. If they have been spirited away in the underground caverns that make up part of Chinas growing strategic petroleum reserve, they will exert little pressure on oil markets. But the bigger worry is that the oil isnt hidden away anywhere. The large volume of missing oil may suggest that supply estimates are too optimistic or that demand has been understated. Or, more likely, some combination of the two. Measuring oil supply and demand is tricky after all. In most places, oil production is routinely and accurately measured to assess tax liabilities, but that doesnt necessarily mean those figures are available to organizations like the IEA, certainly not in a timely fashion and sometimes not at all. Advertisement Publicly disseminated oil production numbers may not always be an accurate reflection of whats really happening. It is no accident that the OPEC+ group of oil producers uses an average of output estimates from a range of secondary sources to monitor compliance with output targets, rather than relying on figures provided by its member countries. Getting a handle on demand is even more complicated. There are many more countries to consider, some of whom are extremely slow to provide information. It is not uncommon for the IEA and other agencies to make revisions to historical demand numbers stretching back several years. Even where the data are relatively transparent, they are not always accurate, as the U.S. Energy Information Administration found back in 1998, when it overestimated domestic production and underestimated demand and imports. That year, global oil production, consumption and inventory figures left 300 million barrels of oil unaccounted for. Advertisement While unreported stockpiles probably account for some of the latest discrepancy, much of it may also be the result of underestimated demand. And if historical demand has been underestimated, it is very likely that forecasts of future demand may be too low as well. Soaring oil prices last week saw crude prices reach seven-year highs dont reflect a market that has a stock overhang of 660 million barrels. Sure, theyve probably been given a boost by concerns over Russian troops massed on its border with Ukraine and drone strikes on the United Arab Emirates. Analysts are lining up to call $100-crude later this year. If it turns out that a large proportion of the missing barrels has actually been consumed already, thats just going to add fuel to the fire. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Julian Lee is an oil strategist for Bloomberg. Previously he worked as a senior analyst at the Centre for Global Energy Studies. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load That noise you hear thundering across the brandscape? Thats the hoofbeat of collaborations crescendoing to a deafening roar. Whereas brand partnerships used to be sparing, targeted, special even we see now a feeding frenzy of collaborative cross-pollination. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Balmain Barbie? Sure! Zara Everlast? Why not? Veuve Clicquot Yayoi Kusama? Come on in, the clicks are lovely! No collab is too kooky, no partnership too cray-cray in this patchwork harlequinade. If you thought Gucci The North Face was awesome, check out Gucci The North Face Francis Bourgeois featuring the adorkable British trainspotting sensation who has 37.2 million likes on TikTok (Gucci has 12.6 million; The North Face 1.3). As Joe Grondin, senior manager of global collaborations for New Balance (which has partnered with everyone from Bodega and Stone Island to Rich Paul and Kith) explained to Hypebeast: Advertisement Were just trying to occupy as many subcultures as possible, and picking the most authentic brands to do that. * * * Splendidly, theres a typographical angle. Over the past few decades, the breakout stars of the computer keyboard have been the at symbol @ and the hash sign # plucked from obscurity by email and social media, to become as vital as the ?, & and %. But theres a third symbol to watch, and while its often displaced by the letter x it should really be the St. Andrews cross our use of which dates to William Oughtreds 1631 text The Key to Mathematics. You see, brands have traditionally collaborated in the hope of addition. And some (like Halston and Pierre Cardin) have fallen victim to brand dilutions subtraction. But in an age when virality is the jackpot, marks not just the spot where brands collide creatively, but where they stake their fortunes on multiplication. Advertisement In this way, may be brandings most lucrative symbol: = ! = $. * * * Stop, Collaborate and Listen Brand collaborations arise when two or more boldface entities unite to promote or produce a product or service. As such, the collaborative spectrum covers everything from simple celebrity endorsements (Stan Smith Adidas) and product placement (Ray-Ban Top Gun) to complex co-creations (FritoLay Taco Bell). Its not hard to see the allure, since effective collaborations create a triple win drawing customers of Brand X to Brand Y, and vice versa, while luring new followers into the fold. But although profit is the simplest explanation for most brand behavior, Why collaborate? has a range of interconnecting answers. Impact The most successful brand collaborations punch way above their weight. Adidas has sold more than 70 million pairs of Stan Smith sneakers since 1978. Sales of Ray-Ban Aviators soared 40% after Tom Cruise sported them as Maverick in 1986. In 2013 Taco Bell reported that it had taken less than 14 months (and 15,000 extra staff) to sell more than $1 billion worth of Doritos Locos Tacos. And in 2020, an Instagram post from Justin Bieber merely hinting at a Crocs collaboration spiked the shoemakers shares to a 13-year high. Advertisement Reach The recently announced collab-a-trois between Yeezy, Gap and Balenciaga illustrates the power of collaborations to extend far beyond the reach of any individual participant. Taking Instagram followers as a marker, this curious thruple instantly established a powerhouse presence 9.9 million @kanyewest + 3.1 million @gap + 12.4 million @balenciaga = 25.4 million to say nothing of the innocent passersby intrigued by the media coverage. As Gaps CEO Sonia Syngal confirmed: Our newest Yeezy Gap icon, the Perfect Hoodie, delivered the most sales by an item in a single day in Gap.com history With over 70% of the Yeezy Gap customers shopping with us for the first time, this partnership is unlocking the power of a new audience for Gap, Gen Z plus Gen X men from diverse background. A post shared by ye (@kanyewest) Advertisement Maturity Collaborations allow established companies to deepen their customer relationships, and neophyte brands to co-opt legacy depth. Such inter-generational partnerships are run-of-the mill in music (Tony Bennett Lady Gaga) and fashion (Louis Vuitton Supreme), but they are becoming common in other market sectors. For instance, Leica (whose revolutionary camera debuted in 1914) has collaborated with several modern brands including Mykita eyewear (est. 2003), Hodinkee watches (est. 2008) and Master & Dynamic audio (est. 2013). Media Whereas most journalists resist the stenography of Brand X launches Product Y PR, there is significantly more man bites dog about a collaboration, especially when its unexpected or counterintuitive. As a result, brands are becoming increasingly tactical (Mucinex partnered with the designers Steven Alan and Christina Viviani to create a Covid-catalyzed Sickwear clothing) and controversial (Liquid Death created 100 skateboards painted with traces of Tony Hawks blood). Advertisement Hail Mary Collaborations not only allow active brands to co-opt a bigger buzz (Johnnie White Walker Game of Thrones), they give troubled companies a Hail Mary grab at the coattails of pop culture. The photography brand Polaroid, for instance, is casting its relevance net far and wide via collaborations with Fendi, Teva, Fragment Design, Star Wars, Lacoste and even Keith Haring (who died in 1990). Network Effect The network power of collaborations means that when Brand X collaborates with Brand Y, it also benefits when Brand Y collaborates with Brand Z. This helps explains the absurdly expensive (and expansive) ecosystem of James Bond product placement where mid-level brands like Toyota, Heineken, Dell and Moscot bask in the reflected glory not just of 007, but of luxury marques like Aston Martin, Bollinger, Omega and Leica. Advertisement Respect Lest we become too cynical, collaborations are also driven by genuine affinity and creative simpatico. The stunningly successful Skims Fendi collaboration (which earned $1 million in one minute when launched last November) was the result of such game recognizing game as Fendis artistic director Kim Jones told Instagram: The idea for the collaboration came about when my team and I were sitting around a table at the @Fendi studio in Rome. Suddenly, all the women went silent and started looking at their phones. I didnt know what was going on, but they were waiting for the launch of the new @SKIMS collection. It was then that I thought: lets do something together. A post shared by SKIMS (@skims) * * * A Collaboration Taxonomy Having explored the why of collaboration, let us turn to the how and the myriad (often intersecting) techniques brands deploy to find common commercial cause. Advertisement High/Low When well-timed and executed, high/low collaborations create the perfect storm of hype: bestowing top dogs the common touch, granting underdogs a sniff of cool, and dispensing catnip to cultural critics. The poster child of high/low collabs is surely Target, which has surprised and delighted its mass-market base by partnering with more than 150 designer brands since 1999, including Proenza Schouler, Victoria Beckham, Marimekko and Jason Wu. Yet it was 2011s blockbuster Target Missoni collection that shook the C-suite and launched a thousand high/low projects by convincing the haut monde that mall-mom masstige was a goldmine. As Angela Missoni recollected to Vogue: We discovered there was a whole audience out there that responded to the Missoni world on an emotional level, many without knowledge of us as a luxury brand. Advertisement A few companies attempt to straddle both sides of the high/low divide. The jeweler Swarovski, for instance, collaborates with a bipolarity of brands Nikon and Nike, Vivian Westwood and Snoopy, Zaha Hadid and Disney and even plays the game within the same collection: The 2019 Swarovski Hello Kitty range ran from $149 to $10,600. Strawberries Cream As every supermarket planogrammer knows, you shelve sauces next to pasta, chocolates next to flowers and batteries next to toys. Such strawberries-n-cream thinking drives many collaborations, most notably the Apple Nike (music fitness) partnership which launched in 2006 with the Nike+iPod in-shoe sensor, and continues to this day with the Apple Watch Nike Series 7. Complementarity is also at work with Pottery Barn Sherwin-Williams paint; West Elm Casper mattresses; Uber Spotify; and Red Bull GoPro a collaboration which mixes adrenaline and braggadocio so elegantly, even the slogans fit: Red Bull Gives You Wings Be a Hero. A subsection of such partnerships includes creme de la creme collabs, where two brands in the same space aspire to the impact of celebrity portmanteaus like Brangelina, TomKat and Kimye. Fashion has recently seen the launch of Fendace (Fendi Versace) and Pradidas (Prada Adidas) though when Gucci announced its Aria collection, using elements of Balenciagas brand, it was anxious to transcend commonplace collaboration, calling its alliance: a hacking lab, made of incursions and metamorphoses. An alchemical factory of contaminations where everything connects to anything A place where thefts and explosive reactions happen: a permanent generator of sparkles and unpredictable desires. Synesthesia In addition to linking two (apparently) kindred brands (Karl Lagerfeld Tsingtao Beer) and elongating brand longevity (Ben & Jerrys everyone from Cherry Garcia in 1987 to Netflix & Chillld in 2020), collaborations that riff on our senses are an engaging way to: Create complementary taste collusions (Coffee Mate Snickers; Choco Leibniz Baileys Irish Cream) Create controversial taste collisions (Pepsi Peeps; Coca-Cola Tic Tacs) Engineer amusing sensory collisions (Bonne Belle lip gloss Skittles; Innisfree face powder Mentos) Associate brand use with specific sensory pleasures (Dungeons & Dragons Nerds; Find My Past genealogy Grants Whisky) Align audiences in unexpected ways (Allbirds Shake Shack; e.l.f. Cosmetics Chipotle) Canvas Brands Certain brands are so secure in their standing they feel empowered to become canvas collaborators populating their products real estate with an iteration of superimpositions. Trailblazing this trend was Chateau Mouton Rothschild which, since 1924, has invited a galaxy of artistic talent to decorate its labels, including Jean Cocteau, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and David Hockney. Interestingly, several artists who collaborated with Mouton Rothschild also collaborated with another canvas-brand innovator Absolut Vodka including Keith Haring, Olafur Eliasson, Anish Kapoor and Andy Warhol. And the trend has been taken up by Nestles San Pellegrino which has sought to spotlight its Italian heritage via collaborations with Missoni, Bulgari, Luciano Pavarotti and Vogue Italia. Other notable canvas collaborators include the kitchen appliance maker Smeg, which has incorporated designs from Dolce & Gabbana, Disney and Fiat into its products: And the retro British homeware company Cath Kidston has overlaid its designs onto an array of brands whose ethos we share including food manufacturers (Roses Chocolates, Heinz), footwear (New Balance, Gola) and childrens fiction (Mr. Men, Disney, Alice in Wonderland, Peanuts, Harry Potter, Beatrix Potter, Moomins). Social Although every brand aspires for its collaborations to go viral, some are more blatantly focused on breaking the internet. In 2019, Nike collaborated with LeBron James to create the AF1 More Than a white sneaker that came with two Sharpies to encourage athletes to share their stories and, presumably, Instagram them. And in 2021, Jif collaborated with Ludacris on The Lil Jif Project which promoted the consumption of peanut butter to smooth your hip-hop flow. TikTok videos tagged #JifRapChallenge have accrued 7.3 billion views. Beachhead Collaborations Instead of thrusting samples into the startled hands of shoppers and pedestrians, some brands deploy location-specific collaborations. In this way, the restrooms of hotels, airlines and restaurants have become beachheads from which toiletry brands can attack new markets. Hence: Soapbox Delta Hotels ; Diptyque Qatar Airways; and Aesop every fancy restaurant. Beachheads also help brands lure a new generation. When in 2017, Clinique partnered with Crayola to create crayon-shaped Chubby Sticks, the PR talk was of memories of childhood filled with playtime and creativity. How fortunate that such a product might also attract a new cohort of customers and how coincidental that, a year later, Crayola released its own 58-piece crayon-themed makeup collection. Beachheading has also influenced the latest collaborations between fast food and faux meat. Last year Impossible Food launched a restaurant concept with the Dog Haus hot dog chain, and Beyond Meat agreed to produce plant-based products for McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. Such collaborations allow legacy food brands to test the waters of alternative protein, while introducing meatless pioneers to a captive audience of curious carnivores. Clearly its in both parties interests that such co-produced innovations are boldly co-branded: Analog Digital Because collaboration allows analog brands to span the digital divide without completely retooling their factories, the trend has proved popular with fashion labels that have seen the zenith of luxury drift from textiles to technology. Hence Berluti Bang & Olufsen; Gucci Xbox; Thom Browne Samsung; Prada LG; Louis Vuitton Royole; Dolce & Gabbana Motorola; and Yves Saint Laurent Google. The Hermes Apple Watch collaboration is especially notable. Notwithstanding the eyewatering price of its highest-spec professional computers, there are currently no luxury Apple consumer products a point made bluntly to Cousin Greg in the TV show Succession: Dude, your phone is a widget, a button. Every janitor in America has one. Sure, Apple briefly flirted with a $17,000 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition and third-party modifiers like Caviar will flog you a pure gold iPhone for $42,380 but even Apples premium consumer products seem democratic in comparison to todays luxury watches and hi-fi. Discounting the PR bromides of craftsmanship, attention to detail and unique expressions, collaborating with Hermes allows Apple to flirt with old-world affluence, just as it allows a saddlery founded in 1837 to approach the cutting edge. Shock Guffaw If delight and surprise are central to most collaborations, a few deploy scrappier tactics of shock and guffaw tropes that date back to at least 1937, when the fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli worked with Salvador Dali to create a dress based on the surrealists infamous lobster telephone. Shock is well-illustrated by the collaboration between the rapper Lil Nas X and the art collaborative MSCHF which created 666 pairs of Satan Shoes by customizing Nike Air Max 97s with (what they claimed was) human blood. And guffaw is illustrated by the midlarious April Fools Day stunt collaboration between Warby Parker and Arbys. The undisputed master of the lampoon collab is, surely, Supreme which seems to be on a quasi-parodic quest to discover if there is anything it can co-brand that wont sell out in seconds. This quest has given the world Supreme Hohner harmonicas, Braun calculators, Stern pinball machines, Ludens cough drops, Colgate toothpaste, Duraflame fire logs, Meissen figurines, Rawlings baseball bats, Hastens beds, MTA metro cards and many, many more. Imprimatur At the subtler end of the sensation spectrum are collaborations that carry the imprimatur of authority most obviously, partnerships between brands and nation-state stamps, such as the United States Postal Service Harry Potter, Spider Man, Bugs Bunny and Star Wars (released, inevitably, on May 4th, 2021). More elaborate are the Royal Warrants which, since 1840, have been granted by members of the British Royal Family as a mark of recognition to people or companies who have regularly supplied goods or services. There are currently 800 brands collaborating by appointment to the various royal households including Angostura bitters, Berry Bros. & Rudd wine, and Hunter wellington boots all of which are entitled to use the relevant familys royal crest. Of course, once in a while brands achieve the imprimatur of authority by accident. Ronald Reagan was so famed for his love of Jelly Belly candy that three and a half tons of red, white, and blue jelly beans were delivered to Washington for his 1981 inauguration. More recently, Donald Trump has had a slightly more complex relationship with a range of brands, not least Goya, My Pillow, Sharpie and Four Seasons Total Landscaping. Scattershot A subsection of brands use collaboration not as an occasional marketing fillip, but a central strategic plank. Oreo, for example, has recently partnered with, to name a few, Pokemon, Lady Gaga, Krispy Kreme, McDonalds, Breyers, Dunkin, Milka, Candy Corn, Swedish Fish, the NBA, Game of Thrones, Google Android and (of course) Supreme. Similarly, the remarkable renaissance of Crocs has been fueled not just by Covid casualness, but by collaborations with fashion brands (Liberty, Balenciaga), food brands (KFC, Hidden Valley Ranch), designers (Salehe Bembury, Nicole McLaughlin), artists (Takashi Murakami), musicians (Post Malone, Diplo), department stores (Barneys) and media giants (Disney). Causes Cause collaborations allow brands to emphasize the PR inherent to public philanthropy by partnering with complementary charities, such as Whiskas World Wildlife Fund or Land Rover Red Cross. Occasionally, brands allow their employees to pick a charitable partner: Morgan Stanleys London staff recently voted for the firm to support The Felix Project. And some brands activate direct-to-consumer charitable executions: During the Covid crisis, Uber partnered with Moderna to to provide accessible, credible information on vaccine safety through Ubers in-app messaging and with Unilever to provide drivers and couriers with hygiene kits. Perhaps the most sophisticated cause collaborator is (RED) the charity founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver which partners with the worlds most iconic brands to help fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Since 2006, (RED) has raised nearly $700 million by developing co-branded products and services with an array of companies, including Gap, Converse, Canon, Fiat, Nike, Hallmark, Apple, Starbucks, Amex and Durex. Collaboration Fails How do porcupines mate? Carefully. Because collaborations involve intermingling not just commercial assets but corporate prestige, the risk of reputational contagion is inevitable. In 2014, for example, the canvas collaborator Lego was forced to end a 56-year partnership with Shell in response to a Greenpeace campaign against Artic drilling. More recently, public outrage pressured Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One to end its partnership with a building supply company whose products were associated with the mass-fatality Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017. Collaborations also risk a negative network effect, where one brands scandal sparks a chain reaction. Although the Sackler familys artwashing co-brand of museum, gallery and university buildings around the world had become increasingly outrageous as the opioid crisis unfolded, it was only when Britains National Portrait Gallery refused a 1 million Sackler grant in March 2019 that the dam burst. Three years on, the stain of Sackler has been erased by a number of organizations, including The Louvre, The Serpentine, Tufts University and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. More are likely to follow, and many more will think twice before partnering with controversial names. * * * Collaborations, clearly, are going nowhere. And this may be no bad thing. Collaborations add not just to consumer choice and the bottom line, but to the gaiety of nations. As the tongue tag of Nike Ben & Jerrys Chunky Dunky sneaker proclaims: If its not fun, why do it? But there may be a moment when even the most provocative partnerships pall. For some this line was crossed in October 2020 when Cole Haan collaborated on a range of shoes with the messaging platform Slack. Spending $120 of your daily bread on sneakers that shill your daily grind seemed to many neither amusing nor ironic, but simply masochistic. And it prompted the question: If collaboration is focused on building bridges, is there a bridge too far? Supreme IRS anyone? More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: All Those Silly Crypto Ads Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg: Lionel Laurent Unilever Still Has to Transform Itself. Here Are Its Options: Andrea Felsted Simone Biles Nike Snub Is a Big Win for Athleta: Sarah Halzack This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Ben Schott is Bloomberg Opinions advertising and brands columnist. He created the Schotts Original Miscellany and Schotts Almanac series, and writes for newspapers and magazines around the world. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load In todays China, behemoths like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. are out of favor, but little giants are on the rise. Thats the designation for a new generation of startups that have been selected under an ambitious government program aimed at fostering a technology industry that can compete with Silicon Valley. These often-obscure companies have demonstrated theyre doing something innovative and unique, and theyre targeting strategically important sectors like robotics, quantum computing and semiconductors. Wu Gansha won the little giants title for his autonomous driving startup after a government review of his technology. That gave the Beijing company, Uisee, an extra dose of credibility and financial benefits. Last year, it raised more than 1 billion yuan ($157 million), including money from a state-owned fund. Its also become a unicorn, with a valuation of at least $1 billion. Advertisement Its an honor to wear the little giant label, Wu said. The essence of the project is that the companies must possess some specialty that others dont have. The program has been around for more than a decade, but it has taken on new prominence after Beijing launched a sweeping crackdown against leading companies like Alibaba and Tencent. The little giants label has become a valued measure of government endorsement, a signal for investors and employees that the companies are insulated from regulatory punishment. President Xi Jinping has given his personal blessing to the program. This is helpful to startups in many ways: Its a subsidy. Its a grant. Its an honor. Its a stamp of approval, said Lee Kai-Fu, founding managing director of the venture firm Sinovation. The program is key to the Communist Partys ambitious strategy to reposition the countrys technology industry. For two decades, China largely followed the Silicon Valley model, allowing entrepreneurs to pursue their ambitions with little government oversight. That led to enormous successes, including e-commerce pioneer Alibaba, social media giant Tencent and ByteDance Ltd., creator of the hit TikTok short-video app. Advertisement But in a series of regulatory moves over the past year, Beijing made clear the technology industry must realign to conform with government priorities. Alibaba and Tencent were quickly forced to eliminate anti-competitive practices, while games companies had to limit minors to three hours of online play per week. More broadly, the government has signaled softer internet services are out of favor. Instead, Beijing aims to shift resources to strategically important technologies like chips and enterprise software. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has named 4,762 little giants since 2019, many in semiconductors, machinery and pharmaceutical industries. The designation typically comes with lucrative incentives from the central government or provincial authorities, including tax cuts, generous loans and favorable talent acquisition policies. What the country is trying to promote is more hardcore technology, said Yipin Ng, founding partner of Yunqi Partners, a venture fund that is investing in little giants. In that sense, this is more in line with what they are trying to promote things that makes China more competitive. Advertisement Governments from the U.S. to Africa have established programs to support smaller enterprises, but Chinas efforts dwarf those in terms of scale, resources and ambition. Xi, the countrys most powerful leader since Mao, has instituted a half dozen programs that will collectively disburse trillions of dollars in pursuit of economic might, social stability and technological independence. The U.S. trade war has stiffened the Communist Partys resolve to build a self-sufficient industry. The countrys vulnerability was exposed when Donald Trumps administration blacklisted national champions like Huawei Technologies Co. and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. That prevented them from buying U.S. components such as chipsets and industrial software, crippling operations. Read how Beijings crackdown unfolded over a year Advertisement The little giants concept dates back to at least 2005, when the local government in Hunan province instituted policies to support small enterprises. The central governments powerful MIIT endorsed the Hunan campaign, which included land grants and financial support, as a model for developing the private sector. Local governments in places like Tianjin began their own initiatives. It was in 2018, with the trade war, that the central government began to seriously push the program. MIIT announced a plan to create about 600 little giants that would develop core technologies. The procedure for winning the designation was designed to foster competition and identify the most promising companies. Candidates apply with a six-page form detailing financial status, number of patents and research accomplishments. In the first round of selection, each province could nominate no more than a dozen companies. The countrys top three tech hubs -- Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai -- had a combined quota of only 17 candidates. Advertisement Guan Yaxin, chief operating officer of Beijing-based ForwardX Robotics, said the process was relatively smooth for her company because it has proven innovations, with 121 patents globally, including 25 in the U.S. This government endorsement is very helpful when I expand the business because the clients will understand we are not just a random startup, she said. MIIT has since expanded the program to thousands of companies, with about 1,000 priority little giants at the top of the hierarchy. Members of this rarefied club, which includes Wus Uisee, receive direct funding from the central government. In January, the Finance Ministry set aside at least 10 billion yuan to fund small and mid-sized enterprises until 2025, with the lions share directly financing the priority startups research. The goal is to create 10,000 little giants by 2025. Advertisement Its quite clear that this is a selection of companies very much subordinate to Chinas specific industrial policy and needs, said Barry Naughton, a professor and China economist at the University of California, San Diego. They were partially picked because they are good firms, but an equally important criteria is they fit the urgent policy needs of the government right now. There are substantial risks. The success of Chinas technology industry over the past 10 years came from giving entrepreneurs like Alibabas Jack Ma and ByteDances Zhang Yiming free rein to build their businesses. Flipping the model to focus on the governments priorities risks leading to waste and failure, Naughton said. These are small companies that are being nurtured because they can potentially be alternative suppliers. How do you nurture them? You throw money at them, he said. Advertisement The little giants have become popular targets for venture capitalists, many of whom lost money on portfolio companies during Beijings crackdown. One VC said that some startups in the program have been able to raise capital in the last six months while boosting their valuations by 50% to 75%. Another VC reportedly invests only in companies identified as little giants by the government. Zhang Hui, co-founder of Guizhou Changtong Electric Ltd., applied for the program in Guizhou province in 2020 and received the award last year, based on his companys power equipment technology. The startup soon landed more than 100 million yuan from state-backed funds, and other investors have been knocking on his door to offer additional capital. Of course, venture investors will chase little giants for investment, he said. It would be a surprise if they didnt. Advertisement Venture investments in China hit a record last year despite the crackdown. The value of deals rose about 50% in 2021 to $130.6 billion, according to the research firm Preqin. Read how venture investments in China climbed to a record last year EcoFlow Inc., a portable battery startup in Shenzhen, announced a 100 million yuan fundraising led by Sequoia as the company won the little giant label from MIIT. The four-year-old firm now plans an initial public offering in its hometown city within three years. The government is also making it easier for these startups to go public, another incentive for entrepreneurs and venture investors. China set up a dedicated stock exchange in Beijing last year to help small enterprises raise capital. Guan of ForwardX Robotics pointed out that founders retain control over their companies even if they participate in such government programs. Her company, which makes mobile robots used in manufacturing and logistics, has about 300 employees and plans to expand into Japan and the U.S. She sees the governments support as a big benefit as little giants try to grow. Many of them are very small now compared with multinationals, she said. But the government sees the potential for them to become a real giants one day. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Things are going badly for the president and his party, and with midterm elections drawing nearer, Joe Biden and the Democrats need a reset. Paradoxically, the collapse of their plan for a comprehensive overhaul of the countrys voting laws could provide an opening though Bidens posturing has made it harder to exploit. The voting-reform legislation would have set national standards intended to make voting as easy as possible. It was a worthwhile initiative, on the whole, and would have rolled back new state laws that in many cases needlessly tighten the rules. But the president didnt put it like that. He called them dangerous new Republican laws plainly designed to suppress and subvert voting rights. This is exactly the kind of overheated language that Biden needs to purge from his vocabulary if he wants to make progress. If he does that, theres a good chance he can build bipartisan support for a narrower, less controversial and much more valuable reform of the Electoral Count Act. And if this new effort fails because of unyielding Republican intransigence, like last weeks did, persuadable voters should know whom to blame. Advertisement One of the oddities about the voting-reform bills that just died is that they touched on countless minute aspects of election management while failing to address the constitutional crisis that almost happened last January. The most potent threat to American democracy wasnt the so-called insurrection, deplorable as that was. The greater danger was the possibility that Vice President Mike Pence might surrender to President Donald Trumps demands and set aside the popular vote in seven states. Pence stood his ground, but there was no guarantee he would. The same situation could easily arise again. For years dispassionate critics have attacked the law that regulates disputes over counting and certifying votes the Electoral Count Act of 1887. Experts agree its a mess, and recent events prove how dangerous this could be. The law is muddled, ambiguous and allows far too much leeway for Congress and/or the vice president to override the popular vote. These opportunities for constitutional breakdown need to be shut down. A recent report from a House staff committee says how this might be done: This report has proposed raising the ECAs objection threshold, narrowing the vice presidents role at the count, ensuring that Congress receives each states timely, accurate electoral appointments, enacting new counting rules, addressing the denominator [i.e., defining the whole number of electors used in determining the majority], narrowing states ability to appoint electors after Election Day, and clarifying the scope of Election Day. Advertisement Yes, thats complicated: Theres plenty to fight over, for those inclined to fight. Even so, this could and should be a bipartisan undertaking. Republicans are aware (or ought to be) that they too might find themselves on the receiving end of efforts to cancel popular votes, with a Democratic vice president standing in for Mike Pence. Unfortunately, Biden and the Democrats have laid the groundwork for the next crisis by hyperventilating about the supposed onslaught of voter suppression. Biden was asked last week, before the comprehensive voting-reform bills failed, whether he would consider the 2022 midterm election illegitimate if they didnt pass. He answered: Im not going to say its going to be legit. Its the increase and the prospect of being illegitimate is in direct proportion to us not being able to get these these reforms passed. Trump couldnt have put it better. The risk that 2024 will be a repeat of 2020, with the teams swapping sides, is real. Advertisement Can a sufficient number of Democrats and Republicans in Congress agree that recurring constitutional crises might be, at the very least, problematic? If so, can they pivot from reflexive opposition to anything the other side suggests? As the passage of the infrastructure bill showed, allowing the enemy a share in success is often good government and occasionally even good politics. If Biden is going to lead this effort, hell have to moderate the line he took in his Atlanta speech, where he likened opponents of his voting-reform ambitions to outright racists. His attempt to clarify his position during last weeks press conference was comical I think Mitch [McConnell] did a real good job of making it sound like I was attacking them but its encouraging that hes denying, however absurdly, that he meant to cause offense. What about Republicans? Some are already on board. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy might be willing. Representative Jim Banks, who leads the biggest conservative caucus in the House, has said he is open to reforming the law so long as it isnt a Trojan horse for the Democrats bigger voting-reform plans. Advertisement Now that those plans are dead, it wont be. So fix the Electoral Count Act. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Republicans Should Rethink Idea-Free Campaigns: Ramesh Ponnuru The Republican Party Is Terrified of Voters: Francis Wilkinson Bidens Disappointing First Year: Editorial This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Clive Crook is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and writes editorials on economics, finance and politics. He was chief Washington commentator for the Financial Times, a correspondent and editor for the Economist and a senior editor at the Atlantic. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article 100 years ago 1922: There exists much difference of opinion among Flagstaff taxpayers concerning the site for the new high school. The John Clark farm north of and just outside the city limits was selected by election. Then it was supposed the site could be obtained for much less per acre than the owners ask. Since it has become known that their price is $1,333 -1/3 an acre, involving a cost of $20,000 for the 15 acres desired, and that T. A. Riordan has offered the city, free of all cost, 10 or more acres just across from the normal school on Milton Road, public preference seems to be veering sharply away from the Clark site. The Riordan site is two blocks farther from the center of the city than the other. A fine paved street runs right past the Riordan site. Dirt for grading is more accessible at the Riordan site, and grading expense otherwise would likely be considerably less. So much for all of that. This newspaper is trying to present the facts as accurately as possible, without bias. It is with great pleasure that this newspaper can announce that both Martin G. Fransake and county clerk Tom L. Rees, who were operated on for appendicitis at Pinball Mercy Hospital on Tuesday by doctor E. Payne Palmer of Phoenix, assisted by doctors R. O. Raymond and E. S. Miller, are doing as well as can be expected, with every indication that both will soon be around, busy at their respective useful pursuits. Doctor Fransake was taken sick on Sunday. Suddenly he had an attack that was diagnosed as appendicitis. A telegram was sent to doctor Palmer, who arrived at 4 o'clock Tuesday morning and operated shortly thereafter. On Monday, Mr. Rees was very sick, though he went to his office at the courthouse as usual. During the forenoon he had to give up and go home. Mr. Rees was found also to have acute appendicitis and was rushed to the hospital being operated on right after noon. In both cases the diseased organs were badly swollen and inflamed, and it is felt that few hours delay in either case would likely have proved fatal. 75 years ago 1947: William H. Richards, instructor of piano and graduate student at Arizona State College at Flagstaff during the fall semester that concludes this week, plans to enroll in the University of Southern California to continue his graduate work in music, majoring in piano. Mr. Richards is the son of doctor and Mrs. W. J. Richards of Kingman. Dr. Richard is well-known to the people of Flagstaff and the college because of his active interest in the drive for funds to construct a student union building on the campus. William did his undergraduate work at the University of Southern California, receiving his bachelors degree in music education, with a major in piano. He was awarded a fellowship at the Flagstaff college this fall. January shoe sale for Big Boys at Babbitts. Brown oxfords or high shoes with good wearing soles -- $2.79. In Babbitts meat department, pick up a beef tongue, fresh and nice, for 35 per pound. 50 years ago 1972: The Flagstaff City Council, by a 5-to-0 vote, today extended the emergency water rates brought about during the summer of 1971 when the city discovered itself amid a water crisis. The city manager told the council at its regular meeting today that the city is basically the same shape, water-wise, that it found itself at this same time last year. There is, at this time, enough water in upper Lake Mary, the city's prime source of water, to last through the summer, provided citizens exercise conservancy methods and the city can use other sources, such as the inner basin of the San Francisco Peaks and its two major wellfields at Lake Mary and Woody Mountain.The manager recommended that the emergency rate be continued another six months or until July 31. The ordinance extending the rates proclaimed officially that a water use emergency seems to exist at this time and provided that the measure be passed on an emergency basis. Representatives of the committee told the Flagstaff City Council they planned to hold the annual Pow Wow in the condemned city park grandstand after minimum improvements had been made. A committee member told the council the committee has made all its plans around use of the city park area and would like to embark on a staged program of improvement for the existing facility. Neither the Pow Wow committee nor the city could afford the $90,000 price suggested by an engineer to completely refurbish the grandstand and said he would like to see a report on the minimum improvements needed to make the grandstand safe for this year's Pow Wow. 25 years ago 1997: Spurred by an extended building season as well as solid growth in pricey commercial and single-family home construction, Flagstaff in 1996 shattered a record for the value of construction in one year. Nearly $104.5 million worth of new construction was given permits in Flagstaff last year, beating the mark set in 1995 of $90.7 million.In 1996, 330 homes worth a total of $40 million were approved on the commercial side, 52 permits were granted and had a value of more than $18 million. The building boom in town has left some in Flagstaff happy, some worried, and others just plain slumped. The city community development department has been flooded with building applications for the last two years. Coconino County may soon have to find new ways to fund the county highway department and superintendent of schools office. Why? Because National Forest Service fees that help fund those are rapidly disappearing. Recently released figures show the forest service will pay Coconino County only $584,000 in 1997. For years the county highway department and the Superintendent of Schools Office have thrived on that money. But a national decline in logging has those revenues taking a tumble. The county budget officer had expected to get closer to $700,000. 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 Placeholder while article actions load This is one of a series of interviews by Bloomberg Opinion columnists on how to solve the worlds most pressing policy challenges. It has been edited for length and clarity.Alexis Leondis: Youre an illustrator, musician and founder of a financial firm, The Hell Yeah Group, that helps creative people with their personal and business finances. Earlier in your career, you worked at a major bank as a collections agent, and also at a more traditional financial planning firm. In your new book Finance for the People: Getting a Grip on Your Finances, you take those experiences being inside to help those who have felt ignored or underserved when it comes to money management. Whats the most important message for those readers? Paco de Leon, founder, The Hell Yeah Group and author, Finance for the People: This world is for them. And I am a testament to that. Ive been on the inside and Ive still felt like I was on the outside. The reason why was because I didnt feel like there was somebody there to usher me in and welcome me in. And Im going to be that person for everyone who wants to go along for the ride. If I had to boil it down to one theme, its not to fear your finances and not to be afraid to speak up and talk about it. Theres this cultural [idea] that its inappropriate to talk about money. Its frowned upon in some workplaces to talk about your salary with your employees, which to me is so gnarly because youre literally at work to earn the money! And so, youre walking around not saying the thing that youre there for. This book and all the work I do is really about opening up a larger conversation about money. Because I believe once were more comfortable talking about money, people are going to start facing their finances. Advertisement AL: How do you think your approach to personal finance is different from other books that focus on the topic? PDL: The book has something like 50 to 75 original illustrations that I drew. The point of those illustrations is to reach people who might look at a book about money and see blocks of text and feel intimidated. Sometimes looking at a picture of a cookie or a stack of pancakes helps you understand something that felt foreign. Things like worth and value are abstract; illustrations make them concrete. Also, its a pretty judgment-free zone for people looking at their spending plan, or thinking about their past financial mistakes. Judgment has been such a pillar in the personal finance industry its the attitude of like, Just stop buying those lattes. AL: How should we view the personal finance rules of thumb that have been quoted for years: dont spend more than 30% of your income on housing; withdraw 4% in retirement (now 3%), etc. Are they still valid today or do we need to just forget them entirely? Advertisement PDL: Theyre great starting points. There are certain pieces of wisdom in the personal financial world that will always be true. For example, one ought to always spend less than they earn. It does get challenging, though, particularly when youre graduating college and entering the workforce. Thats when personal finance gets personal. I think its great to understand the mentality behind the rules and the reasoning behind them. Then we can manipulate those rules and make our own choices. AL: So much of our financial world seems to be contingent on working for an employer, from getting a mortgage to health insurance. Access isnt as easy when youre self-employed. As more and more people start working for themselves, what do they need to know? PDL: When youre getting into the less traditional path, you have to really lock in and understand all the mechanics behind your personal finances. If you focus on getting your personal finances in line, that can only help with how youre running your freelance practice, how you set your price, how youre managing your invoicing, how youre negotiating clients. All of that is overlapped and interconnected. Advertisement AL: You talk a lot in the book about how were all weird about money, and the role emotions play in making financial decisions. Why is it so important to think about and work through those underlying associations and feelings when it comes to financial matters? PDL: What Ive observed over the years is the information is out there everybody knows that they shouldnt spend more than they earn; everybody knows that they should be saving. But people dont act in their best interest. I saw this with people who were making $1 million a year and with folks who were making $30,000 a year. Theres so much tied with money to what has happened to us growing up. I mean all day long, we tell ourselves a story in our mind and we constantly have this tape playing in our mind. And it sounds weird and it sounds hard to believe, but those stories shape the way that we see the world. Its important for us to understand how those narratives have shaped our current reality today. If you think about it, our past is like a hand reaching through space and time, and its impacting our actions today. And its important to recognize that because human beings are emotional creatures, we make decisions based on emotions. And we try to rationalize those decisions later. Advertisement We have to understand whats triggering us and do everything in our power to manage those emotions so that were not just shooting from the hip and being even weirder about money. AL: You highlight the income disparity you faced in your career, where you had this revelation that you earned 13 cents for every dollar your boss did and how earnings are an underrated component of the financial equation. Whats your advice to those who feel, or even know, theyre underpaid? PDL: Workers today have so much leverage, more leverage than Ive seen in my adult working life thus far. And you should use it to your advantage. Understand that good employees are hard to come by right now and that if youre able to add value to somebodys organization, then you have the power and the leverage. One fatal flaw in my working life thus far was that I did not learn about negotiation. I watched it from the sidelines. I made plenty of mistakes negotiating against myself right from the gate. Take your time exploring how to negotiate. There are so many resources online that you can find. Advertisement AL: What are your views on investing in crypto? Do you see it as promising or dangerous? PDL: I view it as an alternative asset. I do have some crypto. And my rationale, I suppose, for investing in crypto is I want to have schmuck insurance meaning, if it goes up, I dont want to look like the finance person who just didnt buy any. I have no idea what the future of technology is going to be. I have no idea why we would want to be in the metaverse for that long. But [with crypto], Im going to participate and Im going to manage my risk. I will say the fascinating and exciting thing about crypto is it shines a light on the fact that money is an illusion. It is a shared societal belief system that this thing is valuable. And thats the same exact reason why any coin, any token is valuable: because a community of people believe in it. Advertisement AL: Some young people may have concerns that by engaging in the current financial system and playing by its rules, theyre effectively perpetuating its inequities. What would you tell them? PDL: If you want to be a conscientious objector to the modern economy, then go for it. There are plenty of options where you can participate in communal living or even try to survive without any money at all. Making a profit in the stock market is based on exploitation. Its extractive. You only make money because the workers create the value. Then the value is extracted and its given to the shareholder and thats how wealth gets built. So the way that you reconcile that is you sit there and you think about it. And you sit with those negative feelings and you have to come up with a way to be in the world. Advertisement So then think about how can you give back? What can you do to offset what youre doing? And the thing I talk about in the book is if you want to create social change, its possible to create organizations and communities where the benefit is for the community and not the shareholder. The current system were in right now rewards wealth. It also requires money, which is also a proxy for power to create this change. So my advice to you is get the money and make the change. You can amplify your values and you can create what you want to see in the world. AL: Whats the one policy change you think would do the most to promote greater financial security for freelancers and the self-employed? PDL: I would love to see a universal basic income. It would allow people to explore. It would allow people to discover what their gift is. When I lost my very last job before I started working for myself, I went on unemployment for 99 weeks or something like that. And that was my UBI to figure this out, to start my business, to sit and understand what the hell Im here for: which is to talk to people about my philosophies and to teach them about money. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Alexis Leondis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering personal finance. Previously, she oversaw tax coverage for Bloomberg News. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load StarSolid StarSolid StarOutline StarOutline ( 2 stars ) Based on Francine Riverss best-selling 1991 novel, a Christian-themed historical romance loosely inspired by a minor character mentioned in the biblical Book of Hosea, the faith-based melodrama Redeeming Love tells the story of Gold Rush-era prostitute Angel (Abigail Cowen) and the power of love both a good mans and Gods to transform and heal. Sold into sex work as an illegitimate child, and now plying her cynical trade in the town of Pair-a-Dice, Calif. (say it out loud to get the full effect of the groan-worthy pun), Angel is subjected to all manner of physical, sexual and psychological abuse over the course of the film, which somehow manages to be both sugary and tawdry, both highly polished and slightly lazy. Before she is reluctantly rescued by and ultimately married off to Christian farmer Michael Hosea (Tom Lewis), we see, in flashback, that Angel has been a victim of: child-rape; an abortion and enforced sterilization; a brutal beating; and transactional sex with her father (Josh Taylor), who shoots himself in the head in front of her after he realizes what he has done. In a later scene, Angel also has sex with her own brother-in-law (Logan Marshall-Green), in payment for transportation after she runs away from Michael. A frontier cafe she eventually opens up is burned down by an arsonist. Angel feels she is unworthy of Michaels love, you see. And, honestly, most people probably would feel the same way. He is such a squeaky clean, cheerful and steadfast goody-two-shoes that its hard to imagine anyone feeling that they are remotely good enough for him. Besides, what woman wouldnt be put off by a suitor who announced that God had handpicked her for him? Advertisement This, of course, is the whole point of the book and the movie. Michaels faithful devotion, and, ultimately, a touch of divine, perhaps even miraculous grace come to make Angel realize she does merit happiness. But boy, oh boy, does she have a hard road to walk before all that kicks in. Its kind of tough for us to watch, too. Director and co-writer D.J. Caruso (XXX: Return of Xander Cage) makes slick work of the source material, adapting the screenplay with Rivers into an engrossing but superficial epic of suffering in which character takes a back seat to story. Redeeming Love is an incident-rich saga populated by cardboard heroes and villains and outfitted with greeting-card sentiments and cartoon villainy. Its message is a fine and dandy one, but its delivered not by Pony Express, but a herd of thundering buffalo. PG-13. At area theaters. Contains mature thematic elements, sexuality, partial nudity and strong violence. 134 minutes GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Within days of President Donald Trumps election defeat, Stewart Rhodes began talking about the Insurrection Act as critical to the countrys future. The bombastic founder of the extremist group Oath Keepers told followers that the obscure, rarely used law would allow Trump to declare a national emergency so dire that the military, militias or both would be called out to keep him in the White House. Appearing Nov. 9, 2020, as a guest on the Infowars program of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, Rhodes urged Trump to invoke the act to suppress the deep state and claimed Oath Keepers already had men stationed outside D.C. as a nuclear option. Invoking the Insurrection Act was an idea sparked in conservative circles that spring as a means of subduing social justice protests and related rioting, a goal Trump seemed to embrace when he called for state leaders to dominate their streets. By the end of the year, it had become a rallying cry to cancel the results of a presidential election. Now, private and public discussions of the law stand as key evidence in the cases against the Oath Keepers. Advertisement Earlier this month, Rhodes was charged with seditious conspiracy, accused along with 10 members of his group of conspiring to use violence to try to stop Joe Bidens certification as president. Rhodes has denied wrongdoing, saying he never wanted or told his group to enter the U.S. Capitol. A court hearing in Plano, Tex., on Monday will determine whether he must stay in jail while awaiting trial. The House select committee investigating the attempted insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6 faces an uphill battle with former Trump administration officials. (Video: Blair Guild/The Washington Post) Court filings and public statements leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, show how important the idea of the Insurrection Act became to Rhodes and other extremists, including followers of the ever-changing QAnon extremist ideology, and to Trump and people close to him. It is hard to put into words how mind-boggling this idea was, to use a statute designed to protect the country from insurrection to support an actual insurrection, said Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University at San Bernardino. Advertisement The act was last used in 1992 to quell days of protests and rioting in Los Angeles after four police officers accused of beating motorist Rodney King were found not guilty. The 1807 law was used at the request of the governor to federalize the California National Guard units to quell the riots. Indictments filed in the Jan. 6 investigation show Rhodess followers were drawn to Washington partly in the hope that Trump would invoke the law once more, transforming the Oath Keepers into a kind of shock troop militia to smite imagined rioters, government officials and anyone who tried to make Bidens election victory a reality. If Trump activates the Insurrection Act, Id hate to miss it, Oath Keeper Jessica Watkins of Ohio wrote a week before the Capitol attack, according to court papers. Around the same time, Kelly Meggs, the head of the Florida chapter of Oath Keepers, allegedly predicted in a separate conversation that Trump would stay in power and claim the Insurrection Act. Advertisement That notion began gaining steam in late May 2020, when mass protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis prompted Trump and some of his supporters to suggest the military be called out to put an end to sporadic unrest. Q, the mysterious online persona whose pronouncements fed the amorphous QAnon extremist ideology, suggested that the president invoke the law, adding cryptically, call the ball, an obscure piece of military aviation jargon used in the movie Top Gun. Within days, Trump was suggesting much the same, and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) penned a New York Times opinion piece urging the laws use. But after the nation watched disturbing images of federal agents using tear gas to disperse peaceful protesters near the White House, government officials, including the defense secretary, Mark T. Esper, publicly opposed invoking the Insurrection Act to deal with protests or rioters. Advertisement Trump didnt let it go, declaring later that summer that he was still considering it. Other Trump supporters, like his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, issued similar calls for Trump to declare martial law. Our countrys going to change, Trump said. Were not supposed to go in, unless we call it an insurrection. But you know what were going to do? Were going to have to look at it. That message resonated with some of Trumps most fervent supporters, particularly the Oath Keepers. Whatever you think of him, the presidents words were taken by the more organized and hardened extremists as a call to action, said Levin of California State University. Trumps public flirtation with the Insurrection Act fit into what Levin said was a longer, disturbing trend among far-right extremists who oppose the government. Advertisement In the 1990s, such insurrectionist doctrine was centered largely on a perceived threat to the Second Amendment right to own guns, and more radical advocates declared they would use violence to defend gun ownership, Levin said. But over time, extremists brought the same logic to all sorts of issues, from federal land regulations to coronavirus restrictions and, in late 2020, to refusing to accept Bidens electoral victory. Insurrectionist doctrine has morphed into a much broader argument that now tries to justify violent aggression against the routine functioning of government, Levin said. Last year, it was used as a dagger to interfere with the constitutional and peaceful transfer of power. Thats extraordinarily troubling, and the kind of conduct we see in authoritarian regimes. By December 2020, Rhodes was explicitly tying his apocalyptic notions of a looming civil war to Trumps decision about whether to invoke the law. Advertisement He needs to use that now, he needs to invoke the Insurrection Act and suppress this insurrection, Rhodes said to cheers from a crowd at a pro-Trump rally in Washington on Dec. 12. Rhodes, wearing a black cowboy hat with the Oath Keepers insignia, called for the release of what he called secret government files to show the world who the traitors are, and then use the Insurrection Act to drop the hammer on them. He added, If he does not do it now, while he is commander in chief, we are going to have to do it ourselves later, in a much more desperate, much more bloody war. Prosecutors say the Oath Keepers spent the weeks leading up to the breach of the Capitol preparing for just such violence, packing an arsenal to stash just outside the nations capital in case they wanted their weapons quickly, developing communications plans and urging supporters to converge on Washington, at least partly in the hope that Trump would invoke the Insurrection Act. Advertisement On the afternoon of Jan. 6, as an angry mob descended on the Capitol, Rhodes allegedly sent a message to his Oath Keepers leadership group: All I see Trump doing is complaining. I see no attempt by him to do anything. So the patriots are taking it in their own hands. Theyve had enough. About an hour after that message was sent, prosecutors say, some of the Oath Keepers who received it stormed the white-domed building. The Insurrection Act is not just part of the case against Rhodes, who faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of seditious conspiracy. Its part of his defense. In an interview with The Washington Post last February, Rhodes acknowledged his group had a cache of weapons outside the city, saying such a quick-reaction force was only if the president calls us up. We thought antifa might try to storm the White House, he said, without evidence. If such a thing happened, he argued, D.C. gun restrictions would no longer apply, because we would have been part of the military. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load The British government on Saturday accused Russia of organizing a plot to install a pro-Moscow government in Ukraine, as the Kremlin masses troops and materiel near the Ukrainian border in what Western officials fear is an impending military assault on the neighboring nation. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office gave relatively little information about the intelligence unveiled Saturday other than to say that the Russian government was considering trying to make a Russia-leaning former member of Ukraines parliament, Yevhen Murayev, the countrys new leader. The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking, U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement, calling on Russia to de-escalate and pursue a path of diplomacy. Advertisement As the U.K. and our partners have said repeatedly, any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs, Truss said. British authorities also said they had information showing how Russias intelligence services maintain links with numerous former Ukrainian politicians. Some of those former Ukrainian politicians are in contact with Russian intelligence officers planning the attack on Ukraine, the British government said. The Russian Foreign Ministry denied the allegations in a Twitter statement, saying the British announcement was evidence that NATO countries, led by the Anglo-Saxons, are escalating tensions around Ukraine. We call on the British Foreign Office to stop its provocative activities and focus on studying the history of the Tatar-Mongol yoke, the Russian Foreign Ministry added. Advertisement In comments to the U.K.s Daily Telegraph, Murayev, the owner of a pro-Russian television channel in Ukraine, said he was amused by the allegations. I have a hard time digesting stupidity and nonsense: Maybe someone wants to shut down yet another independent TV channel, he said in a series of text messages, according to the Telegraph. As someone who has been under Russian sanctions for four years, barred from Russia as a national security threat and whose father got his assets frozen in Russia, I find it hard to comment on the Foreign Offices statement, he added. Murayev posted on social media Sunday morning a statement that did not mention the accusations against him, but said that Ukrainians needed leaders who who will not create confrontation on linguistic or religious grounds. The time of pro-Western and pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine is gone forever, he said. Advertisement Britain also named four former associates of ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych as examples of former politicians in contact with Russian intelligence but did not say whether those four were involved directly in the plot to install Murayev. Yanukovych fled Ukraine for Russia in 2014 as a pro-Western uprising on Kyivs central square, known as the Maidan, ushered in a Europe-friendly government. Russia reacted by annexing Crimea from Ukraine and fueling a separatist war in the countrys east. The four former associates that the British government named as contacts of Russian intelligence are former Ukrainian prime minister Mykola Azarov, former first deputy prime minister Serhiy Arbuzov, former Yanukovych chief of staff Andriy Klyuyev and former deputy head of the Ukrainian National Security Council Vladimir Sivkovich. Advertisement The four men could not immediately be reached for comment. The British government made the accusations in a statement released at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, after it was already the middle of the night farther east. Rather than attempting an overt overthrow of the pro-Western government in Kyiv, analysts suspect that if Putin attempted a coup, he would instead seek to encourage the collapse of the current government and covertly promote a pro-Russian Ukrainian politician who would have more local credibility. The British governments announcement was an attempt to thwart that activity. The Russians have a plan and we clearly think its worth people knowing about it, said a Western official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters. Calling it out takes away the element of surprise and also reduces the chances of Russia succeeding if they actually attempt it. Advertisement When the Russians attempt this and say, This is an independent Ukrainian political movement, we can say, No, thats not true, this is the work of your intelligence apparatus which weve been warning about, the official said. U.S. officials said they have no reason to doubt the British intelligence. This kind of plotting is deeply concerning, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said in a statement. The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine. The British governments announcement came two days after the U.S. Treasury sanctioned a group of current and former Ukrainian officials, accusing some of them of helping Russia lay the groundwork to install a Moscow-friendly government in Ukraine. Advertisement Russia has directed its intelligence services to recruit current and former Ukrainian government officials to prepare to take over the government of Ukraine and to control Ukraines critical infrastructure with an occupying Russian force, the Treasury Department said. Among the people Treasury sanctioned Thursday was Sivkovich, one of the former Ukrainian officials the British government accused of having contacts with Russian intelligence. In its sanctions announcement, Treasury accused Sivkovich of working with Russian intelligence actors to build support for Ukraine to officially cede Crimea to Russia in exchange for a drawdown in Donbas, where Russia has fueled a separatist war against Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian officials were surprised by the idea that a Russian plot would seek to install Murayev, a relatively marginal figure in Ukrainian politics who was sanctioned by Russia in 2018, as the countrys new leader. Advertisement On his Facebook page, Murayev posted an image of himself edited into a James Bond Skyfall logo, appearing to poke fun at the idea that he was the subject of an international espionage gambit. Murayev is from Ukraines eastern Kharkiv region, a Russian-speaking part of the country north of Donbas. He is a former member of Yanukovychs Party of Regions and other Russia-leaning political factions that emerged after the partys implosion in 2014. Murayev ran for Ukraines president in 2019 but dropped out of the race. Murayev gave an interview about the upcoming year to his television station that was posted on YouTube on Jan. 1. In it, he said the next year would definitely be better that he believed for some reason there would be a change in government in Kyiv, which would lead to a comprehensive agreement ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine. There will be a lot of changes, and theyre inevitable, he said. Therefore, honestly, Im in a terrific mood in expectation of this year. David Stern contributed reporting from Kyiv. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Victim's family calls killing a 'lynching' Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight A Jamaican immigrant was shot to death at a rural Pennsylvania cabin last month in an incident his family is describing as a modern-day lynching. Peter Bernardo Spencer, 29, of Pittsburgh, accepted an invitation from a former co-worker to visit a cabin in Rockland Township, Venango County, some 85 miles northeast of the city, on Dec. 11, his family said. The former co-worker is White, as were two other men and a woman in the home. Spencer didnt know the others. Peter was an outdoorsman from Jamaica, said Paul Jubas, a civil rights attorney from Pittsburgh who is advising the family. He loved being outside in nature. Pennsylvania State Police were called to the home on Carls Road just before 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 12 and found Spencer dead on the front lawn with multiple gunshot wounds. A suspect, 25, and three other people at the home were detained and questioned, police said in a news release, but all four were released after consultation with the Venango County District Attorneys Office. Advertisement Police said they found multiple firearms, ballistic evidence, and controlled substances at the home. But after six weeks, no one has been charged with a crime. Those working with Spencers family are asking other law enforcement agencies to get involved. The Venango County district attorneys office did not return multiple requests for comment. Investigators are still waiting for the results of a toxicology report and state police urged the public to remain patient. Philadelphia Inquirer Oxford High School to reopen after shooting Increased security, new paint in calming colors and handwritten messages of support on hearts and snowflakes will greet students returning to Oxford High School on Monday for the first day of school since a mass shooting on Nov. 30. A team of therapy dogs will walk the hallways with handlers, including where the shooting took place. Trauma-trained staff will be looking for signs that students need help as they ease back into classrooms. Safe rooms have been created where students can find solace and help. Advertisement A new mural has also been painted across a giant wall of the school. Regardless of the changes, stepping back inside Oxford High School will be a new experience for every student, school staffer or parent in the wake of the shooting. Hana St. Juliana, 14; Tate Myre, 16; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; and Justin Shilling, 17, were killed, and a teacher and six students were wounded. Many of the shooting victims are continuing their long physical recovery at home, including Kylie Ossege, 17, who was shot in the chest and left the hospital earlier this month. Detroit News Regina King's son dies by suicide: Ian Alexander Jr., the only child of award-winning actor and director Regina King, has died. He turned 26 on Wednesday. "Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian," a family statement shared Saturday by a King spokesman said. The spokesman confirmed the death was suicide. No further details were released. The "One Night in Miami" director shared Alexander with her former husband, record producer Ian Alexander Sr. Advertisement Southeast coast hit by ice, snow: A layer of ice and a blanket of snow covered coastal areas stretching from South Carolina to Virginia on Saturday after a winter weather system brought colder temperatures and precipitation not often seen in the region. Authorities urged drivers to stay off the roads and highways, which forecasters said are slick and snow-packed in the storm's aftermath. Last of escaped monkeys accounted for: The last of the escaped monkeys from the crash of a truck towing a trailer load of 100 of the animals was accounted for by late Saturday, a day after the pickup collided with a dump truck on a Pennsylvania highway, authorities said. Several monkeys had escaped after Friday's collision, Pennsylvania State Police said. But only one had remained unaccounted for as of Saturday morning. From news services GiftOutline Gift Article Jamestown, site of the first permanent English settlement in North America, is seen last month, sandwiched between the James River and a swamp. (Julia Rendleman for The Post) Retropolis The Past, Rediscovered Millions of people visit Grand Canyon National Park each year and only a small handful of those ever require the aid of rescue crews. But the northern Arizona park claimed the top spot as the national park with the most search and rescue (SAR) incidents. Grand Canyon National Park was ranked first in the country with an estimated 785 SAR missions from 2018 to 2020, according to the digital publication Outforia, which received the data through a Freedom of Information Act request. Nearby Zion National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area also placed in the top 10. Zion had the sixth-most incidents with 285 during the same time period, while Glen Canyon reported 279. Arizona had the second-highest number of rescues between 2018 and 2020 behind California with 1,868 incidents -- largely in part to Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. The numbers for Arizona encompass not only the Grand Canyon, but also Saguaro and Petrified Forest national parks as well as a slew of other national recreation areas and monuments scattered throughout the state, including Canyon de Chelly, Lake Mead, Wupatki and Walnut Canyon. Utah was third with 1,043 missions on the states federal public lands -- which includes five national parks. But park officials said the numbers provided by Outforia actually underestimated the number of SAR incidents at the Grand Canyon. Park spokesperson Joelle Baird said there were actually 828 SAR incidents during that three-year time period. Thats 265 in 2018, 328 in 2019 and 235 in 2020. She added that they arent sure where Outforia got the statistics as they were not accurate. The Salt Lake Tribune reported a similar issue with the rates ascribed to Arches National Park in Utah. Its not clear how the different numbers impact Grand Canyons ranking. That aside, Baird said the number of SAR incidents from 2018 to 2020 was actually below average for the 1.2 million-acre park. Grand Canyon usually has an average of about 300 SAR incidents per year when examining a 10-year period spanning from 2010 to 2020. About 12 people die each year within Grand Canyon National Park. Most search and rescues typically involve individuals who arent sufficiently prepared to hike in the extreme environments of the Grand Canyon, Baird said. The Canyon can be incredibly unforgiving with extreme elevation and an arid desert environment. The dramatic temperature differences between the rim, trail and the often scorching canyon floor can punish unprepared hikers with heat stroke, dehydration and more. Poor judgment, fatigue and a lack of physical conditioning can also play a factor, Baird added. The number of SAR incidents dropped to a 10-year low in 2020, with only 235. That can likely be attributed to the decrease in visitors that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Baird said. About 2.9 million people visited Grand Canyon National Park in 2020 -- less than half of the approximately 6 million visitors that visited annually before the pandemic. The National Park Service encourages visitors to prevent emergency situations for both themselves and responders by keeping to designated trails, being mindful of their limits and knowing conditions ahead of time. Reporter Bree Burkitt can be reached at 928-556-2250 or bburkitt@azdailysun.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. Sarah Murray, case manager for the Afghan resettlement project being coordinated by Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma admires a quilt donated for Afghan families settling in Stillwater. With more apartments furnished, only certain household items are still needed and donation drop-off days have been canceled. Michelle Charles/Stillwater News Press Casting directors some of whom asked her if she could lose weight didnt know quite what to do with her. Work remained occasional. Her body had new curves. When her husband appeared in a 2013 episode of Girls as Lena Dunhams sex interest, some online trolls suggested that a conventionally attractive man such as Wilson would never have a tryst with someone such as Dunham. Dominczyk snapped back on Twitter, saying: Funny, his wife is a size 10, muffin top & all, & he does her just fine. I want to play, says Dominczyk of her character. I want to have sex with one of the brothers. Or Shiv? I dont know. Credit:HBO/Foxtel Instead, she spent the next few years staying out, sleeping in, eating Polish food and working only sporadically a movie here, a television episode there. She dated actor Patrick Wilson (they briefly overlapped at college), married him the next year, and had their first son the year after and a second son three years later. They live in Montclair, New Jersey. That changed in 2018, when she was cast as Karolina Novotney, an unflappable public relations executive on the HBO drama Succession. She was quickly upgraded from a recurring role to a series regular. She has asked the producers if Karolina could act out in ways that the Roy siblings do, but they have so far declined. I want to play, Dominczyk said. I want to have sex with one of the brothers. Or Shiv? I dont know. But the role is such that Karolina stays in her lane. Shes there to do the job. Dominczyk can also be seen as a waspish mother-to-be in the much-lauded Netflix film The Lost Daughter, directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. And she has recently wrapped the lead role in the HBO limited series We Own This City, in which she plays an FBI agent investigating police corruption. The more settled I became and the less apologetic for it, the less thinking I had to look a certain way or act a certain way that was exciting for people, she said. If she prefers complicated characters, her taste in fragrance skews simpler. Im much more of a sweet, cozy, pumpkin pie, fall candle person, she said. A bottle labeled Dulce de Leche made the cut. And Pumpkin Patch and Pumpkin Rum Cake. Also Smoked Chestnut. (Chestnut is a very Polish thing, she said.) And Holiday Basket, although she joked that Pierre-Louis should have named it Holiday Basket Case. She sniffed the mixture with approval. I want to down this like a shot, she said. The show is also at the kinder end of the TV spectrum. Its a really feelgood show, theres no question about that, Moran says. Theres no meanness, theres no bitchiness. The drama, he says, comes purely from the fact that sometimes things go wrong as any fan of the show will attest. Collapsing cakes, blackened pastries and adventurous ideas that dont quite come off are all part of the journey. He sees his job as both sharing his expertise (which, after 30 years in the restaurant business, is considerable) and bringing integrity to the role of judge. That certainly goes part of the way to explaining the enduring popularity of Bake Off , about to start its fifth season in Australia and in its 12th in Britain. When youre five or six, sitting up on the bench cooking with your grandmother, thats generally baking, says chef, farmer, businessman and co-judge on The Great Australian Bake Off Matt Moran. Its one of the first crimes in life, licking the bowl! Then when you get older, youre retired, all you want to do is make your own bread, bake a cake. Its for all stages of life, and all walks of life. Or to put it another way: who doesnt like cake? If youre going to criticise someone you have to be able to back it up, he says. So you say, Sorry. Your cakes shit. But then you have to explain why its shit. (For the record, Moran has never actually described a contestants baking as shit.) And increasingly, he says, contestants also look to him, and co-judge Maggie Beer, for tuition. What I found this year, probably more so than any other year, is that after every Technical (as the name suggests, a test of technical skills) regardless of whether they did it right or wrong they actually wanted to talk to you about it and ask you why and when and how. Then, towards the end of the competition, the contestants were clearly using what theyd learnt to produce some pretty spectacular bakes. It was quite humbling to see that the guys were really wanting to learn as much as they could. They didnt just see it as a competition. Moran says that compared with when he was his daughters age the world of food and food knowledge has exploded. (Moran has two children: Amelia, in her mid-teens, and Harry, in his early 20s.) I didnt know anything about anything. I thought that I didnt like seafood but in fact Id never eaten it. There was no access to it. Fish fingers were it. There was a lonely iceberg lettuce in the crisper. Most of our seafood was exported. Flathead was sold as bait. Then, just as our access to food and ingredients started to burgeon through both Australians travelling overseas and the world coming to Australia cooking shows also started to proliferate, igniting a passion in the general public for information about food and how to use it. Every country chooses some facts from its past to put at the middle of its national identity, just as every country chooses others to push to the side, or hide in the dark altogether. This process of listening and learning from each others stories informs the debate about how we celebrate and reflect on Australia Day. Today, many Australians recognise that on January 26, 1788, when Arthur Phillip raised the Union Jack at Sydney Cove, he did so on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation starting an invasion of land and water that rightly belonged to its traditional owners. Many Australians question whether January 26 is a date that should be celebrated as a national day of unity. Credit:Justin McManus Today, Australians know First Nations Australians as the custodians of more than 60,000 years of continuous and living culture. From the High Court down we recognise that the land was somebodys country, somebodys home, and that settlement was an invasion that took it with lethal violence. For long stretches of Australias post-settlement history these facts were ignored, swept under the carpet, or simply unknown to some. Its very understandable some Australians dont know all the elements of our history, but we are all learning more as we listen and learn from each other. Salisbury, MD (21801) Today Rain showers in the morning with thunderstorms developing for the afternoon. High 81F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Dear EarthTalk: Has anyone calculated the positive health and/or economic impacts of international efforts to protect the stratospheric ozone layer beginning in the late 1980s? -- C. Marin, St. Louis, MO The 1987 Montreal Protocol, a landmark international agreement calling on the nations of the world to ban the production and distribution of man-made chemicals that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, has been billed as one of the greatest examples of international cooperation to date. And while everyone party to the Montreal agreement agreed that the substance of the treaty banning so-called chlorofluorocarbons and related ozone-stripping chemicals was a big win for the environment and human health, we have had no idea how to quantify just how many lives have been saved or improved as a result. Until now, that is. Researchers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), ICF Consulting, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that the Montreal Protocol and its subsequent amendments will have prevented some 443 million cases of skin cancer and 63 million cases of cataracts in the U.S. alone by the end of the 21st century. They used computer models to plot how much ultraviolet (UV) radiation would have reached the Earths surface through holes in the ozone layer without the ban on CFCs and other fluorocarbons, extrapolating from there. "We peeled away from disaster," NCAR scientist Julia Lee-Taylor, a co-author of the study, told ScienceDaily. "What is eye-popping is what would have happened by the end of this century if not for the Montreal Protocol. According to projections from the researchers modeling, without the agreement, UV radiation would triple by 2080. After that, our calculations for the health impacts start to break down because we're getting so far into conditions that have never been seen before." "It's very encouraging. she added. "It shows that, given the will, the nations of the world can come together to solve global environmental problems." Indeed, recent attempts to forge a global carbon drawdown have the potential for perhaps even bigger health impacts for the human race (and others) moving forward. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers global warming the greatest health threat ever facing humanity. This United Nations-backed international body charged with directing and monitoring global public health initiatives expects climate change to cause 250,000 additional deaths per year from a combination of factors including malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress. Additionally, global warming will end up tacking some $2-$4 billion per year onto our global health care bill. And sadly, but not surprisingly, lesser developed countries and regions will fare worse given their weaker health infrastructures. Indeed, the success of the Montreal Protocol and the urgency of the climate crisis provide all the reasons we need to encourage the leaders of the United States and other nations around the world to forge ahead with the strongest possible international climate agreement with binding and meaningful emissions reduction targets. Our future may very well depend upon it. EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Man pleads not guilty after allegedly beating victim to death with piece of wood Police: Man shot and killed by thieves who stole his trailer in Bullitt County Regina King arrives at a special screening of The Harder They Fall at the Shrine in Los Angeles.jpeg This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WESTPORT A new site has been proposed for a cell tower on Greens Farms Road, following some backlash against the original proposal this summer. The new possible site for the Tarpon Towers project is an office building complex at 55 Greens Farms Road, First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker announced Friday. Tarpon Towers did not immediately return a message seeking comment Friday. The new potential location requires a small wetland crossing, which the Westport Conservation Commission will discuss at its Jan. 31 virtual meeting. The 124-foot tower was originally proposed to be built next to a private residence at 92 Greens Farms Road. The agreement, which was revealed last June, was between Tarpon Towers and AT&T, according to a news release from the town. We are working in cooperation with local officials to evaluate a number of possible options, including both 55 and 92 Green Farms Road, which would enhance service to the area and better serve the needs of our customers, an AT&T spokeswoman said. A virtual public information meeting will be held Feb. 8, where the applicants attorney and his team will discuss both proposed sites. Members of the public will be able to comment and ask questions. This meeting is part of the statutory process for the tower, said Lynn Scully, Westports interim operations director. An access drive and underground electrical and telephone service will extend from Greens Farms Road, read a news release from the town last June. The new tower and equipment compound will allow for the future co-location of multiple service providers. Westport officials were notified in September by wireless communication companies Tarpon Towers II, LLC and New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC of the intent to proceed with installation of a cell tower at 92 Greens Farms Road. Town officials, led by then First Selectman Jim Marpe, objected to having the tower on the residential property, encouraging the applicants consider a different location. In his statement at the time, Marpe said he was dismayed that the proposal for the cell tower was continuing, even after the rejection of a similar project there in 2014. At that time, many raised numerous rational and thoughtful reasons why this location was inappropriate, and the proposal was dropped, he said. In 2014, North Atlantic Towers proposed a tower facility at 92 Greens Farms Road. The proposal was met with resistance by many neighbors, who held a protest at the site, claiming the project wasnt necessary. North Atlantic eventually stopped pursuing the project. Following last years discussions, Tarpon, AT&T and the owner of the office building at 55 Greens Farms Road have tentatively reached an agreement to put the tower on the northeast corner of that office property, the town announced Friday. The town has not yet expressed any preference or support for either location, Scully said. The private property owners and the applicant, Tarpon, have had discussions on potential financial terms, but the town is not privy to those terms. As for what will happen at the Connecticut Siting Council, that is unknown at this time. Although the proposed tower facility is on private property, under state law, the Connecticut Siting Council has exclusive jurisdiction over telecommunication facilities, meaning the local Planning and Zoning Commission doesnt have oversight. The commission can provide comments though, and town officials can propose alternate locations. Tooker has not offered an opinion on either proposed site and is instead encouraging residents to tune into the meetings. I urge neighbors of both locations 92 Greens Farms Road and 55 Greens Farms Road to attend the Conservation Commission meeting on Jan. 31, when the wetlands issue will be the primary focus, and the public information session on Feb. 8, when there will be a full discussion of this cell tower proposal, she said. These are important issues for neighbors and the entire Westport community. I encourage interested Westporters to participate in these public meetings. This story has been updated with a comment from AT&T. National Nurses Week is May 6 to May 12, an annual celebration that recognizes the critical role nurses perform in our hospitals and for our community. This year, we recognize our nurses for their continued commitment and unfailing dedication to our patients and their families, and for alway The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Update: 23-01-2022 | 21:24:48 Russia sees good prospect in further deepening the win-win partnership with all members of the Association Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Vietnam, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a written reply to queries by Vietnam News Agency's correspondents on the country's diplomatic orientations in 2022. Russian FM Sergei Lavrov Russia will focus on optimising the cooperation potential in politics, security, economy, trade, science and technology, and hopes to strengthen collaboration with ASEAN countries in culture, humanitarian activities and resume tourism activities after two years of interruption due to COVID-19 impacts, he stated. The minister said that in 2022, Russia plans to organise regular meetings of inter-governmental committees, Foreign Ministries' consultations and high-level meetings with many Southeast Asian countries. In July, Russia will organise celebration of the 125th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Thailand, he said, pledging that Russia will effectively coordinate with Bangkok, Jakarta and Phnom Penh as the respective Chair of APEC, G20 and ASEAN. Regarding the Myanmar situation, Lavrov affirmed that Russia supports the leading role of the ASEAN in seeking constructive international support for Myanmar. Russia is willing to work with ASEAN partners in providing humanitarian aid to Myanmar, including support in COVID-19 fight, he stressed. On the relations with Vietnam, the Russian FM said that his country aims to further deepen ties with Vietnam, a long-standing and trustworthy friend of Russia. This year, Russia plans to continue with dialogue and in-depth political cooperation on a number of topics and areas in line with the spirit of the Vietnam-Russia statement on the joint vision of their comprehensive strategic partnership by 2030 which was released after the Russian visit by Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc in late 2021, he said. Specifically, Russia hopes to strengthen trade and economic partnership with Vietnam including on the basis of the free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Vietnam. Russia recognises the need to promote investment and expand cooperation in oil and gas exploration and exploitation between the two countries, he added. Lavrov added that Russia also plans to organised a number of events that have been delayed in the Vietnam-Russia, Russia-Vietnam Year when COVID-19 restrictions are removed, affirming that Russia is willing to strengthen collaboration with Vietnam in education as well as in COVID-19 prevention and control. The Russian FM recalled that Vietnam was one of the first countries to license Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine from Russia for emergency use in March 2021, and Vietnamese firms have signed contracts to purchase 60 million doses of the vaccine. Currently, Russia is considering the possibility to transfer the vaccine production technology to Vietnam after donating 100,000 doses of Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccines to Hanoi last December./. VNA Actress Hattie Ladbury has died following a battle with cancer, it has been announced. In a statement, her agents Waring and McKenna said "We are very sad to announce the passing of our dear client and friend Hattie Ladbury. "We were honoured to have represented Hattie from the start of her professional life, when she graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama, to her final performances just weeks ago in Measure for Measure at the Globe. A real talent and an incredibly bright star both on and off the stage. Our thoughts are with her family at this very sad time." Ladbury performed at some of the most high-profile venues across the UK, including the National Theatre (Nine Night), Regent's Park Open Air Theatre (Running Wild, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, Lady Be Good, To Kill A Mockingbird), the Watermill Theatre Newbury (The Deep Blue Sea) and Chichester Festival Theatre (An Ideal Husband, The Norman Conquests). The Globe's artistic director Michelle Terry said in a statement today: "Hattie was an inspiring artist and human being, and we were blessed to have her on our Globe stage in 2014, but also our Playhouse as recently as two weeks ago in Measure for Measure." In his review of Measure for Measure, Alun Hood said Ladbury was "completely brilliant...driving the whole show". Producer Conrad Lynch praised Ladbury, saying: "I raise a glass tonight in memory of the wonderful, talented, kind and gorgeous Hattie Ladbury - you really were one of life's Top Girls!" Director Matthew Xia left a poignant post, saying: "Such sad sad news. Hattie was a phenomenal actor and had the most beautiful soul. I will remember all our interactions and work with deep respect and such warmth. Thank you Hattie." Quincy, IL (62301) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 64F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. World Health Organization Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently refuted the narrative that the Omicron variant signals the COVID-19 mitigating into a mild disease, warning that the pandemic is far from over. "This pandemic is nowhere near over," Tedros told reporters from the WHO's headquarters in Geneva, Singapore's Chinese-language Lianhe Zaobao paper reported on Thursday. The Omicron variant is much more contagious than previous strains and has spread rapidly since it was first detected in southern Africa in November. "Omicron may be less severe, on average, but the narrative that it is a mild disease is misleading," Tedros said Tuesday. "Make no mistake: Omicron is causing hospitalizations and deaths, and even the less severe cases are inundating health facilities," he added. Winchester, VA (22601) Today Cloudy with light rain this morning...then becoming partly cloudy. High near 75F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 51F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. CHARLOTTETOWN - Another person has died as a result of a COVID-19 infection in Prince Edward Island. CHARLOTTETOWN - Another person has died as a result of a COVID-19 infection in Prince Edward Island. The province's chief public health officer, Dr. Heather Morrison, says the latest victim was a person over the age of 80. Morrison offered her condolences to the victim's family, but she did not provide any details, citing privacy concerns. Shelley Cook | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Meanwhile, health officials reported six people were being treated in hospital for COVID-19, including one person in the intensive care unit. Two others in hospital had also tested positive for COVID-19 but were being treated for other illnesses. In total, 288 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded as of Saturday morning, bringing the province's total to 2,489 active infections. In the past week, the Island has logged an average of 290 cases per day. Morrison says vaccines and boosters continue to be key to protecting Islanders from COVID-19, particularly for those over the age of 50. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2022. TORONTO - When Gillian Pulfer picked up roasted sweet potato soup, flank steak and chicken salad from a Toronto Pusateris Fine Foods for $10 last weekend, the deal was too good not to brag about. Annekathrin Fiesinger shows how to use the food sharing app 'Too Good To Go' during an interview with the Associated Press in Berlin, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Too Good To Go is one of many food rescue apps operating in Canada and is helping to reduce grocery and dining bills, while ensuring food thats due to go off soon but still fit for consumption doesnt go to waste. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) TORONTO - When Gillian Pulfer picked up roasted sweet potato soup, flank steak and chicken salad from a Toronto Pusateris Fine Foods for $10 last weekend, the deal was too good not to brag about. "It's a more high-end, luxury grocery store...so most people don't necessarily have the budget to go shop there, but you're saving money and you're getting good food," said Pulfer. After chowing down, she let her Instagram followers in on her secret: She found the haul on Too Good to Go. The app is one of many uniting deal-seekers with restaurants and grocers eager to keep aging food that's still fit for consumption out of the trash in exchange for a small fee. Users of apps like Too Good To Go, Flashfood, Feedback and Olio say they have paid anywhere from $3 to $10 for prepared lunches or dinners, a weeks worth of vegetables and fruit, several loaves of bread, pastry boxes and even, entire pizzas or cakes. The savings often go a long way, said Eric Tribe, Flashfood's chief marketplace officer. "Over the holidays, we had a father who wrote in and thanked us because he'd been let go from his job due to COVID-19 and he used the money saved on Flashfood to buy stocking stuffers for his kids," said Tribe. The app, which is used by supermarket conglomerate Loblaw Corp., was started by Toronto entrepreneur Josh Domingues in 2016, after his chef sister threw out $4,000 of food following a catered event. The app offers produce, meat, fish, bread, dairy and pantry staples nearing their best before date and often marked down by at least 50 per cent. Some items last for weeks, if frozen or cooked. Others have a day or two left. Orders are retrieved in supermarkets, which typically mark items nearing their best before dates down or donate them to charities, food banks and farms for animal feed. But those methods still leave grocers responsible for a quarter of the country's food waste, so Flashfood targeted that portion exclusively, said Tribe. (The app does not divert food from charities, he added.) To date, Flashfood has kept more than 13.5 million kilograms of food out of landfills and saved users a collective $90 million. However, Second Harvest, a charity redistributing unsold items to people in need, estimates that almost 60 per cent or 35.5 million tonnes of food produced in Canada is wasted annually. About 32 per cent or 11.2 million tonnes of that lost food is edible and could be redirected to people in need. "Some people claim this food waste can be solved by downloading an app," said Maria Corradini, the Arrell Chair in Food Quality at the University of Guelph. "That's probably not true, but of course they can have a contribution to reducing this burden." She believes better inventory planning and use of artificial intelligence would go even further to addressing food waste. Too Good To Go's country manager for Canada agrees inventory management is key, but said, "matching supply and demand is very complex" and no restaurant wants to produce less only to find it can't serve late customers. Too Good To Go mostly deals with restaurants, bakeries, and butchers, but also partners with grocery and convenience stores. Users of the app, which was founded in Copenhagen in 2016 and expanded to Canada last July, order ahead before fetching items at designated times. What they pick up is a mystery because businesses sell surprise bags," and while some offer hints about their contents, others dont. For example, Italian food purveyor Eataly advertises some $8 bags as having charcuterie ingredients, but McEwan Foods, celebrity chef Mark McEwans supermarket, shares no clues about its $8 bags. Toronto bakery Daan Go Cake Lab's bags have featured cake slices or its famous character macarons. Some simply weren't sold that day, but others have cracks or blemishes the bakery's posh clientele wouldn't accept. Signing up for Too Good To Go was a no-brainer, said chief operating officer James Canedo. "As chefs, you never want to see food wasted. It's almost sacred for us," he said. Try our Dish The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. Dish arrives in your inbox every other Friday. See sample. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "So many people out there don't have the same privileges, so for food to be wasted, that is something we're trying to prevent." Corradini lauds those sentiments and said the apps' waste reduction goals are noble, but there are risks. While some apps only deal with reputable vendors staffed with employees trained in handling food, others like Olio allow anyone to prepare food at home or sell items they can't finish. "I would never go for something that has been opened because you never know what went on there," Corradini said. She added that even food from grocers and restaurants should be examined closely before eating and customers should cook, freeze, prepare or consume anything they buy that is due to go off soon very quickly. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2022. HELSINKI (AP) The British government on Saturday accused Russia of seeking to replace Ukraines government with a pro-Moscow administration, and said former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate. A Ukrainian soldier in the trench on the line of separation from pro-Russian rebels, Mariupol, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. Blinken said the U.S. would be open to a meeting between Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden, if it would be useful and productive. The two have met once in person in Geneva and have had several virtual conversations on Ukraine that have proven largely inconclusive. Washington and its allies have repeatedly promised consequences such as biting economic sanctions against Russia though not military action if it invades. (AP Photo/Andriy Dubchak) HELSINKI (AP) The British government on Saturday accused Russia of seeking to replace Ukraines government with a pro-Moscow administration, and said former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate. Murayev is head of the small pro-Russian party Nashi, which currently has no seats in Ukraines parliament. Britains Foreign Office named several other Ukrainian politicians it said had links with Russian intelligence services. Its unclear what means Britain believes Russia might use to install a friendly government in Kyiv. The U.K. government made the claim based on an intelligence assessment, without providing evidence to back it up. It comes amid a war of words between Moscow and the West over Russias designs on Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the information "shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking." Truss urged Russia to "de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy," and reiterated Britains view that "any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs." Britain has sent anti-tank weapons to Ukraine as part of efforts to bolster its defenses against a potential Russian attack. Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis, U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to meet Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for talks in Moscow. No timing has been given for the meeting, which would be the first U.K.-Russia bilateral defense talks since 2013. The U.S. has mounted an aggressive campaign in recent months to unify its European allies against a new Russian invasion of Ukraine. The White House called the UK government assessment "deeply concerning" and said it stands with the duly elected Ukrainian government. "This kind of plotting is deeply concerning," said National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne. "The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine." The assessment came as Biden spent Saturday at the presidential retreat Camp David outside of Washington huddling with his senior national security team about the Ukraine situation. In another development, the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania plan to send U.S.-made anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, a move that the United States fully endorsed Saturday amid Kyivs escalating tensions with Russia. The defense ministers of the three Baltic states said in a joint statement that they "stand united in our commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in face of continued Russian aggression." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a tweet that Washington saluted the NATO nations and former Soviet republics "for their longstanding support to Ukraine." "I expedited and authorized and we fully endorse transfers of defensive equipment @NATO Allies Estonia Latvia Lithuania are providing to Ukraine to strengthen its ability to defend itself against Russias unprovoked and irresponsible aggression," Blinken said in another tweet. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier this week described the West supplying arms to Ukraine as extremely dangerous and said the shipments "do nothing to reduce tensions." Moscow has massed tens of thousands of troops near the Russia-Ukraine border, leading to fears of an invasion. The West has rejected Moscows main demands promises from NATO that Ukraine will never be added as a member, that no alliance weapons will be deployed near Russian borders, and that it will pull back its forces from Central and Eastern Europe. A meeting Friday between Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ended with no breakthrough. Amid the uncertain security situation, the U.S. State Department has been considering a range of options to ensure the safety and security of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv and its employees by moving to reduce its diplomatic presence there. The defense ministers of the Baltic states said in their statement that Estonia would provide Javelin anti-tank weapons while Latvia and Lithuania were sending Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and other related equipment to bolster Kyivs defensive military capabilities. It wasnt immediately clear when the weapons and equipment would be sent to Ukraine. "Today, Ukraine is at the forefront of separating Europe from the military conflict with Russia. Lets face it, the war in Ukraine is ongoing and it is important to support Ukraine in every way we can so that they can resist the aggressor," Estonian Defense Minister Kalle Laanet said. Estonia also is seeking Germanys approval to send Soviet-made howitzers, which once belonged to East Germany, to Ukraine. Estonia acquired the howitzers from non-NATO member Finland, which in turn had bought them from Germanys military surplus supply in the 1990s. The German government said Friday that it was considering Estonias request to pass the howitzers on to Ukraine but gave no timeline for a decision. Berlin said it planned to coordinate the issue with Finland, which has received a similar approval request from Estonia. Berlin routinely demands a say when German-sold weapons are transferred to third countries. But some recent media reports suggested German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Cabinet could block Estonias transfer of weapons to Kyiv, highlighting divisions in the Wests response to the Ukraine crisis. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba alleged Saturday that Germany was not showing adequate support for Ukraine. Kuleba said in a Twitter post that the weapons transfer issue and remarks by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressing skepticism about cutting off Russia from the SWIFT global payments system "do not correspond to the level of our relations and the current security situation." Also Saturday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador to object to recently circulated video in which the head of the German navy said that Ukraine would not regain the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin deserved "respect." The comments by vice admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach sparked consternation and a swift rebuke back in Berlin. By late Saturday, the German navy chief had tendered his resignation, saying he wanted to prevent further damage resulting from his "ill-considered statements" in India. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The U.S. State Department is currently warning U.S. citizens not to visit Ukraine due to the coronavirus pandemic but is also advising them to reconsider travel there due to potential Russian aggression. Speculation that an announcement about the U.S. diplomatic presence in Ukraine may be imminent has increased since the Embassy in Kyiv announced it would hold a virtual town hall meeting about the security situation with U.S. citizens in Ukraine on Tuesday. Discussions on the matter have been underway for some time, but Blinken went over the contingency plans with the embassys security team when he visited Kyiv on Wednesday, officials said. The officials stressed that no decisions had yet been made and that an outright evacuation is not being considered. One possible scenario would be to order the families of American personnel to leave the country while allowing non-essential staffers to depart voluntarily at government expense, they said. ___ Jim Heintz in Moscow and AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report. MADRID (AP) Farmers, cattle-breeders, hunters and opposition supporters descended Sunday on the Spanish capital of Madrid to protest environmental and economic policies by Spains left-of-center government that they say are hurting rural communities. MADRID (AP) Farmers, cattle-breeders, hunters and opposition supporters descended Sunday on the Spanish capital of Madrid to protest environmental and economic policies by Spains left-of-center government that they say are hurting rural communities. Sundays protest was organized by Alma Rural 2021, a platform representing over 500 rural organizations from all corners of Spain. Members of opposition parties, ranging from centrists to far-right supporters, also attended. 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 demonstration came as Spanish politicians are campaigning before an early election in Castilla-Leon, a vast region northeast of Madrid where proposals against depopulation and agricultural policies are taking center stage. Carlos Bueno, head of Alma Rural 2021, said the protest aimed to highlight rural concerns amid what he called ideological attacks from the government. Concerns ranged from regulating prices for agricultural products to protections for those who breed cattle for bullfights and more subsidies for rural industries. Tractors and bull carts headed the march along a Madrid thoroughfare, with protesters walking from the gates of the Ecology Transition Ministry the previous Environment Ministry to the Agriculture Ministry. Among the many banners held by protesters, one read: Farmers speak. Whos listening? Spains Ecological Transition Ministry said the country's budget for 2022 includes 4.2 billion euros ($4.7 billion) to fight the depopulation of rural areas. Spains rural world doesnt need populist slogans but political involvement and resource to solve historical problems, it said in a statement. A spat over industrial livestock farming has dominated headlines for the past month since Consumer Minister Alberto Garzon, a member of the far-left junior partner of the Socialist-led administration, criticized big cattle operations for damaging the environment and producing poor quality food for export. His remarks caused a political storm, created divisions within the ruling coalition and led to calls by right-wing opposition parties for Garzon to resign. VANCOUVER - Wildfires, sweltering heat and extensive flooding in British Columbia last year have underscored the importance of strengthening the agricultural sector's resilience to the effects of climate change and extreme weather, experts say. VANCOUVER - Wildfires, sweltering heat and extensive flooding in British Columbia last year have underscored the importance of strengthening the agricultural sector's resilience to the effects of climate change and extreme weather, experts say. "We should be building the infrastructure for the next 30 years, starting yesterday," said Sean Smukler, chair of agriculture and environment at the University of British Columbia. B.C. is "ahead of the curve" in Canada, he said, pointing to the government-funded Climate & Agriculture Initiative launched in 2013. It has developed eight regional adaptation plans along with climate-related resources for the sector, while supporting research at the farm level. Still, the province's adaptation efforts have been incremental when they should be urgent, said Smukler,who's also the principal investigator at the university's Sustainable Agricultural Landscapes Lab. He said funding is needed to match the scale of the challenge. "We have to get going now or else we're just going to be in a reactionary mode constantly, and reactionary mode is going to be so costly, much more costly than if we were being proactive and planning out a viable future," he said. The second half of 2021 in B.C. offers a snapshot of potential costs. Severe drought and destructive wildfires last summer prompted the B.C. and federal governments to allocate $20 million to help farmers and ranchers recover, while a summer heat dome scorched berry crops in the same prime agricultural area in the Fraser Valley that was devastated by floodwaters in November. Dozens of blueberry and raspberry producers were affected, about 4,000 tonnes of stored and unharvested field vegetables were lost and an estimated 628,000 chickens, 420 cattle and 12,000 hogs died, provincial officials said at the time. B.C. has so far provided $3.7 million in emergency funding to help farmers secure hay and forage for their animals along with $2.7 million to help dairy, poultry and pork producers avoid added expenses of feed delivery. The province is working with the federal government to develop a "comprehensive financial support package" for farmers affected by flooding, with an announcement expected in the coming weeks, the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement. Such extreme events are not the only threats to agriculture, saidEmily MacNair, director of the Climate & Agriculture Initiative. The province has yet to confront the challenge of ensuring there's enough water for food production over the longer or even the nearer term, she said in an interview. The agricultural sector is one group of water users among many as communities across B.C. grow, she said, and droughts are worsening with climate change. It's going to get drier, so it's logical to consider how to store excess water from spring freshets or heavy precipitation in the fall and winter, MacNair said. B.C. is home to a high proportion of small, family-owned farms that produce a wide range of products, she noted. Such diversity offers opportunities, she said, since smaller farms may be more nimble in experimenting with new methods or technologies to support resiliency, but they may also have limited financial capacity, time and other resources required to implement costly solutions. Building a more climate-resilient agricultural sector also requires addressing broader issues in landscape management that affect agricultural operations, in addition to adaptation efforts at the farm level, MacNair said. Logging and wildfires, for example, have affected the landscape's ability to store and regulate water, said Andrew Bennett, an irrigation designer who owns a small farm in Rossland, B.C., and works with the Kootenay & Boundary Farm Advisors. The forest canopy provides shade, slows the springtime melt, and healthy trees prevent soils from eroding; rain and melting snow run more quickly off burned or logged slopes, leaving little water left come summertime, Bennett explained. "We need to have mountain slopes that are treed, with deep soils, to hold water so it trickles out all season long." 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. Soil is key to managing water, said Bennett, who works with his local municipality and wildfire prevention groups to divert wood waste that's usually burned or taken to the dump into soil to boost its organic content, aprocesscalledhugelkultur. Logs break down much slower than chipped wood, keeping carbon stored for longer and acting as a sponge to increase the soil's capacity to store water, he said. Much of Bennett's work with the Kootenay & Boundary Farm Advisors involves helping farmers improve the quality and capacity of their soils to increase yields and strengthen resilienceas the climate changes, he said. The group also works with farmers to improve their irrigation systems and use water more effectively, but Bennett said they need more support. Some are holding down other jobs just to pay for the farm itself, he added. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2022. OTTAWA - Evive Nutrition Inc. is recalling its Immunity Super Functional Smoothie because it contains raw elderberries that may cause cyanide poisoning. OTTAWA - Evive Nutrition Inc. is recalling its Immunity Super Functional Smoothie because it contains raw elderberries that may cause cyanide poisoning. 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 Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the recall of the product sold online was triggered by consumer complaints, noting there have been reported illnesses associated with the product. The agency says raw elderberries naturally contain cyanogenic glycosdies, which can release cyanide after being eaten. It says that while the body can process small amounts of cyanide, larger amounts can result in poisoning and could lead to death. Symptoms of cyanide poisoning include weakness and confusion, anxiety, restlessness, headache, nausea, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, seizures and cardiac arrest. The agency says it is conducting a food safety investigation that may lead to the recall of other products. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2022. PEMBINA, N.D. - For decades, the United States long a beacon of freedom and prosperity for people around the world has been fixated on what to do about the persistent flow of illegal migration at its southern border. PEMBINA, N.D. - For decades, the United States long a beacon of freedom and prosperity for people around the world has been fixated on what to do about the persistent flow of illegal migration at its southern border. But experts say the deaths of four people who perished in the cold trying to cross into the country from Canada may mean the U.S. will soon have to worry about the northern border as well. Despite well-documented racial and social tensions, persistent political gridlock and a gaping cultural divide threatening to tear the country in two, the lure of the U.S. doesn't seem to be waning for some. "Literally freezing to death metres from the U.S. border I mean, it's just so tragic," said Kathryn Byrk Friedman, a border expert and professor of law and planning at the University at Buffalo. "From the U.S. perspective, to me, it just demonstrates the allure still maybe the enduring allure of trying to get to the United States; it's really kind of fascinating ... people still take desperate measures to get here." Investigators believe the dead, including a baby and a teen, were a family of four from India who had been travelling with a larger group of Indian migrants apprehended on the U.S. side of the border. Autopsy results have not been released, but the RCMP have said they believe the family froze to death in the bitterly cold, blizzard-like conditions they endured over the course of their odyssey. U.S. investigators say the deaths are likely linked to a larger human smuggling operation. Florida resident Steve Shand, 47, is scheduled to appear in court Monday to face human smuggling charges. Department of Homeland Security officials refused Saturday to disclose any additional details about the investigation, including whether any of the victims or the survivors have yet been identified. "(Homeland Security Investigations) is currently conducting an ongoing investigation," public affairs officer Shawn Neudauer said in a statement. "Because of this, we wont be able to offer any further comment about any aspect of this matter." Consular officials were scheduled to meet Saturday in Canada to assist with the investigation, while members of the India Association of Manitoba were continuing with efforts to track down family members. Shand was behind the wheel of a large passenger van with two undocumented Indian nationals when he was pulled over Wednesday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. At around the same time, five more migrants were spotted making their way from the border to an unstaffed gas plant in the area that investigators believe was meant as a meeting point. They'd been walking for more than 11 hours, court documents say. Those documents also allege that one of the people in the group spent a large sum of money to come to Canada on a fraudulent student visa. The area near the plant, located outside the tiny hamlet of St. Vincent, Minn., is a snowdrifted, deserted tract of open field, dotted with stands of trees extending to the horizon in every direction. Overnight temperatures Friday night reached -33 C after fierce wind gusts and snow strafed the region, sending cars and trucks spinning into the ditch and reducing visibility to zero. That's what it was like earlier in the week as well and Friedman said it's possible the group had hoped to use whiteout conditions as cover in hopes of avoiding detection. She called the tragedy a "warning shot," since the evidence points to a carefully planned effort one that likely won't be the last. "The fact that it's organized who knows how many other people have made it across through these organized efforts?" she said. "Smugglers are smart ... and they will always work around laws that are in place to try to make money and get what they want." The crush of South American migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border has become a defining characteristic of American politics in recent years, most notably during the tenure of former president Donald Trump. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Nor is Canada a stranger to the problem: thousands of northbound asylum seekers had been entering the country each year more than 20,000 in 2018 alone before their numbers dropped off precipitously with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Irregular migration, as well as its causes and potential solutions, will be a central item on the agenda when regional leaders gather this summer in Los Angeles for the Summit of the Americas. As to whether the latest tragedy is liable to spur either Canada or the U.S. into action, Friedman's not holding her breath. "This sounds terrible, but I think it's going to take more than four people dying at the border to really galvanize action on the part of Canada and the United States," she said. "I think it would take a lot more a tragedy of greater scope." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2022. OTTAWA - The president of Ukraine has thanked Canada for a $120-million loan aimed at bolstering his country's economy amid a hostile buildup of 100,000 Russian troops and hundreds of tanks and armoured personnel carriers along its borders. OTTAWA - The president of Ukraine has thanked Canada for a $120-million loan aimed at bolstering his country's economy amid a hostile buildup of 100,000 Russian troops and hundreds of tanks and armoured personnel carriers along its borders. Volodymyr Zelensky, through a statement issued late Friday by the Ukrainian Embassy in Ottawa, said the loan represents another example of the "special partnership" between the two countries. The brief statement, written by Andrii Bukvych, Ukraine's charge d'affaires to Canada, said Ukraine is grateful to Canada for working with international partners to provide financial support, making it clear Russian aggression "is absolutely unacceptable." "Contributing to Ukraine's financial strength and resilience reinforces Canada's firm political position in support of Ukraine," Bukvych wrote. Outside of Ukraine and Russia, Canada has the world's largest Ukrainian population at about 1.3 million inhabitants identifying as such for the 2016 census. Russia's troop movements near Ukraine have prompted speculation across Europe about an imminent invasion, something Russia has denied. The Ukrainian statement from Ottawa goes on to say Ukraine remains optimistic about receiving more support, which could include unlocking financing tools offered by Export Development Canada. "Considering the ongoing cyberattacks against Ukraine's infrastructure, we would also appreciate the relevant technical and experts' assistance by Canadian agencies," Bukvych wrote. Earlier on Friday, the embassy issued a blunt statement with a much different tone. At that time, the embassy called on Canada to provide weapons to Ukraine's military and to impose further sanctions on Russia. "Facing the risk of a further Russian invasion, we need to defend our land," the statement said. "The U.K. and the U.S. have already shipped the military equipment and we would appreciate if Canada follows suit." The first statement also said Canada's support of Ukraine could be reinforced by the extension and expansion of the Canadian military training mission known as Operation UNIFIER. About 200 members of the Canadian Armed Forces have trained 32,000 Ukrainian military personnel to NATO standards, but that mission is set to expire at the end of March. "In light of a serious threat of another wave of Russian aggression, we have been in consultations with NATO member countries, including Canada, about means to strengthen Ukraine's defence capacities," the first statement said. "We are confident that ongoing talks with our Canadian partners will deliver the results soon." That statement was Ukraine's initial response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's announcement of the $120-million loan, which he billed as one of the "top things" Ukrainian officials had asked for during meetings earlier in the week in Kyiv with Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly. After the meetings, Global Affairs Canada issued a statement saying Joly had reaffirmed Canadas support for Ukraines sovereignty and condemned Russias military buildup. There was also a commitment to provide additional support to Ukraine, but no details were offered. Canadians of Ukrainian descent, including Conservative MP James Bezan, expressed frustration with Joly's position. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. In Ottawa, NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson said the party supported Trudeau's announcement. "With the escalating threats of further Russian invasion, we must stand in solidarity with Ukraine and its people," McPherson said in a statement. "We urge the government to continue working with our allies to pressure Russia to back down before they take drastic measures." Meanwhile, a spokesman for U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement Saturday confirming that Joly and Blinken had discussed the latest developments in Ukraine a day earlier, including efforts to encourage Russia to choose diplomacy and de-escalation. "Secretary Blinken stressed the United States' unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and our readiness to co-ordinate to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia for further aggression against Ukraine," Ned Price said in the statement. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2022. By Michael MacDonald in Halifax Rather than rely on one business, Travis Peterson was looking to diversify as he and partners began building a new Meadowlark Brewing facility on Billings West End. Then the pandemic hit. Construction costs skyrocketed. At the same time, a building boom constricted the amount of work contractors were taking on. Problems with the supply chain slowed the delivery of materials. So construction of the 23,000-square-foot facility at 3970 Pierce Parkway near ZooMontana, which broke ground in 2019 with a goal to be open by spring 2020, is now looking like it will be finished by this spring. The most common question we get when someone walks in the door is: When are you opening? Peterson said. Sidney Meadowlark is not new to the Montana brewing scene. Peterson and his family first launched their business in the Eastern Montana community of Sidney seven years ago. They built a strong local market that included a restaurant along with limited sales of bottles and cans in Montana and the Dakotas. The Sidney facilities will remain operational despite the Billings expansion. Year-round the brewery churns out 24 different beers, only five of which arent seasonal. New to the Billings facility will be a small batch distillery, enabling the company to convert any unsold beer into vodka rather than throw it away. When the Meadowlark partners decided to expand, they targeted Billings because of its central location for distribution as well as the larger market for retail sales. Sidney has a population around 6,400 compared to more than 109,000 in Billings. We want to be a well-known presence or entity, and this is our platform to hit our goals, Peterson said. When completed, Meadowlark will join about 99 breweries spread across 54 communities in Montana. Another five are in the planning stages. Licensing As construction problems out of Petersons control mounted, yet another frustration popped up: Having several businesses a brewery, small batch distillery, restaurant and barber shop under one roof made the state licensing process more difficult. We want to be as inclusionary as possible, Peterson said. We want to be a community center. Rather than hire a lawyer to navigate the intricacies, Peterson thought hed save money and take on the task himself. Looking back, he wonders if that was a good decision. Max Pigman, owner of Lewis and Clark Brewing Co. in Helena, has hired several attorneys over the years to negotiate state licensing regulations since he opened in 2002. The best solution was often to sit down with agency officials, tell them what he wanted to do and ask for advice on how to proceed, he said. Peterson said it is difficult to not have the brewery fired up to begin creating the 5,000 to 6,000 barrels of beer that are expected once everything is at peak production. The brewing side is pretty much ready to go, he said. But the state wont give me a license until the [city] inspection is complete. Czelsi Gomez, public information officer for the Montana Department of Revenue, said, Our office is currently waiting on local officials to provide their sign-off that the brewery and distillery meet local code before we are able to issue licenses. Beer Nationally, craft brewers have seen sales decline since the pandemic hit. According to the Brewers Association, 2020 sales were down 9% and 2021 sales trended behind 2020 in all but the first three months of the year. COVID will be the nail in the coffin for some folks, Pigman predicted, as space on store shelves and tap handles has become crowded. The Montana Brewers Association hasnt posted any numbers for 2021, but reported last year that the states craft brewers saw a 7% decline in production. Pigman said his canned beer business took a big hit last year as aluminum prices soared and cans were hard to find. In some cases he was losing 8 cents for every case he sold, but had to keep pushing them out the door to preserve his product on store shelves. There was more money in the packaging than the beer, he said. Matt Leow, executive director of the Montana Brewers Association, said the aluminum can issue has hampered many beer producers in the state just as the pandemic dropped sales in pubs as fewer people went out. One manufacturer required an order minimum of 1 million cans, which would be a two year supply for even the most popular of Montana beers. "The margins are already tight on cans," Leow said. By expanding into Idaho and Utah markets, Pigman has been able to continue to increase production by about 8% but has also faced rising labor costs to keep personnel from leaving for higher paying jobs. Selling more keg beer, where the profit margin is better, helped him squeak by. I sure hope this year is the year we turn things around, he said. Peterson is hoping 2022 is kinder to him as well. All of the construction and licensing setbacks have been frustrating, but he and his partners are finally close to opening the doors. Were asking everyone to be patient, he said. Love 4 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 3 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Four weeks after testing positive for COVID-19, a Winnipeg teachers brain fog is lifting and shes urging Manitobans to document their lasting symptoms of the virus. Four weeks after testing positive for COVID-19, a Winnipeg teachers brain fog is lifting and shes urging Manitobans to document their lasting symptoms of the virus. Karen Myshkowsky tested positive on Dec. 23, and although she feels better physically, neurological symptoms have lingered. Speaking to the Free Press on Saturday, she said her senses of taste and smell only recently returned and persistent brain fog has now subsided. Flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, and fatigue showed up "hard and fast," but the brain fog she experienced began after her physical symptoms started, and it wasnt mere moments of forgetfulness. "Its different than just simply forgetting things. Its not like walking into the kitchen and going, why am I here? This is like, you know that you know the word but you cannot access it," Myshkowsky said. "Its like theres a curtain and you cant get past it, and so its frustrating." Earlier this week, Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of Manitobas vaccine task force, spoke publicly about COVID-19s effects on the brain as she urged Manitobans to get vaccinated and protect themselves. She cited one study from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York state that found 25 per cent of people who contracted COVID-19 had neurological symptoms including "persistent cognitive impairment." "Thats a really alarming finding," Reimer said during a virtual news conference Jan. 19. The cognitive problems include difficulty concentrating, short-term memory loss, problems with learning and other brain functions. "All of which can significantly affect their daily life at home, at school and at work," Reimer said. Brain fog was found to be more common in COVID-19 patients who had severe infections and needed to be hospitalized, but also occurred when people only had mild infections. Reimer said theres been a link between those needing hospitalization for COVID-19 and an increased risk of brain swelling, "and this might explain how COVID fog happens." She cited early research from Israel that appears to show vaccinated people have a significantly lower risk of developing "long COVID." For Myshkowsky, it was heartening to hear Dr. Reimer acknowledge the reality of brain fog. The high school teacher experienced brain fog 20 years ago when she was diagnosed with the inner-ear condition Menieres disease, but she said for others who are noticing it for the first time, it can be scary. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. She dealt with it while conducting online lessons when school resumed for remote learning earlier this month, and found her instant recall of words was gone. "Thats when I really noticed it, because as an educator, or in any job, really, you have to recall pretty quickly, and it was that recall I would have these moments of, oh wow, thats just not there. And you get a little panicky." Myshkowsky was double-vaccinated and had an appointment booked for her booster shot when she got infected. She credits the vaccine for easing her symptoms and said its important for people to speak up about their long-term symptoms. "We need to talk about this and we need to document it. I think thats really, really, really important," she said, expressing the need for solid medical data that helps evolve research and vaccine development. "Thats key, it really is, to finding a way out of this or studying, are people going to need longer-term medical care?" katie.may@winnipegfreepress.com OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) Gunfire rang out late Sunday near the home of Burkina Faso's embattled President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, raising the specter that a military coup might still be under way after mutinous soldiers seized a military base earlier in the day. A mutinous soldier fires into the air at the Bobo interchange, near the Lamizana camp in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou Sunday Jan. 23, 2022. Witnesses are reporting heavy gunfire at a military base raising fears that a coup attempt is underway. Government spokesman Alkassoum Maiga acknowledged the gunfire but denied that the military had taken over the West African country. (AP Photo/Sophie Garcia) OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) Gunfire rang out late Sunday near the home of Burkina Faso's embattled President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, raising the specter that a military coup might still be under way after mutinous soldiers seized a military base earlier in the day. Government officials had sought to reassure people that the situation was under control even as shots rang out for hours at the army base. But by days end anti-government protesters supporting the mutineers also had set fire to a building belonging to Kabores party. It was not immediately known whether Kabore was at home but several people in the area told The Associated Press that in addition to gunfire they could hear helicopters hovering overhead. A mutinous soldier also told AP by phone that heavy fighting was under way near the presidential palace, a claim that could not immediately be independently corroborated. Sunday's mutiny came one day after the latest public demonstration calling for Kabore's resignation as anger has mounted over the government's handling of the Islamic insurgency. Anti-government protesters lent public support to the mutinous soldiers, prompting security forces to use tear gas to disperse crowds in the capital. The West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS, which already has suspended Mali and Guinea in the past 18 months over military coups, issued a statement of support for Burkina Faso's embattled president and urged dialogue with the mutineers. Defense Minister Aime Barthelemy Simpore told state broadcaster RTB that a few barracks had been affected by unrest not only in the capital of Ouagadougou but in other cities, too. He denied, however, that the president had been detained by the mutineers, even though Kabore's whereabouts remained unknown. Tear gas is fired by the police to disperse the crowd gathered Place de la Nation in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou Sunday Jan. 23, 2022. Witnesses are reporting heavy gunfire at a military base raising fears that a coup attempt is underway. Government spokesman Alkassoum Maiga acknowledged the gunfire but denied that the military had taken over the West African country. (AP Photo/Sophie Garcia) Well, its a few barracks. There are not too many, Simpore said. In some of these barracks, the calm has already returned. So thats it for the moment. As I said, we are monitoring the situation. A news headline on the state broadcaster described the gunfire as acts of discontent by soldiers." Contrary to some information, no institution of the republic has been targeted," the headline continued. At the Lamizana Sangoule military barracks in the capital, however, angry soldiers shot into the air Sunday, directing their anger over army casualties at the president. About 100 motorcycles later left the base, chanting in support of the mutineers, but were stopped when security forces deployed tear gas. The soldiers put a man on the phone with The Associated Press who said that they were seeking better working conditions for Burkina Faso's military amid the escalating fight against Islamic militants. Among their demands are increased manpower in the battle against extremists and better care for those wounded and the families of the dead. The mutinous soldiers also want the military and intelligence hierarchy replaced, he said. There were signs Sunday that their demands were supported by many in Burkina Faso who are increasingly distressed by the attacks blamed on al-Qaida and Islamic State-linked groups. Thousands have died in recent years from those attacks and around 1.5 million people have been displaced. We want the military to take power, said Salif Sawadogo as he tried to avoid tear gas on the streets of Ouagadougou. Our democracy is not stable. Kabore first took office in 2015, winning the election held after longtime President Blaise Compaore was ousted in a popular uprising. Still, Kabore has faced growing opposition since his reelection in November 2020 as the country's Islamic extremism crisis has deepened. Last month he fired his prime minister and replaced most of the Cabinet, but critics have continued calling for his resignation. On Sunday, protesters who supported the army mutiny said they had had enough of Kabore even though the next presidential election isn't until 2025. Demonstrator Aime Birba said the violence under Kabore has been unlike anything Burkina Faso experienced during the nearly three decades Compaore was in power. We are currently under another form of dictatorship, he said. A president who is not able to take security measures to secure his own people is not a president worthy of the name. Earlier this month, authorities had arrested a group of soldiers accused of participating in a foiled coup plot. It was not immediately known whether there was any connection between those soldiers and the ones who led a mutiny Sunday. Military prosecutors said nine soldiers and two civilians were being held in connection with the plot. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. West Africa has seen a spate of military coups in West Africa over the past 18 months, causing the regional bloc known as ECOWAS to suspend two member states simultaneously for the first time since 2012. In August 2020, a mutiny at a Malian military barracks led to the democratically elected president being detained. He later announced his resignation on national television, and the junta leader there doesn't want new elections for four more years. In September 2021, Guinea's president also was overthrown by a military junta that remains in power to this day. Burkina Faso, too has seen its share of coup attempts and military takeovers. In 1987, Compaore came to power by force. And in 2015, soldiers loyal to him attempted to overthrow the transitional government put into place after his ouster. The army was ultimately able to put the transitional authorities back in power, who led again until Kabore won an election and took office ___ Associated Press writers Krista Larson in Dakar, Senegal, and Arsene Kabore in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, contributed to this report. An avid outdoorsman, Saint Marys University 2018 alumnus Christopher Virruso III is utilizing lessons hes gathered from the classroom and his knowledge of the outdoors to protect forestland acreage, communities and other natural resources. Virruso, who majored in environmental biology, works as a firefighter; however, there are no big red trucks in his line of work only shovels, axes and long days. The Chicago native is employed as a wildland firefighter and forestry technician by the U.S. Forest Service and is stationed in White River National Forest. Working on a team with 10 other firefighters, Virruso and his coworkers hike into the Rocky Mountains of Colorado during fire season sometimes working 16 hours a day for 14 straight days to suppress wildfires with hand tools and chainsaws. We dont have any hoses or water. Were digging. Digging and cutting, he said. Our job is to remove brush and separate unburned fuel from the fuel thats burning so we can suffocate the fire. Virruso has worked as a wildland firefighter for three years now. He said its a career he didnt even know was possible when he was growing up not even as a student at Saint Marys. Yet, he says his experience at Saint Marys set him on the path to his current career. Having an uncle who briefly attended Saint Marys, Virruso says he visited Winona several times as a child. Being familiar with the landscape of the Driftless region, he knew Saint Marys was a place where he could immerse himself in nature as part of his college experience.. When I was looking at colleges, I just wanted to study and learn more about the environment. I wanted to be outside, and I felt like the Mississippi River Valley was the perfect place, he said. After enjoying the opportunities to work and learn in the bluffs, streams, and rivers of the Winona area, Virruso knew whatever job he took after graduating would have to be outdoors. After graduation, Virruso began working for the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RYMC) and was assigned to conservation projects in national parks and forests in Colorado. It was here where he was acquainted with wildland firefighting and began considering the profession. I liked building trails and being outdoors with the RYMC, he said. But the firefighting portion of the work seemed very meaningful to me. Youre doing something that not only benefits you, but youre also protecting folks. Entering the profession at a time when wildfire dangers are growing, Virruso has kept busy. In 2020, his crew was called to the Pine Gulch Fire near Grand Junction, Colo., which was (at that point) the largest fire in the states history. From the ground, he said it was hard to tell how big the fire was. It wasnt until family and friends told him about news reports theyd seen that he understood the magnitude of the event. During a particularly slow fire season in Colorado, he had the opportunity to return to Minnesota to respond to fires in the Boundary Waters. Wildland firefighting may not have been a part of his coursework at Saint Marys, but he says he regularly applies lessons learned at the university into his daily work. The biggest takeaway from Saint Marys was how to communicate with others, he said. Which is important because of how dangerous the job is and how absolutely imperative it is that everybody knows whats going on. While the dangers and physical demands of the job can take a toll, Virruso says he doesnt see himself in any other job. We get paid in sunrises and sunsets, thats kind of our motto. Even on the toughest days, it can be amazing. Well be up at 5 a.m. hiking, and well see the sun come up over the Rockies, and Ill just say, Wow, this is the most magnificent place Ive ever been, he said. Im lucky to be able to do this. I dont know what tomorrow will hold, so the opportunity to travel and experience the outdoors and wildlife is amazing. 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 Youll begin to meet the new class of Winona Daily News Above & Beyond students today, with the first story featuring Brandon Ross of Caledonia High School. Other stories will follow, at least once a week, as we share nominations from schools in our region. Above & Beyond, modeled after the La Crosse Tribunes longstanding Extra Effort scholarship program, is back for good this year after two years on the sidelines. And like every year it will recognize high school seniors who have overcome obstacles and met challenges on their way to graduating and planning further education. These are often remarkable stories of courage and persistence, and many times Above & Beyond may be the first award the student receives. But it is a special one, and it comes with a scholarship from area colleges or individual or organization donors. In recent months we made a move that will make this award even more special. Above & Beyond is now partnering with the Winona Community Foundation, allowing anyone to make a gift toward the scholarships awarded through this unique program. All contributions are welcome and will go directly toward growing the Above & Beyond Scholarship Fund with the ultimate goal of awarding larger scholarships to these extraordinary students. The students receiving the Above & Beyond award are truly inspirational, said Nancy Brown, president/CEO of the Winona Community Foundation. Any financial boost they receive will be one less obstacle for them to overcome in continuing their life journeys. The Winona Daily News Above & Beyond Scholarship Fund will provide the means for individuals and businesses to make tax-deductible contributions in support of these young people. Its all a win-win, as I said when we announced the move to the foundation. Its exciting to grow an important program that benefits local students with new community support. Its easy to donate, and gifts now qualify for tax deductions. To give online visit www.winonacf.org/donate. Checks can be written to the the Winona Community Foundation and reference Above & Beyond; this can be in the memo line or in the payable to line. Mail to Winona Community Foundation, 111 Riverfront Suite 2E, Winona, MN 55987. Please contact the Foundation prior to making a gift of stock or mutual fund shares. To date, weve received Above & Beyond student nominations from Houston, Lewiston-Altura, and Rushford-Peterson in addition to Caledonia, and have been told they are on the way soon from Winona Senior High School, Mabel-Canton, Cotter and Cochrane-Fountain City. Thanks to our school contacts for sending in the nominations so we could begin reporting the stories. Nominations are due in full by the end of January, and all of our contacts were notified of that deadline in September. We plan to honor the Daily News Above & Beyond students and their families at a scholarship ceremony May 11 at Winona State University. Thanks to everyone involved with Above & Beyond. You are making an incredible difference, helping local students get a big lift toward their careers. Bob Heisse is executive editor of the Daily News and the River Valley Media Group. He can be reached at bob.heisse@lee.net or 608-791-8285. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Joe Biden kicked off his presidency on January 20, 2021, by killing the Keystone XL pipeline. For the newly elected Democrat, it was a message affirming his commitment to green energy policies. For the energy industry, Americas allies abroad, and skilled workers at home, however, the impacts of Bidens actions were far more concrete. Killing 10,000 jobs and taking $2.2 billion in payroll out of workers pockets is not what Americans need or want right now, Andy Black, President and CEO of the Association of Oil Pipelines, said at the time. The Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA) called Bidens decision both insulting and disappointing to the thousands of hard-working members who will lose good-paying, middle-class family-supporting jobs. By blocking this 100 percent union project, and pandering to environmental extremists, a thousand union jobs will immediately vanish and 10,000 additional jobs will be foregone, the group added. That was a year ago. How does the decision to end the Keystone pipeline look today? First, there are the immediate economic impacts. Six months after Bidens decision, TC Energy pulled the plug on the pipeline, which would have shipped 500,000 barrels a day from Western Canada into the U.S. refining system. Given Americas annual production of 16.5 million barrels a day in 2020, that was not a major loss at the time. But today, domestic energy supplies are strained and global demand is soaring. U.S. allies in Europe are struggling to meet demand in the winter of 2022. Circumstances are very different from the day Biden blocked Keystone. Bidens hurt us, says H. Sterling Burnett, Ph.D., Senior Fellow on Environmental Policy for the Illinois-based Heartland Institute. Theres no question about that. Neal Crabtree, a welding foreman from Fouke, Ark., lost his job when Biden pulled the pipelines permit. But he says he has bigger concerns than his own paycheck. I was worried by the tone being set by the Biden administration, Crabtree said. A direct attack on energy in this country seemed to be the presidents highest priority. Now were seeing rising energy prices. Private companies are reluctant to develop new pipelines because of the outrageous permitting process. Pipelines, just like roads and bridges in this country, are aging. To neglect our pipelines is a dangerous thing. We saw how dependent we are on them when the Colonial Pipeline was shut down last year. Dan Kish, Distinguished Senior Fellow for the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Energy Research, agrees. We saw it as a body blow to American energy security, he said. And, some energy experts say, it is not just that Biden blocked a pipeline. He blocked Keystone, a project that went over and above to address issues like carbon emissions, safety standards, and cooperation with indigenous people impacted by the pipeline. When Biden shut down Keystone, which really was bending over backward to do everything right from the Democrats perspective and Biden still killed it that sent a message to the entire industry that it didnt matter what you did, this administration wanted to shut you down, said Dan K. Eberhart, CEO of Canary, one of the largest oilfield service companies in the country. TC Energy had pledged to operate Keystone as a net-zero emissions level, the first of its kind commitment in the industry. And operating in Canada meant working under some of the most stringent environmental and safety regulations in the world. The pipeline managers also had reached agreements with Native Americans as well, entering a $1 billion equity agreement with a group of five Alberta and Saskatchewan First Nations. I would say President Biden, I do believe you made a bad decision putting Keystone on the backburner, said Saskatchewan First Nation Chief Alvin Francis just days after Bidens decision. This could change the outlook of all First Nations in Canada and the US. It has certainly changed the mood between Ontario and Washington, D.C. Keystone was in many ways primarily a Canadian project. Bidens reversal on the pipeline, as well as proposed subsidies for U.S.- made electric vehicles, has heightened tensions between the two allies. Closing Keystone has not strengthened Americas hand with its potential enemies, either. Biden has been left in the awkward position of lobbying Congress to keep the Nord Stream 2 pipeline open, even as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues threatening a possible invasion of Ukraine. And less oil from Canada and the U.S. on the global market means more demand for products from Russia, Libya, and Venezuela. This was a missed opportunity to increase North American energy security, lower costs for American consumers, and reduce dependence on foreign energy sources that are hostile to U.S. interests, says Frank Macchiarola, Senior Vice President of Policy, Economics and Regulatory Affairs at American Petroleum Institute (API) If Bidens goal was to keep the oil in the ground, it didnt work. Canadian oil production remained strong throughout 2021 and is expected to hit a new record in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency. Is it possible Biden would reconsider Keystone XL, having just recently reached out to OPEC to increase production and help bring down gas prices? Burnett says that is unlikely. Biden is imposing methane regulations on the industry that the Trump administration decided were not necessary for public health and safety. Biden has agreed to block new natural gas pipelines and new natural gas power stations, so hes helping create energy shortages in the U.S. and approving pipelines from Russia as opposed to shipping our gas, Burnett said. Bidens view seems to be Energy is good for the world, but not for the United States, he added. Chris Woodward covers energy and technology for InsideSources.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A rural Beaver Dam man who was vaccine hesitant said his infection with COVID-19 nearly cost him his life. Mike Thieme believes he caught the virus around the time of his mothers death. Anyra Thieme, 95, died Dec. 5. With the comings and goings of his mothers death and funeral, exposure was high. We were all in close quarters for many, many hours, Thieme said. There were four people there who werent vaccinated and they got COVID. None of the others did. I know there are arguments where people say, Oh, people with vaccines get COVID too. All Im saying is what happened to me. Anyone who wants to know more should ask their health care provider, and trust that they are telling the truth, Thieme said. Thieme had been urged by family to get vaccinated and his refusal led to difficult relationships, according to his sister Paula Starr. This fight went on within our family for a good year and a half. When our mom passed on Dec. 5 my brother got sick and was tested as positive. He was hospitalized and was in awful condition. I truly feared that we would lose him. It was only through the grace of God that he pulled through, Starr said in an email. My brothers son in law is Dr. Zachary Baeseman. He is a graduate of UW Madison as a family physician with an additional degree in public health. Dr. Baeseman lives on the front lines of COVID at ThedaCare and tried desperately to get his wifes father protected, Starr wrote. There has been a year, if not more, of separation between them based on it. But Thieme was not convinced. I knew it was out there, but I just dont get flu, he said. I rarely get colds. Im not allergic to anything. Im around people all the time at work. I never thought Id get it. I thought maybe Id get it, but it wouldnt beat the heck out of me like it did, Thieme said. I was good about mask wearing. I just wasnt going to get the shot. Thieme said he now understands the point his family was trying to make. I spent 11 days in my bedroom with a fever that wouldnt quit, lying with a wet towel on me with a hole cut in it over my nose so I could breathe, Mike said. Id shower two to three times a day because I was sweating like crazy and struggling to cool down. An oxygen meter showed dangerous lows and his temperature stood at 104 when wife Linda said, Youre going to the hospital. I had no fight left so I said, Okay. At the hospital Linda was advised to hug Mike, because it might be the last time. Thieme had contracted pneumonia associated with the COVID Delta strain. That pneumonia is known as multifocal ground-glass opacity. It feels just like it sounds. It hurts, said Mike. If fire would have blown out of my mouth it wouldnt have surprised me. He was hospitalized at Prairie Ridge Health in Columbus, in a nearly comatose state, from Dec. 22 to 28. He still faces a lengthy recovery. The stairs looked like Mount Everest, because I just couldnt get any wind, said Mike. It took my whole December away. Half of January. Christmas, New Years. And not only me, it took it time away from my wife and family. All of that. None of that got to happen because of this. Daughter Rebecca Baeseman shared on Facebook Christmas Day, A month ago my dad was climbing tree stands and hunting fields for deer. Today he can hardly string together a few words without being utterly breathless. Hes 57. He can fix anything and is a self-taught musician. He chose not to get the COVID or flu vaccine. He sees the light now. I urge everyone to have the awkward conversation with their hesitant family and friends. If COVID hasnt gotten to them yet, it is coming for them. Linda points out that, even though she is vaccinated, she still wears a mask and follows safety protocols. I just dont understand why people are so stubborn about wearing masks and getting shots, she said. If people wont do it for themselves, then they should do it for others. We certainly know the vaccines work. Why not take advantage of them? Thieme still stops short of urging people to get vaccinated, instead saying they should rely on the advice of medical experts. Im not a scientist. Im a sprinkler fitter. I know fire protection. Thats what I do, Thieme said. Still, if you listen to your doctors about other illness, why not listen to them about COVID? Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Republican-appointed special counsel reviewing the November 2020 election in Wisconsin is not seeking to jail the mayors of Madison and Green Bay if they refuse to be questioned. But that possibility remains open if Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich continue to object to private interviews with the special counsel, said conservative former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, according to a memo one of his attorneys filed with a Waukesha County court Thursday. The five-page memo was referenced Friday during a hearing in which Genrichs attorney questioned whether Gableman even had the authority to pursue sanctions against the mayors, given that his contract with the Republican-controlled state Legislature expired at the end of December. It is far from clear that Mr. Gableman has any authority to act for the Legislature at this point, Jeffrey Mandell told Circuit Judge Ralph Ramirez. Absent that authority, his petition to this court must evaporate. Fridays hearing came after Gableman issued subpoenas in October seeking election records from the states five largest cities and demanding their mayors submit to questioning, even though mayors dont play any role in conducting elections. He later backed off those subpoenas, but in early December filed petitions in Waukesha County asking that the county sheriff force Rhodes-Conway and Genrich to answer his questions under the October subpoenas. Those petitions, called writs of attachment, can lead to jail for people who are found in contempt for not complying with a subpoena. In the memo, Kevin Scott says the special counsels office is seeking the writs under a section of state law that gives judges discretion in whether to jail someone found in contempt or to impose other sanctions, such as fines, and not under a different section of state law that requires judges to jail those found in contempt of a legislative subpoena. The office chose to proceed under the former statute to avoid (if possible) the incarceration of any official involved in this matter, Scott writes in the memo. The upshot is that the Special Counsels intent ... is to induce compliance with the subpoenas at issue, not to seek the incarceration of two elected officials. Rhodes-Conway has said she is open to testifying publicly about the citys handling of last years election. An attorney for Genrich has criticized Gablemans petition as illegal and followed up earlier this month with a demand that the court sanction Gableman for his frivolous and factually inaccurate effort to force Genrich to submit to questioning. Expired contract Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, hired Gableman last summer at a cost of $676,000 to taxpayers to look into how the 2020 election was conducted after former President Donald Trump complained that Wisconsin Republicans werent doing enough to promote the lie that Democrat Joe Biden stole the state from him. Gableman made a baseless claim at a pro-Donald Trump rally in 2020 that the election in Wisconsin had been stolen by bureaucrats, and he has met with and hired people for his investigation who formerly worked for Trump and espoused conspiracy theories about the election. Biden defeated Trump by about 21,000 votes in Wisconsin. A recount, multiple court challenges and two in-depth reviews of election processes including one by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty have revealed no evidence of widespread fraud. Although Gablemans contract expired last month, Vos has said the review will likely go longer and cost more money. Gablemans and Vos offices did not respond to questions Friday seeking comment on the current status of Gablemans contract. Madison City Attorney Mike Haas said it seemed clear that the court expects attorney Gableman to address whether he is still authorized to act as special counsel. More to come Ramirez didnt hear arguments or make any decisions Friday on whether or how to enforce Gablemans subpoenas, or whether Gableman should be sanctioned for issuing them, including a request by Genrich that he take out full-page newspaper ads to correct the record. Instead he asked the parties to submit briefs on the courts authority to issue the writs, the correct procedure to follow and the factual basis for the writs. A hearing to consider those arguments was scheduled for April 22. Haas said the city does not believe there is a subpoena pending for Rhodes-Conway and there are no current plans for her to be deposed. As we have told the special counsel, we are open to discussions about an appropriate scope and forum for any interviews or depositions of city officials, he said. Earlier this week, the immigration rights group Voces de la Frontera Action went to court to try to block a subpoena Gableman issued in late December for emails and other communications related to the 2020 election, as well as information about the groups finances and contacts with government officials and other nonprofits. The groups executive director called the attempt modern-day McCarthyite political theater designed to perpetuate lies about the 2020 election and silence and intimidate voters of color from exercising their right to free speech and their right to vote. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Sunday that Gableman has also subpoenaed two companies that manufacture voting machines and software, Colorado-based Dominion Voting Systems and Nebraska-based Electronic Systems & Software. MILWAUKEE A bus used by a Milwaukee homeless outreach organization to distribute food, clothes and other resources has been destroyed in an arson. Vicky Cordani, vice president of the Street Angels board of directors, told the Journal Sentinel Friday the bus was stocked with a range of critical items the organization hands out to the homeless population throughout Milwaukee County. It included food, coats, socks, hand warmers, blankets, sleeping bags, hygiene products, bus passes and various gift cards. Street Angels uses two buses to distribute the resources throughout the county three days a week. After finishing up another round of outreach around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Cordani said the bus was set aflame sometime around 10 p.m. outside its offices on Milwaukees south side. The groups second bus was not set on fire, but its unclear what damage it may have sustained from the nearby fire. Cordani said the organization has not been able to access it because its coated with a thick layer of ice from fire hoses. OSHKOSH The crack in the ice was only a few inches wide the last time Don Herman had checked. About a half-mile off shore, due east of the grand white mansion built in 1903 for the Oshkosh Yacht Club, the expansion, created by cooling and warming temperatures, was now more than a foot wide, over an estimated 10 feet of water. This is prime time for ice anglers to chase Lake Winnebagos walleye and perch with 2- to 3-foot-long jigging rods. Come next month, however, the traffic on the states largest inland lake will increase significantly. The sturgeon spearing season begins Feb. 12 and will draw thousands of people who will sit in windowless shacks waiting for the appearance of one of the prehistoric fish that can top 5 feet long and weigh well over 100 pounds. Six days later, Battle on Bago, one of the countrys largest ice fishing tournaments, will draw thousands more. Thats why Herman, a lifelong member of the Otter Street Fishing Club, was at work Wednesday using his Polaris UTV with a heated cab to pull a homemade, portable bridge out onto the ice. A pair of discarded Christmas trees, their trunks plunged into the crack, which likely ran for miles in a north-south direction, served as calling cards to guide travelers to the bridge that would provide a safer passage. We might move this bridge tomorrow or the the next day, Herman said of the rapidly changing and unpredictable ice conditions. Sometimes we move them twice a day just to keep people safe. Venturing onto the ice is always a risky proposition, but with the proper precautions, a little common sense and, through the work of volunteers like Herman and those involved with other fishing clubs that ring the lake, most trips onto Lake Winnebago and other bodies of water can be done without getting wet, or worse. According to the state Department of Natural Resources, no ice is ever 100% safe. There are just too many variables. They can include wild temperature swings, underwater springs and currents, wind that can break up massive sheets of ice, pressure ridges and heaves, and insulating snow cover that can reduce the rate at which ice forms. Earlier this month on Green Bay, more than two dozen anglers had to be rescued from a sheet of what appeared to be stable ice that had detached from the mainland. Passing barge traffic, which created waves, is being blamed for the incident. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Back on Lake Winnebago, snowmobiles and ATVs are running the surface, but the ice isnt thick enough for cars and trucks, which need a minimum of 12 to 16 inches of ice. But thats a uniform thickness, according to Herman. While checking ice thickness Wednesday morning, he found 13 inches of ice in one spot after drilling a hole with his propane-fueled auger. About 20 feet away, another hole revealed there was just 8 inches of ice, according to his well-worn, wooden measuring stick that has an L-shaped lip at the one end to grab the bottom of the ice. Snowdrifts and heaves of ice littered the frozen surface. The ice is rough, said Jason Mathe, 28, of Oshkosh, who was on an ATV to fish in 15 feet of water about 1 miles out. This (crack) opened up from about 2 inches last night to about a foot today. The DNR recommends that those going onto the ice dress in warm, water-resistant layers and pack an extra hat and gloves; contact local bait shops, fishing clubs or resorts to ask about local ice conditions; stay safely on shore if ice conditions are questionable and if open water is nearby; and carry basic safety gear like ice claws or picks, a cellphone in a waterproof bag and rope. Wearing a life jacket or a float coat is advised, as is making sure someone knows where you are and when you are expected to return. Extreme caution should be used when traveling in unfamiliar areas, at night or at times with reduced visibility. But the human condition isnt always prone to listening to reason, which is why for the past 42 years Herman has a profitable side gig. His business Sunk? Dive and Ice Service retrieves cars, trucks, snowmobiles and ice shacks that have plunged through the ice and into the depths of a lake or river. In warmer months he has pulled out sunken boats, cars that have slid down boat ramps, and crashed planes and helicopters. Hes waiting to remove a tractor from 30 feet of water in Lake Lucerne near Wautoma and will use a tow truck that weighs about 4,000 pounds, significantly less than most. Herman typically does about 20 jobs each winter within in a two-hour radius of Oshkosh, although one year he pulled more than 70 vehicles out of the drinks of Wisconsin. In another year, he pulled a car out of 125 feet of water in Green Lake. He charges $1,000 an hour, and a job can take three to four hours or more, depending on the circumstances. Insurance may or may not cover the expense. It all depends on the policy. I dont believe Im an ice expert. I just go out on the lake all of the time, said Herman, 64. But I know the ice pretty well. We have to because of what were into, pulling cars and everything out. Hermans father was a member of the Otter Street Fishing Club, which was formed in 1961, and used a 1952 Dodge to plow roads on the lake. Herman tagged along with his father as a 10-year-old when his father was plowing roads on the lake and fixed one of the clubs wreckers when he was 16. He began plowing himself a year before graduating from Oshkosh North High School. He spent several years at Leach Co., building garbage trucks, and in 1978 started building plows for the club. In 2000, his entrepreneurial drive kicked into high gear when he purchased his own vehicle repair shop on the east side of Lake Butte des Morts. Herman at one time also had his own towing and crane business and still owns two bars the Fountain, located a short drive from his shop, and Blazers, 63 miles to the northwest in the unincorporated Shawano County hamlet of Split Rock. But hes best known for pulling out waterlogged vehicles, his video posts on Facebook in which he gives updates on ice conditions, and his TV news appearances, all of which have garnered him the nickname Hollywood Herman. Its fun. Its volunteer work and we have a great group of guys. Some of them have been with me for 30 years, Herman said, as we headed toward the Merritt Avenue boat landing in his Toyota Tundra. We build the trucks, we build the plows, we build the plow frames, we build the bridges. Its all volunteer work. The clubhouse for the fishing club, which has 750 life members, is located next door to Jerrys Bar, a longtime haunt for sturgeon spearers, who could have a quick season this year thanks to clear water and good visibility. A garage behind the bar holds two of the clubs three plow trucks, which are stripped down to reduce their weight and cost. Massive V-plows, 8 feet long and 6 feet wide, are attached to the front of each vehicle. Scott Engel, whose great-grandfather opened the bar 111 years ago, estimates the club has more than $100,000 invested into the trucks and plows. Theres a lot of maintenance that goes into these trucks every year for the pounding they take, said Engel, who has owned the bar for 34 years and is a longtime member of the club. This is something that were all brought up with out here, and its part of the culture. Barry Adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin State Journal. Send him ideas for On Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com. Harriet Hageman, the Donald Trump-endorsed candidate seeking to unseat Rep. Liz Cheney, won big Saturday in a straw poll of House candidates held by the 71-person Wyoming Republican State Central Committee. The secret ballot of party activists awarded Hageman 59 votes, Cheney six, state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, two and Denton Knapp one. The vote comes eight months before the GOP primary. I think its a good sign. Its not an endorsement, but these are the county activists Hageman told the Star-Tribune after the vote. The state party itself is not statutorily allowed to endorse a candidate in the primary. The state central committee consists of three representatives from each county and members of the state party, for a total of 74 votes. Only 71, including three of Hagemans family members, voted Saturday. The bearing of the vote on the outcome of the August primary is uncertain: There are 196,179 registered Republican voters in Wyoming as of January. The straw poll is a indication of current party leadership's views, not the state as a whole. Straw polls, even with a far higher number of voters, do not have an accurate track record in Wyoming in recent years. Then candidate Cynthia Lummis lost to Sheridan County GOP Chairman Bryan Miller by a double-digit margin in a straw poll of Senate candidates held at the Wyoming Republican Partys 2020 convention. Between 300 and 400 people voted in that poll. Lummis went on to beat Miller in the primary by almost 50 points in the primary less than two months later. Still, the vote highlights the hostility that many in the Wyoming Republican Party's leadership feel toward Cheney since her much publicized break with Trump. Cheney, for her part, has called party leaders radical. At Saturday's meeting, Hagemans high vote count was announced first and met with a round of applause. When Cheneys tally was announced, a couple members in the room audibly scoffed. The only elections that matter are in August and November, Jeremy Adler, a spokesperson for the Cheney campaign, said in response to the vote. There was division in the room over the intention of the straw poll. This smells like an endorsement to me, said Natrona County Committeeman Joe McGinley, who had publicly disagreed with party leaders before. "Whether that is the true intention of the state ... or not, that's what it appears to be." Karl Allred, the Uinta County GOP chairman, saw it differently. This is not an endorsement," he said. "This is merely asking for the opinion of the body at this time." Hugh Hageman, a member of the state central committee and Harriets brother, recused himself from being a vote teller. He and two other of Harriet Hagemans family members voted in the straw poll. There will be lots of polls over the next eight months, and they will all show different things, Harriet Hageman said. The straw poll results are not exactly shocking. The state GOP has repeatedly denounced Cheney after she began to publicly criticize Trump. Cheney voted to impeach Trump over the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and she maintains he helped to incite his supporters with unfounded allegations of voter fraud. In early 2021, the Wyoming GOP leadership censured Cheney for her vote to impeach Trump. More recently, the state party narrowly voted to no longer recognize Cheney as a Republican, a move that is symbolic. The actions against Cheney come in a year in which Wyomings lone representative steadfastly maintains Trump is a threat to the rule of law in the U.S. Cheneys criticism of Trump and her impeachment vote has made her reelection effort the most difficult of her political career. Previously, shes coasted to reelection. This time, she faces a formidable challenge from Hageman, a lawyer and 2018 gubernatorial candidate. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Christina Darling, was arrested and charged with multiple counts including aggravated harassment as a hate crime, acting in a manner injurious to a child and menacing, for shouting "anti-Jewish statements" before spitting on a boy and walking away. BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) President Xi Jinping has called on scholars to deepen their understanding of the rule of Party building in the new era and further contribute wisdom and strength to advancing related work. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the instruction to a conference of the National Society for Party Building Studies, which was held in Beijing Friday. Xi sent his congratulations to the conference and extended his sincere greetings to scholars studying Party building. Recognizing the contributions the society has made in recent years to advancing Party building in the new era, Xi urged more efforts to adapt Marxism to China's conditions, step up research on the latest progress of Party building theories and strengthen the study of full and strict governance over the Party, among others. Chen Xi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee's Organization Department, conveyed Xi's instruction at Friday's conference and called on the scholars to follow Xi's instruction and encouraged them to play a bigger role in advancing Party building in the new era. (Source: Xinhua) BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) While addressing the sixth plenary session of the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection earlier this week, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, emphasized the need for full and strict Party governance, and underscored that there would be zero-tolerance on corruption. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee has improved Party conduct, upheld integrity, and addressed corruption with unprecedented courage and resolve, according to Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission. Over the years, "observing discipline and rules" has been a consistent requirement from Xi to all Party members and officials. Indeed, in this he leads by example. For Chen Chengmao, Xi's secretary during the 1990s, a yellowed receipt for TV repair, over which he had been seriously criticized by his otherwise amiable leader, reminds him of Xi's strict adherence to discipline. In March 1995, when Xi served as the Party chief of the eastern city of Fuzhou, he once asked Chen to help him get his TV repaired. After the work was done, Chen did not pay the fee, taking it as a matter of course that the maintenance of items in public apartments should be covered by public spending. Unexpectedly, his action was met with ire. "When the TV in my apartment needs repair, it ought to be charged to me," Xi told him, insisting on covering the bill himself. Xi paid 50 yuan, about a quarter of his monthly salary. On another occasion, Xi warned Chen to "always observe discipline and rules, not seek privilege, and mind one's own behavior," a warning that has remained with Chen to this day. Shortly after assuming the Party's top post in late 2012, Xi convened a Party leadership meeting at which an eight-point code on improving Party and government conduct was adopted. The code, centering on promoting thrift and curbing squander of public funds, had thereafter brought about profound changes to the Party as well as the country. As of June, discipline inspection and supervision organs across the country have investigated and dealt with 626,000 cases of violating the eight-point code, and 322,000 people were punished. "Improving Party conduct and fighting corruption remain high on our agenda. Our Party, a large political Party with a hundred-year history, should constantly improve its conduct, build a clean government and fight corruption, to always maintain its advanced and pure nature, vitality and vigor," Xi once said. (Source: Xinhua) Welsh Government expected to discuss any changes to self isolation period next week This article is old - Published: Sunday, Jan 23rd, 2022 The Welsh Government is set to review the advice on whether the isolation period for those who have tested positive for coronavirus can be reduced. Currently those living in Wales with a positive test can leave self-isolation after seven full days (on day 8 of your self-isolation period). Those in isolation should take a lateral flow test on day six of self-isolation period and another lateral flow test 24 hours later. However from last week people with Covid-19 in England can reduce their isolation to just five days if they test negative on days five and six. The change is intended to maximise activity in the economy and education while minimising the risk of people passing on the virus. The move follows a similar policy change in the US. Over the last week Welsh Government has faced calls from the Welsh Conservatives to bring the self isolation period in line with England and to scrap it altogether in March. So far ministers have resisted pressure to move to a five day isolation while they await more data on whether it would appropriate to do so. Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, First Minister Mark Drakeford said the chief medical officer and TAC (Technical Advisory Cell) were due to review would be reviewing the information in the coming days. He added that ministers will then evaluate the information next week and then make a decision if the advice suggests further reductions to the self isolation period is safe. The first minister also questioned the motive behind the recent announcement that the requirement to self isolate after a positive test in England could be scrapped in March. He said: If anybody believes that their announcements this week about Coronavirus were the result of a careful consideration of the science or because they had a well worked out plan for what they were doing. I think that would be a very optimistic view indeed of the state of play in the UK Government. He also refused to set a date for when requirements to self isolate and mask wearing in all indoor places in Wales would be scrapped. The first minister has since been challenged by the Welsh Conservatives who have described his comments as a straightforward deflection tactic Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: These are completely unnecessary and inappropriate comments by the First Minister and is further proof that its always been about the politics, and not the science, for his Labour administration in Cardiff Bay. Current self-isolation rules in Wales. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should self-isolate and take a PCR test as soon as possible. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 you must self-isolate and follow the guidance below. You can leave self-isolation after 7 full days (on day 8 of your self-isolation period). You should take a lateral flow test (LFT) on day 6 of your self-isolation period and another lateral flow test 24 hours later. This is to check if you remain infectious and could pass COVID-19 on to others. You should not take a LFT before the sixth day of your self-isolation period because the risks of remaining infectious and the chances of passing it on to others before this period is significantly higher. If you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you should follow this guidance. If you are not fully vaccinated, you are legally required to self-isolate as a close contact for 10 days. More here: https://gov.wales/self-isolation Press Release January 22, 2022 Bong Go urges gov't to speed up vaccination drive; appeals to Filipinos to get vaccinated, boosted amid Omicron variant Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher "Bong" Go has urged the government to further fast-track the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines as the government seeks to fully vaccinate 77 million Filipinos by the end of the first quarter of 2022 and 90 million by the end of second quarter. "Umaapela po ako sa gobyerno na mas pabilisin pa lalo ang pagbabakuna at kung maaari ay dalhin mismo sa bahay ang bakuna ng mga willing maturukan pero hindi kayang pumunta sa vaccination sites," Go said. "Hinihimok ko rin ang ating mga kababayan na magpabakuna na sa lalong madaling panahon. Nasa datos naman po na kapag bakunado kayo laban sa COVID-19, maiiwasan ninyo ang pagkakaroon ng malalang kaso nito o ang maospital," he added. The senator also appealed to make vaccines more accessible in rural and far-flung areas as the number of new cases in regions outside Metro Manila has also been rising. "I'm also urging my fellow government officials, particularly local chief executives, to guarantee that the vaccines are distributed in a timely manner," said Go. "Let us take it upon ourselves to make vaccines more accessible to individuals who may have difficulty acquiring them, such as people with disabilities and those who live in rural or hard-to-reach areas," he added. COVID-19 infections are on the rise outside of Metro Manila, according to the Department of Health. Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III said on Monday that the Omicron variant has been detected in more than 90% of genome-sequenced samples in the country. This is a 30% increase over the 60% announced last week. Duque also stated that Omicron had already eclipsed Delta as the most common COVID-19 variant in the country. Earlier, acting presidential spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced simplified vaccination procedures that will help ensure qualified Filipinos receive the vaccine as quickly and as efficiently as possible. The procedures include allowing walk-in admissions and dropping of the medical clearance requirement. House-to-house inoculations will also be conducted for those who are unable to travel to a vaccination site due to health or mobility issues. As of January 20, 56.8 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated, according to DOH. About 59.6 million individuals have obtained their first dose while 5.8 million have received their booster shot. The government has administered a total of 122.3 million COVID-19 doses since rollouts began. Meanwhile, the country has received a total of 215,519,520 vaccines. To accomplish its target, the government seeks to find and vaccinate the remaining three million senior citizens and concentrate on regions and areas with more unvaccinated individuals. It also aims to maximize the use of the single-dose Janssen vaccines. To help accelerate the vaccine program, the senator had issued several appeals to the public and private sectors to come up with incentives to encourage those who remain hesitant to get their shots. "Kung ma-rerelax natin ang mga restrictions at ibang protocols, inaasahan natin na mas maraming sektor ng ekonomiya ang mabubuksan. Mas marami sa ating mga kababayan ang makakapaghanapbuhay at makakabalik sa kanilang mga trabaho muli. Ibig sabihin, mas maraming pamilya ang makabangon mula sa hirap na dulot ng pandemya," explained the lawmaker. "Subalit dahan-dahan nating gawin ito. Maingat nating balansehin ang buhay at kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino. Huwag nating biglaing buksan lahat at mahihirapan na naman ang ating healthcare system. Ayaw nating mag-back to zero tayo ngayong dumadami ang bilang ng mga kaso," he cautioned. The windswept prairie near Noyes, Minnesota, may seem a strange place to cross the U.S.-Canada border. But wintertime has advantages for those seeking to enter the country. The frigid terrain of northwestern Minnesota can be unforgiving to even the most well-prepared residents. It proved deadly for a family of four Indian nationals, including a baby, who froze to death last week while trying to enter the United States. It might seem a strange location for an unguided hike of miles in the wintry darkness. But wintertime is prime time on the northern border, when frozen rivers and lakes become highways that offer multiple routes into the country. "As soon as winter hits here, you've got vehicles that can drive across the rivers that are now roads into the United States," said Andrew Good, chief patrol agent of the Grand Forks Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol. "Snowmobiling, ice fishing it creates avenues for people to try to mix in with others" and slip across the border, said Good, who oversees about 175 agents who patrol 861 miles of the U.S.-Canada border from the Montana-North Dakota line, across Minnesota and into Wisconsin. In total, the Border Patrol has about 2,000 agents stationed along the entire U.S.-Canada line. The activity pales compared with the nation's southwest border, where nearly 17,000 agents are on patrol. But the recent deaths highlight the dangers faced by those who put their lives in the hands of smugglers. "They're not looking out for you," Good said. "All they care about is the money. The smugglers are callous. They have no regard for human life." Steve Shand, a 47-year-old Florida man, faces a federal charge of human smuggling. He's in custody awaiting a court hearing Monday. According to the criminal complaint, Shand rented a van at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport last week and made his way to northwest Minnesota. There, on Wednesday, he picked up two unauthorized immigrants. A Border Patrol agent spotted Shand and his human cargo and detained him. Agents then rounded up five more Indians who were making their way on foot to the meeting spot. One man carried a backpack with baby gear: clothing, toys, diapers and medicine. But there was no baby in the group, prompting a search for the missing child. Later that day, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police found the four bodies just over the Canadian side of the border about 6 miles east of Noyes. The loss of life illustrates just how far people will go in search of the American Dream, said Tonya Price, a special agent with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations in the Twin Cities who investigates human trafficking cases. "We have vulnerable individuals from foreign countries who are taking drastic steps to enter the United States," Price said. "They're making a desperate decision to leave their home country. And the reality is that they're incredibly vulnerable in doing that." People seeking to come here illegally may obtain fraudulent visas from Canada or Mexico, Price said. In many foreign countries, smugglers are found through family members or word of mouth. "If you're in a desperate enough situation and you ask enough people, chances are you will be connected with bad people who are interested in taking your money," she said. People may pay $10,000 or more to be smuggled into the United States, said Andy Althoff, who retired from the Border Patrol two years ago as deputy chief of the Grand Forks Sector. The smugglers, he said, are well-organized and the business can be lucrative. In the year ended Sept. 30, 2020, the latest statistics available, the Grand Forks Sector reported 227 "encounters" with illegal entrants; the entire northern border reported about 2,100 encounters. By contrast, there were about 400,000 encounters on the southwest border. There are reasons some people choose to run the risks of the northern crossing, Althoff said. In addition to its larger enforcement units, the southwest border has much more technology deployed to catch illegal entrants. While the northern border uses sensors and game cameras, it mostly relies on the diligence of agents on patrol. Also, the southwest border is controlled by criminal cartels who rule their areas on the Mexican side, he added. "The northern border is more benign," Althoff said. "There's not much criminal threat up there." Residents along the border said they haven't seen much, if any, activity by people trying to cross illegally. "It's something that will come up," said Darrel Johnson, a Kittson County commissioner who represents the area where the alleged smuggler was arrested. "It's not top of mind in general." The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has designated January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month and encourages citizens to educate themselves on the dangers of trafficking and smuggling. The agency's Blue Campaign offers awareness training and hotlines to report suspected activity. In this part of the nation, the effort will be led by the officers who patrol the lonely roads Up North. "I'm very proud of my agents here," Good said. "They work very hard every day. Vigilance is one of our core values." The agent who arrested Shand, Good said, "just went out to do his due diligence, and it paid off." Although the four deaths were tragic, the officer may well have saved the lives of the others, he added. "It's more than just an apprehension," Good said. "This is a significant rescue." Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 A big thank you to Big Sky Liberty Alliance for the event they sponsored at the Billings Convention Center recently. Dr. Peter McCullough spoke before a capacity gathering of enthusiastic supporters: unmasked, unvaccinated and unafraid. Montana doctor Mike Uphues helped field questions from audience members afterwards. The outpouring of support from all those who braved the snowy cold to enjoy the benefit of this man's expertise as a cardiologist, internist, epidemiologist, professor and foremost published expert in his field was wonderful. He is also the premiere expert on COVID-19, early treatment options available and the experimental mRNA injections being marketed as vaccines. Lauren Zachmann first led us in the pledge of allegiance as we stood, hand on heart, facing a prominently displayed American flag. Dr. McCullough dived into the data while displaying scientific studies on multiple jumbo screens. He covered a wide range of information and everyone was stunned by the data he produced that for reasons which have become obvious are suppressed by mainstream news outlets and social media. That he would fly into Billings in the middle of winter to bring his message of science based analysis and encouragement speaks volumes as to his character. It also reflects on the degree of importance he assigns to his mission of making sure every American knows exactly what we are dealing with in terms of COVID-19. He made no attempt to avoid implying that there is much more at stake than the loss of medical freedom in this struggle to learn the truth behind an apparently orchestrated COVID-19 narrative. Please, support the nurses at Big Sky Liberty Alliance for their courageous efforts. John Stehber Billings Love 5 Funny 5 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 20 Americans hired politicians to set up systems that worked for the people. Politicians set up systems that worked for politicians. Between 1933 and 1965 Democrats controlled the U.S. House and U.S. Senate about 94% and the presidency about 75% of the time with huge majorities. They put power in politicians hands, made politicians the center of attention and required citizens to go to them hat-in-hand, or with photo opportunities, or with campaign donations to get anything done. Republicans saw an advantage to having power in their hands even as a minority party. What should they have done? They shouldve told the American people that Democrats usurped Americans power and put the power in politicians hands. Republicans were politicians, but if they had refused to go along, Democrats may have had to backtrack, or Americans couldve elected enough Republicans to dismantle the system, do the job right, and set up the systems that shouldve been set up in the first place. Instead, anti-Capitalist Democrats attacked businesses with high taxes and regulations. Businesses willingly incur expenses to create products and services that produce revenue. When politicians impose costs on businesses those costs are taxes. Taxes are costs businesses unwillingly incur. Taxes belong in the tax section. Politicians put them in the business expense section, which overstated expenses, understated profit before taxes, screwed businesses resulting in less after tax profit, and screwed employees, too. In the end, businesses lobbied other politicians, and created an incomprehensible tax system. Shame on the Democrats and Republicans. Jack Mackenzie Ballantine Love 4 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 A convoy of Russian armored vehicles moving along a highway in Crimea on January 18. Associated Press Britain's Foreign Office accused Russia of plotting to install pro-Kremlin leadership in Ukraine. The news comes amid growing concerns throughout Western nations that Russia may invade Ukraine. Russia's foreign ministry denied the allegations and accused Britain of spreading "disinformation." The foreign secretary of the United Kingdom issued a statement on Saturday that said the Foreign Office had information about a Kremlin plot to install a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine. The statement said Russia intended to make the move while it considered "whether to invade and occupy Ukraine." The statement also identified former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev as the potential candidate to be installed in Kyiv. "The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking," Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in the statement. Truss continued: "Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy. As the UK and our partners have said repeatedly, any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs." Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the allegations in a tweet on Saturday, calling Truss' statement "disinformation" and "yet another indication that it is the @NATO members led by the Anglo-Saxon nations who are escalating tensions around #Ukraine." The account urged the British government to "stop spreading nonsense." The British government's statement came amid growing concerns throughout Western nations that Russia could imminently invade Ukraine. Ukraine's military-intelligence service accused Russia on Friday of smuggling weapons into eastern Ukraine and of continuing to "increase the combat capabilities" of pro-Russian separatist factions. As Insider's Ryan Pickrell reported, satellite images in recent days have shown Russia amassing tens of thousands of troops near the Ukrainian border. Story continues Truss' statement on Saturday also said the British government had received information suggesting that the Russian intelligence services had been maintaining contact with "numerous" former Ukrainian leaders including a former prime minister. "Some of these have contact with Russian intelligence officers currently involved in the planning for an attack on Ukraine," the statement said. The statement didn't detail any evidence behind its claims, nor did it provide further details on how Russia would enact the alleged plot. The New York Times, citing unnamed British officials familiar with the situation, reported that Truss' statement was meant in part to show Russian President Vladimir Putin that his plans had been uncovered. The newspaper cited two unnamed US officials who said they believed Britain's intelligence was correct. Read the original article on Business Insider Norwalk Police Department A Connecticut government official gunned down her tenant this week over a rent payment dispute, police say. Ellen Wink, 61, was arrested Thursday after she allegedly shot and killed a tenant in her building, 54-year-old Kurt Lametta. Police say it was Wink herself who called the police about the shooting at her Norwalk building, where they arrived to find Lametta suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Winka local landlord and the citys deputy Republican registrar of votersallegedly copped to the shooting, telling them that Lametta was chronically behind on his rent, according to documents obtained by local news station ABC7, Hes been my tenant and [expletive] driving me nuts, she said, according to the court documents. Winks boyfriend was at one of her properties nearby and heard the gunshots, according to court documents obtained by The Hour. He told police she was afraid of Lametta, and that she shot him because he got in her face or something. A friend of Lamettas, Joey DiMeglio, told News12 he believed the dispute was over an eviction. He wasnt leaving, she wanted him out of there and this is the end result, he said. (The police report says Wink was attempting to sell the building.) Wink was previously arrested for locking Lametta out of the house, and allegedly told police that she had also stolen his belongings and taken them to the dump. She has been charged with murder and is being held on a $1 million bond. Winks attorney did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment. In addition to serving as an election administrator, Wink previously served as the city clerk and also mounted a bid for state representative, according to the Hartford Current. She owns five properties in town, according to local news station News12. Wink has posted multiple pro-police messages on Facebook in the past, including one she shared just one day before the shooting, which reads: The current cry is hold police accountable. I truly believe police would do a far better job if COURTS would hold CRIMINALS accountable. Story continues Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The future of General Motors is electric and the automakers Lockport components plant has secured a role in that future. GM has committed to converting to an all-electric car and truck lineup by 2035. With its $154 million investment announced Friday, GM will install new machinery and equipment at the Lockport site to make stator modules key components in an electric motor. The new investment is also expected to add 230 jobs at the plant between 2023 when the new production kicks off and 2026. A smaller portion of investment will go toward supporting the Lockport site's current operations. Just as important, though, it establishes a role for the Lockport plant in GMs future clearing a hurdle that other local auto parts plants, including the automakers Tonawanda engine plant still must overcome. And the investment cements the Lockport plants status within GM as it makes the transition from largely producing gasoline-powered vehicles to making mostly electric-powered cars, trucks and SUVs years from now. "We've always said, we have to have one foot in the future and one foot in the present," said Ken Johnson, the Lockport plant director. "It's that parallel manufacturing. You can't change to (electric vehicles) overnight. It's a gradual move," he said. "So you've got to be able to keep building what we're building and generate the revenue so you can afford to invest in the future and then build that part." Gerald Johnson, GM's executive vice president of global manufacturing and sustainability, said electric vehicles are the wave of the future. The automaker plans to launch 30 new electric vehicle models by 2025 and be all-electric by 2035. "Every time we look at the numbers in the forecast, the numbers all are going up," he said. "We really believe that the speed of transition to EVs is real, and it's coming at us in this decade pretty fast." Michael DeLucas, president of United Auto Workers Local 686 and a fourth-generation Lockport plant worker, said GM's shift away from internal-combustion engine vehicles will take time. "We're just going to transition from the internal combustion engine to the electric," DeLucas said. "And that's the future, so that's where we want to go. Jobs are jobs." But he said the Lockport workforce is up to the task. "We've got a very highly educated workforce here that knows what they've got to, knows the transition period it's going to take to get us to that point," DeLucas said. "I'm confident in our workforce and our membership. We've given up a lot, sacrificed over the decades here, and we're willing to move on to the future. And the future is electrification." Other automotive plants, such as GM's Tonawanda engine plant, also face the challenge of adapting their production to the automaker's all-electric strategy. "This is the roadmap," Gerald Johnson said. "This is how we transition our plants. We're taking over space that we have available, thankfully, and using it for EV while we're continuing to do internal combustion engine. And as EVs go up, we'll bring more work here for EV work and downsize the internal combustion program." Sen. Charles Schumer said GM's chair and CEO, Mary Barra, reached out to him a few years ago, seeking federal support as the automaker adopted an all-electric lineup strategy. Schumer said he pledged to help, on the condition that GM increase jobs at its manufacturing operations in Lockport, Tonawanda and Rochester. "We want to make New York and America the center of new electric car manufacturing in the world, and I want to make sure that Western New York gets its fair share of these jobs," Schumer said. "And here we are today." Schumer said it is essential that U.S. manufacturing benefits from the auto industry's shift toward electric vehicles. "We don't want to make the mistake that we made in the past, when too many manufacturing jobs went to China and other places," he said. The new employees who will be hired at the Lockport site will join a workforce where family traditions run deep. "I know many of you out there are second- and third-generation workers at this plant," said Ken Johnson, speaking to the workforce on Friday. "And that's really a testament to the impact that this operation has had on the Lockport community." Schumer said the economic impact of the new jobs will go beyond those collecting the paychecks. "When money from good-paying jobs flows into Western New York, it not only helps the families who get that money, it helps all the places they spend that money: the stores, the restaurants and the shops and everything else," he said. "So it's a big shot in the arm for our whole economy." DeLucas said the new investment will have a "huge impact out in the community. "Money is brought in here, it's going to be spent out in the community," DeLucas said. "And there's better-paying jobs for the community, with a livable wage." GM's project will revive dormant Building 9 at the vast complex. GM stopped using that building for production in 2006 and has used it for storage since then. "Obviously we're taking advantage of assets we already have," Ken Johnson said of the vacant space. "But I think the real story here is, they're putting (the investment) here because the workforce is a proven commodity, the relationship that we have with our [union] local here is solid, and we've performed in the past." Change is nothing new for the Lockport plant. The Niagara County factory, which traces its roots to Harrison Radiator in 1910, has proven its ability to adapt and survive over the decades. The Upper Mountain Road plant has endured through changes in names and affiliations, the shuttering of other plants, a GM bankruptcy filing and, during low points, questions about the plant's future. Through those myriad challenges, the GM Lockport plant remains one of the region's largest manufacturers, with about 1,500 hourly and salaried employees. Like other manufacturing operations with staying power, it has maintained its viability by continuing to attract new production as older products are phased out. The plant churns out a wide variety of components for a wide variety of GM vehicles, including the next-generation Colorado Canyon truck, and to support Chevy Silverado production in Oshawa, Ont. Matt Glynn Buffalo Next Must-read local business coverage that exposes the trends, connects the dots and contextualizes the impact to Buffalo's economy. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A lone pedestrian walks along High Street in downtown Akron on Monday, Jan. 17. The snow gremlins that mistook the Akron area for Greater Buffalo last Sunday and Monday are back. But dont look for the foot-deep blanket that buried Summit County on Monday, bringing as much as 19 inches of the fluffy white stuff to area communities. Here are some snow totals from last week: Sagamore Hills 19.3 inches Boston Heights 19 Cuyahoga Falls 17 Fairlawn 16.5 Bath 15.9 Tallmadge 15.7 Barberton 10 This time, the National Weather Service is forecasting 1 to 3 inches of snow for Sunday in Northeast Ohio, with a 100% chance of some precipitation. On Monday, the forecast calls for a 60% chance of a 1- to 2-inch dusting. The Akron forecast comes after temperatures fell to a frigid minus 6 at 6:54 a.m. Saturday, approaching the minus 13 record for Jan 22 set in 1936. The weather service is calling for temperatures to approach zero again on Thursday night. The prospect of new snowfall will return Friday, with a 30% chance of precipitation, the weather service forecast. The high on Sunday is forecast at 24, with a low of 5 on Sunday night. On Monday, the high will be about 31, with a low of 20. By Wednesday night, the temperature will drop to 0, the National Weather Service said. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Snow in forecast again for Akron area, says National Weather Service In Alex Pritzs The Territory a documentary made in close collaboration with Brazils dwindling Uru-eu-wau-wau tribe the moving image is truth, truth is power, and picking up a camera is an act of reclamation. Set at the explosive intersection of technology, politics, and indigenous persecution,, before bursting with rip-roaring intensity as it captures a high-stakes struggle for survival unfolding in the moment. More than just a chronicle of events, however, its also a bold statement about the lens through which indigenous peoples are often brought to the silver screen. Right from the get-go, Pritz skirts the conventions of the documentary, a form defined in the public consciousness by its most banal and straightforward examples. He introduces the story not through interviewed voices and faces, but through the harsh sound design of Peter Albrechtsen, who captures the Amazon rainforest being culled by machines, and through measured, tightly-controlled closeups of the gloved hands responsible. A propulsive electronic score by Katya Mihailova both envelops and intrigues. More from IndieWire Soon after following animated open credits that frame sprawling deforestation as growling cracks in an immaculate fabric Pritz presents the stakes of this destruction using a quiet contrast to the opening. He sets his camera near the earth, as a long lens captures insects stepping in and out of a similarly tight range of focus, but he quickly cedes this control, as the camera appears to be yanked off the ground by a group of Uru-eu-wau-wau children traipsing through the forest. The cut between the two images is barely-disguised perhaps the camera is still being operated professionally as is the sleight-of-hand switch to a much shorter lens to capture more of the childrens movement. The result, however, is a sudden and piercing enormity. Not only a visual enormity, as more of the greenery spins into view, but an emotional enormity that speaks to who controls this narrative. Story continues Of course, there is a lingering tension inherent to this claim. Pritz, a white filmmaker, could not possibly cede complete authorship of this film, though various members of the tribe are heavily involved from the outset, including its co-executive producers Tejubi Uru-eu-wau-wau and Tangae Uru-eu-wau-wau, the latter of whom is also Pritzs co-cinematographer (a third executive producer was credited anonymously). While by no means an uncontacted tribe, the Uru-eu-wau-wau whose population barely touches two hundred, after numbering in the thousands prior to encroachments in the 1980s prefer isolation, especially from invaders seeking to build roads and farmland atop their territory. However, they grant Pritz and his team unprecedented access to their story, one which eventually sees a unique aesthetic transition that symbolizes, in its own way, a transition of power, when circumstances lead to the Uru-eu-wau-wau shooting and producing parts of the movie themselves. In the meantime, Pritzs presentation still feels respectful and empathetic. A bare-minimum no doubt, but one that departs from the distancing lens with which western cinema has zoologically observed and callously othered indigenous peoples for so long. The films Uru-eu-wau-wau subjects exhibit a sense of casual comfort in the cameras presence theyre no strangers to technology; another departure from the many un-truths perpetuated by the moving image and whether Pritz is behind the camera, or whether its held by one of the tribespeople, it blends in among them, and captures them up close rather than gawking from afar. The films initial presentation is pristine, a kind of recontextualization and reconciliation between different forms of cinema. Every action and conversation is spontaneous, but its appearance is that of scripted drama, between the films widescreen aspect ratio, its high visual contrast, and its evocative shaping of natural light, which wraps its way around everything from frogs to trees to people. Its a far cry from the more natural, flatly-lit documentarianism which western filmmakers tend to employ as they attempt to capture indigenous reality. This is reality too, but a heightened reality that unearths the glowing poetry of the land, and the Uru-eu-wau-waus relationship to it. Eventually, once the film is forced to take on a more naturalistic tone born from cheaper production value and more basic equipment it transforms further, in equally unconventional fashion. Rather than an anthropological study, it becomes a verite thriller of sorts, as the Uru-eu-wau-wau turn the lens back on outsiders and disruptors. The story spans several years, beginning in the lead up to the 2018 election of right wing, anti-indigenous fearmonger Jair Bolsonaro and continuing through the COVID-19 pandemic, but its micro focus generally falls on a small handful of subjects who guide us through either side of the local tension. On one side, theres Bitate Uru-eu-wau-wau, a chipper teenage tasked with herculean responsibility of protecting his people, with the help Ari Uru-eu-wau-wau, a slightly older man in charge of surveillance, and Neidinha, a middle-aged activist and outsider who has known them both since they were born. On the other side of the forest border the side being mercilessly burned and cleared is the farmer Sergio, who hopes to live his dream by owning his own land, and the opportunistic settler Martin, whose own aspirations involve building a roadway and moving his family to the area. The film follows the latter group just as closely as the former, but rather than interrogating these invaders and drawing out their subdued anti-indigenous sentiments, it simply records their every thought and every self-justification until their masks inevitably slip, and theyre hoisted with their own petards. A larger, more nebulous enemy looms as well, presented in the form of news clips from the rest of the country that capture the general political climate. These sentiments are embodied on the ground by an anonymous government employee, who appears as a disembodied voice several times over the phone. This Indigenous Affairs agent takes an increasingly noncommittal stance, reflecting the chilling cultural and political shift after the 2018 election, and leaving the Uru-eu-wau-wau largely helpless against invading forces. Theres little to be done about the situation when its framed as a case of he-said, she-said which spurs the tribe into action, forcing them to become amateur filmmakers who attempt to bring the truth to light using handheld cameras and overhead drones. Their own footage, though it doesnt take up a large chunk of the film, is uniquely textured, whether capturing the encroaching devastation, or simply the mischievous intimacy shared by their in-group. As comfortable as the Uru-eu-wau-wau seem in Pritzs presence, and within the gorgeously staged tableaus he uses to turn them into cinematic heroes, there are layers to their experiences and interactions which he does not and cannot reach a conditional openness, that differs in the presence of outside news cameras chasing ratings, semi-adopted allies seeking to dramatize their story, and their own private home videos or private preparations for battle, as they speak Tupi-Kawahiva rather than Portuguese. With images that are as powerful as they are unexpected, The Territory is a work crafted both by its director Alex Pritz, and by the indigenous community whose story it tells. On one level, that story unfolds on screen, with rural tranquility threatened by violent invasion, and marked by a stark aesthetic shift. However, on another level, its story also unfolds in the unspoken considerations surrounding the images, who controls them, and what that control ultimately means, in the context of liberation from modern colonialism and genocide taking place in the public eye. Grade: B+ The Territory premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. It is currently seeking distribution. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. New research from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland affirms what some other international studies have shown: the COVID-19 omicron variant is milder than the delta variant, resulting in significantly less severe illness. The new study is the first completed in the U.S. on the omicron variant, according to Case. It is also the first to control for pre-existing medical conditions and demographics and also includes data from pediatric patients, the university said. A COVID-19 particle is pictured in this image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers analyzed data from those who contracted COVID between September and December 2021, including more than 14,000 people who were infected with the omicron variant at the end of December. This data was compared to those who were infected with the delta variant in the fall. Findings show that first-time COVID-19 infections from the omicron variant are associated with significantly less severe outcomes in comparison to first-time infections from the delta variant. The risk of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission and emergency room visits is significantly lower in those infected with the omicron variant of the coronavirus, the study concluded. The study, titled "Comparison of outcomes from COVID infection in pediatric and adult patients before and after the emergence of Omicron" has not yet been published in a medical journal or peer-reviewed. It can be seen at https://tinyurl.com/yy5nw65m. Beacon Journal staff reporter Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ. To see her most recent stories and columns, go to www.tinyurl.com/bettylinfisher. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Case Western study affirms omicron COVID variant is milder than delta NEW YORK The funeral for the rookie police officer fatally shot in Harlem will be held in Manhattans iconic St. Patricks Cathedral. The wake for Officer Jason Rivera is slated to take place Thursday afternoon inside the historic Midtown house of worship with a funeral Friday morning, sources familiar with the planning said Sunday. Rivera, 22, was shot dead on Friday, and his partner, Wilbert Mora, critically wounded, by an armed ex-convict after the alleged killers mother called 911 asking for help. After Riveras death, Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch asked the public to attend his funeral to send a message that hurting a police officer wont be tolerated. It cant be just us. Yes, we will stand patch to patch and bury our brother. We will bow our heads in sadness, but we need you too, Lynch said. The streets cant just be filled with New York City police officers at this funeral. The public has to come. In 2017, some 12,000 officers flooded into St. Patricks Cathedral, lining the blocks around Fifth Avenue, to mourn the death of NYPD Detective Steven McDonald, who died more than 30 years after a teenage gunman shot and paralyzed him in 1986. Two Canadian guests are dead and another injured after a Friday shooting at a luxury hotel in Mexico, officials announced on Twitter last week. According to Lucio Hernandez Gutierrez, state public security of Quintana Roo, the shooting took place at the Hotel Xcaret Mexico, an upscale and all-inclusive resort costing several hundred dollars a night. It's nestled in Playa del Carmen, a tourist town along the Caribbean coastline of Mexico. On Friday afternoon, Hernandez Gutierrez said on Twitter that one of the guests died in the hospital. State officials later revealed that a second tourist died from the shooting. The Quintana Roo state prosecutor's office said via Twitter that the suspect in the shooting was also apparently a guest and Canadian police informed them he was a known felon with a long record related to robbery, drug and weapons offenses. The office said both of the dead also had criminal records. Hernandez Gutierrez tweeted photos of the suspected shooter, that showed a man in a light blue tracksuit wielding a gun. Another photo shows a man sitting under a beach umbrella. Police and security officials are requesting information that may help with his arrest. SHOOTING IN CANCUN: Two men killed in shooting at resort near Cancun, authorities say Este es el huesped que disparo ocasionando las lesiones que posteriormente provocaran la muerte a uno de ellos, las autoridades del grupo de coordinacion despliegan fuerte operativo para su captura, cualquier informacion para pronta detencion estaremos profundamente agradecidos. pic.twitter.com/PRDC0hhBBe Lucio Hernandez Gutierrez (@Lucio_HG) January 21, 2022 The shooting is the latest act of violence along Mexico's Mayan Riviera, a hotspot of its tourism industry. In November, a shootout on the beach of Puerto Morelos left two suspected drug dealers dead. Authorities said there were some 15 shoots from a gang that apparently disputed control of drug sales there. Story continues In late October, farther south in the laidback destination of Tulum, two tourists one a California travel blogger born in India and the other German were caught in the apparent crossfire of rival drug dealers and killed. Following those events, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sent nearly 1,500 members of the National Guard to reinforce security in the area. Contributing: The Associated Press Follow Michelle Shen on Twitter @michelle_shen10. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luxury hotel shooting in Mexico leaves at least 2 dead and 1 injured The city of Detroit overtaxed homeowners by at least $600 million between 2010 and 2016. After a City Council proposal failed in 2020, Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield and the Coalition for Property Tax Justice revealed a tentative plan Saturday for compensation and dignity restoration. At the root of the new proposal is the idea that the overtaxation was dehumanizing and systemic it took away residents' dignity. To fully repay what Detroiters have lost, the city must restore that dignity, the proposal says. "You all should have never been put in this position," said U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, speaking virtually to a crowd of 700 Detroiters, many of whom were hurt by the overtaxation. "These overassessments were illegal; they were systemic, and they gutted out our neighborhoods." In Wayne County, 451 occupied homes are headed to the annual tax foreclosure auction in 2018. Some residents, like the occupants of this home, marked for auction in 2017, post signs pleading with prospective buyers not to bid. The Michigan Constitution states that no property can be assessed at more than 50% of its market value, but the city assessed 55%-85% of its property in violation of that law. This overassessment led to 100,000 Detroiters losing their homes when they should not have, activists say. Detroit resident Sonja Bonnett lost her home due to "illegal and unconstitutional tax foreclosure." She said nobody told her that she was eligible for the poverty tax exemption and that losing her home lit a fire in her to start fighting for herself, her family and her community. "When I lost my home, I didn't just lose a structure: I lost my health; I lost my footing; I lost confidence in myself," Bonnett said. "I think that the city really needs to know that when you put the community in these positions, you're not just taking a building from us. You're taking the American Dream from us. You're taking what some of us are so proud to gain in the first place, which is a family home. And when it happened to me, it almost destroyed me. It almost destroyed my family." The previous, failed proposal offered overassessed homeowners a 50% discount on city-controlled vacant properties and would have moved those homeowners to the front of the line for affordable housing and for city jobs. Anyone who owned a home in the city and lived in it as a primary residence between 2010 and 2013 would have been eligible, which amounts to about 130,000 residents. The plan would have cost the city roughly $6 million. Story continues More: Rapid rise in mortgage rates startles homebuyers; blame inflation fears More: Detroiters can get help applying for property tax exemption. Here's how. Sheffield said the plan was voted down for two main reasons: It did not take into account those impacted before 2010 or after 2013, and the $6 million was "inadequate," meaning it would not have gone far enough to help the residents of Detroit through this crisis. Any action that leads to a budget deficit automatically triggers the return of the Financial Review Commission's complete control over city finances," city spokesman John Roach told the Free Press. "We will not support anything that once again leads to Detroit's loss of self-determination. The housing advocates noted that a memo from the city's legal department states the city cannot legally give direct monetary reimbursement to the residents. While they work to fight that ruling, the new proposal aims to provide compensation in different ways. The coalition presented its proposal at a "people's forum" to hear feedback before it is officially presented to the City Council. The overtaxation of Detroit residents is part of a national racial justice issue, said Bernadette Atuahene, a professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law who has studied overassessment in Detroit, and who is part of the Coalition for Property Tax Justice. Wayne County's majority-Black municipalities Detroit, Highland Park and Inkster have a higher foreclosure rate than mostly-white localities, according to Atuahene's research. To properly rectify the situation, the city's compensation must provide options for each person's individual situation and restore residents' dignity. "There are other instances where they take something from you as part of a larger strategy of dehumanization, or infantilization, or a larger process of structural racism," Atuahene said. "In those instances, I've taken more than just your property, I've also taken your dignity, and that's called the dignity-taking. And the idea is to say when this larger harm called the dignity-taking has occurred, mere reparations are not enough. Just giving you compensation for the thing taken is not enough. What's required is a more robust remedy that I call dignity restoration, and that's the process of giving you compensation for things taken, but through a process that affirms your humanity and restores your agency." Proposal details There are four categories of overassessed residents that are eligible for compensation if they owned and occupied a home that the city overtaxed between 2009 and 2020. Overtaxed homeowners whose property was foreclosed even though they were exempt from paying property taxes to begin with. Overtaxed homeowners whose property was foreclosed. Overtaxed homeowners whom the county did not foreclose on but who are eligible to be exempt from paying taxes. Overtaxed homeowners whom the county did not foreclose on. Depending on which category residents fall under, there are a variety of compensation options that range from small business support to property tax credits to a home repair grant, among other things. Screenshot from the tentative proposal The proposal also includes oversight measures, including the creation of an independent review board to uncover property tax inequities, and changes to the inflated property tax assessments appeals process to make it more accessible. Read the full proposal here: drive.google.com Homeowners who might be eligible to appeal their property tax assessment can fill out this interest form: actionnetwork.org/forms/property-tax-assessment-appeal-interest-form Staff writers Christine MacDonald and Nushrat Rahman contributed to this report. Contact Emma Stein: estein@freepress.com and follow her on Twitter @_emmastein. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit overtaxed homeowners $600M. They're still seeking compensation U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with Vice President Kamala Harris Dustin Chambers/Bloomberg via Getty Images On the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are making a call to action as several states try to implement restrictive abortion laws amid court challenges. Biden, 79, shared a statement on Twitter Saturday to mark the landmark Supreme Court decision of 1973 that granted women the right to an abortion in every state. "The constitutional right established in Roe v. Wade 49 years ago today is under assault as never before," Biden wrote. "We must recommit to strengthening access to reproductive care, defending the right established by Roe, and protecting the freedom of all people to build their own future." The constitutional right established in Roe v. Wade 49 years ago today is under assault as never before. We must recommit to strengthening access to reproductive care, defending the right established by Roe, and protecting the freedom of all people to build their own future. President Biden (@POTUS) January 22, 2022 RELATED: With Roe vs. Wade in Danger, These True Stories from Women About Their Abortions Are More Powerful Than Ever Harris, 57, also shared a video message on Twitter, vowing to fight "to protect a woman's right to choose." "Roe v. Wade advanced women's equality and that case saved women's lives," she said, adding, "The proponents of overturning Roe have been clear. They want to take away that right in every state. We will fight to protect a woman's right to choose." "The constitutional right of women to make decisions about their own bodies is not an abstract concept. It saves women's lives," Harris continued. "So, on this 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, let us recommit to doing everything we can to protect those constitutional rights." Story continues We must remain firm in ensuring that our country is not pushed backwards on womens reproductive rights. pic.twitter.com/krelfxWUHc Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) January 22, 2022 RELATED: Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Abortion Ban and Could Overturn Roe v. Wade Over the weekend, Biden and Harris also issued a joint statement on the White House website reiterating their pledge to spearhead the right for women's reproductive rights. "We are deeply committed to protecting access to health care, including reproductive health careand to ensuring that this country is not pushed backwards on women's equality," the pair said. The statement continued: "In recent years, we have seen efforts to restrict access to reproductive health care increase at an alarming rate. In Texas, Mississippi, and many other states around the country, access to reproductive health care is under attack. These state restrictions constrain the freedom of all women. And they are particularly devastating for those who have fewer options and fewer resources, such as those in underserved communities, including communities of color and many in rural areas." According to the release, the administration is working to codify Roe v. Wade and is taking steps toward protecting access to abortion care throughout the nation via the Women's Health Protection Act. RELATED VIDEO: Woman Whose Conception Sparked Roe v. Wade Case Breaks Silence: 'I'm Keeping a Secret but I Hate It' "All people deserve access to reproductive health care regardless of their gender, income, race, zip code, health insurance status, immigration status, disability, or sexual orientation. And the continued defense of this constitutional right is essential to our health, safety, and progress as a nation," said Biden and Harris. In 2021, a record 106 restrictions on abortions became law in the U.S. In the past, states that tried to enact anti-abortion laws knew they would be struck down by state and federal courts following the precedent set by Roe v. Wade. But now, with six conservative justices on the Supreme Court three added during Donald Trump's presidency legalized abortions may no longer be the law of the land. RELATED: Saturday Might Be the Last Anniversary of Roe v. Wade "We've entered into a new, more restrictive phase in 2021 because we now have a solidly anti-abortion Supreme Court," Elizabeth Nash, state policy analyst at the Guttmacher Institute, a research group focused on abortion rights, previously told PEOPLE. If Roe is overturned, "then I would expect in fairly short order we would start to see states, particularly the South, the Plains and Midwest, look to adopt abortion bans," Nash said. Twelve states, including Mississippi and Texas, have "trigger" laws in place that would automatically ban abortions if that happens. "And that would make it very hard for a large percentage of women in the country to access abortion care in their own state. It means a lot more people would have to travel for care," Nash pointed out. "And the people who are most impacted by these abortion restrictions and bans are people of color, low-income individuals, young people and LGBTQ individuals people who are already burdened with insufficient access to healthcare." Delayed a year by the pandemic, The Maine's third 8123 Fest will celebrate the Tempe rockers' 15th anniversary with five days of events in downtown Phoenix. The main or is it Maine? event is a multi-band blowout at Margaret T. Hance Park. The Maine will headline (obviously) with a set that bassist Garrett Nickelsen says will be a mix of greatest hits and songs they haven't messed with in a while. They're joined by State Champs, 3OH!3, Tessa Violet, the reunited Summer Set, Derek Sanders (of Mayday Parade), Beach Weather and The Maine's John O'Callaghan doing a solo set as John the Ghost. Interview: John O'Callaghan on ushering in the 'XOXO' era with a very 'Sticky' video The origins of 8123 Fest The first 8123 Fest was held in 2017 to celebrate the Maine's 10th anniversary in Crescent Ballroom's parking lot with a pre-fest concert at the Rebel Lounge. Two years later, they moved to a much bigger venue, Civic Space Park, with a pre-fest show at the Van Buren. They've realized people flying into Phoenix for their festival would probably be interested in checking out as many side events as possible, so they've expanded. About 70% of the tickets sold in 2019 were to people coming in from out-of-state. "So everyone gets to experience what it was like for us growing up in Arizona," Nickelsen says. "And they get to see the things we've talked about in songs. Also, it's a chance for people that live on the East Coast or somewhere cold to come hang out in 70 degree weather in January." More Arizona music festivals: Mark your calendar for these 2022 festivals Plus, it's someplace for the larger family of Maine fans to convene and celebrate their shared love of the music. "There's something different about our fan base," Nickelsen says. "So it's just like this big family vibe for the weekend. It's an opportunity for everyone to come together and do something that hopefully makes them happy." Story continues Nickelsen lives downtown and one of the things he loves the most about the festival is seeing fans he recognizes from Chicago or Seattle as he's driving down the street. "The streets of downtown become ours in this really wild way," he says. "That's the coolest thing." Here's everything you need to know before you go. The Maine onstage at 8123 Fest at Civic Space Park in 2019. 8123 Fest lineup and schedule The main event is 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22. at Margaret T. Hance Park, 1218 N. Second St., Phoenix. Doors open at noon. Record Store Day: Taylor Swift has signed on as global ambassador for 2022 There is a separate ADA entry line for attendees who need assistance or have accessibility needs. Festival staff will be available to help on-site. Main stage lineup 1:30-2 p.m. John the Ghost 2:10-2:30 p.m. Derek Sanders 2:55-3:25 p.m. Beach Weather 3:55-4:25 p.m. Tessa Violet 4:55-5:30 p.m. 3OH!3 6-6:35 p.m. The Summer Set 7:05-7:45 p.m. State Champs 8:15-9:45 p.m. The Maine Sonoran Roots local stage 1-1:25 p.m. Sundressed 1:50-2:15 p.m. The Color 8 2:40-3:05 p.m. Doll Skin 3:30-4 p.m. Weathers 4:25-4:55 p.m. Breakup Shoes There are two after-parties at 10 p.m. Saturday. The Van Buren at 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix, will host a Make American Emo Again Party 2 with DJ sets by artists playing 8123 Fest. There's also a Harry Styles Night Afterparty at Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix, with A Claire Slattery. 8123 Fest PopUp Shop An 8123 Fest PopUp Shop will hold its grand opening from 2 to 8 p.m Thursday, Jan. 20, at 435 S. Third Ave., Phoenix. It's also open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday and 1-6 p.m. on Sunday. The shop will carry merchandise for 8123 Fest and the Maine, vinyl records, limited-edition products and more. If you purchased a festival bundle, you can pick it up at the PopUp Shop at any point. This will make the process for the rest of the weekend much smoother. The Maine at 8123 Fest in 2019 8123 Fest kickoff party with Beach Weather In addition to playing the festival itself on Saturday, Beach Weather will play a kickoff party at the Rebel Lounge on Thursday, Jan. 20, with Hollywood Slasher and Cece Oates. Doors open at 6 p.m. The show is at 7. The Rebel Lounge is at 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. Friday events at 8123 The 8123 Social Club, a curated cocktail and social lounge for the 8123 family, will be serving signature cocktails and a limited-edition cider from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Crescent Ballroom. The Maine will play their latest album, "XOXO: From Love and Anxiety in Real Time," followed by a mini-set of rarities and B-sides, at Arizona Federal Theatre (400 W. Washington St., Phoenix) with special guest the Technicolors and Breakup Shoes. Doors open at 5 p.m. The concert starts at 6:30. This is a general-admission concert with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. The Van Buren hosts a post-show party, Make American Emo Again Party 1, at 10 p.m. with DJ sets from artists playing 8123 Fest. The Van Buren is at 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. Sunday events at 8123 Fest There's an 8123 Brunch in the works, with time and location to be determined. There's also a Meet and Greet with the Maine, with time and location to be determined. The Summer Set will headline Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix, with Concrete Castles. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The show is at 7:30. 8123 Impact Day The Maine and 8123 Fest invite festival-goers to join them in a hands-on project that supports local nonprofit, Nourish PHX. A message on the website reads "8123 Impact is a philanthropic initiative used to inspire the 8123 family to donate their passion, time and talents to make a positive difference locally and globally while bringing awareness and supporting social conscientiousness." As Nickelsen explains, "We're always trying to figure out things to help the community and kind of give back. It's an opportunity for us to do more than just put on a show and do after-parties and stuff." 8123 Fest ticket information General admission tickets for the festival are $55 plus service fees, available at 81-23.com. A two-event bundle, which includes admission to the festival and the pre-fest concert with the Maine at Arizona Federal Theatre, is $95 plus service fees. A three-event bundle, which also includes admission to the Friday after-party, is $120 plus service fees. COVID-19 protocols at 8123 Fest 8123 Fest will provide free COVID-19 testing for all attendees at the festival itself and all related side events provided by Commerce Medical Group. The tests will be provided for anyone that needs a test or would like to take a test for additional comfort. A complete list of on-site test locations and hours is available at 81-23.com/covid. The 8123 Staff and band members will be wearing masks at all indoor events surrounding 8123 Fest and suggest that all attendees do the same to stay safe. In addition, all concert-goers must be vaccinated to attend the festival. If you cannot receive a vaccine due to health or religious reasons, you must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within the past 72 hours prior to entering the festival events. If you don't feel good or have had a recent exposure to COVID-19, the Maine requests that you do not attend the festival or other surrounding events. Mark your calendar: Arizona music festivals in 2022, from 8123 Fest to Country Thunder Things you may bring to 8123 Fest These items may be brought into the actual festival. Clear bags of any size or standard-size fanny packs Blankets and towels Empty reusable water bottles Non-professional cameras Prescription and over-the-counter medications Small snacks Arizona Federal Theatre's bag policy is clear bags up to 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches or a small clutch bag up to 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches. Places to stay for 8123 Fest The festival has partnered with several hotels in the area with a link available through 81-23.com for discounted rates and other festival perks. All hotels are either walking distance or accessible by a short ride on the Light Rail. When you choose an 8123 Fest hotel, your booking is guaranteed and you can avoid the lines by receiving your pre-ordered festival bundle directly at your hotel. The hotels that have partnered with the festival are the FOUND:RE Hotel, Embassy Suites, Best Western and Hampton Inn. How to get an 8123 tattoo The festival has also partnered with Electrik Needle Tattoo Shop at 1028 Grand Ave., Phoenix, to offer an exclusive 8123 Fest flash tattoo special. Any tattoo featured on the flash sheet will be $80 plus a gratuity to the artist. Tattoo time slots are limited and you need an appointment in order to get one. There's a picture of 13 available tattoos at 81-23.com. Please reference the number of the piece you want to get and include that number in your booking. Appointments are booked in groups of 15. Come on time for the start of your hour, and everyone with an appointment will be tattooed within that hour. Each booking is for one person only, so if you plan to go with friends, please ensure everyone makes their own booking. The Maine as they prepare to share the video for "Sticky," their first release of 2021. How to get an 8123 Sticky Cake The Maine have also teamed up with Sonoran Roots and Ponderosa Dispensary to release a limited edition "Sticky Cake" cannabis product, available at Ponderosa Dispensary on the Northwest corner of W. Northern Avenue and N. 91st Ave. (9240 W. Northern Ave., Glendale). Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 8123 Fest with the Maine: A guide to the downtown Phoenix music event Volunteers from the American Red Cross of Wisconsin are assisting multiple families displaced following residential fires Friday and Saturday. Friday's fire occurred at a home in the 1300 block of Ohio Avenue in the Morgandale neighborhood. A family of five were displaced, including a teenager and 3-year-old child, according to the Red Cross. Deputy Chief Erich Roden with the Milwaukee Fire Department said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Saturday's fire occurred in the attic of a home in the 900 block of E. Center Street in the Riverwest neighborhood. The Red Cross said two families were displaced following that fire, including four adults, one child and a dog. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to Roden. "Red Cross teams are providing for each of these families comfort, aid for emergency lodging and meals, and access to health and mental health resources," said Red Cross volunteer spokesperson Aubrey Dodd. The Red Cross reports that so far in 2022, the organization has provided relief and care to 276 people affected by more than two residential home fires per day in Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Dodd said this "is consistent with our busiest time of year for help after home fires." Contact Drake Bentley at (414) 391-5647 or DBentley1@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DrakeBentleyMJS. 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: Red Cross assisting multiple families following Milwaukee fires The average spent on repairs and capital projects at five schools in the Niagara Wheatfield Central School District in the last seven years is $11 million apiece. But over the same period less than $200,000 has been spent at the district's sixth school, the Tuscarora Indian School that teaches Native American children. "The inequity is stark," said Niagara Wheatfield Superintendent Daniel G. Ljiljanich. It looks like that's about to change. The elementary school serving about 100 prekindergarten through sixth-graders is on the Tuscarora Reservation. The school building is not owned by the district, but by New York State, which is responsible for its upkeep. The Tuscarora School is one of three state-owned schools on native reservations. Usually repairs and improvements at public schools are approved by voters as capital project referendums. If voters approve, then the work goes to the lowest bidder and construction starts. But capital projects at the three Native American schools are the responsibility of the director of facilities in the state Education Department. And there is one budget line for capital work at the three schools, plus 11 other state-owned schools serving children who are blind and deaf. The annual amount for the 14 buildings "has long been insufficient to meet the need, as it has been capped at $3.4 million for many years," according to the state Board of Regents summary of its budget requests. "In our case, we needed brick repair to that building and roof repair for a number of years," Ljiljanich said. "The brick repairs keep getting pushed back because at one of the other buildings, theres a bigger emergency, or there's a situation where its even worse." But this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul has included $35.7 million in her proposed 2022-23 budget for repairs at the three schools. The Tuscarora School would receive $11.8 million, St. Regis Mohawk School in Salmon River Central School District in Franklin County would get $17.8 million and the Onondaga Nation School in LaFayette Central School District in Onondaga County would receive $6.1 million. The disparity in resources results in "inequitable treatment of these students as it relates to their health and safety and the updating of facilities to meet increased educational demands," the Board of Regents summary states. "Its created a situation where the Tuscarora Elementary School has become really dilapidated, between the bricks literally pieces falling out of the building, the roof repair needed because of water getting in in places in the building," Ljiljanich said. "Its just reached a point where we needed a lump sum dollar amount to fix the things that have been neglected for so long." The district's building condition survey and annual visual inspections of the school revealed major repairs needed, including exterior brick work, a new roof, windows and doors, parking lot replacement, concrete sidewalk and stair repairs and playground upgrades. The superintendent said if the funding is included in the final budget approved by the State Legislature, work could start next year. He said he's hopeful, because the initiative has received bipartisan support. But the lobbying is not done. "We need to make sure that the budget line for these buildings that are owned by New York State is increased to a rate that they can fix these problems as they occur, like what is able to be done in all our other buildings," Ljiljanich said. 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. By Gustavo Palencia TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - The United States embassy in Honduras on Saturday called for calm and dialogue after lawmakers brawled in Congress a day earlier amid a dispute over who would head up the legislative body, just days before President-elect Xiomara Castro takes office. "Due to the events of January 21, the United States calls on political actors to remain calm, engage in dialogue and refrain from violence and provocative rhetoric, and urges their supporters to express themselves peacefully while respecting the rule of law," the U.S. embassy in Tegucigalpa tweeted. Castro's legislative plans suffered a body blow on Friday when about 18 members of her Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre) broke ranks and collaborated with the ruling National Party to elect a Libre lawmaker as the president of Congress. The dispute triggered chaotic scenes in Congress as the vote broke an agreement Castro had with Partido Salvador de Honduras (PSH), an allied party that helped her claim victory, to install a PSH figure as the Congress president. Castro, calling the move a "betrayal", expelled the 18 lawmakers from her party. She also called for Libre members from around the country to converge in the capital Tegucigalpa for a vigil to prevent Sunday's election of a new board that would ratify Friday's vote. Castro promised ally PSH leadership of Congress after its candidate, Salvador Nasralla, stepped down from the race and pledged support to Castro, the wife of former President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a coup in 2009. Going against the deal with PSH will likely impact Castro's ability to prevail in Congress, analysts say. Castro has threatened to refuse to be sworn in on Jan. 27 by the new president of Congress. (Writing by Drazen Jorgic) FILE A defendant speaks to Judge Steven Michels via virtual meeting during Municipal Court Thursday, July 17, 2020, at the Law and Justice Center, 401 Homer St. in Sunnyside, Wash. A woman was killed in a home explosion and fire on Thursday morning in Roslyn, officials said. You are the owner of this article. On Jan. 7, the U.S. Supreme Court heard sound evidence why the federal government should be allowed to require employers of more than 100 to order workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or wear masks and take weekly tests. It also heard weak retorts on why it shouldn't. Last Thursday, the weak ones won. In a related case, the court listened to why it makes sense for health care facilities getting federal Medicare and Medicaid funds to require those employees be vaccinated. And it heard lame arguments accusing the federal government of being a police state for mandating that. In that case, the stronger ones won. If this account sounds reductionist, I heard the arguments through a tainted filter: I was sick with COVID, lying under a blanket with my dog on the couch, scribbling notes on a Christmas card envelope. And my condition, though relatively mild, left little patience for pontification, anti-government screeds or efforts to minimize the seriousness of the pandemic, which is having its biggest surge since it began nearly two years ago. I wanted arguments rooted in science that prioritized public health. But what I heard gave too much ground to anti-vaxxers, and championed states' and localities' rights, even when those have done little to stem the pandemic. So when the court Thursday halted President Joe Biden's mandate to employers with 100 or more employees, it shouldn't have been a surprise. Just a disappointment. The president issued the emergency temporary standard on businesses in November but it was blocked from taking effect within days by an appeals court panel that called it too broad. It was reinstated in December by another appeals court, but now it's blocked three days after going into effect, by a 6-3 vote. It would have impacted 80 million workers. Now the administration is deploying military members to hospitals in six states that need help. What's so frustrating is that the president wants to act to intercept the tide, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has broad discretion to enact safety measures for workplaces. But conservatives on the high court, casting it as government overreach, tie his hands. If Biden cited an emergency to declare war on another country, he'd probably be cheered on. Mandates would wreck businesses? You mean like the virus already does? In the face of a virus that has killed 843,000 in America, Missouri's deputy attorney general warned that the vaccine requirement would cause workers to quit their jobs and would "devastate local towns because of worker shortages. "Isn't that what COVID itself is doing?" I muttered to the dog, who licked my hand. Almost 17,000 of the nation's COVID deaths have been in Missouri, where only 56% of eligible people are fully vaccinated. Only a third have gotten a booster. "A single federal agency tasked with occupational standards cannot commandeer businesses economy-wide into becoming de facto public health agencies," Scott Keller, representing the National Federation of Independent Businesses, told justices. "This is a pandemic in which nearly a million people have died," responded Justice Elena Kagan. "It is by far the greatest public health danger that this country has faced in the last century. And this is the policy that is most geared to stopping all this." Justice Stephen Breyer, who shared the concern, noted: "There were three-quarters of a million new cases yesterday. That's 10 times as many as when OSHA put this rule in. The hospitals are today, yesterday, full, almost to the point of the maximum they've ever been in this disease, OK?" Apparently not. His court colleagues preferred Keller's reasoning about a "permanent worker displacement that will ripple through the national economy," along with lost profits, lost goodwill and lost business reputations. He used words like "catastrophic," "bankrupt" and "devastating" to depict what would happen if government required vaccinations or tests and masks. My foggy brain wasn't tracking with that. As Justice Sonia Sotomayor pointed out: "Catching COVID keeps people out of the workplace for extraordinary periods of time. The unvaccinated worker affects other unvaccinated workers but (also) affects vaccinated workers. We have proof of that with omicron. And it's not just death, but there is illness, and for many with preexisting conditions or immunological problems, there are severe consequences even when vaccinated." She was speaking to me. I've been doubly vaccinated. I qualified for and got the booster early thanks to my age and an immune system weakness caused by a shot I take. If I hadn't gotten the vaccine and booster, I'd probably be in the hospital. If I were, I could have been taking up space from someone who needed the bed more. Look what happened to Dale Weeks, the retired school superintendent from Newton who developed sepsis and died in November after weeks of awaiting a hospital bed at a large medical center. Since those beds were taken up by COVID patients, he was confined to a less-equipped care center in Newton. I guess we vaccinated people don't have a right to be protected from the careless A wave of nausea drove me to the bathroom around the time Justice Samuel Alito said workers should be able to balance the risks for themselves and faulted OSHA for dictating what people could do on and off the job, forever. He contended vaccinations might also harm people's health. "There is a risk, right? Has OSHA ever imposed any other safety regulation that imposes some extra risk on the employee?" The federal Food and Drug Administration calls the risks from the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines very small. But what about the risks to the rest of us from those who won't get vaccinated or wear masks? Where's our say in it? I suspect someone who wasn't taking precautions passed the virus to me. Tens of millions of Americans havent even taken a first shot. From Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, we heard that the OSHA statute authorized immunization, masking and testing, measures that could now save 6,500 lives and prevent 250,000 hospitalizations in six months. We were also reminded that we've all been subject to compulsory vaccinations, starting from when we entered school. But from Keller, we heard the vaccine mandate described as "a blunderbuss rule" for requiring the same thing of all large employers, regardless of other steps they've taken to protect employees. By then I had no idea what he was talking about and blamed the fog of the virus. If they're already requiring vaccines or tests and masks, where's the problem? And what's blunderbuss? The dictionary defines it as either "a short musket of wide bore with expanded muzzle," or "an insensitive, blundering person." Kagan wasn't getting it, either: "I'm trying to figure out why this is a blunderbuss approach," she said, "when everybody knows from living their normal lives that every workplace has been affected by this, save for a few here and there." From opponents we heard that state and local officials can best understand and accommodate conditions in their workplaces. (Which is of little help when they don't choose to do anything.) We heard that the risk of COVID is everywhere, at home, at work, and elsewhere, so why single out the workplace? (Because we can control where we go and with whom we associate in other settings. At a worksite, not so much.) Even as opponents argued, my system was having none of it. For all their posturing, here I was actually suffering through it and would have welcomed federal government protection. Instead I got blunderbuss. To the editor -- Yakima County Commissioner LaDon Linde testified against HB 1838 before the Washington House Committee on Rural Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources on Wednesday, Jan. 19. HB 1838, the Lorraine Loomis Act, is intended to protect, restore and maintain habitat for salmon recovery. Here are some points Commissioner Linde missed as he spoke for us: 1. Salmon need healthy spawning grounds to survive. 2. The majority of Washington salmon species are threatened, endangered and facing extinction. 3. Many of the people he represents are both spiritually and economically linked to wild salmon. 4. Fishing is agriculture. 5. Migrating fish must travel through heavily polluted reaches in the Lower Yakima River. 6. Farming to the waters edge increases runoff, pollutes the rivers, pollutes Puget Sound and the ocean. 7. Pollution brings decreased oxygen levels in surface waters and death to fragile aquatic organisms. 8. Beauty in nature has value. Looking at films of beautiful streams and waterfalls is a poor substitute for walking along the riverbanks, boating and fishing. Thanks for considering the big picture a healthy environment and economy, not just for some but for everyone. JEAN MENDOZA White Swan Kathy Hochul has had little to say about politics since becoming governor back on Aug. 24. And thats probably good politics, because her fortunes seem to only improve. Last week was a good one for the Buffalo resident. A potential major competitor, former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, decided not to compete in this years Democratic primary for governor. Then Hochul reported more than $21 million in her campaign account, dwarfing totals offered by her remaining Democratic rivals Rep. Tom Suozzi of Nassau County and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. And to top it all off, a Siena College Research Institute poll showed the new governor dominating the Democratic field with 46% support, compared to 11% for Williams and 6% for Suozzi. With 22 weeks until the primary, declared Siena pollster Steve Greenberg, it appears Hochul is in the catbird seat to be the Democratic nominee for governor. All of this raises interesting questions about what lies ahead, especially as legislative mapmakers in Albany get serious about drawing new districts for members of the Assembly, State Senate and Congress. Suozzi is a major contender in the Democratic primary, as his $5.2 million campaign fund demonstrates. But it only makes sense that Hochul, and much of the states Democratic hierarchy that backs her, would prefer that Suozzi remain as a leading member of New Yorks congressional delegation and not pose a threat to the sitting governor. And since reapportionment essentially remains a political process, some observers wonder if Albanys redistricting gurus just might draw favorable new lines for the congressman based in Nassau County and Queens. Roman Hedges, the retired deputy secretary of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and one of Albanys most respected reapportionment experts, notes that the governor always plays a key role in the process. Reapportionment bills will eventually land on her desk, he says, and she will wield enormous influence should she choose (though courts can also become involved). Hochul is no stranger to the process. When new lines created the most Republican district in all of New York back in 2012, she lost her congressional seat to the GOPs Chris Collins. As a practical matter, Hedges observes, this is a governor who knows what its like to lose out. Ive got to believe she will just not defer because of lack of interest. For sure, nobody knows what is going on behind the scenes. But the theory that Suozzi could suddenly inherit a friendly district and return to Washington at least gains credence. A governor who hopes for an easy glide to election in her own right could have lots to say about a process that becomes very much a part of the big picture. Might that calculation come into play? Hedges asks. Its a reasonable supposition. Its important to note on this Sunday that Tom Precious signs off this weekend after 25 years of chronicling the Capitol as Albany bureau chief for The Buffalo News. From The News cubby hole on the famous shelf of the Capitols out-of-The Front Page press room, Precious has gained the respect of pols (sometimes grudgingly) and reporters, alike, for his ability to bore into budget books, develop trusted sources and set the agenda for Western New York coverage. A great pal of the Politics Column, he is adored by fellow reporters in Albany, and his colleagues at The News wonder and how they will survive without his daily help. As much as anyone in Albany, Precious appreciates the history of the Capitol building and its importance in the lives of New Yorkers, and knows every one of its secret nooks and crannies. Indeed, you just havent lived until taking his coveted personal tour of the Capitol, right down to the gargoyle planted by some mischievous workman into a first floor wall back in the 1880s. Maybe theres a second act at the Capitol for Precious in retirement. Toms Tours? Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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. New Delhi: Industry body CII has suggested the government include an additional 1 per cent corporate social responsibility levy apart from the mandatory 2 per cent for one year in the upcoming Budget to encourage corporates to spend on providing Covid vaccine booster shots. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has also urged state governments to lift the pandemic-induced restrictions on economic activity, arguing that the occupancy rate of hospital beds due to the Omicron variant of Covid is well within the manageable level. "CII suggests that 1 per cent of mandated CSR funds be earmarked for vaccination. We also recommend that an additional 1 per cent be added to CSR requirements in the Budget, for a specified period of 12 months, so that boosters can be made available to all age-groups," CII President T V Narendran said. The chamber said it expects Budget 2022-23 to focus on measures for strengthening economic recovery. CII requested that the government should encourage industry to deploy CSR funding towards providing precautionary shots to the community. Further, the industry is ready to contribute an additional 1 per cent under the CSR norms to the national vaccination mission, apart from the mandated 2 per cent, and this can be part of the Budget for a period of 12 months only, suggested CII. "Hospitalisation rates in the present wave stand at manageable levels and therefore, industry feels that Covid-related restrictions can be removed to enable the robust recovery process to continue," it stated. In line with the Prime Minister's guidance to state governments to undertake restrictions where required at a localised level, CII has written to state chief ministers to consider curbs at micro containment zones only when hospitalization rates are over 75 per cent, Narendran shared. With a lower level of hospitalisations seen in the Omicron variant, it is possible to maintain normal economic activities and protect lives and livelihoods, he added. The CII President emphasised that the investments under National Infrastructure Pipeline and Gati Shakti programme must be fast-tracked and it is expected that the Budget would provide for this. CII has also written to state chief ministers with suggestions regarding the level of curbs on markets and factories. The industry body pitched that containment at micro zones should be considered only when available hospital beds are 75 per cent occupied. Normal economic activities should continue until this level is breached in a micro zone and anyway should be permitted in the rest of the district. Even in micro containment zones, it said, all factories may be allowed to function under certain conditions of hygiene and safety. There should be no distinction between essential and non-essential goods and services. All shops may be permitted to open without restrictions on timing to avoid crowding at certain times. However, crowd control is essential to enable social distancing, stressed CII. It has also requested for fast-tracking of imports of all international approved mRNA and protein based vaccines at a price to be determined by the Government. This would open up booster shots to all sections of society. With bounce back in demand, the economy is expected to achieve 9.2 per cent growth rate over 2021-22, it added. Also Read: 5 multibagger stocks that more than doubled investors wealth in few weeks; have you invested? "However, this pace must continue for full recovery and faster growth in the medium term and to ensure that workers and small enterprises do not suffer. While vaccinations have helped in dampening the impact of Omicron on the lives of people, the present conditions are conducive to opening up the economy completely while keeping large social gatherings to a minimum," noted Narendran. Also Read: From January to December, check out the list of long weekends and public holidays Due to the rapid growth of electric vehicles and the use of lithium-ion batteries, lithium is in high demand, but there is a global shortage of the metal, as western countries are racing to develop new mines to compete with China. Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto Plc's lithium project, which Serbian authorities cancelled licenses for on Thursday, is likely to prolong the supply shortage until the middle of the decade, according to industry experts. Based on data from Australia's Department of Industry, the U.S. Geological Survey, company reports and a Credit Suisse report, the following are some key facts about lithium mines and supply. Read also: FedEx Express initiates EV trials in India to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040 PRODUCTION Currently, lithium is extracted from hard rock mines or brine mines. With hard rock mines, Australia is the world's leading supplier. Argentina, Chile, and China produce it mostly from salt lakes. In December, Australia's Department of Industry projected that total global production will be 485,000 tonnes in 2021, 615,000 tonnes in 2022, and 821,000 tonnes in 2023. According to Credit Suisse analysts, 2022 production is expected to be 588,000 tonnes, and 2023 at 736,000 tonnes, and forecast demand is expected to outpace supply, with 809,500 tonnes of demand in 2022 and 902,000 tons in 2023, with about two-thirds of that going to electric vehicle batteries. LITHIUM PRICES Over the past year, lithium carbonate prices have soared due to strong demand from Chinese battery manufacturers. Global top 10 producers Allkem said on Jan 18 it expects pricing in the half-year to June to jump to around $20,000 a tonne at point of loading, up about 80% from the half-year to December 2021. WORLD`S BIGGEST MINES There is currently a production capacity of 1.34 million tonnes a year of technical grade and chemical grade lithium concentrate at Talison Lithium in Greenbushes, Western Australia. In the year to June 2022, Pilbara Minerals expects Pilgangoora, Western Australia, to produce 400,000-450,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate. Mt Cattlin, Western Australia, owned by Allkem, the company formed from the merger of Orocobre and Galaxy Resources, produced 230,065 tonnes of spodumene concentrate in 2021. Spodumene is produced at the Mibra mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil, owned by Advanced Metallurgical Group. During the year to June 2022, Mineral Resources Ltd's Mount Marion mine in Western Australia is on track to produce 450,000-475,000 tonnes of spodumene. Atacama Saltar, Antofagasta, Chile, owned by Sociedad Chilena de Minera y Quimica (SQM). This lithium carbonate mine produces 110,000 tons every year. Located in Qinghai, China, the Chaerhan Lake Mine is owned by Qinghai Salt Lake BYD Resources Development Co, and can produce 10,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year. Tianqi Lithium owns the Yajiang Cuola Mine in Sichuan, China, which can produce 10,000 tonnes of lithium per year. With Inputs from Reuters Live TV #mute New Delhi: The all women American spy film The 355 premiered in India on January 21. Starring five A-list actresses - Jessica Chastain (who is also one of the producers of the film), Diane Kruger, Lupita Nyongo, Penelope Cruz and Fan Bingbing. The adventure-thriller shows five international spies collaborate with an aim to stop another World War. While there have been numerous spy films starring men, Jessica Chastian opens up why having a female spy-thriller was important. I have always been very outspoken about how women in the film industry have been treated in the past and it was important for me to make a film where we had actresses not just for hire but as owners..having ownership over their work. It was very much a sense of having each others back and understanding that the position that we were in was not a normal situation to be in and we are very grateful for that. Its been an incredible experience, she told The Wion. Jessica also shared the significance of the title of the film. 355 was the identity code name for the first female spy during the American Revolution and she was a real person but her real name remains a mystery to this day. Our consultant and other women who are active agents currently working in the field have said that it's a badge of honour to be referred to as 355 for women working today. So, for me, the film being called 355 really is a tip of the hat to women who were unrecognised. Its about amplifying their power, their strength, their accomplishments and its saying thank you, she said. The 355 takes place all over the world. We see Columbia, United States, England, Paris, Morocco, Shanghai in the film. The film is produced by Jessica Chastain, Kelly Carmichael, Simon Kinberg. In addition to the five actresses, the film also stars Edgar Ramirez, Sebastian Stan in pivotal roles. New Delhi: At least 875 staff members in the Indian parliament have tested positive for Covid-19 since the onset of the third wave of the pandemic till January 20, PTI reported quoting sources. According to the report, ever since the third wave, triggered by the new Omicron variant of coronavirus has hit the nation, as many as 2,847 tests have been conducted in Parliament for the smooth conduct of the Budget Session of the parliament. Out of these, 875 samples turned out to be Coivd positive till January 20 The data, they said, is of tests conducted since the beginning of the third wave of the pandemic till January 20. Meanwhile, the Budget session is scheduled to start on January 31 and its first part will conclude on February 11. Rajya Sabha Out of the total tests, 915 were conducted by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, some 271 samples were found to be positive for the infection. Venkiah Nadu tests positive for Covid Meanwhile, Indias Vice President, who also presides as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha when the house in session, Venkiah Naidu tested positive for Covid -19 on Sunday ahead of the Budget session. This is for the second time that Naidu has been infected with the virus. "Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, who is in Hyderabad, tested COVID positive today. He has decided to remain in self-isolation for a week. He has advised all those who came in contact with him to isolate themselves and get tested," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted. It seems unlikely that he will participate in Republic Day celebrations on Wednesday. According to the sources, the session will be held following Covid-related protocols. In the wake of a spike in Covid cases, a call has to be taken whether Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will sit simultaneously or in different shifts, they said. Live TV New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday (January 23, 2022) made a big claim and said that he has been informed by sources that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is planning to arrest his cabinet minister Satyendar Jain just before the Punjab Assembly elections. Addressing a press conference, he said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and workers do not fear these agencies as they have done nothing wrong. "From our sources, we have got to know that right before Punjab polls in coming few days the ED is going to arrest Satyendar Jain (Delhi Health and Home Minister). They are most welcome. Previously too, the Centre had conducted raids at Satyendar Jain but got nothing," Kejriwal said. ? Press Conference | LIVE https://t.co/c0E3SFYfSd Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 23, 2022 He also alleged that whenever the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) realises that it is losing, it unleashes all the central agencies on its opponents. "Since there are elections, raids and arrests will be made. We do not fear such raids and arrests because we have done nothing wrong," the AAP chief said. Modi govt is planning to arrest our Minister @SatyendarJain right before Punjab elections We welcome them, they can send ED, CBI etc & arrest anyone they want, including me We're not afraid as we haven't done anything wrong ! -CM @ArvindKejriwal pic.twitter.com/wcPp1ZPE4b AAP (@AamAadmiParty) January 23, 2022 He added that previously raids were conducted at his premise, his deputy Manish Sisodia's premises, Jain's residence and also AAP's 21 MLAs were arrested but they got nothing. Kejriwal also attacked Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi and said that they will not cry like him. "We will not cry like (Punjab CM) Channi Ji (on ED raids). He is frustrated because he had done wrong... We've not done anything wrong so we are not afraid," he said. Voting for Punjab's 117 assembly seats will be held on February 20 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education is likely to release the CBSE Class 10, Class 12 Term 1 exam results next week. According to some media reports, the board might release the Term 1 results this week, but no official announcement was made on the same. Once released, the CBSE Class 10, 12 Board Exam 2022 Term 1 result will be available at the official websites- cbse.gov.in, cbseresults.nic.in. Here are the steps to check scores: Step 1: Visit the CBSE official website (cbse.nic.in) Step 2: On the homepage, click 'CBSE 10th Term 1 Result 2022' or 'CBSE 12th Result 2022' link Step 3: Enter your roll number, other details and click on submit Step 4: Your classes 10 and 12 results will be displayed on the screen Step 5. Download your result and take a print out for future reference List of websites, apps to check score: Students can check their scores on DigiLocker app and website (digilocker.gov.in); and on Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG) app. Students can also check their scores through an IVRS and SMS. Meanwhile, the Board has released the CBSE Class 12 Term 2 sample papers on its official website at cbseresults.nic.in. The CBSE has released term 2 sample papers along with the marking schemes. Live TV Fraser Health employee Amarjeet Jammu hands a COVID-19 rapid test kit to a motorist at a drive-thru site in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, January 20, 2022. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press - image credit) As Canadians grapple with the highly transmissible Omicron variant and a molecular testing regime that has all but collapsed, rapid antigen tests have become a much-needed lifeline for those lucky enough to get their hands on one. Canada is suffering a supply crunch, with nightmarishly long lines reported at the few sites where some provinces and territories have distributed tests to the general public. So far, most of the provinces' tests have been earmarked for schools, businesses and long-term care homes, leaving people without a connection to these places in the lurch. The few rapid tests offered for sale at pharmacies were quickly snapped up by people eager to learn their COVID status or to gather more safely with friends and family over the holidays. CBC News surveyed six pharmacies in the Ottawa and Toronto areas on Friday at-home tests weren't available at any of these locations. Many Canadians are now looking with envy at the relative abundance of rapid tests being distributed widely in the U.S. Experts here say the federal government should follow the example of the U.S. and other countries like Germany, Singapore and the United Kingdom by sending tests directly to people's homes to ensure more equitable access. Have a coronavirus question or news tip for CBC News? Email ask@cbc.ca. Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press While U.S. President Joe Biden has conceded his administration should have ordered many more tests than it did initially "If I had known, we would have gone harder, quicker," he recently said when pressed on testing gaps the U.S. government pivoted quickly after the Omicron wave hit. Washington launched a website this week that allows any American household to order up to four free tests by mail. Half a billion tests will be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to doorsteps in the next seven to 12 days. U.S. to distribute 875 million at-home tests In addition to the half-billion tests being sent by mail, American retailers will have more than 375 million at-home rapid tests available for sale this month, according to data supplied by the White House. The Biden administration has demanded that health insurers cover the cost of these tests. Story continues The tests can be purchased in the U.S. at pharmacies and big box stores like Walmart where customers can buy two rapid antigen tests for just $17.98 US. That means as many as 875 million at-home tests are being made available to American households this month alone. That's roughly three tests for every single person living in the U.S. Millions more at-home COVID-19 tests have been delivered to thousands of community health centres and rural health clinics across the U.S. for distribution to patients. In addition to the at-home tests, there are now over 12,000 free testing sites across the U.S. ready to welcome patients for molecular PCR and rapid antigen testing. Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press In Canada, pandemic profiteers are offering tests for $80 or more on websites like Craigslist. Other online retailers, like Canadian Shield PPE, have pushed off promised deliveries until next month. Ontario, the country's largest province, briefly opened rapid testing pop-up clinics over the holiday period before winding them down as supplies dwindled. Only one province Nova Scotia has been widely distributing rapid tests for months. Dr. Dalia Hasan is a Kitchener, Ont.-based doctor who started COVID Test Finders, a grassroots social media-led initiative to connect Canadians with the limited supply of rapid tests. 'Free the RATs' Hasan said her small outfit has been overwhelmed by requests from people desperate to get their hands on at-home tests as COVID-19 case numbers hit sky-high levels. Hasan said she wants the federal government to start distributing tests directly to Canadians so that her group can stand down. She said it's not good enough to distribute tests to "small pockets" like schools and seniors' homes, leaving huge portions of the population without access. Her petition calling on the government to "free the RATs" an acronym for "rapid antigen tests" has 75,000 signatures already. "We urge the federal government to supply tests to every household in Canada. We can do it in Canada given we're so privileged to have a universal health care system," she told CBC News. Nam Y. Huh/AP Photo "We should be global leaders in the distribution of all public health tools to Canadians," Hasan said, adding that Canada Post, with its network of outlets in virtually every community in the country, is well-equipped to do the job. Rural and remote communities would benefit from such a system, as would people who don't have ready access to transportation, she said. "It's frustrating to me and every Canadian that rapid tests are very difficult to get," she said. Hasan said an abundance of rapid tests would help fight the spread of the virus by breaking the chain of transmission, allow COVID-infected people to safely leave isolation after a string of negative test results and expand access to Pfizer's recently approved oral antiviral, Paxlovid, which requires a positive test result before use. "The COVID virus is lethal and very dangerous because it's invisible and rapid tests allow us to remove that invisibility cloak and detect it in 15 minutes. So underutilizing tests it's a problem," she said. "They're a critical tool to safeguard our community." Canadian officials have talked down the value of rapid tests in the past. Patty Hajdu, the former federal health minister, initially questioned the accuracy of these diagnostic tools and Anita Anand, the former procurement minister, said antigen tests would not replace the "gold standard" lab-based PCR testing. But with the PCR testing system in crisis, the federal government has rushed in recent weeks to snap up as many test kits as it can. Most provinces and territories have curbed PCR testing during the Omicron wave restricting access to high-risk groups like health care workers and people in long-term care homes due to a shortage of laboratory capacity and a staffing crunch. Millions of tests destined for Canada, health minister says Earlier this month, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said the government is procuring 140 million more tests from Health Canada-approved suppliers to bolster provincial supply chests that are running low. "We're going to make sure every province and territory, and therefore every person in Canada, wherever that person may live, will have access to a safe amount of rapid tests," Duclos said on Jan. 7. And while Duclos promised 140 million tests "this month," provinces aren't seeing seeing that kind of volume roll in and the month is almost over. Ontario was promised 54.3 million tests (it asked for 68.6 million); only six million have arrived so far. Another eight million have "scheduled delivery dates" but the delivery status of the other tests is unknown, said Alexandra Hilkene, a spokesperson for Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott. Richard Vogel/AP Photo A spokesperson for federal Procurement Minister Filomena Tassi said millions of tests from 14 different suppliers have arrived, with more expected in the coming days as Ottawa enters the "surge buying" phase. It's hard to say just how many tests have arrived so far because it "changes by the hour," James Fitz-Morris told CBC News. "We pretty much have tests arriving everyday. We've got Antonovs loaded with them coming in," he said, referring to the cargo planes used to carry some of these goods. Send at-home tests via Canada Post: doctor Unlike the vaccine procurement effort, the federal government is taking more of a hands-off approach to rapid test distribution. It's directing major suppliers like Abbott Laboratories to ship these tests directly to provincial warehouses where local officials can decide how best to deploy them, he said. In a note to customers this week, Canadian Shield PPE a Waterloo, Ont.-based company that supplies everything from air filtration systems to face masks, shields and rapid tests said aggressive government procurement has left it with few tests for their customers. The company said it expects to have its delivery schedules back to normal next month. Fitz-Morris conceded the federal effort to buy up as many tests as possible has left some private retailers struggling to meet demand. "We're conscious of the disruptions that all of our purchases are causing," he said, adding that the large multinationals churning out these tests would rather deal with a big bulk buyer like the federal government. As for the idea of shipping tests directly to households through Canada Post, Fitz-Morris said Canada's cold climate would complicate that effort. "These things can freeze so putting them in the mail in the winter in Canada ... they'll be ruined," he said. It's an issue in some of the northern U.S. states as well, where temperatures aren't all that much higher than in Canada in winter. WATCH: How to use a rapid test A spokesperson for Abbott said its popular BinaxNOW rapid test one of the devices being shipped by the U.S. Postal Service this month should be stored at temperatures between 2 C and 30 C. "But if the test is stored outside the temperature range for a relatively short period of time or a couple of hours, up to a day or two it will be fine to use. And it's important that this test and its components are used at room temperature," the spokesperson said. Hasan, the doctor behind COVID Test Finders, said cold weather conditions are already an issue for people receiving tests in the mail from private sellers. If Canada Post is concerned about damaging the product, it could require a signature upon delivery or allow people to pick up the kits at a temperature-controlled post office. "The government needs to step up. They're the ones that have all the resources and the experts to distribute these rapid tests on a wider scale," she said. New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday (January 23) attacked the Central government while paying tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary in Kolkata. Condemning Centre for rejecting West Bengals tableau for Republic Day Parade, Banerjee claimed Netajis statue is coming up at India Gate in Delhi because of her governments pressure. Why so allergic to Bengal? You (Centre) rejected Bengal tableau (for Republic Day)...You are making (Netaji) statue (in Delhi) because we pressurised you, ANI quoted the TMC supremo as saying. Why so allergic to Bengal? You (Centre) rejected Bengal tableau (for Republic Day)...You are making (Netaji) statue (in Delhi) because we pressurised you: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at an event commemorating Subhas Chandra Bose's 125th birth anniversary, in Kolkata pic.twitter.com/Q4witRM0t5 ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2022 Speaking on Bengals contribution to the freedom struggle, the West Bengal CM said, Had Bengal not been there, (country's) Independence would not have been achieved. I take pride in this fact. Slamming the Narendra Modi-led Centre, Banerjee said, Till today we don't know about Netaji's whereabouts. They (Centre) had said that when they come to power, they will work on it but nothing happened. In fact, we (state) have released & declassified all files on Netaji Bose. Earlier today, taking to Twitter, the TMC chief had urged the Centre to declare Netajis birthday as a national holiday. "We again appeal to the Central Government that Netaji's birthday be declared a National Holiday to allow the entire Nation to pay homage to the National Leader and celebrate #DeshNayakDibas in most befitting manner," she tweeted. The CM also stated that a tableau on Netaji, which would also feature other eminent freedom fighters, will be put on display at the Republic Day parade in Kolkata. Meanwhile, PM Modi will unveil the hologram statue of Netaji at India Gate today. PM Modi on Friday had announced that a grand statue of the legendary freedom fighter will be installed at India Gate as a symbol of Indias indebtedness to him. Till the time the "grand statue" of Netaji, made of granite, is completed, a hologram statue would be installed at the same place, the PM informed. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: On the occasion of Subhas Chandra Bose's 125th birth anniversary on Sunday (January 23, 2022), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare Netaji's birthday as a national holiday. Taking to Twitter, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief said that Netaji is a national and global icon and his rise from Bengal is unmatched in the annals of Indian history. "We again appeal to the Central Government that Netajis birthday be declared a National Holiday to allow the entire Nation to pay homage to the National Leader and celebrate #DeshNayakDibas in most befitting manner," she said. Mamata stated that this year a tableau will be displayed on the Republic Day Parade on 'Netaji' and will also feature other eminent freedom fighters from Bengal to commemorate the 75th year of Independence of India. We again appeal to the Central Government that Netajis birthday be declared a National Holiday to allow the entire Nation to pay homage to the National Leader and celebrate #DeshNayakDibas in most befitting manner.(7/7) Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 23, 2022 She said that Bose is the epitome of patriotism, courage, leadership, unity and brotherhood. ALSO READ | 'Profoundly shocked': Mamata to PM Modi on Bengals tableau exclusion from R-Day parade "Netaji has been and will continue to be an inspiration for generations," Mamata Banerjee added. He is an epitome of patriotism, courage, leadership, unity and brotherhood. Netaji has been and will continue to be an inspiration for generations. (2/7) Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 23, 2022 Mamata informed that the Government of West Bengal is celebrating his 125th Birth Anniversary as 'Desh Nayak Dibas' in a befitting manner all over the state following protocols. "Among some long-term initiatives to commemorate Netaji, a National University with international collaborations, Jai Hind University, is being set up with 100% state funding," she said. "Drawing inspiration from Netajis thoughts on National Planning Commission, a Bengal Planning Commission will be set up to help the state in its planning initiatives," the TMC supremo added. Live TV New Delhi: India celebrated the 125th birth anniversary of iconic freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on Sunday. To commemorate the memory of Indias courageous soldier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a hologram statue of him at India Gate in New Delhi. Netajis daughter Anita Bose Pfaff talked to Zee Media on the occasion of her fathers birth anniversary and talked about Boses statue that will be installed at India Gate, Indias communal politics and Netajis belief in Hinduism. Talking to Zee Media about Indias communal divide, which led to a violent genocide during the 1947 partition as well, Bose said Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was a staunch believer of Hindu principles but would have never killed people based on the religion. Neta Ji was a devout Hindu but he couldn't have killed people in the name of religion like something that we have seen since partition, Bose said. Bose further said that instead of these ceremonial tributes like a statue and tableau, India should adopt and uphold Netajis ideologies. What troubles me the most is that Netajis values and ideologies are not being upheld in his country. There are communal rivalries that often shapes into militancy that was certainly never in Netajis spirit. Bose also addressed how the facts about Netajis life and freedom struggle are being distorted for political gains, Bose clarified that her father met Germanys dictator Hitler twice but only for the sake of Indias freedom because he wanted to garner global support against the British rule. Meanwhile, the hologram sculpture unveiled at India Gate today will be a temporary arrangement in the place of a statue that will be installed at the same venue soon. Hailed as Indias second-highest statue, the upcoming sculpture will be 28 feet high and 6 feet wide. Live TV Kerala and Tamil Nadu joined West Bengal to oppose Centre's proposed changes to IAS (Cadre) deputation rules, writing separate letters to PM Narendra Modi. While Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that change in rules will bring "fear psychosis" amog officers, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin that same strikes "strikes at the very root" on federalism. "The proposed amendments in the Deputation Rules of All India Services will definitely induce a fear psychosis and an attitude of hesitancy among All India Service Officers to implement policies of a state government, which are formed by party/parties politically opposed by the ruling party at the Centre", Vijayan said in the letter. "In our federal set-up, the state governments are on a par with the central government as both of them are elected by the people, though the division of authority in the Constitution does give the Union jurisdiction over a wider range of subjects. "We need to recognise that in a vibrant democratic and federal polity, States and the Centre can be ruled by political formations with vastly different ideologies and political views. But these governments function within the framework of the Constitution", the letter said. Stalin, echoing the views of his West Bengal and Kerala counterparts, strongly objected to it the proposed changes. Stalin said that If implemented, the proposed amendments would cause "irreparable damage to the spirit of cooperative federalism that exist between union and the states and lead to concentration of powers in the union government." "I would also like to highlight the fact that many of the state governments are also woefully short of officers at specific seniorities, primarily due to the wrong cadre management policies followed by the union government." While the union is availing the common pool from Group-I officers at the national level, the state governments solely depend on the limited pool of IAS officers available in the State. The state governments are on the forefront of implementation of various programmes including the schemes of the union government at the state level. The states also face frequent natural disasters which demands services of IAS officers in the state more than elsewhere. Under such circumstances, forcing the state governments to depute officers would surely aggravate the 'governance deficit' in various states due to shortage of officers and also it is an 'affront' to the administrative frame work of the states, Stalin said. "Further, I wish to state that the union government's lateral entry recruitment has also affected the morale of the officers who seek deputation on their own willingness. I would like to point out that this new proposal will eventually destroy the uniqueness of All India Services, a basic feature of Indian Constitution." Live TV New Delhi: The India Central Asia summit, which will take place once in two years, will be held on January 27 this year. The virtual meet will be the first such summit between India and the 5 central Asian countries--Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan as they set to increase engagement to a higher level. India and the Central Asian countries already have a foreign minister-level mechanism that has met 3 times on an annual basis so far, the last being in December 2021. The "India-Central Asia Centre", which is expected to be established in Delhi will act as the secretariat for the India-Central Asia Summit coordination, which henceforth becomes a permanent fixture as ties are taken to a higher level. The suggestion for the establishment of such a secretariat was given by India and will provide an institutional framework for the development of relationships. Another key outcome of this meet will be the establishment of ministerial-level platforms for engagement in 4 key areas--political issues and development cooperation, trade and connectivity, culture and tourism and, most importantly defence and security. At the non-governmental level, increased interaction is being proposed between business chambers, think-tanks. A special emphasis will be on enlarging engagement when it comes to the Information technology sector. India has already assisted in the establishment of an IT park in the Uzbek capital Tashkent, the first phase being inaugurated in 2019. In Tajikistan, with a grant of $ 0.6 million, an Information and Technology Centre (Bedil Centre) was commissioned in 2006 by Indian support and the project trained almost all the first-generation IT experts in the government sector of the country. Delhi has been pitching for Iran based India built Chabahar port to increase connectivity and trade from landlocked central Asia to the wider Indian Ocean region. Uzbekistan, a doubly landlocked country, Kazakhstan have been an enthusiastic supporter of the use of ports to increase connectivity. The continuous focus has been on the share civilizational connect, which also remains the much-celebrated aspect of the ties. As part of defence industrial cooperation, India has offered a Line of Credit of USD 40 million to Uzbekistan. Indian, Uzbek armies had undertaken 10 day-long joint military exercises at Ranikhet, Uttarakhand last year in which 45 soldiers from each side participated. The announcement of the summit came last week and comes even as both sides, this year mark the 30th year of establishment of formal diplomatic ties. "During the first India-Central Asia Summit, the Leaders are expected to discuss steps to take forward India-Central Asia relations to newer heights. They are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of interest, especially the evolving regional security situation, said the ministry of external affairs in a statement. Afghanistan naturally will be one of the main points of discussion, given 3 Central Asian countries-- Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan share a direct land border with the country. The Taliban takeover of Kabul last year has complicated the situation, with many of these countries fearing a spillover into their territories. The National security advisors (NSAs) of the central Asian countries had last year visited Delhi for a meeting on Afghanistan in which Russian, Iranian NSA level counterparts had also participated. The summit comes as New Delhi has been expanding the depth of its commitments with all central Asian capitals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited all the central Asian countries in 2015, which was the first of its kind tour by any Indian Prime minister. EAM Jaishankar had last year visited two Central Asian countries - Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. India has in the past announced a $ 1 billion line of credit for priority development projects in fields such as connectivity, energy, IT, healthcare, education, agriculture, etc for the entire region also known as "the stans" since all the countries in the region end with suffix stan, which in Persian means "land of". Live TV New Delhi: Ahead of Indias 73rd Republic Day, a controversy pertaining to the tableaus to be displayed in the grand parade erupted after the Centre rejected West Bengals tableau carrying a representation of Indias iconic freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army. Recently, Netajis daughter Anita Bose Pfaff talked to Zee Media about the tableau rejection row. Calling the matter surprising, Bose said that the Centre shouldnt have rejected West Bengals tableau adding that there should be no useless politics in the name of Neta Ji. Bose said that she was baffled when she heard that the Central government rejected Bengals float and hoped that the administration would do something along the lines itself. I was baffled when the matter came to my attention. It surprises me that the Centre rejected the tableau. Even if they rejected it, they should have planned something similar along those lines to honour Neta Ji and other freedom fighters of Bengal, Bose said. In fact, even if Centre had to introduce something of its own to pay tribute to Neta Ji, they could have easily accepted Bengals representation as well. There should be no competition between the Centre and West Bengal government, they should rather come together to celebrate the legacy of my father, Bose added. Pfaff later added that considering that Neta Jis birth anniversary falls close to Republic Day, it would have made sense to have two tableaus based on him. Bose also spoke about Neta Ji's iconic statute to be installed by the Indian government at India Gate. Calling it a wonderful gesture, Pfaff said she was pleasantly surprised to know about her fathers statue. Neta Jis daughter also said that a committee was formed last year before the West Bengal elections to gain mileage on the issue but nothing happened and thus, the announcement came as a surprise to her family. Live TV New Delhi: A man grievously injured his 22-year-old wife with a surgical blade in the national capital and later killed himself in a deserted house in Uttar Pradesh, an official said here on Sunday. According to the official, information was received on January 20 at Khyala police station from Sri Balaji Hospital, Paschim Vihar in West Delhi that one Mansi Bajaj, a resident of Raghubir Nagar is admitted after she was assaulted by her husband. It was found that injured Mansi Bajaj and her accused husband identified as 32-year-old Ramkumar were having some differences due to which Mansi came to her mother`s house on January 15. Four days later on January 19, the husband Ramkumar came and requested his wife to accompany him to their house at Naseeb Vihar, Village Ilaychipur, Loni, Ghaziabad, UP, but Mansi refused. When she refused, Ramkumar stayed at his in-laws` house in the national capital till the evening of the next day and kept requesting his wife. Mansi`s mother Rekha Bajaj was also present there. The police said that at about 7.30 p.m. on January 20, Mansi`s mother went to the market leaving the couple in the house. "At this time, the accused husband Ram Kumar attacked his wife Mansi with a surgical blade to eliminate her and caused multiple severe injuries around the neck and over both cheeks. After assuring himself that Manshi had died, Ram Kumar fled away from the spot," the official said. When the injured wife was taken to the hospital, she had lost a lot of blood. A Delhi Police Constable then came forward and donated his blood to save the life of the injured wife. Accordingly, the police registered a case under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code and constituted a team to nab the accused husband. The police raided multiple locations in the Trans Yamuna area, but Ramkumar could not be found. During the course of the investigation, on the basis of technical investigation and clues received from the complainant, on January 21, the police team along with Babulal (brother-in-law accused Ram Kumar) reached Ambedkar Colony under Pusta near Loni Border, UP where the vacant house of Babulal was found latched from inside. "As the police team and Babulal peeked from the door, accused Ram Kumar was found hanging from a ceiling fan," the official said. Accordingly, local police from Signature City, Tronica City police station, Ghaziabad, UP were informed. The local police then broke open the doors in presence of local witnesses. The person found hanging was identified by Babulal as accused Ram Kumar. "Further legal proceedings (174 CrPC) in respect of the death of the accused are being done by local police," the police said. Meanwhile, the injured wife has been successfully operated on, however, she is still admitted at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. Live TV New Delhi: A four-member committee has been formed to probe the fire that broke out on the 19th floor of a residential building in Tardeo area of central Mumbai on Saturday (January 22). The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said a Deputy Municipal Commissioner level officer will preside over the probe, ANI reported. The report has to be submitted in 15 days to the BMC commissioner. Mumbai | Fire at Kamala building, Tardeo: A 4-member committee formed to probe the incident. Probe to be presided by Deputy Municipal Commissioner level officer; report to be submitted in 15 days to BMC commissioner, as per BMC 6 dead, 23 injured in the fire incident yesterday. ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2022 At least six died and 23 were injured in the major fire incident on Saturday that erupted around 7:28 am in Sachinam Heights building, a ground plus 20-storey structure located opposite Bhatia Hospital at Gowalia Tank when many of its residents were still asleep, the BMC had said. Expressing grief over the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the family members of each deceased from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF), and Rs 50,000 each will be provided to the injured. While the Maharashtra government announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family members of each deceased. Maharashtra Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray, who visited the site, said prima facie the blaze was caused by a short-circuit. Thackeray tweeted, "The state government will provide a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to family members of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate fire. There were reports about 2 hospitals refusing treatment, however both hospitals informed me that they have admitted and treated some of those injured in this fire." (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Breaking silence on Mamata Banerjee-led partys barbs over alliance talks in Goa, Congress veteran P Chidambaram on Sunday (January 23) said that Trinamool Congress (TMC) proposal was not considered as it "poached" Congress leaders in the state. "What I can say is that there was a suggestion from the TMC that we should form an alliance (in Goa). (But) Before and after that, certain incidents took place," PTI quoted the senior Congress leader as saying. He alleged that the TMC "poached" Congress leaders in Goa ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls."They poached Luizinho Faleiro, and even after the proposal of alliance, they poached Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, whose name was in the Congress's first list of the candidates. They also poached in other constituencies, like Mormugao and Vasco," Chidambaram added. He said that after these incidents, he did not get any instructions from the top Congress brass over TMC's alliance proposal. Earlier on Thursday, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had said that if the Congress fails to wrest power from the BJP in Goa, the Congress' state in-charge P Chidambaram should take the onus and resign. He had said the TMC had reached out to Chidambaram with a formal offer for pre-poll alliance, but nothing happened. On CM's face in the state, Chidambaram said that Congress candidates in Goa will give their suggestions on whether to announce a chief ministerial candidate or not. "We will take views of the candidates once nomination process is over and then communicate it to AICC (All India Congress Committee)," the former Union minister said. The TMC has tied up with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) in the coastal state, while Congress will be contest alongside the Goa Forward Party (GFP). Goa will vote on February 14 to elect the 40-member Assembly. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: The Hindu Front for Justice through its president and others has moved an intervention plea before the Supreme Court in the hate speech case related to the recent Dharma Sansad in Haridwar. The plea claimed that since the top court has agreed to examine hate speeches against Muslims, it should also examine hate speeches against Hindus, citing over two dozen alleged instances involving political leaders like Akbaruddin Owaisi and AAP leader from Delhi, Amanatullah Khan. "The applicants herein through the present application are praying to this court to direct an SIT to investigate the hate speeches given against the members of the Hindu community, their gods and goddesses," read the plea. It further urged the court to direct a probe into the incident of hate speech given against the Constitutional spirit as well as the unity and integrity of India. The plea pointed out that some leaders and preachers of the Muslim community have been propagating against the Hindu religion and against the sovereignty and integrity of India. "The provocative speeches delivered by Muslim leaders have created an atmosphere of fear and unrest in the Hindu community. Such statements remind us of the working of Muslim League, which resulted in the Partition of the country," added the plea filed through advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain. Another intervention application has been filed by the national president of Hindu Sena to oppose the PIL, which seeks criminal action against the speakers at the Dharma Sansad conclave held at Haridwar and another event in Delhi. The application sought directions to the state governments to register an FIR against Asaduddin Owaisi, Tauqeer Raza, Sajid Rashidi, Amanatullah Khan, and Waris Pathan for allegedly making hate speeches. On January 12, the Supreme Court had issued a notice to the Uttarakhand government and the Centre on a petition by journalist Qurban Ali and former Patna High Court judge Anjana Prakash, seeking action against those who allegedly made hate speeches against the Muslim community at the Dharma Sansad in Haridwar. A bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana allowed the petitioners to approach the local authorities with their plea to stop a proposed Dharma Sansad scheduled in Aligarh on January 23. Live TV MILWAUKEE A bus used by a Milwaukee homeless outreach organization to distribute food, clothes and other resources has been destroyed in an arson. Vicky Cordani, vice president of the Street Angels board of directors, told the Journal Sentinel Friday the bus was stocked with a range of critical items the organization hands out to the homeless population throughout Milwaukee County. It included food, coats, socks, hand warmers, blankets, sleeping bags, hygiene products, bus passes and various gift cards. Street Angels uses two buses to distribute the resources throughout the county three days a week. After finishing up another round of outreach around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Cordani said the bus was set aflame sometime around 10 p.m. outside its offices on Milwaukees south side. The groups second bus was not set on fire, but its unclear what damage it may have sustained from the nearby fire. Cordani said the organization has not been able to access it because its coated with a thick layer of ice from fire hoses. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation in the 85th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on January 30 at 11:30 am. This will be the first edition of the year. "This month`s Mann Ki Baat, which will take place on the 30th, will begin at 11:30 am after observing the remembrances to Gandhi Ji on his Punya Tithi," said Prime Minister`s Office (PMO). "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`."On the 30th of this month, the first #MannKiBaat of 2022 will take place. I am sure you have lots to share in terms of inspiring life stories and topics. Share them on @mygovindia or the NaMo App. Record your message by dialling 1800-11-7800," PM Modi said in a tweet. The first episode of the programme was broadcast on October 3, 2014. In his last episode of Mann Ki Baat, which was broadcast on December 26, the Prime Minister with an aim to encourage people to follow the `Swachh Bharat` initiative had said that the resolve of cleanliness will be fulfilled only with discipline, awareness and dedication. Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil the hologram statue of the legendary freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate on Sunday (January 23, 2022). The Prime Minister's gesture will come in view of the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. PM Modi on Friday announced that a grand statue of the freedom fighter will be installed at India Gate as a symbol of Indias indebtedness to him. The prime minister in a tweet said that an iconic statue will be installed at the helm of India Gate to honour the memory of Indias great freedom fighter and his supreme sacrifice for the nations independence. At a time when the entire nation is marking the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, I am glad to share that his grand statue, made of granite, will be installed at India Gate. This would be a symbol of Indias indebtedness to him, PM Modi tweeted. At a time when the entire nation is marking the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, I am glad to share that his grand statue, made of granite, will be installed at India Gate. This would be a symbol of Indias indebtedness to him. pic.twitter.com/dafCbxFclK Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2022 PM Modi further said, Till the grand statue of Netaji Bose is completed, a hologram statue of his would be present at the same place. I will unveil the hologram statue on 23rd January, Netajis birth anniversary. Till the grand statue of Netaji Bose is completed, a hologram statue of his would be present at the same place. I will unveil the hologram statue on 23rd January, Netajis birth anniversary. pic.twitter.com/jsxFJwEkSJ Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2022 Official sources said the dimension of the granite statue will be 28 feet long and six feet wide and added that its installation will be a case of India "reclaiming" its history. Additionally, the Bose family in Kolkata appreciated the Government of India`s (GoI) decision to install a statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the India Gate on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary. "We appreciate Centre`s initiative to place Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose`s statue at India Gate. But if you really want to honour him, implement his inclusive ideology of uniting all communities; real homage to liberated India remains incomplete," said Chandra Kumar Bose, Netaji`s grandnephew on Friday. Chandra Kumar Bose while speaking to ANI said, "The proposal to have the liberator of India Subhash Chandra Bose statue at the India gate has been there for many years. I had submitted my proposal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on eight issues. Out of which one proposal was for a statue in front of the India Gate which is a strategic location and the right location to pay a befitting tribute to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose." (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: As the election campaign in Punjab gears mileage, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhus advisor Mohammad Mustafa has been booked on Sunday (January 23) for hate speech during canvassing in Malerkotla, which is a Muslim-dominated town. Mustafa is the former Director-General of Police (DGP) of Punjab. His wife Razia Sultana is Congress candidate for the Punjab Assembly Election 2022. The former DGP has been booked for promoting enmity between communities. Responding to the case, Mustafa said, "I did not target Hindus as is being alleged on social media. I used the word `Fitne`, which means lawbreakers. I was angry at a group of Muslims who had tried to attack me. I was warning them, not Hindus." In the alleged video, Mustafa was purportedly heard threatening Hindus with dire consequences if they organise events near his event during a public meeting on January 20. As per IANS, the complaint against Mustafa has been filed by a local Aam Aadmi Partys candidate Jamil-ur-Rehman with the Election Commission of India "He threatened to beat up AAP workers and candidates," Rehman had said. Meanwhile, Punjab Lok Congress leader and former chief minister Amarinder Singh alleged that Mustafa was trying to disturb the peace in the state as per the video. This man (Mustafa) should be behind bars. I listened to the video...He is trying to disturb Punjab peace, said Singh. Live TV New Delhi: The Delhi Police has issued a traffic advisory in view of the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade on Sunday (January 23, 2022). According to the advisory, the parade rehearsal will start at 10.20 am from Vijay Chowk and will proceed to National Stadium. The following is the route of the parade: Vijay Chowk-Rajpath-Amar Jawan Jyoti-India Gate-roundabout Princess Palace-turn left towards Tilak Marg-turn right on C-Hexagon-turn left and enter National Stadium from gate number 1. Here are the traffic restrictions in Delhi No traffic will be allowed on Rajpath from Vijay Chowk to India Gate from 6 pm on Saturday till the parade is over on Sunday. No cross traffic from 11 pm on Saturday at Ragi Marg, Janpath, Man Singh Road till the parade is over on Sunday. 'C'-Hexagon-India Gate will be closed for traffic from 9.15 am on Sunday till the entire parade and tableaux enter National Stadium. The commuters are advised to avoid the route of the parade from 9 am to 12.30 pm. No restriction for people from north Delhi going towards the New Delhi Railway Station or Old Delhi Railway Station. Changes in bus routes The movement of the city bus services will be curtailed at Park Street/Udyan Marg, Aram Bagh Road (Paharganj), roundabout Kamla Market, Delhi Secretariate (IG Stadium), Pragati Maidan (Bhairon Road), Hanuman Mandir (Yamuna Bazar), Mori Gate, ISBT Kashmiri Gate, ISBT Sarai Kale Khan and Tis Hazari Court. Buses from Ghaziabad bound for Shivaji Stadium to take NH-24, Ring Road and terminate at Bhairon Road. Buses plying from NH-24 will have to take right turn on Road No 56 and terminate at ISBT Anand Vihar. Buses coming from the Ghaziabad side will be diverted at Mohan Nagar towards Bhopra Chungi for Wazirabad Bridge. All inter-state buses coming from the Dhaula Kuan side shall terminate at Dhaula Kuan. Delhi Metro services Metro Rail services will remain available for commuters at all stations during the full dress rehearsal ceremony. However, boarding and de-boarding will not be allowed at Kendriya Sachivalaya (Central Secretariat) and Udyog Bhawan between 5 am and 12 pm on Sunday. Check complete Delhi Traffic Police advisory below Flying of sub-conventional aerial platforms like para-gliders, paramotors, hang gliders, UAVs, UASs, microlight aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, hot air balloons, small size powered aircraft, quadcopters or para jumping from aircraft, are also prohibited over the jurisdiction of National Capital Territory of Delhi from January 20 to February 15, the advisory said. Live TV Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said he has accepted the challenge thrown by Union home minister Amit Shah that Sena should contest elections on its own and targetted BJP over its "politically-convenient" Hindutva. Addressing Shiv Sainiks virtually on the 96th birth anniversary of the party founder and his father Bal Thackeray, Uddhav said that he still believes that 25 years the Sena had spent with BJP as an ally were "rotted". The Sena will try to expand its footprint outside Maharashtra and aim for a national role, he added. He said the Sena had aligned with BJP for taking forward the agenda of Hindutva through power. "I have accepted the challenge given by Union home minister Amit Shah that Shiv Sena should contest elections on its own," Thackeray said. He said when BJP was growing politically, it aligned with several regional parties including Sena. At that time, BJP used to lose poll deposits in several places, he said. "Shiv Sena had aligned with BJP as it wanted power for Hindutva. Sena never used Hindutva for the sake of power," he said. The Sena has left BJP and not Hindutva. I believe that BJP's opportunistic Hindutva is only for power, he added. Thackeray alleged that BJP forged an "opportunistic alliance" with PDP in Kashmir. "BJP even tied up with Nitish Kumar (in Bihar) who had spoken about a 'Sangh-mukt' (RSS free) Bharat," he said. The Sena fell out with BJP after the 2019 Maharashtra polls and tied up with NCP and Congress to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Thackeray said the Sena openly formed a post-poll alliance with Congress and NCP while BJP "engineered splits in other parties and dislodged elected governments to install the party in power". He also said that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by BJP has shrunken as old constituents like Akali Dal and Shiv Sena have already walked out of the bloc. "We supported the BJP wholeheartedly to enable them to fulfil their national ambitions. The understanding was they will go national while we will lead in Maharashtra. But we were betrayed and attempts were made to destroy us in our home. So we had to hit back," Thackeray said justifying his decision to align with Congress and Nationalist Congress Party after the 2019 elections. He alleged that BJP uses and dumps its allies as per its political convenience. Responding to BJP's jibes that Sena had abandoned Hindutva for power, Thackeray said his party had left BJP and not the ideology of Hindutva. "BJP doesn't mean Hindutva. I stand by my comment that Shiv Sena had wasted 25 years in alliance with BJP," he said. Referring to recent Nagar Panchayat elections where Sena fared poorly and secured the fourth position, Thackeray said leaders of Sena, including himself, didn't take local body polls seriously and campaign accordingly. "On the contrary, our new allies Congress and NCP have built institutions at the grassroots. We too have to work in that direction. In the last two years, we lost two Legislative Council seats held by us in the biennial elections. I think we lost due to the neglect and not due to sabotage in our ranks," he said. He said this setback notwithstanding, Sena should aim at consolidating its presence at the national level and resolve to capture power in Delhi. Thackeray asked Sena workers and leaders to focus on building institutions in the cooperative and banking sector in rural areas. "There is no point talking about contesting elections independently if our hands are not strong," he said. Thackeray said the Sena should also expand beyond Maharashtra and aim to "capture" Delhi. He appealed to Shiv Sainik to work with zeal and build the party organisation at the grassroots as the party is in power in Maharashtra. Thackeray, who recuperated after undergoing spine surgery, also lashed out at Maharashtra BJP leaders for attacking him over his health. Live TV New Delhi: Taiwan, where Subhas Chandra Bose went missing, has offered to open its national archives and database to "rediscover" the legacy of Netaji. Taiwan, which was under Japanese occupation in the 1940s, was the last country where India's illustrious freedom fighter was seen alive and the consensus is that he died there in a plane crash in 1945. "We have national archives and several databases and we can help Indian friends rediscover that we will find more about Netaji and also his legacy which has a huge influence over Taiwan in the 1930s and 1940s", Mumin Chen, Deputy representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Center, said at a virtual event on Saturday (January 22, 2022). According to various accounts, after the plane crash in August 1945, Netaji was taken to Army Hospital Nanmon Branch in Taipei where he breathed his last. The hospital, notably, is the present-day Taipei City Hospital Heping Fuyou Branch. "Lot of young historians are conducting researches with South East Asia, even with India. A lot of historical documents, evidence on Netaji, also the Indian independence movement, those documents, archives are in Taiwan. Right now, a very few Indian scholars know this," the Taiwanese deputy envoy said. He added, "Taiwan and India should re-examine and rediscover the common history of Indo-Pacific since we have historical connections." So far, a large part of the account of Netaji after the crash has been based on Japanese accounts. The Government of Japan has declassified two files relating to Netaji and his ashes are purported to be kept at the Renko-Ji temple in Tokyo. Pointing that Taiwan had such historical connections with India and with Netaji, the Taiwanese Diplomat in Delhi said, "Even Chiang Kai-shek in the 1940s had written about Netaji in his diary. He felt sympathy... decision to cooperate with Japanese fight for independence, is understandable." Chiang Kai Shek is said to have fled to Taiwan from China in 1949 and then ruled the island with an iron fist till his death in 1975. He was known for the strong resistance he gave to Japanese forces during World War II. Subhas Chandra Bose had sought Japanese help to overthrow the British rule from India and had raised the Indian National Army with Tokyo's help. The development comes ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiling a hologram statue of Netaji at India Gate on Sunday evening. This year, notably, marks Subhas Chandra Bose's 125th birth anniversary and the Indian Government has announced January 23 to be celebrated as "Parakram Diwas". Live TV Lucknow: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday launched a new pre-poll front, 'Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha', promising two chief ministers for Uttar Pradesh, if the new front is voted to power. While launching the new outfit, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief also promised three deputy chief ministers for the state, saying his new front will fight the UP Assembly polls on all its 403 seats. Out of the two CMs, one will belong to the backward classes and the other to the Dalit community, he said, adding the state will also have three Dy CMs, with one belonging to the Muslim community. "If voted to power, the Morcha will give two chief ministers to the state. Of this one will be from the OBC community, while the other will be from the Dalit community. Apart from this, three deputy chief ministers will be made, of which one will be Muslim," Owaisi said. Owaisi did not explain under what provision of the Constitution the state will have two CMs. A chief minister of a state is appointed under the provisions of articles 153 and 164 of the Constitution, with both the articles talking in terms of a single individual as the state's CM. Owaisi launched the new front jointly with little-known political outfit Jan Adhikaar Party of former Uttar Pradesh minister Babu Singh Kushwaha and an all-India body of government employees of the backward, Dalits and minority community, founded by Kanshi Ram in the 1970s. The AIMIM chief announced the launch while addressing a press conference along with Kushwaha and current chairperson Waman Meshram of the all-India Backward and Minority Community Employees Federation (BAMCEF). Former UP minister Kushwaha was made the convenor of the new front. "The doors of the Morcha are open for other political parties," said Kushwaha. Owaisi launched the new front after the collapse of the Om Prakash Rajbhar-led Bhagidari Sankalp Morcha to which both the AIMIM and Kushwaha's party belonged. But the Bhagidari Sankalp Morcha collapsed after Rajbhar, a former BJP ally, joined hands with the Samajwadi Party. A Cabinet minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, Rajbhar had resigned before the Lok Sabha polls in 2019. He had later launched the Bhagidari Sankalp Morcha as a political front of smaller parties. The Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party had contested the 2017 assembly polls in alliance with the BJP and won four seats. Owaisi had earlier said his party would contest 100 seats in the upcoming assembly elections. He is currently engaged in the poll campaigning for his party's prospective candidates, crisscrossing the state, particularly the Muslim-dominated areas, and exhorting them to develop their own leadership for their welfare. Live TV New Delhi: The Bank of Baroda released the applications for the recruitment for 198 Managerial posts in various departments on a contract basis. Interested and eligible candidates can apply through the official site: bankofbaroda.in. The last date of online application is February 1, 2022. Bank of Baroda Recruitment: Vacancy Details Head Strategy: 1 Post National Manager Telecalling: 1 Post Head Project & Process: 1 Post National Receivables Manager: 3 Posts Zonal Receivables Manager: 21 Posts Vice President - Strategy Manager: 3 Posts Dy. Vice President - Strategy Manager: 3 Posts Vendor Manager: 3 Posts Compliance Manager: 1 Post Regional Receivables Manager: 48 Posts MIS Manager: 4 Posts Complaint Manager: 1 Post Process Manager: 4 Posts Asst. Vice President - Strategy Manager: 1 Post Area Receivables Manager: 50 Posts Assistant Vice President: 50 Posts Assistant Vice President - Product Manager: 3 Posts Bank of Baroda Recruitment: Eligibility Criteria The eligibility criteria for various posts are different which can be assessed by the candidates through the official notice. Click on the link below to get official notice. Check Official Notification Here Bank of Baroda Recruitment: Selection Procedure Candidates will be selected on the basis of shorl listing followed by a Personal Interview and/or any other selection method. Bank of Baroda Recruitment: Application Fees Candidates belonging to the General, EWS & OBC category will have to pay 600/- as application fees while candidates belonging to SC, ST, PWD and Women candidates will have to pay Rs 100/- as application fees. It is notable that the post qualification experience below 6 months in any organization would not be considered. Live TV New Delhi: In the recent past few weeks, several stocks have turned multibagger, growing investors money in no time. For instance, more than 10 BSE-listed microcap stocks have managed to deliver sharp returns to their investors in the first few days of 2022. Here are 5 multibagger stocks that more than doubled investors money in no time: Genesys International Corporation Genesys International Corporation, a mutlibagger small-cap stock, has jumped 177.48% in the past six months. During the December-end quarter, ace investor Ashish Kacholia has also invested in the mutlibagger small-cap stock, according to the companys latest shareholding pattern. Kacholia has owned 6,08,752 equity shares in Genesys International Corporation, which translated to 1.95 per cent stakes, according to the December shareholding pattern released on the BSE. SEL Manufacturing Company SEL Manufacturing Company is another multibagger stock that provided fantastic returns to investors in the past few months. In the past 3 months, the multibagger penny stock jumped from Rs 0.35 to Rs 87.45. KIFS Financial Services KIFS Financial Services has jumped the most (207 per cent) in 2022 so far. The shares of the company rose from Rs 43.5 on December 31, to Rs 133.4 on Friday`s closing, BSE data showed. AK Spintex AK Spintex share price has jumped 253.75% in the past six months. The stock has increased from Rs 24 to Rs 84.90, providing fantastic returns to investors in just a few days. Also Read: Budget 2022: Sensex, Nifty likely to remain volatile in the run-up to Budget Tranway Technologies Another multibagger stock that has witnessed a sharp rise in the past few months is Tranway Technologies. The stock has jumped from Rs 7.35 to Rs 16.26 in the last 180 days. Also Read: iPhone 14 series launch in 2022: Everything you need to know Live TV #mute New Delhi: Actor-director Regina King`s son Ian Alexander Jr. has died by suicide, days after his 26th birthday on Wednesday. "Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian," King said in a statement sent to People Magazine. "He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time. Thank you," the statement added. He was King`s only child, whom she shared with her ex-husband, record producer Ian Alexander Sr. Following in his father`s musical footsteps, Ian was a deejay. King previously told People Magazine that he was "an amazing young man." Despite her growing success as an actor and director, King said at the time that Ian was her biggest source of pride. After separating from Ian`s father in 2007 after nine years of marriage, King admitted being a single parent wasn`t always easy, but that nothing is stronger than her love for her son. "You don`t know what unconditional love is. You may say you do, but if you don`t have a child, you don`t know what that is," she explained at the time. "When you experience it, it`s the most fulfilling (thing) ever." The pair also has matching tattoos, which read "unconditional love" in Aramaic -- his on his shoulder and hers on her arm. "We were taking Kabbalah classes," King said of the ink in 2017." He said, let`s choose three (designs) each and not tell each other which ones they are and whichever one is matching, that`s the one we`re going to get tattooed -- and we both chose unconditional love," she shared. Ian has often also accompanied his mom on red carpets, including in 2019 when he called her "super mom" while at the Golden Globes. "She`s just a super mom," he told E! News. "She doesn`t really let bad workdays or anything come back and ruin the time that we have. It`s really awesome to have a mother who I can enjoy spending time with." At the time, King said Ian made her "happier than anything in the whole world." After mobs stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 some chanting Hang Mike Pence! the Republican vice president rejected calls from his own sitting president to overturn a free and fair election. It was a heroic moment. Pence ignored Trumps public intimidation and convoluted legal advice from Trumps attorneys, who wanted Pence to exploit ambiguity in the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to reject the will of the people. Instead, Pence would say later, he was guided by James Madison, the father of the Constitution, and by Psalm 15 in the Bible, which instructed him to keep an oath even when it hurts. Pence stood before the Senate at 3:41 a.m. on Jan. 7, after rioters were finally cleared from the chambers, and certified Democratic President Joe Bidens 306-232 victory in the Electoral College, narrowly avoiding a constitutional crisis. Now there are those in our party who believe that, in my position as presiding officer over the joint session, that I possessed the authority to reject or return electoral votes certified by the states, Pence recalled last year at the Ronald Reagan library. But the Constitution provides the vice president with no such authority before the joint session of Congress. And the truth is, he continued, theres almost no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president. The presidency belongs to the American people and the American people alone. Hes right, and all Americans should be proud of the peaceful transfer of power that Pence oversaw and that defines American democracy going back to George Washington. Biden, when he was vice president, similarly certified Trumps electoral victory four years earlier, following the 2016 election. Biden did so over objections from several Democratic lawmakers. But Americans cant rely on statesmen to always do the right thing. The Electoral Count Act of 1887 is a time bomb, in the words of UW-Madison professor and elections expert Barry Burden, and its ticking toward a constitutional showdown as soon as 2024. With Wisconsins congressional delegation in strong support, Congress must rewrite or repeal the Electoral Count Act of 1887 so its language can never again be the basis for overturning the peoples choice for president. The language needs to be perfectly clear that the vice presidents role is ceremonial. Congress also should raise the threshold for objections, so a few lawmakers bent on disruption cant tie up the proceedings based on conspiracy theories or for self-promotion. Challenges to our elections should be decided by our courts, not by the politicians whose names are on the ballot. Multiple recounts, audits and more than 60 court decisions rejected Trump and his supporters claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, which Trump definitely lost. Everyone agrees that the Electoral Count Act is unclear, not internally consistent, Burden told the State Journal last week. There are a whole range of interpretations about what it even says, and its never been tested in 150 years. So its waiting there sort of like a time bomb to create potentially a constitutional crisis. Now is the perfect time to defuse this outdated act because bipartisan support for clear procedures governing presidential certification is growing in the Senate and the House. Republican Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine are working on a consensus proposal. So is Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., a member of the Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the United States Capitol. So is independent Sen. Angus King of Maine. And on Wednesday, Biden predicted a bipartisan fix will get done. Some Democrats still want sweeping changes to election laws, including many we support, such as ending gerrymandering and allowing convenient voting via secured drop boxes and early voting. But the Democrats larger proposal failed to clear the Senate last week, with a pair of Democrats refusing to repeal the filibuster. The Democrats need to move on and accept a smaller victory for our democracy one that will stand the test of time and help preserve our democracy. Rewriting the Electoral Count Act must be a top priority this spring. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 New Delhi: Malayalam superstar Dileep is being questioned at the Crime Branch police office at Kalamassery on Sunday in a non-bailable case Malayalam Superstar Dileep being interrogated at Crime Branch Police officerelated to the conspiracy to attack the investigating officials. The Kerala High Court on Saturday directed Dileep and four of his associates, including his brother, brother-in-law and two friends to appear before the Crime Branch police on Sunday for questioning in connection with an alleged conspiracy to kill police officers who investigated the abduction and sexual assault case in which Dileep is an accused. The court in an interim order on Saturday said that the accused will not be arrested till January 27 and that they be interrogated from January 23 onwards from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The court also directed the prosecutor to place before it a report on the interrogation of the accused and the proceedings that took place on January 27. Dileep, his brother Anoop, his brother-in-law Sooraj, his aide Appu alias Krishnadas and close friend of the actor, Byju Chengamanad are under interrogation at the Crime branch office. The superstar and his accomplices reached the Crime branch office at 8.55 a.m. and questioning commenced under the leadership of Crime Branch Superintendent of Police, C. Mohanachandran. The Malayalam superstar, who is a popular actor for the comedy characters, turned villain in real life when a frontline South Indian heroine complained that she was abducted and sexually assaulted by a gang of goons in 2007 and certain scenes were filmed to blackmail her. The incident occurred in 2017 and after the main accused Sunil was arrested and questioned, the prosecution charged that Dileep was the main conspirator in the case. Dileep was arrested and jailed and spent two months in prison before getting bail and the trial of the case is going on. However, recently a former close associate of Dileep, Balachandra Kumar who is a movie director and had fallen out with the actor came out with a revelation that Dileep had conspired to do away with the investigating officers in the case. He revealed that Dileep while watching a YouTube video of the then Superintendent of Police, A.V.A George had told openly at his home in the presence of Balachandra Kumar that he would do away with the officer and would engage rowdy elements for this. To this, his accomplices had said that they would have to spend an amount of Rs 1.5 crore for this. Balachandrakumar had given his deposition before the magistrate court along with a few audio recordings he had made at the residence of Dileep regarding this. The police officers, who Dileep had said that he would do away with are DGP, B. Sandhya, Additional DGP, S. Sreejith, SP's A.V.George , S. Sudarshan and Deputy SP Byju Paulose. Balachandrakumar also revealed that Dileep had also told that he would cut and remove the right hand of Superintendent Sudarshan who had assaulted him during police custody. New Delhi: Individual lives have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic. While people struggle to recover from the unexpected disaster, fraudsters take full advantage of the situation. With the rapid spread of the Omicron variation leading to an increase in COVID cases, the Indian government began distributing preventive doses to residents over the age of 60. While steps are being taken to reduce the number of incidents, fraudsters are coming up with new schemes. Fraudsters posing as health professionals are attempting to deceive consumers and steal their bank account information in the newest COVID booster shot scam. Here's how the crooks are attempting to deceive the public: As previously stated, criminals posing as health experts call people, primarily the elderly, claiming that the precautionary booster is only available to senior folks at this time. The fraudsters then ask if the person has taken the second dose, as well as their address, phone number, and other personal information. Surprisingly, in some circumstances, the caller already has all of the relevant information, including the vaccination date. After gathering all of the information, the con artists contact back to see if anyone is interested in obtaining a booster shot and if they want a spot. They provided an OTP to the mobile number once the immunisation date and time were confirmed. Scammers may also request that you download a certain software, such as AnyDesk, to aid with the booking process. The OTP is nothing more than a key in a phishing scam, the last step in validating a money transfer from the victim's bank account. All funds from your bank account are transferred once you give them with the OTP. According to research, the alleged scam is especially common in rural areas, where the elderly have no understanding of how online banking, UPI, or smartphone apps for vaccine slot booking function. Scammers attempt to dupe consumers into providing the OTP in exchange for a quick money transfer. Here's what you can do to protect yourself against such scams: Spam/fake calls Staying cautious can help you avoid fraud, whether it's for COVID slot booking or internet banking. The most crucial point to remember is that the government does not offer the option of booking immunisation appointments over the phone. The only option to reserve a vaccine time is to visit the Cowin portal or download the Arogya Setu app. Even if you are unable to arrange an appointment online, you can still obtain the vaccine by going to any immunisation centre and registering. When obtaining an OTP, it is recommended that you read the message carefully before proceeding. Second, call filter apps can be downloaded that indicate whether a call is spam. Live TV #mute Sydney: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has canceled her wedding as the nation imposes new restrictions to slow the community spread of the Covid-19 omicron variant, she told reporters. New Zealand will impose mask rules and limit gathering from midnight on Sunday after a cluster of nine cases of the omicron variant showed community transmission from the North to South islands after a wedding. A family traveled by plane from the North Island capital of Auckland to a wedding in the South Island attended by 100 people. The family and a flight attendant tested positive. New Zealand would move to a red setting under its Covid-19 protection framework, with more mask wearing, and a cap of 100 customers indoors in hospitality settings and events such as weddings, or 25 people if venues are not using vaccine passes, Ardern said. "My wedding will not be going ahead," she told reporters, adding she was sorry for anyone caught up in a similar scenario. Asked by reporters how she felt about her wedding cancellation, Ardern replied: "Such is life." She added, "I am no different to, dare I say it, thousands of other New Zealanders who have had much more devastating impacts felt by the pandemic, the most gutting of which is the inability to be with a loved one sometimes when they are gravely ill. That will far, far outstrip any sadness I experience." New Zealand's borders have been shut to foreigners since March 2020. The government pushed back plans for a phased reopening from mid-January to the end of February out of concern about a potential Omicron outbreak as in neighbouring Australia. (1/5) #COVIDUPDATE: Following cases of the Omicron variant in the community, the Government has announced that the whole of New Zealand will move into the Red COVID-19 Protection Framework settings from 11:59pm tonight pic.twitter.com/hxzSjMis2s New Zealand Labour (@nzlabour) January 23, 2022 People able to travel to New Zealand under narrow exceptions must apply to stay at state-managed quarantine facilities. The government last week stopped issuing any new slots amid a surge in the number of people arriving with Omicron. About 94% of New Zealand's population over the age of 12 is fully vaccinated and about 56% of those eligible have had booster shots. Live TV New Delhi: A 49-year-old man was found dead and surrounded by snakes at his home in the United States. The horrifying incident took place in Charles County in Maryland, where a corpse of a man was found surrounded by at least 125 snakes, including the highly venomous cobras and black mambas. According to the reports, Pythons were are also found on the site. The largest snake was a 14-foot Burmese python. The police said that they received a distress call from the man's neighbour, who was the first one to spot man in that condition. The neighbour said that he did not see him for an entire day and so decided to check up on him. But when the neighbour reached his house, he saw the man lying unconscious on the floor. In the meantime, Charles County Animal Control is trying to rescue all the reptiles found at the incident scene. "All of the snakes were placed with out-of-state organisations with the proper authority, permits and/or licenses, BBC quoted a spokeswoman for the centre as saying. The spokeswoman also added that some of the animals would be adopted privately by approved handlers. The authorities are yet to ascertain the cause of death. However, the police has alreday stated that there is no evidence of "foul play". Live TV Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23) The Senate investigation into the multibillion-peso deal between Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. and the government would end soon, Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Richard Gordon said on Sunday. Patapos na yan. Ayan ay talagang magkakaroon ng kaliwanagan ang mga tao. Mapapatunayan natin talaga na maraming nangulimbag, maraming nakinabang diyan, Gordon said in an interview in Vice President Leni Robredos weekly radio program. [Translation: It will end soon. The public will soon be enlightened. We will able to prove that many people plundered and benefited from this deal.] Nasa sa gobyerno na yan kung pa-filan nila yan. Alam mo naman yung mga report natin, marami ng nakakulong, he added. [Translation: Its up to the government if charges will be filed against them. Our reports have led to the arrest of people involved in the deal.] The past 17 hearings led to the arrest of several personalities involved in the supposed anomalous deal between the government and Pharmally. The Senate has warrants of arrest for resigned Budget Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao and former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang, two key personalities in the Senate probe into alleged procurement anomalies. For months, the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms had been trying to take them into custody. The last Senate inquiry was held on Dec. 21 last year and was supposed to resume on Jan. 13. The hearing was postponed as the Senate was put on lockdown after some staffers tested positive for COVID-19. Press Release January 23, 2022 Bong Go urges gov't to ensure public access to health services and benefits entitled to HCWs Senator Christopher "Bong" Go appealed to concerned agencies to make sure that healthcare workers (HCWs) receive all services and benefits due them amid the recent approval of additional budget to cover the payment of the fourth batch of their COVID-19 Special Risk Allowance. Go, who chairs the Senate Health Committee, stressed that health personnel are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. Thus, he reiterated the need for the government to waste no time in providing what is owed to doctors, nurses, and qualified medical workers. "Hinihikayat ko po ang ating gobyerno na siguraduhing lahat ng benepisyo at mga serbisyo na inilaan ng batas para sa ating healthcare workers ay maibigay sa kanila," said Go. "Sila po ang mga bayani natin ngayong pandemya dahil sa kanilang patuloy na pagseserbisyo at pagsasakripisyo para maisalba ang buhay ng ating kapwa Pilipino," he added. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the release of PhP1.185 billion in funds charged against the 2021 Contingent Fund to cover the SRA of eligible private HCWs and non-Department of Health plantilla personnel who are yet to receive their SRA from December 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021. In response to complaints from public and private HCWs who have yet to receive their SRA, the President has also directed the DOH and the Department of Budget and Management to expedite the utilization of funds for the benefit of the country's HCWs. Go also successfully pushed for the allocation of a total of PhP51 billion in the 2022 budget for the compensation of COVID-19 HCWs in 2022. He went on to stress that the government should do everything possible to help HCWs, considering their critical role in fighting the pandemic and preserving lives. To guarantee that their contributions and risks are adequately recognized, Go also expressed his support for extending the SRA to all HCWs working in hospitals. Given the significant number of COVID-19 cases accepted in the country's healthcare institutions, he pointed out that practically all HCWs fit the qualifications to receive the benefits under the law. "Lahat naman ng health workers na naka-duty ay maituturing na exposed sa banta ng COVID-19. Hindi nakikita ang kalaban na ito kung kaya't mahirap paghiwalayin pa kung sino ang exposed at sino ang hindi," continued Go. "Kaya ako umaapela na maging flexible tayo sa pag-iimplementa ng nakasaad sa batas at kung kakayanin ng pondo ay bigyan na ang lahat ng qualified ng fixed na amount ng SRA kaysa bilangin pa natin ang kanilang pag-duty bawat araw," he added. The budget for the compensation and other benefits for COVID-19 workers in health facilities in the 2022 budget will be used for payment of COVID-19 benefits for all public and private health care workers and non-health care workers, regardless of employment status, who are involved in COVID-19 response in all health facilities. The amount of COVID-19 benefits shall vary according to risk exposure of the health care worker and non-health care worker in particular settings: P3,000 for low risk, P6,000 for medium risk, and P9,000 for high risk. Earlier, Go authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill No. 2421 which will provide health workers with a fixed monthly COVID-19 Risk Allowance for the duration of the current State of Emergency in lieu of the special risk allowance and other financial compensation granted under the Bayanihan 2. Under the measure, those eligible for the benefits will include all healthcare workers and other necessary personnel assigned in health facilities. "As much as possible, kung kakayanin naman ng pondo, ibigay na natin lahat ng suportang pwede nating ibigay. Hindi masusuklian ang hirap at sakripisyo nila upang makapagligtas ng buhay," Go stressed. Throughout the pandemic, Go has been aggressive in promoting the interests and protecting the welfare of medical frontline workers. The Senator had successfully pushed for free COVID-19 testing, personal protective equipment, hazard pay, and special risk allowances for health workers at the start of the outbreak. In 2019, Go was instrumental as author and co-sponsor of Republic Act No. 11466 or the Salary Standardization Law 5. The law gives civilian government employees, including nurses, their fifth round of salary increases broken down in tranches. In the same year, he also pushed and ensured enough funding was allotted for the implementation of a Supreme Court decision upholding Section 32 of the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 some 18 years after the law was enacted. The law increases the minimum salary grade of the Nurse I position to SG-15. The ruling was implemented the following year. "Ni piso at ni isang minuto ay hindi dapat masayang dahil buhay ang kapalit nito. Magmalasakit tayo sa ating kapwa. Walang tigil dapat ang serbisyo lalo na sa panahon ngayon na nangangailangan ang mga Pilipino," he said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23) The revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) is a proposal worth considering as the country faces a potential energy crisis, three senatorial aspirants said Sunday. In a CNN Philippines senatorial forum, reelectionist Senator Richard Gordon, former senator Joseph Victor JV Ejercito, and Sorsogon Governor Francis Chiz Escudero expressed openness to the idea, but stressed that thorough analyses must first be conducted. Gordon pointed out that among the considerations is the huge amount needed for the rehabilitation of the Bataan facility, which he said would cost another hundred billion pesos. Pero pagdating sa nuclear plant, Im in favor of it in terms of magagamit natin yan [But when it comes to a nuclear plant, Im in favor of it, because that would be useful], he said. Ejercito meanwhile believes it is time we reconsider using the mothballed BNPP, as he noted that nuclear power is relatively affordable. He added, however, that ensuring public safety should be the prime concern. BNPP the countrys first and only nuclear power facility was ordered shut in 1986 by then president Corazon Aquino due to corruption and safety concerns, compounded by fears after the Chernobyl nuclear fallout in Russia in the same year. Priority is safety, of course. But we have to reconsider so that we can lower the cost of electricity, so that our country can now move forward and catch up with our neighbors, Ejercito said. Likewise putting premium on safety and affordability, Escudero said experts should be consulted if it would be wiser to create a new nuclear plant instead of reviving the existing one. Neutral ako sa teknolohiya," he said. "Ang importante lamang ligtas ito, kayang bayaran ng sambayanang Pilipino, at makakatugon sa problema sa krisis enerhiya ng ating bansa." [Translation: I have a neutral stand when it comes to technology. The only important things are that it is safe to use, it can be paid for by the Filipino people, and it would address our countrys energy crisis.] All three senatorial aspirants added the country should further utilize other energy sources to address the demand for power. Earlier, the government projected that the Malampaya gas field, which supplies around 30% of Luzons electricity, will be completely depleted by 2027. In 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte issued an executive order that would look into the possible revival of the BNPP. For this purpose, the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee was created to study the economic, security, and environmental implications of nuclear energy as a power source, as well as perspectives from stakeholders. (CNN) For many people, social drinking is a celebrated pastime at least it was in the good old days you know, before we began living COVID's nightmare version of Bill Murray's "Groundhog Day." During the pandemic's repetitive grind, enjoying an occasional glass of wine with the girls has been replaced by Zoom wine hour, or worse, drinking in solitary confinement. "The data we have shows that drinking is definitely up since the start of the pandemic around a 14% increase in the number of drinking days per month," said Dr. Sarah Wakeman, medical director of the Substance Use Disorders Initiative at Massachusetts General Hospital. For women, the numbers are even higher, Wakeman said. "There's actually been a 41% increase in heavy drinking days among women since onset of the pandemic." Why would more women be turning to drink than men? "Studies have shown the complexities of balancing home, work, and caregiving responsibilities during the pandemic has fallen disproportionately on women," said Dr. Leena Mittal, chief of the women's mental health division in the department of psychiatry at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "There's also a lot of marketing of new alcohol products targeting women and especially moms," said Mittal, at a time when everyone is watching a lot more TV. Add to that the pre-pandemic "mom wine culture that normalized, and in some ways, even glorified" alcohol, and the line between social drinking and at-risk drinking can quickly "become blurry," she said. A tale of lost boundaries The pandemic has also blurred the boundaries between home and work for many women. Mittal tells the story of one of her female patients who walked home from work in pre-pandemic days. "She would have a 30- or 45-minute walk that served as exercise. It served as alone time; it served as stress relief," Mittal said. "She could transition from work to home responsibilities, and in the end, it gave her a buffer." But since the pandemic, those lines have blurred. In an effort to create a sense of space for herself, and for her mother who lived with her, Mittal's patient began to turn to alcohol instead. "After her kids went to bed, she would have a glass of wine or two with her mother. Sometimes, it would be tea, but often, it would be wine; and it quickly became more than they had been drinking in the past," Mittal said. "And I think this is a really common story." Coping is even harder for those who were already struggling with alcohol and substance abuse before the pandemic began, experts stress. "It's like the whole society is on fire, including those who have known mental health and substance use disorders," Mittal said. Health dangers of drinking A higher level of drinking in women is worrisome, Wakeman said, because of the link between alcohol and the risk of female breast cancer. "Any amount of drinking does increase your risk of breast cancer, and that is a unique risk among women," Wakeman said. "There really is no safe level of alcohol consumption when it comes to breast cancer." There are many more consequences from drinking too much for both women and men. Accidents and injuries are associated with drinking, even moderate amounts. Domestic violence is often fueled by alcohol, as is child abuse. It also plays a role in myriad health concerns. "You could have health-related consequences from alcohol use outside of addiction," Wakeman said. "Like high blood pressure, acid reflux, liver disease and liver injury which is something we're seeing a huge increase in particularly among younger people and women in a way that we've never seen before." Not to mention the toll on mental health, including depression, anxiety, and more. "A number of studies have shown that increased alcohol use in the pandemic has been associated with increased mental health symptoms, even in people who didn't have prior diagnoses or prior mental health needs," Mittal said. Have you crossed the line? Man or woman, how do you know if your use of alcohol has crossed to the dark side? One telltale sign is when drinking is beginning to interfere with your ability to go through your daily life, experts say. "Alcohol use disorder is defined as compulsively using alcohol despite having negative consequences from your use, such as an impact on your relationships, your ability to function in your job or in whatever roles you have in your community," Wakeman said. Another sign: You continue drinking despite that negative impact on your physical or mental health. And it doesn't have to be calling in sick or working with a hangover. "It can also be not feeling well or having a hard time getting up in the morning," Mittal said. "And don't forget relationships. Are you having more disagreements? Are people in your life expressing concern or noting that you're different? Hiding your drinking or lying about it these too are concerning behaviors." Here's a red flag: You're pouring big drinks without realizing it. Current American Heart Association guidelines call for no more than two standard drinks a day for men and one for women, and anyone 65 and older. But just what is a standard drink? "It's 12 ounces of a regular beer, four ounces of regular wine, or one and a half ounces of liquor if you're drinking spirits," Wakeman said. "Yet people may be pouring a huge goblet of wine and not realize that it's actually two or three servings of wine and not just one. "We know that millions of Americans drink above those levels, even in pre-pandemic times," she added. "In 2019, some 66 million Americans had episodes where they were drinking higher than those recommended limits." If you (or a loved one) appears to be struggling with alcohol, don't hesitate to reach out for help, experts stress. There are many different support groups that can assist, such as 12-step programs and individual therapy. If you find yourself with no true red flag, but want to reduce consumption for your overall wellness, Mittal suggests doing so with compassion. "We're all experiencing unprecedented amounts of stress and trauma. Everybody has limits, and we're all being pushed beyond our limits right now. Self-compassion is really important in all of this," she said. "I always worry about people feeling like they've done something wrong if they are drinking more than is good for them," she added. "It's not a moral failing. If you're seeing signs that things aren't going as well as they could, give yourself some grace and focus on self-care instead of drinking." This story was first published on CNN.com "The pandemic may have created a nation of problem drinkers and many are women" (CNN) -- Before taking his own life, Brian Laundrie wrote in a notebook he was responsible for Gabby Petito's death, according to the FBI. "A review of the notebook revealed written statements by Mr. Laundrie claiming responsibility for Ms. Petito's death," the FBI's Denver Field Office said in a statement released Friday. The notebook was discovered in October, in the same area as Laundrie's remains, in Florida's Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, authorities said. A revolver was found nearby, the FBI stated. Petito's and Laundrie's families have reached an agreement on how the couple's belongings, including a notebook, will be distributed, Laundrie family attorney Steve Bertolino said Friday, about four months after Petito's remains were found in Wyoming. Laundrie had been the subject of a weekslong manhunt when his body was found. His family was informed he shot himself in the head, and his death was ruled a suicide, Bertolino said in November. Bertolino would not say which family will receive the notebook. The Petito family met with the FBI in Tampa, Florida, this week and reached an agreement on distributing her and Laundrie's belongings, he said before the FBI statement was released. The Petitos thanked the FBI for its support, according to a statement from the family's lawyer. "We truly appreciate the FBI's diligent and painstaking efforts in this extremely complicated case. The quality and quantity of the facts and information collected by the FBI leave no doubt (that) Brian Laundrie murdered Gabby," it said. The FBI said Friday its investigation into the death "will be closed in the near future." "All logical investigative steps have been concluded in this case," FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said. "The investigation did not identify any other individuals other than Brian Laundrie directly involved in the tragic death of Gabby Petito." The news comes the week after an independent investigator determined two police officers who pulled over Petito's van in Moab, Utah, on August 12 should be placed on probation for "several unintentional mistakes" during the traffic stop. The officers agreed not to charge Petito, who had acknowledged striking Laundrie first, as long as she and Laundrie spent the night apart. The independent investigator found the officers neglected their duty by not pressing charges. Laundrie, 23, and Petito, 22, who were engaged, set out on a road trip in Petito's converted Ford Transit van in June and documented their travels on social media. Laundrie returned alone, driving the van to his parents' Florida home September 1. As police searched for Petito in mid-September, Laundrie went missing. Petito's remains were found a few days later, at Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest. Her death was ruled a homicide by manual strangulation. The specific evening leading up to Petito's death remain a mystery. The FBI described Laundrie as a "person of interest" in her murder, but he was not charged in her killing, although he did face charges for allegedly using Petito's debit card without authorization. His remains were found October 20 in an area that had been underwater during previous searches of a 25,000-acre reserve in North Port. Laundrie's father, who was searching with authorities when his son's remains were found, discovered the notebook near Laundrie's body. Experts said at the time the notebook could be key in providing answers. The notebook was wet, and officials did not immediately say whether they gleaned any information from it. Bertolino told CNN, "Gabby and Brian are no longer with their families and this tragedy has caused enormous emotional pain and suffering to all who loved either or both of them. We can only hope that with today's closure of the case each family can begin to heal and move forward and find peace in and with the memories of their children. May Gabby and Brian both rest in peace." (CNN) The remote island nation of Kiribati went into lockdown for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began two years ago after dozens of passengers on an international flight tested positive for the virus. In a statement posted to its official Facebook account on Tuesday, the Kiribati government confirmed that 36 out of 54 passengers on a flight that had come from Fiji on January 14 had all tested positive for the virus. Authorities had "taken all precautions" and have been "managing" the passengers from the time they entered into pre-departure quarantine in Fiji until their arrival and quarantine in Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati, the statement said. Of a population of just 122,391, only 3 confirmed cases had been identified in Kirbati before last week's flight. That's partly due to the island's strict entry controls during the pandemic and its isolation. Kiribati sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers) away from North America. Kiribati's government said it will enact on Monday a 24-hour curfew in South Tarawa the main hub of Kiribati and the nearby township of Beito. Residents must stay home unless they have to leave for essential work, access emergency services, or shop for food or other essential goods, the government said in its statement. No public transport will be in operation; social gatherings will be banned; and all bars and nightclubs will be closed. Kiribati at the moment requires all people to wear masks in public spaces, including on public transportation. There is already a curfew in place from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., and social gatherings are currently limited to 10 people. Kiribati and other Pacific nations were spared the worst of the pandemic because many states closed their borders on foreign nationals shortly after the virus emerged in late 2019. The decision to go into lockdown over a handful of cases is not without precedent in the South Pacific. Tonga declared a weeklong lockdown for the main island Tongatapu after authorities there discovered the country's first COVID-19 case in November. This story was first published on CNN.com "Remote nation in the Pacific goes into lockdown for the first time" (CNN) The UK foreign office said in a Saturday statement it has information that the Russian government is planning to "install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine." "The former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate," the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said. Murayev told CNN Saturday "there is nothing to comment on" regarding the allegations, as he is a Ukrainian national and still facing Russian sanctions. The statement went on to name four other former Ukrainian officials, saying, "We have information that the Russian intelligence services maintain links with numerous former Ukrainian politicians" including Serhiy Arbuzov, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine from 2012 to 2014, and acting Prime Minister in 2014; Andriy Kluyev, First Deputy Prime Minister from 2010 to 2012 and Chief of Staff to former Ukrainian President Yanukovich, Vladimir Sivkovich, former Deputy Head of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council (RNBO); Mykola Azarov, Prime Minister of Ukraine from 2010-2014, it said. "Some of these have contact with Russian intelligence officers currently involved in the planning for an attack on Ukraine," the British foreign office statement added. Russia has denied allegations it is planning to attack Ukraine. Early Sunday, Russia's foreign ministry called on the UK's foreign office to "stop engaging in provocations," state news agency TASS reported. "The misinformation spread by the British Foreign Office is another evidence that these are the NATO countries, led by the Anglo-Saxons, that are escalating tensions around Ukraine. We call on the British Foreign Office to stop provocative activities, stop spreading nonsense and focus on studying the history of the Tatar-Mongol yoke," a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry told TASS. CNN reached out to the UK foreign office on Saturday for further comment on its claims, as well as supporting evidence, but it said it would not comment any further. "The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking," UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement. "Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy," Truss said. "As the UK and our partners have said repeatedly, any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs." On Twitter, Truss said: "We will not tolerate (a) Kremlin plot to install pro-Russian leadership in Ukraine." CNN also reached out to the US State Department and the White House for comment. Source: US has 'same information' as UK In a statement Saturday, the White House said President Joe Biden met with his national security team to discuss "continued Russian aggressive actions toward Ukraine." The President was briefed on the state of Russian military operations on Ukraine's borders and "discussed both our ongoing efforts to de-escalate the situation with diplomacy and our range of deterrence measures that are being coordinated closely with our Allies and partners, including ongoing deliveries of security assistance to Ukraine," it added. "President Biden again affirmed that should Russia further invade Ukraine, the United States will impose swift and severe consequences on Russia with our Allies and partners," the White House said. A source briefed on the US and British intelligence confirmed the US has similar evidence as the UK, regarding Russia's plot to install a friendly government in Ukraine. "Yes, we have seen the intelligence that Russia is looking at ways to minimize a long, drawn out war. That includes things like installing a friendly government and using its spy agencies to foment dissent," the source said. Another source briefed said the US "has the same information." Russia has previously been accused of attempting to sow chaos in Ukraine through cyberattacks and, purportedly, plotting to take control of the government in Kyiv. But the Kremlin has repeatedly denied it is planning to invade. CNN previously reported the US accused Russia of recruiting current and former Ukrainian government officials to attempt to take control of Ukraine's government as it unveiled new sanctions on Thursday. The Treasury Department rolled out sanctions against four current and former Ukrainian officials it said were involved in Kremlin-directed influence activities to destabilize Ukraine. Those newly sanctioned individuals include Taras Romanovych Kozak, Volodymyr Mykolayovych Oliynyk, Vladimir Leonidovich Sivkovich, and Oleh Voloshyn. Sivkovich was the only former Ukrainian politician named in both the US and UK announcements. The Treasury said the four individuals two of whom are current members of Ukraine's Parliament were acting under the direction of a Russian intelligence service sanctioned by the US and played "various roles" in Russia's "global influence campaign to destabilize sovereign countries in support of the Kremlin's political objectives." US National Security Council Spokesperson Emily Horne expressed solidarity with Ukraine as the UK Foreign Office said it had information the Russian government is planning to install a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine, calling the plot "deeply concerning." "This kind of plotting is deeply concerning," Horne said. "The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine." Romania, Bulgaria slam Russia's demands to move NATO troops That comes as NATO members Romania and Bulgaria slammed Russia's demand to remove alliance troops from both countries as "unacceptable," with each arguing that the Kremlin has no right to interfere in the foreign policy decisions of other sovereign states. The comments from both countries came just hours after Russia's Foreign Ministry confirmed its demand for NATO to pull back troops from parts of eastern Europe included Bulgaria and Romania. The two countries are located on the Black Sea, which analysts believe Moscow sees as an important geostrategic buffer zone between itself and Europe. Romania's Ministry of Foreign affairs said in a statement Saturday "such a demand is unacceptable and cannot be negotiated." Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Moscow to "to show respect to the foreign policy choice consciously made by Bulgaria." Bulgaria's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Marin Raykov, told the BBC the Kremlin's demand is "an expression of contempt for the sovereign rights of Bulgaria to choose the sources of guarantees for national security." Russia and NATO have been at loggerheads since late last year, when the Kremlin deployed an estimated 100,000 troops to its border with Ukraine. That military posturing has prompted fears that Russia is planning another incursion into Ukraine after invading and illegally annexing the Crimean peninsula in 2014. That same year, Moscow began supporting a pro-Russian separatist movement in eastern Ukraine that's left thousands dead. In its statement, Romania said the NATO military presence in eastern Europe is "a strictly defensive reaction to the increasingly aggressive behavior of the Russian Federation ... which started in 2014. when the Ukrainian territory Crimea was illegally occupied by Russia." "This behavior continues to intensify in the present, despite NATO's attempts to engage in constructive dialogue," the statement read. The United States and its NATO allies have repeatedly warned Russia any movement of its troops into Ukranian territory would be met with what US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called "a severe and a united response." Russian President Vladimir Putin has argued in recent weeks that his country is the aggrieved party, and is responding to NATO's cooperation with Ukraine and the alliance's eastward expansion since the fall of the Soviet Union -- which Russia views as an existential security threat. Diplomats from all sides have been attempting to negotiate a peaceful settlement, though one of Russia's core demands that NATO withdraw foreign military forces and equipment from members of the alliance who joined after 1997 was quickly deemed a non-starter by Western diplomats. "NATO allies are ready to engage in dialogue with Russia, but we will not compromise on core principles," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier this month. "We will not compromise on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of every nation in Europe, and we will not compromise on the right for all countries to do, to choose their own path, including what kind of security arrangements they want to be part of, and will not compromise on the right for allies to protect and defend each other." Weaponry sent to Ukraine NATO members have, in recent days, deployed military equipment and personnel to eastern alliance members in response to Russia's troop buildup in Ukraine. The Dutch Defense Minister said the Netherlands would deploy two F-35 jets, along with support staff, to Bulgaria in April or May, while the Spanish Defense Minister offered to send fighter jets and a warship to the Black Sea. The alliance has also begun sending weaponry to Kyiv to deter a potential Russian invasion and strengthen Ukraine's defensive capabilities. Light anti-tank weapons from the United Kingdom have already arrived in the country, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said Tuesday, while the Czech Republic plans donate 152-milimeter caliber artillery ammunition to Ukraine in the coming days, Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova said Friday. Germany will supply a fully equipped field hospital to Ukraine, according to the German Defense Ministry. The country has traditionally avoided exporting arms to crisis areas since World War II, but German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said earlier this week that "all measures" will be on the table if there is further Russian aggression against Ukraine. The US Embassy in Kyiv said Friday that the first shipment of American-directed materiel 200,000 pounds of lethal aid, including ammunition for fighters on the front lines has arrived in Ukraine. Though US President Joe Biden ruled out sending American combat troops to Ukraine, Washington has approved the shipment of US-origin weapons to Kyiv -- including highly sought-after American anti-aircraft systems from Latvia and Lithuania. Those armaments would help Ukraine fend off Russian aircraft that, some officials and experts believe, would lead the way in the early stages of a Russian invasion. Estonia was given approval to transfer anti-tank Javelin guided missile systems, which the US has provided Ukraine with in the past. This story was first published on CNN.com, "UK foreign office says Kremlin is planning to install a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine." Music from the Glen Music from the Glen is a weekly program of traditional music from the British Isles and beyond. The program has been running for almost 45 years, and focuses on folk music of a traditional bent from the British Isles and elsewhere that these traditions have spread. We feature traditional music in all forms: new releases of traditional songs and tunes, new compositions in traditional style, classic traditional material from the folk revival onward, and even the occasional archival recording. We frequently play the music of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and sometimes venture to Australia, Brittany and Scandinavia. We often feature musicians from the rich Canadian traditional music scene including players from Cape Breton, the Ottawa Valley, Newfoundland, and Quebec as well as the music of the American North-East. Memories fade quickly, and we haven't yet been able to track down an exact date for the first broadcast. If the show was not part of the original CKCU lineup in November 1975, then it likely started within the first year of broadcast. We believe the program was originally hosted by Stephanie David. By December 1979 (first issue of TransFM) hosting duties had passed to Graham Ashby, who eventually co-hosted with Rebecca Barclay. Then Rob McCarthy hosted the show until his departure on a trip around the world in mid-1982, at which point Riva Flexer took over the program until 1985. Vince Veness then organized a collective of hosts including John Henderson, Pippa Hall, Ivan Empky and Shelley Posen. Gord Peeling and Stewart Patch were also a part of the collective and eventually took over the show, splitting the hosting duties. Colin Henein replaced Stewart in the fall of 2005, and Ed Kingscote joined as a third host in 2017. Gord, Colin and Ed now alternate weeks, bringing you the best in traditional music from the British Isles, and beyond! Tim Heaphy, a former federal prosecutor who investigated the city of Charlottesvilles response to the 2017 Unite the Right rally, is out as the University of Virginias top lawyer. Heaphy, who is currently on a leave of absence to lead the work of the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, was fired Friday by new Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. Miyares took office Jan. 15. University leaders are grateful to Tim for his outstanding service to our community and disappointed to see it come to an end, UVa spokesman Brian Coy said in a statement. Victoria LaCivita, director of communications for the attorney general, said the decision had nothing to do with the Jan. 6 committee or its investigations. It is common practice for an incoming administration to appoint new staff that share the philosophy and legal approach of the Attorney General, LaCivita wrote. Every counsel serves at the pleasure of the Attorney General. Heaphy was appointed as UVa counsel and senior assistant attorney general in August 2018. The former U.S. Attorney of the Western District of Virginia led a team of lawyers who reviewed the University of Virginia and the city of Charlottesvilles responses to violent clashes in August 2017. As UVas counsel, Heaphy has helped the university navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, weighing on requirements and sanctions for students who dont comply. The university also adopted new free-speech policies under his watch. Heaphy said in a statement that serving as University Counsel has been a tremendous honor and privilege. As a two-time graduate of the University, the parent of a current student, and a longtime resident of Charlottesville, I love the university and have been privileged to contribute to its aspiration to be both great and good, he said. Im proud of the work our office has done to navigate the diverse legal challenges faced by the University and to provide strategic advice and counsel to President Ryan and his leadership team. While Im disappointed that my time as University Counsel has come to an end, Im confident that the office will continue to provide quality service as the University continues to thrive in the days to come. Since Heaphy started working with the Jan. 6 committee, Jasmine Yoon has led the Office of University Counsel, according to the UVa news release. According to The Washington Post, the counsel for George Mason University also was fired. Our decision was made after reviewing the legal decisions made over the last couple of years, LaCivita said in a statement to the Washington Post. The Attorney General wants the university counsel to return to giving legal advice based on law, and not the philosophy of a university. We plan to look internally first for the next lead counsel. Two of Del. Sally Hudsons bills aimed at lowering the punishment for simple drug possession and making recovery easier were tabled Friday by a House of Delegates courts subcommittee, likely ending their progress this session. Amongst the legislation introduced this session by Hudson, a Charlottesville Democrat, are three bills targeting criminal drug possession charges. They range from a small, specific issue of drug residue-related charges to a more broad proposed change in how felony possession charges are handled. The meatiest of the bills, HB 612, sought to end felony prosecution for simple possession of narcotics to eliminate jail sentences of more than a year for possessing a small amount of controlled substances for personal use, Hudson said. Simple possession means the kind of quantities that could be used personally. This is not about distribution or drug dealers, she said. Because a felony prosecution could mean a sentence of up to 10 years, what this does is dial down the maximum penalty that someone could get for simple possession of drugs is a misdemeanor, which is a maximum jail sentence of the year. Under current law, a person caught with the possession of schedule I or schedule II controlled substances which include cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine can be sentenced up to 10 years in prison. Possession of items with drug residue on them can also lead to felony charges, which Hudson sought to address with HB 619. The bill would change law so that mere residue of any substance that is not in a usable quantity or a countable dosage unit would not result in a criminal prosecution. Hudson said the issue is non-partisan. She noted similar legislation has passed in more conservative states than Virginia, including Iowa, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming. Despite Hudsons perception of the bill as a non-partisan issue, House Republicans voted to table both HB 612 and 619 during the subcommittee hearing. Del. Vivian E. Watts, D-Annandale, voted not to table HB 619, but joined the Republican majority in voting to table HB 612. Although a tabled bill may be brought up again by a committee during a General Assembly session, it is extremely rare. Tabling legislation is typically perceived as a quieter way of voting down a bill. Various people spoke in favor of the bills Friday, including Marijuana Justice Executive Director Chelsea Higgs Wise and Nathan Mitchell of the Virginia Recovery Advocacy Project. Most of the speakers highlighted the potential for the bills to create a better path forward for people struggling with addiction and the potential for the legislation to save the courts money which could be redirected into treatment programs, such as drug courts. Although the bills received support from some commonwealths attorneys, Lori DiGiosia, chief-deputy Commonwealths Attorney for Stafford County, spoke against them. Speaking on HB 619, DiGiosia said that she didnt understand how there could be a difference between residue and possession, arguing that having possessed and used a drug is not better or different than possessing it but not having used it. She pointed to alternative options available to prosecutors, including drug courts, which allow charged individuals to receive treatment in lieu of jail time and often involve the reduction or removal of charges. The elements that [a drug was] knowingly and intentionally possessed still have to be proven by the Commonwealth. We have authority to do many different alternatives and, despite current rhetoric, prosecutors are not looking to try and convict people with felonies for possession and for being addicts, DiGiosia said. We are trying a lot of different alternative dispositions as a whole and I would suggest that Virginia prosecutors are progressive in trying to make sure that were not causing people to end up with a felony. Drug overdoses are a problem in every part of Virginia, including very deep red spots, and I think that just how little political consideration these proposals got is just one more reminder of just how far Virginia is behind the times when it comes to more humane justice reform, Hudson said. This was not about trying to turn Virginia into California; this was about trying to help Virginia catch up with the rest of the South in how were confronting our drug problems. The last of Hudsons drug possession-related bills, HB 618, is still up for consideration. HB 618 seeks to end felony possession as a barrier crime for employment opportunities. Given Fridays hearing, Hudson said she is not optimistic but hopes her colleagues will consider the adverse impacts the felony possession charge has on someones economic opportunities and recovery. Locally, Albemarle County Commonwealths Attorney Jim Hingeley and his office have been working to avoid felony possession charges for several months. A supporter of Hudsons HB 612, Hingeley said it is important for prosecutors to consider the best response to protecting both people who are at risk of using illegal drugs and the community. We have people dying from overdoses, we have an ongoing opioid crisis and its all getting worse, Hingeley said. So ultimately the question for me is whether the work were doing prosecuting people for drug possession felonies helping us solve the problem, and Ive come to the conclusion that it isnt. Hingeley said lesser charges offer similar treatment and alternative options but have less severe impacts. By changing the prosecution from a felony to a misdemeanor you are making virtually no difference in the time served in practice but all the difference in removing the penalty of a felony conviction itself, he said. Over the last several months, Hingeley said his office has been offering defendants one of three options involving misdemeanor charges. One is to seek substance abuse screening and treatment with the charge being dismissed if they follow through with treatment. The second, aimed at recreational users, requires defendants to stop using drugs and be tested for six months prior to a case dismissal. The third option is for those suffering addiction and not wanting treatment. They can enter a guilty plea to the misdemeanor charge, Hingeley said, which is the same endpoint met by those who opt for the first two options but dont succeed. This is not a mini drug court. Were offering people who are using drugs or addicted to drugs, an opportunity to connect with services, he said. If theyre motivated to connect the services, we offer them an incentive: do it, make progress and the charge is dismissed. So far about a dozen defendants have been impacted by the policy, Hingeley said. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Landmarks_and_legacies featured How a little rumor shared over tea led to a run on Denton's banks Courtesy photo Dentons oldest financial institution was the Exchange National Bank, site of present-day Wells Fargo Bank, seen in this undated photo. The bank closed after idle gossip led to a run on the bank. Denton County farmers, especially those who grew cotton, enjoyed their most lucrative year in 1920. Dentons four banks located on the northeast corner of Dentons Square financed and shared farmers economic success. By 1927, Denton bank assets decreased from nearly $3 million to $2,545,963. Lower cotton, wheat and corn values meant Denton County had 4,000 farms, instead of 5,000. No one seemed to notice that the economy was on shaky feet. As banks closed across the country, Sangers First State Bank closed in 1920. Aubreys Farmers & Merchants Bank consolidated with First Guarantee Bank. In August 1928, a Denton Record-Chronicle headline proclaimed First National Bank in Hands of Examiner, Doors Opened Wednesday. But No Deposits Received, or Checks Cashed. Bank President H.F. Schweer told the paper: This was a great tragedy in my life. I am filled with sorrow at the banks suspension of business. Schweer was charged with embezzling $3,717 (worth $60,616 today). He posted a $2,500 bond in lieu of formal arrest. Schweers son, bank cashier L.H., was arrested and jailed in Denton while he awaited a federal marshal to take him to Sherman. The trial was held quickly at Schweers request. In October, L.H. was given an 18-month sentence because of his fathers uncontested guilty plea. H.F., who was 70 years old, received a four-year suspended sentence, probably due to his age. The First National Bank closed; most depositors received only a small percentage of their funds. Dentons oldest financial institution was the Exchange National Bank, site of present-day Wells Fargo Bank. At a ladies tea party on Oct. 13, 1928, the wife of one of the bank officers remarked that there were many problems at the bank and that a federal bank examiner had temporarily closed the bank. The rumor was like a match that ignited a Denton bank run. Depositors were already on edge because of the First National Bank embezzlement. A bank run happens when most depositors show up to withdraw money. A solvent bank forced to quickly liquidate assets can become insolvent. Across the street, W.C. Orr was the president of Dentons First State Bank, the present-day site of Free Play Arcade on the northeast corner of Dentons Square. On Oct. 13, Orr sent a message to his son, who was a student at Denton High School, to drive to Fort Worth and pick up a package from Fort Worth National Bank President Raymond Gee. W.C. Jr. returned with a large newspaper-wrapped package containing tightly bound stacks of one-dollar bills. As depositors came in to see if there was a run on the First State Bank, Orr calmly greeted them, chatted and shook their hands. Large stacks of bills prominently placed in the tellers window reassured anxious customers. Most left; a few withdrew money only to redeposit it. First State Banks calm approach fended off a run. Although the Exchange National Bank was solvent, it never attempted to reorganize. The bank closed after paying every depositor 100% of their accounts. The closure of two of Dentons four banks signaled a weakening economy. By January of 1929, the editor of Sangers Courier-Gazette noted recent bank failures in Texas have caused some uneasiness with depositors close to home. Half of the nations banks eventually closed. Farmers responded to financial uncertainty by diversifying crops, replacing cotton with wheat and corn. Livestock and poultry became more important. Farmers took out fewer mortgages and put more money in savings. Business leaders were less intuitive than farmers. Throughout 1929, Texas business leaders continued to believe prosperity was just around the corner. On Jan. 1, 1929, the Dallas Morning News headline read Conditions Ripe for Good Times, Practically All Agree. The stock market crashed on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929. Two days later, the News downplayed Black Tuesday with a headline reading Local Loss in Market Light, Bankers Say. No one anticipated the years of struggle that lay ahead as America entered the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world. Research for this article came from Shawn Pages 2016 UNT Masters Thesis. Press Release January 23, 2022 Lacson: Presidency is a Sacrifice I'm Willing to Take More at: https://pinglacson.net/article/lacson-presidency-is-a-sacrifice-im-willing-to-take The Presidency is a sacrifice, and I am ready to offer myself. On this note, Partido Reporma Chairman and standard-bearer Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson stressed his willingness to continue his public service, after seeing the humongous problems facing the country. "Sa akin tinitingnan ko itong presidency as a sacrifice. Kasi nakapagsilbi na ako. Nagawa ko ang dapat kong gawin, yan ang aking satisfaction sa buhay at matino ang nagawa kong serbisyo. Pero nakita ko ang napakalaking problema at sayang naman ang sabihin ko na ang track record na pinagmamalaki ko (I look at the presidency as a sacrifice. I have already served the public well. But I see the country still faces humongous problems and I feel I can help given my track record)," Lacson said in The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews Saturday night. "Sayang naman kung hindi ko iaambag ang aking experience, ang aking competence, ang aking track record na napagaaralan sa napakahabang panahon. I think may magagawa pa ako kaya ako nag-decide na tumakbo (It would be a waste if I did not offer my experience to the people. I think I can do something to help, that's why I decided to run)," he added. He said that should he win, his administration's top three priorities would include budget reform, digitalization of government processes, and ending corruption - in line with his vow to fix the government's ills (Aayusin ang Gobyerno, Aayusin ang Buhay ng Bawat Pilipino) and stopping thieves (Uubusin ang Magnanakaw). Lacson, who has compiled a solid public service record spanning 50 years in law enforcement and lawmaking, added he has been praying for a better life for Filipinos. When asked what superpower he would wish for, he said it is to solve the problems of the Philippines and of Filipinos. "For the longest time talagang naghihirap tayo dahil mostly self-inflicted and mostly because of bad governance. Ang pinagdadasal ko na sana dumating ang panahon na tayong mga Pilipino tayo mamulat na magbantay sa ating mga government officials (For the longest time, we have been suffering mostly due to self-inflicted circumstances and bad governance. I pray the time will come that we Filipinos will wake up and demand accountability from our public servants)," he said. Lacson also said his biggest fear in life is that Filipinos would lose hope as well as trust in the government. "Pag ganyan ang nangyari wala na tayong kinabukasan (If that happens we will have no future)," he said. Welcome to The Denver Gazettes Metro Moves. Youll get the latest metro Denver openings, closings, hiring and promotion briefs here. To submit your companys news, drop an email to dennis.huspeni@gazette.com. New hire Jeff Kloska is the new director of the Colorado Air and Space Port, according to a news release. A former aviation director from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Kloska worked with both the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. Hes also past president of the Texas Airports Council. Jeff has an extensive background in aviation and business management, which makes him an excellent choice for this position, Alisha Reis, interim Adams County manager, said in a news release. Theres so much potential at Colorado Air and Space Port and were excited to have someone with Jeffs experience help shape its future. The space port, in Watkins northwest of state highways 36 and 79, has ambitions to serve as Americas hub for commercial space transportation, research, and development. Its working toward horizontal launch facilities for suborbital transportation. Kloska, a Metropolitan State University of Denver graduate, has experience in airport operations, security, maintenance, administration and management at airports of various size, including busy general aviation and medium hubs. Now open Franchise operator Renovation Sells has opened its first Colorado location in Denver, and Jason Maier will run the office, according to a news release. The Chicago-based company started in 2017 and works to renovate homes before they go to market. Its up to nine franchises. Maier worked for TIAA for 13 years, including as the company's former director of product management. In May 2020, the company I had been working for offered a voluntary separation package as a result of the pandemic, Maier said in a news release. I knew I wanted to take the package but did not want to return to corporate America. My wife, who is an interior designer, and I had always discussed flipping houses but while working full-time, neither of us had the time to. I decided, with the support of Jacey (my wife), that this was our chance to build something of our own and start flipping houses. Your morning rundown of the latest news from overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Q: What is the history of roller skating rinks in Dothan? A: Two of the earliest rinks were Wiregrass Arena and Dothan Skating Rink. Both are listed in the 1953 city directory. Wiregrass Arena was at the Houston County Fairgrounds. The address for the fairgrounds was 1401 Reeves St. The skating rink and the Fairgrounds Drive-In restaurant were on Wilson Street, the southern border of the fairgrounds property. Fairgrounds Motel was at 1415 Reeves St. Leonard J. Lunsford (1891-1966) and his wife Emma (1899-1974) were associated with the fairgrounds in the 1953 directory. The fairgrounds are listed through 1955. The 1956-57 directory shows the fairgrounds address vacant and the skating rink no longer listed. Also in the 1953 directory is Dothan Skating Rink, 1327 E. Main St. At the rear of the rink was Alabama Pea-Pickers Recreation Hall. The 1956-57 directory shows the rinks name changed to Bob-A-Lu after J. Robert and Lucille Brown bought the business. The rink on East Main closed in the late 1960s when the property was needed to construct a six-lane highway behind the address. The Brown family opened a new rink south of the downtown business district on nearly two acres of land bordered by St. Andrews, South (now Southport), and Foster streets. The rink on East Main was torn down to make way for the highway. The 1300 block of Main Street was reconfigured to connect with Columbia Highway. Old Main Street from Holman Street to the six-lane crossing was renamed Columbia Highway in the 1990s. The new Bob-A-Lu was listed at 108 E. South St. from 1969 until 1981, when the address changed to 600 S. St. Andrews St. Bob-A-Lu was listed through 2006 before it closed. The 1981 directory shows Peanuts Skate Center on Montgomery Highway north of the John D. Odom Road intersection. The name changed to Dothan Bowling Center in the 1986 directory after the roller rink was replaced with bowling lanes. The business is now called Dothan Lanes, 5727 Montgomery Highway. The 2006 directory shows a new skating rink called Playground Family Fun-Nasium at 465 Westgate Parkway. The business is now called Fun Zone Skate Center and is currently the only roller rink in Dothan. Cargo waiting to be shipped at the SP-ITC International Container Terminal in HCMC. Photo courtesy of ITC Singapore-based real estate investment management company GLP has established the GLP Vietnam Development Partners I with an investment of $1.1 billion, the biggest ever logistics fund in Vietnam. The fund will focus on developing six modern and environmentally-friendly logistics facilities with a total land area of nearly 900,000 square meters in Hanoi and HCMC. According to GLP, a leading global investment manager and business builder in logistics, data infrastructure, renewable energy and related technologies, GLP VDP I is one of the largest logistics development funds in Southeast Asia. The fund has received commitments from many investors in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East representing pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and insurance companies, including APG Asset Management and Manulife. The Singapore-based company entered Vietnam in 2020 through SEA Logistic Partners, a GLP-backed industrial and logistics facility development and operation platform with focus on Southeast Asia. According to Agilitys 2021 emerging market logistics index report, Vietnam is among the top 10 leading emerging logistics markets with an index of 5.67 and an expected compound annual growth rate of 7 percent in the 2021-2026 period. Stock market lot not to be cut to 10 shares: finance ministry An investor looks at stock prices on a laptop at a brokerage in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran The round lot of 100 shares will not be reduced to 10 in the securities market, but trading in odd lots will be allowed, the finance ministry has said. "There will be a mechanism for investors to sell odd lots of shares they are holding," Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi told VnExpress Friday. "Most stock markets in the world do not have 10-share lots" and so a return to it is not appropriate, he said. Last July, the ministry had planned a reversion to 10 shares after the installation of a new trading system on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) managed to clear the earlier congestion, which had necessitated an increase from 10 to 100 shares. HoSEs round lot was 100 shares from its inception in 2000 to 2013, but then it reduced it to 10 to stimulate liquidity. The HoSE management has decided to run with 100 since it is in line with international practices. Many stock markets in the neighborhood have 100-share lots, including SET (Thailand), BM (Malaysia), SGX (Singapore), and SSE (Shanghai). But most allow free trading of odd lots. Service members of the Ukrainian armed forces drive tanks towards a pontoon bridge before crossing the Aidar River during military drills near Novoaidar in the Luhansk region, Ukraine, December 14, 2021. Photo by Reuters Ethnic Vietnamese living near the Ukraine-Russia border hope the tension between the two countries will not escalate into conflict. Manh Hung, a PhD student at the National Aerospace University who has lived in Ukraine for nearly 10 years, told VnExpress: "People living in Kharkov city are worried about the future. They hope things won't get worse". Kharkov, in the province of the same name in eastern Ukraine and close to the border, is one of the three cities with large Vietnamese communities along with the capital Kiev and Odessa in the south. The recent deployment of Russian military forces near the border and the constant war warnings from the Ukrainian government and western countries have caused concern . While the U.S. and Ukraine accuse Russia of preparing to attack, Moscow denies it, insisting that all military moves along the border are purely defensive. But despite the escalating tension, Hung said markets and supermarkets in Kharkov are operating normally, and there is no panic buying of goods to hoard or fear of going out. People are moving around the city completely normally and there are no restrictions, except for the Covid-19 safety regulations mandated by the government. "I just hope no conflict occurs and the country remains peaceful so that Vietnamese and locals do not face an additional economic burden". A Vietnamese market in Barabashova, Kharkov City, in eastern Ukraine. Photo courtesy of Hung Huynh Nghia, a Vietnamese who has lived in Ukraine for more than 30 years, also said the security situation is not as serious as reported by the corporate western media and that life in Kharkov is going on as usual. He does not believe war will break out between Russia and Ukraine, but is concerned the tensions could greatly affect people's lives and finances. Kharkov has been cut off from trade with the separatist-controlled Donbas region and the other side of the Russian border, causing Vietnamese traders in the Barabashova wholesale market to lose two important sources of business. Rising gas prices are also having an effect across the board, from industries and food processing to heating for winter, causing prices of goods and services to rise. "The fireplace used to be always on in dormitories and homes, but no longer since gas prices have increased," Hung said. Hung said the economic situation became much more difficult after 2014 when the Euromaidan protests occurred -- only improving slightly in recent years before the tensions with Russia began. As a result, the Vietnamese community in Kharkov has halved since 2014 to 3,000 as many moved to other countries or cities to do business. Nghia said there have been many upheavals in Ukraine, from the Euromaidan protests to the conflict in the breakaway Donbas region, with fighting once taking place just 100 kilometers away from where he lived. Vietnamese were very worried at that time, and relatives kept calling from Vietnam to urge them to return home, but life in Kharkov has remained safe, he said. "I just hope everything will be peaceful in future so that the Ukrainian government can focus on economic solutions, stabilizing people's lives and attracting investment". The HOPA contest, titled "Mua Xuan Nham Dan 2022" (Spring in the Year of the Water Tiger 2022), had two themes: "Xuan Que Huong" (Hometown Spring); and "Chim, Dong vat thien nhien, Hoa, Ca kieng, Con trung" (Birds, Animals, Flowers, Fish, Insects). The "Xuan Que Huong" theme attracted over 2,500 entries from 300 photographers. Of these, 87 were chosen to be exhibited. The award ceremony and the exhibition are set to take place on January 26 in HCMC's District 1. The "Email ve cham soc suc khoe" (Email on healthcare) photo by Dinh Tat Canh in Quang Nam won the Colorful Award, the contests top prize. Canh said the picture of hundreds of yoga practitioners was composed like an email message to everyone to take care of their health, especially in Covid-19 times. RTHK: 'Moscow trying to install pro-Russia leader in Kiev' Britain on Saturday alleged that it had information that Moscow was "looking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kiev" as fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine grow. Tensions have soared in recent weeks as tens of thousands of Russian troops mass on Ukraine's border, along with an arsenal of tanks, fighting vehicles, artillery and missiles. London said it had seen evidence that several former Ukrainian politicians had maintained links with Russian intelligence services, and that former MP Yevgen Murayev was being considered as a potential leader. Some of those in contact with Russian intelligence officers were "currently involved in the planning for an attack on Ukraine", the Foreign Office said in a statement, though did not release details of the evidence. A US official called the alleged plot "deeply concerning". Moscow dismissed the claims as "disinformation", and urged London to "stop spreading nonsense". "Disinformation circulated by @FCDOGovUK is yet another indication that it is the @Nato Members led by the Anglo-Saxon nations who are escalating tensions around #Ukraine," Russia's foreign ministry said in a tweet. The accusations come at the end of a week of intense international diplomacy, which concluded with Antony Blinken and Sergei Lavrov, Washington and Moscow's top diplomats, agreeing to keep working to ease tensions. Murayev, the man named by London, lost his seat in the Ukrainian parliament when his party failed to win five percent of the vote in 2019 elections. He is considered to be an owner of Ukrainian TV station "Nash", which regulators have been seeking to shut down since last year, accusing it of airing pro-Russian propaganda. The other four politicians named by the UK were Mykola Azarov, Sergiy Arbuzov, Andriy Kluyev and Volodymyr Sivkovich. Azarov served as prime minister under pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych. Both fled Kiev for Russia following the 2014 uprising in Ukraine that toppled a government that had rejected pressure to move the country closer to the West. Sivkovich, a former deputy secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council, was sanctioned by the United States this week for allegedly working with Russian intelligence. Arbuzov and Kluyev both served as deputy prime minister under Yanukovych. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-01-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Press Release January 23, 2022 Pangilinan to TROPA: Counter online lies with truth in polite face-to-face conversations THE best way to counter massive disinformation and fake news online is with truth in polite face-to-face conversations, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan tells campaigners for Team Robredo Pangilinan (TROPA). "Unfortunately because of five years of relentless lying and demonization, people actually believe that VP Leni is a weak leader and has not done anything. The same with me that I have not done anything, which is not true (Nakakalungkot dahil sa limang taon na tuloy-tuloy na pagsisinungaling at paninira, may naniniwala na mahina si VP Leni at walang nagawa. Ganoon din sa akin, na wala akong nagawa, na hindi naman totoo)," Pangilinan said in a virtual gathering with the Frontliners for Leni. "People fall victim to the lies that are spread on social media. So our duty is to counter this. The truth will resonate and in the face of the truth, the lies will fall flat. That's the challenge for us (Naniniwala ang tao sa kasinungalingang pinapakalat sa social media. Tungkulin natin na labanan ito. Mananaig ang katotohanan at matatalo ang kasinungalingan. Yan ang hamon sa atin)," he added. During the virtual gathering, the Frontliners for Leni assured Pangilinan of their support come election day, noting that its members have already put in place strategies that will further spread TROPA's campaign message. "We're just waiting for the surge to go down. We are ready for battle again. You, Senator Kiko and Vice President Leni are giving us inspiration... You are really our hope. You make us feel stronger, act nicer, and want to help everybody (Hinihintay lang naming humupa ang Covid. Lalaban na ulit kami. Kayo ni Vice President Leni, Senator Kiko, ang aming inspirasyon...Kayo ang aming pag-asa. Pinapalakas at pinapabuti niyo kami. Gusto naming tulungan lahat)," said Maria Jesusa Banal-Silao, the group's founder. The Frontliners for Leni, which was initially formed as a Viber support group for TROPA's campaign, is composed of doctors, business executives, pharmacy owners, bankers, and patients. Pangilinan said producing materials such as memes and videos debunking baseless accusations and allegations against candidates should be explored. But aside from using social media, Pangilinan said nothing beats face-to-face conversations as this method will particularly reach audiences who are not yet fully decided which candidates to support in the upcoming national elections. Although the proliferation of fake news and disinformation online remain strong, Pangilinan reminded the supporters to stay calm and respectful when speaking with the adversary's "soft supporters". "These soft supporters are not the enemy and they can still be considered as undecided, so let's treat them with respect despite opposing views. Attacking, insulting, cursing, talking down in a condescending way will not help. Therefore, be level-headed (Hindi kalaban ang mga soft supporters o undecided. Galangin sila kahit na iba ang kanilang pananaw. Hindi nakakatulong ang pag-away, pag-insulto o pagmamaliit sa kanila. Laging maging mahinahon)," Pangilinan said. "Many of the voters who are now giving their support to our adversary, I believe a lot of them is soft because of fake news and disinformation. How do we combat that? We combat that through truth (Marami sa mga supporters ng ating katunggali, naniniwala sa kanila dahil sa kasinungalingan. Paano natin ito lalabanan? Labanan natin ng katotohanan)," he added. Pangilinan also addressed the long-time allegations that the Liberal Party lost support because it is elitist, saying this narrative is a result of disinformation. "That elitist tag draws its roots from, unfortunately, fake news. When Mar [Roxas] lost in 2016, people were saying that we were elitist, detached, out of touch, and all that... But you know, I won in 2016. Seven of the 12 candidates of PNoy won in 2016. Our vice president won. We were not detached (Fake news yang bansag na elitista. Noong natalo si Mar noong 2016, sinasabi ng mga tao na elitista, detached, lutang, at kung ano-ano pa...Pero alam natin: Nanalo ako. Pito sa 12 kandidato ni PNoy nanalo noong 2016. Nanalo ang ating vice president. Hindi tayo talo)," he said. Amid the whirlwind of disinformation online, Pangilinan still trusts the capability of Filipinos to decide based on reason and truth. "I believe the Filipinos are capable of making an informed decision. That's why the truth is so important and we need to push for that (Naniniwala akong kaya ng Pilipino ang gumawa ng desisyong nakabase sa katotohanan. Kaya mahalaga ito at kailangang itulak)," he said. "But I also believe that voters will not want to make decisions based on lies and therefore the lies have to be exposed and the truth has to be disseminated far and wide (Naniniwala rin ako na ayaw ng botante na magpasya base sa kasinungalingan. Kaya kailangang isiwalat ang kasinungalingan at ipakalat ang totoo sa pinakamarami)," Pangilinan added. 40% of US population up to date on covid-19 vaccination - CNN According to a CNN analysis of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions data on vaccinations in the US, around 40% of the countrys population can be considered up to date on vaccination against covid-19. CNN offers the following explanation of up to date, provided by the US top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, in an interview with the media outlet last week: If I was not vaccinated at all and I got vaccinated tomorrow, two weeks to a month from now, I would be at my optimal degree of protection, and that would be fully vaccinated'. However, five months later, if I wanted to be up to date, to be optimally vaccinated, Id want to get the booster. Those who are up to date therefore include: people who have had their full initial vaccine dose plus a booster; people who have had the first of two initial vaccine doses and arent eligible for their second dose yet; people aged 12 and over who have had their full initial vaccine dose but arent yet eligible for a booster; children aged five to 11 who have had their full initial dose but cant be boosted as this hasnt been authorised for their age group. These groups add up to a total of 130 million people, CNN says, per CDC data. The 2022 Sundance Film Festival began on Thursday 20 January, bringing together the most exciting independent movies to have been released in the last 12 months. Once again the festival could not be held in its usual physical location of Park City, Utah due to covid-19 concerns but a virtual alternative will bring the festival to your home. The 2021 edition took place during a near-total lockdown and the virtual fest brought all the performances, projects and even the film parties into homes. Sundance organisers issued a statement explaining the situation: "Our Sundance spirit is in making something work against the odds. But with case numbers forecasted to peak in our host community the week of the festival we cannot knowingly put our staff and community at risk. With another virtual festival the only option, heres how you can enjoy movies from Sundance 2022 from the comfort of your own sofa How to watch Sundance Film Festival 2022 This year Sundance TV will be back, offering the opportunity to watch the festivals movies anywhere in the United States at a wide range of price points. To take advantage simply head over to SundanceTV where you can sign up for which package suits your needs. Heres the full list of options to watch the virtual Sundance film festival 2022 Festival Package ($750) Valid across the whole span of the festival from 20 30 January, the Festival Package is the best way to make the most of the event. This comprehensive package entitles the owner to ten tickets to view films, access to award-winner screenings and everything included in the Explorer Pass (below). Awards Only Package ($300) If youre only interested in watching the best of the best, the Awards Package will give you tickets for each of the eight award-winner showings. These will take place at the end of the festival on 29 and 30 January. You will also receive the Explorer Pass (below). Day Package ($100) Have you singled out one particular day that piques your interest? Do you only have a short amount of time to commit to a love of independent cinema? For $100 you can access any single day from 22 to 28 January, giving you four tickets for film screenings across that day. You also have the advantages of the Explorer Pass (below). Explorer Pass ($50) This pass is the only one also available to viewers outside of the United States and it caters to those who are happy to wander from the beaten track. The Explorer Pass covers certain selections from the New Frontier, Indie Episodic and Short Film offerings. Single Film Ticket ($20) If simply watching one screening from the Sundance film festival is something you want to tick off your bucket list, this could be the year to do it. For just $20 you will receive access to one exclusive screening on specific day and time, and can also be applied to the award-winner showings. Biden caused much consternation amongst allies and enemies, home and abroad, with comments last week by saying NATO may be split in response if there was a "minor incursion" into Ukraine. He was immediately rebuked by Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky, "There are no minor incursions. Just as there are no minor casualties and little grief from the loss of loved ones." "If there's Russian forces crossing the border I think that changes everything." US President Joe Biden The US state department went into damage limitation overdrive, with mealy-mouthed clarifications that the president was referring to cyberattacks. "We have been very clear throughout," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday, adding that any Russian incursion into Ukraine would be met with a "swift, severe and united response" from the US and its allies. However, what constitutes as a "severe" response has yet to be announced. The US, along with NATO, has no obligation to protect Ukraine militarily, and the US did not come to the aid of Ukraine when Russia occupied the Crimea back in 2014. It has taken steps to arm Ukraine, as has most of NATO. Germany has so far refused to arm the Eastern European nation. President Biden also said he believes that Russia will "move in" to Ukraine. What is the latest situation? While forces are gathering in Russia and Ukraine in anticipation of battle, the United Kingdom has come out publicly against suspects they believe could be used by Russia. A Ukrainian politician, Yevhen Murayev has said it is "completely unfounded" that he has been tapped by Russia to lead a Ukrainian puppet government. He said it was "stupid" as he has been sanctioned by Moscow since 2018. The UK first reported their intelligence data the night of January 22, taking the unusual move of publicizing their information. In a statement, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: "The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking." The British government said Murayev has links with Russian intelligence services, but has not published what findings led to the public announcement. In recent weeks the situation on the border between Ukraine and Russia has escalated rapidly as President Putin amasses a considerable military presence on the ground. Ukraine was the most populous nation, aside from Russia, to emerge from the collapse of the Soviet Union and the two sovereign nations share many cultural and societal similarities. Reports claim that a Russian take-over of Ukraine remains one of President Putin's greatest ambitions. In a briefing released last week a senior US state department official wrote: What concerns us is the total picture. He continued: It is the amassing of 100,000 troops along Ukraines borders combined with moving forces into Belarus over the weekend these numbers are beyond, of course, what we would expect with regard to a normal exercise. Russia flexes its military mite at the Ukrainian border There has been no physical confrontation between the two states in recent weeks, but a significant troop deployment in the areas surrounding Ukraine has caused a storm. The Guardian reports that Russian troops have travelled more than 4,000 miles to reach Ukraines border, doing so on the pretence of a naval drill. Russia maintains a large degree of influence in neighbouring Belarus, which also shares a border with Ukraine and could be a potential launching point for an invasion. It is thought that a significant military force, including elite spetsnaz troops and Iskander short-range ballistic, has been relocated from Russias eastern military district. From that range, analysts warn that Russia would be able to threaten the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. In addition to that threat six Russian landing ships, with the capability of transporting troops, tanks and other military vehicles, are currently moving through the Mediterranean and bring with them the possibility of a naval invasion on Ukraines southern coast. Diplomatic solution is still possible after days of talks Last week US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a trip to Geneva to meet with representatives from both sides in the hope of finding a diplomatic solution. His most important engagement was with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the two are thought to have discussed the extraordinary deployment of troops on the Ukrainian border. The 90-minute meeting did not result in any concrete agreement between the two nations, but both appear willing to continue with diplomatic efforts for now. Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Lavrov, Blinken said: If Russia wants to begin to convince the world that it has no aggressive intent toward Ukraine, a very good place to start would be by deescalating by bringing back and removing these forces from Ukraines borders. Both Blinken and President Biden have said that they expect a Russian invasion into Ukraine in the near future and reiterated that any military excursion would be met with a strong response from the West. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the conference (Photo: VNA) He gave the direction a conference held in both videoconference and in-person forms in Hanoi on January 22 to review Vietnam's performance during the two-year tenure of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC). The PM noted that Vietnam's assumption of the position as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for a second time just over 10 years after completing its first tenure in the council, with a record high number of votes (192 out of 193 votes), showed the stature of the country and the high confidence of other countries in Vietnams external policy. Amid the complicated developments in the world and regional situation, the Government leader asked the diplomatic sector to continue to take the pioneering role in maintaining the peaceful and stable environment and contributing to the safeguarding of national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the country in the new situation. He required the sector to conduct comprehensive and synchronous multilateral diplomatic activities across the fields while continuing to deepen bilateral partnership with other countries and international organisations. At the same time, the sector should continue to play a main role in leading reconciliation and participate in the formation of rules at multilateral forums when condition permit through hosting big international events, running for important positions in international organisations and proactively putting forward ideas, thus creating positive imprints and enhancing Vietnam's position and value in relations with other countries. The PM also stressed the need for close coordination among diplomatic agencies for higher efficiency in implementing tasks in diplomacy and international integration. According to Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Vietnam began its tenure of a non-permanent member of the UNSC in 2020-2021 when there were both advantages and challenges and difficulties in the world and the regional situation with unexpected developments, especially the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. In such circumstances, in the last two years, the UNSC handled a great workload with 840 meetings at ambassadorial level and thousands of consultations at different levels. It adopted a total of 254 documents of all kinds and discussed more than 60 issues related to situations in all continents and all non-traditional security matters, especially climate changes, COVID-19 and maritime security. The minister said with a consistent message of being a partner for sustainable peace, Vietnam joined the council in an active, positive spirit with a high sense of responsibility, and made practical contributions to the councils work. Reviewing the imprints that Vietnam left in the UNSC, Son said that Vietnam helped promote the multilateral approach and uphold international law as well as fundamental principles of the UN Charter, while pushing the search for sustainable and comprehensive solutions to conflicts, including the settlement of conflict consequences for the long-term development of countries. The country has worked to spread humanity and increase protection of civilians, especially vulnerable groups such as women and children, in conflicts, and to strengthen cooperation between the UN, the UNSC with regional organisations in maintaining peace and international security as well as increasing the central role and presence of the ASEAN in the council. Vietnam actively proposed solutions to many global issues, especially non-traditional security matters such as climate change, maritime security, and pandemic response, said Son. He affirmed that with those imprints, Vietnams tenure as a non-permanent member of the UNSC was a step forward in implementing the diplomatic policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification as well as active, extensive and effective international integration, thus further enhancing the position and prestige of Vietnam in the world arena./. Photo for illustration (Source: vneconomictimes.com) The impressive figure made the US the second trade partner having import-export turnover with Vietnam reaching the 100 billion USD mark after China. Last year Vietnam's exports to the US rose 25 percent to nearly 96.3 billion USD, accounting for 28.6 percent of the country's total exports. Among Vietnam's major export items to the US were machinery, equipment and parts with 17.82 billion USD, up 46 percent; textiles and garments (16.1 billion USD, up 15 percent); computers, electronics and components (12.76 billion USD; up 23 percent); handsets and parts (9.69 billion USD, up 10.3 percent); footwear (7.42 billion USD, up 18 percent); and wood and wooden products (8.8 billion USD, up 23 percent). Last year, the country imported nearly 15.27 billion USD worth of goods from the US, mainly computers, electronics and components as well as machinery, equipment and parts. Bui Huy Son, Counselor of the Vietnam Trade Office in the US, said that the two-way turnover, which exceeded 100 billion USD for the first time in 2021, was a very important achievement, especially given the pandemic, as well as the disruptions and disturbances in the supply chain and logistics activities. Along with that, the active and flexible activities of two business communities continued to expand trade and investment activities, such as the resumption of direct flights between Vietnam and the US, and the fact that Vietnamese businesses were increasing investment in the US to continue to expand their presence sustainably in the market. Vietnams agricultural products exported to the US (Photo: laodong.vn) Looking at import and export activities, not only had the total two-way turnover reached a record level, but it was also worth mentioning that export activities from both directions had good growth rates, Son said, adding that the import and export goods between the two sides were very complementary. To accelerate bilateral trade, Son called for continuous efforts from both sides, first of all in terms of the policy. The two sides should continue to maintain a dialogue channel, sharing information, and further enhancing mutual understanding so that they could detect and coordinate on problems favourably. At the same time, businesses also needed to seize opportunities, especially opportunities from the strong recovery of the US economy, since different forecasts assessed a relatively high growth rate for the US economy in 2022. He also suggested businesses closely observe market developments, ensure the requirements of legal traceability, storage, information about documents and invoices for the origin of goods, so that they could coordinate and provide information when there were requests for investigation and verification by US agencies. Overseas Vietnamese honoured for contributions to homelands COVID-19 combat Overseas Vietnamese (OV) who have made great contributions to the home country's COVID-19 fight and development were honoured in a meeting on January 22 within the framework of the annual Xuan Que Huong (Homeland Spring) programme 2022. Addressing the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu, who is head of the Foreign Ministrys State Committee for OV Affairs, said that this is a special and meaningful occasion to look back on a challenging 2021, and express gratitude to individuals and organizations who have supported and accompanied the country to overcome difficulties in recent years, said the Vietnam News Agency. Overseas Vietnamese honoured for contributions to homelands COVID-19 fighting (Photo: baoquocte.vn) Accordingly, OVs in many countries had engaged in practical activities to help the homeland. They have donated up to 80 billion VND (over 3.5 million USD) to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in general and the COVID-19 vaccine fund in particular, along with large amounts of medical equipment and supplies. Many Vietnamese expatriates in Singapore, Australia, Japan, Germany, the US, and the Republic of Korea have actively worked along Vietnamese representative agencies abroad in calling for assistance from their host countries' governments, opening up many opportunities for Vietnam to access vaccines, medicines and medical equipment and supplies for COVID-19 prevention. Besides active contributions to Vietnams vaccine diplomacy, overseas Vietnamese organizations and networks of entrepreneurs, intellectuals, youth and students had kept effective connections with the homeland, contributing to the nations socio-economic development, Hieu said. Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Do Van Chien said the Party and State hold the consistent view that the overseas Vietnamese community is an integral part and an important resource of the nation. He thanked Vietnamese expatriates for their contributions to the countrys development, and the pandemic prevention and control work in particular, saying that joint efforts of people from all classes in the society, especially timely support of OVs around the world, have enabled Vietnam to achieve positive results in the vaccination drive against COVID-19. On the occasion, 33 organizations and 45 individuals were presented certificates of merit of the VFF Central Committee for their contributions to the OV affairs and to consolidating the great national unity bloc. In the morning the same day, Vice Chairman of the VFF Central Committee Phung Khanh Tai and a delegation of Vietnamese expats paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum and visited his stilt house. They offered incense at the ancient Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and laid wreaths at the monument to heroes and war martyrs in Hanoi. Zen Monk Thich Nhat Hanh passes away at 95 Zen Monk Thich Nhat Hanh passed away at Tu Hieu pagoda in his birthplace Hue city, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, early January 22 aged 95. Zen Monk Thich Nhat Hanh (Photo: kenh14.vn) A memorial service for the monk will be held on January 23 morning at Tu Hieu pagoda, and his body will be cremated on January 29, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Thich Nhat Hanh became a monk at Tu Hieu pagoda. He later founded the Plum Village in France and many monasteries in other countries including the US, Germany and Thailand. His teachings on Buddhism have gained global influence. The monk visited Vietnam many times to give lectures. In 2017, he returned to Tu Hieu pagoda to live his remaining days. Dien Bien airport expansion project underway Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh on January 22 pressed a button kick-starting a project on Dien Bien airport expansion in north-western region of Vietnam to receive larger aircraft in future. The project has a total investment capital of VND1.467 trillion sourced from the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV). Land acquisition is projected to cost VND1.555 trillion from Dien Bien provinces budget, said the Voice of Vietnam. Deputy PM Le Van Thanh and other leaders of the Ministry of Transport and Dien Bien province kick-start a project on Dien Bien airport expansion. (Photo: ACV). The project aims to upgrade the airports infrastructure to accommodate Airbus A320s, A321s and other similar aircraft, instead of only small aircraft at present. At the same time, the existing passenger terminal will be upgraded to serve 500,000 passengers per year as opposed to 300,000 passengers/at present. Dien Bien airport was restored from Muong Thanh airport built by the French in the 20th century. The airport which currently has a runway of 1,830m long and 30m wide has been put into use since 1994. It has a simple equipment system, three parking lots and a passenger terminal built in 2004 capable of serving 300,000 passengers /year. It currently only operates small turboprop aircraft such as ATR 72 and small jet aircraft such as Embraer 190. Under the upgrade project, the airport will have a 2,400m long and 45m wide runway and a new terminal capable of receiving 500,000 passengers a year. The project is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2023./. Vietnamese seafood sector to enjoy strong growth in 2021-2030. (Photo: VNA) Free trade agreements (FTAs) signed between Vietnam and its partners will also help spur the seafood industrys development in 2022. According to the Agricultural Outlook Report 2021-2030, the world's per capita seafood consumption is expected to reach 21.2kg by 2030, up from an average 20.5kg in 2018-2020. Per capita consumption of seafood products will increase by 3.6 percent during 2020-2030. In 2030, aquaculture is expected to provide 57 percent of the fish destined to human consumption, 4 percent higher than that in 2018-2020. Consumption of seafood is hoped to expand on all continents, driven by rising incomes, urbanisation, production expansion, improved distribution channels and product innovation. Consumption is expected to continue to increase over the next decade. According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), shrimp continues to be the factor driving the growth of Vietnams seafood exports. The shrimp export value is forecast to rise by 10 percent compared to 2021 to 4.3 billion USD in 2022. The recovery of the food service industry in the US - Vietnam's largest shrimp and tra fish importer - will foster the growth of the Southeast Asian nations seafood industry in 2022. Vietnamese businesses have flexibly adjusted their production activities in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, thus meeting the growing demand in the US market. In the first 11 months of 2021, the US imported more than 726,000 tonnes of shrimp, up 7 percent year-on-year, mainly from Vietnam, India, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Thailand. VASEP said Vietnams shrimp exports to the US are expected to increase sharply in 2022, adding that Vietnams transition to flexible adaptation to COVID-19 will help the country gain market share in the US. In addition, the US doubled the anti-dumping duty on shrimp exported from India to 7.15 percent from 3 percent in November 2021, thereby enhancing the competitive advantage for Indias rival countries, including Vietnam. Besides the US market, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will also help Vietnam gain a competitive advantage in the EU in 2022. Under the EVFTA, for Vietnams shrimp products exported to the EU, the tax rate for black tiger shrimp is zero percent, while the rate for frozen white-leg shrimp will gradually reduce to zero percent by 2025. Aside from shrimp, revenue from tra fish exports is expected to reach about 1.65 billion USD in 2022, equivalent to a year-on-year increase of 7 percent. According to the Directorate of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnams seafood export turnover in 2021 was estimated at 8.89 billion USD, up 5.7 percent year-on-year, and 4.6 percent higher than the target set for the year./. Overseas Vietnamese honoured for contributions to homelands COVID-19 combat (Photo: baoquocte.vn) Addressing the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu, who is head of the Foreign Ministrys State Committee for OV Affairs, said that this is a special and meaningful occasion to look back on a challenging 2021, and express gratitude to individuals and organizations who have supported and accompanied the country to overcome difficulties in recent years. Accordingly, OVs in many countries had engaged in practical activities to help the homeland. They have donated up to 80 billion VND (over 3.5 million USD) to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in general and the COVID-19 vaccine fund in particular, along with large amounts of medical equipment and supplies. Many Vietnamese expatriates in Singapore, Australia, Japan, Germany, the US, and the Republic of Korea have actively worked along Vietnamese representative agencies abroad in calling for assistance from their host countries' governments, opening up many opportunities for Vietnam to access vaccines, medicines and medical equipment and supplies for COVID-19 prevention. Besides active contributions to Vietnams vaccine diplomacy, overseas Vietnamese organizations and networks of entrepreneurs, intellectuals, youth and students had kept effective connections with the homeland, contributing to the nations socio-economic development, Hieu said. Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Do Van Chien said the Party and State hold the consistent view that the overseas Vietnamese community is an integral part and an important resource of the nation. He thanked Vietnamese expatriates for their contributions to the countrys development, and the pandemic prevention and control work in particular, saying that joint efforts of people from all classes in the society, especially timely support of OVs around the world, have enabled Vietnam to achieve positive results in the vaccination drive against COVID-19. On the occasion, 33 organizations and 45 individuals were presented certificates of merit of the VFF Central Committee for their contributions to the OV affairs and to consolidating the great national unity bloc. In the morning the same day , Vice Chairman of the VFF Central Committee Phung Khanh Tai and a delegation of Vietnamese expats paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum and visited his stilt house. They offered incense at the ancient Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and laid wreaths at the monument to heroes and war martyrs in Hanoi./. A Tet get-together is held by the Embassy of Vietnam in Slovakia for Vietnamese expats on January 22. (Photo: VNA) On January 22, the Embassy in Kuala Lumpur hosted a gathering for Vietnamese people living in Malaysia, during which Ambassador Tran Viet Thai extended Tet greetings to the Vietnamese community. He praised outstanding Vietnamese role models who have made great contributions to the community last year. In a similar event in Algiers, Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Vinh said overseas Vietnamese people remain an inseparable part of the country. He highly spoke of the Vietnamese expats contributions to the homeland and valued their mutual support for each other during the pandemic. Another get-together was held by the Embassy of Vietnam in Slovakia in the capital city of Bratislava on the same day, which gathered a large number of Vietnamese expats and associations in the European country. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Nguyen Tuan thanked the Vietnamese community for helping reinforcing the friendship between the two countries and developing Vietnam. Meanwhile, Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long attended a warm Tet gathering held for the first time by the Vietnamese Society in Oxford, bringing together Vietnamese students and PhD candidates as well as professors and lecturers from the University of Oxford. Long said he expects the partnership in education and training between Vietnam and the University of Oxford will grow further, particularly in research./. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extends Tet greetings to Vietnamese-Canadians during a get-together on January 22. (Photo: VNA) The event was held via video teleconference by the Embassy of Vietnam in Canada and the Canada-Vietnam Association to celebrate the Vietnamese traditional New Year. It is the time to welcome the spring and be thankful for what have united the Vietnamese and Canadian people, PM Trudeau said. In his remarks at the event, Ambassador Pham Cao Phong highlighted the growing relations between the two countries last year despite challenges caused by COVID-19. A joint economic committee was established two weeks earlier to further facilitate the bilateral trade and investment, he said. He also emphasised contributions of Vietnamese-Canadian business leaders to lifting the two-way trade by 19 percent in 2022. The Government and people of Vietnam will redouble efforts to boost the economic growth and maintain peace and nation security this year as Vietnam eyes to become a new tiger of the region, the diplomat said. This goal can only be achieved through international cooperation, Phong said, underscoring the importance of the increasing Vietnam-Canada economic linkages to realising the goal./. Egypts Food Safety Authority (FSA) announced on Tuesday that it has given Indomie Egypt 48 hours to pull from Egyptian markets its chicken and vegetables flavoured instant noodles as well as instant noodles with chili packs as they are are unfit for human consumption. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi attended on Monday a celebration of Eid El-Fitr with the families of Egyptian Armed Forces and police personnel killed or injured in the countrys battle against terrorism. The two leaders, moreover, discussed the developments in a number of regional issues of common interest, Egypt's presidential spokesman said Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Omans Sultan Haitham bin Tarik exchanged greetings on Sunday over Eid El-Adha and discussed boosting bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries over phone, a presidential statement said. The two leaders discussed aspects of bilateral relations between Egypt and Oman and the developments in a number of regional issues of common interest, Egypts presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said in the statement. El-Sisi wished the Omani Sultan more success in accomplishing the overall development march initiated by late Sultan Qaboos, and to achieve the vision of Oman 2040, hailing the brotherly relations linking Egypt with Oman that have been formed through decades of solidarity and unity in the face of crises and challenges, the statement said. El-Sisi affirmed during the call Egypt's keenness to maintain and enhance such distinguished relations on a continuous basis to realize the interests of the two brotherly peoples and the interests of the entire Arab nation. From his side, Sultan Haitham hailed the distinguished Egyptian-Omani relations, the bonds of brotherhood and affection that unite the two brotherly peoples. The Omani Sultan also expressed eagerness to strengthen the existing cooperation frameworks between the two countries and open new prospects for bilateral cooperation, as well as to continue consultation and coordination between the two sides on regional and international issues of common interest, the statement noted. The two leaders highlighted the need to enhance joint bilateral relations in all fields during the coming period, especially at the economic and investment levels, and to increase the rates of trade exchange in addition to the importance of upgrading these relations to reach the distinguished level of political relations between the two sides, Rady said. While El-Sisi expressed appreciation over the good treatment of Egyptians in Oman at both official and popular levels, the Omani Sultan stressed the importance that members of the Egyptian community would continue backing their Omani brothers in carrying out the sultanate's development march, the statement said. Search Keywords: Short link: A Minya Criminal court has sentenced four people to death by hanging and 22 others to life in prison for raiding and torching a police station, which resulted in the death of two policemen, in August 2013 in Samalut, Minya. The criminal court has also sentenced 20 defendants to 15 years in prison and 15 others to 10 years. It also acquitted one defendant in the case. Ten defendants were dismissed from the trial as they were granted a presidential pardon in June 2018. The case dates back to August 2013, when a wave of violence was perpetrated by supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi across the country. The violence, which broke out after police dispersed two large pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo and Giza, involved attacks on police stations and churches that left 686 dead, including 64 members of the police, according to Egypts National Council of Human Rights. All the defendants in the case have also been ordered to pay over EGP 22 million as compensation for the buildings that were destroyed. Search Keywords: Short link: The cadets held parades showing combat abilities in dealing with the different targets. Also, they displayed special skills for use in hand-to-hand combat. The graduates took the oath before the president to uphold the law and constitution, and to protect the homeland and the Egyptian people. Addressing the ceremony, President El-Sisi congratulated the new officers, bestowing the second class medal of excellence on the top graduates, including Arab and African students. El-Sisi greeted the graduates' families, saying "they devoted their sons and daughters to the great responsibilities of [maintaining] the security of Egypt and the safety of the Egyptians." He also expressed his greetings to all the families of those who have been martyred or injured in terrorist attacks, either from the police, army or other segments of the society. "It is very important to remember how many difficult days Egypt has gone through over the past seven years as well as how many sacrifices were offered not only from police and army officers but from the whole Egyptian people in order for the country to remain standing and move forward we will never ever forget that." Hundreds of police officers, soldiers and civilians have been killed in terrorist attacks after the ouster of late president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. El-Sisi added "this matter must be always remembered so that it does not happen in our life again now or in the future." The president also asked the new officers to act as an example while dealing with the public, whether during security issues or when fulfilling their needs. Police Academy Chief Major General Ahmed Ibrahim said the academy has upgraded its training and educational buildings and facilities to meet the security needs and harness its capabilities for upgrading the security of the homeland. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki, Interior Minister Mahmoud Tawfik, House of Representatives Speaker Hanafy El-Gebaly and the country's former interim president, Adly Mansour. Several senior state officials and police commanders also attended the annual event. Egypts Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced next Thursday, 27 January, a paid holiday for government employees to mark the anniversary of the 2011 Revolution and the national Police Day. Madboulys decision includes employees in ministries, government institutions, public authorities, local administration units, public sector companies and public business sector companies. Both holidays are celebrated each year on 25 January. The anniversary of the January Revolution of 2011 marks the ousting of late President Hosni Mubarak. Police Day commemorates resistance by Egyptian police to British occupation forces in Ismailia on the date in 1952. This year, employees will take Thursday off instead of Tuesday, as per a decision by the premier in June 2020 to make Thursday a day off instead of any week-day holiday to "give citizens a chance to have a long weekend." This does not apply on Eid Al-Fitr or Eid Al-Adha, which last for several days, or on Christmas. Search Keywords: Short link: President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Sunday that the country has made "a great achievement in defeating terrorism over the past seven years," but urged Egyptians to "never forget the very high cost" that was paid to achieve security and stability. The president made these statements in his speech during the 70th National Police Day celebrations at the Police Academy in New Cairo. El-Sisi told the families of police martyrs and injured who attended the event that their sons sacrifices will fuel the building of "the new and strong Egypt." "We will not forget what your sons sacrificed. A huge price was paid that cannot be compensated. Your solace is that a country of 100 million people is living in security, peace and stability," he noted. El-Sisi praised the role of the country's police officers in safeguarding the security and stability nationwide and fighting terrorism, saying these efforts are a good illustration of police officers' awareness of the value of belonging to the country. He stressed that Egypt would not have been able to "walk on the path of comprehensive development without the sacrifices of police officers and the armed forces." National Police Day marks resistance by Egyptian police to British occupation forces attack on a police station in Ismailia city on the Suez Canal on 25 January, 1952, which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of dozens of police officers. El-Sisi said the policemen in the Ismailia battle proved that belief in yourself is needed to defend the nation in the same way ammunition is. The state's supreme goal, El-Sisi stressed, is to sustain itself and preserve the security and safety of its citizens, noting that such a goal requires "a national police apparatus that is well aware of the nature of its mission." El-Sisi praised the role of the country's police officers in safeguarding security and stability nationwide and fighting terrorism as a good illustration of their awareness of the value of belonging to the country. The president also thanked medical teams battling the coronavirus pandemic for preserving the health of Egyptians. He also saluted Egyptians on the occasion of the 25 January Revolution, which he said "expressed the Egyptians' aspirations to build a new future for this country in which all the people enjoy a decent livelihood." He added that what the state's economic and security achievements are just one step toward building the future of a new republic that preserves the dignity of Egyptians and provides them with the best living conditions. The road to development will contain obstacles due to the challenges and dangers facing Egyptian national security, he added. He urged Egyptians to unite and stand together to preserve the country's national character without interfering in the affairs of others or compromising on the rights of all Egyptians. "Egypt is destined to live in the midst of a turbulent region that was and is still the epicenter of international events in which interests conflict, balances intertwine, and alliances change," he stressed. The president started this year's celebration of National Police Day by laying a wreath at the Memorial of the Unknown Soldier. He was accompanied with senior police commanders and state officials, including Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, Minister of Interior Mahmoud Tawfik, Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb, Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark Diocese, House of Representatives Speaker Hanafy El-Gebaly, and others. The president also honoured the policemen who lost their lives in action during anti-terrorism operations over the past year, bestowing the orders of the republic and merit on their widows and parents in recognition of their efforts. The event started with a lengthy documentary that featured personal testimonies of pride by the families and children of police officers who were killed in the line of duty. Some members of the cast of the popular TV series El-Ekhtyar ("The Choice"), which depicts police officers in their struggle against terrorism, spoke during the event, stressing that art would always be a reflection of the homeland and should always promote the message of patriotism and belonging. The film included personal testimonies of commitment and resilience from police officers who were gravely injured in the fight against terrorists in Sinai. The film also reviewed the efforts of the interior ministry in training police officers and maintaining their level of preparedness in the field as well as the expansive efforts of the ministry's civil divisions in the provision of various documentation and services to citizens. President Sisi and the interior minister listening to the national anthem. Search Keywords: Short link: A group of migrants huddles beside a small, smoky fire inside an abandoned building in northern Serbia, the last moments of warmth before they set out into the driving snow toward the razor wire, cameras and sensors of Hungary's electrified border fence. A few hours later, they return, their efforts to cross through Hungary and toward Western Europe thwarted by the three-meter (10-foot) fence and heavy Hungarian police patrols which, after intercepting them, escorted them back across the border into Serbia. ``I'm going to Austria, I'm going to Germany, I'm going to the Netherlands,`` says Muhtar Ahmad, a 26-year-old from Aleppo, Syria, who is squatting with around 35 other migrants in the makeshift camp outside the Serbian village of Majdan, a mile (less than two kilometers) from the Hungarian border. ``I'm not staying in Hungary. What's the problem?'' As migrants from Syria, Afghanistan and other countries embark on the last stretch of their long journeys toward Europe's wealthier nations, their efforts to cross irregularly into the European Union through Hungary _ and the country's contentious practice of returning them to Serbia when they are caught _ have made them part of a political campaign with which Hungary's nationalist leader hopes to win an upcoming general election. Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who polls suggest will face his closest election in more than a decade in April, is campaigning on a strict anti-immigration platform and is keen to use the prospect of a wave of migrants amassing at Hungary's border as a means to mobilize his conservative voter base. ``Just this year we stopped and detained ... more than 100,000 people,'' Orban claimed at a rare appearance before journalists in December. ``If the Hungarian fence had not stood there, more than 100,000 more illegal migrants would be now first in Austria, then in Germany.'' One of the most outspoken opponents of immigration in Europe, Orban has said that migration threatens to replace the continent's Christian culture, and that illegal migrants are responsible for bringing infections like COVID-19 variants into his country. ``We do not want to be an immigrant country,'' Orban said during an interview with state radio this week. As the April 3 election approaches, he has portrayed current migration pressures as higher than in 2015, when hundreds of thousands of refugees came into the EU fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere, and when he ordered the construction of the country's border barrier. But figures released by Serbian officials and the EU's border and coast guard agency suggest that far fewer individuals are attempting to enter Hungary than the right-wing leader claims. ``It's a little bit bigger number than, let's say, two years ago, but these are not big numbers. It's a small rise,'' said Nemanja Matejic, chief officer at a migrant reception center in the northern Serbian city of Subotica, of the current level of migrants along Hungary's border. While Hungarian police put the number of migrants intercepted by Hungarian authorities at more than 122,000, data from EU border agency Frontex showed that there were 60,540 illegal border crossing attempts last year on the Western Balkan migration route, which includes the Hungary-Serbia border. What's more, since most migrants are making repeated attempts to cross, the number of individuals involved is far smaller still. Serbia's Commissariat for Refugees and Migration reports that there are 4,276 migrants residing in reception centers in Serbia and another 1,000 sleeping rough. Frontex has noted that the majority of Western Balkan crossings ``can be traced back to people who have been in the region for some time and who repeatedly try to reach their target country in the EU.`` Hikmad Serat, 20, from Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, took shelter in a remote abandoned building near the Serbian border town of Horgos this month as a cold snap brought temperatures to -10 C (14 F.) Serat said he has been in Serbia for 15 months, and has lost count of the number of times he has crossed into Hungary and been returned by police. ``Many times I try, 100 times, more than 100 times . Every time, police arrest me and deport back to Serbia,'' Serat said. This practice _ where police deny migrants the right to apply for asylum and escort them back across national borders _ is known as a ``pushback.'' It has been declared unlawful by the EU's top court, and is in violation of international asylum treaties. Matejic, the chief of the reception center, said that migrants making dozens of crossing attempts is ``typical.'' ``Sometimes a guy tries one time and goes, he has luck . Sometimes they try over 50 times ... They try and try again,'' he said. Many migrants have reported abuse by police after they leave Serbian territory for Hungary, or for Croatia or Romania. This includes having mobile phones destroyed or stolen, being made to sit or kneel in the snow for hours and receiving beatings _ allegations which are very difficult to independently confirm. Romanian police didn't respond to questions from The Associated Press. But Hungary's National Police Headquarters wrote in an email that they ``strongly reject unsubstantiated allegations'' of abuse of migrants. Yet Matejic said 150 cases of broken limbs were recorded by the Subotica reception center in 2019. ``Sometimes they break their phones, the police. Sometimes they take their money. Sometimes they break their legs. It's a different experience for everybody,'' Matejic said. Orban has asked the EU to reimburse Hungary for at least half of the costs related to building, maintaining and patrolling its border fence, which he has said have amounted to 590 billion Hungarian forints ($1.9 billion) over the past six years. Ever at odds with the EU's more liberal member states, he has also threatened to ``open up a corridor along which migrants can march up to Austria, Germany and Sweden and whoever needs them.'' Despite the dangers, Faris al-Ibrahimi, a Moroccan migrant in the Subotica reception center who intends to travel on to Spain, said he was undeterred after being pushed back 27 times by Hungarian police. ``I'm still going to try. I will not give up now . I will try until I succeed,`` he said. ``It's an adventure. We cross, we go, they catch us, we come back, we go again. It's like a game for us.`` Search Keywords: Short link: Following a two-week holiday, Egypt's House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, will reconvene on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday to discuss a new legislative agenda. The House's schedule on Sunday includes discussions on a draft law to set up "The Tourism and Antiquities Fund," which aims to merge the existing three funds that finance Nubia's antiquities, national museums and tourism under one entity. A House report explained that the new fund would finance national projects in the area of restoring antiquities, upgrading Egyptian museums, and promoting the tourism sector. "The final objective of this law is to conserve the heritage of Egypt's civilisation and keep it intact for the coming generations, and achieve concrete progress in the sector of tourism," said the report. Sunday's schedule will also encompass discussing a draft law on regulating hotel and tourism establishments. "The law aims to regulate and facilitate the procedures of licensing tourism and hotel establishments in terms of introducing the "One Window" system, said the report. "This new system will help boost tourist investments in terms of phasing out bureaucratic obstacles and hence generating more revenues from the tourism sector." The draft law stipulates that a tourism ministerial committee, headed by the prime minister and including concerned ministers, will be formed to facilitate all procedures related to tourist activities, overcome all obstacles that might stand in the way of promoting tourist investments, and finally raise the competitive edge of Egypt in the area of tourism. The House will also discuss a draft law that allows the Minister of Finance to guarantee a bank loan for the Company of Arab Union for Land Transport and Tourism (Superject). The House's agenda this week will also see MPs taking a final vote on three draft laws that were discussed and approved in principle over the past weeks. These are the General Unified Finance Law, the State's General Planning Law and the law of merging the fund on improving Egyptian cottons into the Cotton Research Institute related to the Agricultural Research Centre. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi signed on Sunday six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to boost bilateral cooperation and conclude the 15th session of the Egyptian-Omani Joint Committee in Muscat. According to a joint statement issued by both foreign ministries, these MoUs and executive programmes aim to boost bilateral cooperation in political, economic, industrial, judicial, and development projects. The two delegations signed an MoU between the Egyptian and Omani foreign ministries concerning political consultations, an MoU in the field of housing and urban development, as well as an MoU in the field of media. They also signed an executive programme for a cooperation agreement in the legal and judicial field, a programme in the field of tourism, in addition to another programme agreement between the Egyptian and Omani Ministries of Education. On the side-lines of the committees meeting, Shoukry and Albusaidi held talks to discuss the most prominent regional and international issues, expressing their satisfaction with the level of coordination and consultation between the two countries in achieving their common interests, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry. The two ministers also asserted their commitment to continue their work to boost Arab cooperation. Shoukry also met with a number with Omani officials during his two-day visit to the Omani capital that started on Saturday. On Sunday, the Egyptian top diplomat handed over to Omans Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Fahid bin Mahmoud Al-Said a written message from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. Shoukry also held talks with Al-Said in which they discussed ways to boost the activities of the Joint Egyptian-Omani Committee as well as ways to encourage investments in both countries and establishing more joint projects. Furthermore, on Saturday, the minister held a meeting with the Egypt-Oman Joint Business Council in which he urged the Omani private sector and businessmen to consolidate their presence in the Egyptian market and also maximise Omani direct investments. The council was established in 2019 to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries. In December, Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea met with her Omani counterpart and affirmed that intensive meetings would be held in the near future between the two sides officials and businessmen to enhance trade relations. It is worth noting that trade exchange between the two countries hit $500 million, according to Gameas statements in a meeting with the council in September. She also said that Omani investments in Egypt amounted to $77.5 million and spanned 92 companies operating in the fields of industry, tourism, construction, and agriculture. Egyptian investments in Oman, however, stood at $680 million, injected into 142 companies specialised in the fields of infrastructure, road projects, and real estate investment. Search Keywords: Short link: The government of Sudan has reaffirmed its support to any efforts that help facilitate the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. In a statement by the Sudanese foreign ministry on Sunday, Sudan also reiterated its support for any other efforts that seek to establish peace in South Sudan. The government "does not intend to create new forums for peace talks or provide any proposals or plans to the parties in Khartoum, in respect of ongoing negotiations," the statement says. The ministry also thanked the delegations of the South Sudanese government and the South Sudanese opposition army for choosing Khartoum as the venue for current peace talks upon their sole initiative. Search Keywords: Short link: A Cairo emergency state security court sentenced on Sunday Madin Ibrahim Hassenein, who is commonly known as Nusra Front Mufti, to life in prison for joining Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front and Jund Al-Aqsa movements in Syria and receiving military trainings to carry out terrorist attacks. The court also ordered names of Madin Ibrahim Hassenein and his affiliated group, Al-Nursa Front, to be included in the countrys terrorism organizations list. Egypts Prosecution accuse the defendant of joining a terrorist organization abroad that uses terrorism and military exercises as means to achieve its goals. The prosecution also accused Hassenein of promoting terrorist crimes indirectly through two WhatsApp applications named Ifta, Questions and Fatwas where he spread Takfiri thoughts and beliefs, calling for the use of violence against the state servants as well as recruiting for Al-Nusra Front and Jund Al-Aqsa terrorist groups (Soldiers of Al-Aqsa in Arabic). Hassenein was arrested by Sudanese authorities in November 2018 by a request from Egyptian authorities. He was extradited to Cairo in September 2019. Hassenein was already sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison along with 16 others for inciting murder of police personnel and against the state in Sharqia governorate in 2013. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt and the European Union are planning to nominate themselves to co-chair the meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), which is scheduled for March. In a statement on Sunday, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the decision comes within the framework of Egypts keenness to contribute to strengthening the international communitys counterterrorism efforts. Egypt was one of the founders of the 30-member state apolitical GCTF, which was established in 2011 to enable counterterrorism officials in member states to share expertise and strategies with the aim of enhancing their capabilities to eliminate terrorist threats within their borders and regions. Since its establishment in 2017, Egypt and the EU have co-chaired the forums capacity-building in the east Africa region working group of the forum, which seeks to counter terrorism and extremism in the region. The biannual meeting of the GCTF Coordinating Committee was last held in October last year and was co-chaired by Canada and Morocco. GCTF members and delegations as well as inspired institutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact participate in the Coordinating Committees meetings. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt is always prepared to resume talks with Ethiopia regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in case a political will is present to reach an agreement, Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Sunday. Shoukry made the remarks during a joint press conference in Muscat with his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, Egyptian states news agency MENA reported. Albusaidi affirmed Omans support for the GERD negotiations, hailing the Egyptian stance as rational. Oman hopes that an agreement that meets the interests of all countries is reached. Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have all expressed their readiness to resume the African Union-sponsored talks on GERD, which stalled in April last year over Ethiopias intransigence, according to the two downstream countries. Egypt and Sudan have continued to demand that a legally-binding agreement is reached on GERD to guarantee their water interests and the right of their peoples to the Nile water and prevent any harms to Sudanese dams. Last week, Ethiopias Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on the two downstream countries to nurture the narrative towards building peace, cooperation and mutual coexistence without harming the interests of one another, claiming that the GERD holds multiple benefits for Egypt and Sudan. During the presser, Shoukry said Egypt was not responsible for the interruption of GERD negotiations, affirming their keenness to reach a legally binding agreement on the mega dam in accordance with the rules of the international law and practices. Shoukry said such a legally binding agreement should meet the needs of all the parties, including Ethiopias right to development as well as the right of Egypt and Sudan to their share of Nile water. Bringing Syria back to Arab League During the press conference, the top Egyptian diplomat expressed hope that conditions are met for Syria to return to the Arab League and become a supportive element to the Arab national security. Egypt will continue to communicate with other Arab countries to achieve this, Shoukry said, calling for the Syrian government to take the required measures to facilitate Syrias return to the Arab League. During an emergency session in Cairo in November 2011, the Arab League voted to suspend Syrias membership in the organisation over the governments failure to implement the terms of the league's peace plan to stop deadly crackdowns against pro-democracy protesters. The league also decided to hit the Syrian government with economic and political sanctions and called for Arab countries to withdraw ambassadors from Syria. Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Damascus in the early years of the Syrian conflict and proposed initiatives to resolve the crisis that were turned down by the Bashar Al-Assad regime. Cairo has since taken a middle-of-the-road position, focusing on the need for peace, finding a political solution to the crisis, guaranteeing Syrias unity and an end to terrorism. A number of Arab countries, including Egypt and the UAE, have recently called for accepting Syria back into the Arab League to maintain Arab security. In an interview with Sky News published on 21 December last year, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said no Arab country has submitted an official request regarding accepting Syria back into Arab League. In October, he affirmed that Syrias return to the organisation will need a consensus among Arab nations. Bilateral relations, Cooperation MoUs Shoukry and Albusaidi signed earlier on Sunday six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to boost bilateral cooperation and conclude the 15th session of the Egyptian-Omani Joint Committee in Muscat. According to a joint statement issued by both foreign ministries, these MoUs and executive programmes aim to boost bilateral cooperation in political, economic, industrial, judicial, and development projects. The two delegations signed an MoU between the Egyptian and Omani foreign ministries concerning political consultations, an MoU in the field of housing and urban development, as well as an MoU in the field of media. They also signed an executive programme for a cooperation agreement in the legal and judicial field, a programme in the field of tourism, in addition to another programme agreement between the Egyptian and Omani education ministries. On Saturday, the Egyptian and Omani foreign ministers attended the third round of the Egypt-Oman joint business council. During the meeting, Shoukry urged the Omani private sector and businessmen to consolidate their presence in the Egyptian market and maximise Omani direct investments. During Sundays press conference, Shoukry said Egypt and Oman are working to boost trade exchange and remove related obstacles, adding that Egypt can be an access point for the Omani products to African and European markets. He described the recent consultations between the two countries as fruitful, calling on the Egypt-Oman business council and the private sector to exert greater efforts to boost trade exchange between the two countries. Search Keywords: Short link: Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune will start a two-day official "working and fraternal" visit to Egypt on Monday, the Algerian presidency said in a statement. The visit of Tebboune, also the supreme chief of the armed forces and national defence minister, will last for two days, the Algerian presidency added. Tebbounes visit to Egypt will be the first for him as president since he assumed office late in 2019. Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra paid an official visit to Egypt last week, during which he discussed boosting bilateral relations in meetings with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Lamamra has also agreed with El-Sisi to continue extending support to Tunisian President Kais Saied and the measures he has adopted in the face of unrest in the country. They also highlighted the importance of achieving stability and security and preserving the sovereignty and unity of Libya and its national institutions to end the presence of foreign troops and mercenaries in Libya. Lamamra also paid an official visit to Egypt in July last year, conveying a message of love and brotherhood from Tebboune to El-Sisi. Search Keywords: Short link: The Egyptian and Saudi armed forces concluded on Saturday the Tabuk 5 joint exercise, which had been conducted in Saudi Arabia over the previous days, Egypts Military Spokesman Gharib Abdel-Hafez said on Saturday. Special forces, infantry and armoured forces from both sides participated in the exercise, the statement said. The exercise comes within the framework of the Egyptian-Saudi armies plan to unify military concepts and exchange training expertise, the spokesman said. The concluding phase included a military exercise to raid and clear a border village seized by terrorists, with participating forces conducting airborne and mechanised assaults on the target, according to the spokesman. Search Keywords: Short link: The famous Stefano Ricci fashion house will celebrate its golden jubilee in Luxors Hatshepsut Temple at Deir El-Bahary, at end of March Khaled El-Enany, Egypts Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, said: Art is one of the key pillars of the Egyptian civilization. It gives us pleasure to welcome contemporary art and fashion trendsetters to promote their creative work against the backdrop of our exquisite historic sites. Stefano Ricci, founder of the Italian luxury house, was quoted on social media: Twenty years ago I visited Ancient Thebes for the first time and I was so fascinated that I decided to dedicate a book to it: Luxor. One night, I daydreamed about creating something important in the presence of the architectural and artistic wonders. Today that dream is taking shape. The houses decision to hold the jubilee in Luxor comes hot on the heels of the successful celebration held last November to mark the reopening of the long awaited Avenue of Sphinxes in the upper Egyptian city. The program for the events is currently being kept under wraps. I like to imagine a path linked to beauty, culture and dialogue that overcomes the distance between my Florence and Luxor. Anything more I could say would be superfluous, comments Stefano Ricci. This fashion show will be another opportunity to highlight the diversity of Egypts tourist destinations and will attract the attention of the whole world to Egypt. Stefano Ricci is a luxury fashion and lifestyle company for men clothing founded by the florentine designer Stefani Ricci. The brand is globally recognised as an expression of absolute quality in the sphere of luxury lifestyle brands and menswear. Search Keywords: Short link: Philae and Abu Simbel Temples along with the unfinished obelisk archaeological site and Nubia Museum are now allowing entry using electronic tickets. The move is part of a larger plan to digitise services at 32 archaeological sites and museums all over Egypt in the first phase of its implementation at all sites and museums. Khaled Sherif, assistant to the minister for digital transformation, explained that the electronic tickets bear a QR code and can be used at new smart gates that read tickets at a high speed to prevent overcrowding. It also will also keep track of the number of visitors. He added that the 32 sites are now in the process of installing the electronic systems, which will allow tickets to be purchased using credit or bank cards. Such service, he continued, enhance the visitors experiences during their visits to the site or museum as well as facilitating their entrance. A workshop to train the ticketing employees was also implemented to upgrade their ability to use the new technology. These sites in Aswan are among 14 sites to have implemented such systems, in addition to the Giza Plateau, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, Hatshepsut, Luxor and Karnak temples, Valley of the Kings and Salah El-Din Citadel in Cairo. Search Keywords: Short link: Russia's Foreign Ministry on Sunday rejected a British claim that Russia was seeking to replace Ukraine's government with a pro-Moscow administration, and that former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev was being considered as a potential candidate. Britain's Foreign Office on Saturday also named several other Ukrainian politicians it said had links with Russian intelligence services, along with Murayev who is the leader of a small pro-Russia party that has no seats in the parliament. The U.K. government made the claim based on an intelligence assessment, without providing evidence to back it up. It comes amid high tensions between Moscow and the West over Russia's designs on Ukraine. ``The disinformation spread by the British Foreign Office is more evidence that it is the NATO countries, led by the Anglo-Saxons, who are escalating tensions around Ukraine,'' Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on the Telegram messaging app Sunday. ``We call on the British Foreign Office to stop provocative activities, stop spreading nonsense.'' British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the information ``shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking.'' Truss urged Russia to ``deescalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy,'' and reiterated Britain's view that ``any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs.'' Britain has sent anti-tank weapons to Ukraine as part of efforts to bolster its defenses against a potential Russian attack. Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis, U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to meet Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for talks in Moscow. No timing has been given for the meeting, which would be the first U.K.-Russia bilateral defense talks since 2013. The U.S. has mounted an aggressive campaign in recent months to unify its European allies against a new Russian invasion of Ukraine. The White House called the U.K. government assessment ``deeply concerning'' and said it stands with the duly elected Ukrainian government. ``This kind of plotting is deeply concerning,'' National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said. ``The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine.'' The assessment came as President Joe Biden spent Saturday at the presidential retreat Camp David outside of Washington huddling with his senior national security team about the Ukraine situation. A White House official said the discussions included efforts to de-escalate the situation with diplomacy and deterrence measures being coordinated closely with allies and partners, including security assistance to Ukraine. Search Keywords: Short link: A new system for authenticating gold jewellery will soon be in place, with positive effects for the Egyptian market. Gold jewellery sold in Egypt will soon be getting new proof of authenticity in the shape of a laser stamp, according to Minister of Supply Ali Moselhi who announced the change early this week. The new system, which should come into effect within a year, will replace the traditional iron stamp by a laser one, with the new coding acting as a birth certificate for each piece, Mohamed Hanafi, head of the Chamber of Metallurgical Industries at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, told Al-Ahram Weekly. Together with the laser stamp there will also be a QR code for each piece carrying data such as number of karats, weight, and producer, he explained. The announcement of the new system had some people worried that gold jewellery already in their possession might not be recognised should they wish to sell it. Does it mean we have to take all our jewellery to be restamped, asked Maha Saleh, a 55-year-old Cairo housewife who worried about the hassle or the fees she might have to pay. But a Ministry of Supply statement said that gold jewellery already owned by retailers or consumers is considered valid and does not require any action to be taken. Hanafi said the new system would not affect consumers and they could still sell their old gold jewellery bearing traditional stamps at any time. The new practice was designed to prevent the sale of counterfeit gold and would eliminate theft, he said. A laser stamp cannot be forged, and a lot of information can be stamped on fine pieces of jewellery, he said. Stamping jewellery, especially very fine pieces, with the conventional iron stamp can damage it, and this can be avoided by the use of lasers. The laser stamp will be used along with the traditional stamp for the current year. Starting in 2023, the laser stamp will replace the old one. Hanafi hopes the new system of authentication will enable Egypts gold jewellery to regain the status it held in the early 1990s when the gold market in Egypt was flourishing. Arab visitors to Egypt used to buy large quantities of it during their visits to Egypt, and the country also exported gold jewellery to these markets. However, instances of forgery together with various fees rendering the jewellery more expensive had dampened the market. Ihab Wassef, deputy head of the Gold Division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, agreed that the new system would benefit consumers, who would have ample time to adjust to it. Wassef said Egypts jewellery exports had fallen due to fees imposed on exports that had made gold items more expensive. Customs duties imposed on production inputs such as machines, moulds, and precious, semiprecious, and synthetic stones had also increased costs, causing the industry to lose its competitive edge in Arab markets. He said that countries such as Italy, China, Dubai, Singapore, India, and Turkey were today exporting gold jewellery at competitive prices. Egypt had an advantage in its trained and inexpensive manpower, but this was not being fully utilised. We are limited by selling to the local market, which is characterised by seasonality, Wassef said, adding that Egypt also exported raw gold with no value added. If custom duties and other fees were lower, he added, the country could find its way back onto the global map for the production of gold jewellery. *A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Full of energy and certitude, Al-Sadr is out to remake Iraqs political order in his image. Iraq faces a pressing roster of crises, including government dysfunction, factional tensions, unabated terrorism, and Covid-19 infections that are spiralling dramatically upwards. But prominent Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr, who has emerged as Iraqs most powerful leader, says he aims for his beleaguered country to end its prolonged misery and halt its tumble into chaos. To that end, Al-Sadr is proposing sweeping changes to the way the country has been run since the US-led invasion in 2003. But first of all, Al-Sadr needs to be in charge. Al-Sadrs party was the largest vote-winner in the Iraqi parliamentary elections in October. The party, Saaroon, won 73 seats in the 329-seat parliament, more than any other and up from 54 in 2018. It beat an alliance of Iran-aligned militias led by the Fatah Coalition. The election victory has given Al-Sadr major influence in the formation of Iraqs next government, and he is relying on that to extend his hold over the country for as long as he deems fit. Beyond that, no one really knows how he plans to steer the country through its multiple crises. Al-Sadr, 47, hails from one of the most prestigious Shia religious families in Iraq and is widely seen as one of the most influential Shia political leaders to have emerged from the shadows of the US-led invasion. For nearly two decades, Al-Sadr has outmanoeuvred other Shia leaders by manoeuvering himself into a position of power and individual prestige within the community. He has reinvented himself not just as the leader of a Shia faction, but effectively as a king-maker. Al-Sadr has helped form Iraqs successive governments, controlled one of the biggest political blocs in parliament, led a massive movement, and commanded a powerful militia. His power is undeniable, thanks to his grassroots party that is influential in working-class neighbourhoods across Iraqs Shia-populated provinces. Even more strikingly, Al-Sadr has installed allegiance to the legacy of his late father Ayatollah Mohammad Mohammad Sadiq Al-Sadr as the movements way of thinking. This has given him a platform to exercise more power and greater legitimacy among many Iraqi Shia. Over the years, Al-Sadrs political strategy has witnessed a sea change that has seen him shift from being a militant Shia cleric who advocates communalism to becoming a populist political leader who champions non-sectarianism in order to help forge a national-unity platform that can reform Iraqs fundamentally flawed political system. Since his Saaroon bloc came first in the countrys 2018 elections, winning 52 seats in parliament, the Sadrist Movement has come to control the Iraqi government. Through appointees in top posts, Al-Sadr has been able to clear government departments of unaffiliated bureaucrats and bring Sadrists in their place. Through this carefully planned strategy to infiltrate the state apparatus, his followers have been taking up top jobs within local administrations and key ministries such as defence, the interior, communications, oil, electricity and transport. In addition to being able to dominate Iraqs huge civil service, Al-Sadrs supporters now exert control over the countrys financial resources through the state budget and their own economic influence. They wield enormous power in Iraqs three state-owned banks and even in Iraqs Central Bank. Al-Sadrs journey towards being Iraqs paramount Shia leader was highlighted in the October parliamentary elections. Since he was declared the winner of most seats in the new assembly, he has refused to form a coalition with other Shia blocs as has been the norm after the polls since the US-led invasion. Instead, Al-Sadr has been pushing for a national majority government that would put his Sadrist faction at the helm of an administration that would bring in Sunni Muslim and Kurdish representatives. The formula would disfranchise nearly a dozen Shia political groups and their affiliated militias and give Al-Sadr overall authority. Apart from his declared intention to uproot rival militias and rhetoric about fighting corruption and transcending sectarianism, neither Al-Sadr nor his top aides seem to have a desire to go into details about their strategy. What Al-Sadr is working fervently to achieve is a dream project that flows from his intention to consolidate his power base among the Iraqi Shia and then to move to tighten his grip on the country as a whole in ways big and small. To understand what is happening in Iraq following Al-Sadrs bid to impose his model of leadership and ultimately to make it familiar to the region and the world, it helps to understand what Al-Sadr himself thinks, believes, and acts upon. As Al-Sadr has started to signal his supremacy in Iraqs politics, he has also adopted a more aggressive posture on the national stage, drawing new borders to circumscribe existing Shia power struggles and thus make Iraq well placed for further conflicts. There is nothing that can explain Al-Sadrs strategy better than his insistence on controlling the next government and running the countrys affairs. His worst nightmare is that his Shia foes will maintain their political power and have militias that may fight him over influence and authority in the country. Therefore, Al-Sadrs two imperatives are to exclude politically affiliated officials from government departments and to stuff them with his own cronies and to get rid of dozens of Shia militias and replace them with his own powerful Jaish Al-Mahdi, or Mahdi Army, a paramilitary organisation. The death of Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, Iraqs most revered Shia clergyman, could create a tremendous opportunity for Al-Sadrs leadership. Al-Sadr is not a mujtahid, or scholar of theology, making him ineligible to join those vying for Al-Sistanis succession, but his influence might still be more than that enjoyed by many of the presumed contenders. In December, Al-Sadr issued guidelines for his supporters in Iraq to follow fatwas, or legal rulings, issued by his late father, who was assassinated in 1999. The instructions are important because they underline Al-Sadrs intention to keep power over the Hawza, or Shia school of theology in the city of Najaf, within his family line. Meanwhile, the world is watching Al-Sadrs rise with keen interest. Some of Iraqs neighbours and world powers have geopolitical grievances, particularly about Irans influence and the role of its proxies in Iraq. World and regional powers have been sending signals of support to Al-Sadr, whom they believe could stand up to Iran and the Iran-backed Shia groups in Iraq. In recent weeks, the Western media, which used to describe Al-Sadr as a hardliner and a radical, has started to promote him as a moderate politician and the face of reform in Iraq in an apparent attempt to accept him as Iraqs next leader. The New York Times has even dubbed Al-Sadr as an unlikely US ally. Al-Sadr may have grand ambitions and the self-confidence to match, but he has yet to show how he will deliver. He has no clear strategy for rebuilding the Iraqi state and nation or for consolidating its democratic and federal system as stipulated in its post-invasion constitution. Al-Sadr remains a controversial figure, and to many of his critics he is out to remake Iraqs order in his image. For all the bold headlines and focus from the media and the Iraq expert community about Al-Sadr transforming himself into a statesman, he is still a Shia clergyman with a strictly religious agenda that stokes sectarian politics. When newly elected lawmakers from Al-Sadrs parliamentary group arrived at the inaugural session of the new parliament in Baghdad last week, they donned the white shrouds that Muslims use to wrap their dead bearing inscriptions of Jaish Al-Mahdi on their backs. The scene was reminiscent of numerous episodes of the rise to power of others, most strikingly the ascent of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979 that began the newly established Islamic Republic in Iran. *A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Violent clashes in Naqab took place last week when Israeli army and police seized land owned by locals to plant trees to the benefit of a Jewish settler association. The native Palestinian residents viewed this as a de facto seizure of their land and transferral of its ownership to the Israeli association. Naqab is inhabited by Palestinians of the occupied interior, who hold Israeli nationality, and most of them are Bedouins. The move by Israel is an implementation of an agreement signed years ago between the Israel Land Administration and the Jewish National Fund as part of a deal that exchanges land in the centre of Israel with larger swaths in Naqab in southern Israel. The ownership of most of the land in the swap belongs to Arabs living in Arab villages not officially recognised by Israel. Occupied Naqab is home to some 40 Bedouin villages not officially recognised by Israel, where 80,000 Palestinians live. They complain of persistent marginalisation by the Israeli authorities who block any infrastructure and development projects there, to put pressure on residents to leave. Demonstrations against Israeli land grabs were spearheaded by the Higher Steering Committee of Arabs of the Naqab and included villagers there, protesting Israeli moves under the pretence of tree planting. Dozens were injured by bullets and tear gas used by Israeli forces, and more than 200 Arabs were arrested. The most violent confrontations took place in Sawaween village and land belonging to Al-Atrash family near Saawa in Naqab on 12 January. Protesters set fire to tyres and burned Israeli cars during clashes in several villages, and the Israeli army and police called for backup in an attempt to control the situation especially in the areas of Rahat, Tal Al-Sabe and Shaqib Al-Salam. Hundreds of Palestinians took part in protests in the occupied interior at the behest of Arab forces inside Israel, most notably in Umm Al-Fahm. There were also protests in the West Bank organised by Palestinian factions, and hundreds from Al-Tarabeen tribe in the Gaza Strip also demonstrated since they are related to tribes in Naqab and object to Israels policies and seizure of Bedouin land. These events had serious political implications, especially for the Israeli government. The United Arab List (UAL) Party headed by Mansour Abbas and a partner in the incumbent coalition government led by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, declared it will boycott Knesset sessions, which would prevent the government from passing any resolutions. The cabinet is supported by only 61 Knesset members, which is the minimum number needed for the government to adopt any decisions in parliament. The UAL was the kingmaker in the formation of the incumbent government led alternately by Bennett and Yair Lapid, with its four Knesset members voting in support of the new cabinet. If UAL withdraws from the government coalition, the cabinet will collapse. The Naqab clashes have triggered many disputes in Israeli political circles. Foreign Minister Lapid demanded a temporary halt on bulldozing land in Naqab, to be resumed later. The leader of the opposition and head of the right-wing Likud Party Benjamin Netanyahu said, no one will stop planting trees in Israeli soil. I give my full support to the security forces. Mustafa Qabha, professor of political science at Haifa University, said the situation in Naqab represents the struggle over land which continues everywhere. Israel wants to control Arab land based on Israels greater scheme to control the most territory with the least number of Arabs, he told Al-Ahram Weekly. The escalation will lead to serious tensions between the UAL and the Israeli government, Qabha added, and these events galvanised the position of Abbas party. If the situation continues like this, it will not pass without incident. According to political analyst Amtanes Shehada, there are endless attempts to take control of Arab land and curb Arab presence in Naqab by Israeli authorities. It is a political issue primarily related to Jewish nationalism, Shehada asserted. He told the Weekly that the key issue is to usurp Arab land that historically belongs to Naqab natives. Israel wants to reduce the size of areas where Arabs are present by establishing non-vital projects to prevent Arabs from owning the land, he argued. I believe this goes beyond Arab towns in Israel and is more than confiscating Arab land. It is primarily a political plot, and could evolve into something more than ongoing confrontations if a compromise is not reached. They are looking for a compromise right now to prevent the collapse of the Israeli coalition government, Shehada said. Israeli parties that are members of the fragile cabinet coalition fear that pressure from the Arab street in Israel will lead the UAL to decide to withdraw its support of the coalition government, which would cause the cabinet to collapse. Shehada does not believe the government will be dissolved due to current events especially under the current circumstances. But if clashes evolve, then the UAL could withdraw from the government and force the Israeli cabinet to contain the crisis and reach a compromise. He believes the best solution is official recognition of Arab towns that are currently not recognised by Israel, granting them full rights, and for Israel to stop dealing with Arabs in the Naqab as the enemy. I believe the solution to this issue is primarily political. Actions to seize land and control Arab Bedouin communities in Naqab must stop. Israel is concerned the situation will escalate, as it did in towns and cities inside the occupied interior during the Israeli war on Gaza in May 2021. This sounded alarms in Israel about predictions of Arab citizens in Israel, and how to keep them neutral in confrontations between Israel and Palestinians. Israeli political circles are concerned about changing demographics due to growing numbers of Palestinians and Arab citizens compared to Israeli citizens. According to Israeli numbers, there will be at least ten million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and 2.3 million in the occupied interior by 2050, compared to 6.1 million Jews in Israel. This disparity in numbers means that one binational state will be a more likely solution, instead of the two-state solution currently on offer, which right-wing parties in Israel oppose but the left-wing supports as an acceptable alternative for reaching a settlement with Palestinians. *A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: KYODO NEWS - Jan 23, 2022 - 21:03 | All, Japan The new U.S. ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, arrived in Japan on Sunday, filling a key post that has been vacant for more than two years and taking on the crucial task of enhancing their countries' alliance amid China's growing assertiveness in the region. The 62-year-old former top aide to former President Barack Obama is known for his close ties with President Joe Biden. Emanuel gained the trust of Biden when he was White House chief of staff from 2009 to 2010 for Obama, whom Biden served as vice president. After his arrival in Japan, Emanuel tweeted that he and his wife are "excited to have arrived in Japan and are eager to meet the people of Japan as we travel throughout the country." The U.S. ambassadorial post has been vacant since William Hagerty stepped down in July 2019 to run for the Senate. Emanuel also served as Chicago's mayor for two terms from 2011 to 2019 and was a member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009. Known for his abrasive style, he was nicknamed "Rahmbo" after Sylvester Stallone's fictional character Rambo. Amy and I are excited to have arrived in Japan and are eager to meet the people of Japan as we travel throughout the country. pic.twitter.com/LrBnbEMFZj (@USAmbJapan) January 23, 2022 During a Senate confirmation hearing in October, Emanuel vowed to enhance U.S.-Japan ties as China seeks to "conquer through division," and said he would welcome any major increase in Japan's defense spending. Japan is ramping up its defense capability as the Cabinet approved in December a defense budget of 5.40 trillion yen ($47 billion) for fiscal 2022, setting a record high for the eighth consecutive year. Emanuel is also tasked with strengthening defense ties between the United States and Japan. Attention is growing on the timeline for a possible Chinese invasion of self-ruled Taiwan. Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military have drawn up a draft joint operation plan that would enable the setup of an attack base along the Nansei Island chain in the country's southwest in the event of a Taiwan contingency, according to Japanese government sources. By Yuki Yamaguchi, KYODO NEWS - Jan 23, 2022 - 11:12 | All, Japan The recent rationing of french fries by McDonald's Co. (Japan) due to a disruption of potato imports is spurring competitors to seize a bigger share of the market, triggering what social media users have called "a potato war." The operator of McDonald's restaurants in Japan has said it will only offer smaller portions of its french fries for about a month from Jan. 9 at all of its around 2,900 stores nationwide. It is the second time in two months that the company has restricted sales of the popular item. Flooding near a Vancouver port and a worldwide logistics disruption triggered by the coronavirus pandemic delayed potato imports from North America, leading the company to suspend sales of medium and large portions of fries for a week in December. Related coverage: McDonald's Japan to put large-size fries back on menu on Dec. 31 The restaurant chain said the continued delay of imports due to bad weather had forced it to impose the further restriction on sales. The company also temporarily suspended offering hash browns at some locations. The move rattled many consumers in Japan, with the term "poteto nanmin" (potato refugees) going viral on social media. "I felt so sad about the rationing because I like fries," said a 30-year-old man who recently bought a small portion at a McDonald's store in the Ginza shopping district of Tokyo. "I hope they'll fix the supply problem quickly." Some competitors are taking advantage of the situation. Hamburger chain Freshness Burger, under Colowide Co., started a campaign on Jan. 14, increasing its french fry portions by 25 percent through Feb. 27. The company said it is not facing a supply shortage as it sources its potatoes from Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island known for its agricultural products. "We are launching this campaign to save potato refugees," Freshness Burger said on its website. "We want to satisfy their potato needs." Convenience store chain operator Ministop Co. started offering "bucket potato" french fries triple the size of regular portions on Jan. 14. Ministop said the new product was inspired by better-than-expected sales when it increased french fry servings by 50 percent around the year-end and New Year holidays. McDonald's did not offer medium and large portions of fries during part of that period. The increased competition has led many people to tweet about "a potato war," with one post saying, "It's a welcome war for lovers of french fries." Tatsunori Taniai, 33, who visited a McDonald's store in Tokyo recently, said he is a loyal fan of its fries. "There are times I just need that junk food taste. So I don't think I'll switch to other companies' products immediately," he said, while adding, "But if the potato shortage continues, there is no guarantee." KYODO NEWS - Jan 23, 2022 - 23:59 | All, Japan Incumbent Taketoyo Toguchi won a second term as Nago mayor in the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa on Sunday, in a relief for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida who is pushing for the controversial relocation of a U.S. military base to the city's coastal area. Toguchi, 60, backed by the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito, defeated anti-relocation candidate Yohei Kishimoto in the election, dealing a setback to local efforts to thwart the base construction by the national government. The mayoral race was closely watched as a precursor to a gubernatorial election in the island prefecture later this year, along with an upper house race that is expected to take place this summer at the national level. Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki had thrown his support behind Kishimoto, who was endorsed by the major opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Japanese Communist Party among others. "Voters approved of my steering of the city government for the past four years," Toguchi told reporters after his victory. Okinawa hosts the bulk of U.S. military installations in the nation and anti-military sentiment runs deep. The prefecture is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its reversion to Japan following U.S. occupation. The relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to a coastal area in Nago from its current, densely-populated location in Ginowan has met stiff opposition even as the Japanese government has already begun landfill for the transfer. Toguchi has not clarified his stance on whether he supports the relocation but touted the benefits of financial support extended by the national government on the premise that the plan goes through. The government froze the aid during the time of Toguchi's predecessor who was against the base relocation. When asked about the base transfer, he said, "There is nothing we can do other than to closely follow developments between the central and Okinawa government." Tensions between the national and Okinawa governments remain high as Tamaki rejected in November the Defense Ministry's plan to make necessary changes to the landfill work following the discovery of weak ground that needs to be reinforced. Nearly nine percent of the soil needed for the landfill had been poured into the area at the end of 2021, according to the Defense Ministry. "I tried to get the message across that there should be no more military bases built in Okinawa. But it didn't resonate with people in this city," Kishimoto said at his campaign office. The base transfer plan has divided the city with a population of around 64,000. Sunday's mayoral race was the seventh since a 1996 Japan-U.S. agreement on returning the land occupied by the Futenma base. Following Kishimoto's defeat, Okinawa Gov. Tamaki told reporters that his government's position to oppose the base transfer "will not budge even by one millimeter." Voter turnout was at a record low 68.32 percent, down 8.6 points from the previous election in 2018, according to the local election board. Campaigning for the mayoral race was marred by surging COVID-19 cases in the prefecture, which has been under a quasi-state of emergency. Okinawa is increasingly seen as strategically important due to its proximity to North Korea whose nuclear and missile development has kept Japan on alert, and to the Japanese-administered, Chinese-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. It is also near the frontline of heightened cross-strait tensions between Taiwan and China. Photo shows five Palmyra artifacts handed over to the Syrian Embassy in Lebanon at the Lebanese National Museum in Beirut, Jan. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) BEIRUT, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Five artifacts from Palmyra, a war-torn ancient city in Syria, were returned to Damascus. The pieces were displayed on Thursday at a handover ceremony hosted by the Lebanese National Museum, with the attendance of Lebanese Minister of Culture Muhammad Mortada, the Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel Karim Al Ali, and the Syrian Directorate-General of Museums and Antiquities. Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains monumental ruins of a city which was one of the most important cultural centers in ancient times. The ancient city has seen the vicious attacks and occupation of the Islamic State (IS) two times throughout the Syrian crisis, and the people of that ancient oasis city went displaced more than once. Photo shows five Palmyra artifacts handed over to the Syrian Embassy in Lebanon at the Lebanese National Museum in Beirut, Jan. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Photo shows five Palmyra artifacts handed over to the Syrian Embassy in Lebanon at the Lebanese National Museum in Beirut, Jan. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Photo shows five Palmyra artifacts handed over to the Syrian Embassy in Lebanon at the Lebanese National Museum in Beirut, Jan. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) A visitor is taking photo of Palmyra artifacts, which are handed over to the Syrian Embassy in Lebanon at the Lebanese National Museum in Beirut, Jan. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) People attend a celebration in the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria, Aug. 30, 2019. The Syrian government held a concert hailing the Syrian army's victories in the ancient city of Palmyra that was stormed by the Islamic State (IS) twice during the long-lasting Syrian war. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) Photo taken on Aug. 30, 2019 shows a historic site in the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) Workers build an expressway which bypasses Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, Jan. 4, 2022. Work on a joint Chinese-Bangladeshi venture to build a transformational highway bypassing Bangladesh capital Dhaka is well underway. The mega expressway will link the industrial belts around Dhaka with the seaport at Chattogram and the northeastern Sylhet region, bypassing the congested capital. Around 400 million U.S. dollars will be spent on the four-lane artery.(Xinhua) DHAKA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Work on a joint Chinese-Bangladeshi venture to build a transformational highway bypassing Bangladesh capital Dhaka is well underway. The mega expressway will link the industrial belts around Dhaka with the seaport at Chattogram and the northeastern Sylhet region, bypassing the congested capital. Around 400 million U.S. dollars will be spent on the four-lane artery. The country's first road public-private partnership (PPP) initiative is 60 percent controlled by China's Sichuan Road and Bridge Group, with local actors Unique Dream Consultants and Shamim Enterprises holding the remainder. The Dhaka Bypass Expressway Development Company has financing agreements with the China Development Bank (CDB) and Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund Ltd (BIFFL). Yang Jian, a project manager working in Bangladesh, told Xinhua that 70 percent of the initial work had been completed. The bridge pile foundation is 50 percent completed. "In 2024, we will complete the whole expressway," he said. Nearly 1,000 local people are working -- a number set to double -- alongside the Chinese staff. After the completion of the highway, traffic from north to south in Dhaka will be greatly eased, improving local economies in the road's immediate hinterland and boosting development across the country. "Our Chinese partners are using the latest technology. I'm learning a lot. All the equipment is of very high quality. We ensure safety first and then work. Here safety always comes first," said Nahid Hasan, a local engineer working on bridges. "I'm getting a good salary. I'm not having any problems," he added. Deputy general manager Yang Xu said the construction work started in 2021 following a completion of 412 million U.S. dollars of financing in April. "We have brought the best technology and have trained local technicians, which will be good for future projects," he said. A Chinese engineer (2nd R) gives instructions as workers build an expressway which bypasses Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, Jan. 4, 2022. Work on a joint Chinese-Bangladeshi venture to build a transformational highway bypassing Bangladesh capital Dhaka is well underway. The mega expressway will link the industrial belts around Dhaka with the seaport at Chattogram and the northeastern Sylhet region, bypassing the congested capital. Around 400 million U.S. dollars will be spent on the four-lane artery.(Xinhua) Workers build an expressway which bypasses Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, Jan. 4, 2022. Work on a joint Chinese-Bangladeshi venture to build a transformational highway bypassing Bangladesh capital Dhaka is well underway. The mega expressway will link the industrial belts around Dhaka with the seaport at Chattogram and the northeastern Sylhet region, bypassing the congested capital. Around 400 million U.S. dollars will be spent on the four-lane artery.(Xinhua) A Chinese engineer (2nd R) gives instructions as workers build an expressway which bypasses Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, Jan. 4, 2022. Work on a joint Chinese-Bangladeshi venture to build a transformational highway bypassing Bangladesh capital Dhaka is well underway. The mega expressway will link the industrial belts around Dhaka with the seaport at Chattogram and the northeastern Sylhet region, bypassing the congested capital. Around 400 million U.S. dollars will be spent on the four-lane artery.(Xinhua) Workers build an expressway which bypasses Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, Jan. 4, 2022. Work on a joint Chinese-Bangladeshi venture to build a transformational highway bypassing Bangladesh capital Dhaka is well underway. The mega expressway will link the industrial belts around Dhaka with the seaport at Chattogram and the northeastern Sylhet region, bypassing the congested capital. Around 400 million U.S. dollars will be spent on the four-lane artery.(Xinhua) New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Tuesday registered another FIR in connection with Mondays protest by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students over charges of causing damage to public property at South Delhis Aurobindo Marg, said Atul Kumar Thakur, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South. JNU students have been protesting against a hostel fee hike and issues. Hundreds of JNU students rocked the national capital on Monday, bringing several parts of the city to a halt. The students took out a protest march opposing the recent fee hike against which an agitation has been going on for over three weeks. Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police lodged an FIR under the relevant provisions of law at the Kishangarh police station, but did not divulge the details. During their clash with the police, the students alleged that they were baton-charged by the men in uniform. However, top police officials denied using force against the students. According to the police, nearly 30 police personnel and 15 students were injured during the eight-hour protest, in which thousands of students from different universities across the national capital took part. There was a heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel outside the main gate of the JNU campus, even before the march commenced. Water cannons and PCR vans were also stationed outside. Before the protest began, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry set up a three-member committee to recommend ways to restore the normal functioning of the university and initiate a dialogue with the students and the administration. The protesters took out the march around noon, broke the first set of barricades at the main gate of the campus and proceeded towards Baba Gangnath Marg, where another set of barricades awaited them. The police detained about 100 protestors, including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, secretary Satish Chandra Yadav and former JNUSU president N Sai Balaji. The students were ultimately stopped outside the Safdarjung Tomb, where, they alleged, the police baton-charged them, an allegation denied by the men in uniform. On Saturday, an FIR was registered against unidentified persons over an incident of "defacement" of the JNU's administration block. SpaceCast Weekly is a NASA Television broadcast from the Johnson Space Center in Houston featuring stories about NASA's work in human spaceflight. This includes the International Space Station and its crews and scientific research activities, and the development of Orion and the Space Launch System, the next generation American spacecraft being built to take humans farther into space than they've ever gone before. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. New Delhi: Pragya Singh Thakur, the BJP's MP from Bhopal, accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case has been nominated to the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Defence. Thakur will be part of the 21-member consultative committee, which is headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh. The BJP MP who is currently under trial for multiple charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was granted bail by the Bombay high court on health grounds in April 2017 in the Malegaon blasts case that killed six people, injuring over hundred. Pragya Thakur defeated Congress stalwart and former chief minister Digvijay Singh from Bhopal Lok Sabha Constituency. During her campaigning days, the Malegaon blast accused had stirred a controversy that former Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare died in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as she had cursed him for treating her very badly while she was in custody in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Hemant Karkare falsely implicated me. He died of his karma. I told him, he will be destroyed. I told him his entire dynasty will be erased. Maine kaha tera (Karkare) sarvanash hoga, she had said. Pragya had also instilled some controversy during her oath-taking ceremony in the Lok Sabha. The Malegaon blast accused took oath in Sanskrit and ended it with 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogan. Later, BJP members continued to raise 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogans, teasing the Opposition. They started raising slogan after oath taking by every BJP member. Pragya Thakur defeated Congress stalwart and former chief minister Digvijay Singh from Bhopal Lok Sabha Constituency. Previously, Thakur was rebuked by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. At that time, she had termed Mahatma Gandhis killer Nathuram Godse as real patriot. Pm Modi had said that he could never forgive her from his heart for that remark. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Assam: The Assam government has installed a voice-based app on the mobile phones of over 100 teachers in southern Hailakandi district to enable them to assist students in improving their reading skills. 'Bolo App' is designed to encourage students to read aloud, giving them feedback even when it is offline, said Additional Deputy Commissioner (in-charge education), R K Dam. "The app listens to what children read, encourages them when they do well and helps them out when they struggle, just like a real tutor. Children can also play word games and earn in-app awards, helping reading become fun and a daily habit". Dam said. District Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli had last week launched the app at a programme, in which over 230 educational volunteers took part for improving their Bengali and Mathematics skills, he said. Programme leader Sadasiva Reddy said the progress of the children can be tracked in the app and difficulty level will increase as per improvement in their reading skills. Bolo App is a Voice-based app that is developed to guide and help school kids read and learn anywhere. The app is specifically designed for primary and upper primary grade students. The App encourages students to read aloud and also gives important feedback that eventually improve their reading skills. New Delhi: The students of the Banaras Hindu University staged a protest against the appointment of Muslim professor in the literature department of the Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vijnan. The protest began on November 7 against the appointment of 29-year old Feroz Khan in Sanskrit Department of the university. However, the Banaras Hindu University on Friday backed the appointment of professor in the Sanskrit faculty, and clarified that it is committed to provide equal opportunities to everyone irrespective of religion, caste, community or gender. The clarification comes after the RSS students' wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) opposed the appointment of Firoz Khan as an assistant professor in the Sanskrit literature department. The BHU administration issued a statement in which it said that the selection committee recommended the selection of the said candidate on the basis of prescribed guidelines of the University Grants Commission and the central government. Some students have been staging a sit-in outside the vice chancellors office against the selection of Khan in the Sahitya department of the Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vijnan (SVDV). Rajasthan-born Khan studied at the Jaipur campus of the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, which is a deemed university under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, reports The Indian Express. Moreover, the vice chancellor assured the students that the administration is committed to achieve the objectives of the university in providing equal educational and teaching opportunities to everyone irrespective of religion, caste, community or gender. On the other hand, expressing their apprehensions, students said that a non-Hindu should not teach them religion. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister of Pakistan, left for London on Tuesday. The ailing ex-PM left in an air ambulance from Lahore. The medical flight will reach London via Doha and land at Heathrow airport, latest reports say. Pakistan's Interior Ministry had issued a notification to formally allow former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad for medical treatment, stating that the decision was taken as an "interim arrangement" in light of the Lahore High Court's order. In its notification, the Ministry on Monday reproduced the undertakings provided by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif to the Lahore High Court in which the terms of their travel and return have been laid out, reports Dawn news. After much delay, Pakistan government decided to let Sharif go abroad for treatment due to his critical medical conditions. Maryam, 46, said she would not accompany her father as her name was still on the Exit Control List (ECL). "Shehbaz Sharif is looking after all the boarding and lodging of the former premier. After losing my mother last year, my father is my everything now," Maryam had said. "The government could not remove Sharif's name from the no fly-list (Exist Control List-ECL) as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman was not available to issue no objection certificate in this case," a government official told news agency PTI. He said the officials of the NAB have also sought Sharif's medical reports. The official said that as a special case, the government may remove his name from the ECL enabling Sharif to catch his flight at 9am on Sunday, otherwise this matter will be taken up on Monday. Earlier, the court granted Nawaz bail for eight weeks on medical grounds. The Islamabad High Court granted him bail in Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case. The bail plea was filed by PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif for his brother Nawaz. According to reports, the court, while announcing the judgement, said that Rs 2 million each will have to be submitted to the court to secure Nawaz's release. Shraif has been lodged in jail after an accountability court had sentenced Sharif on December 24, 2018 to seven years in prison in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case. Nawaz Sharif is fighting for life after a drastic drop in his blood platelet count, a media report quoted his personal doctor as saying, days after Pakistans former prime minister was rushed from prison to a hospital. Sharif, 69, was admitted to the Services Hospital from the anti-graft bodys custody after his platelets dropped to a critical low level of 2,000. Sharifs personal physician Dr Adnan Khan said in a series of tweets that Former PM #NawazSharif, critically unwell, is fighting the battle for his health & life. Thrombocytopenia (Low Platelet Count) & NSTEMI (Heart Attack) is further complicated by deteriorating Kidney functions. Poor Blood Sugar & Blood Pressure control is taking its toll, Geo News reported. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured Rajya Sabha that the internet ban in Jammu and Kashmir will be lifted soon. Answering questions in Rajya Sabha, Shah said that the decision on restoring internet services will be taken by Jammu and Kashmir authorities. Responding to Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Shah said, "As far as internet services are concerned, the decision can be taken by the Jammu and Kashmir authorities. There are activities by Pakistan too in Kashmir region, so keeping security in mind, whenever the local authority deems it fit, a decision will be taken." Shah also said that there was no shortage of medicines in Jammu and Kashmir. "The availability of medicines, fuel and rice is adequate. Mobile medicine vans have also started. The administration has taken care of health services. 22 lakh metric ton apples are expected to be produced. All landlines are open," he said. Shah also asserted that not a single person has died in police firing after August 5 when the special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir was scrapped. He also said all newspapers and TV channels are functioning in Kashmir and there is no decline in circulation of newspapers. "The situation there was always normal. There were many notions spread all over the world. There is total normalcy prevailing. After August 5, not a single person has died in police firing although many feared there would be bloodshed and more number of killings," the Home Minister said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The Lok Sabha had already given its nod to the Bill August by a voice vote amid a walkout by the Congress. Thousands of people sacrificed their lives at Jallianwala Bagh. In future, it should be never said that we attained independence without shedding a single drop of blood, BJPs Rajya Sabha member Sudhanshu Trivedi said. We'll never have to say that we gained freedom without 'khadag, dhaal', the freedom struggle began when thousands of people faced bullets and shed their blood, he added. The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019, seeks to remove the Congress president as a permanent member of a trust that runs the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial. The Bill further seeks to empower the government to remove nominated members. At present, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs the trust. Besides the PM, the Union Culture Minister, the Congress president, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and the Chief Minister and Governor of Punjab comprise the board. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Islamabad: A special Pakistani court on Tuesday said it will announce its verdict in the high treason case against former military dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf on November 28. The previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had filed the treason case against the ex-army chief Musharraf in 2013 over the imposition of extra-constitutional emergency in 2007. A three-member tribunal headed by Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth conducted the hearing in the case on Musharraf clamping the state of emergency on November 3, 2007. After reserving the judgement on Tuesday, the court announced that the verdict would be given on November 28. It also directed the counsel of Musharraf to submit final argument if any by November 26, Dawn News reported. Musharraf is said to be living in the UAE. If convicted, Musharraf, 76, may face death sentence. Musharraf became Pakistan's first army chief to be charged with treason when he was indicted on March 31, 2014. He pleaded not guilty to five charges and dismissed them as being politically motivated, The Express Tribune reported. The hearing in the high-profile case was stalled after Musharraf left for Dubai in 2016. Musharraf left Pakistan for Dubai for medical treatment on March 18, 2016 with a commitment to come back. He managed to go abroad after his name was removed from the no-fly list or Exit Control List on the orders of the Supreme Court. Also Read | Only China Has Authority To Rule On Hong Kong's Constitutional Matters: Beijing A few months later, however, the special court declared him a "proclaimed offender" and ordered the confiscation of his property owing to his no-show at the hearings. He has repeatedly refused to return to Pakistan citing security reasons. His lawyer Akhar Shah said that the former president could not appear in person due to security reasons. He also said that Musharraf's health was not good and was not allowed by the doctors in Dubai to travel. Musharraf seized power in 1999 by toppling the government of prime minister Nawaz Sharif and ruled until 2008 when he was forced to step down. In October this year, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government de-notified the prosecution team which was hired in December 2013 by the PML-N government. Noted lawyer Akram Sheikh was heading the prosecution team. He resigned soon after the PTI's victory in the 2018 general elections and the remaining team members were sacked this year, the Express Tribune reported. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday told the state government of Kerala to bring a separate law in connection with the Lord Ayappa Shrine in Sabarimala. Kerala. Its should be noted that the latest order is only pertaining to the administration of the temple and not about the womens entry into the shrine. The top court had asked state govt to make law exclusively for the administration of temple and welfare of the pilgrims. The Lord Ayyappa temple in Kerala's Sabarimala opened on Saturday for the two-month long pilgrim season. The opening of the temple for Mandala Pooja festival came just after the Supreme Court deferred the verdict on the review petition challenging its order allowing entry of women of all ages in the temple. The Supreme Court did not stay its previous order which means women of all age groups will be allowed to enter the temple. However, no protection will be given to the women. On Tuesday, a 12-year-old girl from Puducherry, who had come for darshan to Lord Ayyappa temple along with her father, was not allowed to proceed to the shrine from Pamba on Tuesday morning. The age of the girl, with irrumudikettu (offerings to Lord Ayyappa) had been shown as 10 in the virtual Q booking. What is the Sabarimala issue? The Tranvancore Devaswom Board has, since 1951, restricted the entry of women of menstrual age, i.e. between 10 years and 50 years, from entering the Sabarimala temple. On September 28, 2018 the Supreme Court opened the temple to women of all ages. However, massive protests were witnessed on 17 October 2018 when the temple was opened for the first time after the Supreme Court verdict. Protesters reportedly assaulted women activists, journalists, and other women who were trying to enter the temple. Meanwhile, a review petition was filed against the September 2018 order. A five-judge bench of the apex court, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, referred the issues to a larger bench, to consider the limits of the powers of the apex court in deciding conflicts between religion and other rights. However, court did not issue any stay on the entry of women. According to sources, Kerala government has decided that the police will not be providing protection to women activists visiting the Sabarimala temple. Several ministers in the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet have said that law and order must be maintained and "women activists should be keep away from the Sabarimala temple". In view of the protests that broke out in 2018, post the Supreme Court's order allowing women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple, the government and the police, this time, have decided to take necessary measures to contain anything that may hinder peaceful worship. For all the Latest India News, South News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Breaking news, latest photos and videos from across India and the world on November 20, 2019. LIVE UPDATES: 12:34 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In No Shortage Of Medicines, Fuel And Rice Adequate In J-K: Shah Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha on situation in Jammu and Kashmir: "The availability of medicines, fuel and rice is adequate. Mobile medicine vans have also started. The administration has taken care of health services. 22 lakh metric ton apples are expected to be produced. All landlines are open." 12:33 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Amit Shah In Rajya Sabha Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha on situation in Jammu and Kashmir: "As far as internet services are concerned, the decision can be taken by the Jammu and Kashmir authorities. There are activities by Pakistan too in Kashmir region, so keeping security in mind, whenever the local authority deems it fit, a decision will be taken." 12:25 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Eight people have died in a road accident on National Highway-15 in Orang area of Udalguri district of Assam. Assam: 8 persons dead in a road accident on National Highway-15 in Orang area of Udalguri district. pic.twitter.com/96AT2voeyS ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2019 12:24 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In One Army jawan died while another got injured in a tank-related incident during an exercise in the Jaisalmer sector (Rajasthan). The incident occurred during the movement of the T-90 tanks near the Phalsund town. 12:23 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Delhi CM Nominates Members For Water Quality Testing Exercise Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal nominates Dinesh Mohaniya Vice Chairman of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and Shalabh Kumar, a member of DJB, for the joint water quality testing exercise between Central government & Delhi government. 11:24 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In JP Nadda replied to Anand Sharma saying that security cover was not withdrawn. "Home Ministry has a very set pattern and there is a protocol. It is not done by a politician, it is done by Home Ministry and according to threat perception the security is given and withdrawn," he said. JP Nadda, BJP, in Rajya Sabha: There is nothing political, security hasn't been withdrawn. Home Ministry has a very set pattern & there is a protocol. It is not done by a politician, it is done by Home Ministry and according to threat perception the security is given & withdrawn. https://t.co/hSRQVqp8Dx pic.twitter.com/hM52ZiQi3m ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2019 11:23 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Congress Raises SPG Cover Issue Congress MP Anand Sharma raised the issue of withdrawal of SPG cover to party leaders Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi & Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in Rajya Sabha. "We urge govt that issues of security of our leaders have to be beyond partisan political considerations," he said. Congress MP Anand Sharma raises the issue of withdrawal of SPG cover to party leaders Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi & Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in Rajya Sabha. Says "We urge govt that issues of security of our leaders have to be beyond partisan political considerations" pic.twitter.com/Tkr2WXWnpO ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2019 11:19 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Sharad Pawar Arrives NCP chief and MP Sharad Pawar arrives at the Parliament. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 12 pm today, over the issue of Maharashtra farmers. Delhi: NCP chief and MP Sharad Pawar arrives at the Parliament. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 12 pm today, over the issue of Maharashtra farmers. pic.twitter.com/0mBGb8OS69 ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2019 11:19 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In A Parliamentary Meeting will be held today in Parliament House Annexe Extension building, over the issue of environment. 11:18 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Today's Adjournment Motion Notices On Wednesday, Congress has given Adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over 'procurement of paddy across the nation'. TMC have notice over "telecom blackout in Kashmir valley". RSP and IUML gave Adjournment Motion Notices in Lok Sabha over JNU issue and lathicharge on students of Kerala who are demanding CBI inquiry into Walayar case. 10:44 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Sharad Pawar To Meet PM Modi Today NCP chief Sharad Pawar will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, over the issues being faced in Maharashtra. The meeting between the NCP chief and Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes amid the intense political activity to form a government in Maharashtra. The two leaders will meet in parliament in the afternoon. 09:18 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Sanjay Singh, Chhaya Verma Give Zero-Hour Notice In Rajya Sabha Amid the winter session of parliament, AAP MP Sanjay Singh and Congress MP Chhaya Verma have given zero-hour notice in Rajya Sabha. Singh has given the notice over 'deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi' while Verma got the notice over 'purchasing of paddy from Chhattisgarh in Central Pool.' 09:17 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Maharashtra: Amit Shah To Present Report On President's Rule Union Home Minister Amit Shah will present a report on the President's Rule in Maharashtra in Rajya Sabha on the third day of the Winter Session. The President's rule was imposed in the state of Maharashtra on November 12 after Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari told the Centre that despite his efforts no party could assure him provide a stable government. 09:17 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Maharashtra: Congress-NCP Meet Today Senior leaders of the Congress and NCP will meet at Sharad Pawars residence in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss government formation with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. The meeting at Pawars residence is expected to be attended by NCPs Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Sunil atkare, Chhagan Bhujbal and Jayant Patil, while the Congress will be represented by Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjun Kharge, Prithviraj Chavan, Ashok Chavan and state Congress president Balasaheb Thorat. 09:17 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Parliament Legislative Business Today Lok Sabha Bill for consideration & passing: 1) Chit Funds (amendment bill),2019 2) The NID (amendment) Bill 2019 Rajya Sabha Further Discussion under rule 193 on air pollution around 2pm Bills for consideration & passing: 1)Surrogacy(Regulation) Bill 2)Transgender Persons (protection of rights), Bill 2019 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The revenue department failed to auction the properties related to Underworld Don Dawood Ibrahims confidant Iqbal Mirchi in Mumbai on Tuesday. The auction that was conducted under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, or Safema found no takers. The two flats in gated society that goes by the name Milton Apartments is connected to Mirchi and his family. The two Santa Cruz flats had the reserve price of Rs 3.45 crore. Officials told News Nation that those who participated in the auction felt that the base price was much more than the prevailing market rates. However, many feel that nobody wants to buy the property related to the Underworld. Mirchi allegedly managed Dawoods drug, betting and real estate syndicate in London and Dubai. He died in London in 2013. Now, the officials say that the base price will be revaluated for better response. No takers for underworld don Dawood Ibrahims confidant Iqbal Mirchi's properties in Mumbai as Revenue Department fails to auction the properties seized under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act (SAFEMA) Read: https://t.co/liTUqGt9gO pic.twitter.com/F8ZydWFG7T News Nation (@NewsNationTV) November 19, 2019 Earlier, in one of the biggest arrests in the ongoing crackdown on D Company, the Enforcement Directorate held gangster Iqbal Mirchis close aide Humayun Merchant in Mumbai. Sources had said Merchant was involved on behalf of Mirchi in one of the costly property deals in posh Worli locality. Reports say that Merchant used to take care of Iqbal Mirchis clandestine real estate business in and around Mumbai. In fact, Merchant also had the power of attorney. He used to frequently fly between Mumbai and London. He was the main go-to person for the gangster for purchasing properties specifically in south Mumbai.Merchant is also reportedly connected to the Wadhwans, who are the prime accused in the PMC bank fraud. Previously, the ED had carried out searches at about a dozen premises of DHFL and other linked firms in connection with its money laundering probe against Iqbal Mirchi, the aide of global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, officials said. They said the raids are being conducted in and around Mumbai under provision of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). About a dozen premises are being searched, they added. The Dewan Housing Finance Corp Ltd (DHFL) allegedly had business links with Sunblink Real Estate, the firm at the heart of investigations into the financial dealings of Mirchi. The DHFL had given loans of Rs 2,186 crore to the real estate firm The ED suspects these monies were allegedly routed by Sunblink into accounts linked to Mirchi and his associates. The agency is looking for evidence in the form of documents and other paraphernalia as part of the latest operation, they said. The DHFL earlier said it had no links to the alleged dubious transactions. The ED turned up the heat in the money laundering case linked to the multi-crore real estate deals of Mirchi and others after recently arresting two of his alleged aides. Mirchi had died in 2013 in London. He was alleged to be the right hand man of Dawood Ibrahim in drug trafficking and extortion crimes. NCP leader Praful Patel was also questioned by the agency in this case for his alleged property deal with the family of Mirchi. Patel has denied wrongdoing. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova A book-album "Reading Nizami" has been presented in Serbia. The presentation was co-organized by the Azerbaijani Embassy in Serbia, the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) and Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Belgrade to mark Nizami's 880th anniversary. Speaking at the event, Secretary General of TURKSOY Dusen Kaseinov said that the book-album was published in English. He stressed that TURKSOY is actively promotes Nizami's legacy. The Azerbaijani Ambassador to Serbia Kamil Khasiyev said that the personality of Nizami Ganjavi is a phenomenon for the entire Turkic world. The diplomat noted that for centuries the poets and thinkers of the Turkic world, as well as the Middle East, were inspired by his works. Speaking at the presentation, Turkish Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Ahmet Misrah Demircan, Serbian Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Stanko Blagojevich and others spoke about Nizami's philosophy, ideas of humanism. The speakers emphasized that the poet's ideas about justice in society were widely recognized by European philosophers of the 18th century. His manuscripts are still kept in the archives of the world-famous libraries. Next, the participants got acquainted with the exhibition dedicated to Nizami Ganjavi. In conclusion, the guests were presented with novels written on Nizami's poems. Nizami Ganjavi is considered one of the most prominent figures of medieval Azerbaijani philosophical poetry. The poet wrote lyrical poems, including gasidas, ghazals and rubais. He dedicated his whole life to lyrical poems, and different philosophical problems. The works of Azerbaijani poet and thinker have been translated into many languages. Rare manuscript copies of his works are kept and preserved in world-famous libraries, museums and literary foundations in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Baku, Tashkent, Tabriz, Tehran, Cairo, Istanbul, Delhi, London, Paris and others. In Khamsa (Quintet), the poet revealed the living pages of history. The attack of the Russians on Barda city, a fairy tale of the Russian Princess, the beautiful Shirin amazons, battles, described in various poems of Nizami - all this is historically and geographically related to medieval Azerbaijan and the Caucasus. Nizami Ganjavi passed away in 1209 in his native city of Ganja. A grandiose tomb was raised over his grave. New Delhi: Hours and hours of flipping through shopping websites and stock-pilling items in your shopping bag could be a real mental condition according to psychotherapists. The addiction which we have seen in movies such as Confessions of a Shopaholic could be more serious than mere cat-fights over the long, snake-skin boots and green scarfs but a real, mental condition which should be taken seriously. Psychotherapists are in fact, calling for addiction to online shopping to be classed as a mental disorder in its own right after a new study on 122 people seeking treatment for Buying-Shopping Disorder (BSD) found that one third of people are reporting symptoms of active online purchasing. According to the study in the journal Comprehensive Psychiatry, BSD is a condition which is estimated to affect around 5 per cent of the population. And researchers have warned that compulsive shoppers 'have an extreme preoccupation with and craving for buying, and have 'irresistible' urges to buy things, even when they can't afford. Astrid Muller, Lead investigator of Hannover Medical School, said: "It really is time to recognise BSD as a separate mental health condition. We hope our results showing the prevalence of addictive online shopping will encourage research." Pamela Roberts, Addictions therapist at The Priory Hospital in Woking, said: "People with oniomania feel completely ruled by the compulsion to shop and spend, either for themselves or by excessive gifting to others. "The time let alone the emotional stress involved in searching, social media scrolling, visiting shops, juggling credit card bills, hiding purchases from family and returning goods can cause severe disruption. "It can lead to serious debt, dysfunctional family life, and neglected or over-indulged children Roberts added. Bollywood actress Ileana D'Cruz is very active on social media. She keeps sharing her glamorous photos on social media for fans day in and day out. Ileana Maldives is celebrating the vacation on the occasion of the New Year. Where she has shared a lot of photos. Now Ileana is beginning to miss her vacation. She is sharing old photos of the trip which have gone viral as soon as the post is posted. Ileana is seen wearing a bikini in these photos. Due to the Coronavirus, celebs are also able to go to visit fewer places. Due to this, he keeps sharing her photos by remembering her old vacation. Fans also become very happy after seeing old photos of celebs. Ileana has shared photos in a lavender bikini, seeing which the fans have become crazy. Ileana shares glamorous photos: Ileana looks gorgeous in photos. She is seen standing by the sea enjoying the scene. The view in the photos looks very beautiful. Ileana also shared photos of food and space with her bikini photos. Seeing this, anyone's mind started to go for a walk. Fans comment: These pictures of Ileana are not taking fans' eyes off. She's been making a lot of comments. A fan wrote- My favourite Ileana. Another wrote- Uffff as well as posted a heart emoji. From Samantha to Nora, find out which actress charged how much money for item song Shraddha Arya has appeared in this movie with Shahid Remember Bhootnath movie kid, see how he look now New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern said today, Sunday, that she has cancelled her marriage due to restrictions imposed to prevent the growing omicron infection in the country. Let me tell you all that masks have been made mandatory in New Zealand from today i.e. Sunday night and at the same time deposits are going to be banned. Moreover, only a limited number of people will be able to attend an event here. In fact, 9 cases of omicron were reported after a wedding in New Zealand and since then the risk of community spread has increased here. A family here returned to South Iceland by plane after attending a wedding ceremony from Auckland. After this, the corona report of the family member and flight attendant came positive. In view of all this, a ban was announced in New Zealand. Under the new restrictions, 100 people are allowed to attend events such as bars restaurants and weddings. At the same time, if the vaccine is not parted at the venue, only 25 people can join. In addition, borders for foreigners in New Zealand have been closed since March 2020. Let me tell you that the Government has taken forward the decision to open the omicron cases. In New Zealand, about 94% of the population above 12 years of age has been vaccinated. In addition, 56% of the population has also undergone booster doses. Ardern became New Zealand's youngest Prime Minister in 2017 and returned to power in October last year. Jacinda Ardern is going to marry her longtime friend Clark Gifford. However, now 40-year-old Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has postponed her marriage. She got engaged to her boyfriend and TV host Gifford in 2019. Pakistan hints it is ready to fight TTP after talks break down Syria condemns airstrikes carried out by the US in Hasakah Serious Threat! 72,856 cases of Covid-19 are reported in Turkey Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Pakistan's Federal Interior Minister, has stated that discussions with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had broken down owing to the group's tough terms. He went on to say that the Afghan Taliban had agreed that their land would not be used against Pakistan and that he had mediated conversations with the TTP. "We had a discussion with a few TTP groups. However, their terms were such that they could not be agreed upon. We would fight the TTP if they want to fight "The Minister of the Interior said. "The Taliban in Afghanistan were in contact with the TTP. However, their demands were so unreasonable that negotiations were stopped. The TTP violated the truce, which is why there has been a rise in terror attacks." "Currently, the climate in Afghanistan is not hostile to Pakistan. There are Taliban in Afghanistan " He added. Serious Threat! 72,856 cases of Covid-19 are reported in Turkey Hong Kong logs 26 new Covid-19 cases, but no death In Vienna, Iran rules out the possibility of an interim deal Professor Mary Bishop has been a part of The British College for nearly a decade. During its formative years, Bishop worked on bringing the University of West of England programmes to Nepal and has been constantly been in contact with the CEO of The British College, Rajen Kandel, to ensure the college keeps innovating and getting better every year. Last year, Bishop was appointed the colleges executive principal, taking over from Joey Foster Ellis. Since then, she has had a role in bringing new courses into the college like a bachelors in cybersecurity and has also set up a student wellbeing centre and an internet of thing laboratory to help the college students during the pandemic. Prior to this, Bishop served as the director of learning for ACCA Global, where she led the ACCA qualification, CPD for accountants/auditors and ACCA finance qualifications for non-accountants, social/delivery platforms for students and tutors and the exam and employer accreditation schemes. She has also worked in leadership roles at Hewlett Packard Research Laboratories. In addition to being an executive principal at The British College in Nepal, Bishop currently holds a portfolio of roles including NEDs and national UK regulatory positions and leads a commercial and education consultancy focusing particularly on developing innovative digital teaching and learning models, governance and risk management and regulatory compliance. Bishop spoke to Onlinekhabar about her experience working with The British College, why the college stands out and what it has been doing to make it easier for the students to learn during the time of the pandemic. Excerpts: How has your experience been with The British College? The experience has been great so far. I have been associated with The British College from 2012 during the formative years of the institution and at the time, I was the leader of international for the University of West of England (UWE). I led the academic side and worked on bringing the UWE programmes to Nepal. We (The British College) were only the second college in Nepal that brought in a British degree to Nepal. So, it was really exciting to be in at the start. Apart from that, Ive always focused my work on enhancing the student experience and creating student opportunities throughout my career. That is what I love doing at The British College, where I want to help these students grow. What I like about our students is how enthusiastic they are. Sure, getting a British degree staying in Nepal is great, but that hasnt stopped them from sharing their ideas with us on industry initiatives, trips etc. I feel listening to the students voices will help us create opportunities for them and that in the long run will help a developing country like Nepal. We as an institution believe there is a feeling that we are a family where everyone speaks to everyone as weve created an environment where they can work with us closely and that is quite unique, I think. Is that why a lot of young people are attracted to The British College? We offer highly rated academic British degrees in Nepal with the possibility of short and longer periods of study overseas. Apart from that, we are focused on employability and our portfolio also offers vocational degrees. For example, we have courses in business and management and information technology, which will make sure that the students are ready to go out and work in these respective fields. In particular, we offer cutting-edge courses in areas where employers have skill shortages, particularly around IT. Students want the opportunities for practical application along with theoretical knowledge and we, as an intuition, have been providing it from the start. We work with and listen to Nepali employers and, in response, are bringing in courses that are needed in the country. For example, in early December 2021, we started a cybersecurity course which for a country like Nepal will be helpful and I believe it is the first such course in Nepal. How hard has been to take over as the principal during the pandemic? The pandemic has been hard for everyone and it isnt easy taking a role when everything is online. But, Ive worked with this college in different areas over the past decade. Ive been there previously and had fantastic visits. When I have been in Kathmandu, Ive been fortunate to have been able to learn and understand the cultural dimensions thanks to my colleagues in Kathmandu. It would be ideal to be there, but technology has helped a lot. Ive been using technology to communicate with people for my whole career as I have always worked internationally. Since you are accustomed to working online, have you come up with any innovative plans during the pandemic to make learning at The British College smoother? At The British College, Ive shared my own practical experience on how to make online learning effective. I understand platforms and have a lot of design experience of platforms, so I am aware of how to engage students more efficiently. I have spoken to staff in detail about academic delivery and digital pedagogy. But as a college, I feel that weve really moved on during the pandemic. I would like to acknowledge both our staff and students for helping us move on. Weve tried to respond to the pandemic. We saw what it has done in Kathmandu and the region and looked at what skills need building. We set up an internet of things lab to help students, staff and industry partners to develop new skills. . We have also introduced a wellbeing centre where we offer advice to these students dealing with mental health issues. Now, we are also planning to introduce an academic success centre that is focused on supporting students in their academic skills and English. How has the response of students been so far when it comes to the internet of things laboratory and the wellbeing centre? The wellbeing centre has had a great response. We knew many of our students were struggling and we asked the students to tell us how and why they were struggling. We gave extra resources to these students to help them through the new centre. What we wanted to do was learn the impact of the pandemic on their mental health, which is important to us. Students told us that they wanted specialist support and we listened to them and gave them a counsellor. We will be continuing the centre as it has been so successful. What were your objectives when you started your term at The British College? One primary objective was gaining an additional quality stampnot because we needed to but because we chose to as we are very committed to quality and standards. And, we were able to do that we gained the British Accreditation Council Independent Higher Education Award in May 2021. We are the only institution in Nepal to gain this highly rated mark of quality. In terms of other objectives, I wanted to enhance the student experience and looked at what students needed in Nepal. I also wanted to highlight mobility which has been quite hard during the pandemic. While we havent been able to progress that, we have been able to lay the plans down and make everything ready for when restrictions will be lifted, such as creating opportunities for students studying for a few weeks, semesters or years on campus here in the UK. The government has introduced an exciting new post-study work visa for international students so they can apply to stay and work after their studies. Prof Mary Bishop. Photo: The British College What has your experience with teachers of The British College been so far? The academics work closely with partner academics in the UK. We are teaching the same way that universities in the UK are teaching, so standards are increasing all the time. A different way of teaching is being introduced all the time because when the UWE brings in new teaching methods or adds something to the curriculum, we have to do the same. The context will be different of course, but The British College students learn what students in the UK are learning. So I would say, so far my experience with working with our teachers has been great so far because they work with academics in the UK to develop their skills and find new ways to make things interesting for students and also work closely with our Industry Advisory Board and industry partners too. Do you also foster entrepreneurship? I think the whole ethos of The British College is developing entrepreneurs and changemakers. I feel that we are entrepreneurial in every respect. The college was set up by entrepreneurs and maybe that is why we are entrepreneurial in what we offer and how we offer it and encourage both staff and students to work on different ideas, innovations and startups as well. Any new courses you plan to add during your tenure? We are developing other courses and want to start them soon. But, as we are awaiting approval, we cannot discuss this openly. Our recent course on cybersecurity has been very popular and we are focusing more courses on skills needed in Nepal. One of the main objectives of The British College is to build capacity in Nepalis in the country. We want to promote mobility by gaining skills, living and studying in Nepal and abroad whether in short or long trips. But, we encourage these students to come back to do something in the country to help it move forwards. Rajen Kandel, the founder of The British College, is an example of that. We want our students to participate globally online and by travel. Our students have benefitted from this approach and many stay in Nepal and have exciting opportunities. A British degree in Nepal will put students in a strong position to help them get interesting jobs in Nepal. What are your plans for the coming years? What can students expect? We are in Nepal to deliver a mission to build capacity. Students can expect a range of cutting-edge courses that will help them develop skills that are needed in Nepal. For this, we are regularly speaking to employers asking them what the skill gaps that need filling are. And of course, mobility trips to the UK and Dubai, as well as the opportunity for longer periods of study Why does The British college stand out? First of all, The British College is a very welcoming place. It is a place everyones voice is heard. I think its an institution where students can come and be sure they can shape our ideas going forward. Listening to students, understanding both education and employer needs, we offer an excellent holistic student experience and an outcome that prepares students for exciting work or further studies. We have cutting-edge courses and have a connection to the industry. We are well connected across the board in the industry, through which students get to meet and talk to employers. But, the main thing that helps us stand out is we dont stop. Were always innovating, working with our partner universities, employers, The British College students and alumni are never settling, and this will never change. NowPayments and Radio Caca (RACA) partner to enable merchants to accept $RACA as a crypto payment for business use and charitable donations Singapore, SIngapore--(Newsfile Corp. - January 22, 2022) - NowPayments and Radio Caca (RACA) have partnered together. When people talk about crypto payments, everyone often thinks of popular cryptocurrencies. However, there are many other popular tokens that are valuable and have gained a large community members who want to use them for crypto payments. One such token is Radio Caca's native token: $RACA. According to twitter of NOWPayments, NOWPayments as the Cryptocurrency Payment Gateway supports Radio Caca's native token $RACA for use in multiple scenarios such as payments to e-commerce merchants, salaries for cryptocurrency-savvy employees and donations for charitable organizations. NowPayments and Radio Caca (RACA) both announced that they have built a partnership with NOWPayments to enable merchants to accept $RACA as a crypto payment method. About Radio Caca Radio Caca is a decentralized organization (DAO) operated by internet native individuals across the globe who share a single vision of building a brave new virtual world. Radio Caca has a native token (ticker: $RACA) and is currently deployed on Ethereum, Solana, OKExChain and Binance Smart Chain (BSC). Radio Caca is the exclusive manager of Maye Musk Mystery Box (MPB) NFT. $RACA is the native token for the popular blockchain game Metamon Island and is currency used in the United States of Mars (USM) Metaverse. The USM is a 3D planet virtual world where users can own lands, build buildings such as stores, venues and art galleries, attend virtual concerts, socialize, create and play games. With a Google-Earth-like UX, users will be able to dynamically zoom in and out and travel around the 3D virtual planet, a first-ever feature of the Metaverse. Partnerships & Eco-friendly Mission Currently, Radio Caca has developed partnerships with celebrities, prestigious universities and critically acclaimed music artists. Recently, Radio Caca and the Blockchain at the University of Southern California (USC) partnered to construct an eco-friendly ceremony system within the USM Metaverse that heals the planet by contributing a portion of event proceeds to purchasing carbon offset credits. A cooperation has also formed between Radio Caca and the University of Cambridge Blockchain Society to build the Metaverse education system, to empower education reform, and promote the implementation of educational equity. $RACA as a payment option opens up many use cases and will help develop more partnerships in the future. Story continues NOWPayments NOWPayments focuses on cryptocurrency payments and offers easy cryptocurrency platform integrations for online businesses, allowing instant withdrawals and an auto coin conversion service. Merchants can choose to accept their preferred tokens no matter what cryptocurrency customers pay with - NOWPayments will automatically convert them. NOWPayments is a non-custodial service, meaning it does not hold or store your funds in any way. NOWPanyments supports more than 50 cryptocurrencies and offers low transaction fees while providing multiple tools for merchants such as: API, Invoices, Donation Widgets, Buttons, and plugins for WooCommerce, ZenCart, PrestaShop, Opencart, WHMCS, Magento 2, and more. NOWPayments believes that all cryptocurrencies are created equally, as Radio Caca. Some cryptocurrencies were created to serve as an alternative to fiat currencies. Others serve as tokens on a blockchain that provides services and new solutions. The acceptance of $RACA on NOWPayments enables your website, online store or even a Twitch channel to receive $RACA as payment. Social Media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/RadioCacaNFT Medium: https://radiocaca.medium.com/ Telegram: https://t.me/RadioCaca Media Contact Company Name: RADIO CACA FOUNDATION LTD. Contact Person: Mike Radio Email: mike@radiocaca.com Website URL: https://www.radiocaca.com/ Address: 3 Fraser Street, #05-25, Duo Tower, Singapore, 189352 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/111222 Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ASX:ERA) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 11% in the last month. But over the last half decade, the stock has not performed well. After all, the share price is down 51% in that time, significantly under-performing the market. Given the past week has been tough on shareholders, let's investigate the fundamentals and see what we can learn. Check out our latest analysis for Energy Resources of Australia Given that Energy Resources of Australia didn't make a profit in the last twelve months, we'll focus on revenue growth to form a quick view of its business development. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth. In the last five years Energy Resources of Australia saw its revenue shrink by 9.2% per year. That's definitely a weaker result than most pre-profit companies report. Arguably, the market has responded appropriately to this business performance by sending the share price down 9% (annualized) in the same time period. It's fair to say most investors don't like to invest in loss making companies with falling revenue. This looks like a really risky stock to buy, at a glance. The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). Take a more thorough look at Energy Resources of Australia's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet. What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)? We've already covered Energy Resources of Australia's share price action, but we should also mention its total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Energy Resources of Australia's TSR of was a loss of 33% for the 5 years. That wasn't as bad as its share price return, because it has paid dividends. Story continues A Different Perspective We're pleased to report that Energy Resources of Australia shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 44% over one year. There's no doubt those recent returns are much better than the TSR loss of 6% per year over five years. We generally put more weight on the long term performance over the short term, but the recent improvement could hint at a (positive) inflection point within the business. Shareholders might want to examine this detailed historical graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. Of course Energy Resources of Australia may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on AU exchanges. 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. At 54 years of age, martial artist, sitcom actor, comedian, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) pundit, psychedelics advocate and eat-what-you-kill moose hunter Joe Rogan finds himself the biggest podcaster in the world - and an increasingly divisive figure. The Joe Rogan Experience, a meandering discussion show interrogating conspiracy theories and blending libertarian political chat with celebrity interviews, was named Spotifys most-heard podcast of 2021, a little over a year after the host signed an exclusive $100m (82m) deal with the audio streaming giant. Leaked data acquired by Business Insider last summer revealed that the podcast accounted for 4.5 per cent of all shows heard on the platform during its debut month of September 2020, cornering 14.9m hours of total global listening time. A spokesperson for the service said The Joe Rogan Experience had been its number one podcast every month since and that its audience had only grown in the interim - and the show was already a huge hit beforehand, its bullet-headed host claiming a whopping 190m downloads per month during an interview with Aubrey Marcus in April 2019. The calibre of Rogans guests is a central reason for the pods popularity, welcoming everyone from a famously-stoned Elon Musk to Kanye West, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Lance Armstrong, Mike Tyson, Jack Dorsey, Dave Chapelle, Kevin Hart, Miley Cyrus, Matthew McConaughey and Edward Snowden. Whether he is in conversation with renegade scholars about astrophysics, ancient civilisations, drugs, survivalism or scientology, joshing with raconteur friends like Uncle Joey Diaz or Duncan Trussell or, more controversially, hearing out right-wing denizens of the intellectual dark web like Alex Jones, Jordan Peterson, Ben Shapiro and Milo Yiannopoulos, Rogan offers everybody an equal opportunity to state their case without being shouted down, for better or worse. That is no small gesture in a tangled American media ecosystem so often defined by poisonous hostility and confrontation in post-Trump 2022. Story continues But The Joe Rogan Experiences transfer to Spotify has coincided with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and seen the broadcaster entertain even more dubious and potentially harmful propositions than usual. Most recently, a New Years Eve episode in which his guest Dr Robert Malone likened contemporary American society to that of Nazi Germany in the 1930s and espoused the theory that mass formation psychosis was leading people to accept Covid-19 vaccines without question was taken down by YouTube but is still live on Spotify. That has prompted 270 scientists and members of the medical community to write an open letter to the company saying that Rogan allowing Malones claims to pass unchecked could damage public trust in scientific research and sow doubt in the credibility of data-driven guidance offered by medical professionals. The letter continues: This is not only a scientific or medical concern; it is a sociological issue of devastating proportions and Spotify is responsible for allowing this activity to thrive on its platform. The Independent has contacted Spotify for comment. This is hardly the first time Rogan has courted controversy during the Covid era. He caused a major storm in April last year when he suggested on air that healthy young people do not need to get a vaccine, earning him a rebuke from Dr Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to US president Joe Biden, and forcing him to backtrack and insist: Im not an anti-vax person. Im not a doctor, he continued. Im a f***ing moron and Im a cage fighting commentator whos a dirty stand-up comedian. We just told you Im drunk most of the time and I do testosterone and I smoke a lot of weed. But Im not a respected source of information even for me! While that disclaimer largely shrugged off responsibility for his considerable influence, Rogan did, to his credit, subsequently invite Dr Rhonda Patrick back onto the show to explicitly debunk prevalent vaccine-denier falsehoods. I really appreciate that Joe is willing to have conversations with people with whom he disagrees and that hes respectful in his discussions. Its refreshing! one YouTube commenter wrote beneath a clip of their exchange, as clear an insight into his appeal as you could wish for. Rogan has since raised eyebrows by suggesting that ID cards containing proof of vaccination status take America one step closer to dictatorship and by announcing that he had taken ivermectin, a deworming medicine also used to treat livestock, when he himself contracted Covid in September, subsequently attacking CNNs chief medical correspondent Dr Sanjay Gupta over the networks coverage of his actions. The ivermectin spat even earned him a telling off from celebrated shock jock Howard Stern, the provocative American radio host and perhaps Rogans most obvious forerunner. Recent appearances by Dr Peter McCullough and the aforementioned Dr Malone, two men with a track-record of pushing improbable theories concerning the pandemic and its origins, have raised further questions about how Rogan wields his power, given the immense popularity of his show. The host has come a long way since he first launched The Joe Rogan Experience with friend Brian Redban way back on Christmas Eve 2009. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, in August 1967 and is of Italian-Irish stock, his parents separating when he was a child and Rogan subsequently relocating with his mother first to San Francisco, California, then to Gainesville, Florida, and finally to suburban Boston, Massachusetts, as a teenager. Speaking to Rolling Stones Erik Hedegaard in 2015, Rogan remembered his policeman father as a very violent, very scary guy, who, the host contends, would have turned his son into a psychopath had he continued to play a role in raising him, hence the adult Rogans decision never to seek to re-establish contact. The podcaster describes suffering from an unshakeable sense of alienation as a youth, despite never wanting for friends, and took up first karate and then taekwondo after a humiliating encounter with a bully in high school, which prompted him to vow never to be unable to defend himself again. I was terrified of being a loser, he told Rolling Stone. Superterrified of being someone who people just go, Oh, look at that f***ing loser. You know? I was always thinking that the other kids were going to turn on me at any moment. I was weird. I just f***ing drifted. By the time he retired from competitive martial arts at 21 for a brief stint at Boston University, Rogan had won the US Open Championship taekwondo tournament as a lightweight and been full-contact state champion for four consecutive years, also instructing others in the discipline. Persuaded by friends to try his hand at stand-up comedy, Rogan took to the stage at the notorious Stitches club in Boston in 1988, enjoyed it and commenced a career as a comic, taking inspiration from the likes of Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks and Sam Kinnison, betraying a taste for convention-baiting even then. His brash, incredulous, wild-eyed stage persona, tackling subjects from Bigfoot to self-satisfied vegans and the inherent weirdness of attempting to enact the role of human being on a vast rock hurtling through infinity, is a world away from the relaxed manner he adopts during his podcast recordings, sat back in a Cypress Hill T-shirt against a brick wall bearing pictures of Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix. Taking odd jobs to make ends meet - delivering newspapers, working as a chauffeur for a private eye who had forfeited his driving licence - Rogan eventually moved to New York City and then Los Angeles in the early 1990s in order to fully commit to a career at the mic, attracting notice with a set on MTVs Half-Hour Comedy Hour. That led to him winning the lead in the nine-episode Fox baseball sitcom Hardball in 1994 and, in turn, a regular role in NBCs NewsRadio between 1995-1999, on which he replaced Ray Romano and befriended the tragic but great sketch comic Phil Hartman, who would later be murdered by the wife whom Rogan says he advised his friend to leave. His passion for martial arts made him a natural for UFC punditry - although he initially resisted the industrys overtures, preferring to watch the bouts from the stands in peace - before eventually taking a job as a backstage interviewer in 1997 and moving on to become a colour commentator, where his flare for verbal invention made him an instant hit. Joe Rogan serving as a ring announcer at a UFC bout in Las Vegas, Nevada, last summer (Getty) Thereafter, he set up his own blog at the turn of the millennium, Joe.Rogan.net, foreseeing the potential of the web as a forum for mass communication, and presented the gross out game show Fear Factor on NBC between 2001 and 2006. Retraining his focus on stand-up, Rogan went viral in 2007 when a video of him confronting fellow comic Carlos Mencia at The Comedy Store in Hollywood over a stolen joke began to circulate, an incident that saw him banned from the venue and dropped by his agents but which won respect from his fellow professionals. Then came the podcast, with Rogan again proving himself to be ahead of the curve by daring to try something new and embarking on what would become the defining project of his eccentric and itinerant career. Thirteen years on, there are more than 1,760 episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience out there, with three more landing every week, each one commonly more than two hours in length, rendering it near-impossible to become a completist - or even find an entry point for the uninitiated. The hosts curiosity about his guests often oddball positions is never less than sincere and he does not usually allow nonsense to go unchallenged, frequently getting into heated debates with interviewees, memorably sparring with jiu jitsu flat-earther Eddie Bravo, for instance, or with Candace Owens over a flip remark she made about not believing in climate change. However, the Dr Malone affair suggests he does not always go far enough. Writing about that episode, The Independent columnist Noah Berlatsky took the broadcaster to task for abusing the misplaced trust he enjoys from his fans, saying: Rogans audience is a mix of people who distrust establishment media, people who distrust the left, and people who seek out alternative, scientifically unproven health advice. Not surprisingly, this is a perfect stew for disinformation about a public health crisis that has been intensely politicised by reactionaries. Before the pandemic, Devin Gordon of The Atlantic also sought to pin down the essence of Rogans appeal, particularly among men, and defined his principal audience as: Guys who get barbed-wire tattoos and fill their fridge with Monster energy drinks and pre-ordered their tickets to see Hobbs & Shaw. Making a point of sampling the mushroom coffee and other supplements Rogan advertises on his show, Gordon is reasonably sympathetic and writes: The hard truth for some of Rogans critics in the media is that he is much better at captivating audiences than most of us, because he has the patience and the generosity to let his interviews be an experience rather than an inquisition. He is a tireless optimist, Gordon argues, as well as driven, inexhaustible, and an honest-to-goodness autodidact but carries the fatal weakness of showing too much compassion for bad actors. The democratic value of making his considerable platform available to the likes of such pseudo-intellectual provocateurs-for-pay and division-stokers as Jones, Peterson, Shapiro, Yiannopoulos and Owens is not a given, even if his intentions are honourable. While Rogan does not identify as a Republican and resists political labels, he certainly shares some of the rights anxieties about the shifting role of traditional masculinity in the 21st century, recently ranting somewhat hysterically that: You can never be woke enough, thats the problem. It keeps going. It keeps going further and further and further down the line and if you get to the point where you capitulate, where you agree to all these demands, itll eventually get to straight white men are not allowed to talk. Heated opposition to wokeness and cancel culture is actually a relatively conventional stance among conservative-leaning comedians, who see both phenomena as antithetical to the radical free speech most comics endorse for the sake of their livelihoods. But is Rogan conservative-leaning? His refusal to overtly align with either side of the aisle permits him space to pursue pet issues like the above, cannabis legalisation or gun rights without being committed to any one set-menu ideology. However, it can also look like plain indecision on his part. He briefly endorsed Democratic outsider Tulsi Gabbard for president in 2020, before changing horses and opting for Bernie Sanders, only to ultimately cast his vote for Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen, all the while promoting baseless Trumpian lines questioning Bidens mental fitness for the Oval Office given his advanced years. Since Bidens inauguration, he has continued to dabble, recently advising Michelle Obama to run for the Democratic nomination in 2024, despite the former first ladys stated resistance to seeking political office, and joining Gettr, a new right-wing alternative to Twitter founded by Donald Trumps former campaign manager Jason Miller, seemingly a protest against populist congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greenes exile from mainstream social media. Anti-fascist podcaster Jim Stewartson has gone so far as to brand Rogan Steve Bannons gimp, getting himself booted off Twitter temporarily for his trouble, but that is surely too reductive and unfair to the man. Perhaps the hosts own explanation of the impact psychedelic drugs have had on shaping his psyche and singular social outlook is the real key to his character. You know what you figure out in the middle of a trip? he asked Rolling Stone. That all these assumptions and preconceived notions of who you are, theyre all bulls***. Youre just an organism who is trying to find normalcy by repeating patterns. Joe Rogan is not interested in even trying to be consistent because he is smart enough to know that allowing ones opinions to become set in stone means an end to personal growth, a death of sorts, and so keeps his mind open at all times, unafraid to take soundings from all quarters, always prepared to be convinced and never shutting himself off from the possibility of new horizons and new ideas, however absurd. Learn, learn, learn, ladies and gentlemen, he tells his audience. Thats what Im getting out of this. I think its very important to continue to challenge your mind. Which is more than fine, but perhaps a little more discrimination here and there wouldnt hurt. MADISON Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan is asking the U.S. attorney general to investigate 10 Wisconsin Republicans who met in the weeks following the 2020 election and submitted paperwork to federal officials that falsely claimed Donald Trump defeated Joe Biden. Pocan's letter comes days after a Milwaukee County prosecutor said Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul is best suited to investigate the matter. Kaul has not said whether he will. "With less than one year remaining before the next federal elections, it is imperative that the Department of Justice act on this matter to deter other officials who may seek to engage in election fraud," Pocan wrote in a Friday letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for an interview. Subscribe to our On Wisconsin Politics newsletter for the week's political news explained. On Dec. 14, 2020, Republicans secretly gathered in the state Capitol to sign formal-looking paperwork that purported they were the state's 10 electors. They signed official-looking documents stating Trump had won even though the state Supreme Court had ruled just an hour earlier that Biden was the victor. They sent the material to the U.S. Senate, the National Archives, Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette and a federal judge. "I had to put it in a drawer someplace. It's still somewhere hidden away I suppose," La Follette said. Attorney Jeff Mandell of Law Forward, a nonprofit law firm focused on redistricting and election litigation, said in a news conference Thursday that he obtained a copy of the envelope the Republicans used to submit the paperwork that showed the group mailed the documents two days after the court ruling. "Not only did they do this on the 14th, but then they had two full more days of news and information before they made the deliberate decision to submit these documents," Mandell said Thursday. Story continues More: Immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera sues over GOP election review after receiving a subpoena More: Gableman subpoenas voting machine companies in 2020 review Mandell filed complaints a year ago in the matter with Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm's office and the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Mandell represents the state arm of the Service Employees International Union. Mandell's legal group was created in the runup to the 2020 election amid false claims of expected voter fraud by former President Donald Trump. Republicans have defended the move to submit elector paperwork despite Biden's win, saying their decision to submit the paperwork was based on advice from election attorneys in case the election outcome was challenged in the future. Former state Rep. Adam Jarchow of Balsam Lake, who is running in the GOP primary for attorney general, said he would not investigate the matter if elected. "What they were doing there, as I understand it, was that they were employing a long-standing legal strategy under the advice of election lawyers to make sure that they preserve standing to object in the future if they wanted to," Jarchow said Thursday. Pocan seeks an investigation of former Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Andrew Hitt, Wisconsin Elections Commissioner Robert Spindell and GOP party officials Kelly Ruh, Carol Brunner, Edward Scott Grabins, Bill Feehan, Kathy Kiernan, Darryl Carlson, Pam Travis and Mary Buestrin. Hitt is on Jarchow's campaign advisory te The U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, breaching of the U.S. Capitol has received copies of false electors paperwork from Republicans in some states, according to Politico. La Follette said he has not heard from the committee. The attorneys general of Michigan and New Mexico have asked federal prosecutors to investigate the matter. Contact Molly Beck at molly.beck@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck. 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: Mark Pocan asks Merrick Garland to investigate GOP's fake electors TORONTO, Jan. 23, 2022 /CNW/ - The 2022 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference kicks off Monday, January 24, with nearly 1,000 participants expected to take part in the online event. 2022 ROMA Conference launches tomorrow, Monday January 24. (CNW Group/Rural Ontario Municipal Association) This year's conference will be one of the last major gatherings of provincial and municipal leaders before the provincial election. The conference provides an opportunity to ensure community needs are understood and addressed in provincial policy platforms before Ontarians go to the polls in June. Themed Rural Opportunities, the conference includes the launch of the ROMA Board of Director's growth and recovery plan for action: Opportunities for Rural Ontario in a Post-COVID World. The ROMA Board commissioned Kathy Wood, CEO of Pivotal Momentum Inc. to develop a plan to foster rural resilience and rethink the role of rural communities in the economic and social vitality of the province. The ROMA conference will offer plenary sessions, workshops, keynote speakers and learning opportunities that reflect the broad scope of municipal responsibilities. Key topics relate to rural housing, community safety and wellbeing, rural and Northern health, and timely issues such as climate change. A full program is available online. Conference highlight for Monday, January 24, include: Premier Doug Ford Andrea Horwath, Leader of the Ontario NDP Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark Robin Jones, Chair of ROMA Jamie McGarvey, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Chief Perry Bellegarde, Former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, discussing how municipalities can best work with Indigenous communities in a conversation with Nam Kiwanuka of TVO's The Agenda . A forum where Ontario Ministers will take questions from municipal delegates related to health and social services for rural communities in a post-COVID world. Members of the media are asked to register ahead of the conference for full access by contacting Megan Abraham, at abraham@redbrick.ca. Story continues About ROMA ROMA takes pride in promoting, supporting and enhancing strong and effective rural governments. About 270 of Ontario's 444 municipalities have populations of less than 10,000, while scores more are rural in character. The rural arm of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, ROMA advocates for policies and programs that will help build thriving rural Ontario communities. Follow ROMA on Twitter: @ROMA_Ont Conference hashtag: #ROMA2022 SOURCE Rural Ontario Municipal Association Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2022/23/c8403.html By Azernews By Vafa Ismayilova Azerbaijan and Iran have discussed the implementation of joint military projects, a source at the Azerbaijani embassy in Iran has reported. Azerbaijani ambassador to Iran Ali Alizada met Iran's Defence and Armed Forces Logistics Minister Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani. During the meeting, the officials stressed that the Azerbaijani and Iranian presidents emphasized the importance of bilateral relations and praised the two countries' close ties. They also emphasized the importance of Azerbaijan and Iran continuing their cooperation in all areas as friendly and close neighbors. They discussed military and military-technical cooperation. The parties also discussed the prospects for strengthening effective cooperation, such as the organization of mutual visits and the expansion of information exchange. It should be noted that after a period of aggravated tensions and a series of regrettable episodes that should have been avoided, Azerbaijani-Iranian relations entered a new age of rapprochement in late 2021. Iran was one of the 10 signatories of the final declaration of the 15th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) which, amongst many other clauses, incorporated a congratulatory part dedicated to Azerbaijans victory in the 2020 war and the restoration of its territorial integrity. On top of that, a new gas swap deal was signed by Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Iran, which is perceived as another indication that the recent political rupture has been left behind. On November 28, 2021, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan signed a trilateral agreement on swapping gas supplies in Ashgabat. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi. The agreement envisages deliveries of 1.5 to 2 billion cubic meters of gas each year, with Turkmenistan supplying gas to Iran and Iran delivering an equal quantity of gas to Azerbaijan. Thus, under the trilateral deal, Turkmenistan will sell 5-6 million cubic meters of gas per day to Azerbaijan. These volumes are expected to increase in the future. Deezer CEO Hans-Holger Albrecht poses for a photograph in the Deezer office in London STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Swedish audiobook streaming group Storytel has proposed Hans-Holger Albrecht as new chairman after Stefan Blom decided to step down, it said late on Thursday. Albrecht, 58, has held several top positions in the media industry, including in music streaming service Deezer, telecoms operator Millicom and e-sports and gaming firm MTG. Storytel, which has 1.8 million subscribers in over 25 markets with around 700,000 titles globally, said in November it had agreed to buy Audiobooks.com, marking its entry into the U.S. market. "Hans-Holger Albrecht has a strong track record inthe media industry as well as proven experience from international expansion," Lars Bergkvist, chairman of the Nomination Committee, said in a statement. Blom said that with the acquisition of Audiobooks.com a "new chapter" had begun for Storytel, in which private equity firm EQT owns a 9.7% stake. "After considering my overall portfolio, I have decided tostep down from this role to leave more room for my other engagements," he said. (Reporting by Helena Soderpalm; Editing by Simon Johnson) Jim Mann began his journalism career at 10, delivering newspapers for The Free LanceStar in the Fredericksburg neighborhood where he lived. His duties included placing a paper in a basket at the home of longtime FLS publisher and owner Josiah P. Rowe III. Life took Mann off to college in Iowa and into the war zone of Vietnam. But he eventually returned to a career at The Free LanceStar that saw him rise from reporter to assistant managing editor and gain a family of lifelong friends at the paper and throughout the community. James Arthur Mann completed the final chapter of his life Jan. 16. He was 79. The one thing that connected all of his stages of his life was always publishing and writing about people, said Manns son, Geoff. Born March 11, 1942, in Washington, D.C., Mann moved with his parents, Arthur Newton Mann and Hazel Marie Dunnington, in 1950 to a home they built on Winchester Street, where Jim would grow up and later raise his own family with his wife, Mary. Mann attended James Monroe High School, where he served as class president and also ran an underground newspaper, The Sea-Gull Journal. Mann studied political science and journalism at the University of Iowa. He joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps, entered the Army as a second lieutenant and served three years active duty, including deployment to Vietnam as a member of the 128th Assault Helicopter Company. The stories he eventually shared about his adventures as The Cheerios Kid, flying Hueys with more bullet holes than the maintenance officers could accurately count, explained why he was honored with the two Distinguished Flying Cross awards within a three-month period. Eleven years after returning from Vietnam, he returned to fly a helicopter for the Virginia Army National Guard in Richmond. While on active duty, Mann compiled and printed a regular newspaper called Smoke Signal and maintained his connection with the FLS as a correspondent on the Vietnam War. He officially returned to the FLS in 1969, where he spent the rest of his career, except for a brief hiatus to start the Billingsley Printing business with his brother Tom in 1974. Mann served as a reporter, photographer, designer and eventually assistant managing editor before he retired in 2004. He met his wife, Mary, at the newspaper while she was working on a summer edition of the Mary Washington College student paper. They were married for 52 years and had three children: Geoff, Emily and Zephyr. When Mary gave up her career to care for the family, Mann hung her photography awards front and center in his officeright next to an autographed photo of Don Knotts as Deputy Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show series Mann loved. Manns office was the go-to place for newsroom staff needing to vent, pitch a story or even solve a personal problem. I remember countless times where I went into Jims office to complain about something or other and he would listen quietly, while nodding along, said Maria Carrillo, a former local news editor at the FLS. And then he would turn the conversation to a story about his kids or Mary or his mother-in-lawsomething that had absolutely nothing to do with what I was complaining about. But before too long, I had forgotten why I had come into his office or what I was upset about. It was brilliant. Longtime FLS colleague Laura Moyer remembers the lesson she learned from Mann when she wrote a story about a couple who got married after reuniting at a friends funeral. Jim read the draft and said I had to warn the [friends] mother, Moyer said. She couldnt be blindsided. It just wasnt fair. Calling the bereaved mother was the last thing Moyer wanted to do. So Mann offered to call her instead, and the mother was honored that her sons memory played a role in the couples happiness. He didnt just tell me how to be a better journalist, he showed me, Moyer said. Reporters who were having a hard day often returned to the newsroom to find Carls ice cream on their desk, courtesy of Mann. Reporter Kristin Davis once discovered the back end of her car had been smashed in the FLS parking lot while she was in the newsroom. No one fessed up, but Mann meticulously measured the damage, determined that a circulation truck was responsible and convinced the company to fix the car. He personally saw to it that the vehicle went to a quality repair shop and was restored appropriately. I will forever remember how he came to my rescue when he didnt have to, and how kind and steadfast he was, Davis said. Mann was never ruffled, even on a deadline. When presented a problem, the most discontent he showed was an eye roll and a woh, boy!which usually made the crisis of the moment seem funny. Jim was the soul of the newsroom, said retired FLS Editor-in-Chief Ed Jones. He not only had this commitment to tell-it-like-it-is journalism, he also had a manner about him that was so infused with kindness. In 2005, Jim received the Virginia Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists highest honor, the George Mason Award; but used his acceptance speech to highlight the stories of others he enjoyed editing and reading. The fun-loving, easygoing Mann loved telling stories, whether in writing or around the table. He often wrote of Mayberry as an American ideal and loved Emily Dickinsons poetry. He briefly owned a hearse as a personal vehicle he loved to drive around town. After reading about Gulf War soldiers using condoms to protect their rifles from sand, Mann collected more than 1,000 weapon protectors to hand out as party favors at the Virginia Army National Guard convention. He labeled them with sizes to distribute in accordance with military rank and position of those in attendance. He was never afraid to come up with an idea, follow through on it and spread positivity into the world, said Manns daughter, Emily. He was a longtime volunteer for Boy Scout Troop 170 and a member and a fixture at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, where he and another legacy member cared for the bell tower. They affectionately called themselves the Grand Ding-a-Lings, and Mann ensured that any kid who wanted to ride the bell tower rope had the opportunity to do so. Mann is survived by his wife, Mary of Fredericksburg, three children, Geoff (Becky) of Henrico, Emily (Steve) of Hanover and Zephyr (Erin) of Richmond; eight grandchildren: Theo, Jackson, Ellie, Josie, Liliana, Gunner, Ginna and Vanessa; a brother, Tom Mann of Fredericksburg; a sister, Jane Patton of Florida (Charlie); and nieces Lisa Randall (Chuck), Aude and CoCo. A viewing will be held at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service from 68 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27. The funeral is scheduled Friday, Jan. 28, at 12:30 p.m. at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, with interment following at Oak Hill Cemetery. A reception will be held at 3 p.m. A Mass will be held Monday, Jan. 31, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church. Hopes for a state park in Culpeper County have leapt forward with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin proposing to spend $4.93 million to acquire more than 1,700 acres for the preserve. The new chief executive included the sum in his package of initiatives and amendments to the commonwealths budget, which he delivered to the General Assembly late Friday. The park would include parts of two Civil War battlefields and a ridge-top Union army camp. It would encompass 1,700 publicly accessible acres, enhanced with another 4,000 acres held in conservation easements on private land. The proposal, discussed in Richmond and the Northern Piedmont for nearly seven years, would preserve nationally significant historic sites and create recreational opportunities for an area of Virginia that lacks such amenities. State Sen. Bryce Reeves, RSpotsylvania, persuaded Youngkin to include the park proposal in his changes to former Gov. Ralph Northams spending plan for fiscal 2023. The governors amendment says the funding provides for the purchase of land to create a new state park in Culpeper County that will have multiple recreational and educational opportunities. Gary Deal, chairman of the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors, said Saturday that he is very excited about Youngkins backing for the park. Gov. Youngkins support brings renewed optimism to the Culpeper Battlefield State Park initiative, Deal said. With over 1,700 acres of preserved lands, residents and visitors alike will have access to heritage tourism, education and recreation. Culpeper is full of rich history, and it is my hope that the state park will shine light on multiple perspectives in which all voices are heard. This budget amendment is a crucial step in moving forward, and I am grateful to the longstanding support of Sen. Reeves, the American Battlefield Trust, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Culpeper Tourism and all the donors who helped protect these lands for all to enjoy. Virginia would buy the acreage from the national nonprofit American Battlefield Trust, which preserves sites from the Civil War, American Revolution and War of 1812. The trust began working in the late 1980s to protect ground where the Battle of Brandy Station was waged in 1863, opening Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lees Gettysburg Campaign. It also owns land where 1862s Battle of Cedar Mountain was fought, the only engagement in which Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson brandished his saber. Also to be preserved is woodland atop Hansbroughs Ridge near Stevensburg, where 12,000 Union soldiers spent the bone-chilling winter of 186364 before armies led by Grant and Lee first clashed, in the Battle of the Wilderness. Paige Read, a local official who promotes Culpepers tourism and economic development, was delighted by the governors action. This is welcome news, coming after a decades-long effort by the American Battlefield Trust and its many partners, Read said. Its a big win for our region. Culpeper is part of a Piedmont region that is underserved by the state park system, she noted, as the states own recreation studies have shown. I am very excited about this support from Gov. Youngkin, Read said. The park would provide easy access to recreation and heritage, bringing it closer to home for residents of Culpeper and the region, as well as visitors. The notion has been gathering steam since 2015, promoted by a diverse coalition of local, state and national groups called the Brandy Station & Cedar Mountain State Park Alliance, which became the Friends of Culpeper Battlefields in 2000. A feasibility study was positive about the parks prospects. The Culpeper County Board of Supervisors and the Culpeper Town Council endorsed the proposal in early 2016. The Virginia Association for Parks also urged state officials and lawmakers to create the park, calling it a breathtaking, positive opportunity for the commonwealth. In an interview Saturday, Reeves said Culpeper is the ideal location for Virginias next state park. The former Army Ranger feels passionately about American battlefields and the knowledge they can impart, in a way that nothing else can, he said. These sites really are national treasures, where people can visit and look, learn what happened and try to understand the causation of a war that had brothers fighting brothers, said the GOP candidate for Virginias 7th Congressional District. Once these sites are gone, you cant bring them back. We have to preserve our history so we can learn from it and figure out, How did we get here? the former Army Ranger said. We dont want to repeat our mistakes. For U.S. service members, battlefields such as Chancellorsville, Gettysburg or Brandy Station are invaluable training grounds, where soldiers can learn crucial lessons without having to learn from their mistakes, after stepping on foreign soil, he said. Reeves worked with Youngkins team to craft the budget amendment submitted to the legislature on Friday. Culpepers battlefields are among the most pristine and historic in the nation, Battlefield Trust President David Duncan said in a statement. Transforming this landscape into a state park will produce a heritage tourism destination in the heart of Virginias Piedmont, with educational, recreational, and economic opportunities that will benefit visitors and local residents alike. With Virginias marketing muscle drawing more attention to Culpeper, a feasibility study has estimated the park could attract roughly 7,000 visitors in its first year, north of 100,000 people by its second year and, potentially, 200,000 after five years, Read said. Other studies show that state-park visitors, as well as heritage-tourism visitors, pump money into local economies. They spend their dollars on park activities, recreational facilities, plus food, lodging, retail and services in the community, the former Virginia Tourism Corp. official said. In year one of the parks existence, Culpeper could see $1.77 million in additional tax revenue, and up to $4.72 million in year three, Read said. Keith Price, an Army veteran and former town councilman who leads Culpepers Veterans of Foreign Wars post, was enthusiastic about the prospect. It is extremely encouraging to learn that Gov. Youngkin is proposing several million dollars toward the creation of a new state park in Culpeper County oriented on the Cedar Mountain and Brandy Station battlefields, Price said. This idea has been in the works for several years with only modest progress so far, and it is great to learn there is finally some state-level funding going toward it. The state park would not only be an economic boost for Culpeper by drawing more visitors to the county, but would also bring an increased spotlight to Culpepers incredibly rich history, Price said. This is great news, and I hope the forward momentum toward making the park a reality continues. Longtime Culpeper attorney Bob Hudson said the park would benefit the county. I am most proud of Culpeper Countys history, as a native son and with family here continuously since 1743, Hudson said. I believe Culpepers historic resources require greater recognition. The new budget proposal validates that belief. Virginia historian Clark B. Hall, a Culpeper resident considered the leading authority on the countys Civil War history, said he was gratified the park may soon be on the horizon. The preservationist has fought to save Culpepers wartime sites from development since the 1980s. On a personal level, I am deeply grateful for the persistent, steady and strategic leadership provided by the American Battlefield Trust, Hall said. Especially, we clearly owe a deep debt of gratitude to Gov. Glenn Youngkin and his marvelous staff as they advance legislation to create a state park in Culpeper. We certainly wish them well, as Culpeper County, its citizens and recognition of our countys extraordinary and unequaled Civil War experience will greatly benefit from their dedicated labors. Diane Logan, president of the Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield, stewards of that battlefield in southwestern Culpeper County, was also pleased by the news. FoCMB is excited to learn of the renewed interest in the historic preservation and interpretation of the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Logan said. We will follow the process with interest as it moves forward. During the Civil War, Culpepers location between the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers made it strategically important to the Confederate and Union armies, the trust said. When Union troops advanced into the area, thousands of enslaved people escaped bondage, crossed Culpepers rivers and headed north to freedom. Some returned as free men to fight for their country on this very soil, the trust said.United States Colored Troops first crossed into Gen. Robert E. Lees turf through Culpeper as Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant launched his game-changing Overland Campaign in 1864. A bill filed in the Virginia House of Delegates this week would ban abortions after 20 weeks of gestation except in cases where the pregnant woman is at risk of death or "substantial and irreversible" damage to her health. The legislation has a formidable chance of becoming law in a state where Republicans now control the House and the Executive Mansion, and Democrats hold a slim, 21-19 edge in the Senate. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who took office last week, said during his campaign that he would support banning abortion at the point when a fetus can feel pain - which other states with similar bans have defined as 20 weeks. Youngkin supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest or when the mothers life is in jeopardy. On Friday, Youngkin tweeted support for the annual anti-abortion rally, the "March for Life," taking place in Washington, D.C. "I stand with the thousands in attendance at the 49th @March_for_life! I proudly stand up for the unborn and their mothers," Youngkin tweeted. The bill now before the House, named the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act," was filed by Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper. The bill bans abortions at the halfway point of pregnancy, unless the procedure is necessary to prevent the woman's death, or "substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function." If the bill becomes law, doctors and nurse practitioners performing the procedure would be required to do it in a way that would "provide the unborn child the best opportunity to survive." Health care professionals who perform the abortion in violation of the proposed law would be subject to a class 6 felony, which is punishable by up to five years in jail and a $2,500 fine. They could also face civil lawsuits from the pregnant woman or the father of the fetus. The Senate is not up for election until 2023. One of the Democrats, Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, sided with Republicans on a significant abortion vote in 2020. Then-Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, a Democrat, broke the tie, quashing the bill. Now, Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears holds the tie-breaking vote. She voiced opposition to abortions during her campaign for office. This is a developing story. A LOT OF FOLKS arent feeling so privileged these days. Maybe they could have it worse, but they know they could have it a whole lot better. Thats become a weathered narrative, playing in mainstream media every day. Overlooked voters are working harder than their parents did with less to show for it. Good paying jobs are just what you see on The Bachelorette, in a pretend universe that doesnt represent real America. Its billionaires who get headlines, not people working full-time for $28,000 a year. Time to end the narrative. It isnt true, and it just makes it easier for Republicans, who fail to deliver, to encourage resentment by telling falsehoods about Democratic policy. How do we know it isnt true? Because theres a Democrat making it very plain, with everything he says and does, that he hasnt forgotten those folks. He grew up in Scranton, Pa., in a country very different from the one he now leads, and he understands how a lot of folks arent feeling so privileged. Its President Joe Biden who, in just his first year in office, has delivered more for working people than any administration has in over 50 years. If what you want from the president is a roaring economy, this one has delivered and then some. The numbers are dazzling and too many to list in their entirety, so just take a quick look: Unemployment dropped from 6.3 percent to 4.2 percent, with 6 million jobs added GDP growth best since 1984 99 percent of schools are open, up from 46 percent this time last year Holiday sales rose 10.7 percent above pre-pandemic levels, the fastest increase in 17 years Shelves stocked at 90 percent (pre-pandemic, 91 percent) Gas prices down 25 cents a gallon in many places Its a list of achievements unimaginable a year ago. Its so comprehensive, where hasnt he delivered? But he hasnt passed Build Back Better (BBB), the bill supported by the majority of Americans. BBB would provide support for long-term care, expand Medicare to include hearing aids, provide investments in housing, clean energy, and clean energy jobs, increase affordable childcare and provide universal preK, and support working families by lowering the cost of healthcare and higher education, and by expanding the child tax credit. It hasnt passed because, to put it bluntly, Republicans in the United States Senate dont want working families to have nice things. If they did, this bill would already have been signed into law. But Republicans in the United States Senate dont mind if people with hearing loss arent able to afford hearing aids. Its OK with them that children are denied preK, which increases graduation rates and future earnings. They will not lift a finger to help working families who pay too much for childcare, or stop working families from going under when an older family member needs long-term care. They dont want working families to have greater access to affordable housing or the benefits of home ownership. But instead of talking about how Republicans are doing everything they can to stop Biden from passing legislation Americans want and need, we just keep that weathered, worn-out narrative going about how Democrats are neglecting working people, and how Biden isnt getting BBB passage. And we keep trying to get into West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchins psyche as if that will unlock the key to his resistance. Folks, the fault lies not within our president, but within our Congress. While it sometimes seems Manchin acts the way he does simply to stay in the spotlight, it does keep Republicans in the shadows. If you dont want to face who Republicans in Congress are as people, their real character, and their utter and disgraceful failure to pass legislation in the best interests of the American people, I doubt anyone can persuade you to embrace Bidens astonishing record of first-year accomplishments. But dont pretend the problem is Biden. Hes the best first-year president of our time, and what he has done was unimaginable a year ago. Way to go, Joe. Mara Dolan is an attorney, political commentator, and co-founder of Left of Center. She wrote this for InsideSources. Hopes for a state park in Culpeper County have leapt forward with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin proposing to spend $4.93 million to acquire more than 1,700 acres for the preserve. The new chief executive included the sum in his package of initiatives and amendments to the commonwealths budget, which he delivered to the General Assembly late Friday. The park would include parts of two Civil War battlefields and a ridge-top Union army camp. It would encompass 1,700 publicly accessible acres, enhanced with another 4,000 acres held in conservation easements on private land. The proposal, discussed in Richmond and the Northern Piedmont for nearly seven years, would preserve nationally significant historic sites and create recreational opportunities for an area of Virginia that lacks such amenities. State Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, persuaded Youngkin to include the park proposal in his changes to former Gov. Ralph Northams spending plan for fiscal 2023. The governors amendment says the funding [p]rovides for the purchase of land to create a new state park in Culpeper County that will have multiple recreational and educational opportunities. Gary Deal, chairman of the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors, said Saturday that he is very excited about Youngkins backing for the park. Governor Youngkins support brings renewed optimism to the Culpeper Battlefield State Park initiative, Deal said. With over 1,700 acres of preserved lands, residents and visitors alike will have access to heritage tourism, education and recreation. Culpeper is full of rich history, and it is my hope that the state park will shine light on multiple perspectives in which all voices are heard. This budget amendment is a crucial step in moving forward, and I am grateful to the longstanding support of Senator Reeves, the American Battlefield Trust, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Culpeper Tourism and all the donors who helped protect these lands for all to enjoy. Virginia would buy the acreage from the national nonprofit American Battlefield Trust, which preserves sites from the Civil War, American Revolution and War of 1812. The trust began working in the late 1980s to protect ground where the Battle of Brandy Station, the hemispheres largest cavalry fight, was waged in 1863, opening Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lees Gettysburg Campaign. It also owns land where 1862s Battle of Cedar Mountain was fought, the only engagement in which Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson brandished his saber. Also to be preserved is woodland atop Hansbroughs Ridge near Stevensburg, where 12,000 Union soldiers spent the bone-chilling winter of 1863-64 before armies led by Grant and Lee first clashed, in the Battle of the Wilderness. Paige Read, a local official who promotes Culpepers tourism and economic development, was delighted by the governors action. This is welcome news, coming after a decades-long effort by the American Battlefield Trust and its many partners, Read said. Its a big win for our region. Culpeper is part of a Piedmont region that is badly underserved by the state park system, she noted, as the states own recreation studies have shown. I am very excited about this support from Gov. Youngkin, Read said. The park would provide easy access to recreation and heritage, bringing it closer to home for residents of Culpeper and the region, as well as visitors. The notion has been gathering steam since 2015, promoted by a diverse coalition of local, state and national groups called the Brandy Station & Cedar Mountain State Park Alliance, which became the Friends of Culpeper Battlefields in 2000. A feasibility study was positive about the parks prospects. The Culpeper County Board of Supervisors and the Culpeper Town Council endorsed the proposal in early 2016. The Virginia Association for Parks also urged state officials and lawmakers to create the park, calling it a breathtaking, positive opportunity for the commonwealth. In an interview Saturday, Reeves said Culpeper is the ideal location for Virginias next state park. The former Army Ranger feels passionately about American battlefields and the knowledge they can impart, in a way that nothing else can, he said. These sites really are national treasures, where people can visit and look, learn what happened and try to understand the causation of a war that had brothers fighting brothers, said the GOP candidate for Virginias 7th Congressional District. Once these sites are gone, you cant bring them back. We have to preserve our history so we can learn from it and figure out, How did we get here? the former Army Ranger said. We dont want to repeat our mistakes. For U.S. service members, battlefields such as Chancellorsville, Gettysburg or Brandy Station are invaluable training grounds, where soldiers can learn crucial lessons without having to learn from their mistakes, after stepping on foreign soil, he said. Reeves worked with Youngkins team to craft the budget amendment submitted to the legislature on Friday. Culpepers battlefields are among the most pristine and historic in the nation, Battlefield Trust President David Duncan said in a statement. Transforming this landscape into a state park will produce a heritage tourism destination in the heart of Virginias Piedmont, with educational, recreational, and economic opportunities that will benefit visitors and local residents alike. With Virginias marketing muscle drawing more attention to Culpeper, a feasibility study has estimated the park could attract roughly 7,000 visitors in its first year, north of 100,000 people by its second year and, potentially, 200,000 after five years, Read said. Other studies show that state-park visitors, as well as heritage-tourism visitors, pump money into local economies. They spend their dollars on park activities, recreational facilities, plus food, lodging, retail and services in the community, the former Virginia Tourism Corp. official said. In year one of the parks existence, Culpeper could see $1.77 million in additional tax revenue, and up to $4.72 million in year three, Read said. Keith Price, an Army veteran and former town councilman who leads Culpepers Veterans of Foreign Wars post, was enthusiastic about the prospect. It is extremely encouraging to learn that Gov. Youngkin is proposing several million dollars toward the creation of a new state park in Culpeper County oriented on the Cedar Mountain and Brandy Station battlefields, Price said. This idea has been in the works for several years with only modest progress so far, and it is great to learn there is finally some state-level funding going toward it. The state park would not only be an economic boost for Culpeper by drawing more visitors to the county, but would also bring an increased spotlight to Culpepers incredibly rich history, Price said. This is great news, and I hope the forward momentum toward making the park a reality continues. When asked for comment, longtime Culpeper attorney Bob Hudson said the park would benefit the county. I am most proud of Culpeper Countys history, as a native son and with family here continuously since 1743, Hudson said. I believe Culpepers historic resources require greater recognition. The new budget proposal validates that belief. The empirical data derived from tourism in Culpeper County exceeds $40 million annually, he added. A state park would importantly enhance that positive impact for all county residents. For these reasons, I fully support a state park in Culpeper County. Virginia historian Clark B. Hall, a Culpeper resident considered the leading authority on the countys Civil War history, said he was gratified the park may soon be on the horizon. The preservationist has fought to save Culpepers wartime sites from development since the 1980s. On a personal level, I am deeply grateful for the persistent, steady and strategic leadership provided by the American Battlefield Trust, Hall said. Especially, we clearly owe a deep debt of gratitude to Governor Glenn Youngkin and his marvelous staff as they advance legislation to create a state park in Culpeper. We certainly wish them well, as Culpeper County, its citizens and recognition of our countys extraordinary and unequaled Civil War experience will greatly benefit from their dedicated labors. Diane Logan, president of the Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield, stewards of that battlefield in southwestern Culpeper County, was also pleased by the news. FoCMB is excited to learn of the renewed interest in the historic preservation and interpretation of the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Logan said. We will follow the process with interest as it moves forward.{p dir=ltr}During the Civil War, Culpepers location between the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers made it strategically important to the Confederate and Union armies, the trust said. When Union troops advanced into the area, thousands of enslaved people escaped bondage, crossed Culpepers rivers and headed north to freedom.{p dir=ltr}Some returned as free men to fight for their country on this very soil, the trust said.{p dir=ltr}United States Colored Troops first crossed into Gen. Robert E. Lees turf through Culpeper as Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant launched his game-changing Overland Campaign in 1864. Hannah Murray of North Bend has been named to the deans honor roll at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. Students who achieved a GPA of 3.5 to 3.99 are named to the deans honor roll. Students must be fulltime enrollees, with at least 12 credit hours for the semester, to be eligible for the academic designations. The first Taliban delegation to visit Europe since the hard-line Islamist group returned to power in Afghanistan began three days of talks with civil society members and Western diplomats, Norway's Foreign Ministry said on January 23. Headed by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Afghan delegation dedicated the first day of ther visit to talks with women activists and journalists, among others. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote in a tweet: "All Afghans need to work together for better political, economic and security outcomes The participants... recognized that understanding and joint cooperation are the only solutions." "It was a positive icebreaking meeting," feminist activist Jamila Afghani told AFP. The negotiators "displayed goodwill... Let's see what their actions will be, based on their words," she added. On January 24, the Taliban will meet with representatives of Western governments, including the United States and European powers. On the third day, they will talk with Norwegian officials. No country has recognized the Taliban government, but there is a growing realization that governments must engage with the de facto rulers in Kabul to manage a worsening humanitarian crisis. Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said earlier that the visit was not a legitimation or recognition of the Taliban. But we must talk to those who in practice govern the country today. "We are extremely concerned about the serious situation in Afghanistan, Huitfeldt said, noting that economic and political conditions have created a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe for millions of people facing starvation in the country. A U.S. delegation, led by Special Representative for Afghanistan Tom West, plans to discuss the formation of a representative political system; responses to the urgent humanitarian and economic crises; security and counterterrorism concerns; and human rights, especially education for girls and women, according to a statement released by the State Department. West later wrote on Twitter: "As we seek to address humanitarian crisis together with allies, partners, and relief orgs, we will continue clear-eyed diplomacy with the Taliban regarding our concerns and our abiding interest in a stable, rights-respecting and inclusive Afghanistan." Afghanistan faces a worsening humanitarian catastrophe, with 22.8 million people suffering from acute food shortages and 8.7 million near starvation, according to the UN. Following the Talibans takeover in August, Western nations led by the United States froze billions of dollars worth of Afghan Central Bank assets and cut off development funding that once formed the backbone of Afghanistan's economy. That led to a major financial crisis, with soaring inflation, unemployment, and cash shortages depriving much of the Afghan population of access to food, water, shelter, and health care. The Taliban are expected to ask countries in Olso to free up funds. Faced with the Taliban's request for funds, Western powers are likely to put the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan high on their agenda, along with the Wests recurring demand for the Taliban administration to share power with Afghanistans minority ethnic and religious groups. Norway, home to the Nobel Peace Prize, has in the past been involved in peace efforts in a number of countries, including Mozambique, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Colombia, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, and Syria. With reporting by AFP and AP Colorado Springs is a "great" place for racial minorities to start their own business; they need only take the leap, Eric Phillips said. So thats what he did. Phillips started 3Es Comedy Club, downtown Colorado Springs' only comedy venue, during the pandemic. He wasn't alone. Black-owned businesses swelled to nearly 1.5 million nationwide in summer 2021, a 38% increase from pre-pandemic levels in February 2020, according to a Bloomberg News story that quotes data compiled at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Hispanic business ownership, meanwhile, increased slightly compared with Black business ownership, while white and Asian businesses dipped a bit, the University of California research showed, which was based on census data. Colorado Springs has its share of Black-owned businesses that opened during the pandemic, including 3E's, which seemingly went against the grain by starting during a time of uncertainty. But Phillips didn't intend to launch his dream business during a pandemic; like everyone else, it wasn't something he ever imagined. It didn't stop him, though. The entrepreneur is passionate, Phillips said. They're going to work through whatever. Phillips continues to work through the pandemic's never-ending headaches to nurture an idea he envisioned more than 25 years ago. He opened his comedy club's doors at 1 S. Nevada Ave. in September 2020. Running a comedy club was natural for him, thanks to his background as a promoter for comedians and his experience in property management. But the timing posed issues from finding construction workers amid labor shortages, to dealing with government-mandated capacity restrictions, to struggling to qualify for COVID-19 relief money. To Phillips, it was worth it because of his love for people and the community. Educating people, making people laugh, giving people opportunity those are the things that I enjoy the most, Phillips said. And this is just a part of that, you know, the comedy club is making people laugh and giving comedians (the) opportunity to perform and get better. People determine the success of a business, Phillips said. Thats why he encourages minorities who want to start their own business to network and create personal relationships. Business people have to know you, like you and trust you, Phillips said. ... when you build that relationship, they're willing to come out and help you because entrepreneurs want to see other entrepreneurs succeed. And that type of support is ripe in a city like Colorado Springs where growing business is a focal point, Phillips said. For spa and skin care business owner, Giseleine Dogon, she felt that support first-hand. Dogon began Your Bliss Skin and Body Care, a skin care spa at 2155 N. Academy Blvd., as a college student in 2016 after studying to become an esthetician, or skin-care specialist. Her clientele continued to double every year even during the pandemic. A good handful of them (clients) did say that they had been looking for specifically Black-owned businesses to continue their skin care and self care journey, Dogon said. So I think labeling my business as such online really helps a bit. Dogon runs the business while holding other jobs, but found that owning her own business gave her a deeper sense of direction for her life. During the lockdown months of the pandemic in March and April of 2020, Dogon had to lean on other jobs, such as working at a grocery store, to support herself. Since then, she tried to devise ways to provide her services remotely, but said it is difficult to do as an esthetician. So, definitely learning to pivot with whatever changes are occurring, especially outside of ourselves and outside of our usual business practices is like the No. 1 thing I learned, Dogon said. Learning the art of "pivoting" is really what being an entrepreneur is all about, said James Proby, CEO of The Mens XChange, an affordable boutique for mens suits, jackets and ties at 409 N. Tejon St. in downtown Colorado Springs. Proby has maintained a presence in the Colorado Springs business community for more than 20 years, and believes the pandemic roused people, whether they were Black or not, to pursue careers that better aligned with their values. Thats why he thinks so many Americans left their jobs, and some found their way to entrepreneurship. You realize that mortality is real, Proby said. You don't need to wait till tomorrow to start your dreams and live your life. To support new and established entrepreneurs in communities such as Colorado Springs, Proby said consumers need to focus on shopping, playing and eating at locally owned businesses. Once individuals break out of the comfort zones of constantly shopping at Kohl's or at Walmart, because they're used to it, and actually look into leaving a space like Bed Bath & Beyond and finding space like Sparrow Hawk (a downtown cookware retailer)," Proby said, "you get a chance to understand a much more different local vibe and flavor and impact. A serviceman of the active military service of the Azerbaijani army, Asif Maharramzade died in non-combat conditions on January 22, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported. A criminal case has been initiated on the fact, an investigation is underway. The Ministry of Defense expresses its deepest condolences to the relatives of the deceased serviceman, the ministry said. The 104-year-old is one of several from the greatest generation who are planning to be at The National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs at noon Saturday. The Colorado Springs Fire Department responded to a "small" grass fire at a homeless encampment near The Citadel mall Sunday afternoon, firefighters tweeted. Crews responded near the intersection of East Platte Avenue and North Chelton Road before 12:15 p.m. to a blaze that was "putting up a lot of smoke" but no injuries were reported, the agency said. The fire was at least the second time firefighters extinguished a fire at a homeless camp this weekend. Crews were called to the Mission Trace Shopping Center off South Academy Boulevard and Jet Wing Drive early Saturday morning. Fire danger in Colorado Springs remains elevated due to lack of moisture this winter. By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli Iran's Deputy Minister of Justice for Human Rights and International Affairs, Fattah Ahmadi, has said that Azerbaijan extradited 21 prisoners to Iran, Trend reported. The deputy minister mentioned that three of the extradited prisoners were women. According to Ahmadi, the process of transferring prisoners was carried out in accordance with the extradition agreement between Iran and Azerbaijan. "The majority of Iranian prisoners in Azerbaijan were convicted of drug trafficking," Ahmadi stated. After liberating its lands from Armenian occupation during the 44-day war in 2020, Azerbaijan reclaimed control of a 132-km section of the Azerbaijan-Iran border and blocked the drug trafficking route from Iran to Armenia and then to Europe that used to pass through the country's liberated Jabrayil. Armenia used Karabakh and the surrounding seven regions for illegal activities such as arms and drug trafficking during its 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani territories. The state is investigating after the Colorado Cattlemen's Association on Monday announced what would be the first kill of livestock by a pack of wolves in more than 70 years. Sometimes called altruistic or living donations, non-directed organ donations involve a healthy individual donating to a completely random recipient. The first living, non-directed organ donation took place in Iowa in 2000, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Since then, 50 individuals in the state have decided to donate an organ (usually a kidney) to whoever needed it, with no knowledge of who the recipient would be. In 2016, Hanlontown native Susanne Morgan was one such donor. Several years ago, Susanne, who works at the Iowa Department of Transportation in Mason City, attended an IDOT conference, at which a couple who had lost a daughter in an accident spoke about organ donation. Though they lost someone so close to them, they talked about all of the lives their daughter saved by choosing to be an organ donor. After the couple spoke, Tony Hakes from the Iowa Donor Network walked on stage to talk about the benefits of a living donation. Susanne said she was surprised to learn that living organ donation was not only possible, it was preferred by doctors. According to the Mayo Clinic, living-donor transplants are associated with fewer complications than deceased-donor transplants and the organ itself usually survives longer. Susanne took the information in and mulled over it for a few years. At the DOT, she meets a lot of people who have stipulations when deciding whether to designate themselves as an organ donor on their drivers license. A lot of people say theyll only donate if it goes to their families. But what if it was your family that needed an organ? You wouldnt care where the organ came from as long as your loved one could live, Susanne said. I realized nothing was guaranteed (in life), so I decided Im gonna go for it. Susanne reached out to Tony from the Iowa Donor Network, who shed remembered from the DOT conference. He gave her resources to connect with to pursue becoming a live, non-directed donor. When Susanne told her friends and family her decision to donate, she said she received mixed reactions. My children were extremely, extremely supportive. They were both there the day of surgery, Susanne said. But others werent as understanding. She was often asked why she was giving to somebody she didnt know, and what if someone she did know needed one in the future? She wouldnt be able to help them then. But Susanne was grounded in her decision. I dont live my life on what ifs. There were three hospitals in Iowa that did live donations: Iowa City, Mercy in Des Moines, and Methodist Unity Point. When choosing a facility, Susanne ruled out Iowa City because of the distance. She reached out to Des Moines, but her message was returned undeliverable. That was a sign for meMethodist it is, she said. Susanne sent a message to Methodist Unity Point, and they set up a time to meet. After going through screening and tests to make sure she was healthy enough to donate, Unity Point searched for a recipient to pair her with. Within a week, Susanne found her match. A gentleman named Adolfo, living in Chicago. He has hereditary kidney disease, Susanne said, and was third on the waiting list. His sister had donated to him in the past, so this would be his second transplant. Susanne got the call on a Tuesday night, and was in surgery the next morning. Whats a better gift to give to somebody, than the gift of life, said Susanne. Susannes gift of life actually led to another. Adolfo and his wife had wanted another baby, but were waiting for Aldofos new kidney before growing their family. Their child, Susan, is now two years old. Suzanne was able to meet Adolfo and his family after the transplant, and she said the families have met a few times since then. "Meeting him for the first time...there really are no words to describe how I felt," Susanne said. "There was a mix of emotions, as I didn't know who would be walking around the corner. Tears of joy were shed. We sat and visited for quite awhile, exchanged numbers and have been in touch since." With years since the surgery behind her, Suzanne has no regrets about taking that DOT presentation to heart and encourages anyone who is able to consider being an organ donor. Id do it again if I could, she laughed. 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 1 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. If we fix the states workforce crisis, we can put more money into the pockets of hardworking Iowans and rebuild Iowas reputation as a great place to live, work, and raise a family. The workforce crisis is hurting our schools, health care system and Main Street businesses: In Iowa schools, there arent enough full-time teachers, substitute teachers or bus drivers. The result is that schools arent operating at 100% every day. Iowans have less access to quality, affordable health care than they did two years ago because of the workforce crisis. Until we solve the workforce crisis, businesses across the state will remain closed or they will be forced to operate with reduced hours and fewer employees. We need to invest in working families by: Increasing support for apprenticeships, career training, and technical education. Boosting support for affordable, quality child care across the state. Expanding access to ensure free, universal preschool in every community; and making child care more affordable in all 99 counties. Fully funding our public schools so our students attend the best public schools in the country. Investing in more affordable housing and helping more Iowans become homeowners. Providing paid family leave for working Iowa families. I will continue to stay focused on the issues that matter to hardworking Iowans. RECENT LOCAL PHOTOS CADETS: Have you heard of the North Iowa Civil Air Patrol? Based in Osage, these students are members of the Cadet Program of the Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. Through the program, cadets are trained in four key content areas: leadership, aerospace, fitness, and character to become the future of American aerospace. Young people develop valuable leadership qualities while being taught cutting edge STEM and aviation career skills. By sponsoring this educational program, and by providing emergency services and aerospace education, the Civil Air Patrol helps shape the future of aeronautics in the United States. For more information about the Civil Air Patrol, visit https://bit.ly/3FRTqnd FIREFIGHTER: Ryan Hanghian, president of the Iowa Professional Firefighters was at the Statehouse to share the issues facing firefighters across the state. It is great that he was able to visit with legislators about their concerns. DAV: On Wednesday, veterans from across Iowa filled the statehouse to meet legislators and advocate on veterans-related issues. I talked with two leaders of the Iowa DAV, David Thornburg and David Gannon. State Senator Amanda Ragan works for the people of Senate District 30, which includes Cerro Gordo, Mitchell and Worth counties, as well as Rock Grove and Rockford townships in Floyd County. Contact her at 641-424-0874 or amanda.ragan@legis.iowa.gov Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 RTHK: Taliban and Afghan civil society members begin talks The first Taliban delegation to visit Europe since returning to power in Afghanistan began talks on Sunday with Afghan civil society members focused on human rights, Norway's foreign ministry said. Headed by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the delegation was to dedicate the first day of their three-day visit to talks with women activists and journalists, among others, before meeting Western diplomats on Monday and Tuesday. The talks, facilitated by Norway, were taking place behind closed doors at the Soria Moria Hotel on the outskirts of Oslo. The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated drastically since August, when international aid came to a sudden halt in the country, which is already suffering the effects of several severe droughts. Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt stressed last week that the talks would "not represent a legitimisation or recognition of the Taliban". The international community is waiting to see how the Islamic fundamentalists intend to govern Afghanistan, after having largely trampled on human rights during their first stint in power between 1996 and 2001. On Monday, the Taliban will meet representatives from the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Italy and the European Union, while Tuesday will be dedicated to bilateral talks with Norwegian officials. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-01-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Trend The European Union is talking with partners about the potential for increasing gas supplies to the bloc, Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson has said after a meeting with European energy ministers in France, Trend reports citing European media. A gas supply crunch in Europe, widely blamed on a dearth of gas flows from Russia, has caused energy prices to soar. Russia denies manipulating supplies. Ms Simson said she would attend conferences in Azerbaijan and the United States in February to discuss ways for increasing gas deliveries to Europe. Ministers meeting in the city of Amiens had discussed uncertainty in the market caused by the Ukraine crisis and significant falls in flows from Russia in recent months, Ms Simson said. "My message is that Europe has a robust, well diversified and resilient gas infrastructure and clear procedures of solidarity in case of emergencies," she said. "But we need to remain extremely vigilant, improve our risk-preparedness and reinforce solidarity between the member states." Silly me. I was thinking the other day about how Iowans and others in the Midwest have the chance to experience a wonderful feeling that you wont find hardly anywhere else. It is warmth. The paradox is: you have to be cold to grasp the full warmth. In recent days, when temperatures have dipped to zero or below and the winds are biting, some of us necessarily have to leave our homes from time to time to shovel the walk and driveway, to go to work or to the grocery store or to a doctor appointment or whatever the case may be. The point is, youre out in the cold and you cant wait to get home. And when you arrive home and open the door and feel that burst of warm air from inside engulf your body come on, now, is there any better feeling on earth, particularly if you know youre in for the night? People who have lived all of their lives in Florida or Texas or Arizona or California have never had that experience. Iowans sometimes experience it for weeks at a time. Its hard to put any kind of positive spin on the cold, harsh winters we experience. I tell people that with every day that goes by, were one day closer to April! By the way, God bless postal carriers, sanitation workers and others whose jobs require them to serve the public, no matter the weather. Roger Bang, former Mason City mayor and councilman was also active in the Economic Development Corp. which promotes what Mason City and North Iowa have to offer prospective businesses. In describing his approach to promoting North Iowa, he said he would talk about the unique culture and architecture, the low cost of living, the airport, the college, the proximity to Clear Lake and many other attributes. Then he would chuckle and say, And if you like three wonderful seasons of the year Whats the best comfort food when you come in from the cold? How about a bowl of hot tomato soup? What are your favorites? And just remember, folks, with each day that goes by, we are indeed one day closer to April. A few years ago, I met a woman from Texas who was on a business trip in Mason City. We talked about a lot of things in comparing life in Iowa to life in Texas, and eventually the conversation turned to the weather. We have winter in Texas, she said. Last year, it was on a Thursday. She got me there. Silly me. John Skipper retired from the Globe Gazette in February 2018 after 52 years in newspapers, most of that in Mason City covering North Iowa government and politics. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Re: A team of efficiency consultant conducted a study of company x and fou [ #permalink 1 Kudos Agnes Hastings has never stopped dreaming of becoming a hair stylist. The 55-year-old has wanted to reach that goal since she was a teenager, but life got in the way. Its been a dream of mine since high school, Hastings said during an interview in her home at Pleasant View Apartments on Thursday morning. I put it off to raise a family. Hastings, who lives in public housing, hopes an infusion of nearly $800,000 in funding to the Danville Redevelopment & Housing Authority will enable the agency to help her and others under the DRHAs program become self-sufficient. The authority announced last week it was re-awarded a total of $672,000 over three years from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Resident Opportunity Self-Sufficiency grant. DRHA also has received an increase in funding for its Family Self-Sufficiency Program to a maximum of $111,104. Each of these programs have wonderful features to help lead families to self-sufficiency, Vera Vaden, marketing manager with the authority, wrote in an email to the Danville Register & Bee. The money will help cover school costs including earning a GED child care and public transportation, said Larissa Deedrich, executive director of the authority. They can take college courses for CNA [certified nursing assistant] classes or license renewal, Deedrich said. As for the $111,104, that amount was an increase from $24,000 in initial funding in the past. The Family Self-Sufficiency Program encourages families to work on becoming self-sufficient over five years, including helping them get job training and counseling or additional education. The DRHA provides program participants additional support services including child care, transportation, financial literacy, help acquiring homeownership and other services. The additional money will enable the authority to serve more families and possibly extend funds for services to current households. Deedrich told the Danville Register & Bee on Wednesday that money from the Family Self-Sufficiency program will put participants rent money into an escrow account. After five years, the beneficiary will be able to take that money and use it for whatever they want, such as buying a new car, or a home, she said. Deedrich said the $672,000 will also help the elderly and the disabled. Its for any resident who needs help with self-sufficiency activities or elderly or disabled to keep them in the home, Deedrich said. The authority owns and manages a total of 563 units in seven multi-family developments. Its public housing accommodates about 1,600 residents, according to the DRHA website. DRHA also administers about 1,600 Housing Choice Voucher units (Section 8) in Danville, Martinsville and Pittsylvania and Henry counties. The authority has about 41 employees, according to its website. Section 8 housing involves private landlords offering homes with the authority paying rent to the landlord. Eligible participants in DRHAs housing programs must meet certain income requirements. The income limit for a family of four to qualify for assistance is $38,150 per year, according to figures provided by Deedrich. The authority gets all of its funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. As for Hastings, she plans to find out if the DRHA can help pay for her cosmetology classes at Danville Community College, which she currently attends. Currently, a college program is providing funds to pay toward her classes, Hastings said. She cant get financial aid because she has student loans in default from past college attendance. Hastings, who currently is not working, has a 2003 Ford Explorer that is not reliable, she said. I dont trust it to get back and forth, she said, adding that it has kept her from seeking a job. She has also suffered from back problems. Hastings receives about $400 a month in income from child support and federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. She lives with her granddaughter and has resided at Pleasant View for about four years. With financial assistance, she expects to finish her cosmetology studies in 2023 and hopes to find work in her chosen career. I want to do better for myself, Hastings said. I want to do better for me and my granddaughter. 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. REIDSVILLE After avoiding COVID-19 for two years while living in Taiwan, Corey Lee Miller was back in the United States only three days when he caught it. Then, he came down with a milder case of the respiratory disease again in January. The trip home on Dec. 12 was a surprise to his family because only a few friends knew about it. Miller said Taiwan had minimal cases of COVID-19 those first two years. They just locked things down very early on and are really serious about mask mandates, Miller said, noting it took a lot longer for the country to get the vaccines. He received his second vaccine just before he came home. The resources were not available to get them prior to that. Most people in the U.S. are not aware of how much luxury they have, Miller said. People here were fully vaccinated months before they got vaccines in Taiwan. When outbreaks occurred and they were having 500-600 cases per day, the government shut things down. Now, its back down to zero again. Miller, 29, has lived in the East off and on for a number of years. While I was in school, I never traveled and never got outside the U.S., said the 2010 Rockingham County High School graduate. In 2014, he earned his bachelors degree in English at Appalachian State University, then served an internship at QC Exclusive magazine, remaining after the internship ended. Soon, he began to research ways to travel abroad. Miller then became an au pair in Germany, living with a family, helping their children with their homework, especially English, and taking them to school. But Miller didnt make much money, so after four months and just in time for Christmas, he returned to work part-time at the magazine. At the company Christmas party, Miller negotiated a full-time position assisting the editor, a job he really enjoyed. I had never studied journalism in school but had worked for the school newspaper. After three years, Miller became tired of living in Charlotte. Wanting to go abroad again, he connected with a company that places teachers all over the world. He interviewed with several schools before deciding to move to Korea. Since he preferred a big city, he chose Daegu, the third largest city in South Korea. During the day, Miller taught English to fifth to eighth grade students. After hours, the school became a kind of an English academy for older children. Many parents want young children to learn English as their second language. English is the most important one in the world, Miller said. School was nonstop with Miller working a pretty heavy schedule, teaching close to 40 hours five days a week. If another teacher was out, we had to pick up the slack, and it could be really rough at times, he said. The cultural differences were hard. Working for a foreign boss was sometimes difficult, Miller said. The higher ups have a different idea of what it means to be a boss in Korea. You dont really question what they say. To learn Korean, Miller studied at the Language Exchange three nights a week after teaching during the day. Designed for foreigners to learn the language, Miller spent one hour one-on-one with their Korean teacher, then practiced their conversational skills in a group: Ten people at a circular table just talking. The Korean group leader generally was the best English teacher who printed out talking points or topics to discuss each day. Those topics could include economics, politics, Capitalism, and/or Communism, and be lighthearted or really heavy. Often, everyone went out for beer afterward. It can be hard to make friends with the locals, Miller said, adding most jobs like his included living quarters so the teachers were together. Although Miller loves teaching, he said he did not want to do it as a career in Korea. While on a four-day break, Miller and some teaching companions visited Taiwan just for fun. I fell in love with the city, Miller said. Later, when his one-year contract in Korea was ending, Miller said he wanted to go to other places as often as possible, planning to work for a year and then go some place else. He now works for a western company run by Americans in Taiwan where he is surrounded by all kinds of people and has become friends with many other workers. Just after arriving in Taiwan, news about the pandemic increased. What Taiwan was doing from the beginning really saved the country, said Miller, who has been working remotely from the Reidsville home of his father, Ronnie Miller. His mother, Deborah Paschal Miller, passed away in 2006. Corey is the grandson of Mary Barrett of Eden, Bobby and Annie Little Miller of Eden, and the late John Paschal Sr. On Jan. 30, Miller will fly to Seattle to work with his boss and Seattle team before returning to Taiwan on Feb. 8. Before he leaves, he will need have to have a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours before the flight. When he arrives in Taiwan, Miller must quarantine for two weeks in a hotel set up by the government, then stay at his home the third week without seeing anyone, only going out to get groceries. When we go outside, we wear a mask, he explained. As soon as you step out your door, you have to wear a mask. There are fines and everybody does it. The Taiwanese government makes no religious, health or other exceptions. They just care about others, Miller said. They are less focused on individuals in situations like this. They are more concerned for others. Three years after testifying against his father in an election fraud case that captivated the country, Wake County attorney John Harris will announce a run for North Carolinas state House. That testimony came after Harris father, Mark Harris, ran for North Carolinas 9th Congressional District in 2018. Over his sons objections, Mark Harris hired political operative McCrae Dowless to run an absentee ballot campaign for that race. The elder Harris, a Republican, won that race thanks mostly to questionable absentee ballots, leading the state elections board to block the elections certification and launch an investigation. Over the course of that investigation, Mark Harris maintained that no one had raised red flags about Dowless. Contrary to his fathers claims, John Harris testified in a February 2019 hearing that he had warned his father about Dowless and the legality of his operation. John Harris, a Republican from Apex, is ready to move past all that. The former assistant U.S. attorney told The News & Observer he intends to announce his candidacy for a seat in the legislature. Im really focused on the future, and not the past, Harris said in an interview with The N&O. And thats what I want my candidacy to be about. State and national liberal groups are challenging North Carolinas political maps in an ongoing lawsuit, but if the maps are not redrawn as a result of those challenges, Harris will run in House District 36 in southern Wake County against the districts incumbent, Democrat Rep. Julie von Haefen. Harris may want to move past the events of 2019, but his decision to testify against his father in 2019 could make him more appealing to Wake Countys suburban voters, which have elected both Democrats and Republicans in recent years. If he wins, Republicans will be well-positioned to win a supermajority in North Carolinas General Assembly in November giving the party enough votes to override vetoes by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Hes kind of beyond the political, and his actions a couple of years ago showed that, said Republican political operative and former Wake GOP chairman Charles Hellwig. Hes just a guy who said, I gotta do the right thing. Harris, who now works at Smith Anderson, has already had some experience in the legislature. While he was in college at UNC-Chapel Hill, he worked for former state Sen. Richard Stevens, who also works at Smith Anderson. Role in 9th district election fraud scandal Harris testimony was one of the reasons that his fathers election was overturned. For the most part, he cut off communication with his parents following the election, but just one day before their son took the stand, Mark and Beth Harris learned he would testify, according to a newly released book centered around the scandal, The Vote Collectors. On Feb. 20, 2019, John Harris said at the hearing that he told his father multiple times, including in emails, that he had concerns about Dowless. He initially raised those concerns after the 2016 primary election, when his father ran in the 9th Congressional District for the first time. Now-state Sen. Todd Johnson, who had the lowest overall vote total, received 221 mail-in absentee votes in Bladen County in that race, compared to just four for Harris. The winner of that election, incumbent Rep. Robert Pittenger, received just one, The News & Observer reported. This smacks of something gone awry, John Harris wrote in an email to his parents in June 2016. He raised concerns again the next year, after his father met with Dowless for the first time. The key thing that I am fairly certain they do that is illegal is that they collect the completed absentee ballots and mail them all at once, he wrote in an email to his parents in April 2017. The way they pop up in batches at the board of elections makes me believe that. Relationship with Mark Harris Harris consulted Stevens, whose office was located next to his at Smith Anderson at the time, about his concerns about Dowless and about his testimony, Stevens said. He said, Richard, Ive got to do the right thing. Ive got to tell the truth, Stevens said. And he did. Still, Harris testified that he believed Dowless lied to his parents repeatedly and that, if his father had known Dowless was illegally collecting ballots, he wouldnt have continued to work with him. I love my dad and I love my mom, OK? Harris said in closing his testimony that day. I certainly have no vendetta against them, no family scores to settle, OK? I think that they made mistakes in this process, and they certainly did things differently than I would have done them. Harris, a dad of three, said he sees his parents often now and that they have a good relationship. Our relationship absolutely transcends politics, Harris said. Harris said he believes voters wont ultimately make their decision based on his decision to testify, however. The 2018, 2019 events, thats always going to be part of my story, Harris said. But Im not running because of 2018, 2019. Im running because of 2022, and really Im running because of 2042 and the kind of world I want to see, and the vision I have for North Carolina and thriving families and the ways we can accomplish that. GREENSBORO The number of families remaining at the former Jamison Mobile Home Park after several deadlines to move is down to nine, but theyve secured an important extension for getting out: two weeks after the end of the current school year. The developer heard what the children in those families had to say about wanting to finish the school year there, said Marc Isaacson, an attorney representing the company Owls Roost Properties, which is under contract with the sellers to buy the 3-acre location in the shadow of UNCG and plans to build multi-family housing units there. We want to cooperate as much as reasonably possible, said Isaacson, who has also had talks with Mayor Nancy Vaughan and the citys neighborhood development Director Michelle Kennedy. Still, the issue of whats next is still being figured out. Vaughan and Kennedy have also been meeting with the families and Siembra NC advocacy staff every other week to work on it. Walker Sanders, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, which has focused on housing issues in the community, confirms the agency is working with potential donors to help with the situation and looking to bring in others who might be interested. Tenants were outraged to get letters in July from Family Properties notifying them that the land they rented underneath the mostly privately-owned mobile homes had been sold and that they would have roughly two months to leave before the water was turned off. It was less than what was legally required and the seller later amended the date. North Carolina statutes require that tenants of mobile home parks that are being repurposed have at least six months to vacate the premises. The property had been in the hands of various members of the Jamison family over three generations. One of the longtime owners, Shirley Todd Jamison, worked in the Guilford County Health Department, and spent nearly four decades in Latin America as a nurse and missionary. She died in March 2017, which precipitated the sale. Some of the tenants had lived for decades on this stretch of Hiatt Street raising families and paying $315 for the monthly lot rent. Jamison had been a tight-knit, affordable mobile home community within the city limits for decades and especially attractive to immigrants since the 1990s and offered good schools, a location near downtown, nearby public transportation and put them within walking distance to a university and the Greensboro Coliseum. They reached out to Siembra for help and quickly formed a tenants group with the hope of buying the property themselves. The sellers received approval for rezoning the land. A notice of the meeting was placed on the property, but the mostly Spanish-speaking residents say they realized too late what was going on. It is unclear what Owls Roost is paying for the property, but the land has a tax value of about $350,000. It is couched between an apartment complex on one side and an abandoned building with broken windows on the other. The families held a protest in front of the property management office downtown, and later a fundraiser and community outreach in summer 2021 that raised about $13,000. A verified Help the Hiatt Families GoFundMe crowdsourcing fundraiser has raised about $7,000. They also attended a City Council meeting, where the children asked for their help and secured the pledge that officials would meet with them over their concerns. The tenant group started out about 18 families strong, but some of the worried families took advantage of reduced rate offers from other mobile home parks to move their homes. They also had to take on debt. Recently, inspectors assessed the stability of each of the remaining units and found they were stable enough to move elsewhere. Kennedy is waiting on estimates to move them and working with the Community Foundation and others to figure out funding. The hope is that we can identify locations for folks in the next few weeks, Kennedy said. She said she cannot speak for the families but has been clear on the citys involvement. Its a really difficult conversation to have but I have told them repeatedly in our meetings that that is not a viable option, Kennedy said of the initial desire for families to remain on the property. Kennedy had also been looking at a variety of housing and emergency assistance sources to help, but any available city housing money would not be nearly enough. The Community Foundation stepped in to bring interested individuals together. I live in Lindley Park and they are my neighbors and I get it, Kennedy said. This is one of those things where the private sale of a property has far-reaching impact. We cant upset that sale. We cant change that. Kelly Morales, Siembras executive director, said that the city has pointed the residents, who want to stay together, to parcels of city land that are suitable for mobile homes. But they were either already sold or in a community that didnt allow mobile home parks in its development plan. If the zoning board takes land zoned for mobile home parks off the table in one area, we believe it must be added back somewhere else, Morales wrote in an email exchange. Otherwise we are simply zoning certain residents right out of being able to live in Greensboro. As part of those discussions with the city, those residents have been asked if they would be willing to sign something saying they understand they will receive this deadline extension if they promise to not stay past that date, Morales said. We understand that moving mobile homes is costly and complicated weve already seen the costs pile up for residents like Randy and Jose who left the mobile home park before the end of the year, Morales said. We believe that if the residents of Hiatt Street are going to be asked to sign anything, they should have a feasible Plan B first. Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 336-373-7049 and follow @nmclaughlinNR on Twitter. 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. Jake Ross paid a mother in the Philippines to sexually abuse her children while he watched it live, 8,800 miles away. Now he will be paying with the rest of his life. On Friday, the McDowell County man was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his conviction on a half-dozen child pornography charges. Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger of Asheville also added a lifetime of court supervision should the 47-year-old Ross live long enough to serve out his term. The sentence is the longest ever handed down in a child pornography case by the federal courts in the Asheville division of the Western District of North Carolina. In a statement following Reidingers decision, U.S. Attorney Dena King of Charlotte said Ross punishment reflects the depravity of his actions. These types of crimes that prey on our children sicken me, King said. Prosecutors say Ross, of Marion, was a purveyor in the disturbing world of webcam sex tourism, in which pornography from mostly developing countries is livestreamed on social media platforms around the globe. Ross, according to court documents, connected regularly with the Filipino mother on WhatsApp video chats. Federal investigators say they found 28 pornographic screenshots from those chats stored on Ross phone. A check of the defendants Google accounts uncovered other screen grabs of livestreamed abuse of children. Ross was arrested in July 2020. He was convicted by an Asheville jury in March. Its been more than a year since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine for public use. While 64% of people who live in North Carolina have received at least one dose of the vaccine, some who are concerned about potential long-term side effects have refrained from getting the shot. Others have attempted to protect themselves from the virus in a way health officials strongly advise against. Vaccine-acquired immunity is less risky than infection A common myth is that the natural immunity from contracting COVID-19 is better than the immunity provided by a COVID-19 vaccination. This belief led to some engaging in COVID-19 parties a gathering held with the intention of catching or spreading COVID-19 to acquire immunity from future infection. Students at the University of Alabama were among the first to host these events, which were described as a game to intentionally infect each other. Some parents have even discussed the possibility of hosting COVID-19 parties for their children. Though antibodies present after recovering from COVID-19 do provide some immunity from future infections, attempting to contract the virus could result in serious complications, according to Mecklenburg County Health Director Raynard Washington. There are a number of reasons why we would completely discourage anyone from intentionally getting infected with COVID-19, or any infection for that matter, said Washington. There are short-term and long-term impacts on individuals health as a result of an infection, and we never know how any individual will react or respond. Theres certainly a risk of severe complications and illness. Receiving a COVID-19 vaccination is a safer way to build immunity to the virus, said Washington. Studies also indicate that people whove been previously infected with COVID-19 and are unvaccinated are twice as likely to be reinfected again than vaccinated people. Vaccines offer a longer term of protection in most individuals, he said. Everybodys immune system is different. For some individuals, the antibody response following an infection can last six to 12 months, but on average, that immune protection starts to wane by the third month. And the protection that is offered by vaccinations is much stronger and lasts longer. What percentage of North Carolinians are vaccinated? In Mecklenburg County, where hospitals have been hard hit recently, so far, 61% of residents are fully vaccinated, and 66% have received at least one dose. By comparison, 60% of state residents are fully vaccinated and 64% have had at least one dose. Although Mecklenburg's health department is not aiming for a specific target, Washington, the county's health director, explained the impact of the virus will subside as more people get vaccinated. Ideally, everybody would be up to date on vaccines that can be, Washington said, further explaining that there is still a portion of the population not yet eligible to receive the vaccine. For those who are eligible, we certainly encourage them to get vaccinated. On Friday, Gov. Roy Cooper announced that he has sought aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the assistant secretary for Preparedness and Response to increase staffing in hospitals, as the state endures a record number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We have a certain number of folks with COVID-19 in our acute care facilities right now in the county, and its consistently true that most of those individuals are yet to be vaccinated, Washington said. I think the data is very clear that vaccines are effective, and certainly help us to avoid the strain on our health care system. What are the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines? Some people experience side effects after getting the vaccine, which are normal signs that their body is building protection, according to the CDC. Side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some common side effects of COVID-19 vaccines are: Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site Tiredness Headache Muscle pain Chills Fever Nausea Long-term side effects? Adverse effects that could cause a long-term health problem are extremely rare following the COVID-19 vaccination or any vaccination the CDC says. One of the FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines came under fire when an unexpected side effect was reported in a few patients after getting the shot. In April, the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine was put on pause when a small number of people began experiencing a serious blood clotting problem. All of the cases emerged within two weeks of vaccination, according to researchers at the University of Missouri. Health officials later determined that the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the risk, and they approved resuming use of the vaccine. Since adverse reactions generally happen within six weeks of receiving a vaccine dose, the FDA gathered data on each of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines for a minimum of two months, and is continuing to monitor the safety of vaccines as they are administered. Director Adam McKays climate satire Dont Look Up isnt exactly subtle. The hair is big, the parody obvious, the targets as plentiful as the star-studded cast competing for space and the planet is about to explode. The whole enterprise is a monument to anger and frustration, which may explain why environmental scientists have warmed to the film more than film critics. Whether through the missteps of the protagonists or those of the filmmaker, it also offers a valuable lesson on the all-too-real challenges of spreading the word about the need for urgent global action against climate change. The storyline of this Netflix dark comedy is simple enough: A Ph.D. student (Jennifer Lawrence) and a timid astronomy professor (Leonardo DiCaprio) have discovered a giant comet that is going to hit Earth within little more than six months. Everyone will die. Yet they cant convince anyone, least of all the populist, chain-smoking U.S. president, played by Meryl Streep, to take the right course of action. The media is too distracted and everyone else just wants to make money, once the asteroid is found to contain rare earths and minerals. The movie does get some important things right. It captures the difficulty of expressing a message so overwhelming for our narrow imaginations that it very often triggers not action, but indifference or despair just as it does on the screen. The exasperation so palpable through the film is a daily reality for those working in climate policy. People really do hear only what they want to hear, as when Streeps president hangs on to the news that the comets certainty is just below 100% call it 70% and lets move on ignoring the scientists sitting in front of her. The film portrays the siren call of unproven win-win technology and the toxicity of bothsideism. As in real life, the fight between the researchers and political and economic interests is asymmetric. Theres also much to criticize in a movie that spends so much time being outraged. For one, the metaphor is too simplistic. Global warming is not a single, driverless comet hurtling, unprovoked, toward the Earth. The threat of global warming is diffuse, and worrying for its very unpredictability; moreover, entire industries are accelerating it. Climate disaster also isnt, in the real world, an equal-opportunity killer. When it comes to climate messaging, the protagonists fall into plenty of traps. At one point, the movie suggests that the scientists failure on a lighthearted chat show is proof of societys ignorance but its just as much a question of understanding the audience and human biases. No one fails to accept climate change because they are too worried, as they are here, about celebrity breakups. We struggle to understand climate realities that feel distant in time or space, or that are simply impossible to envisage in the context of what we have experienced. Overcoming that cognitive hurdle doesnt necessarily mean simply following the advice that DiCaprios scientist is given not too much math but it does mean making the message relevant, delivering it through a trusted familiar voice and framing it in local terms. We know that making communication local is crucial, and theres ample evidence that trusted messengers, whether community leaders or weathercasters connecting extreme weather to global warming, can change minds but those trying to convey the message in this film do none of that. The film also never grants the general population and even other nations agency. People respond better to events they can hope to influence, and where solutions are available. When it comes to global warming, that means outlining the problem but then telling your audience they have a role to play as consumers, for example, and, most importantly, as voters. Its what turns awareness into action. Dont Look Up wont convince anyone who was on the fence, not least because of the lack of empathy. With its black-and-white villains, the story treats naysayers and doubters with condescension, whether its the unwashed masses distracted by social media, journalists chasing clicks or Lawrences parents in Michigan, who say they are for the jobs the comet will create but get no sympathy or explanation. Hectoring is rarely effective when it comes to changing minds. But that wasnt really the point. There is certainly something farcical about the nature of reaction to global warming. People are engaging with the film as a result, and that matters, as Tom Brookes at the Global Strategic Communications Council, a network of public relations experts focused on climate, said to me. It may touch only those already concerned, but as he put it thats now the overwhelming majority of the worlds population and a vast and varied group in need of galvanizing. Theres far better climate fiction. Theres better satire and better comedy, some of it directed by McKay himself. But this film has got millions talking about global warming and is now the most-watched Netflix film in dozens of countries. Can A-listers be trusted messengers and bridge the gap between awareness and action? That is another question entirely. As the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol revealed, a sizeable minority in our nation is simply not happy with the way things are. Yet, the agitated spirit in our land cannot be claimed solely by right-wing conservatives. So-called progressives are full of grievances too. Indeed, many moderates, frustrated by the inability of government to get anything of substance accomplished, are also among the aggrieved. Americans are a divided people, filled with resentments. In my life as a local church pastor, I have been privy to the opinions, frustrations and fears of people all over the political spectrum. For the most part, these grievances are articulated in typical partisan fashion. While these divisions are deep and often rigidly ideological, what I have learned is that, no matter our political affiliation or perspective, we all agree on one thing: Something is terribly wrong in America. But it was not always this way. Growing up in central New York, I was shaped by the waning years of the one-company town. Oneida was the home of Oneida Limited, a silverware manufacturer known for its high quality stainless tableware. Evolving out of the Oneida community, a Christian utopian commune, Oneida Limited Inc. provided not only well-paying jobs, but also employee profit-sharing, a pension plan, health insurance, various recreation facilities and, most importantly, a deep sense of community and neighborliness. The decline of the one-company town is a story long since replicated throughout the United States. In its place came an ethic embodied in the so-called neo-liberal model of economics. In this model, free markets and cutthroat competition rapacious economics rule the day. Privatization of industry, a drastically reduced welfare state and deregulation of corporate behavior, once understood as necessary to limit corporate abuse, unsafe labor practices and environmental degradation, have been lifted up as key to economic growth. Along with these economic ideas came a diminished sense of the social contract. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, interviewed in 1987, famously claimed Who is society? There is no such thing! There are individual men and women and there are families and no government can do anything except through people and people look to themselves first. The social contract was now rendered as nothing more than our self-centered priorities, leaving a social fabric tattered and torn. Among proponents of neo-liberal economics, or free-market capitalism, there lies what social theorists have called a soft Social Darwinism the belief that society is gradually improved through the survival of the fittest. Indeed, Herbert Spencer, a 17th century advocate of Darwinist social thinking, argued that society should be left alone, and that policies of social improvement interfere with the organic purification of the social order. In such thinking, laissez-faire economics, coupled with a minimalist governing state, most efficiently promote the rabid competition required for the best and brightest to rise to the top. While social disintegration and partisan divisions are complicated affairs, American society has little hope of redeveloping a healthy social contract if we dont first acknowledge our economic assumptions. The incredible gap between rich and poor in our nation is not by mistake. Neo-liberal economic policies, implemented over the past 50 years, have significantly diminished our middle class, fueled the destruction of the environment and shredded our social safety net, all while enriching the wealthy classes at levels widely acknowledged as absurd. It is hard to deny: America has a problem. We have come to the point when the divisions in our land could be fatal to the bonds that once held us together. Fingers have been pointed and accusations flying for far too long. Maybe the time is ripe for us to reevaluate the economic principles that govern our land, as it is from these principles that our social fabric is fashioned. Rapacious economics does not a neighborhood make. Once upon a time we knew this; may our memory quickly be restored. The recently built and overhauled military facilities have been commissioned as part of the construction work carried out in the Azerbaijani Army under the instructions of President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported. Deputy defense ministers, namely, Chief of the Main Department of Logistics, Lieutenant General Nizam Osmanov and Commander of the Land Forces, Lieutenant General Anvar Afandiyev visited a training military unit and one of the regional units of the central food warehouse. All facilities in the military unit were overhauled in accordance with modern requirements and provided with the necessary equipment and inventory. There is a space for a classroom, office premise, amenity and weapon rooms, as well as a barrack, canteen and sanitary facility. Delicious, high-quality and hot dishes are cooked in the kitchen by following sanitary and hygienic rules. Conditions were created for effective leisure and meetings of young soldiers with their parents. The deputy ministers reviewed the work conducted at the maintenance and repair station built in the territory of the military unit and gave additional instructions on compliance with safety rules during maintenance. In the end, the deputy ministers viewed the newly built headquarters building of food warehouse and trailer kitchen of the unit and conveyed relevant instructions of the minister of defense to organize and conduct service at a high level. Submit an Obituary Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. Obituaries submitted by family members are also accepted pending proper verification of the death. Submit an Obituary This came during a meeting with our agency, where the Co-chair of the Defense Authority in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Zaidan Al-Assi, explained the extent of the danger of this attack and the goals of its supporters in the region. The ISIS attack is the largest and most dangerous since its defeat in Baghouz Zaidan Al-Asi said: "The recent attack on Al-Sina'a prison, which holds ISIS mercenaries' detainees, is the largest and most dangerous since ISIS was defeated in northern and eastern Syria," stressing that "this large and organized attack indicates that there are those who support ISIS and facilitate it at this particular time." ". Al-Assi added: "There is external support and there is internal support for these terrorist groups in order to organize this attack, and without this support, these cells would not have been able to launch this attack. This is in order to destabilize security in the Autonomous Administration areas." Our project worries the regime and Turkey Zidan Al-Assi pointed out that "the project of administration worries the regime from the inside, because it is the cornerstone of the future Syria, and the Turkish occupation state, which moved its forces by land and air, as its planes targeted the forces that came to support the forces to liberate the prison from ISIS." Al-Assi continued, "There is an attack on the Ain Issa area, which resulted in the martyrdom of two civilians in the village of Jabal, and there is a reinforcement of the Turkish occupation forces and its mercenaries towards Tal Tamr, from here it is confirmed that those who facilitated and planned these terrorist groups are Turkey and the regime that works from within in order to facilitate the attack process." on prison." Popular solidarity to commemorate the attack on Afrin faced Turkey's reaction The joint head of the Defense Authority pointed out that "the people's solidarity on the fourth anniversary of the occupation of Afrin faced a reaction from the Turkish occupation, as it fired missiles at Afrin from areas controlled by the regime, which led to the martyrdom of civilians." Al-Assi confirmed that "the shells that hit the city of Afrin and the attack launched by the occupation on the Ain Issa area and Tal Tamr are linked to the recent attack on the industrial prison, which contains ISIS mercenaries." The Syrian Democratic Forces fought on behalf of the international community, and it must bear the responsibility Al-Assi explained, "The Syrian Democratic Forces offered and sacrificed in order to fight terrorism, and they were the most effective in combating ISIS mercenaries and were able to end them geographically in north and east Syria, while the regime was unable to eliminate them despite Russian support." Al-Assi said at the end of his speech, "The Syrian Democratic Forces fought on behalf of the international community, and were able to defeat ISIS, but there are hidden hands that support it to restore its ranks, and there is an interest for countries, especially the regime, to prove to the world that Bashar's alternative is terrorism, and it is in the interest of the regime to return Daesh as it was, he called on the international community to shoulder its responsibility and support the Autonomous Administration and its forces until this terrorist organization is finished. A ANHA In an interview with our agency, the Secretary-General of the Future Syria Party, Siham Daoud, attributed the responsibility for prolonging the Syrian crisis to regional interventions, led by the Turkish occupation state. The negative effects resulting from the crisis, the most important of which are the Turkish occupation of the Syrian territories, the blatant Turkish intervention in the Syrian territories, and the crisis in general. The Secretary-General of the Future Syria Party considered that there is no solution to the Syrian crisis in the near future, so the Syrians should work to stop the bleeding of Syrians and end their crisis according to the political foundations. Siham Daoud noted, "Snce the announcement of the establishment of the party, we launched our dialogues and slogans, and repeat our calls for a constructive Syrian-Syrian dialogue that would work to end this crisis." She stressed that dialogue as the only way to resolve the crisis "cannot find a solution to the crisis through military means or external interventions, but only the Syrians can solve it and determine the future shape of Syria, and it is not possible to go back to before 2011, and this is what the Syrian regime seeks." Therefore, according to Siham Daoud, the only solution is for the Syrians to sit at a constructive and serious dialogue table. We as Future Syria Party, call on international parties to seriously find a solution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with United Nations resolutions, including Resolution 2245. She indicated, "There were Russian calls for negotiation and dialogue between the Autonomous Administration and the Damascus government, but the regime is not serious. It insists on a military solution and tightening its security grip on all Syrian lands, and this cannot be returned to." She added, "The Autonomous Administration always repeats its calls for dialogue, but the regime ignores this, but there is a project that was established on Syrian territory here in the north and east of Syria, which can be a nucleus for resolving the crisis, and enables determining the form of government in Syria that is pluralistic, democratic and decentralized." In her presentation, the Secretary-General stated, "Despite the recognition of the Syrian regime represented by the top of its pyramid, which went out to the media and said that it is not possible to go back to before 2011 and that the form of government in Syria will be decentralized, but we did not notice the seriousness." She stressed, "In the Future Syria Party, we are working to unify the Syrian territories in their entirety, but if the Syrian regime remains intransigent and insists on a military solution, Syria will tend to divide and create a big rift between the Syrians and divide Syria into small states." Siham Daoud saw that the best way to solve the Syrian crisis is the Syrian dialogue, with the support and serious follow-up of the regional parties, and the activation of UN resolutions on resolving the crisis. She concluded her speech, "All regional and international powers and the Syrian regime should take the project of self-administration into consideration, this project, which has become a difficult number, and all meetings related to the Syrian crisis will not work, as long as the Syrian Democratic Council remains outside it, all Syrians can benefit from it, as it has achieved Great security, economic and social stability. A ANHA Dr. Thoreau Redcrow As we reach the four-year anniversary of Turkeys sadistic occupation of Afrin in Rojava, it is helpful to look back at how this terrifying reality came to be. Not only is the state of Turkey illegally establishing their own terrorist vilayets throughout northern Syria, which feature every human rights abuse the mind can conjure up, but they are doing so as a NATO member and with the acquiescence of Western states who claim to be fighting a war on terror against the very thing which Turkey represents. And since it is in the Kurdish city of Afrin where Turkeys sociopathic barbarism and pathological hatred of Kurds is most on display, this open-air crime scene is a helpful case study. As if you want to diagnose an illness, you must first understand its symptoms. Why Turkey invaded Afrin The city and lush mountainous area around Afrin has been a Kurdish cultural hub for more than a millennia. Over the centuries, Afrin developed as the center of a distinctive Sufi Kurdish Islam, which was less conservative, and more secularly tolerant than surrounding regions. In fact, Afrin has always had the fewest mosques of any place in Syria and its inhabitants were typically not strict adherents to religious conventions. Consequently, vibrant Yazidi, Alevi, and Christian communities historically thrived there as well. This embedded culture of accepting diversity was rooted all the way into the present, when Afrin became a welcoming haven for refugees fleeing the violence throughout Syrias Civil War. In the spring of 2012, the Syrian Government pulled out of Afrin, which laid the foundation for what would later become the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) to take over in January of 2014. From 2014, until Turkeys military invasion in January of 2018, Afrin blossomed into a flourishing and peaceful Canton of around 700,000 people. Because of the lack of sectarian tensions and areas reputation for being accepting of cultural and religious differences, around 400,000 refugees and IDPs of all ethnicities within Syria escaped to Afrin. As such, although Afrin was a majority Kurdish city and Canton, it was also home to Arabs, Assyrians, and Turkmen. Unfortunately, the harmonious social fabric that was being constructed in Afrin was seen as an existential threat by the Turkish regime of Tayyip Erdogan across the border, for two reasons. For starters, it showed that the Kurdish-led Democratic Confederalist experiment taking place throughout Rojava / northern Syria was a viable model for the entire Middle East region. And, secondly, this progressive-minded philosophy was a direct rebuke of the ultra-conservative and nationalist AKP & MHP alliance of Erdogans coalition, which was centered around Turkish ethnic chauvinism against Kurds and a fascistic re-interpretation of Salafi Islam, that was embodied by groups such as ISIS and other radical jihadist proxieswho by 2018 were the only allies Turkey had left in Syria. Thus, Erdogan decided that he would use the Turkish military alongside a coalition of Islamist jihadists to invade, encircle, destroy, ethnically cleanse, and occupy the Canton of Afrin in January of 2018with the goal of establishing a semi-annexed Turkified quasi-colony, with outside settlers who were indebted and thus loyal to his regime. How Turkey invaded Afrin The Turkish invasion was cynically carried out under the pretext of protecting its national security from the local forces in Afrin. However, the Turkish Government never provided evidence about the existence of any threats to its national security from Afrin, as none had occurred. Nevertheless, because Ankara was averse to risking the lives of their own soldiers, they contracted out Afrins invasion to a coalition of radical Islamist groups numbering upwards of 25,000 that were trained, armed, and paid by Turkey. These groups included various jihadist militants such as Ahrar al-Sham, the Sham Legion, and ex-ISIS fightersas was reported by The Independent. Behind them were around 6,400 soldiers of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and members of the neo-fascist Grey Wolves from Turkey, who relied mostly on artillery shelling, a relentless bombing campaign from Turkish jetssince Afrin had no anti-aircraft defensesand heavy armor salvoes, since Afrins defenders also lacked tanks. Turkeys illegal military invasion of Afrinwhich was absurdly named Operation Olive Branchofficially began on January 20, 2018, and was a flagrant violation of international law, i.e. attacking the territory of a sovereign state without the authorization of the official authorities. To achieve victory, Turkeys military deliberately targeted densely populated cities and towns, killing around 500 innocent civilians, including women, children, and the elderly in the first weeks. Turkey also indiscriminately shot refugees fleeing from conflict areas and used chemical gas to attack Kurdish resistance fighters. In doing so, Turkey and its affiliated Islamist extremist groups breached the Geneva Conventions and committed a litany of war crimesas defined by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The ideological motivations of Turkeys invading force was soon evidently clear, as the jihadists who comprised the vast majority of ground troops viewed the Kurdish population of Afrin as atheists deserving of death. This was portrayed in a series of videos where the Turkish proxies threatened to cut off the heads of Kurds who they described as infidels; or another where several international Islamists sung praises of previous battles where they had fought, including Tora Bora (the former headquarters of Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan), Grozny in Chechnya, and Dagestan in Russia. This aforementioned video was concluded by them declaring And now Afrin is calling to us. Then as the fighting began, several videos soon emerged showing Turkish-backed militants mutilating and posing for selfies with the bodies of Kurdish YPJ women fighters, with one in particular portraying a young woman codenamed Barin Kobani, who had her breasts cut off followed by chants of God is great. With such heinous beliefs as their driving force and coupled with overwhelming military superiority, Turkeys military would encircle and fully occupy Afrin after sixty-three days of bombardment. During those attacks a number of credible observers would warn of Turkeys abuses, such as The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein, who cautioned, In the city of Afrin, which was captured by Turkish forces yesterday, scores of civilians have been killed and injured due to airstrikes, ground-based strikes, and explosive hazards, and thousands have been displaced. This matched the diagnosis of Human Rights Watch (HRW), which criticized Turkey for having, failed to take necessary precautions to avoid civilian casualties during the offensive, with HRWs deputy Middle East director Lama Fakih opining how, It appears that vulnerable civilians are facing displacement and death because of the way Turkeys latest offensive is being conducted. What Turkey has done since occupying Afrin Turkeys occupation of Afrin and its surrounding 282 towns and villages officially began on March 25, 2018, and the brutal policies and actions of their subjugation in the four years since have turned this once thriving oasis of ethnic and religious solidarity, into a dystopian nightmare where over 300,000 mostly-Kurds have been displaced. The oppression was foreshadowed from the moment the city fell under Turkish control, as the first action of the invading Islamist forces was to destroy Afrins statue of the mythical Kurdish figure Kawa the Blacksmith, which is central to the Kurds Newroz (New Year) festival, and according to legend symbolizes the struggle for freedom against tyranny. Fittingly, from that day forward, Erdogans regime, the Turkish Army, and their allied militant proxies have carried out a systematic campaign of unrelenting state terrorism. As I previously noted in my September 2019 speech before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Afrins Kurdish population are suffering social oppression, economic robbery, and cultural annihilation. Socially, the Kurds of Afrin are suffering arbitrary arrest, assaults, torture, rapes, human trafficking, sexual enslavement, assassinations, enforced disappearances at checkpoints, late-night abductions by criminal gangs, burning down of their villages, and neighborhood demolition to build walls around the city. Economically, the Kurds of Afrin are suffering looting of stores, seizure of homes, stealing of cars, pillaging of livestock, confiscation of land, forced sharia taxes, extortion of businesses, over 5,000 kidnappings for ransom, deliberate arson of over 11,000 hectares of forest, and the systematic theft of Afrins olive oil industry which is then illegally sold in Europe. Culturally, the Kurds of Afrin are suffering demographic ethnic cleansing, Turkification of the education system and street names, destruction of Kurdish cultural monuments, vandalism of tombs, pillaging of grave sites, desecration of Alevi and Yazidi holy shrines, cutting down of sacred ribbon trees, and the archaeological excavation and smuggling of over 16,000 historical artifacts which are then illegally sold to museums in Turkey. On other occasions, Afrins residents are threatened by gangs of brokers into obligatory land sales at set prices, which are supervised by MIT Turkish intelligence with the goal of transferring legal ownership to new settlers. Meanwhile, the largest and most luxurious homes are often commandeered by mercenaries under the pretext of turning them into military headquarters or torture chambers, as SDC US representative Sinam Sherkany has written about with regards to her own family home. Moreover, a 2019 report to the High Commissioners Office of the United Nations Human Rights Council noted how, The victims of abductions by armed groups and/or criminal gangs were often of Kurdish origin, as well as civilians perceived as being prosperous, including doctors, businesspersons and merchants, while also noting how, young men arrested on suspicion of being affiliated with Kurdish structures were forced to pay a fine of $400 in order to be released. The motivations for all these actions are: terrorizing Kurdish residents to incentivize them to leave in order to accelerate resettlement plans, accruing financial gain to pay off Turkeys many radical Islamist militias who are motivated by state-sanctioned jihad, and obliterating Kurdish cultural identity and archaeological multi-ethnicity to enable a Turkification strategy for a de-facto annexation of Afrin. With regards to resettlement and population transfers, from the start of Afrins occupation the Turkish Army and its allied militants began emptying all Kurdish villages with the goal of bringing in loyal Arab outsiders from other parts of Syria. At least half of these mercenary families numbering over 40,000 were brought to Afrin from eastern Ghouta, eastern Qalamoun, and southern Damascus, and have connections to jihadist factions such as the Al Rahman Legion and the Army of Islam. In other instances, families from Idlib, belonging to the al-Nusra Front and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have been resettled in Afrin, while families from other Turkish-occupied Syrian cities such as Azaz, al-Bab, and Jarablus were given abandoned villages that persecuted Yazidis were forced to flee from. In many of these instances, markings were painted on the outside of stolen homes, which was reminiscent of what ISIS did to the Christians of Raqqa and Mosul. With regards to funding Turkeys state-sanctioned jihad, at the onset of Afrins assault, Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs (aka Diyanet) called all mosques in Turkey to read The Qurans chapter 48 on conquest (Al-Fath) and asked that all Muslims pray for invading Turkish soldiers. Fatwas were then issued by the Istanbul-based Syrian Islamic Council supporting various war crimes, such as one in February of 2018, defending the looting of private property as jihad for the sake of Allah and merely the spoils of war; and ones in May and June of 2018, which describe the mostly-Kurdish PYD as spiteful, secular, corrupt, and deviantthereby justifying a range of mistreatment and theft in relation to them. Turkeys Diyanet is also overseeing a coordinated effort to impose Sharia law and strict Islamic dress (veil) on women, similar to what ISIS did, while destroying ancient religious Alevi and Yazidi shrines and replacing them with private mosquesas the first step to forced conversions. At one point it became so egregious that a retired Turkish General himself spoke out, decrying afterwards how, It is as if we are preparing the region for militant jihadists [like ISIS], and my colleagues who served in the area suffer from the moral humiliation of the way the operation evolved. With regards to Yazidiswho ISIS tried to eradicate themselves through genocidetheir shrines named after Barsa Khatum, Jil Khaneh, King Adi, and Qara Jerneh, plus Sheikhs Hamid, Gahrib, Barakat, and Manan, have all been destroyed under Turkeys occupation; while the Yazidi villages of Qastel Jindo, Alqino, Bafalon, Sinka, Qatma, Basoufan, Ghazawiyeh, Iska, Arsh Qibar, Ishkan Sharqi, Shih Al Dir, and Ain Dara have been completely uprooted and emptied. As for Alevis, the shrines at Yagmur Dada, Ali Dada and Aslan Dada in the Bulbul district were looted and destroyed. In both cases of Yazidis and Alevis, gravesites were vandalized and destroyed, because authorities said they violated a new law requiring a lower height, which mimics the legal justifications that ISIS used against idolatry as well. The discrimination and desecration has even extended to the sacred perennial trees in many villages where Alevis tie little ribbons to and make wishes, which Turkeys Islamists have cut down as a result. Turkeys desecration extends to the archaeological realm as well, which began during the invasion when Turkish airstrikes destroyed many ancient buildings including the Julianus Churchwhich is one of the oldest Christian sanctuaries in the world, the famous Iron-Age Ain Dara Temple, the Syriac Maronite tomb of Saint Maron, and site of Brad (which were UNESCO World Heritage Sites). Less notable Roman-Era Byzantine monasteries and cemeteries were also destroyed, ostensibly because they pre-dated Islam to the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. This practice coincides with how Turkey has pillaged through 35 historical mounds in various parts of Afrin including Ereb Shexo, El-Didriye, Zivinge, Ibedan, Sewan, Qurbe, Ster, En Hecere, Kefer Rume, Cumke, Sindiyange, Durumiye and Meydanke. In these situations the grave areas are bulldozed and exhumed in search of gold and precious objects. Politically, Turkey also destroyed the shrine dedicated to the Kurdish revolutionary and writer Mehmet Nuri Dersimi (1893-1973) alongside his wife Farida, showing the ethnic connection to such symbolic defilements. Lastly, with regards to Ankaras Turkification strategy, the claim of them liberating Syrian territory was called into question from the first moment of conquest in Afrin, when the Turkish military raised the Turkish flag over government buildings and not the flag of their so-called Free Syrian Army. The Turkish state then began forcing schoolchildren to carry the Turkish flag in propaganda videos, while praising pictures of Erdogan. This was followed up by changing the official names of places from Kurdish into Turkish, banning the Kurdish language, issuing Turkish ID and temporary residence cards, and appointing a Wali (Custodian) and Qaim Maqam (Governor) in Afrin and linking it to the Turkish province of Antakya. All of these point to the unfortunate reality that the Turkish state has no intention of ever leaving Afrin, as they intend to permanently occupy it, similar to how they have Hatay (Liwa Iskenderun) since 1939 and northern Cyprus since 1974. Which is all the more reason why the international community must stand up now and demand that Turkey leave Afrin and all the other areas of Syria they have terrorized and seized. The Media Center of the Syrian Democratic Forces issued a statement revealing the death toll and the wounded since ISIS cells launched the attack the day before yesterday on Al-Hasakah prison, and the statement stated: Since the last attack by ISIS terrorists on Al-Hasakah prison on January 20, our fighters have been making the greatest sacrifices in order to protect the region, its residents and global security. We in the Syrian Democratic Forces proudly remember 17 of our martyrs in the military and internal security forces, as well as volunteers in service institutions, who rose from the first hours until the moment while they confronted the terrorist attacks and prevented the escape of mercenaries from Al-Sinaa prison in Al-Hasakah. We also wish a speedy recovery to 23 of our comrades fighters and civil servants who were injured while repelling the attack. The blood of our martyrs is an inspiration to all our fighters to continue the struggle against the terrorist organization ISIS and its supporters. A ANHA Naomi Judd died Saturday at age 76. Here are some of the entertainers, leaders, athletes and other notable people we've lost so far this year. Afghan refugees in Helena | Part one Through its newly formed Helena Afghan Refugee Resettlement Team, local nonprofit Hands On Global plans to bring about 15 refugees to the Helena area over the coming months. This three-part series will document the experience these refugees will face as they arrive, settle in and move forward as long-term members of the community. After arriving in Helena earlier this month, a young family from war-torn Afghanistan moved into what is likely the first safe home they have ever known. When I was there, there was bombs going off. People were being shot. It was not a safe place, said Elinor Edmunds Miller of East Helena, who traveled to Afghanistan eight times since 2003 as a volunteer for the nonprofit Aschiana Organization, which works with children. And here it really is a much safer place, and its going to take a while for them to not turn around and expect something awful to happen. Before they landed in Montana, the two young professionals and their 2-year-old daughter spent about four and a half months living in barracks at a military base in Indiana. There they were vetted by the U.S. Department of State, Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and every eligible refugee who is not already vaccinated receives their COVID-19 shots. They came to Montana via Missoula, where they spent a few days in a hotel as they were being processed by the International Rescue Committee. Then they were released to the care of Hands On Global, a nonprofit organization that the IRC recently authorized as a cosponsor of the local resettlement program through its newly formed Helena Afghan Refugee Resettlement Team (HARRT). The young family came with nothing more than three small suitcases and the clothes on their backs. As they stepped into their fully furnished Helena apartment for the first time, they found a bouquet of fresh flowers on the table, groceries in the refrigerator, and a team of volunteers eager to carry their bags, prepare a hot meal and help them adjust to their new life in any way possible. It was so beautiful, really, said Hands On Global Executive Director Valerie Hellermann. They were very happy, very pleased, and very tired. This was the first of several families of Afghan refugees who will be resettling in Helena over the coming weeks and months. HARRT expects to welcome a total of 15 refugees to the community in all. For safety reasons, the resettlement team is not yet releasing the identities of the refugees or arranging media interviews with them. Many of them have left really terrible circumstances and have family left in Afghanistan who are in great danger, Hellermann said. Theres some fear about their families there, and theres some fear about people here and their reaction to them. Shortly after arriving in Helena, all incoming refugees participate in interviews so HARRT can assess their immediate needs. Although the resettlement team anticipates that at least one member of every family will speak some English, the language barrier will be one of first to overcome. Dari, which is a variety of the Persian language also known as Farsi, and Pashto are the most widely spoken languages in Afghanistan. The resettlement team has connections with volunteers in the area who can serve as translators and plans to help the refugees enroll in English as a Second Language programs. As part of their orientation, the refugees will also learn about the laws and culture of their new home. HARRT members will help them register for the Selective Service System and enroll in public benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Medicaid. Thats part of our responsibility is to enroll them in these programs once they arrive, Hellermann said. The IRC provides car seats to the families that need them, along with a cellphone with service for two months. The Helena resettlement team will conduct home visits as often as once a week for the first month and less often after that. The refugees are being housed in seven downtown apartments provided by two local landlords at no cost for the first three months. These apartments are not luxury apartments, Hellermann said. They are pretty plain. However, she said the apartments are clean and safe. And the refugees can stay there as long as the rent gets paid after the initial three-month grace period. Although the government provides about $1,225 for each family member, Hellermann said That goes really quick. We will help them (pay rent) if they cant, on an as-needed basis, but the goal is to get them self-sufficient, she said. And how long will that take? I think its an individual thing. Hellermann said the IRC believes self-sufficiency is possible within three months, but to me that seems like a huge leap. Thats why HARRT plans to remain active for at least a year. All of the apartments are located within walking distance to Safeway and the Downtown Walking Mall, Hellermann said. Until they are able to drive, the refugees will have to rely on public transportation and volunteers when they need to travel farther. We dont have great public transportation here, Hellermann said. Were kind of dependent on the Dial-A-Ride. According to Miller, who volunteers for HARRT, much of their food will likely come from the Helena Food Share and the Salvation Army at first. We have a group of people that will help our clients get to Helena Food Share to get food, and we can also do grocery home deliveries to them if they cant get out, she said. Volunteers are also available to take the refugees shopping in local grocery stores, which might be a first for some of them. Although the bigger cities in Afghanistan have open air markets, schools and even grocery stores, she said, If you lived in a small, rural community, it would be very different. HARRT has received donations of everything from clothing to kitchen supplies, televisions and furniture to help the refugees land on their feet. Whenever we needed something, someone just ran out and got it and donated that expense, Hellermann said. Now the resettlement team needs monetary donations to help the refugees get through their first year in Helena. Hellermann said HARRT is fully funded by donations, but she is hoping to secure some grant money as well. Financial donations can be sent to Hands on Global, 5210 Kerr Drive, Helena, MT 59602, Attn: Afghans. Keep in mind, they are coming here with basically nothing, Hellermann said. Theyve lost family members. Theyve lost their homes. Theyve lost their community and theyve lost their country. Editor Jesse Chaney can be reached at 406-447-4074, or find him on Twitter: @IR_JesseChaney. Love 50 Funny 1 Wow 2 Sad 3 Angry 15 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. As a surge of violence forces hundreds of thousands of Afghan people from their home country, it may seem like Helena is too small to make a dent in this overwhelming problem. But our community has already made a world of difference in the lives of three young Afghan families with children and a former Afghan government official who had to leave his family behind as he was being hunted by the Taliban. Through its newly formed Helena Afghan Refugee Resettlement Team (HARRT), local nonprofit Hands On Global is bringing about 15 refugees to the area over the coming months. Helenas first Afghan refugee arrived late last year and is living with family in the area, and HARRT has brought three Afghan families to town so far this month. Many of these refugees are arriving with nothing more than a few bags and the clothes on their backs. Through donations from the community, HARRT is able to provide clothes, kitchen supplies, furniture and even a safe place to stay at no cost for at least three months. The group is also helping the refugees connect with community resources such as Helena Food Share and enroll in public benefits such as Medicaid. Eventually, they will be integrating into our schools, our workplaces and every other aspect of our society. And we encourage the community to do everything they can to welcome the refugees as they work to rebuild their lives from scratch. As one HARRT volunteer noted, these refugees did not necessarily want to leave the only country they have ever known. It has become impossible to live in Afghanistan, so they did not have a choice. While some in our state and our government have been expressing anti-refugee sentiments, we believe Helena is better than that. Lets prove it by treating our new neighbors with the kindness, empathy and respect every human being deserves. According to Soft Landing Missoula Director Mary Poole, who has helped bring hundreds of refugees from several countries to Montana over the years, our friendship is one of the most valuable commodities we can give to those who are resettling in our community. Although they were not fortunate enough to be born in the United States, these refugees are not outsiders. They are now Helenans just like the rest of us. And Helenans take care of their own. This is the opinion of the Independent Record editorial board. How to donate Financial donations for Helena's Afghan refugee resettlement program can be sent to Hands on Global, 5210 Kerr Drive, Helena, MT 59602, Attn: Afghans. Love 7 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Azerbaijani Ministry of Emergency Situations was informed via 112 hotline about the ammunition found in the section of the Samur-Absheron canal, which passes through Gobu village of the Absheron region, the Ministry of Emergency Situations told Trend . In this regard, a group of pyrotechnicians from the Special Risk Rescue Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations immediately arrived at the scene. While inspecting the scene, pyrotechnicians found a 125-mm BK-14 tank shell and a 122-mm OF-56 artillery shell (without a fuse), which were seized and disposed. DECATUR The minivan driver killed after crashing into the rear of a semi-trailer Friday morning was identified as Robert L. Shockley of Decatur. A news release from Macon County Coroner Michael Day said Shockley, 49, was pronounced dead at 10:55 a.m. Friday at Decatur Memorial Hospital's emergency room. According to Decatur police, units answered a call just after 10 a.m. about the crash on Illinois 121 about 500 feet north of the on-ramp to Interstate 72. The semi, driven by a 23-year-old man from Missouri, was northbound in the left-hand driving lane when Shockley, who was in the same lane, struck the rear of the semi in his 2005 Chrysler Town and Country minivan. The driver of the semi was not injured and Shockley was the only occupant of the minivan. It is not yet known if alcohol, drugs, prescription medications or a medical condition could have contributed to the crash, as a routine toxicology is still pending, according to the Macon County Coroner's Office. The accident remains under investigation by the Fatal Accident Investigation Team. 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. CHICAGO - After a year of undergoing treatments to fight off an aggressive form of breast cancer, Heather Mingay was scheduled to have her ovaries removed this month, in an attempt to help prevent the cancer from returning. Mingay, 37 of Northbrook, told her manager at work shed be gone. She secured extra child care for her three kids. She mentally prepared. And then her doctors office called her about 2 weeks ago to cancel the surgery. The call came as hospitals across the state suspended elective procedures to help keep beds open, amid a nasty COVID-19 surge thats sent many people to hospitals, especially the unvaccinated. I could cry right now, Mingay said, shortly after learning her procedure was postponed. Shes now cancer-free and wants to stay that way. This is not elective. Its not a choice, but I have to kind of sit on the sidelines right now, and the longer I sit on the sidelines, my risk goes up for recurrence. Its no secret that the current wave of COVID-19 has sent case numbers soaring and filled hospitals across Illinois. But over the last couple of months, it has also made it difficult for people with problems that arent immediately life-threatening to get medical care. Patients in need of certain non-emergency surgeries, such as Mingay, have seen those surgeries postponed. Though many of the delayed surgeries are called elective they are actually necessary, though not emergency, procedures. Long ER waits have also become common for patients with serious but non-life threatening illnesses and injuries. And urgent care centers are increasingly turning patients away for hours, days or even weeks at a time because theyre short on staff and overwhelmed with demand. No matter where youre going to go right now in health care, youre probably going to experience a delay, said Dr. Richard Freeman, Loyola Medicine regional chief clinical officer. Stacey Fanale, 53 of Geneva, saw that firsthand after a sharp pain under her ribs jolted her awake in the middle of the night in late November. Her husband drove her to the nearest emergency room, at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva. But it was the beginning of the current COVID-19 surge, and the ER was so backed up that Fanale had to wait about five hours to be seen, after a nurse determined that her condition wasnt life-threatening. She lay on a couch near the waiting room, in searing pain, until after sunrise. Ultimately, she had to have her gallbladder removed that day. I was in excruciating pain, but the nurse was like, This is the way it is, said Fanale, noting that she doesnt blame the doctors and nurses for the wait, but rather the latest COVID-19 surge and how its been handled. She wonders why, after nearly two years of the pandemic, hospitals, businesses and governments havent come up with a better plan for providing medical care through surges. COVID is a part of todays world. This cannot continue, Fanale said. All of us need to come up with a solution to move forward so that everybody has medical care. Chris King, a spokesman for Northwestern Medicine, acknowledged in a statement that ER wait times are longer than usual across Northwesterns hospitals, though he noted that the problem is not unique to Northwestern. Doctors at other Chicago-area hospitals have described ER wait times of up to eight hours in recent weeks. Several factors are to blame. For one, hospitals are short on staff, amid nationwide labor shortages. Burned out by the pandemic, many health care workers left their jobs in the last two years, and those that remained are now often having to stay home for days at a time because they caught COVID-19. Even vaccinated people are getting COVID-19 during this wave, though theyre typically not getting as sick as people who are unvaccinated. Secondly, theres the latest COVID-19 surge itself, which has set records for case numbers and hospitalizations. The result is that hospitals cant staff as many beds as they need for patients, which is why Gov. J.B. Pritzker urged hospitals across the state to postpone elective surgeries. Its also meant that an increasing number of patients who need to stay overnight in hospitals must wait in beds in emergency rooms until beds open up elsewhere in the hospital a practice that can back up ERs, leading to longer waits for patients as they arrive. Youre trying to take a higher volume of patients for a lower number of beds, and it makes for, unfortunately, much longer wait times than any of us want, said Freeman, with Loyola. The situation at urgent care centers, which are facing similar challenges, isnt helping matters in emergency rooms. Traditionally, urgent care centers have been touted as an alternative to emergency rooms for patients with pressing but non-life-threatening health needs. But over the last couple of months, a number of Chicago-area urgent care centers have been turning away patients because of staff shortages and overwhelming demand. In recent months, NorthShore University HealthSystems urgent care centers have sometimes been closing hours early to new patients because all of their patient slots fill early in the day. This week, UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospitals Flossmoor Urgent Aid location reopened after closing for weeks because of strain from this latest COVID-19 surge. Closures of urgent care centers have become common across the country during this COVID-19 surge, said Lou Ellen Horwitz, CEO of the Batavia-based Urgent Care Association. In the northeastern part of the country, about 20% of urgent care centers temporarily closed, at one point, at the peak of COVID-19 there. Thats a big deal for most communities, Horwitz said. It definitely has a trickle-down effect to other health care providers. Jerry Zielinski, 74 of Downers Grove, tried to go to an Advocate Health Care immediate care center near his home earlier this month, after he slipped on ice in his driveway while trying to get the newspaper. He fell hard, hitting his head and back on the ground. But when he and his wife arrived at the urgent care center, they were told it didnt have the staff that day to take X-rays or perform CT scans. Instead, the urgent care center directed Zielinski to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. Once there, he waited in a crowded ER, wondering if any of the people sitting near him had COVID-19. In pain, he spent more than five hours shifting uncomfortably in a waiting room chair. He learned that he had two broken ribs but no concussion. Theres care we as regular people need and its been proven to be difficult to get because of the frequency and severity of COVID, Zielinski said. In a statement, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital said, The COVID-19 surge and national staffing crisis are straining health systems, and it has resulted in full beds and long wait times, and apologized for resulting inconveniences. Horwitz, with the Urgent Care Association, said many urgent care centers are trying to address the overload with tactics such as only performing COVID-19 tests by appointment, so they can keep their walk-in slots available for people with other types of medical needs. Some are trying to keep slots open by only performing COVID-19 tests for people with symptoms of the illness, rather than those who were merely exposed. Horwitz is hopeful that new federal programs to give people free at-home COVID-19 tests, through a website and health insurance companies, will also take some of the pressure off of urgent care centers. Doctors and hospital leaders also say there are things that can be done to potentially help avoid ER backups and cancellations of elective surgeries in the future but some of those things will take time to accomplish. Already, the state and federal governments have sent additional staff to Illinois hospitals in recent weeks to help out, but doctors say they need more people to go into health care in coming years. More needs to be done to support front-line health care workers, such as through pay, affordable child care and student loan forgiveness, said Dr. Joseph Sakran, director of emergency general surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, whos written about how this surge has affected care. And investments must be made to build up state and local public health infrastructure to better respond to disasters and pandemics, he said. In the past, when a region experienced a crisis, such as a hurricane, the federal government stepped in and filled in the gaps. But when the federal government is asked essentially to respond to the entire nation, its not just one small location or one small region, then youre able to see we werent prepared to do this. In the short term, one of the most important things people can do is to get vaccinated, health care leaders say. Though vaccinated people can still catch COVID-19, they dont typically need hospitalization. Fewer people needing hospitalization could mean shorter ER waits and a return to performing all elective surgeries. Mingay, who is still waiting for her surgery, is eager for that day. She is now hoping to have her procedure in the coming months, barring another bad COVID-19 surge. Shed like to see everyone do their part, by masking and getting vaccinated, so this doesnt happen again. Mentally, its like being on this roller coaster, Mingay said. It just keeps going. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Jeri Ward was crowned Mrs. Virginia at Hotel Roanoke on Saturday, Jan. 15, and will now compete in Mrs. International 2022 at the Meadowview Resort and Convention Center in Kingsport, Tennessee, from July 18-23. Jeri was raised in Emory, Virginia, and attended Patrick Henry High School, Virginia Highlands Community College, King University, and East Tennessee State University. Jeris charitable platform, Stroke of Luck, was founded after Jeri suffered a massive ischemic stroke at the age of 30, which cost her the ability to speak, move, read and write. After months of therapy, Jeri regained her mobility and is now educating in over 26 countries on stroke prevention and has passed stroke transportation laws in three states. A Bristol, Tennessee man faces felony charges following an officer-involved shooting that left a deputy in serious condition Friday, authorities said. Alan Coulter, 54, of Bristol, has been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of reckless endangerment, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of use of a weapon during the commission of a dangerous felony, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The deputy, who has not yet been identified, is expected to make a full recovery. Just after 12:30 a.m. Friday, deputies with the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office spotted Coulter, who they knew had active arrest warrants, driving a truck along Hickory Tree Road. The deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Coulter refused to stop and drove to property in the 400 block of Riley Hollow Road before abandoning the vehicle and running to an outbuilding, the TBI said in a news release. As deputies approached the structure, Coulter fired a shot through the door, striking one of the deputies, the TBI said. He then barricaded himself inside the building and refused to negotiate with deputies. Over the course of the next few hours, Coulter fired shots at deputies, resulting in deputies returning fire. Just before 9:30 a.m., Coulter was taken into custody. Coulter was not injured during the incident. The deputy was taken to Johnson City Medical Center in critical condition. However, the Sheriffs Office said late Friday his condition had been upgraded to stable. TBI agents continue to work to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. A portion of Hickory Tree Road was closed off to the public during the standoff. People living in that area were urged to remain in their homes until the standoff ended. Sheriff Jeff Cassidy said the Bristol Virginia Police Department, the Kingsport Police Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol assisted. Coulter has a lengthy criminal history, and had pending charges including aggravated assault, domestic assault and failure to appear in Sullivan County General Sessions Court. His pending aggravated assault charge is from December 2021. BRISTOL, Tenn. Since early November, the Rev. Sam Weddington and volunteers at First Presbyterian of Bristol have provided 781 air purifiers to residents from both Bristols whove been affected by the emissions from the Bristol, Virginia landfill. In the past few months, the demand for air purifiers has grown as the stench from the landfill has continued to spread and affect new areas of the city. Weddington, pastor of the church, has served as a voice for those negatively impacted by the ongoing problems at the landfill, calling for accountability and assistance from the city councils of Bristol, Virginia, and Bristol, Tennessee. In the last (Bristol, Virginia) council meeting, I did thank them for admitting that they needed help with the landfill, and I said its also time for you guys to get involved with the relief efforts, he said. So far, Bristol, Virginia officials have offered no funding to residents for air purifiers, air filters or other items to help alleviate the odors from the landfill. However, the city of Bristol, Tennessee, in cooperation with the United Way of Bristol, has distributed more than 220 air purifiers to Bristol, Tennessee and Sullivan County residents. Currently, First Presbyterian has been able to acquire air purifiers from Aerus for a low price because of a deal brokered by Bristol, Tennessee Mayor Mahlon Luttrell. However, the demand is quickly outpacing the supply, and Weddington and his volunteers are overwhelmed. We sort of imagined it starting off small and at the first distribution, there were only 84 units that we gave out. On our last distribution, which was Tuesday, we gave out about 200, Weddington said. You just hear peoples stories, the impact that it has on them. Thats really what drives it, you know. Somebodys got to do something. Weddington said he will continue to plead with members of the Bristol Virginia City Council to take responsibility for helping the citizens they represent cope with the landfill emissions. I just dont have the infrastructure the city has or the man hours, he said. I am literally doing this on my spare time, and like today, weve got people coming in during office hours. That means that some of my office work today Im going to have to pick up on my days off. For now, Weddington and First Presbyterian are looking for volunteers to make phone calls and reach out for donations to raise the funds needed to get closer to their initial goal of providing 800 air purifiers. Ive got a pretty good team of folks to call once the list gets put together and distribute. What I could really, really use are people that are interested in soliciting businesses and other things, Weddington said. Say theres a concerned citizen out there who wanted to go to three or four businesses to collect donations, I could really use some help with that. Individuals who want to apply to get an air purifier from the church should contact Weddington on Facebook. I know that sounds a little low tech. It is, he said. But the reason is we just we dont have the capacity of the United Way or some of these others to have a full vetting process. Its on a case-by-case basis using our best judgment and kind of just a formula based on the number in the household. The pastor said he doesnt want people to believe the air purifiers will solve their problems with the landfill, and he hopes that Bristol, Virginia officials find a permanent solution soon. Purifiers help, they dont solve, Weddington said. Sometimes, people get confused like, you know, I can still smell it at my house. Well, weve never promised that the smell goes away. It just helps. Im hoping that the solutions will come sooner rather than later. COVID-19 protocols are on the agenda for two school board meetings Monday night. The Catawba County Schools Board of Education will be revisiting the decision to require masks for students, staff members and visitors, according to the meeting agenda. At an emergency meeting on Jan. 14, the board moved to require masks on school grounds. Board members Jeff Taylor, Leslie Barnette, Donna Lutz-Carpenter and Becky Brittain voted for masks to be required. Ronn Abernathy, Glenn Fulbright and Annette Richards voted against requiring masks. A public comment section is on the agenda for Mondays 5:30 p.m. meeting. People attending the meeting are required to wear a mask while inside of the administrative building, a news release from Catawba County Schools said. The Hickory Public Schools Board of Education will also take a vote on the system's mask policy. A time for public comment is on the agenda. Hickory Public Schools has required masks since the beginning of the school year, and the board has voted each month to continue requiring masks. Newton-Conover City Schools will have a special called meeting at 4 p.m. on Monday in the board room behind the Newton-Conover City Schools administrative building. Newton-Conover City Schools Director of Human Services John Robinson will provide an update on the process of creating the 2022-23 school year calendar, according to a draft of the meeting agenda. COVID-19 protocols were not on the agenda as of Friday. Masks have been optional for Newton-Conover City Schools since students returned from winter break on Jan. 3. The Catawba County board will meet in the administrative building at 2285 N. Anderson Ave. in Newton. The board will hold a work session from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., which is also open to the public. The Hickory board of education will meet in the auditorium of Grandview Middle School at 6:30 p.m. Monday. 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. Ive sung the praises of Conover and its residents many times Catawba County as well. That doesnt mean I dont appreciate my countys sisters: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Iredell, Lincoln and so on. From time to time I have reason to cross county lines in order to meet someone or a group of people who have a story to tell. Its always a treat to wind my way into other parts of the Catawba Valley, especially those places that one gets to by way of open land and rolling hills. Think Alexander County. What a lovely place, especially in the fall. That was the direction I headed a few weeks ago to meet Alexander County resident Thelma Kesler. Shes as big a fan of her home county as I am of mine. Speaking about Taylorsville in particular, she said, This town has more heart and more thoughtfulness than anyplace Ive ever heard of. Thelma reminded me a number of times that I was not absolutely not! supposed to center this story on her, which is really hard because she went on to tell me a couple hours worth of great stories, such as the Christmas morning she looked out her kitchen window and spied a pig in the backyard. The swine was neither a Christmas present nor a member of a neighboring household. Thelma let the animal wander on until it was out of sight. She never heard from or about the pig. Sorry, Thelma. I wasnt supposed to talk about you, but I just couldnt help myself. Now Ill get to the gist of Thelmas purpose in contacting me, which she did in the form of a handwritten letter because she and the modern age of technical devices dont have a good relationship. She wanted me to know that Taylorsville has several possible story ideas. Because of her lovely handwriting, the fact that she obviously treasures her region of North Carolina, and a visit with Thelma meant traveling into Alexander County, I asked her if I could stop by. We hadnt talked long before we moved to the topic of Taylorsville residents caring for each other in a variety of ways. For instance, said Thelma, the Food Lion in town gives to the (Christian) Crisis Center (of Alexander County) everything that they can give away. Thelma then talked about Food Lions kind manager, Wendell Speagle, and suggested I call him. She gave me the stores phone number, so when I returned home, I did as I was instructed and contacted Wendell. Turned out, Wendell was just as complimentary of Thelmas big heart as she was of his. Wendell said the crisis center sends a representative to the store five days a week to collect everything that goes out of date. On the other two days, Wendell explained, someone from a Bethlehem-based food bank picks up the out-of-date food. Wendell emphasized that the food is fine, usually good for up to a week after that, he said, meaning after the sell-by date. This is something all Food Lions do, Wendell added. Then he said, (Thelmas) an awesome part of the community. She picked up (out-of-date food) for the crisis center for many years. Dont get mad, Thelma. That was Wendell talking. I just quoted him. Thelma then let me know about the food truck at the old Methodist Church uptown. Later, I did a little research and found that the church is First United Methodist Church Mission Campus on East Main Avenue in Taylorsville. According to its website at fumct.net, A group of volunteers from eight different churches came together to form The Cafe/Mobile Cafe in May of 2015. We recognized the need for a kitchen to provide meals to those in need. We use the Mission Campus of FUMC Taylorsville as a central location where meals are prepared to serve there and on the Mobile Cafe. The website continued, On Mondays, different teams prepare a hearty, healthy lunch for those in town to come eat. We provide a place for those from court and superior court to come as well as other (townspeople) ... Also, on Wednesdays, the Mobile Cafe takes around 120 meals to the Christian Crisis Center. On Thursday, a dinner is prepared and taken by the Mobile Cafe to The Hiddenite (Community Helpers Food) Pantry from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. where 200 or more are served. We are slowly but confidently expanding our days and meals so that we can serve more on a regular basis. Please come help us serve hope one meal at a time. Said Thelma, Anybody who needs it can get the meal. Since both Thelma and Wendell had mentioned the Christian Crisis Center of Alexander County a number of times, I did a little reading about it as well. At rise4me.com, I found that its a ministry of Alexander Countys churches, with its purpose being to share the love of Christ in practical ways to families who find themselves in times of crisis. Among the practical ways is distributing boxes of food to individuals and families, who, as the website stated, are struggling to make ends meet. Back to my visit with Thelma. After talking about Food Lion, the crisis center, and the Methodist Church food truck, Thelma said, Heres the biggie: Anytime a child gets seriously sick, someones house burns down people who are in crisis or deep sorrow, glass jars appear around town for contributions. At this point, Thelma explained that though shes a longtime Alexander County resident, she came to North Carolina from up North and continues to communicate with Northern friends and family members. They are surprised to hear Thelmas many stories of community compassion. We have such kind people who are there, without being asked, when theyre needed, Thelma said. All of a sudden, there will be an ad in the paper about a dinner for someone whos been burned out or flooded or somebodys died, and the family needs money for burial. They do that here. Thelma concluded her list of Alexander County positives by saying she collected T-shirts and still had the one she got in 2000 when a long list of local businesses sponsored the 1st Annual Redneck Games to raise money for all sorts of folks in need. As the back of the T-shirt explained, We Cant Help Everyone, But We Help Everyone We Can, So Help Us Help Others. Thelma said one of the Redneck Games was throwing a football through a toilet seat. Im sorry I missed that. On the whole, concluded Thelma, Alexander County is a wonderful place to live. We got here as quick as we could. Dont let Thelma and me be the only ones so enamored with our communities that we feel the need to sing their praises. Email me with reports of kindness, generosity, and compassion. And pig sightings, of course. Share story ideas with Mary at marycanrobert@charter.net. Mr. Shaffer, Professor Emeritus of History at Cal Poly Pomona, can be reached at reshaffer@csupomona.edu. With Mark Felt's surprise admission ending the decades-long search for "Deep Throat," scholars and pundits can now return to the still unsolved, century-old enigma posed by published revelations of an Abraham Lincoln confidante. Despite application of the latest high tech methods to determine authorship of The Diary of a Public Man , the source remains as shadowy as Hal Holbrook's character in All the President's Men. Nothing comparable to "Deep Throat" occurred in the nearly two hundred years of presidential administrations preceding that of Richard Nixon. Although historians still debate whether Andrew Jackson really wrote the 1832 proclamation denouncing South Carolina's stand on nullification, authorship of a public document hardly compares with the disclosure of a fatal malignancy that brought down a president. But long before Watergate the nation was shocked by the startling publication of The Diary of a Public Man. Appearing in serial form in the North American Review, the published diary ran in four monthly installments in late 1879. Carrying the enticing subtitle "Unpublished Passages of the Secret History of the American Civil War," the series aroused partisans of all sorts - Republicans, Democrats, secessionists and unionists - as it recounted the fateful events leading to civil war. The diary seemingly contained inside information belatedly revealed by, in the words of the editor, "a public man intimately connected with the political movement of those dark and troubled times." The portions published by the Review covered the period from Dec. 28, 1860, until a few days after Lincoln's inauguration in March, 1861. Although today's commentators argue over Felt's motive for finally coming forward, the editor of the Review thought it quite clear why the public man revealed the musings in his journal: "The author of it was actuated by a single desire to state things as they were...." Names of several prominent participants in the tumultuous events that led to the secession of the Southern states are indicated in the published diary only by a dash, or an initial. While the diarist had written in the names, the Review editor worried about "wounding feelings which should be sacred." Therefore, "When men still living, but not now in the arena of politics, are referred to, it has been thought best to omit their names." By so doing, the editor made it harder to verify the conversations and to identify the author. The "Public Man" was everywhere in Washington during those hectic weeks leading to Lincoln's inauguration, meeting with men of widely divergent opinions. He apparently knew everyone of significance in government and, with a seemingly unerring recall jotted down snatches of conversations in which he engaged. Public revelation of these conversations and the diarist's own comments about various national figures outraged readers still smarting from wounds of the Civil War. Numerous Lincoln anecdotes, some vigorously denied by historians, come from the diary. Public revelation of these private conversations and the diarist's own comments about various national figures outraged readers still smarting from wounds of the Civil War. He criticized Major Robert Anderson and his officers for evacuating Fort Moultrie in the face of South Carolinian resistance, and gave credibility to the reported plot to kidnap President James Buchanan (which would have left Vice President John Breckenridge, a secessionist, as chief executive). Massachusetts Sen. Charles Sumner, idol of the abolitionists, received especial scorn, as did the Blair family, whose"mischievous influence" he denounced. General Winfield Scott appears as a doddering fool responsible for unnecessary military force displayed during the inauguration and for spreading rumors of plots against the president-elect. Even Lincoln's wife drew the"Public Man's" caustic criticism when he noted that her manners"were not those of a well-bred woman of the world." Over the years identifying the author became a game in historical research. Henry Adams was an early nominee. Historian Frank Maloy Anderson, after devoting decades to an effort to identify the author, published in 1948 The Mystery of a Public Man: A Historical Detective Story, which suggested but could not prove definitively that Samuel Ward, brother of abolitionist Julia Howe Ward, was the secret author. More recently two scholars from the College of New Jersey, Professors David Holmes and Daniel Crofts, applied the latest tools of stylometry for use in attributing authorship. They concluded after exhaustive comparisons with other contemporary diaries that the revelations were from the pen of William Henry Hurlbert, former editorial writer for the New York Times and later editor of the New York World. But despite his many connections with political leaders, Hurlbert was a secondary figure in 1860 and he may not have had the contacts recorded in the diary. Thus, despite their careful research, doubts about the authorship remain. "Deep Throat," however, is no longer in dispute. Felt's unexpected revelation has aborted a hunt that already surpassed the search instigated by publication of the "Public Man's" diary. Historians and bloggers are now left with nothing more puzzling than who outed Valerie Plame. James C. Cobb is Spalding Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Georgia. This piece is adapted from his new book, "The South and America since World War II," published this month by Oxford University Press. Although the term "historical revisionist seems to have been co-opted these days by committed right-wingers who typically reserve it for liberals who refuse to adhere to the true and sacred American narrative according to Limbaugh and Beck, apparently Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour didn't get the memo. In a recent interview with The Weekly Standard, Barbour, who is a favorite of the ultraconservative, race-baiting Council of Conservative Citizens, offered a startling new interpretation of this group's massive resistance-era antecedent, the arch-segregationist White Citizens' Council, whose title was subsequently deracinated to become the Citizens' Councils of America. When asked how his hometown of Yazoo City, Mississippi came to integrate its public schools relatively peacefully in 1970, Barbour responded: Because the business community wouldnt stand for it, he said. You heard of the Citizens Councils? Up north they think it was like the KKK. Where I come from it was an organization of town leaders. In Yazoo City they passed a resolution that said anybody who started a chapter of the Klan would get their ass run out of town. If you had a job, youd lose it. If you had a store, theyd see nobody shopped there. We didnt have a problem with the Klan in Yazoo City. The White Citizens Council was formed in July 1954 in Indianola, a little north of Yazoo City in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, by a World War II veteran and plantation manager, Robert B. Tut Patterson, and some local businessmen and politicos. The council organizers had been inspired by a speech by Judge Tom Brady, also a Mississippian, who called on Southern whites to mount an organized resistance campaign against the Supreme Courts integration decree. The Council spread across, and ultimately out of, Mississippi, generally attracting the white economic and political elites of the Deep Souths Black Belt counties but later making some inroads among blue-collar whites in the cities as well. Pledged to maintain white supremacy, the councils foreswore violence but did their best to intimidate blacks who might think about challenging the status quo and to make painful examples of those who did. Perched atop the local economic pyramid, the councils white elites could seriously reduce, if not cut off entirely, the flow of commerce and credit, not to mention employment, to blacks who got out of line. Council leaders typically made it a point to see that the names of any black persons who had attempted to register to vote or signed petitions for school desegregation made their way to the local newspapers so that whites in the community would know which blacks to fire, turn off their tenant farms, or deny credit. An Alabama council member summed up his groups aims quite candidly when he explained, We intend to make it difficult, if not impossible, for a Negro who advocates desegregation to find and hold a job, get credit, or renew a mortgage. Council membership may have reached a region-wide total of 300,000 at one point, but the groups political influence varied considerably from state to state. It was strongest by far in Mississippi, where the Council propagandized about the horrors of racial amalgamation and publicized the NAACPs well-known ties to communism. The group also worked closely with the publicly funded State Sovereignty Commission to spy on, harass, and undermine not only those thought to favor integration but those whose attitudes toward it were simply unclear. The pugnacious editor and publisher Hazel Brannon Smith, who would win a Pulitzer Prize in 1964 for her editorial assaults on the Citizens Council, described the atmosphere in Holmes County, Mississippi, when the groups power was at its peak: The councils said that if we buried our heads in the sand long enough, the problem would go away. It was the technique of the big lie, like Hitler: tell it often enough and everybody will believe it. It finally got to the point where bank presidents and leading physicians were afraid to speak their honest opinions, because of this monster among us. What is so striking about Gov. Barbour's description of how the Citizens Council supposedly kept Yazoo City Klan-free is that it actually describes how the Council operated at the local level to keep blacks from pursuing their civil rights. Take, for example, the following incident which occurred, of all places, in Yazoo City. On August 5, 1955 the local NAACP chapter submitted a petition bearing fifty-three signatures to the school board asking for immediate desegregation of all schools. Stunned that the supposedly well-treated, contented black citizenry of Yazoo City would make such a move, the local Citizens Council move swiftly. The first step was to run a large advertisement in the Yazoo City Herald listing the names of the petitioners, who had already been identified in the paper's account of the petition being filed. Most of the petitioners were black professionals, businessmen, and tradesmen who seemed to have achieved a measure of economic independence that promised to insulate them from white pressure and coercion. It soon became obvious, however, that NAACP leaders had underestimated the amount of economic influence the local whites still enjoyed over members of the black middle class in Mississippi. One by one, those who signed the petition lost their jobs or whatever "business" or "trade" they had with whites. Some blacks move quickly to remove their names from the list. Others held out but eventually followed suit. Many of those who removed their names found it impossible to get their old jobs back, nor could they find new employment. Many left town altogether. Only those who were totally dependent on the black community for their incomes managed to survive economically. By the end of the year only two names remained on the petition; both belong to people who had already left town. And NAACP officials admitted that the local chapter had lost members as a result of the petition drive. "We expected pressure," said another, "but not this much. We just weren't prepared for it." If the Klan was as low profile in his hometown as the governor suggests, the real reason may be that the Citizens Council rendered it not so much persona non grata as simply superfluous. Although Council members preferred straw hats and seersucker suits to robes and hoods and forswore violence of any sort, their dire prophesies of mongrelization and warnings that desegregating the schools will lead to rape clearly inflamed white racial passions. A number of key defenders of segregation talked out of both sides of their mouths on this point. Citizens Council stalwart James Eastland took to the floor of the Senate ten days after the first Brown decision and insisted with a straight face that there was no racial hatred in the South and that the Negro is not an oppressed race. At the same time, back in his own Sunflower County, Mississippi (where blacks accounted for 70 percent of the population), and wherever else the people gathered to hear his segregationist harangues, Eastlands supporters circulated handbills declaring, When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to abolish the Negro race, proper methods should be used. Among these are guns, bows and arrows, sling shots and knives: We held these truths to be self-evident that all whites are created with certain rights, among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of dead niggers. White Mississippians were busily engaged in this pursuit in 1955. In May, shortly before the Supreme Court released its ruling in Brown II, Rev. George W. Lee was shot to death in Belzoni after registering to vote and urging his congregation and other black citizens to do the same. On August 13 Lamar Smith, a World II veteran who had also encouraged black voter registration, was shot dead in broad daylight on the crowded Brookhaven courthouse lawn. No arrests were made in the Lee case, and though the sheriff had seen a white man leaving the scene with blood all over him, Smiths accused slayer went free when no witnesses would come forward. Two weeks after Smith was killed Mississippi produced yet another racial slaying, this one so brutal and outrageous that it would begin to awaken the world to the savagery of some white Southerners racial passions and the hopeless vulnerability of blacks who lived virtually at the mercy of those passions. Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam, the summarily acquitted and subsequently self-confessed slayers of the fourteen-year-old Emmett Till, seemed better candidates for the Klan than the Citizens Council, but both their heinous act and the closing of the ranks of even supposedly "better element" local whites around them reflected a climate of hatred and fear that was arguably more the handiwork of the latter than the former. In the immediate aftermath of the trial, the official Council newspaper accused NAACP critics of the verdict of trying to replace American concepts of justice with those of the African Congo of centuries past." By way of follow-up on the enlightened business community of Yazoo City, scarcely a decade after the NAACP challenge to segregation had been repulsed, the ultimate refusal of African Americans in Mississippi or elsewhere to knuckle under to such strong-arm tactics had led to the landmark legislation that brought long-overdue political empowerment to the previously disfranchised local black majority. By then the mechanical cotton picker had drastically reduced the demand for black agricultural labor and blacks' newfound clout at the ballot box threatened the white supremacy that the Citizens Council had promised but failed to preserve. Accordingly, Yazoo County's development leaders now made no secret of the fact that the new industrial jobs they were trying to bring in would be for whites only. Where white economic leverage was once employed to keep blacks in place, it was now being utilized to force them out of the area altogether. For the record, this would have been roughly the same time that the revisionist Gov. Barbour recalls as not "being that bad in Yazoo. Related Links Mr. Hess is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Editor's Note: Following is a column Mr. Hess wrote in June 1978, when Jimmy Carter was just midway through his term. We think it's worth reprinting. It shows how early Carter's flaws became apparent to eagle-eyed pundits like Mr. Hess. Let us assume that Jimmy Carter is an intelligent, decent, hardworking man. Assume, moreover, that he has appointed to his cabinet and sub-cabinet many men and women who are experienced and dedicated. How, then, can a president - certainly no less mentally alert than most past presidents - with many advisers of high caliber, produce such an undistinguished presidency? It's a puzzlement. And it cannot be accounted for by most of the explanations currently in vogue, such as: Carter's an outsider who really doesn't understand the levers of national governance; or Carter surrounds himself with a"Georgia Mafia" whose weaknesses are the same as his own; or Carter is a bad manager who hasn't been able to sort out decisions that a president must make from those that should be settled at lower levels; or Congress is so uncontrollable that it will not allow any president to exercise the reins of leadership; or the bureaucracy has grown beyond the span of presidential control; or many of the nation's problem's are highly intractable; or even all these reasons taken together - although there is truth in all. I would like to put forward another theory: The root of the problem is that Jimmy Carter is the first Process President in American history. "Process President" - using a definition by Aaron Wildavsky and Jack Knott - means that Carter places"greater emphasis on methods, procedures and instruments for making policy than on the content of policy itself." Carter is an activist. He wants to do things. Yet his campaign statements should have warned us that save for the human rights thrust in foreign policy, his passion in government is for how things are done, rather than what should be done. He believes that if the process is good the product will be good. In other words, if he sets up a procedure for making policy that is open, comprehensive (his favorite word), and involves good people, whatever comes out of this pipeline will be acceptable (within certain budgetary limits). A concern for process is not a bad thing. Some past presidents made a fetish of chaos in policy development, often resulting in proposals that had not been fully explored. But process is only a tool for getting from here to there - it is not a substitute for substance. And good processes can produce conflicting, competing and confusing programs. BOGSAT When a president lacks an overriding design for what he wants government to do, his department chiefs are forced to prepare presidential options in a vacuum. Usually this is done by BOGSAT - the acronym for a"bunch of guys sitting around a table." In other cases, where political executives have not been given some framework in which to function, they will try to impose their own hidden agendas on the president. Each departmental proposal - whether for welfare reform or tax reform - may or may not be"right," but there is no reason to expect that automatically it will fall in place with what other departments will be proposing. Ironically, Carter's procedures assure, by definition, that he cannot deal with the nation's ills comprehensively. Political executives and high level civil servants prefer to be loyal to a president. If direction is forthcoming, they will try - successfully or not - to honor a president's wishes. When direction is not present, they will go into business for themselves. The Carter presidency cannot be described - as was sometimes true of past administrations - in terms of White House loyalists versus cabinet department disloyalists. Today neither White House staff nor cabinet officials have been given the predictive capacity that they must have to do their jobs properly. A subordinate - even on the cabinet level - has to be able to plan on the basis of some past pattern. Take government reorganization policy. Some of Carter's actions support the concept of centralization (energy); some support the concept of decentralization (education). On what basis is an administration planner to design the next reorganization? Uncertainty radiating from the top, furthermore, lowers morale throughout the permanent government, hence it adversely affects the implementation of programs. While the bureaucracy may be the butt of jokes, it is also the motor force that provides services on a day-to-day basis - and it too looks for consistent signs from a president. American presidents have not been ideologues. And it is certainly not my notion that Carter should become one. But all modern presidents, whether"liberal" or" conservative" - no matter what their other faults - have had some programmatic view of government in which the specific parts usually could be fitted. This is not the case with Carter's domestic program, although he does seem to have a firmer view of defense policy (perhaps because of his naval background). So the basic problem of this administration will not be corrected by rearranging boxes on organization charts or by doing a better selling job to Congress and the public. What has produced an undistinguished presidency? Jimmy Carter's failure to set consistent policy goals - or more grandly, a philosophy for government. Courtesey of TomPaine.com By Trend Presidents of Iran and Turkey discussed bilateral and regional relations and stressed the need to strengthen the level of cooperation and coordination between Tehran and Ankara in a phone conversation on Saturday afternoon, Trend reports citing Mehr. Ayatollah Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi on Saturday night in response to a phone call from his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan referred to the existing potential to develop Tehran-Ankara relations and cooperation in bilateral and regional fields, and said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran in relations and cooperation with Turkey has a long-term and comprehensive vision and we welcome planning for strategic cooperation with Turkey." Raeisi stressed the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries as the only way to achieve lasting security and stability in different parts of the region. Turkish President Erdogan, for his part, expressed interest in visiting Tehran soon, stating that Turkey has prepared a list of various economic cooperation to strengthen relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Emphasizing the continuation of Iran's energy supplies to Turkey, the Turkish President said, "Turkey considers Iran as a reliable supplier of energy and seeks to increase the level of its cooperation with Tehran." Referring to Ayatollah Raeisi's visit to Moscow and meeting with Mr. Putin, Erdogan expressed hope that the results and useful achievements of the visit will soon be seen in various areas and stressed his country's support for Iran to achieve regional security. Ms. Coontz, the director of public education for the Council on Contemporary Families, is the author of Marriage, a History: From Obedience to Intimacy, or How Love Conquered Marriage. A second and expanded edition of her book, American Families: A Multicultural Reader, was published in March. One of the recurring undercurrents in arguments over who deserves to win this historic Democratic Party primary race has been the question of which group needs advancement more blacks or women. Gloria Steinem has argued that voting for a woman is critical, because sexism is still taken less seriously than racism. A female Obama supporter recently countered in Time that race must trump gender, because as long as African-Americans remain so disadvantaged in income, health care, and education, electing a black man is a matter of life and death. Talk show callers argue over which represents worse discrimination: the fact that men can raise a sign at a Hillary Clinton rally saying "Iron My Shirt" without facing mass outrage or that rightwing Christians are forwarding messages chain messages saying that Barack Obama is a Muslim. This isn't the first time progressives have debated each other over whether a black man or a white woman needs electoral power more -- and it is a debate that serves nobody's interests except those who don't think EITHER racism or sexism needs addressing. Prior to the Civil War, black abolitionists and white women rights activists were strong allies who anticipated that a victory for either cause would be a victory for the other. In 1839, more than 14,000 women signed a petition to the Massachusetts legislature demanding the repeal of laws that discriminated against Blacks and prohibited interracial marriage. Feminist and abolitionist Abby Kelley wrote: We have good cause to be grateful to the slave for the benefit we have received to ourselves in working for him. In striving to strike his irons off, we found most surely, that we were manacled ourselves. African-American abolitionists returned the sentiment. Former slave Frederick Douglass was a vigorous defender of womens rights. Right is of no sex, declared the first issue of his abolitionist newspaper, the North Star, in December 1847. The black abolitionist leader Francies Maria Steward insisted that the struggles for racial and sexual equality were inextricably intertwined. But after the Civil War, in 1866, Republicans proposed the Fourteenth Amendment, penalizing any state that denied suffrage to its male citizens, and in 1868, the Fifteenth Amendment, which forbade states from denying suffrage on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Senator Charles Sumner later wrote that in drafting the Fourteenth Amendment, he had filled nineteen pages in an attempt to avoid using the word male, but his effort came to naught. Many northern Republicans were willing to tolerate Black men voting, which would only minimally affect their districts, but not women. In response, southern Democrats suddenly began to support woman suffrage, but only insofar as it could be used to defeat black male suffrage. Originally, abolitionists and feminists had opposed separating the issue of Negro suffrage and female suffrage, but now they faced a difficult dilemma. Should they support black male suffrage, in Frederick Douglasss words, as the culmination of one-half of our demands, or should they, as Sojourner Truth urged, press for universal suffrage while things are stirring; because if we wait till it is still, it will take a great while to get it going again? There were eloquent arguments and honest tactical differences on both sides. But but in arguing for their positions, some individuals utilized prejudices that would seriously hamper future unity. Douglass wrote that female suffrage was not urgent, because woman has a thousand ways to attach herself to the governing power of the land and already exerts an honorable influence on the course of legislation. Elizabeth Cady Stanton retorted that women ought not to stand aside and see Sambo walk into the kingdom first. And Susan B. Anthony suggested that if you will not give the whole load of suffrage to the entire people, give it to the most intelligent first.... Let the question of woman be brought up first and that of the negro last. The self-defeating nature of these attempts to prove that one group deserved more consideration than the other was demonstrated in Kansas in 1867, when the Republican legislature proposed two separate amendments to the Constitution, one for woman suffrage and one for Negro suffrage. Originally, the legislature urged a vote for both. As the campaign progressed, however, the Republican leadership took the position that both measures could not pass, and actively worked against female suffrage. In retaliation, Stanton and Anthony accepted the support of a notorious racist, George Francis Train, publishing his anti-Negro comments in their pro-woman suffrage paper. In the end, both measures were defeated, and it took twenty years to repair the breach between the leaders of each side of the debate -- twenty years of stagnation for both causes. Neither Obama nor Clinton has maintained that women or African-Americans are less worthy of advancement, but when their supporters suggest that one group needs the presidency more, they resort to a divisive tactic that has historically backfired against everyone who struggles for equality and social justice. This was not just true of the woman suffrage and black suffrage movements of the 19th century. The same divisiveness bedeviled the struggle of workers for a living wage and the 40-hour work week. When white working-class men urged the exclusion of blacks and women from jobs and union membership, they weakened their own position and opened the door for these groups to be used to break strikes and oppose union organizing efforts. History clearly shows that the advancement of one group need not and should not come at the expense of another. We would do well to recall the nineteenth-century black abolitionist Charles Remonds plea for unity between supporters of woman suffrage and Negro suffrage. Do not moral principles, like water, he asked, seek a common level? RALEIGH The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will offer three free turkey hunting webinars in February. Topics will include biology, species habits, habitats, scouting, essential equipment, setup, effective shot placement, decoy placement and hunting strategies. Each hour-long class will conclude with an interactive question-and-answer session. The webinars were created with the new hunter in mind. Turkey hunting can be more approachable than other big game hunting, but has its challenges. The instructors will provide a comprehensive overview about how to prepare for the hunt, what to expect and how to execute a successful harvest and enjoy the time in the wild, even if unsuccessful. Its a great opportunity for novice hunters to learn how to get started. The webinars are especially intended for those that have never hunted and lack access to a hunting mentor, although they are open to all skill levels, said Walter Deet James, an R3 hunting specialist with the Wildlife Commission. The multi-skill set series of turkey hunting webinars will be completed over three consecutive evenings. Anyone interested in attending all skill sets must register for each class separately. The 2022 turkey hunting webinar schedule is as follows: Tuesday, Feb. 8: Biology for Hunters, Regulations, Where to Hunt and Scouting Wednesday, Feb. 9: Firearms, Ammo, Clothing and Miscellaneous Equipment Thursday, Feb. 10: Hunting Techniques and Strategies All webinars will take place from 7-8 p.m. Classes will be held via Zoom. Space is limited and pre-registration online is required. Participants will receive the Zoom link after registering via a confirmation email. The class will be recorded and available to registered participants at a later date. The webinars are being held prior to the wild turkey open seasons for male or bearded turkeys, April 2-8 for youth under 18, and April 9 through May 7 statewide. Turkey hunting rules and regulations are available at ncwildlife.org/Licensing/Regulations. For more information, visit ncwildlife.org/sbs or contact James at walter.james@ncwildlife.org or at 984-202-1387. SPRINGFIELD Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday, Jan. 19, that he is cautiously optimistic that the recent surge in COVID-19 cases spurred by the omicron variant has peaked, but he cautioned that another variant could appear at any time and continued to urge people to get vaccinated and wear face coverings when in public. Over the last two years, I've said over and over that you don't know when a surge has reached its peak until you're on the other side of it, Pritzker said during a news conference in Chicago. As of late Tuesday, 6,507 Illinoisans were hospitalized with COVID-19, a relatively high number but still down 11.8 percent from the peak recorded on Jan. 13 when 7,380 were hospitalized. Of those hospitalized, 1,085 were in intensive care units and 608 were on ventilators, also high numbers but still down from their peaks of about a week earlier. On Wednesday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 26,491 new cases of the virus out of 194,306 tests performed. Over the previous seven days, the case positivity rate averaged just over 12 percent. But IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said the reported number of cases is no longer the most important statistic to track. I am absolutely moving away from the cases because we know that that's not even the full story, given all the home tests and all the positives that are happening at home that are not recorded in any of our Department of Public Health databases, she said. But the hospitalizations, you can't hide a hospitalization. And so as we look at those hospitalizations and understand where those numbers are going, that is definitely a clear signal of the direction we're moving in. The news conference took place on the same day the U.S. Postal Service officially opened a new website on which people can order free home testing kits. Every household can order a package of four individual rapid antigen tests that will be shipped in late January. That website is https://special.usps.com/testkits. Despite the downward trend, Pritzker and Ezike both urged residents to get vaccinated, to get booster shots when theyre eligible and to continue wearing face coverings in public places. The omicron surge has tested and proven once again that vaccines and masks are our best tools to keep most people safe from each variant of COVID-19, Pritzker said. Nevertheless, omicron's high transmission rate caused more COVID hospitalizations than ever before. The vast majority unvaccinated. Our hospital systems and health care workers have battled to treat and to save not just COVID-19 patients, but every patient who walks through their doors. * * * GOP PUSHES TO REPEAL SAFE-T ACT: Republicans are calling for their Democratic counterparts in the Illinois House to join them in efforts to repeal criminal justice reforms, known as the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act, commonly known as the SAFE-T Act. Reps. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, and Deanne Mazzochi, R-Elmhurst, joined House GOP Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, at a news conference Thursday, Jan. 20, to announce their support for legislation, House Bill 4499, introduced a week ago, to repeal the SAFE-T Act. Spain called the SAFE-T Act damaging and dangerous with real consequences for the people of the state of Illinois. Democratic proponents of the SAFE-T Act, who called the effort by super minority Republicans all for show, pointed out that many of the substantive changes created by the bill had not yet taken effect. That includes a measure that would eliminate cash bail in favor of a pre-trial detention method that prioritizes aspects such as the level of danger a suspect poses rather than their ability to post bail. The exact parameters for pre-trial detention will be determined by the courts. That measure takes effect in January 2023. The original SAFE-T Act also changed use-of-force guidelines for law enforcement, created a new police certification system and expanded detainee rights. Spain said crime has skyrocketed in Illinois with increases in retail theft, carjacking and murders, citing 800 murders last year in Chicago. Illinois has become the wild, wild Midwest, Durkin said. Tweaks to the bill, including a measure passed last year diluting some of the use-of-force language in the original bill, arent good enough, the Republicans said on Thursday, and the SAFE-T Act should be repealed entirely. Mazzochi said it would only take a few Democrats to cross over to get it done. * * * I-80 CONSTRUCTION: Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday, Jan. 20, announced the beginning of the next phase of construction along the Interstate 80 corridor that will modernize Houbolt Road in Joliet. The state investment in the public-private partnership is $32 million, according to the governor, who continues to highlight the ongoing benefits of one of his major first-year legislative accomplishment, the Rebuild Illinois capital infrastructure plan. The infrastructure plan passed with bipartisan support in 2019. The states investment will widen the road and reconfigure the I-80 interchange into a diverging, diamond design. This project will go a long way to alleviate congestion and improve safety, Omer Osman, Illinois Department of Transportation director, said. The work that will be taking place here over the next several years is transformational. Improvements are expected to minimize emissions caused by traffic, cut down a long commute, make the daily drive safer and provide more business to the surrounding communities. * * * DIVERSITY IN CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS: Aiming to increase diversity in wind and solar jobs, a proposed measure in the Illinois General Assembly would require more transparent reporting on the level of participation of minority-owned businesses in clean energy jobs. Rep. William Davis, D-Hazel Crest, advanced House Bill 4217 through the House Energy and Environment Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 19. The measure aims to increase diverse participation in projects that could include African-Americans, Latinx, and women-owned firms. In the bill, energy suppliers who generate more than 500 kilowatt hours of electricity with at least 100,000 customers and companies that develop, install, or maintain a renewable energy project with annual revenues over $15 million would be required to submit annual reports on procurement goals and spending on contracts with female-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned companies and small businesses. Annual reports would need to outline a buying plan for specific goods and services the company plans to procure in the next six to 18 months, include any procurement codes used by the company. Its an effort to assist entrepreneurs and diverse companies in understanding upcoming opportunities with the company submitting the buying plan, according to the bill. Part of our effort, as we have done in many other sectors, is to start by trying to ask those individuals that are doing it, to supply reports, to fill out reports and show us what they are doing relative to diversity, and not only what their numbers look like but also, in some cases, the plan to increase that diversity over time, Davis said. Businesses that make less than $15 million a year would possibly be exempt from filling out diversity reports but would still have the opportunity to do so if they desired. * * * EDUCATOR SHORTAGES: School officials across Illinois say a shortage of teachers and substitutes is forcing them to cancel course offerings, move them online or fill open positions with people who are not fully qualified. Those are the findings of the latest survey by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, the fifth such survey the organization has conducted in as many years. Our schools need help, now more than ever, said Mark Klaisner, IARSS president. For five years of our study, we have shown how schools are struggling to find qualified teachers and are under tremendous stress to provide the best education possible while understaffed and overwhelmed. COVID-19 has only made those challenges worse. The survey included responses from 663 of the states 852 school districts, representing 78 percent of public schools in Illinois. It was conducted in the fall of 2021 by Goshen Education Consulting, based in Edwardsville. Overall, 88 percent of the districts responding said they had a shortage of full-time teachers, while 96 percent said they had a shortage of substitute teachers. Districts responding reported a total of 412 classes were canceled and 385 were converted to online instruction because of teacher shortage issues. More than 2,000 positions are either not filled or filled by someone not qualified to teach there, more than double the number reported from last year. That includes the increased use of paraprofessionals people who are not fully licensed as teachers but who are credentialed to work under the direction of a licensed teacher. The shortage is most acute in the east-central and west-central regions where more than 90 percent of the districts responding said they had a teacher shortage problem. But even in the northeast region where the shortage appeared to be least significant, 79 percent of districts reported a teacher shortage, while overall 77 percent of districts said the shortage is getting worse. * * * REPUBLICAN AMENDMENTS: Republicans in the Illinois Senate have again introduced a package of proposed constitutional amendments that they argue would give voters more of a direct say in the legislative process. We're reintroducing these constitutional amendments in order to really put the people back in charge again, Senate GOP Leader Dan McConchie, of Hawthorn Woods, said during a virtual news conference Tuesday, Jan. 18. The package includes a renewed call for an independent redistricting commission. Other amendments would give voters greater power to amend the Illinois Constitution, as well as the power to repeal legislation and the power to recall elected officials at all levels of government. Specifically, Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 13 would remove the current requirement that each Senate district be divided into two House districts and would incorporate provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 into the constitution while requiring that districts be compact and contiguous. It would also establish a 17-member Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw legislative and congressional district lines starting in 2023. The commission members would be drawn from each of the states 17 congressional districts and would be made up of seven Democrats, seven Republicans and three unaffiliated voters. * * * BUDGET NEGOTIATING TEAM: Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch announced a new House budget negotiation team Tuesday, Jan. 18, led by House Majority Leader and chief budgeteer Greg Harris, D-Chicago. Former Speaker Michael Madigan appointed Harris to be the chief budgeteer during the Rauner administration. Harris, the second-ranking Democrat in the House, announced in November that he would not seek re-election after the completion of his current term this year. Harris said he will share his knowledge and experience of the budget process with the team to pass the mantle. We need to continue to keep moving forward, Harris said in an interview. Illinois just had its first bond rating increase in a quarter of a century. We need to continue to keep that going strong. Harris will lead the group rounded out with Reps. Will Davis, D-Homewood; Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero; Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside; and Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, during this legislative session. We have made great progress putting Illinois on the path toward financial stability, Welch said in a statement. With the stewardship of Leader Harris and this incredibly diverse group of state representatives, I am confident we will have a fiscally responsible budget that prioritizes the needs of hardworking Illinoisans. The budget negotiation team will meet with caucuses and then work with the Gov. JB Pritzkers office to determine priorities for the next fiscal year. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The state has awarded a contract for construction of a three-mile segment of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway between Salem Parkway and Interstate 40 on the southeastern side of the city. The N.C. Department of Transportation said it had awarded the $261.8 million contract last month for the work to Webber LLC, a company based in The Woodlands, Texas. Transportation officials said some minor work could begin on the project as soon as February, but that most work will start in the spring. The beltway segment is planned for a November 2026 opening, though final completion, including landscape planting will not be finished until April 2027. Pat Ivey, the division engineer for the N.C. Department of Transportation in Forsyth County, said that the awarding of the contract leaves only one more beltway section on the eastern side of Winston-Salem to go to bid. The contract for that section, running between I-40 and I-74 (former U.S. 311) will be awarded in October this year, Ivey said, and could be finished at the same time as the section linking I-40 to Salem Parkway. The beltway is already open between Salem Parkway and New Walkertown Road (U.S. 311). Work is proceeding apace on building the seven miles of beltway from New Walkertown Road to U.S. 52 on the northern side of Winston-Salem. That section should be opening to traffic by the end of the year, Ivey said. Hopefully we will have a good winter, spring and summer to wrap that up, Ivey said. There is a lot of work that still has to be done. When the eastern leg of the beltway is finished, it will be designated I-74, part of an interstate highway that now exists only in disconnected segments in North Carolina. One completed segment links I-77 to U.S. 52 at Mount Airy. The section of U.S. 52 between Mount Airy and Winston-Salem is slated for an eventual upgrade to interstate standards. From Winston-Salem, an existing section of I-74 connects to High Point, then joins with I-73 from Greensboro to connect to Asheboro and the outskirts of Rockingham. Another I-74 segment bypasses Rockingham and Hamlet, and yet another runs between Laurinburg and Lumberton. Currently, the opened section of the Northern Beltway is designated as N.C. 74. When finished, the beltway will be about 35 miles long. None of the western segments of the beltway are currently under construction. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Winston-Salem teen was shot and wounded Saturday, but he didn't provide any information to police about the incident, authorities said Saturday night. Winston-Salem police were dispatched at 3:25 p.m. to a discharging firearm call in the area of the 1100 block of Tower Street, police said. Officers found an unoccupied red Ford Mustang that appeared to have been in a collision. The vehicle also had damage consistent with being struck by gunfire, police said. Officers didn't find any witnesses in the area. While the officers were investigating, Jose Manuel Butler Colon, 19, of Nissen Street arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his back, police said. However, Colon didn't provide a reason to an officer who talked to him at the hospital about why someone would shoot him or any information about a suspect, police said. Colon was treated at a local hospital for a non-life-threatening injury, police said. Winston-Salem police are asking for the public's help in this case. Anyone with information about the shooting can call Winston-Salem police at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3904. Crime Stoppers of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County is on Facebook. The Text-A-Tip program at 336-276-1717 allows people to text tips, photos and videos to police. 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. Local religious leaders say they have security measures in place to protect congregants from violence, as faith communities nationally responded with deep concern to the recent hostage taking at a Texas synagogue and relief that the hostages were ultimately able to escape. Temple Emanuel is always taking security seriously and pays close attention to national threats and those that remain consistent for us as a synagogue, said Rabbi Mark Cohn, the synagogues leader. Thankfully, the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office and the city of Winston-Salem Police Department pay critically close attention and have been consistently loving and strong support to us. Matt DeSarno, the FBIs special agent in charge in Dallas, said at a news conference Friday that just after 9 p.m. on Jan. 15, he authorized his teams to enter the synagogue just as the hostages seemed to have come to a similar conclusion to take their freedom into their own hands. The rabbi of the synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, Charlie Cytron-Walker, said he threw a chair at his captor before escaping with two others, crediting past security training for getting himself and his congregants out safely. Another first hostage had been released shortly after 5 p.m. Cytron-Walker told CBS Mornings earlier in the week that he had let the gunman into the building because he appeared to need shelter. He said the man was not threatening or suspicious at first. But later Cytron-Walker heard a gun click as he was praying. Authorities identified the hostage-taker as British national Malik Faisal Akram, 44, who was fatally shot by the FBI after the last three hostages ran out of the synagogue. DeSarno stressed that the FBI regarded the episode as an act of terrorism that threatened the Jewish community and intentionally targeted a house of worship. The act, he said, was committed by a terrorist espousing an anti-Semitic worldview. DeSarno said Akram is believed to have selected the synagogue because it is closest to a federal prison in nearby Fort Worth that houses a convicted terrorist with suspected al-Qaida links. During negotiations, he demanded the release of that prisoner in exchange for letting the hostages free. Top officials with the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent a letter Monday to their state and local partners, warning that faith-based communities will likely remain targets for violence, CNN reported. Federal officials also urged faith-based communities to evaluate their security measures for mass-gathering events and at houses of worship. The FBI national office in Washington, D.C. declined to comment Tuesday on the letter. Cohn pointed to anti-Semitic shootings in Pittsburgh, Poway, Calif., Monsey, N.Y. and Jersey City, N.J. in 2018 and 2019 that killed 15 people and wounded 17 others, including six police officers. I am very grateful that my colleague in Colleyville, Texas and his congregation were spared the fates of what has befallen Jewish communities in recent years, Cohn said. The antisemitism that continues to rise from a variety of sources in our country is alarming, Cohn said. And I am very grateful to law enforcement and loving neighbors, colleagues and friends who support the Jewish community and understand the sensitive nature of the threat to Jewish lives. The Rev. Tembila Covington, the president of the Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity, said the most local churches, synagogues and mosques have security measures in place to protect their congregants. Last weekends hostage situation in Texas raised our sensibility to be aware within our respective communities and our congregations, Covington said. Certainly, it heightened our concern that everyone is staying safe, Covington said. Most churches have ushers at their entrances paying attention on who is coming in and who is going out, Covington said. In addition, local leaders of the faith communities stay in communication with the Winston-Salem Police Department as part of their security measures, Covington said. Covington pointed to the killing of nine members of the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. in July 2015. Dylann Roof was convicted of nine life sentences, and he is on the federal death row as the first person to be ordered executed for a federal hate crime. It didnt seem a dangerous situation until it became dangerous, Covington said about that church shooting. The Rev. Nathan Scovens, the pastor of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in northeastern Winston-Salem, also said that his church has security measures in place to protect its worshippers. The church has a faith team which is led by former Police Chief Barry Rountree, Scovens said. The team includes members who are retired Winston-Salem police officers who have undergone security training, Scovens said. I regret anything like that happening in place of worship, Scovens said of the Texas hostage situation. My heart aches . It was very unfortunate. The Rev. Ron Baity, the pastor of Berean Baptist Church in southeastern Winston-Salem, said that his churchs security measures are designed to protect members from violence. Were done that for a long time, Baity said. We have procedures in place to protect our people, but we are not secluded from threats. The church property is covered with security cameras, Baity said. In addition, Berean Baptist has a security ministry in which its members, some of which are law enforcement officers, have concealed-carry permits, he said. I hope no one would disrespect the house of God and threaten our members, Baity said. 336-727-7299, @jhintonWSJ The Associated Press contributed to this story. 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. Among a population that has sadly faded into the everyday background in a growing cityscape, Spencer Parks stands out for one big reason when he panhandles near busy intersections. Duchess, his sweet, 120-pound Staffordshire Terrier mix, stands watch nearby. They say dont choose a dog, let the dog choose you, Parks said. She chose me. That dog is my soulmate. Because hes homeless Parks sleeps in a tent many nights his options are limited when it comes to caring for Duchess. For myriad reasons connected to health and safety, overnight and emergency shelters dont take pets. Its similar with friends whove offered couches. Youre welcome to stay but you cant bring your dog. So when the cold, snow and ice barged into what had been until recently a mild winter, Parks never considered heading to a shelter even for a night. Absolutely not. I couldnt, he said. Earlier this month as he considered limited choices with overnight lows approaching 20 degrees, a chance encounter changed everything. A single act of human kindness turned into an avalanche of support. Loyalty runs two ways Nobody wakes up one day and decides to go live in the woods. It happens gradually and then suddenly. In general terms, homelessness almost always results from a combination of factors including bad luck, poor decisions, the loss of a job or family support, financial hardship, substance abuse and/or crippling health problems, both physical and mental. Its complicated, thats for sure, Parks allowed. Among other things, Parks deals with a Polyarteritis Nodosa, a rare version of vasculitis, that hes had since grade school. In recent months, its left him unable to wear a shoe on one foot and a painful, slow-healing leg wound. (Polyarteritis Nodosa is an auto-immune disease that attacks the vascular system and internal organs by inflaming and bursting blood vessels. It leaves open sores, constant pain and has no cure. Symptoms are managed with steroids and pain medication.) When he was able, the 33-year-old Parks said, he worked construction jobs. Hes on disability now, but a few hundred bucks a month from Social Security only goes so far. For about three years, he and Duchess have lived in a tent. His sister stays with them sometimes. It wasnt so bad, he said. It had a queen-sized mattress with a pillow topper, a couch and an Ottoman. Paying for food, medicine and gas money for several round-trips each week to a clinic in High Point quickly drains his meager monthly disability payment, so Parks panhandles (with a city issued permit) to get by. Strangely enough, thats where his luck began to turn. A passerby couldnt help but notice the bearded Parks, his large companion and a hooded sweatshirt with her picture emblazoned on the front. That person stopped for a brief conversation, snapped a photo and relayed it all to a co-worker named Maria Wood, a board member at FurEver Friends N.C., a nonprofit dedicated to animal welfare, because she knew Wood might be able to help. And because Wood is who she is, she immediately started to act by tapping into a long list of generous contacts. I tell my dogs I go to work so I can pay for their house, she said with a laugh. More than $850 was raised in a matter of days to pay for a motel stay. Dr. Amy Pugh with the Animal Hospital of Clemmons agreed to examine Duchess and treat any illnesses free of charge. Vet care is huge, Wood said. Its not cheap. Once word spread about what was afoot, dog lovers from as far away as Maine sent blankets, a handmade dog sweater for Duchess and made sure that food and medicine would not be an issue. Not that feeding Duchess has ever been a problem. Shes well cared for, to the point where when Parks said he had always made sure shes fed before he even thinks about his own needs, you believe him. And the affection is clearly returned. She sits patiently by his side, looking at him when he speaks as if she understands every word. When he scratches her head and belly, Duchess responds by licking his cheeks. Duchess understands the loyalty and returns it. People have said, Why dont you just get rid of the dog? Shes only got a couple of years left, Parks said. But I cant. I know I could find a place (to live). I love her. It seems cruel to have cared for her all these years and then leave her when the end is near. Before any of these things could happen, before Duchess and Parks could even move into their small, spartan motel room, a few obstacles remained not least of which was physically locating Parks to set it all in motion. An easy ask Once her coworker described meeting Parks and Duchess, Wood tried contacting him through a Facebook account that hadnt been updated in some time a total crap shoot. To her surprise, the message was seen and Parks called the phone number Wood had left. She learned the area where he camped, his ailments and the challenges of finding a place for them both. But before Wood could go in person to get Parks, she tested positive for COVID-19 and got stuck in quarantine. (Is there anything COVID hasnt wrecked?) Rather than wait, she phoned Debbie Garner, a fellow dog-rescue volunteer, and asked for help. It was not a hard sell. Garner tried the cell number Parks had provided. Hed moved into a friends garage for a few days and was harder to find. Still, he answered a call from a number that he didnt recognize. She confirmed the news that a room indeed had been paid for and said shed be by to pick him and Duchess up straight away. He was excited, Garner said. Before he could hang up I heard him say Duchess, were going to get warm, and Daddys going to get a shower. Parks figured the offer was for a day or two. But it had turned into much more than a temporary shelter. By then, what had started as a simple effort to secure a motel room for a couple nights had snowballed. A months rent, the vet visit and even assistance getting into a local health-care clinic to eliminate the long commute were all offered. Garner also contacted a friend, Lea Thullbery, the director of diversion and outreach at Cities With Dwellings, to see what long term options might be. Thulbery in turn saw that Parks was added to a lengthy list of people waiting for transitional/subsidized housing and asked about other needs. Meanwhile, the pet-rescue community has continued to raise money to help offset the obscene cost of Parks own medicine, collect camping gear for when the weather breaks the wait list for housing is more than a year and explore longer term options to aid other homeless people who cannot bear to abandon beloved companions. As for those whod stepped out of comfort zones, eye-opening lessons were learned about the everyday obstacles homeless people clear just to survive. I knew, well I thought I did, from reading so many times about it, Garner said. But when you see it in person being homeless is a full-time job. Its exhausting. None of this is lost on Spencer Parks. He fully realizes that strangers have gone way out of their way to lend a hand. I had started to lose faith in humanity, he said. But its starting to come back. I appreciate everything everyone is doing, believe me. WANT TO HELP? Contact Maria Wood at runningwiththabulls@gmail.com or email me and Ill forward your contact info. 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. So I ask every election official in America, how do you want to be remembered? Do you want to be on the side of Dr. King or George Wallace? Do you want to be on the side of John Lewis or Bull Connor? Do you want to be on the side of Abraham Lincoln or Jefferson Davis? President Joe Biden Jan. 11, 2022 President Bidens aforementioned comments drew the ire of some, Republicans in particular. They decried with crocodile tears that the presidents inflammatory remarks were unnecessary; they created further division when he should be unifying the country. I viewed such sentiments as to have the same hypocrisy as Claude Raines in Casablanca announcing his dismay that gambling was taking place just before receiving his winnings. Elected officials from both parties, under unprecedented circumstances, worked to ensure that the 2020 election was free of irregularities. What about the 19 states in Republican-led legislatures that have passed 34 new laws to make voting more difficult since the 2020 election? The reflexive sophomoric retort is invariably: Whats wrong with requiring identification to vote? Theres nothing wrong with requiring some form of identification. But to pose the question, one either suffers from willful ignorance or blind partisanship. It does not require 34 laws in 19 states to demand identification when voting. Doing so also fails to adequately address the question: What is the problem that the new voter laws attempt to address? According to the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU, there is no problem. During the 2020 election, the Brennan Center reported that voter irregularities occurred at rates between 0.0003% and 0.0025%. Certainly not enough to change the election outcome nor warrant onerous new voting laws. If there is no problem that justifies these voting laws, are not the Republican-led state legislatures championing this legislation opting for mendacity to justify maleficence? When has condensing the vote ever made the nation better? Placing restrictions on the ability to vote is tenuous territory in the American legacy. Therefore, when such actions are done void of validity, it raises concerns. The Republican-led Georgia legislature, for example, did not see fit to change voting laws until after the state voted for Biden and subsequently sent two Democrats to the U.S. Senate. Such legislation is antithetical to the American project because the best-case-scenario offers the new voting laws were designed for a particular political advantage. It is here where the presidents comments have merit. Was the president suggesting in 21st century America someone was replicating the reprehensible actions of, say, former Dallas County Sheriff Jim Clark, who orchestrated Selmas Bloody Sunday, resulting in the hospitalization of more than 60 protesters and one death? No! Bloody Sunday embodied the words of the late Rev. C.T. Vivian, as protesters displayed their willingness to be beaten for democracy. It was this nations never again. Not only did it pave the way for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, it marked the first time America was a democracy for everyone. If youre keeping score at home, thats 57 years ago a rather unfortunate commentary for a nation that has prided itself on its democratic-republican form of government for 235 years. Bull Connor, George Wallace and Jefferson Davis are associated with fire hoses, standing in the schoolhouse door and the Civil War, respectively. But the commonality with the present moment is not the specific infractions, but the impediment to progress that each represented seeking power for powers sake. Taking offense with comparisons to the infamous trio has become a convenient obfuscation to ignore the 19 states that have passed 34 laws to make voting more difficult. When voting is a political wedge issue, criticisms of the president being divisive are nothing more than a convenient non sequitur. Former speechwriter for President Lyndon Johnson, Richard Goodwin, recalled when Alabama Gov. George Wallace met with the president. According to Goodwin, the president asked Wallace how he wanted to be remembered. What do you want left behind; you want a great big marble monument that says, George Wallace, he built or you want a piece of scrawny pine on the side of the road that says, George Wallace, he hated? Johnson asked. Explicit or tacit support for the recent voting laws is to select Johnsons latter possibility. It automatically places one on the wrong side of American history, which, ultimately, was the presidents point. The Rev. Byron Williams (byron@publicmorality.org), a writer and the host of The Public Morality on WSNC 90.5, lives in Winston-Salem. By Trend The number of trips of Turkish citizens to Uzbekistan for employment greatly increases in 2021, Turkey's Employment Agency (ISKUR) told Trend. According to the message, the number of Turkish citizens who visited Uzbekistan through ISKUR increased by 3.3 times compared to 2020 up to 885. A total of 13,171 Turkish citizens traveled abroad via ISKUR in 2021, which is 29.9 percent more compared to 2020. Some 87,681 Turkish citizens were provided with jobs through ISKUR in 2021, 58.7 percent of them are men, 41.3 percent are women. At the same time, 98.9 percent of applicants got a job in the private sector. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed in Turkey reached 3.2 million in 2021, 49.8 percent of them are women and 50.2 percent are men. Is a terrorist a terrorist only when a law enforcement officer or politician says he is? Malik Faisal Akram entered a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, held four hostages, including the rabbi, and expressed support for Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist who was sentenced to 86 years in prison for attempting to murder and assault members of the U.S. military in Afghanistan. If some people refuse to acknowledge these related incidents as terrorism, they are in deep denial, which does not change what happened. Even President Biden called the incident what it was: an act of terror. Initially, an FBI spokesman claimed Akrams motive was not specifically related to the Jewish Community. Really? Then why didnt he visit a Baptist church? After an outcry from Jewish and non-Jewish sources, the FBI reversed itself and admitted the obvious: It was an act of terrorism. Fortunately, Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and three other hostages escaped unharmed. Akram was reportedly killed in a standoff with police. Kenneth Marcus, founder and chairman of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, said the incident goes far deeper than what happened in Texas. Marcus said it was obviously a matter of antisemitism and a failure of the FBI to understand this is something of a pattern with law enforcement in the United States and frankly in Europe. The initial comment by FBI Special Agent Matt DeSarno denying a connection between the incident and the Jewish community was not a mere slip-up, said Marcus. It is symptomatic of a widespread failure with law enforcement to understand the problems of antisemitism and anti-Zionism. Sarah Stern, president of The Endowment for Middle East Truth, responded to my request for a statement: Unfortunately, despite the fact that there has been a huge thawing of relations between Israel and many of the Sunni Arab nations, in far too many pockets of the Muslim population, the old prejudices and conspiracy theories of the past are lingering. According to the investigative journalist Steve Emerson, In rallies and seminars throughout the past year, groups including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) and the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Council for Social Justice demanded that Siddiqui be freed. Akram, a British citizen, had entered the U.S. late last month and allegedly bought a gun off the street. How did immigration officials not flag him? Britain apparently knows something as authorities in Manchester, England, arrested Akrams two teenage sons last Sunday. The Texas synagogue incident should not be seen as separate from the general lawlessness sweeping the country. From shootings in New York, to the stabbing of a young woman in Los Angeles, to looting and unprovoked attacks on the streets in some of our major cities, increasing numbers of the public are fearful about their safety. When I was in school, a visit by the police indicated something serious had occurred. Today, police cars are parked outside schools during the entire school day. The church I attend feels it necessary to place a security guard at the entrance. Robert Jeffress, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, says people have been trained to spot potential threats from people entering the building and that Dallas police are also on hand. All of this is a reflection of the decadence now gripping our society. If people cant feel safe in their houses of worship, schools and while walking down a street, then we have a problem that is deeper than terrorism and lawlessness. It is a problem of the spirit, which even government cant reach or control. Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. One of the difficulties in dealing with COVID-19 these last two years has been the confusion over and misinformation about proper procedures and methods for staying safe from infection and for treating infection. Some misinformation has been spread honestly through ignorance and anxiety, but some has been spread purposely for monetary or political gain, its sad to say. The confusion has sometimes been made worse for the public when medical authorities altered their guidance as we learned more about the virus and its variant strains. (We were first told not to buy masks, remember, which we thought should be reserved for medical workers.) Not everyone understands that when better information comes to light, science changes. Unlike political dogma. And thats one of sciences strengths the flexibility to change when we learn better. Its a feature, not a bug. The scientific method observation, data collection, hypothesis, rigorous testing and analysis is still our best method for evaluating medical and scientific truth. Its certainly much better than rumor, personal anecdote or the obscure websites to which anti-vax pundit Candace Owens advises people to turn. Many jokes have been made about vaccine skeptics who have turned to taking ivermectin to treat COVID-19 a medication most commonly used to rid farm animals of parasites which seems especially risky when most medical professionals say theres not enough evidence that it works. Previous studies have been inconclusive or incomplete. Ivermectin poisoning skyrocketed in 2021 and the Food and Drug Administration currently says it should never be used to treat or prevent COVID-19. In Indiana, a pending bill in the legislature would approve its use. But both the Indiana Pharmacists Association and the Indiana State Medical Association have called the bill dangerous, particularly the part that would prohibit providers from discouraging patients from using the treatment. Politicians tying the hands of medical professionals is almost always a bad idea. But theres something about the drug that shows enough potential that doctors at Duke University have been testing it, along with two other potential COVID-19 treatments. There were some early studies that showed that it could potentially be helpful with COVID-19, but they were not large enough to be definitive, Dr. Adrian Hernandez, one of the studys leaders, told The (Raleigh) News & Observer last week. So we want to know either way, is it potentially beneficial or not? Please do not bypass the word potentially. We should understand if there are any benefits, Hernandez said. And if not, we should be able to report that back out to the public clearly and note what shouldnt be done. The two other drugs being tested are fluvoxamine, currently used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression, and fluticasone furoate, an inhaler medicine prescribed for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, The News & Observer reported. The three drugs were chosen for the study, not only because of their potential, but because any of them would be easier and less expensive to administer than monoclonal antibody treatments, which have to be administered by IV or through a series of shots in a clinic or doctors office. Nearly 2,500 patients from across 26 states are taking part in the study. Hernandez said that researchers may have the data they need to release their results within a month or so. The ultimate goal is to create a treatment that, in conjunction with vaccines, can be used easily and safely at home to make COVID-19 as manageable as seasonal flu. So, note: Even if proved effective, ivermectin wouldnt replace the vaccines, which are still the best method of preventing serious illness and hospitalization. Learning of new treatment methods make us feel hopeful but were not out of the woods yet. Were not even near the border. Health officials in Forsyth County are still pleading with residents to continue wearing masks and maintaining social distance as COVID-19 continues to surge even if vaccinated and boosted. And if youre not vaccinated and boosted, you could do yourself and your loved ones no greater favor than to correct that oversight. The rate of COVID infection and hospitalization has risen to their highest levels ever, according to the Forsyth County health and human service board. We need everyone in the community to work together to get on top of this COVID tsunami; by working together we will succeed. After the Nebraska Legislature approved a bill in April 2021 requiring the state's law enforcement agencies to adopt a duty to intervene policy by Jan. 1, nearly every agency in the state has complied with the mandate. Three weeks after the New Year deadline, 91 of Nebraska's 93 sheriff's offices and 108 of 111 police departments now have a written policy requiring employees to intervene and report instances of excessive force, according to the executive director of Nebraska's Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. Don Arp said the agencies that failed to meet the deadline police departments in Bancroft, Edgar and Newman Grove, plus sheriff's offices in Dundy and Johnson counties are all small with limited staffing, but each of them is working with the commission to adopt an intervention policy. The requirement came as a legislative response to George Floyd's murder, aiming to prevent incidents such as the one that led to Floyd's death from happening in Nebraska, where such intervention policies hadn't been required until now. The state's crime commission released a model intervention policy in October, allowing agencies without their own to adopt it verbatim, or to add elements of the model policy to their own written intervention guidelines. The state model requires an officer to jump in either verbally or physically when another law enforcement officer regardless of agency uses a level of force that exceeds what an officer "would reasonably need to use in the situation." It also requires officers to report instances of excessive force to agency supervisors "as soon as feasible." In addition to the five agencies that missed the Jan. 1 deadline, Arp said another three police departments in Crofton, Spalding and Cedar Bluffs are currently without a police chief or any sworn officers, leaving them unable to draft or adopt a policy. Lancaster County drafts hybrid The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office was among the Nebraska agencies without a written intervention policy until Jan. 1, when the office instituted its own policy, drawing elements from the state's model policy and the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement Project, a national training initiative the agency's command staff participated in last month. Sheriff Terry Wagner described an officer or deputy's duty to intervene in instances of excessive force or criminal acts as inherent, but he said he understands the importance of a written policy and the training that comes with it. "It's common sense," he told the Journal Star. "You expect people to do their jobs with honor and integrity and to know what's right and wrong and when they see something wrong, to do something about it. "But having something in writing reinforces that to all of our employees." The sheriff's office's written policy, similar to the state's model policy, requires employees to intervene and report behavior in circumstances when other law enforcement officers are using illegal or excessive force. The guidelines also provide explicit protections against potential retaliation toward employees who report excessive use of force and even notes that effective implementation of the written policy would be considered in evaluations and promotions. Wagner said the active bystander training which will be provided to all deputies in the coming months could also help shore up any hesitancy employees have about correcting the actions of a superior, offering applicable tactics and strategies to intervene when they feel compelled to do so. "That's the important component," he said. "If you're gonna give subordinates a license to call out if you want to call it that call out a superior officer, they need to be able to do that and not worry about being retaliated against for their actions." LPD takes policies further The Lincoln Police Department had already introduced a written intervention policy months before the Legislature voted to require agencies to do so, adopting a policy in August 2020 in the wake of Floyd's death and the calls for accountability that ensued. Assistant Police Chief Jason Stille said the policy was updated again in January 2021, when LPD moved to include specific language protecting employees who report wrongdoing from retaliation a provision that still isn't required in Nebraska statutorily, even though it's included in the state's model policy. Stille said the department first began work on an intervention policy as a means to retain national accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. At the same time, Stille said, the department worked with the Malone Center and other local advocates to develop the policy. Now, as many of the rest of the state's law enforcement agencies catch up, Stille said the department has introduced new polices this month after its annual review, adding a "bias by proxy" measure. That update aims to prevent LPD officers from inheriting potential racial biases of a caller making a report to police. The measure directs officers to "use their critical decision-making skills drawing upon their training to assess whether there is criminal conduct." "If there's somebody that calls in that has some type of bias they're only calling in certain kids that look a certain way that are playing in the street the police sort of inherit that bias when we show up," Stille said. "And automatically, people bristle, going 'Why are you here?' "Before, our stance was that we would send law enforcement officers out there and then they would be in the best position to filter out whether or not this was a report made because of potential bias. Now, we're sort of empowering folks at all levels of the agency to recognize where we're getting that bias by proxy ... and perhaps not sending officers at all." Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins in 2020 served as the executive sponsor to a similar change in San Francisco, where she was a commander in the city's police department. Before San Francisco's Police Commission approved the policy in May 2020 four days before Floyd's murder Ewins said it was one of the first departments in the country to introduce the bias by proxy policy. Now, more than 19 months later, it has arrived in Lincoln. Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As a longtime graphic designer, Ed Mejia doesnt spend a lot of time participating in design contests these days. Mejia has been an art director at Nelnet for nearly six years, spending time with designers and copywriters, developing ideas and setting the art direction for projects. His work keeps him plenty busy, making it difficult to find time to participate in contests. But for a contest that had a greater reward than just a prize, he made time. Mejia's design for a new Lincoln flag was recently selected from more than 190 submissions as the winner of ReFlag Lincoln, a contest organized by the American Marketing Association and Lincoln Young Professionals. But his winning design, titled "All Roads Lead to Lincoln," almost never made it. Mejia missed the first deadline for the contest, but when it was extended, he went to work. People should know this when working with creative people; were always running late, Mejia said. He spent about 10 hours writing down words he felt described Lincoln and sketching out symbols that could represent what he felt. Once he knew what he wanted to work with, it took Mejia five to six hours to design it on his computer. For Mejia, a design contest that was meant to serve as a rebrand for the current flag was right up his alley. His favorite type of work is taking a current brand and modifying a logo and all the brand identity elements. Mejia acknowledges that its difficult to create a design that will please everyone, but he believes his design represents Lincoln and what the city means to him. He refers it as his love letter to Lincoln. The teal green, navy blue and gold flag includes intersecting lines intended to capture the interconnection of technology, agriculture and commerce that have drawn people to Lincoln, according to Mejia. The beacon in the center symbolizes hope and optimism, as well as Lincolns reputation as a safe harbor for those seeking to make the community their home. Other recognizable imagery in the design include a sunset, one of Mejia's favorite parts about Nebraska, along with the state Capitol and an aerial view of the traditional center of town (the star located at 13th and O streets). The teal green is a nod to Lincolns verdant tapestry of parks, trails, trees and green spaces and the home of the Arbor Day Foundation. The navy blue represents the groundwater aquifer, an abundant and valuable natural resource significant to the region. The gold represents a bright future and a place where all are warmly welcomed. A flag is like a mission statement, it represents ideals, the best versions of what we could be. It's aspirational," he said. "It's not always exact or a perfect description of who we are, it's what we strive to be. And so that was the approach with the flag. Mejia was pleasantly surprised when he learned he had won the contest. Not because he didnt believe he had done a great job, but because the flag resonated with a lot of people and they saw the intention behind the design. The City Council will hold a hearing Monday on a resolution approving the new flag design. If the council chooses to adopt his design, Mejia said it might mean more to him than anything hes ever worked on, because it's something that could outlive him and would be meaningful for his family as well. He is not related to the writer. Reach the writer at emejia@journalstar.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. The banking system in Omaha City, Nebraska Territory, launched the careers of many men whose names went on to become nationally prominent like brothers Samuel and David Moffat, who also were important railroad figures. Two others, associated with the citys and territorys very first banks, went on to hold the offices of treasurer and assistant treasurer of the United States, one of whom returned to Omaha again becoming involved in banking and railroads. Although one of the first actions undertaken by the territorial legislature specifically made any form of banking or note issuance illegal, the legislature still, on March 16,1855, chartered the Western Fire & Marine insurance Company in Omaha City, which was owned by Greene, Weare & Benton of Iowa. Not only was the firm openly carrying on undisguised banking operations, but it printed, and immediately began circulating, professionally designed and printed $1, $2, $3, $5 and $20 notes. The bank, in every way except name, opened in the first brick building in Omaha City on the southwest corner of 12th and Farnam, which was built by the Nebraska & Iowa Ferry Company and named the Western Exchange Building. The same building later housed the U.S. National Bank. Albert Uriah Wyman, born in 1833 in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, went to work for his fathers printing business immediately after finishing common school but soon entered the profession of banking in Madison, Wisconsin. At the age of 15 Wyman and his brother were appointed state printer by the Wisconsin legislature. Wyman arrived in Omaha City in 1855 becoming teller of the Western Exchange, Fire & Marine Insurance Company. The firms president was Thomas Hart Benton Jr., son of the U. S. senator, and the cashier was Leroy Tuttle. The firm experienced immediate success partially due to deposits made by the U.S. government. James Woolworths book Nebraska in 1857 pointed out that Western Exchange could easily have perpetrate(d) enormous frauds, the only indemnity being the character and wealth of the owners. The bank, though it could have issued any amount of currency without any backing whatsoever, held gold and securities well in excess of their notes and were regarded by Woolworth and the community as totally safe. Sadly, their success led to the legislatures formation of nine more banks and though the governor promptly vetoed them, all but two were passed in the house over his veto. Unfortunately, a national depression was waiting in the wings although the Western Exchange immediately set out to draw in their circulations. The letter pictured above, dated Aug. 19, 1858, and signed by A. U. Wyman, returns one of their $2 bills and explains that they were not at present redeeming any of their notes but adds that the holder should be able to redeem it at nearly face through a broker or later by the bank itself as soon as the banks assets could be obtained. Western Exchange quickly blamed losses as being incurred in the east, still the bank was forced to close Sept. 23, 1857. Their stated assets were listed as $288,000, upon which but little was ever realized and included $191.30 in specie and $121 in bills of insolvent banks. Interestingly it was still said at that point in time that more of the notes of this bank were in circulation in Iowa than any other bank. In 1859 Nebraska Gov. Samuel Black, fearing an Indian uprising, organized about 200 men, appointing officers, which included A.U. Wyman, as Quartermaster Commissary. On July 6 about six Pawnee surrendered, but five escaped the following day and the last prisoner was restored to liberty a few months later. Ultimately Wyman and all the volunteers received no pay with virtually noting accomplished in what was termed the Pawnee Uprising. Wyman left for Washington, D.C., in 1863, becoming a clerk for the U.S. Treasury at $100 a month. In 1875 he was made assistant treasurer of the U.S., and the following year appointed the 12th U.S. Treasurer by President Ulysses S. Grant. After a hiatus as cashier, Wyman was again appointed as the 14th U. S. Treasurer, this time by President Chester A. Arthur. Wyman returned to Omaha in 1885 becoming president of the Omaha Loan & Trust Company, which had offices in the Omaha National Bank at 210 S. 13th St., of which Wyman was the vice president, while living with his son William T. Wyman at the Millard Hotel at 1216 Douglas St. An 1890 newspaper reported that an immense amount of eastern capital ... sought investment in Omaha, including $350,000 invested in the Omaha Loan & Trust Company, then located at 16th and Douglas. In 1892 the Nebraska Central Railway, of which A.U. Wyman was corporate secretary, proposed a double-track railway bridge across the Missouri River with connections to South Omaha and the Union Stockyards. In 1901 Wyman returned to Washington, D.C., as auditor of the U.S. War Department, where he died in 1915 and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Leroy Tuttle, like A.U. Wyman, later became associated with the U. S. treasury as assistant treasurer of the U. S. Historian Jim McKee, who still writes with a fountain pen, invites comments or questions. Write to him in care of the Journal Star or at jim@leebooksellers.com. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 1872: The Great Western Telegraph Co. line was completed to Lincoln, giving the city a direct connection with Chicago. 1882: A man believed to have brought smallpox to Lincoln died here, a victim of the disease. 1892: The U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Nebraska Supreme Court and decided that Gov.-elect James E. Boyd was a citizen of the United States and therefore eligible to hold the office. The citizenship of Boyd, who was born in Ireland, had been challenged by Gov. John M. Thayer. 1902: Snow saved the winter wheat crop in Nebraska, and farmers were beginning to worry that the crop would be so large it would depress prices. 1912: Nels P. Anderson, keeper of the Omaha zoo, died after being gored by a buffalo bull. 1922: An effort to induce R.R. Howell of Omaha to run for governor seemed to have failed. Howell later became a U.S. senator. 1932: Robert Van Pelt, then assistant U.S. district attorney, denied that he had said earlier that the liquor situation in Lincoln was bad enough to warrant a cleanup similar to one in Omaha. 1942: State Game Commission officials estimated that 1 million pheasants had been killed in Nebraska during the open season, or about nine pheasants per hunter. 1952: Maj. Drew F. Holbrook, an Air Force jet pilot from Lincoln, was rescued from behind communist lines in Korea by a helicopter after engine trouble forced him to make a crash landing. 1962: The federal government granted $1.3 million to Lincoln Municipal Airport for construction of a new north-south runway. 1972: Weather was topic No. 1. Temperatures plunged as low as Valentine's 17 below zero, and northern counties had several inches of snow. Three young female employees of the Nebraska Air National Guard became enlisted Guardswomen, the first women enrolled in the Nebraska unit. A flu epidemic seemed to be easing off. 1982: Senators killed a bill that would have loosened regulation of day-care homes after a warning by Sen. Bill Barrett of Lexington that its passage could lead to warehousing of children in unsafe and unhealthy conditions. A successful amendment would have allowed people to care for five children, including their own, without being licensed by the state Department of Public Welfare. York's First National Bank marked its centennial with a new gray and golden building on the northwest corner of the downtown square. 1992: Lincoln boy Danny Hatch, 7, celebrated his movie debut in the Hallmark Hall of Fame production "O Pioneers!" Danny played the childhood role of Emil. Nebraska was among one of the three Midwest states having the best records in the nation for securing organ donations, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Platte River is Nebraskas lifeline, providing water for agriculture, recreation and, in its wide valley, the principle transportation corridor for goods and services. Far more than half of the states population lives within 25 or 30 miles of the river. In the next few weeks, the Legislature will be asked to consider a pair of projects aimed at developing the Platte utilizing hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal pandemic relief funds and surplus state revenues. One of those projects is proposed for the Platte near Ashland a 4,000-acre lake, larger than Iowas Lake Okoboji, a popular vacation and recreation site for thousands of eastern Nebraskans. Those Nebraskans, a majority of the states population, would live far closer to Platte Lake, which its proponents say would become a recreation hot spot, providing economic development opportunities as well as some flood control. The lake, which would be created by dredging the river rather than building a dam, would be a public-private development, with the land owned by the state. That is the only way that the project could be developed. But, as the Legislature works on the project, it is imperative that the lake remain as public as possible with extensive areas of public access and development, including opportunities for affordable housing rather than becoming overwhelming private access with residences only for the affluent. Plenty of questions about the proposed lake need to be answered before the project can be endorsed -- most critically, whether it can even go ahead because of its environmental impact. But, at first blush, it appears that the Legislature should go forward with the proposal, abandoning it if any of those questions cant be addressed correctly. More problematic is Gov. Pete Ricketts' proposal to spend half a billion dollars to develop the long-abandoned Perkins County Canal that would divert thousands of acrefeet of water from the South Platte River in northern Colorado and move it to southwest Nebraska. Designed, in Ricketts view, to thwart Colorado plans to utilize all South Platte flows before the river enters Nebraska, the water for the 65-mile canal is provided for in the century-old compact between Nebraska and Colorado. But after a few miles were dug in 1894, the canal was abandoned and has, in the last half century, been an afterthought at best. Its difficult to see how diverting the water into Perkins County would preserve the Platte flows, the cooling water for the Gerald Gentleman power plant and continue the instream flows needed for recreation and wildlife. In fact, the Perkins County Canal is one of the projects listed in a 1989 paper by Nebraska water law expert J. David Aiken for which the death knell has been sounded because of the instream flows required to maintain critical wildlife habitat on the central Platte. Moreover, if it goes forward, Nebraskas attempt to claim the South Platte flows and exercise eminent domain rights to build the Colorado portion of the canal will almost certainly trigger a water war between the states that would be fought in federal courts for years, if not decades. Perhaps a convincing argument can be made for starting the water war, challenging the critical wildlife habitat requirement and spending $500 million on the canal. But until that happens, which isnt likely, the canal project should remain a nonstarter, as it has been for more than 100 years. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I have been a faithful supporter of Rep. Jeff Fortenberry since he was first elected in 2004. For the most part, his voting record has reflected both my views and the district at large. But, frankly, over the years, as his seniority within Congress has grown, I have been disappointed he hasnt taken more of a leadership role among his fellow congressmen. He consistently gets reelected by large margins and returns to Congress every two years, seemingly content with being part of the pack. This fall, he was indicted for lying to the FBI. The Republican caucus stripped him of all his committee assignments, leaving our district no representation on any congressional committees. He faces an uphill legal fight that will last for most of the year, from all reports. He has lost all his motions and appeals to date. Recently, he filed for reelection. Im hoping a conservative leader steps forward to challenge him. Already Mike Flood has joined the race. Our district deserves the chance to have a conservative leader who reflects Nebraska values on the ballot this fall. Fortenberry has had 18 years. Its somebody elses turn. David Chapin, Lincoln Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Every day, there is a shocking juxtaposition of stories in the daily paper. One story says local hospitals are in emergency mode due to being overwhelmed by COVID patients. Another story says the GOP-packed Supreme Court strikes down vaccine mandates for workplaces. One story says a local health department implements mask mandates to protect the community from exploding cases of COVID. Another story says the state's Republican attorney general files a lawsuit to strike the health measure down. One story says over-taxed public schools are forced to go to limited days of the week because of teacher and staff shortage due to COVID cases. Another story says the Republican governor brags about his opposition to mask mandates. Anyone else sense a pattern? The community is ravaged by a plague. Democrats try to implement sensible, scientifically based public health measures to deal with it. Republicans try to block all of those measures. It's almost like Republicans want to extend the plague as long as possible because they think it is to their political advantage. Might be time to prove them wrong. Thomas P. Lynch, Lincoln Love 1 Funny 4 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Trend Georgias coal and coal products imports from Kazakhstan from January through November 2021 amounted to $719,030, which is an increase of 205.9 percent, compared to $235,010 over the same period of 2020, Trend reports via the National Statistics Office (Geostat). The volume of coal and coal products imports from Kazakhstan in the reporting period of 2021 also increased by 28.4 percent from 2,490 tons over the same period of 2020 to 3,198 tons. Thus, Kazakhstan ranked second among main coal and coal products exporters to Georgia over first 11 months of 2021, following after Russia ($7.2 million), while Turkey ranked third ($576,890). Georgias coal and coal products import from January through November 2021 amounted to $8.6 million, which is a decrease of 36.2 percent, compared to $13.5 million over the same period of 2020. RACINE A Kenosha man allegedly broke into a Racine home and claimed to be a police officer before being shot and later arrested. Michael T. Smith, 30, of the 6600 block of 59th Avenue, was charged with five felony counts of bail jumping and felony counts of burglary with person lawfully present in the enclosure and impersonating a peace officer. According to a criminal complaint: On Jan. 15, Smith went to a home in the 2300 block of Superior Street and asked the resident if her son was home. She told him that her son was not home and that he was in the Racine County Jail. At 3:47 a.m. Wednesday, Smith again went to that home and forced entry with a crowbar, sledgehammer and physical force while yelling Police! Search Warrant! He then went to the basement where the womans son had been staying before he had gone to jail. He began asking where the son was before he started screaming. One of the residents became fearful for his life and shot Smith in the leg, causing him to flee. Nearly an hour later, Smith walked into Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital (formerly known as St. Catherines) in Kenosha County. He was detained after receiving medical treatment. Smith had an initial court appearance on Thursday at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 CALEDONIA A Racine man who was allegedly driving drunk crashed into a light pole and was found lying in the snow next to his car. Tyler C. Wilkinson, 51, of the 700 block of Arthur Avenue, has been charged with his third misdemeanor count of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence. According to a criminal complaint: On Friday, an officer was sent to the roundabout at Highway 38 and Highway K for a Dodge Ram that struck a light pole. Upon arrival, the officer saw the truck stuck in the ditch and made contact with the driver, Wilkinson, who was found lying in the snow next to the truck. The officer noticed that Wilkinsons speech was thick and slurred, and his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. Wilkinson admitted he left a bar and said multiple times that he just messed up. Wilkinson was given a $2,000 signature bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Friday. A status conference is set for March 8 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 On Jan. 13 Delavan Police warned people Delavan Lake had thin ice when an ATV went through the ice. But people didnt listen. The next week on Friday, Jan. 21, another ATV went through the lake. That was followed by two more accidents on the lake over the weekend, one involving a snowmobile and one involving an ice boat. No one has yet died or been seriously injured, but Delavan Police say its only a matter of time if people dont take thin ice warnings seriously. Once again, we urge you to use EXTREME caution when out on the ice, the Delavan Police Department stated on Facebook on Saturday, Jan. 22, after their second rescue that day and the fourth in about two weeks. You are not only risking your life but also the lives of those that respond to these calls to rescue you. Be safe! On Saturday, Jan. 22 the calls were shortly before noon and then again three hours later. At 11:40 a.m. on Saturday, the Town of Delavan Police Department and Town of Delavan Fire Department were notified of a snowmobile pulling two ice shanties that had gone through the ice on Delavan Lake. The two 19-year-old men from Franksville were wet and able to pull themselves out. Officers from both the police and fire department arrived in the area and were able to located the two in the middle of the lake off Alpine Lane. Both were rescued by the Town of Delavan Fire Department using an airboat and were taken to shore. The two were checked by rescue and released. Then, about three hours later, after the police department issued another warning on Facebook about thin ice, the Delavan Police Department and Fire Department were called again for a rescue on Delavan Lake. That call came in at 3:13 p.m. The Town of Delavan Police Department and Town of Delavan Fire Department were notified of an ice boat that hit the open water on Delavan Lake. Officers from both the police and fire department arrived in the area and were eventually able to locate the subject on the lake in the 1900 block of South Shore Drive. The man, a 32-year-old from Chicago, was out of the water and standing on the ice. The man was rescued by the Town of Delavan Fire Department using the air boat and was taken to shore. He was also able to be released after he was checked out. In addition to the two Saturday, Jan. 22 rescues, ATVs fell through Delavan Lake on Friday, Jan. 21 and Jan. 13. On Friday, Jan. 21, at about 1:33 p.m. the Town of Delavan Police and fire department were notified of an ATV that had gone through the ice on Delavan Lake west of Town Park. Officers were informed that the operator was currently holding on to the ATV so that it would not sink. Officers from both the police and fire department arrived in the area and were eventually able to locate the man on the lake. The man, a 50-year-old from Beloit, was out of the water and standing on the ice. The man was rescued by the Town of Delavan Fire Department using the air boat and was taken to shore. He was checked by rescue and released. Another ATV went through the lake around noon on Jan. 13. near Alpine Lane. Officers arrived on scene and found a lone man standing on the ice about 150 feet from the shoreline. The 63-year-old Delavan man stated he was not hurt and had been alone on the ATV when it went through the ice. While temperatures are cold this week, officials still continue to advise caution. There still are some areas with moving water especially where springs enter into lakes. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, There really is no sure answer, and no such thing as 100 percent safe ice ... Ice strength is based on a combination of several factors, and they can vary from water body to water body. Ice strength can also vary in different areas of the same body of water. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Kenosha County is in the process of distributing 440,000 N95 masks. Within one week earlier this month, Milwaukee distributed 1 million of the masks. Likewise, Madison and Dane County have distributed hundreds of thousands of the masks, believed to be exponentially more effective at preventing the spread of disease than surgical and cloth masks, this month. Racine County has not been able to do that. The allotment of masks the city and county have received from the state have only been enough to ensure theres enough for first responders, not for the rest of the public. This week, the City of Racine Public Health Department requested KN95 masks from the state. Its request was rejected. However, it was not the intent of (the City of Racine) Public Health Department to distribute either N95 or KN95 face masks in large quantities, Dottie-Kay Bowersox, the citys public health administrator, said in an email Friday. The concern is with the continued surge of COVID-19 cases, the accessibility of community partners such as health care, first responders, and assisted living/care facilities in securing face masks for their personnel. Similarly, the Racine County Emergency Management received approximately 32,000 N95 masks which are being distributed to local law enforcement, fire, and health department personnel, Andrew Goetz, spokesman for Racine County, said in an email. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services did not provide an answer Friday or Saturday as to why Madison, Milwaukee and Kenosha were chosen for the larger allotments. We expect to share more information about masks and distribution next week, a DHS spokesperson said in a statement Friday. One of the issues with distributing N95 masks en masse is that, unlike cloth and surgical masks, there is no universal size that fits everybody well, Bowersox noted. The City of Racine did not disclose how many surgical masks it would be receiving from the state this week, but did say that it learned Friday its most recent full request for masks will not be met by the state. The City of Racine Public Health Department ordered quantities to supplement potential shortages for health care, first responders, and PHD, Bowersox said. Since early last year, the City PHD supplied each fire station with surgical masks for public distribution. They have a good supply still available. Bowersox continued: Surgical-grade face masks have been available at City of Racine Fire Stations for over a year, where anyone can walk up and receive up to five free masks. What has changed? Research has increasingly shown that cloth masks, while still preferable to being unmasked in terms of preventing the spread of infections, are inferior to surgical masks and N95 masks in spreading the virus. Our main message continues to be that any mask is better than no mask, Kristen Nordlund, a spokesperson for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a statement. Health experts suggest stepping up protection against the highly contagious omicron variant with stronger masks such as N95s or KN95s. Previously, the CDC had said N95 masks should be reserved for health care workers because of supply shortages. N95s have a tighter fit to your face than cloth and are made to block 95% of harmful particles. The fibers are pressed closer together than in cloth masks and have an electrostatic charge that attracts molecules to stick to the mask rather than passing through. KN95s offer a similar level of protection. Its especially important now with health care systems under strain, and with people in higher-risk situations such as crowded, indoor settings for extended periods, according to Linsey Marr, who studies viruses at Virginia Tech. Reporting from Emma H. Tobin of the Associated Press contributed to this story. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WIND POINT After almost three years of serving the village, Administrator and Clerk-Treasurer Casey Griffiths is leaving his desk vacant at the end of this month. At its meeting Thursday, Jan. 13, the Wind Point Village Board approved hiring an administrator recruitment service to find someone to take Griffiths place. Friday, Jan. 28 is to be his last day. Griffiths has accepted a position as the first-ever City of Cudahy administrator. He is scheduled to start the job on Jan. 31. Cudahy in Milwaukee County has a mayor, clerk and treasurer, assessors office, common council and several other boards, committees and commissions, but never has had an administrator. The mayor, Thomas Pavlic, currently works full time but will transition to part time with this change. Cudahy is also a larger community in comparison to Wind Point, with a population of about 18,200 residents as opposed to Wind Points 1,700. Griffiths lives with his wife in South Milwaukee, which also means hell be closer to work. Its not that Im unhappy with Wind Point, Griffiths said. Working for a larger community, theres a few more things going on. Griffiths was one of 16 candidates who applied for the Cudahy city administrator position. During the interviews with staff, residents and elected officials, Caseys education, work background, personality and great communication skills made Casey Griffiths the ideal candidate to become Cudahys first City Administrator, Pavlic said in a statement to The Journal Times. The Cudahy Common Council was unanimous in selecting Casey Griffiths as our first administrator We are excited to have him on board. A bittersweet goodbye Village President Susan Sanabria presented Griffiths a small parting gift at the meeting last week. Youve accomplished a lot, Sanabria said to him. She added the board appreciates how hard he works, including when finding out new information. The tremendous amount of work that you do for board and community support with staffing problems, it takes hours and hours. Youve done a great job hiring, youve done a great job of keeping people informed, Sanabria said. When you share information, you dont keep it close to your vest. Understanding much more than I did three years ago, makes it a little bit easier for us to go through this transition without you but we will miss you and we wish you all of the best. Its been great to work with everyone, Griffiths said, addressing the board. Ive been very, very, very happy here. So thank you everybody for your support. Griffiths grew up in Michigan but started living in Wisconsin in 2002 when he began classes at Carthage College. He graduated in 2006 and then moved to the area full-time in 2007. Griffiths started as administrator, clerk and treasurer in Wind Point in May 2019. He originally took the job because he knew the previous Wind Point administrator, clerk and treasurer, Mike Hawes. They are both alumni of the masters in public administration program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Griffiths described the position as an interesting job that helped him to get his feet wet as an administrator. He had worked in municipal government for seven years prior in various positions including administrative services director in the Village of Sussex, assistant to the village manager of Elm Grove and deputy clerk-treasurer in the Village of Waterford. This (Wind Point) was the next step in my career to be an administrator, he said. Throughout his last three years on the job, he said highlights included completing infrastructure projects such as the Lake Meadow Drive reconstruction project, Lighthouse Drive and Lighthouse grounds improvements and of course finding a compromise between the village and its residents on the Deepwood Drive project at 4403 N. Main St. His tenure in Wind Point has been great, he said, and hes happy the Village Board gave him the opportunity to serve the community. The community has a lot of passion and a strong desire to see Wind Point be the best it can be. The Village Board additionally has done a fine job managing finances, he said, and Griffiths doesnt see that stopping in his absence. From this job I have a lot of experience gained, Griffiths said. Hopefully I was able to help people, help operations and make the community better. 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. OSHKOSH The crack in the ice was only a few inches wide the last time Don Herman had checked. About a half-mile off shore, due east of the grand white mansion built in 1903 for the Oshkosh Yacht Club, the expansion, created by cooling and warming temperatures, was now more than a foot wide, over an estimated 10 feet of water. This is prime time for ice anglers to chase Lake Winnebagos walleye and perch with 2- to 3-foot-long jigging rods. Come next month, however, the traffic on the states largest inland lake will increase significantly. The sturgeon spearing season begins Feb. 12 and will draw thousands of people who will sit in windowless shacks waiting for the appearance of one of the prehistoric fish that can top 5 feet long and weigh well over 100 pounds. Six days later, Battle on Bago, one of the countrys largest ice fishing tournaments, will draw thousands more. Thats why Herman, a lifelong member of the Otter Street Fishing Club, was at work Wednesday using his Polaris UTV with a heated cab to pull a homemade, portable bridge out onto the ice. A pair of discarded Christmas trees, their trunks plunged into the crack, which likely ran for miles in a north-south direction, served as calling cards to guide travelers to the bridge that would provide a safer passage. We might move this bridge tomorrow or the the next day, Herman said of the rapidly changing and unpredictable ice conditions. Sometimes we move them twice a day just to keep people safe. Venturing onto the ice is always a risky proposition, but with the proper precautions, a little common sense and, through the work of volunteers like Herman and those involved with other fishing clubs that ring the lake, most trips onto Lake Winnebago and other bodies of water can be done without getting wet, or worse. According to the state Department of Natural Resources, no ice is ever 100% safe. There are just too many variables. They can include wild temperature swings, underwater springs and currents, wind that can break up massive sheets of ice, pressure ridges and heaves, and insulating snow cover that can reduce the rate at which ice forms. Earlier this month on Green Bay, more than two dozen anglers had to be rescued from a sheet of what appeared to be stable ice that had detached from the mainland. Passing barge traffic, which created waves, is being blamed for the incident. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Back on Lake Winnebago, snowmobiles and ATVs are running the surface, but the ice isnt thick enough for cars and trucks, which need a minimum of 12 to 16 inches of ice. But thats a uniform thickness, according to Herman. While checking ice thickness Wednesday morning, he found 13 inches of ice in one spot after drilling a hole with his propane-fueled auger. About 20 feet away, another hole revealed there was just 8 inches of ice, according to his well-worn, wooden measuring stick that has an L-shaped lip at the one end to grab the bottom of the ice. Snowdrifts and heaves of ice littered the frozen surface. The ice is rough, said Jason Mathe, 28, of Oshkosh, who was on an ATV to fish in 15 feet of water about 1 miles out. This (crack) opened up from about 2 inches last night to about a foot today. The DNR recommends that those going onto the ice dress in warm, water-resistant layers and pack an extra hat and gloves; contact local bait shops, fishing clubs or resorts to ask about local ice conditions; stay safely on shore if ice conditions are questionable and if open water is nearby; and carry basic safety gear like ice claws or picks, a cellphone in a waterproof bag and rope. Wearing a life jacket or a float coat is advised, as is making sure someone knows where you are and when you are expected to return. Extreme caution should be used when traveling in unfamiliar areas, at night or at times with reduced visibility. But the human condition isnt always prone to listening to reason, which is why for the past 42 years Herman has a profitable side gig. His business Sunk? Dive and Ice Service retrieves cars, trucks, snowmobiles and ice shacks that have plunged through the ice and into the depths of a lake or river. In warmer months he has pulled out sunken boats, cars that have slid down boat ramps, and crashed planes and helicopters. Hes waiting to remove a tractor from 30 feet of water in Lake Lucerne near Wautoma and will use a tow truck that weighs about 4,000 pounds, significantly less than most. Herman typically does about 20 jobs each winter within in a two-hour radius of Oshkosh, although one year he pulled more than 70 vehicles out of the drinks of Wisconsin. In another year, he pulled a car out of 125 feet of water in Green Lake. He charges $1,000 an hour, and a job can take three to four hours or more, depending on the circumstances. Insurance may or may not cover the expense. It all depends on the policy. I dont believe Im an ice expert. I just go out on the lake all of the time, said Herman, 64. But I know the ice pretty well. We have to because of what were into, pulling cars and everything out. Hermans father was a member of the Otter Street Fishing Club, which was formed in 1961, and used a 1952 Dodge to plow roads on the lake. Herman tagged along with his father as a 10-year-old when his father was plowing roads on the lake and fixed one of the clubs wreckers when he was 16. He began plowing himself a year before graduating from Oshkosh North High School. He spent several years at Leach Co., building garbage trucks, and in 1978 started building plows for the club. In 2000, his entrepreneurial drive kicked into high gear when he purchased his own vehicle repair shop on the east side of Lake Butte des Morts. Herman at one time also had his own towing and crane business and still owns two bars the Fountain, located a short drive from his shop, and Blazers, 63 miles to the northwest in the unincorporated Shawano County hamlet of Split Rock. But hes best known for pulling out waterlogged vehicles, his video posts on Facebook in which he gives updates on ice conditions, and his TV news appearances, all of which have garnered him the nickname Hollywood Herman. Its fun. Its volunteer work and we have a great group of guys. Some of them have been with me for 30 years, Herman said, as we headed toward the Merritt Avenue boat landing in his Toyota Tundra. We build the trucks, we build the plows, we build the plow frames, we build the bridges. Its all volunteer work. The clubhouse for the fishing club, which has 750 life members, is located next door to Jerrys Bar, a longtime haunt for sturgeon spearers, who could have a quick season this year thanks to clear water and good visibility. A garage behind the bar holds two of the clubs three plow trucks, which are stripped down to reduce their weight and cost. Massive V-plows, 8 feet long and 6 feet wide, are attached to the front of each vehicle. Scott Engel, whose great-grandfather opened the bar 111 years ago, estimates the club has more than $100,000 invested into the trucks and plows. Theres a lot of maintenance that goes into these trucks every year for the pounding they take, said Engel, who has owned the bar for 34 years and is a longtime member of the club. This is something that were all brought up with out here, and its part of the culture. Barry Adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin State Journal. Send him ideas for On Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Boston, the venerable Cradle of Liberty, got a rocky reception from the U.S. Supreme Court last week in a fight over flying a flag. The high court justices gave the City of Boston a skeptical reception as it defended its decision to refuse to let a private group Camp Constitution, a conservative Christian organization fly its blue and white flag with a red Latin cross from a flagpole outside City Hall. Cant do that, the city fathers argued, it would violate the principle of separation of church and state the establishment clause in the Constitution. Not, so, said Camp Constitution lawyers argued, the city is violating our right of free speech, guaranteed under the First Amendment. For the past 12 years, the city has allowed ceremonial flags to be flown outside city hall, usually for an hour or two, to let various organizations celebrate events. The city flagpole has flown political flags, national flags, flags of private civic organizations flags marking St. Patricks Day, Juneteenth Day, Boston Pride, the Bunker Hill Association, the Chinese Progressive Association. Until Camp Constitution came along and its religious flag didnt make it up the flagpole. At issue was whether the flags were government speech endorsed by the city as Boston maintained, or private speech by the organization itself. And thats where Boston got flagged (pardon the pun) by Supreme Court justices. The fact was that the city had approved 284 ceremonial flags over the past dozen years, usually on a first-come first-served basis. In all that time, it had not turned down one request. Plus, the citys website and application refer to the flagpole as a public forum. In most cases, according to news reports, Boston did not even ask to see the flags before approving their display. Thats hardly a serious vetting of symbols that the city said it was endorsing. The lawyer for the city of Boston told the high court there were limits to what the city must be made to allow. Private parties are free to wave their flags on City Hall Plaza or even raise a temporary flagpole there, but they cannot commandeer the citys flagpole to send a message the city does not endorse, he told the court. Some of the justices worried about that as well, asking whether a broad ruling in the case would require the city to fly a flag bearing a swastika. According to a New York Times account of the debate: The solution, some justices suggested, was for the city to exercise more control over the process, so that it would be plain that it was endorsing the messages the flags conveyed. Justice Amy Coney Barrett sketched out what such an approach might include. The City of Boston sits down, asks whats going to be expressed and says, Yes, this is an idea that Boston can get behind, she said. And a government official participates in the flag raising, participates in the ceremony, communicating that, Yes, Boston is happy to celebrate and communicate pride in Juneteenth, but, no, Boston is not going to participate in a flag raising for the Proud Boys. The Supreme Court has not yet ruled, but the handwriting is clearly on the wall: Boston must either take charge of vetting its ceremonial flag program; open it to any and all messages by private groups, however distasteful or objectionable their views, which is highly unlikely; or dump the flag program altogether. It will be interesting to see how the high court parses its ruling, and whether Boston salutes it. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 1. Yes. Raising the bar for future developments will boost the citys housing market. 2. Yes. It will help in newer areas, but more needs to be done to change Killeens image. 3. No. The new standards will just slow down homebuilding and drive away developers. 4.No. The ordinance will do little more than drive up the price of new homes in the city. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say what the effect will be until they have been in place for a while. Vote View Results Saudi Arabia today launched Boutique Group, a new hospitality brand that will manage and convert a collection of iconic historic and cultural palaces in the kingdom into ultra-luxury boutique hotels. The new initiative was announced by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs, and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF). The Boutique Group will revive the vibrant heritage and culture of Saudi Arabia to create a new and unique hospitality experience, said a statement. The first phase of the project will focus on the development of three historic palaces in cooperation with the private sector, including Al Hamra Palace that will offer 77 keys including 33 luxury palace suites and 44 luxury villas in Jeddah. Tuwaiq Palace will provide 96 keys including 40 luxury palace suites and 56 luxury villas. Whereas Red Palace will offer 71 keys including 46 luxury suites, and 25 luxury guest rooms. Both Tuwaiq and Red palace are located in Riyadh. Boutique Group will blend the kingdom's culture and heritage with modern amenities to provide an exclusive hospitality experience and a unique service to its guests, growing the Saudi ultra-luxury hospitality sector and contributing to the development of the local economy. The company will also offer many high-end experiences from dining to wellness to exclusive services for each guest. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of PIF, said: His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's launch of the Boutique Group underlines PIFs mandate to unlock the capabilities of promising sectors in Saudi Arabia that can help drive the diversification of the economy and contribute to non-oil GDP growth. The group will enhance the kingdoms already unique tourism offerings, strengthening Saudi Arabias position as a leading regional and international tourism and cultural destination and contributing to Saudi Vision 2030, H.E added. In 1971, King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud directed to dedicate Al Hamra Palace as a hospitality palace for the most prominent international public figures from around the world. The Red Palace is considered the first reinforced concrete building constructed in Riyadh city in 1944 and the Tuwaiq Palace is one of the most prominent historical and cultural landmarks in the city of Riyadh, built in 1980. - TradeArabia News Service Izabel Acker is 1 year old now, a smiling, crawling baby with a gummy smile, waving her hands to the songs in the Disney movie on TV. On a recent January afternoon, her 24-year-old mom, Emily Acker, strolled into the kitchen of their military base duplex to prepare a bottle, settling back into the couch to feed her. Izabels brother Ezekiel raced trucks across the carpet. Outside, its dark and frigid by 4 p.m. on isolated Eielson Air Force Base in Alaskas Interior. Inside, the household is warm with the activity of a young familys life: A room full of toys, a counter covered in baby bottle supplies, requests for graham crackers being made by the minute. Its all so different from the last bleak year. For most of the first year of their daughters life, Acker and her husband, Justin, stood accused of causing injuries that led to a devastating stroke when Izabel was a newborn. The couple has always denied the accusation. They say Izabels injuries were caused by a traumatic birth that ended in a rough emergency cesarean section an assessment shared by two experts who reviewed Izabels medical records. And a forensic psychologist who examined Emily Acker found she posed no danger to her children. In January 2021, Alaska child welfare authorities took custody of both the children after Dr. Barbara Knox, a pediatric child abuse doctor affiliated with Providence Alaska Medical Center, diagnosed Izabel with abusive head trauma. Knox formerly worked at American Family Childrens Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. For months, Justin and Emily Acker a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant and an Alaska Air National Guard staff sergeant visited their kids at the foster home across the street as they battled in court to clear their names and keep their children. In late October, the Ackers fully regained custody of Izabel and 2-year-old Ezekiel. But the process of getting the children back took crucial months that cannot be replaced. I feel like we were robbed, said Emily Acker. Of a lot. Izabels case is the latest in over a dozen cases uncovered by Wisconsin Watch and the Anchorage Daily News in which Knoxs assessments of child abuse were later rejected by medical specialists, child welfare authorities, law enforcement or the courts. Reporters verified the Ackers account by reviewing Izabels and Emilys medical records, Knoxs reports and child welfare documents and by interviewing the medical experts and examining their reports. A spokesperson for Providence, Mikal Canfield, said in an email that privacy laws prevent the hospital from commenting on any specific case, but cases referred to Alaska CARES have already been reported to law enforcement and/or the Office of Childrens Services and those agencies participate in our evaluation process. When injuries are unexplained or concerning regarding child maltreatment, medical providers are mandated by state law to notify the Office of Childrens Services, Canfield wrote. Brain injuries spark interrogation Again and again for hours on a January evening in 2021, Emily Acker recounted the story of her daughters traumatic birth just three weeks earlier. Sitting in an Anchorage hospital conference room, the then-23-year-old told Knox that she had pushed for three hours during labor, but the babys head had gotten stuck in her pelvis, prompting doctors to perform an emergency C-section so forcefully her uterus ripped. The doctors who delivered Izabel documented her birth injuries some of which were clearly visible in medical records. Purple bruises covered the right and front sides of her head. The blood vessels in her right eye had burst. Knox, a prominent national child abuse expert, had invited Acker to the conference room of the Anchorage hospital, saying it was a meeting of her medical team. Instead, she arrived for what would become a three-hour interrogation as a child welfare worker and two Air Force investigators confronted the new mother. They flashed their badges and told Acker she was suspected of violently injuring her newborn daughter. Acker declined their invitation to have a lawyer present. I didnt think I needed one, she recalled. The nursing mother described for the group Izabels worrisome symptoms lethargy, lack of appetite, blood in her diaper and a twitch in her left eye that had intensified over the previous two days, prompting her and Justin to take the 3-week-old to the Fairbanks Army hospitals emergency department. Doctors there found a litany of serious concerns, among them a skull fracture, brain bleeding, possible seizures and an infection. The doctors could not determine whether the injuries were new or from Izabels difficult birth, but as mandated reporters, they were required to report the babys injuries to authorities, according to medical records. They ordered an air ambulance to take Izabel to Anchorage more than 350 miles away for a thorough examination at Alaska CARES, the states forensic child abuse clinic run by Knox. Acker rode alongside her daughter in the plane. The Ackers had been through a child welfare investigation before. A few weeks after their son Ezekiel was born in Arizona, it was discovered that his clavicle was broken. Child welfare workers investigated, but doctors dated the broken bone to his delivery also traumatic because of Ackers small pelvic bones. The parents were cleared. When Acker finished recounting Izabels medical history at the Anchorage hospital, Knox scrolled through her cellphone and pulled up an X-ray of the babys head. Knox thrust the phone at Acker. She said, This was not done during birth. This bleeding is new. And thats done by a metal bar and blunt force, Acker recalled. I told her, Thats not what happened. In her report, Knox wrote that Izabel was intentionally injured and diagnosed her with child physical abuse/abusive head trauma. There is no medical condition that would explain the totality of the findings other than trauma, Knox wrote in her report. Around 2:30 the next morning, the social worker came to Izabels hospital room and said her agency, the Alaska Office of Childrens Services (OCS), was taking emergency custody of Izabel. Then she told Acker to leave the hospital visiting hours were over. Acker found herself standing outside the hospital in a city where she knew no one, freshly accused of terribly injuring her newborn, her breasts full of milk and her body still wracked with pain from her C-section. Justin Acker had stayed behind in Fairbanks, six hours away, with the couples 18-month-old son. Once authorities opened a child abuse investigation, he stayed there on orders from his superiors, according to a base spokeswoman. Emily Acker recalled pleading with the OCS worker that night: I dont know anybody. What am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go? She was told to find a hotel and take an Uber. Acker cried and did as she was told. Separation leads to surreal family life Faced with losing custody of Izabel and their toddler son, the Ackers asked Emilys father to fly from Las Vegas to Eielson Air Force Base to satisfy an OCS requirement to have a second adult supervise the parents around their children. His ticket cost $1,600. Neighbors across the cul-de-sac volunteered to become foster parents. The cribs and diaper changing tables Acker had meticulously picked out for the childrens nurseries were lugged across the street. The parents could only see their kids from 2 to 9 p.m., and only under supervision. Emily Ackers younger sister moved to Alaska so she could provide the 24-hour watch required. Emilys milk dried up, and nursing stopped. The Ackers were thankful their children werent placed with strangers but the new arrangement was surreal. The couple crossed the street each night to tuck their children into bed and then left. Ezekiel began to have ferocious nightly tantrums. He knew that his bedtime meant that he was going to sleep, and we wouldnt be there in the morning. So he would never want us to put him to sleep, Acker said. The day he turned 2, Acker had to work late, which meant they rushed the birthday celebration to say goodbye and walk home before the 9 p.m. deadline. The deeper, more subtle losses were slowly unfolding: While Acker was allowed to take Izabel to her many medical and physical therapy appointments with her sister as escort mother and baby were never allowed to be alone together. Izabel began to reach for her aunt more than her mother. She kept wanting my sister for everything, Acker said. Because my sister had been there. And I wasnt. Experts reject child abuse charge Maryland-based pediatric neurologist Dr. Joseph Scheller, who reviewed Izabels medical records, attributed her condition to her traumatic birth. Based on the lack of evidence of trauma on Jan. 1 or 2, it is most likely that Izabels seizures and strokes beginning around age 3 weeks of life developed as a result of her birth trauma, wrote Scheller, who estimated he has reviewed over 500 abusive head trauma cases and testified in 250 of them. Clinical forensic specialist Dr. Steven Gabaeff wrote that Izabels head X-rays were 100% inconsistent with abuse and 100% consistent with nonabuse problems from birth, infections, increased ICP (intracranial pressure) and hemorrhage, consistent with . . . a massive and severe stroke. Where Knox called a mark on Izabels cheek a bruise and a sentinel indicator of child abuse, Gabaeff said it was likely a rash caused by the baby lying with her cheek in spit-up. Two days later, the mark cleared, which Gabaeff noted is inconsistent with physical trauma. But Knoxs medical opinion carried immediate weight with Alaska authorities just as it had in other cases examined by Wisconsin Watch. The Ackers became entangled in two child abuse investigations, one by the Air Force and one with the state of Alaska. The family requested that a second doctor examine Izabel. I think another doctor would have gotten a second opinion, she said. Thats something that we asked her to keep doing and she never did. Gabaeff said in his report that Knox did seek the opinions of multiple radiologists but then pressured them to support her ill-conceived diagnosis. (Knox) was relentless in setting up a prosecution and the disruption of this apparently decent family, to validate her non-evidenced (sic) based, highly speculative belief that this case involved abuse, he wrote. Knox placed on leave twice The Ackers and their experts were not the only ones questioning Knoxs diagnoses. A joint investigation by Wisconsin Watch and the Anchorage Daily News in November revealed Knoxs current and former co-workers at Alaska CARES complained for months to supervisors without response about Knoxs medical judgment and bullying behavior. The entire medical staff has left or has been reassigned since Knox came to head the facility in 2019. Providence placed Knox on leave this fall pending a workplace environment investigation. Canfield said in a text last Tuesday there has been no update to the investigation or to Knoxs employment status. Knox moved to Alaska after her former employer, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, had also placed her on leave while they investigated allegations she bullied her colleagues. A settlement agreement signed by Knox and UW shielded the reasons behind Knoxs leave from future employers and credentialing boards. Knox did not respond to interview requests. Psychologist: Separation hurting the kids In March, a forensic psychologist who assessed Emily Ackers ability to parent found she posed no risk to her children. However, he did express concern that more serious and long term psychological issues will likely begin to develop for the children if they were not reunited with their mother soon. The judge ruled in April that the children could move back home with their parents. Although the family was physically back together, it would take another six months of child welfare visits, court hearings and negotiations before the state released full legal custody of Izabel and Ezekiel back to their parents. As they fought to regain custody of their children, the Ackers took Izabel to specialists an ophthalmologist, a neurologist and a neurosurgeon and to various types of therapy including physical, occupational and speech. The family calendar is filled with Izabels therapy appointments, and the bulletin board above her changing table is covered with flyers demonstrating helpful exercises for her. The baby has now achieved all of her developmental milestones, although her left side remains weak, Acker said. The Office of Special Investigations, the Air Forces law enforcement arm, ended its investigation on Aug. 27, 2021, according to OSI spokeswoman Linda Card. But it has yet to render a final judgment, Card said in an email. Justin Acker declined to be interviewed for this story because the militarys case remains open. Settlement ends child welfare case As the court date in the state child welfare case approached, the Ackers lawyers advised them to settle. They did. Basically, our attorney said that if we did the settlement, there was absolutely zero risk of us being found guilty and our kids ever being removed from our home, Acker said. The state gave legal custody of the children back to the Ackers on Oct. 26 under the condition they agreed to take parenting classes and individual counseling. The OCS declined to answer questions about the case, citing privacy laws. But life in Alaska has not returned to normal. The settlement with the OCS means Izabels medical episode continues to be labeled as substantiated abuse. The Ackers no longer see Alaska as a place they want to live or raise their children. Acker said she feels viewed with suspicion, by her co-workers, pediatricians by everyone. We live on base. OSI was questioning our neighbors, she said. So now we go home and our neighbors literally watch us out their windows to see, Is anything happening? The friendships that sustained the early months of their time in Alaska are strained, Acker said. Its hard to imagine three more years here, but thats how long they likely will be stationed at Eielson. Eventually, Acker hopes to move back to her hometown of Las Vegas. Acker has some thoughts on why she and her husband were viewed with such suspicion. We were young. We were isolated. We didnt have anybody here. And we had had something with OCS in the past it was easy for them, she said. Izabel crawled to her mother and lifted herself up on the side of the couch, sliding into her lap. Despite the damage done by her stroke, shes beginning to cruise, taking tentative steps toward walking. Acker knows that for parents, the days are long but the years are vanishingly short. Theres no way to get back the time or memories of the last year, she said. Talking about what happened is incredibly hard, Acker said. But mostly I dont want it to happen to somebody else. This story was a collaboration between Wisconsin Watch and the Anchorage Daily News. The Fund for Investigative Journalism provided financial support. The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Wisconsin Salt Wise Partnership gears up for another week highlighting the threat road salt poses to our rivers, lakes and drinking water. Its important to note, just a teaspoon of salt can permanently pollute five gallons of water. The Wisconsin Salt Wise Partnership, a coalition of organizations working together to reduce salt pollution, will host Wisconsin Salt Awareness Week from Monday, Jan. 24, to Friday, Jan. 28. Featuring speakers over five days, Wisconsin Salt Awareness Week will tackle road salt issues head-on: how salt impacts freshwater ecosystems, infiltration of salt into groundwater, statewide success stories, and how you can get involved. Speakers will stream live over YouTube from 12:30-1 p.m. each weekday to share their knowledge and field questions. The Wisconsin Salt Wise Partnership, the coalition hosting the event, features a wide range of voices, from non-profit organizations like Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, and the Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network to government groups, like the City of Superior, the City of Milwaukee, Northcentral Wisconsin Stormwater Coalition, the Rock River Stormwater Group and Waukesha County Parks. Its the coalitions belief that only by coordination among government, activists, and citizens can salt-use be reduced to protect freshwater resources and reduce premature aging of infrastructure. Municipalities across Wisconsin are rethinking winter maintenance with an increased emphasis on mechanical removal and the incorporation of salt brine for pretreatment, best practices that are enabling salt reductions of 50% and more without impacting the level of service, says Allison Madison, Sustainability and Development Coordinator with Wisconsin Salt Wise. According to the Wisconsin Salt Wise Partnership, using more salt than necessary doesnt actually make our roads safer in fact, since salt damages our infrastructure, it can actually make it worse and be increasingly costly. By making sure were using just a coffee mug worth of salt on our driveways at home, and urging government and private employees to adopt best practices, we can cut down how much we spend on salt, keep our rivers clean, and make our roads safe all at once. Topics covered during the event will include the environmental toll of deicers, salts in our drinking water, the impacts of water softeners, bringing the road salt discussion to the classroom and salt reduction successes. To tune in starting Monday at 12:30 p.m., check out the WI Salt Wise YouTube channel at: bit.ly/wisaltwise. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I may be old school but at least on my good days, I try to follow the commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself. And perhaps, unfortunately, there is no loophole for members of a different political party, advocacy group or individuals who are otherwise thought to be jerks. In early 2021, a Wisconsin politician rejected the idea of advocating Covid-19 vaccinations by saying in a radio interview, What do you care if your neighbor has one or not? He now has his answer: vaccinated and unvaccinated alike are living through an experience unprecedented in my almost 50 years in health carean American health care system on the edgehospitals pushed by Covid-19 beyond their capacity and not infrequently without enough staff to assure their communities of the care they need. The bottom line is that there is a reason for the tradition of emphasizing the importance of communitywhen we each give something of ourselves; we all tend to be better served. So yes, I think it is the responsibility of us all to think about the health care available in rural, and in urban communities. Ironically, while our hospitals have been fighting for the lives and well-being of their communities and staff, we have never been under greater threat from some health insurers who, not satisfied with record-breaking profits, have become even more aggressive. Here are just a few of the health insurer behaviors ramped up during the height of the pandemic: A just say no culture re: appeals for medically necessary patient care Requiring patients to leave town for services available locally Requiring patients to use insurers owned pharmacy and not from their local in-network hospital Retroactive denial of claims for needed emergency room care Refusing to sign-up new rural physicians recruited to replace those retiring The recent response to the above behaviors from a power broker for health insurers in our state capital raised many eyebrows when he supported the aggressive trend against rural hospitals by dismissively shouting not my business to worry about rural health care. To be fair, these behaviors are not just found in rural markets. The just say no attitude came very close to home when our granddaughter, a newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic, was denied reimbursement for an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) because the insurer didnt see her as meeting their criteria of having poor control. After a couple of tries she won her appeal (with her physicians full support)suggesting that the insurer take the time to actually read the documents she had filed. With pages of graphs and narrative, she demonstrated that her numbers had significantly improved only after her parents had acquired the CGM without waiting for the insurers permission. Being tenacious should not be a requirement for fair access to needed health care. Without getting into the pros and cons of the role of health insurers in American health care, it is still true, as Abraham Lincoln said over a hundred and 50 years ago, a house divided against itself cannot stand. RWHC has long advocated for the development of better relations between rural hospitals and health insurers. To aid that process, we have developed Priorities for Rural-Friendly Health Insurers available at https://bit.ly/3K939sD. Over 500 rural hospitals in the U.S. were at immediate risk of closure before the Covid-19 pandemic and now more than 800 hospitals40% of all rural hospitals in the countryare either at immediate or high risk of closure according to a report from the Center for health care Quality and Payment Reform. It would be foolish for any of us to assume we are immune from these trends and its impact on access to local quality care. It is all of our business to worry about rural health. Tim Size is executive director of Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, Sauk City. RWHC is owned and operated by 43 rural hospitals, including Tomah Health. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Dozens of candidates have stepped forward to run for La Crosse County Board, and they should be applauded. Dozens more are running for school boards throughout the region, deciding they want to become involved rather than sit on the sidelines. The candidates facing Feb. 15 primary challenges are busy now, while those competing in the spring election April 5 have more time. Those are just two of four elections in Wisconsin in 2022, which promises to be a challenging year for county clerks and elections workers all over the state. Challenging, but they are experts at it. And they dont need or deserve a threatening cloud hanging over them and the process. The candidates dont need or deserve a threatening cloud over their bid for local office either. It should be up the voters, as it always is. Vote, count it, and move on. Yet Wisconsin taxpayers are still paying for a probe into the 2020 race for president. And that probe being conducted by former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman to ensure every vote is counted is the threatening cloud over the four elections this year. Gableman is threatening mayors as the $676,000 investigation grinds on, and of late key Republicans who pushed for the probe are sending a different signal. Take state Sen. Kathy Bernier, R-Lake Hallie, chair of the Senates elections committee and former county elections clerk. She sounded the alarm earlier for a probe. But in recent weeks she has called for it to end swiftly. No election is perfect but there is not evidence of intentional malfeasance. No evidence that the election in 2020 wasnt accurate, Bernier said last month. So we cannot keep undermining our Republic. It is not easy to fraudulently vote in the state of Wisconsin. Bernier said Gablemans investigation contains made-up things meant to play to the Republican base. Mr. Gableman is coming to my county and I will attend that meeting along with my concealed carry permit, to be perfectly honest, because (Gablemans investigation) keeps jazzing up the people who think they know what theyre talking about, and they dont, Bernier said. My advice would be to have Mr. Gableman wrap up sooner rather than later. Gableman has responded by calling for her to resign. She has announced that she does not plan to seek re-election. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who has blamed Democrats for lengthening the probe by not responding to Gableman, now says he wants it to conclude this month and for Gableman to present recommendations in February. The GOP-led legislature, says Vos, would act on those recommendations in March. Notice that Vos timetable extends this past the first primary and toward the spring election. That is ridiculous. In the meantime, State Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, is asking questions that many Wisconsinites would ask. With a price tag of $676,000, Carpenter said the public deserves to know how every penny is being spent. I respect former Justice Michael Gableman, Carpenter said. Ive talked to him many times during State of the State speeches, but his bully tough approach and the waste of taxpayers dollars is inexcusable. The clock should be ticking loudly on the Gableman probe, and it all should end including his recommendations and legislative action before the February 15 primary. The candidates, county clerks and elections workers all over the state deserve that, as do the voters who should be able to go to the polls in 2022 knowing that they are still not paying for 2020. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Saudi Real Estate Company (Alakaria) has announced that it has signed an agreement with AlJazira Bank to secure sharia-compliant bridge financing facilities worth SR400 million ($109 million) towards the purchase of a key plot of land in AlMarjan region of the kingdom. The plot, located in Al Qadisiyah District/AlMarjan, is worth a total SR728 (excluding the real estate transaction tax and broker's commission). The banking facilities will be used to finance a part of the land's purchase, said Alakaria in its filing to the Saudi bourse Tadawul. The guarantees offered for the financing include a promissory note with an amount of SR400 million and a pledge of the financed real-estate in favour of Al Jazira. An amount of SR383 million was withdrawn from the above financing value to pay part of the land plot.-TradeArabia News Service Most Friday nights, you can find Bob Coches handing out beaded rawhide bracelets outside City Gate in Lancaster city. Coches, of York County, distributes the bracelets with brochures about Christian Farmers Outreach, a group founded in Maryland that works to build, maintain and strengthen faith in God for the farmer, the farm family and the farming industry. The brochure describes the biblical meaning of each bead and asks the recipient to Receive Christ as My Savior. While Coches was never a farmer, he says he is committed to harvesting souls for Christ, which he has been doing for about 10 years at City Gate, a Christian outreach center at 216 N. Duke St., with a mission to release the Kingdom of God through prayer, serving and training. Coches has been a volunteer for Christian Farmers Outreach for about 12 years, representing the ministry at various events. Cultivating values The late W. Wilson Lippy founded the nonprofit Christian Farmers Outreach in Hampstead, Maryland, about 33 years ago, with the hope of cultivating Christian values in the next generation. The outreach now serves in 101 nations, two territories and 50 states. The brochure is published in 24 languages. It is not affiliated with any denomination and depends entirely on volunteers such as Coches. Christian Farmers Outreach began by providing deer meat to food banks serving needy people, Lou Enoff, chairman of Christian Farmers Outreach, wrote in a 2022 newsletter. After a few years, it concentrated on sharing the gospel and training and assisting others in community outreach to build, maintain and strengthen faith in God through presenting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, Enoff wrote. The events Coches has attended on behalf of the Christian Farmers Outreach include farm shows, state and county fairs, street fairs, flea markets and church-sponsored public events. From Jan. 4-6, he manned a booth at the Keystone Farm Show at York Fairgrounds. Ive talked to thousands of people, he said. Coches is a member of the Church of God of the Bible, in York. His pastor, Bishop Paul Heffner, also runs Hope Renewed Ministries, which helps people experiencing homeless, battling addiction or reentering society after serving a prison sentence, including those who are repeat offenders. He often volunteers with Coches for Christian Farmers Outreach. Coches recounted meeting a 13-year-old girl on crutches, with her foot in a boot, at the Shippensburg Fair in 2019. A cow had stepped on her foot, Coches said. We prayed. Later that day, she came back totally healed, no more crutches, no more boot. City Gate Kim and Brian Zimmerman began City Gate in 2008, with a vision to take prayer out of church and to the people of our community. It offers free lunch on Sundays, along with a school of prayer in February, of evangelism in May of worship in August and of leadership in November. A prayer room is open 24/7 with attendants. City Gate has branches in Columbia, Ephrata and Lititz. Kim and Brian make people feel at home. They socialize with them without stigmatizing them, said Coches, 79, who retired in 2006 as a project manager for Bob Smith Contractors in Lancaster. In winter, Coches said, City Gate gives out blankets, gloves, scarves and socks to the homeless, along with bags of toothpaste, soap and other necessities put together and donated by churches and other organizations. Kim Zimmerman is grateful for Coches service at City Gate. Hes a sweet, sweet guy, she said, just a very nice man. ... We honor him for all the time he has given to increase the kingdom of God. Hes a valued member of City Gate. Good testimony Coches told a story about a young homeless woman he met at City Gate. She was living on the street by choice because she had been in a bad relationship, he said. I offered to give her a ride to her fathers place, but she declined. He saw her frequently at City Gate for quite a while. Then she disappeared for several months. One Friday night after his time at City Gate, he stopped for dinner at a diner, where he discovered she was a waitress. She had her own apartment and was in another relationship with a much happier person, Coches said. She did accept Jesus the first time we met. I consider that a good testimony. To volunteer with Christian Farmers Outreach, visit christianfarmers.com. BEAD MEANINGS The meaning of the colors of the beads from the Christian Farmers Outreach brochure: Gold represents heaven, from Revelations 21:18. Black, sin, Romans 3:23 and 6:23. Red, the blood of Christ, Romans 5:8. White, All may be saved now, Romans 10:13 and John 1:12. Green, growth, from II Peter, 3:18. The city spent $33,884 of taxpayers money to successfully defend a police officer accused of slamming a woman into a car during an arrest, LNP | LancasterOnline learned through a right to know request. Thats not the full cost of defending the suit brought by Jessica Lopez, which resulted in Lt. Nathan Nickels acquittal by a jury in a Philadelphia federal courtroom. Instead, the $33,884 represents what taxpayers paid, of which $25,000 was for the deductible on a Travelers Insurance policy that covered most of the legal expenses incurred in defending the city and Nickel, and the remaining $8,884 was for attorney Neil Albert to handle parts of Nickels case. In all, David MacMain the West Chester attorney that Travelers hired to defend the city billed $72,002, bringing the total cost of the case to $80,886. Lopez, 33, of Lancaster, sued the city and Nickel in October 2019, seeking more than $75,000, plus punitive damages and attorney fees. Because Nickel prevailed, the city is seeking to recover $2,313 in allowable legal costs, according to the most recent court filing. Lopez claimed Nickel hurt her arm after a November 2017 traffic stop and then, when she was in his patrol car, groped her breasts on the pretext of searching for drugs. Nickels dashcam video, reviewed by LNP, did not show that happening, and U.S. District Court Judge Karen Marston dismissed the sexual claim ahead of trial, finding no evidence that Nickel sexually gratified himself by searching Lopez. Nickel found cocaine all over Lopezs front and lap; as a result, she was charged with drug possession. She pleaded guilty in March 2018 to drug possession, evidence tampering and disorderly conduct. She served about the minimum of a six-to-23-month prison sentence. The city was dropped as a defendant in September 2020. Among her initial claims against the city, Lopez, who described herself as Puerto Rican and Dominican in her suit, said she was discriminated against; Nickel is white. During the three-day trial in November, Nickel testified he could smell marijuana on Lopez after she got out of the car at the traffic stop. When she refused to turn it over, he grabbed her hand, but she pulled away and began cursing at Nickel, he said. Nickel said he did not slam her into the car, but instead used her momentum and guided her forward toward the car. On Nov. 17, an eight-member jury of five white women, one Black woman, one Black man and one white man returned the verdict for Nickel in less than 45 minutes. The case was notable because it was the first excessive force case against the city police department to go to trial in at least 20 years. Around 30 such cases settled with no admission of wrongdoing by the city in the past 16 years. Deductible increases; Whats next Though the citys deductible was $25,000 at the time Lopez filed her suit, it increased to $50,000 on Jan 1, 2021, Patrick Hopkins, the citys business administrator, said Thursday. Travelers didnt explain the increase, Hopkins said, adding $25,000 had been the deductible as long as he remembered going back to his time under Janice Stork, who was mayor from 1990 to 1998. The $50,000 deductible is still significantly lower than some of our comparable cities around the state, Hopkins said. Fifty-thousand dollars is a lot of money, but in this world of law enforcement liability, it is still a very low deductible, which in my view is credit to the way our police bureau operates. Lopez is also awaiting resolution of two separate criminal cases stemming from arrests in 2020 during the protests following George Floyds Memorial Day death in Minneapolis and after the September police shooting death of Ricardo Munoz in Lancaster city. She is charged with riot and related offenses, along with disorderly conduct. Her cases could come up for trial in early March. Lancaster city's insurance company paid $50,000 to the mother of a now-deceased Lancaster man who was shocked with a Taser by a police officer in 2018, records obtained by LNP | LancasterOnline show. Under terms of the settlement with Dana York, the mother of Sean Williams, the city did not admit wrongdoing. York signed the agreement Jan. 1. The city paid the insurance deductible in place at the time the suit was filed $25,000 which covered the cost of its legal defense. York pursued the case on behalf of Williams estate because her son was killed in Philadelphia in September 2020 while the case he filed worked its way through federal court. Case history On June 28, 2018, then-Sgt. Philip Bernot used a Taser on Williams after Williams failed to follow directions from police who were responding to a disturbance on South Prince Street near West King Street. Williams, who was unarmed and sitting on a curb, said at the time that he was confused by conflicting commands from two officers. A video of the encounter went viral in the days afterward and Williams sued the city and Bernot a week later. The county prosecutor at the time, Craig Stedman, criticized Bernots use of the Taser, but Bernot wasnt charged because he was found to be following department policy at the time. One result of the incident was city leadership launching a review of community-police relations and later revamping the departments use-of-force policy. Bernot, a member of the department for 20 years, retired in July 2020. The case was scheduled for trial in February 2020, but Williams failed to appear because hed been arrested the night before when Lancaster police found him high on PCP, a hallucinogenic drug, on North Queen Street. The trial was rescheduled, but in the meantime Williams was found lying in a Philadelphia street shortly after 2 a.m. on Sept. 14, 2020. He was unresponsive and bleeding from his head when found, and died four days later at Temple University Hospital. Philadelphia police are investigating Williams' death as a homicide; it is listed as unsolved. In the wake of his death, his attorney tried to transfer Williams suit to his infant child, but they later decided York was the better stand in. Yorks attorneys did not return emails for comment. Lancaster Countys Republican Party will provide election training next month to a conservative group whose members regularly spread disinformation about election fraud and the COVID-19 pandemic. The training, which will be offered to two local chapters of FreePA, has angered some self-described moderates who serve on the county GOPs area committees. Theres nothing wrong with voter outreach. Voter outreach is very important. But who you are working to train is also important, said Joe Mohler, chairman of the Lancaster Township Area Republican Committee. FreePA has said inflammatory things that are completely false, and fear monger about the vaccine I dont think theyre an organization that demonstrates integrity. Kirk Radanovic, chairman of the county party, said the training is a part of an effort to unify conservatives in 2022 and that the party welcomes individuals who are concerned about the future of our country. Born out of the 2020 Reopen PA movement that opposed Gov. Tom Wolfs COVID-19 mitigation orders, FreePA has evolved into a formidable force in conservative politics across the state. The group has three chapters in Lancaster County that sponsor well-attended meetings on a monthly or biweekly basis. While initially motivated by pandemic restrictions, FreePA members express a deep distrust for many government institutions, traditional media and health-care organizations. Private Facebook groups run by its chapters are filled with complaints about mainstream and local elected Republican politicians. The groups members spread conspiracy theories about the vaccines effects, and many were active in opposing school mask mandates. For example, a member of the private Facebook group for FreePAs Lancaster County chapter last week put out a call for Catholic members to join an effort to reverse the Diocese of Harrisburgs mandatory masking policy in its schools. Another member asked the group for information about the side effects of Ivermectin, a drug to treat parasite infections that has been shown to have no benefit in treating COVID-19. In another post, a member asked who would launch a primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, who is supported by the county GOP and easily won reelection in 2020. Another post asked members how many of them had joined their local Republican area committee, which received several responses from FreePA group members saying they had been appointed to their boards or plan to run in the future. I dont know who the state committee will try to get us to have to vote for, but if we have enough folks in the right place, we can right some wrongs, one commenter wrote, possibly referring to the partys upcoming endorsements in the closely watched 2022 governor and U.S Senate races. Many FreePA members in the county are open supporters of state Sen. Doug Mastriano in this years GOP gubernatorial primary, a race that includes one of Lancaster Countys two senators, Scott Martin. Questions about whos welcome in GOPs 'big tent' The views expressed by many FreePA members on social media worry some Republicans, including Shelley Castetter, a long-time county GOP committeewoman in Solanco who runs House Speaker Bryan Cutlers campaign. More concerning to me is the message it is sending to anybody who doesnt support FreePA, Castetter said. The party is very strongly sending a message of, We dont want you. We are going to train these people to go out and take committee seats. Five area committee chairs told LNP | LancasterOnline that the county party didnt inform them before it scheduled the training for FreePA. Leaders of FreePAs Lancaster chapter did not respond to requests for comment. The county party frequently offers training to active volunteers and candidates on how to canvass voters or get on the ballot. But its uncommon for the party to go to an outside political group to offer a training session on how that groups members can win spots on the county committee. The executive director and vice chair of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County are scheduled to lead the training on Feb. 17 in Elizabethtown, according to the event page. Attendees will learn how to register voters, how to run for committee, how to file petitions, and more. The county GOPs 350 committee members play an outsized role in determining which candidates will get the partys official endorsement in primary races. In most parts of the county, whoever is endorsed by the party is almost certain to win the general election. Adam Bills, the area chair for Pequea Valley, said he believes the party should be organizing both moderate and conservative parts of the party. The Republican Party is a pretty diverse party, Bills said. Youre going to have more conservative members and more moderate committee members At the same time, we do need to broaden who were appealing to, and thats moderates and conservatives. FreePA members, meanwhile, are already beginning to shape the partys future in the county. In the 2021 municipal election, three FreePA-backed candidates successfully unseated endorsed Republicans in school board races, and several FreePA leaders currently sit on area committees. As an area chairman, Bills said committee leaders should always be looking to fill committee seats, no matter their outside affiliations. Richard Frerichs, the Penn Manor area chairman echoed this, adding that the party training is a way for the committee to be more transparent about how the county committee operates. If I believe youre a Republican voter who is willing to advocate for conservative candidates, then certainly I see no reason why you shouldnt be able to serve as a committee member, Bills said. The defeat of voting rights legislation in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday is not an end to the struggle for equal rights it has simply revealed the need to further engage in the battle for the principles upon which our country was founded. In his Give Us the Ballot Speech delivered on May 17, 1957, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. urged white moderates to rise up courageously, without fear, and take up the leadership in this tense period of transition. Kings exhortation is as relevant as ever. It was not until 1965 that effective voting rights protections were achieved. You can tell a lot about a group of people by what makes them angry, David A. Graham recently wrote in The Atlantic magazine, comparing the fury of conservatives about the passage of the infrastructure bill backed by President Joe Biden to their reaction to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. In an LNP | LancasterOnline article published last Sunday (Book bans pick up speed here and in US), a representative of the conservative group No Left Turn in Education asserted that teaching topics like equity and social justice is akin to teaching Marxism and communism. She told LNP | LancasterOnline that high school students are not ready to discuss topics like police brutality and LGBTQ lives. That same article noted that educators in Central York School District were banned from teaching a set of books and using other materials focused on racial justice until students protested and got the ban overturned. A Facebook post by Bishop Leila Ortiz of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recently reminded me about what makes me angry. In Bishop Ortizs post, she described a solemn peaceful prayer service on the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, at Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, D.C. The prayer service was interrupted by individuals identifying themselves as Trump supporters, who reenacted the murder of George Floyd and took pictures of themselves in front of a statue of Martin Luther. According to Bishop Ortiz, a man dressed in a faux-animal skin vest made fun of George Floyd and called him a racial slur. In a quote attributed to Aristotle, Anybody can become angry that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way that is not within everybodys power and is not easy. In an essay titled What Happened to American Conservatism? in The Atlantic, columnist David Brooks diagnoses what he describes as the decay of American conservatism. Brooks asserts that American conservatism has tried to preserve and justify social conditions that are unjust: Conservatism makes sense only when it is trying to preserve social conditions that are basically healthy. Americas racial arrangements are fundamentally unjust. As an inside observer for many years, Brooks acknowledges the dog whistles to racism within the Republican Party and concludes: When you ignore a cancer, it tends to metastasize. As a former Republican, I agree with Brooks assessment. I also believe that the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are failing to live up to the first claim in the Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (and women) are created equal. The inequities are varied and numerous. Educational inequity The School District of Lancaster has joined other districts in suing the commonwealth to get a fair share of resources to provide an adequate education for their students. The problem is created by a system that imposes the burden of funding education disproportionately on localities. According to the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, there is a gap between what schools spend and what they should spend according to adequacy standards written into state law. Those gaps are greatest among those districts with the highest share of households living in poverty, highest share of Black students, and highest share of Hispanic students. Republicans justification of the current system of funding for education has been disingenuous. Public education should not be limited to simply providing its citizens with marketable work skills. Its greater purpose is to equip its students to participate as knowledgeable citizens in a self-government. A carpenter may not need to know biology (or other sciences) to work as a carpenter, but competency in biology, other natural sciences and the social sciences will enable him or her to understand the issues critical to participating as an informed citizen. Conservatives reserve their outrage for critical race theory (which is not taught in Pennsylvanias K-12 schools), mask-wearing and books they deem inappropriate. Voting inequities After a free and fair election with high voter turnout in November 2020, Republicans have done several things to undermine democracy. Former President Donald Trump attempted to halt the vote count in Pennsylvania the day after the election. That count was taking some time because the Republican-majority Pennsylvania Legislature had refused to agree to allow election officials to inspect, open and count mailed ballots before Election Day. People close to the former president, including Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro, worked to convince Congress to reject the electors from six battleground states, including Pennsylvania. 147 Republicans members of Congress, including eight senators, voted to reject certified votes from Pennsylvania and/or Arizona (U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker voted to reject the electors from Pennsylvania). At least 19 states have implemented more restrictive voting measures after the 2020 election in response to unsubstantiated claims of fraud. Redistricting maps created by GOP legislatures in Ohio, Texas and North Carolina after the 2020 census are designed to create much greater electoral Republican representation than justified by the percentage of registered Republicans in each of these states. The Ohio map was struck down earlier this month by that states high court. In the introduction to his book Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville identified equality of conditions as the primary factor that would determine the course of American democracy. Tocqueville was highly critical of the institution of slavery and the treatment of Native Americans in the U.S. during the early 1800s. Americas treatment of African Americans and Native Americans was inconsistent with the core principle of our democracy. In his Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln pledged a new birth of freedom. Progress toward the goal of equality of all citizens has been uneven, but the arc of democracy has been to extend equality of conditions to African Americans, women and minorities. Unfortunately, those who resist equality of conditions have not given up opponents of equality have engaged in culture wars and demagoguery to provoke a backlash against the progress for greater equality. Our democratic ideals and democracy are threatened by the failure to ensure equality for all citizens. Politicians have created and rationalized the advantages enjoyed by their supporters, especially the wealthy and well-connected, while demonizing the disadvantaged and changing the rules for representation to ensure that not all voices are equal. I feel compelled to take a stand. I stand for equality in public education and voting rights and against voter suppression and gerrymandering. Our democracy depends on seeking equal rights for all its citizens. Gregory Hand, a Manheim Township resident, is a retired U.S. Army civilian attorney (1989 to 2017). He served as an Army judge advocate in Germany and as a local prosecutor in Dubuque, Iowa, from 1980 to 1989. THE ISSUE As LNP | LancasterOnlines Alex Geli reported earlier this month, there are renewed efforts in our region and across the United States to ban books in schools. As Geli reported, Central York School District banned educators from teaching a set of books and other materials focused on racial justice, concerned that white students may be made to feel guilty about their race until students protested and got the ban overturned. According to the American Library Associations Office of Intellectual Freedom, it saw 60% more book challenges in September 2021 compared with September 2020. In November, a man believed to be falsely posing as a district parent complained to the Elizabethtown Area school board about an absolutely disgusting young adult novel that he claimed his daughter had withdrawn from the middle school library. School officials later learned that the novel, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, by Jesse Andrews, hadnt been checked out from the middle school library in the past year. Other parts of the mans story the name and address he gave didnt check out, either. And while, as Geli reported, the man had been seen mingling with current Elizabethtown Area school board members Stephen and Danielle Lindemuth, neither of the Lindemuths would discuss the episode with a reporter. Elizabethtown school officials temporarily pulled the 2012 novel from school library shelves for review (it since has been restored). They arent the only school administrators in Lancaster County who have been directed by school board members to purge their library shelves of materials to which a small number of parents objected. Race, as well as gender identity and sexual orientation, are the subjects that seem to trigger most book-banning efforts. More than a year after the national soul-searching that followed the murder of George Floyd, were witnessing a backlash to discussions of race in schools and other public spaces. Books exploring slavery, racism and even the civil rights movement are seen by some as promulgating critical race theory. That decades-old legal theory which holds, as Education Week explained, that racism is embedded in legal systems and policies is being used to engender fear about how students are being taught American history. In Florida, a Republican bill that would prohibit public schools from teaching anything that might make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress was approved by that states Senate Education Committee last week. In a school library censorship case in 1972, U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas wrote this: Are we sending children to school to be educated by the norms of the school board, or are we educating our youth to shed the prejudices of the past, to explore all forms of thought, and to find solutions to our worlds problems? Fifty years later, thats an apt question. Wed like to think that we send kids to school so they become open-minded critical thinkers, prepared to take on the worlds problems. Unfortunately, that prospect seems to frighten some people. As weve written before, we firmly believe that parents should have input into the education of their children. But we also believe strongly that school libraries assembled carefully by skilled librarians and other educators ought to contain books and other materials that will speak not just to our own children, but to other parents children. And we dont think we should be permitted to choose for other parents what is appropriate for their kids. In 1993, an editorial in the Lancaster Sunday News a predecessor of LNP | LancasterOnline made the same point. It also stated this: If every educational tool thats remotely controversial is threatened, we wont have schools well have expensive day care centers. We wont be educating children well be babysitting them. That was true then. And its true now. Divided communities For whatever reason, the pandemic has really pushed people to one camp or another, and we are divided communities at present, said Eastern Lancaster County Superintendent Bob Hollister, who will retire this week (hes considering running as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Congressman Lloyd Smucker). Thats showing itself at school board meetings, as well. As Geli reported, Elanco school board member Brian Conroy yelled at Hollister at a meeting in October. The source of Conroys anger? A graphic novel titled Lighter than My Shadow by Katie Green. Conroy demanded that it be removed from the districts schools even burned and ripped apart. I'm appalled that this is in our schools, Conroy said. This is sickening, and makes me question the 321 other books that are on the (school districts) mature (book) list. Were appalled that the book since has been banned in the district. And sickened that a Lancaster County school board member would suggest burning it. While its themes sexual abuse, eating disorders and mental illness are painful, the National Eating Disorders Associations website describes the graphic novel as an honest portrayal of the darkness we battle in recovery, with a balanced sense of hope. The author told the association that she hoped the book reaches people who feel like theyre going through it on their own. Green said she particularly appreciated hearing from parents who told her that the book helped them understand what their son or daughter was going through. This is what challenging books can do: They can illuminate subjects that we struggle to comprehend. As Geli reported, while there hasnt been any other literature banned in Elanco, the district has suspended BrainPOP, a teacher resource that features animated educational videos for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade. Parents had complained about transgender rights and Black Lives Matter being mentioned on the website. Hollister said he hoped BrainPOP would be returned to teachers this month. He expressed frustration that a few critical residents at board meetings forced the district to shut down the program, calling it overkill. Politics, Hollister told Geli, has gotten in the way of productivity in schools. Its gotten in the way of learning. Silencing marginalized voices Lois Kaneshiki of Enola, a regional representative of the group No Left Turn in Education, equated teaching equity and social justice to teaching Marxism and communism in an interview with Geli. And she asserted that even high school students are not ready to discuss topics like homosexuality or police brutality. She is free to believe that. And shes free to keep her own kids from discussing police brutality, for instance. But there are Black students for whom that subject isnt merely academic. And they should have access to school library books exploring it books such as Angie Thomas award-winning novel, The Hate U Give, which is on the American Library Associations list of most-challenged books. Also on that list: Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird. As Matthew Good, a school librarian and the librarian for the Educators Institute for Human Rights, wrote in an LNP | LancasterOnline column in October, Of the top 10 books challenged in 2020, half were written by authors of color. ... In 2019, the majority of titles challenged were due to LGBTQ content. The danger here is that the voices being challenged are the voices that are already marginalized in our communities. Wrote Good: When a community challenges a book, it seeks to censor that perspective and silence that voice. ... When we challenge the freedom to read in schools, we subvert the very first of our constitutional freedoms, endanger free thought and jeopardize new ideas. Unfortunately, that seems to be the aim. Wed urge Lancaster County school officials to heed the crystal-clear direction of U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Jr., who wrote in 1982 that local school boards may not remove books from school library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books. Book-banning is antidemocratic. And an obstacle to an excellent education. Readers: Please let us know, in a letter to the editor, what difficult books you read as a student that helped you to better understand the world. Email: LancasterLetters@lnpnews.com. Pfizer CEO paints ideal future of Covid vaccination The CEO of Pfizer has tried to appease vaccine skeptics with an idea of Covid-19 booster shots only once a year instead of every few months all while attacking the most vocal anti-vaxxers as criminals who profit from circulating misinformation. In a series of interviews with Israeli TV channels, Albert Bourla said that it would not be a good scenario if people were to get boosters every four to five months. What I'm hoping [is] that we will have a vaccine that you will have to do once a year, he told Channel 12 news on Saturday. Bourla argued that it is both easier to sell the idea and easier for people to remember if a vaccine is required only once per year, calling it an ideal situation from a public health perspective. We are looking to see if we can create a vaccine that covers Omicron and doesn't forget the other variants and that could be a solution, the CEO added, indicating that such a vaccine could be mass produced from March. In a separate interview with Channel 13 news, Bourla admitted there was a sizable minority of people who are hesitant to take the vaccine. Among them, the pharma giants CEO who earned over $21 million in 2020 alone singled out a tiny minority of people who profit from circulating misinformation, fiercely attacking them as criminals. Amid the global spread of the Omicron variant, countries are increasingly recommending a fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose to boost the immune system. Already one of the most vaccinated places in the world, Israel was among the first to approve the second booster, which according to early studies was found to be largely ineffective at preventing new infections. After fourth doses were introduced, Israel recorded its highest daily number of new Covid-19 cases this week. Both the World Health Organization and the EUs drug regulator, the European Medicines Agency, have previously cautioned against the over-use of boosters, though for different reasons. The WHO has called for a more even distribution of vaccine doses around the world, observing that some nations are moving ahead with third and fourth shots before many in poorer countries receive their first. The EMA, meanwhile, pointed to potential adverse effects of boosters, warning that repeated vaccinations in a short period of time could eventually result in problems with immune response. Source: RT Mas Copyright 2017 Grupo Editorial La Verdad. Todos los derechos reservados. Sunday, January 23, 2022 As we enter 2022, the 50th Anniversary of the National Commission's 1972 Report on the structural inadequacy of workers' compensation, I've had the real privilege of teaching workers' compensation at three separate law schools in the last six months (Saint Louis University, Fall of '21; Washington University of St. Louis, January Intersession of '22; University of Wyoming, Spring of '22). Each time I teach the course I emphasize the irrationality of permanent partial scheduled benefits: loss of an arm equals 200 weeks times the total benefit rate, often paid out as a lump sum benefit. Why? From whence does the 200 weeks arise? Oh, I can tell you that the first state to implement such partial scheduled benefits was New Jersey, during the second decade of the twentieth century. And I'm pretty sure it was some kind of concealed bait and switch: paying 200 weeks times two-thirds of the average weekly wage will always be cheaper than paying a substantial percentage (the original statutes provided 50%) of an employee's actual wage loss during the entire period of the disability. But no one can even tell me where "200 weeks" came from in the first place; even Arthur Larson did not know and adamantly emphasized that workers' compensation theory is predicated on the wage loss principle. I discuss this at length in a 30,000 word "cosmic" workers' compensation article, the draft of which I have just completed and which is being proofed at this very moment (I'll be submitting it to the law reviews in just over a week). From my draft: The [1972] Commissions report made clear that no consensus had been reached on essential recommendations pertaining to permanent partial disability benefits.[1] This statement does not seem entirely accurate. The report recommended the removal of schedules used to calculate permanent partial disability benefits from workers compensation statutes. This decision seems a concession that use of scheduled benefits did not deliver adequate benefits; an important finding given the predominance of scheduled permanent partial disability benefits in contemporary workers compensation systems: Almost every workmens compensation statute contains a schedule which stipulates the benefits to be paid for the listed impairments. These schedules in some cases may provide a short-cut to the determination of the benefits to be paid, but that is not an adequate justification for their use. Present schedules include only a small proportion of all medically identifiable permanent impairments. Also, some schedules have not been revised for many years, despite considerable progress in the understanding of the relationship between specific injuries and extent of functional impairment.[2] Although the report went on to say that the AMA Guides represented a more rational basis for determining impairment,[3] it offered no rationale for any use of physical impairment-based determinations of permanent partial disability. Seemingly to the contrary, the report soundly rejected calculation of partial benefits based solely on physical impairment: Some statutes incorporate a schedule of benefits for a specific list of impairments, and the benefits are paid whether or not there is a disability. Moreover, the benefits are the exclusive remedy for workers with these impairments (except, in most States, for the temporary total disability benefits paid during the healing period), even if the workers wage loss far exceeds the scheduled benefits . . . It could be argued that the main purpose of such a schedule is to provide benefits for disability, and that impairment is used as the basis for benefits because impairment and disability are closely related. The validity of this argument is questionable because there is no exact relationship between the degree of impairment and the extent of wage loss.[4] [1] Report of the National Commission at 19-20. [2] Id. at 69. [3] Id. [4] Id. at 68. A consistent theme of my teaching is that whatever one thinks about the original quid pro quo (and I do not have fuzzy thoughts about it -- I am a deep critic) permanent partial benefit schedules do not even pass the straight face test - they represent a straight-up confiscation even under Grand Bargain theory. I will let you know when my long paper has been placed for publication. Michael C. Duff https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/workerscomplaw/2022/01/teaching-workers-compensation-and-scheduled-partial-benefits.html London-based Smart Respiratory is set to showcase the world's first integrated smart' peak flow meter, which allows patients to conveniently manage their asthma, at Arab Health 2022 in Dubai from January 24. Smart Peak Flow is a revolutionary, compact digital peak flow meter device which connects to a smartphone with a headphone jack and wireless connection, enabling patients to measure, track and share their readings with the help of the Smart Peak Flow mobile app the most downloaded respiratory management app in the UK. Some 90% of asthmatics do not follow the standard advice given by doctors to track their peak flow, which is the gold standard of asthma management. The breakthrough AI technology allows short-term and statistical medium-term lung function prediction, presenting the worlds first CompEx prediction of asthma exacerbations, which require urgent action by both patient and physician in order to prevent serious outcomes such as hospitalisation. The device has been shown to reduce hospital re-admission rate from the current 55%. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for telemedicine and the Smart Peak Flow allows patients the opportunity to self-monitor variable asthma-related outcomes. For clinicians, the device provides access to regular peak flow readings so they can assess patients without the need for face-to-face consultations. In addition, the data-driven technology presents a more reliable way for patients to record their chart than on paper, while sharing daily peak flow recordings with their doctor allows them to receive prompt advice about their medication, enabling them to better self-manage their condition from anywhere. Dr Thomas Antalffy, the creator of Smart Asthma, said: Smart Peak Flow is a pioneering device that utilises smartphone technology to enable people with active lifestyles to monitor their health. In the past few decades, provisions in asthma care have stayed the same. Asthma does not catch as much attention as other life changing conditions. But, with the emergence of new technology, this is a chance to help more people with the condition. We are delighted to be joining the ABHI UK Pavilion at Arab Health 2022 to showcase how our technology can support patients and clinicians in the Middle East. Asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the Middle East. Using smart sensor technology, Smart Peak Flow provides a new way for patients to identify if they are at risk of an asthma attack. The device is CE and GMP certified with international distributors throughout Europe, Asia Pacific, North America and Africa. Arab Health 2022 is taking place from up to January 27, 2022 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Throughout the show, Smart Respiratory will be located on the ABHI UK Pavilion Hall 2 stand H2 G54.-- TradeArabia News Service Show more Show less In the United States, doctors have transplanted a pigs heart into a man in an experimental operation in the state of Maryland. In Chicago, public school teachers approve a COVID-19 safety plan to permit the nation's third-largest school system to reopen after a weeklong closure. In the Chinese city of Yuzhou, officials have ordered strong restrictions on movement after more reports of COVID-19. Three other large cities in Henan province are under lockdown. And in Belgium, members of the European Union parliament express sadness at the sudden death of former parliament president David Sassoli. Dartmouth College in the northeastern state of New Hampshire recently announced need-blind admissions for international undergraduate students. Need-blind means a university offers admission to students without considering their ability to pay. With the move, Dartmouth, which is the smallest of the famous Ivy League schools, joins other universities including Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Amherst, also in Massachusetts, are other examples. A number of U.S. colleges offer need-blind admissions but only six offer it to international students. At one time, Dartmouth did make need-blind offers to international students. But, the school changed the policy after it became too costly. The new policy comes thanks to a $40 million gift from a person who did not want to be named. The school said it is working to establish a $90 million fund to pay for need-blind admissions for international students. International students face high costs Syed Rakin Ahmed is a 2018 Dartmouth graduate from Bangladesh. He is working on an advanced science degree in Boston and plans to return to Dartmouth to finish medical school. Rakin received financial aid to go to Dartmouth. He noted the high cost of higher education in the U.S. does present a significant challenge for any international student, and even more specifically for international students from low-income countries, such as myself. He said he expects the school to receive more interest from international students because of the change. The current cost of attending Dartmouth is about $75,000 per year. The policy will take effect immediately. That means students currently applying to Dartmouth may go for free if they can show their family cannot pay. In a question-and-answer page on the Dartmouth website, the school said it did not make the change to bring in more international students. Instead, the college noted that it gives an equal chance to students around the world. The school notes that interest from international students was rising before the news. International students make up about 10 percent of the undergraduate student population at Dartmouth. That is similar to the numbers at Harvard and MIT. The school notes international students make up 14 percent of the current first-year class, that is up from eight percent in 2016. Christine Chu advises international students at a company called IvyWise based in New York City. She said the high cost of higher education is one of the first things she discusses when she meets new students. She said Dartmouths policy should increase interest among international students. Having a need-blind policy opens up that international realm for Dartmouth, Chu said. She added that the decision may help Dartmouth admit international students who would otherwise go to school in a large city like New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. She offered these thoughts on how Dartmouths officials might think of their new policy. Were not in New York City, were not a Columbia, were not in Washington, D.C., were not a Georgetown. People may not immediately think of us. They know were an Ivy League school but were not in Chicago or Los Angeles, these metropolises. How can we still draw really talented and excellent students? And I think financial aid is a wonderful way... Dartmouths top official for admissions and financial aid said the schools move will influence the world for many years. Lee Coffin said: The students enrolling today will have lives and careers that stretch into the 2070s and beyondWere announcing to the worldthat international citizens are full and equal members of our applicant pool and ultimately our student body. Students who have applied to attend a school are often described as the applicant pool by admissions officials. Different lived experiences Rakin, the future medical student, gave an example why it is valuable for Dartmouth to have students from many countries and different economic levels. One of his future goals, he said, is to help prevent women in his home country from getting cervical cancer. This form of cancer is limited in the U.S. because many young women get a vaccine. But, the vaccine is not widely available in Bangladesh. He said the medical community is not invested in caring for women in the same way that it is in the U.S. He was able to share this information with his American classmates during public health discussions at Dartmouth. Having international students and having students who have had different lived experiences outside of the U.S. enriches these conversations further and the need-blind policy certainly makes it easier and I would say creates more of an opportunity for international students to consider Dartmouth as a strong option. Both Rakin and Chu said the true result of Dartmouths decision and the schools that follow may be in how international students see U.S. universities. Are universities welcoming to students? Do schools value what international students bring? Chu noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder for international students to come to the U.S. Rakin agreed, noting that government offices that process visas for students reduced their hours. Also, he said he knew students from Bangladesh who chose to apply to universities in Canada and Australia because of the political environment in America. Chu and Rakin said the move by Dartmouth shows that it is worth the extra effort to come to the U.S. Rakin called the move toward need-blind admissions for international students a refreshing change for the better. Will other universities follow Dartmouth? Chu said other universities may want to, but change comes slowly in higher education. Universities are big, theyre bureaucratic. It just takes time to change and consider these factors. Now Dartmouth has been added to this very short list of schools, to me, thats a positive thing. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. If you are thinking about applying to university in the U.S. which schools would you like to see become need-blind for international students? Write to us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. Quiz - Dartmouth to Admit International Students Without Considering Ability to Pay Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ___________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story graduate n. a person who has received a degree showing they have finished studies at a school, college or university significant adj. important, noticeable challenge n. an issue or problem that is difficult to deal with or solve realm n. an area of activity, interest or knowledge talented adj. having a special ability to do something well enroll v. to enter something, such as a school, as a member or student option n. something that can be chosen; a choice or possibility refreshing adj. pleasantly new, different, or interesting bureaucratic adj. using or connected with many complicated rules and ways of doing things; relating to a bureaucracy factor n. something that helps produce a result Important note to those who wish to apply: To learn more about studying in the United States, visit Education USA, an official source of information from the U.S. Department of State. To learn about applying to Dartmouth, see the school's admissions page. Some European countries are making new policies to deal with COVID-19 as a usual, infectious disease, similar to the flu, and not as a public health crisis. At the beginning of the pandemic, Spain, for example, ordered people to stay at home for more than three months. People including children were not permitted to go outside, even for exercise. The economy sharply slowed. Officials said the measures prevented a collapse of the health care system. But last year, Spains Supreme Court ruled that the draconian measures were not constitutional. Now, Spain is planning to employ a different policy. The country has one of Europes highest vaccination rates, but also is suffering economic weakness. The government is planning to deal with the next increase in infections not as an emergency but as a normal infectious disease. Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wants the European Union to consider similar changes. The goal is to move away from using crisis measures and toward treating the new coronavirus in the way that many countries deal with the flu and measles. Other European countries including Britain and Portugal are planning similar action. Britain lifts measures In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Parliament Wednesday that the infectious Omicron version of the new coronavirus has peaked nationally. Johnson said beginning on January 27, many COVID-19 measures would end. These include required vaccination proof to attend public events. The country will also end its requirement that face coverings, or masks, be worn in public. As of Thursday, British secondary schools no longer require mask use. We will trust the judgement of the British people and no longer criminalize anyone who chooses not to wear one, Johnson said. Last month, British officials renewed strong restrictive measures to slow the spread of the Omicron version of the virus. Johnson noted that more than 90 percent of those over the age of 60 in Britain have had a third additional, or booster, vaccination against the virus. COVID-19 as endemic Portugal has one of the worlds highest vaccination rates. On New Years Day, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said the country had moved into the endemic phase of the pandemic. Endemic means a disease will continue to exist in some areas for years to come. The president was speaking about easing crisis-level restrictions. The number of Omicron infections has again gone up. But the number of people admitted to the hospital and deaths among vaccinated people in Europe are much lower than at earlier times in the pandemic. In some places, the idea of returning to normal life can conflict with efforts to get more people vaccinated. In Germany, for example, 73 percent of people have been fully vaccinated. Health Ministry spokesman Andreas Deffner said Monday that, We still have too many unvaccinated people, especially noting older citizens. Over 80 percent of Spains population has received two vaccination shots. Health officials are placing their attention on booster shots for adults. Dr. Salvador Trenche is head of the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine. It has called on policies that treat the virus as endemic. He said widespread vaccination and infection mean efforts can be placed on prevention, testing and watching moderate- to high-risk groups. COVID-19 must be treated like the rest of illnesses, he told the Associated Press. The plan has been called the flu-ization of COVID-19 by the Spanish media. For now, some observers say the discussion about how to deal with endemic COVID-19 is limited to rich countries. They have used vaccines and public health systems to deal with the severest effects of the pandemic. And it is unclear how the endemic-linked policies will coexist with the so-called zero-COVID policies in several Asian nations, including China. China has put in place very strong measures to protect the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics from the virus that was first identified in Wuhan. A special area has been set up in the city for thousands of international visitors. Neither the visitors nor the competitors will be permitted to leave the area until they go home. Im Mario Ritter, Jr. Aritz Parra reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English with additional AP stories. ____________________________________________ Words in This Story draconian adj. very severe or cruel expire v. to end : to no longer be valid after a period of time peak v. to reach the highest level or point approach n. a way of dealing with something; a way of doing or thinking about something illness n. sickness; disease We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. California, which has suffered from a lack of rainfall, welcomed the arrival of rain and snow late last year. The precipitation gave farmers and city planners in the western state hope for better days ahead. Wildlife officials say the water also has led to healthier growth in the states population of endangered fish called coho salmon. Records from the National Weather Service show that California received more precipitation from October to December than during the previous 12 months. California weather officials reported in late December that the snow level in the states Sierra Nevada Mountains was 200 percent of its average for that date. The increase is important because the Sierra Nevada Mountains supply nearly one third of the states water needs. Officials said the snow level statewide was 160 percent of its average. The arrival of rain and snow came in time for the November-to-January spawning season in the Tomales Bay area, north of San Francisco. The precipitation enabled some fish to reach waters near Lagunitas Creek, about 20 kilometers inland. "We've seen fish in places that they haven't been for almost 25 years," said Preston Brown. He directs a water conservation program for the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network , or SPAWN. Experts say some fish have been seen in places where they could not go before. That includes about one-and-a-half kilometers past a place where a dam once existed on San Geronimo Creek. The dam was removed about a year ago. Weather officials said last years precipitation could end up being just a short break in the state's severe, 20-year drought. The water shortage has made it difficult for officials to keep fish, farms and growing cities supplied with enough water. Experts say the state needs several wet years in a row to refill supplies. But for now, the salmon are doing well. They are leaving eggs in nests where babies will be born and spend most of their youth. The fish will then swim out to the ocean as adults, later returning to the same area to spawn. Todd Steiner is the director of Turtle Island Restoration Network, the parent group to SPAWN. He told Reuters news agency the fish like to stay in smaller bodies of water, because "that's where their survival is the highest." Steiner added: "If we give the fish a fighting chance at survival, they will come back." Im Bryan Lynn. Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ___________________________________________________ Words in This Story precipitation n. rain or snow that falls to the ground spawn v. when some animals release or deposit eggs conservation n. the act of keeping something safe from harm or from being damaged or destroyed drought n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain nest n. a home built by birds and some other creatures to live in or hold eggs A new study has found that rock material collected on Mars contains the same kinds of carbon signals linked to living organisms on Earth. Scientists say the presence of carbon may suggest evidence of ancient biological life on Mars. But they also note that the finding could be related to nonbiological processes. The study is based on rock samples collected by the American space agency NASAs Curiosity explorer. The explorer, or rover, landed on Mars in 2012. It has been exploring areas around the planets Gale Crater. The rover used a robotic arm to collect rock material from below the surface of Mars. The samples were subjected to high heat inside a chemistry laboratory on Curiosity, NASA explained. This resulted in a release of gas from the rock material. One of the rovers instruments then measured isotopes from carbon released during the heating process. Results of the experiment were examined by scientists on Earth. Their findings were recently reported in a study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Carbon is an important element because it is present in all life on Earth. Carbon has two naturally occurring isotopes, 12 and 13. Measuring these isotopes can provide researchers with signals about carbon-related activities from the past. The study found that the collected samples had large amounts of carbon 12. This kind of carbon is used by living creatures on Earth to get energy from food or the sun, NASA noted. Christopher House is a Curiosity scientist based at Pennsylvania State University. He led the study. House said in a statement that on Earth, processes that would produce the carbon signal were detecting on Mars are biological. He added: We have to understand whether the same explanation works for Mars, or if there are other explanations, because Mars is very different. The biological explanation involves the idea that bacteria may have released methane gas into the atmosphere. Ultraviolet light could have converted this gas into larger, more complex molecules that settled on the surface. These molecules could have remained in the Martian rocks collected by Curiosity. In 2019, NASA researchers reported that Curiosity had measured levels of methane on the surface of Mars. While the team said this could also be a sign of ancient life, NASA has not been able to confirm whether the methane resulted from biological causes. Two other theories both nonbiological are identified in the new study. One explanation suggests the carbon signals might have resulted from an interaction of ultraviolet light and carbon dioxide gas in the Martian atmosphere. This process could have produced carbon-containing molecules that settled on the surface. The other theory is that the carbon could have resulted from an event hundreds of millions of years ago. In that event, the solar system passed through a huge cloud of dust that could have been rich in the kind of carbon discovered in the rock samples. All three explanations fit the data, House said. We simply need more data to rule them in or out. Andrew Steele is a Curiosity scientist based at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington D.C. He noted that Curiosity is the first rover to be equipped with the tools to study carbon isotopes on the surface of Mars. Defining the carbon cycle on Mars is absolutely key to trying to understand how life could fit into that cycle, Steele said. We have done that really successfully on Earth, but we are just beginning to define that cycle for Mars, he added. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from NASA, Penn State, PNAS, Carnegie Science and The Associated Press. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Quiz - Study: Mars Rock Contains Carbon Signals Possibly Linked to Life Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz __________________________________________________ Words in This Story sample n. a small amount of something that gives you information about the thing it was taken from isotope n. a form of atom that has a different atomic weight from other forms of the same atom but the same chemical structure occur v. to happen convert v. to change the appearance, form or purpose of something cycle n. a series of events that happen in a particular order and are often repeated absolutely adv. completely key adj. very important in influencing or achieving something The Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Environmental Quality have identified 15 sites in Linn and Benton counties that need to be t If not for Jane Does courage, former Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger, R-Lewiston, a man who stands convicted of raping her and now faces spending the rest of his life in prison would no doubt be on his way toward securing a second term representing this area in the Legislature. The UAE Space Agency and Masdar will establish the nations first Space Economic Zone in Masdar City to create an integrated business ecosystem to propel startups and SMEs. It is the first of many spachtech hubs the UAE Space Agency will launch to create a competitive private sector, build national capabilities and contribute to the UAEs economic growth for the next 50 years, said a statement. The Space Economic Zone in Masdar City, a pioneer in sustainability and a hub for research and development, will offer world-class infrastructure and an enabling environment to encourage the development of the national space industry. Businesses will be offered an integrated package of benefits including incubation, office space, mentorship, networking, investment opportunities, priority access to government contracts and closer cooperation with leading global research centres. The Space Economy Zone programme aims to create a sustainable and effective framework to facilitate public-private partnerships; build an attractive and integrated business environment for local and global companies; support the growth of national space technologies and services; stimulate innovation and adopt advanced technologies; and support the establishment of homegrown startups and accelerate their growth. Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, UAE Minister of State for Advanced Technology and Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, said: Space is the next frontier of business growth set to propel the national economy for the next 50 years. The Space Economic Zone in Masdar City is an exciting milestone in our strategy to create a competitive private sector, build national capabilities, promote public-private partnerships, boost R&D and encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship. This programme is a game-changer that will take our flourishing space industry to the next level whilst simultaneously building on the UAEs established position as a global hub for talent, investment and innovation. We are pleased to enter into this strategic agreement with Masdar City and look forward to working closely in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation as we create a globally competitive space industry. Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, said: Capacity-building is vital to advance the UAEs knowledge-driven economy and the Space Economic Zone is a major step forward. It will provide a business-friendly ecosystem with world-class infrastructure and competitive services to support the establishment of new spacetech firms. Our agreement with Masdar City is the first of many and we intend to move forward quickly to set up more startup hubs nationwide and turn early-stage ideas into commercially viable ventures. It underpins our high-impact strategy to enhance the competitiveness of the private sector and stimulate innovation. We are excited about this new stage of growth for the space industry which will power the UAE during our next 50 years of human progress. Mohamed Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, added: Masdar City has built a unique ecosystem where innovation and business thrive together. Already home to UAE Space Agency, our partnership to launch the first Space Economic Zone extends the exceptional offerings provided by Masdar Citys Free Zone to a new and exciting frontier. Our aim is not only to drive entrepreneurship and economic development within the fast-growing space sector, but to attract and foster the most talented professionals from across the region and beyond. We look forward to working with the UAE Space Agency to take the Space Economic Zone, and Masdar City, to ever greater heights. The strategic agreement between the UAE Space Agency and Masdar was signed at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2022 by Al Qubaisi. Under the deal, the Masdar City Free Zone will offer tailor-made business licences for space-related companies across the launch sector, satellite communication, logistics, data analysis, science, technology, engineering, and much more. Masdar City has an established ecosystem and is home to several education, strategic research centers, businesses and serves as the headquarters of the UAE Space Agency and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The UAE Space Agencys Space Economic Zones program has four key pillars: the Space Economy Accelerator Group, Space Labs, Space Government Services, and Work Space. - TradeArabia News Service With over 4 million acres having burned so far this year in California, we have not had any major fires in Santa Barbara County. But with all the hot weather we have had and no rain in months, we are still in danger. Hong Kong: CE visits Kwai Chung Estate Chief Executive Carrie Lam visited Kwai Chung Estate this afternoon to inspect the COVID-19 restriction-testing declaration and compulsory testing notice operations there. In the light of Omicron cases detected, five-day restriction-testing declaration operations are being carried out in Yat Kwai House and Ying Kwai House in Kwai Chung Estate. Four buildings, ie Hiu Kwai House, Yuk Kwai House, Nga Kwai House and Chin Kwai House were put under compulsory testing notice operations. The remaining 10 buildings in the estate and two buildings in Kwai Fuk Court nearby are covered in a compulsory testing notice. The Chief Executive, together with Chief Secretary John Lee and Secretary for Transport & Housing Frank Chan, learnt about the services provided by staff on-site to the residents affected. Mrs Lam expressed her gratitude to Kwai Chung Estate residents for their co-operation, and asked for their understanding that the operations are necessary. She also noted the Government will closely monitor the situation and deploy additional manpower to reduce the inconvenience and anxiety caused to the residents. She said: The co-operation and support of members of the public has been key to Hong Kongs success in fighting the epidemic over the past two years. I appeal to the residents of Kwai Chung Estate who are subject to the restriction-testing declaration and compulsory testing notice to undergo testing in an orderly manner in the coming few days to curb the virus. "Members of the public should also reduce going out and avoid gatherings. Those with an infection risk suspected should undergo nucleic acid testing as soon as possible to prevent the virus from spreading further. Most importantly, members of the public yet to receive any COVID-19 vaccine or eligible to receive a third dose should get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves as well as the community. In this large-scale exercise in Kwai Chung Estate, the Government has mobilised over 1,800 staff from 10 government departments, and has arranged six testing service providers to set up 10 mobile specimen collection stations to cope with the testing demand. Mrs Lam added that she is grateful to the departments and testing service providers for joining hands to form an anti-epidemic team within a short period of time to fight the virus together. This story has been published on: 2022-01-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. To accelerate low-carbon hydrogen deployment, the UAE and its leading ports have showcased steadfast support to the Global Ports Hydrogen Coalition, the first global forum that brings representatives from ports with decision-makers. The UAE, represented by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, has recently announced the Hydrogen Leadership Roadmap, a comprehensive national blueprint to support domestic, low-carbon industries, contribute to the countrys net-zero ambition and establish the country as a competitive exporter of hydrogen. Moreover, the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure aims to enhance the quality of life in the country aligning with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, IMO 2030 decarbonisation goals and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. The Ministry enables the country's energy transition by adopting sustainability in all sectors including the maritime industry. The country has consolidated its leading position among the best maritime centres in the world by employing practices, decisions and legislation that have contributed to developing the sector and enhancing maritime safety standards, while also protecting the marine environment globally. The UAE has also announced the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, a national drive to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, making the Emirates the first Middle East and North Africa (Mena) nation to do so. In line with this initiative, IMO 2030 decarbonisation goals and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, the Ministry aims to enhance the quality of life in the country. As members of the Coalition that will enhance policy dialogue and project-oriented collaboration, the Ministry hopes to speed up the progress in this regard. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has officially announced that the UAE will host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in 2023. This commitment will not only have an environmental impact, but also an economic one, as UAEs priority sector companies and government entities will collaborate to develop new industries, technologies, skills, and jobs, rooted in innovation, technology and science. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said: The UAE has always been a key contributor to the global sustainability movement. During COP26, the UAE launched UAEs Hydrogen Roadmap as the UAE is well positioned to be a leader in low carbon hydrogen. hydrogen is envisaged to play a significant role in UAEs domestic strategy to meet the UAE 2050 Net-Zero goals and which will also assist globally by exporting hydrogen. We have been committed to upholding our responsibility by participating in several established sustainable platforms for knowledge-sharing among maritime nations and administrations on best practices, while also adding value to the technical and legal discussions held at the IMO, by contributing with proposals aimed at enhancing regulations to preserve the marine environment. Our involvement with the Coalition is one such endeavour that supports the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 that aims to achieve an energy mix combining renewable and low carbon energy sources to achieve strategic economic and environmental goals. Eng Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure for Energy and Petroleum Affairs, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, added: With an aim of having 50% of clean energy as part of its energy mix, the country plans to maximise its investments until 2050 in clean energy. Hydrogen is a key aspect of this strategy. Currently, the expansion of the UAEs hydrogen economy is in process with mega projects involving several of our leading ports. The two-gigawatt green ammonia project by Taqa, the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, and Abu Dhabi Ports is one such project that will produce green hydrogen and process it into liquid ammonia, to be used in ships as bunker fuel and for export. This coupled with other endeavours by our ports will reinforce the UAEs position as a key competitive maritime hub. The UAE has played an active role during the previous and current cycles as members of the IMO Council in introducing fundamental amendments to many decisions about preserving the planet. The country continues to work with member states to advance the global maritime sector and the shipping industry through a collective contribution to the IMOs mission of achieving the safety, security and efficiency of maritime transport in clean oceans. Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs, UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said: Leaders from governments around the world gathered recently converged at COP26 to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). With a projection that emissions from maritime transport may increase significantly over the next few years, it is imperative to take prompt action. The UAE is already contributing significantly to protecting the marine environment and helping the shipping sector to the IMO legislation to reduce sulphur oxide emissions by providing new, low-sulphur fuels at an affordable price. The Coalition will help us further by allowing us to share policy challenges, opportunities and recommendations to H2I members, partners and other stakeholders for scaling up clean hydrogen production. This will enable us to address wider maritime issues in a comprehensive, well-balanced, and integrated manner and also contribute to the international maritime community within the IMO framework. Through our membership in the IMO, we will continue contributing to developing strategies, policies, agreements and setting standards to regulate and streamline the maritime sector. As an active contributor to the IMO activities, the UAE has ensured positive and effective engagement and participation in all the works of the Assembly, Council, main technical committees, sub-committees, and related working groups. The country has contributed to preparing and implementing the IMO initial strategy on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships and will continue supporting follow-up action plans and the fourth IMO-GHG study. Owing to its relentless efforts, in 2017, the UAE was elected to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council under category B and was re-elected in 2019. With the aim of continuing its active role in strengthening maritime legislation and regulations to serve the shipping sector and international trade, the UAE has been successfully reelected in 2021 for the third consecutive time in the IMO Executive Council with the highest number of votes.-- TradeArabia News Service Most college students believe there's a mental health crisis on campuses throughout the nation. FatCamera/E+ via Getty Images Nearly 70% of college students say they are experiencing emotional distress or anxiety related to the pandemic. Thats according to a January 2022 survey that also found nearly 9 out of every 10 college students believe U.S. colleges and universities are facing a mental health crisis. Below are five articles from the archives of The Conversation that highlight tips for college students to take better care of their mental health. 1. Prioritize your mental health When students do poorly in a class due to mental health issues, occasionally they might seek a medical exception that can withdraw them from the class instead of failing it. But students who get this exception often fail to seek the actual help they need to deal with the mental health issue that led them to do poorly in the first place. Thats according to Nicholas Joyce, a psychologist at the University of South Florida. In my experience, many students who get the medical exception return the next semester without addressing their mental health needs and end up failing more courses, writes Joyce. Joyce recommends four ways college students can avoid having to seek a medical exception in the first place. 2. Seek campuses designed to boost your mood When selecting a college to attend, students should look at whether the campus design benefits their mental health. Green spaces on college campuses can alleviate stress. Rana Faure/Getty Images Campus design affects the college experience, and students can choose a campus or change their existing routines to support their mental health, they write. Such consideration is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when new rules and norms have left many students more anxious and depressed than normal. Read more: 5 things to look for on a college campus that benefit mental health 3. Make a wellness plan Before students even set foot on campus, they should develop a wellness plan to help them avoid major emotional distress. Thats according to Sandra M. Chafouleas, professor of educational psychology at the University of Connecticut, who details what every students wellness plan should include. personal wellness plans must be customized to meet each individual students own needs, she writes. And I believe that since it is unclear whether new college students will be on physical campuses this fall or learning online, these plans are more important than ever. Read more: 5 things college students should include in a plan for their wellness 4. Avoid academic burnout When college students suffer from burnout, it often leads them to experience feelings of isolation, low accomplishment and depression. Ryan Korstange, assistant professor of university studies at Middle Tennessee State University, writes about five tips on how college students can avoid exhaustion. [Over 140,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletters to understand the world. Sign up today.] The most effective way of preventing burnout is being sure you know why youre in college to begin with, he writes. Build your internal motivation by identifying the skills you need to develop and the experiences you want to have while you are in college. Read more: 5 tips for college students to avoid burnout 5. Spend time with a therapy dog Research has shown that spending just 10 minutes with a therapy dog can reduce college students stress levels. Thats why Christine Kivlen, an assistant professor of occupational therapy at Wayne State University, recommends students seek out therapy dog programs on campus. Kivlen writes about the calming effects of spending time with a therapy dog. Among other benefits, therapy dogs can help students achieve a stronger sense of belonging and better deal with being homesick and lonely, while also lessening their anxiety and stress. Read more: Therapy dogs help students cope with the stress of college life *** LONDON (AP) The British government on Saturday accused Russia of seeking to replace Ukraines government with a pro-Moscow administration, and said former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate. Murayev is head of the small pro-Russian party Nashi, which currently has no seats in Ukraine's parliament. Britain's Foreign Office named several other Ukrainian politicians it said had links with Russian intelligence services. It's unclear what means Britain believes Russia might use to install a friendly government in Kyiv. The U.K. government made the claim based on an intelligence assessment, without providing evidence to back it up. It comes amid a war of words between Moscow and the West over Russia's designs on Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the information "shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking." Truss urged Russia to "de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy," and reiterated Britain's view that "any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs." Britain has sent anti-tank weapons to Ukraine as part of efforts to bolster its defenses against a potential Russian attack. Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis, U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to meet Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for talks in Moscow. No timing has been given for the meeting, which would be the first U.K.-Russia bilateral defense talks since 2013. The U.S. has mounted an aggressive campaign in recent months to unify its European allies against a new Russian invasion of Ukraine. The White House called the UK government assessment "deeply concerning" and said it stands with the duly elected Ukrainian government. "This kind of plotting is deeply concerning," said National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne. "The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine." The assessment came as Biden spent Saturday at the presidential retreat Camp David outside of Washington huddling with his senior national security team about the Ukraine situation. A trooper with the Wisconsin State Patrol suffered non-life threatening injuries after his cruiser was rear-ended by a passing motorist on Interstate 39-90-94 in Columbia County Sunday morning, authorities said. The crash occurred around 11 a.m. near Poynette while the trooper was inside his vehicle during a traffic stop, the State Patrol said on social media. The driver of an incoming Honda Pilot lost control of the car and hit the parked cruiser. The driver of the Honda Pilot was not injured, the State Patrol said. The more critical I become of Joe Bidens bumbling presidency, the more often I get the question of whether I regret not supporting Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Let me check. Nope. No regrets. Im still not missing Trump. I still think his extreme lack of honor and low-rent character made him unsuitable to serve as president of the United States. Im still glad he was dragged kicking and screaming out of the Oval Office. I still think had he won the election he very well could have destroyed the Republic. (And, by the way, I believe the same of Biden, if he gets his way with Congress). And I still think two things can be true at the same time: Joe Biden is a disaster as president. And Donald Trump was a disaster as president. That Americans were given such a lousy choice for the highest office in the land speaks to the failure of our political system. Im no more willing today than I was a year ago to declare one better or worse than the other. They are both really, really bad. And if their names appear across from each other on the 2024 ballot, I will for the third straight time cast my vote for whichever third-party candidate appears to be the least offensive. How could anyone be worse than what the Republicans and Democrats have offered us in the past two cycles, and are threatening to do so again? No matter our partisan leanings, we should tell the two major parties right now that if they give us another unqualified pairing in 2024, well withhold our votes. Make them stop taking our votes for granted. Party loyalty among the electorate is dropping, and thats a positive. The latest polling data from Gallup finds that 42% of voters identify as independent, compared to just 29% Democrat and 27% Republican. And yet the two parties still hold a political duopoly. The only way to change that is to stop voting for crappy candidates just because they have an R or D after their name. Feel free to make another pick, even if youre accused of wasting your vote. Solid Democrats and Republicans are capable of leading the nation from the middle, but the parties ignore them in favor of hard partisans. They force conformity of everyone who gets elected under their banner. Look how Sens. Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, Mitt Romney and Rep. Fred Upton are being treated for stepping out of the party line. Americans are tired of it. Chart the presidential approval ratings over the past five years they are consistently below 50%. Congress numbers are even worse. None of the scoundrels in Washington were elected by the political parties. They were elected by the people. But whose bidding do they do? This next cycle is ripe for an independent candidate who can break the destructive hold the two parties have on our political system and chart the way toward a less poisonous partisan future. And to a presidential election in which we dont have to hold our noses to cast our ballots. Finley is the editorial page editor for the Detroit News: @NolanFinleyDN. After mobs stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 some chanting Hang Mike Pence! the Republican vice president rejected calls from his own sitting president to overturn a free and fair election. It was a heroic moment. Pence ignored Trumps public intimidation and convoluted legal advice from Trumps attorneys, who wanted Pence to exploit ambiguity in the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to reject the will of the people. Instead, Pence would say later, he was guided by James Madison, the father of the Constitution, and by Psalm 15 in the Bible, which instructed him to keep an oath even when it hurts. Pence stood before the Senate at 3:41 a.m. on Jan. 7, after rioters were finally cleared from the chambers, and certified Democratic President Joe Bidens 306-232 victory in the Electoral College, narrowly avoiding a constitutional crisis. Now there are those in our party who believe that, in my position as presiding officer over the joint session, that I possessed the authority to reject or return electoral votes certified by the states, Pence recalled last year at the Ronald Reagan library. But the Constitution provides the vice president with no such authority before the joint session of Congress. And the truth is, he continued, theres almost no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president. The presidency belongs to the American people and the American people alone. Hes right, and all Americans should be proud of the peaceful transfer of power that Pence oversaw and that defines American democracy going back to George Washington. Biden, when he was vice president, similarly certified Trumps electoral victory four years earlier, following the 2016 election. Biden did so over objections from several Democratic lawmakers. But Americans cant rely on statesmen to always do the right thing. The Electoral Count Act of 1887 is a time bomb, in the words of UW-Madison professor and elections expert Barry Burden, and its ticking toward a constitutional showdown as soon as 2024. With Wisconsins congressional delegation in strong support, Congress must rewrite or repeal the Electoral Count Act of 1887 so its language can never again be the basis for overturning the peoples choice for president. The language needs to be perfectly clear that the vice presidents role is ceremonial. Congress also should raise the threshold for objections, so a few lawmakers bent on disruption cant tie up the proceedings based on conspiracy theories or for self-promotion. Challenges to our elections should be decided by our courts, not by the politicians whose names are on the ballot. Multiple recounts, audits and more than 60 court decisions rejected Trump and his supporters claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, which Trump definitely lost. Everyone agrees that the Electoral Count Act is unclear, not internally consistent, Burden told the State Journal last week. There are a whole range of interpretations about what it even says, and its never been tested in 150 years. So its waiting there sort of like a time bomb to create potentially a constitutional crisis. Now is the perfect time to defuse this outdated act because bipartisan support for clear procedures governing presidential certification is growing in the Senate and the House. Republican Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine are working on a consensus proposal. So is Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., a member of the Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the United States Capitol. So is independent Sen. Angus King of Maine. And on Wednesday, Biden predicted a bipartisan fix will get done. Some Democrats still want sweeping changes to election laws, including many we support, such as ending gerrymandering and allowing convenient voting via secured drop boxes and early voting. But the Democrats larger proposal failed to clear the Senate last week, with a pair of Democrats refusing to repeal the filibuster. The Democrats need to move on and accept a smaller victory for our democracy one that will stand the test of time and help preserve our democracy. Rewriting the Electoral Count Act must be a top priority this spring. Wisconsin State Journal editorial board The views expressed in the editorials are shaped by the board, independent of news coverage decisions elsewhere in the newspaper. STAFF MEMBERS JASON ADRIANS, Editor SCOTT MILFRED, Editorial page editor PHIL HANDS, Editorial cartoonist COMMUNITY MEMBERS JANINE GESKE SUSAN SCHMITZ WAYNE STRONG The writer of Jan. 12 letter to the editor "What about assault on state Capitol?" asked why the Wisconsin state Capitol "insurrection" was treated differently from the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol "insurrection" and called it liberal hypocrisy. Some reasons for the difference: What about assault on state Capitol? -- Pete Papageorge Will Democrats and the media ever discuss the "insurrection" back in 2011 by liberals stormi The demonstrators at the state Capitol caused about little damage. Building staff had to remove tape marks after multiple days of protest and occupation of the Capitol. The Jan. 6 demonstrators did hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of intentional damage to the U.S. Capitol in a few hours. In Madison no legislators offices were invaded or trashed. Protest leaders cautioned demonstrators not to damage the building. No one threatened or incited hanging elected officials. No doors or windows were smashed. No legislators had to hide or flee for their lives. No one was injured, much less killed. No one forcefully tried to prevent Act 10 from going into effect, and 100,000 people demonstrated peacefully. Police officer commented to me personally how remarkably peaceful and well behaved the crowd had been. As a liberal, considering these differences, I do not see any hypocrisy and I am proud of the role I and thousands of others played in our miscalled insurrection." It was citizenship at its best in a democratic republic. Daryl Sherman, Madison BURLEY A public meeting will be held from 5 7 p.m. Wednesday to inform the community about a planned Interstate 84 Burley and Heyburn interchanges project. The Idaho Transportation Department plans to replace the exits 208 and 211 interchanges to better serve the traffic and growth in the area. The interchanges were built in the early 1960s and have reached the end of their service lives. The open house format meeting will be held at the Minidoka County Fire Department, 1120 21st St., Heyburn. The project team will answer question and listen to thoughts from the public. The project is currently in the planning and design phase. The planning and design phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. People can participate in the online meeting at the ITD website, available Jan. 27 Feb. 10. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Worldwide air cargo volume increased by +13% in week 2 of the last five weeks up till January 26 compared with previous week, said WorldACD, a major supplier of market data on the air cargo sector in a new report. Worldwide capacity remained stable week-over-week. On a regional level, volumes from all regions increased compared with previous week, with smallest increase from Middle East & South Asia at +4%, and largest increase from Europe at +21%. The average worldwide yield/rate in week 2 decreased compared with previous week. TradeArabia News Service BOISE The omicron variant is blazing through Idaho communities, with state health data showing the highest case and positive test numbers for the entire pandemic. This week, the state recorded the highest number of cases in a weeklong period since the pandemic began, according to Idaho Statesman research, with 16,422 added to the state dashboard. And even that figure is likely well below the actual number, because local public health districts are struggling with a backlog of more than 35,000 tests over the last two-week period. Another indicator, the test positivity rate, has gone off the charts. On Thursday, the Department of Health and Welfare had to adjust its online graph in order to fit in the new data point: a test positivity rate of 34.1% for the week of Jan. 9, the most recent data available. Prior to the omicron surge, the highest test positivity rate the state had seen was 19.1% for the week of Nov. 15, 2020. Extremely high, unprecedented community spread, Dr. Ted Epperly, president and CEO of the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho, told the Idaho Statesman by phone. Public health officials say a test positivity rate of 5% or less indicates that spread of a respiratory virus is under control. The states rate is seven times that. Its the most dangerous time weve had, Epperly said. Even though most individuals are developing less severe COVID-19 symptoms with the omicron variant especially vaccinated people getting breakthrough cases the enhanced transmissibility trumps that, potentially causing the virus to seep into more places and infect vulnerable people. It will find those people that are unvaccinated, Epperly said. It will find those people that are elderly, it will find those people that are immune-compromised ... At its peak, it will leave in its wake a huger impact than did delta on hospitalizations and on death. Epperly said he expects the statistics to exceed numbers seen during the delta surge last fall, which included the deadliest weeks of the pandemic. Hospitalizations and deaths lag case counts, meaning the effects of the current spike likely wont be visible until mid- or late February, he said. A crisis for health care systems While hospitals and primary care providers are being inundated by patients looking for tests and medical evaluation, more and more staff members are calling out sick, causing a double whammy, Epperly said. On Friday, 51 staff members at Primary Health Medical Group, a major provider in the Treasure Valley, were out for COVID-19-related reasons, said Dr. David Peterman, the groups CEO. Since Jan. 3, more than one-sixth of the companys employees have tested positive. Out of 21 in the Treasure Valley, six of Primary Healths urgent care clinics were closed Friday. Since Jan. 14, Primary Healths patient test positivity rate has been 42%. The providers clinics have identified more than 10,000 positive patients since Jan. 3, Peterman said. Every 48 hours, Petermans clinics record between 1,000 and 1,800 positive cases, he said. Primary Health administers rapid and PCR tests; if, after being screened, patients have few or no symptoms, many take a rapid test, which provides fast results. But those tests are less sensitive, Peterman said, and may give false negative readings on up to 10% of tests. Other Idaho providers are also seeing highly elevated numbers this month. At St. Lukes Health System, the 14-day test positivity rate as of Jan. 20 was 33%, according to the systems dashboard. At Saint Alphonsus Health System, it was 42.7%. Omicron is serious, and its like a wildfire, Peterman said. As of Jan. 19, there were 491 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 at Idaho hospitals, according to state data, up more than 100 from last week. There were 91 COVID-19 patients in intensive care. Since last Friday, the state has recorded 53 deaths, for a total of 4,323. Theres been a total of 356,111 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. Long-term care At long-term care facilities, nearly 2,300 new cases have been recorded in the past week, and 49 new facilities have active infections. As of Friday, Health and Welfare reports there are 8,677 active coronavirus cases among 155 long-term care facilities. There are 201 facilities with resolved outbreaks. To date, 1,029 people from 222 facilities in Idaho have died from COVID-19-related causes four more than were reported last Friday. Long-term care deaths account for about 24% of the 4,323 in the state. Editors note: This Idaho Statesman story was produced in collaboration with the Idaho Capital Sun and benefited from public records grant funding through The Gumshoe Group investigative journalism initiative. BOISE Last June, two days after a condemned man outlived his scheduled execution date, he made a macabre appeal to the agents tasked with guiding him to his end. Then he made it again. And again. The use of pentobarbital at my execution is too risky under the Eighth Amendment, Idaho death row inmate Gerald Pizzuto wrote to his prison warden on June 4, citing the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. My medication history will make it very painful. The firing squad can be used and would be more humane. When his petition was rejected on the grounds that lethal injection is Idahos only approved method of execution, Pizzuto submitted his same request in July, and once more in August, according to documents obtained by the Idaho Statesman under the Idaho Public Records Act. The renewed push to execute Pizzuto, who is terminally ill with cancer, has prompted further scrutiny of Idahos history of secrecy around putting inmates to death by way of lethal injection. An investigation into the states most recent executions reveals the lengths to which prison officials have gone to withhold documents from the public that disclose their past practices for acquiring the deadly drugs, the associated taxpayer costs and the identity of their suppliers. Idaho Department of Correction officials continue to decline to say whether they have the lethal injection drugs needed to execute Pizzuto, or name their source for the chemicals. The departments spokesperson has said only that when the time comes once a death warrant is issued the state agency is confident it will have the drugs necessary to carry out the mandated execution. IDOCs latest refusal last week follows nearly a decade of department efforts to prevent public release of information about its execution procedures. A series of legal defeats in recent years finally forced the department to disclose records that showed the covert ways that prison leadership operated to conceal any information that could reveal their execution drug sources. Court proceedings and documents judges ordered released in a public records lawsuit show that in Idahos last two executions Paul Rhoades in 2011 and Richard Leavitt in 2012 IDOC paid more than $20,000 in cash to acquire the drugs from out-of-state pharmacies in the days leading up to scheduled lethal injections. Experts on the death penalty, civil rights and pharmaceutical law have called such practices directly involving IDOC Director Josh Tewalt ethically suspect and potentially risky to the inmate. Pizzutos attorneys with the nonprofit Federal Defender Services of Idaho have gone a step further. They say that the past actions of IDOC officials to acquire lethal injection drugs, including bringing a suitcase full of cash to an alleged after-hours parking lot exchange, border on illegal. IDOCs history of resorting to shady drug sources for its most recent executions makes it more likely that it will happen again, Jonah Horwitz, one of Pizzutos attorneys, said in a written statement to the Statesman. Using drugs of questionable quality or reliability would be dangerous under any circumstances, and would pose even more of a threat to Mr. Pizzuto because of his grave heart condition and complicated medication history. IDOC officials have repeatedly declined to answer questions from the Statesman about lethal injection drugs and suppliers, or the departments past acquisition practices. They cite IDOCs recently revised public records exemption rules, as well as active or anticipated legal challenges including those filed by Pizzutos attorneys in state and federal courts. The experts in their respective fields, meanwhile, say the states track record with lethal injection gives them concern over whether IDOC will change course and operate differently with Pizzuto, as well as the other seven inmates on Idaho death row. Idahos other death row inmates Azad Abdullah received his death sentence in November 2004 for 1st degree murder in the arson death of his wife in Ada County. Thomas Creech received his death sentence in January 1983 for the beating death of an Ada County inmate. Timothy Dunlap received his death sentence in April 1992 for 1st degree murder in the killing of a woman during a bank robbery in Caribou County. James Hairston received his death sentence in November 1996 for 1rst degree murder of two people he shot to death in Bannock County. Erick Hall received his death sentence in October 2004 for two counts of 1st degree murder and rape of two women in Ada County in 2000 and 2003. Johnathan Daniel Renfro received his death sentence in November 2017 for 1st degree murder in the shooting death of a police officer in Kootenai County. Robin Row received her death sentence in December 1993 for 1st degree murder in the arson deaths of her husband, son and daughter in Ada County. The Department of Correction seems to have very little respect for the law, and certainly almost no respect for democracy and public transparency, Ritchie Eppink, the American Civil Liberties Union of Idahos legal director, said in an interview. So I have very little faith in the Department of Correction in carrying out this execution properly, and certainly carrying it out transparently in a way that actually brings justice and dignity to our state. Pizzuto lethal injection plan garners scrutiny Questions persist about Idahos efforts to block release of drug acquisition information as the U.S. continues to wrestle with the politically charged debate over capital punishment, now as a majority of states no longer permit executions. Last year, Virginia became the 23rd state to abolish the practice, in addition to the standing governor-imposed bans in California, Oregon and Pennsylvania. Washington, D.C., also has in place a permanent prohibition on executions. Lethal injections in particular have garnered heightened focus in recent years after drug manufacturers halted sales to prisons, making the chemicals used to end inmates lives much harder to obtain. The situation has left states like Idaho that still seek to execute prisoners choosing to employ unconventional means and sources to comply with the terms of these decades-old convictions, including Pizzutos. Reports of botched executions in several states have also generated repeat national headlines, drawing the ire of anti-death penalty activists. For example, in a 2015 case in Oklahoma, an autopsy later confirmed that prison officials administered the wrong drug during an inmates execution, with the man expressing as his final words: My body is on fire. Oklahoma, Utah, Mississippi and South Carolina are the only states in the U.S. where use of a firing squad is an approved backup method of execution. The option remained on the books in Idaho until 2009, and IDOC considered asking lawmakers to reinstate the firing squad as recently as 2014, but the concept didnt move forward. Increasingly under the microscope, capital punishment decision-makers are paying greater attention, too. Last year, Oklahomas parole board recommended several death row inmates sentences be reduced to life in prison until the state resolves its lethal injection process. The year prior, Ohios governor placed executions on unofficial moratorium after a federal district court judge in Ohio ruled applying the states lethal injection protocols to a death row inmate would almost certainly subject him to severe pain and needless suffering. Pizzutos attorneys have made similar arguments in advocating against his execution. Pizzuto, 65, has been on death row for more than 35 years. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 1986 for the murder of two people the summer before at a remote cabin in Idaho County, north of McCall. Pizzuto previously served nine years in prison for a rape conviction in Michigan and was also found guilty of two murders in Washington state after his Idaho conviction. This past May, Pizzutos attorneys successfully petitioned the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole to grant their client a clemency hearing just the second for an Idaho death row inmate since the state reinstituted capital punishment in 1977. The unexpected move led to a stay of execution Pizzutos third time sidestepping being put to death since his conviction. That shelved his scheduled June 2 lethal injection. His attorneys argued that their clients appalling childhood and fading health, which includes late-stage bladder cancer, heart disease, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, deserved the boards consideration of reducing his sentence to life in prison. He has been in hospice care for about two years. Given Pizzutos unique set of serious health issues, his attorneys have stated that the use of pentobarbital a potent sedative that can stop a persons breathing in higher doses violates Pizzutos rights against cruel and unusual punishment guaranteed under the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Dr. Jim Ruble is an attorney and longtime doctor of pharmacy who teaches law and ethics courses at the University of Utahs College of Pharmacy. He has frequently been an expert witness in death penalty cases, and he agrees that the use of compounded pentobarbital in the execution of inmates with complex medical histories invites uncertainty. An individual with a lot of compromised organ systems is not as predictable as what we might think, Ruble said by phone. How they react to it introduces a lot more variability. It could potentially be much less effective. Because of the complications of their overall health condition, it could also hasten their death, too. How and why we reported this story Our government should not have anything to hide when it comes to the most serious thing that the government does, which is kill a human being, Ritchie Eppink, the ACLU of Idahos legal director, told me last May while I was working as a freelance writer for the Idaho Capital Sun. Eppink was just off a legal victory over the Idaho Department of Correction while representing University of Idaho law professor Aliza Cover, who sought information about the death penalty under the states public records act. Idahos highest court sided with them, and IDOCs refusal cost taxpayers more than $170,000. The documents that prison officials were finally forced to release revealed a history of intentionally opaque actions to prevent the public from knowing the costs and sources of the states lethal injection drugs. Experts on the subject told me IDOCs records produced even more questions than answers, and I pitched this project to an investigative journalism outfit for freelance grant funding. By the time the The Gumshoe Group journalism initiative made its decision, Id already accepted a position as an investigative reporter with the Idaho Statesman and could no longer accept the funds to seek even more public records. They scoffed, said the project was too important to skip, and lent their support anyway. This investigation is the result of a unique journalistic partnership in pursuit of those answers, once again wielding the states requirement of public transparency from its government. The Statesman and Capital Sun teamed up to pull together materials released in the Cover lawsuit, and our own subsequent records requests, to document how the state chooses to operate in the name of Idahoans, for what a spokesperson for Gov. Brad Little called his most solemn of responsibilities ending a human life. Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman investigative reporter So little transparency on executions nationwide The recent obstacles to obtaining the drugs needed to fulfill death sentences have driven states further into secrecy, said Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit takes no formal stance on capital punishment, but it has been criticized by some death penalty proponents as supportive of anti-death penalty positions. This is part of a larger issue when it comes to executions in the United States: There is so little transparency, Dunham said by phone. But there should be transparency at each stage. If a policy cant be carried out in the light of day, then you have to question the policy. However, defenders of the policies in question argue that confidentiality is necessary to ensure the state can obtain the drugs needed to follow through on Idaho statute. Lethal injection is Idahos only permissible means of capital punishment. This is a debate not limited to Idaho, Jeff Ray, IDOCs spokesperson, said last year by email. Across the country and in Idaho, capital punishment opponents have used protests and other means to discourage chemical suppliers from assisting states with carrying out executions. Capital punishment remains the law in Idaho. In the process, IDOC has established itself among the group of state prison systems that have tried to prevent release of their past and future execution practices, according to documents obtained through public records requests and court orders, as well as the departments evolving disclosure policies. The recently released trove of records shows that IDOC pursued covert tactics to obtain lethal injection drugs from a compounding pharmacy in Salt Lake City in 2011, and another in Tacoma, Washington, in 2012. The chemicals at that time from sources not known to the public were then used over a seven-month span in the arms of death row inmates in Idahos last two executions: Rhoades, 54, a convicted triple-murderer, in November 2011; and Leavitt, 53, also convicted of murder, in June 2012. Compounding pharmacies are less regulated, because they are not closely monitored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The federal agency charged with approving drugs instead defers to individual states to oversee these pharmacies and the drugs they produce. This means that FDA does not review these drugs to evaluate their safety, effectiveness or quality before they reach patients, the federal agency states on its website. As a result, the pentobarbital prepared in a compounding pharmacy for executions is prone to less reliability, Ruble said. Factor in how the drug is handled, stored and administered after it leaves the pharmacy, and questions remain about the stability and sterility in other words, the overall safety of whats ultimately injected into an inmate. There are profound differences between something manufactured commercially and something that a compounding pharmacy makes, Ruble said. Just because theres a compounding pharmacy out there, it doesnt mean they necessarily have all the understanding of these particular formulations. Some do, but its more than just prep. What Im getting at is we dont know, he added. University of Idaho professors lawsuit prompts IDOC fines The bulk of IDOCs lethal injection documents now available originate from a public records request filed in September 2017 by Aliza Cover, a University of Idaho law professor whose work focuses on criminal law, including the death penalty. She sought documents related to the use of lethal injection drugs in the states most recent executions, which IDOC officials largely denied. The following February, Cover sued, with the ACLU of Idahos legal team representing her. The lawsuit, which dragged on for more than three years and involved the Idaho Supreme Court on appeal, eventually compelled IDOC in early 2021 to hand over all the records without redactions that would shield past execution drug suppliers. During the legal proceedings, judges ruled that IDOC officials had not adhered to the departments own public record disclosure rules. They also admonished IDOC officials, including then-Deputy Director Jeff Zmuda and Ray, the department spokesperson, for withholding records in bad faith and conduct deemed frivolous. Ray was slapped with a personal civil fine of $1,000, and the court awarded Cover more than $170,000 in state funds toward costs and attorneys fees. In the midst of the lawsuit, however, IDOC moved to tighten its records exemption rules for information related to executions specifically identifying information of drug sources. In May 2019, Tewalt led a presentation before the departments three-seat, policy-setting board appointed by the governor to shore up which documents the agency may keep from public consumption. He suggested changes to execution exemption guidelines to provide clarity on information that will be disclosed, according to IDOC Board meeting minutes. While IDOC continued to defend itself in the Cover lawsuit, Tewalt told the IDOC Board, down to just two members at that time, that the department is committed to transparency concerning executions. During the meeting, he spoke of refining records disclosure rules to limit possible exemptions and what would be withheld from the public, the meeting minutes report. But, in fact, several of Tewalts recommended changes would further restrict what the department released going forward, including any information the director exclusively determines could identify the source of execution drugs. When a government responds to a problem by hiding the evidence, that should not give anybody confidence that theyve addressed the problem, said Dunham, of the Death Penalty Information Center. That should make the public rightfully indignant and should cause the public to trust the government less. Im not saying that no state should ever carry out an execution. Im saying if youre untrustworthy, you should not carry out an execution. The IDOC Board voted to adopt the execution disclosure revisions recommended by Tewalt before the suggested changes went to a joint hearing of the Idaho Senate and House judiciary rules committees in January 2020. Unlike changes to law, these rules require only committee approvals to be implemented not full votes by the Idaho Legislature. Through Ray, Tewalt has declined four interview requests from a Statesman reporter over several months, including about the changes to IDOCs records disclosure rules. But in a November 2021 email exchange between Tewalt and Ray about an interview request later obtained in a batch of public records for this investigation, Tewalt offered greater detail. I wont comment on chemicals and Im not inclined to revisit the rule issues that were discussed and adopted in an OPEN board meeting AND vetted before the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, Tewalt wrote to Ray. I dont have anything to add beyond whats been publicly discussed. Earlier, Tewalt went before the joint-committee hearing in January 2020 to request support for final approval of his recommended disclosure changes. The intent behind the (IDOC) Boards action here is to try to mitigate things that would jeopardize the departments ability to carry out an execution, Tewalt told members of the two committees. So I would certainly urge your favorable consideration of this particular docket. At the hearing, a representative for the Idaho Press Club also appeared and advocated against the two committees sanctioning the proposed exemption changes, citing the ongoing Cover lawsuit with IDOC and possible erosion of the Idaho Public Records Act if approved. The Press Club has concerns about the dangerous precedent this would set as it relates to other department rules and their handling of public information, Ken Burgess, an Idaho Press Club lobbyist, told judiciary committee members. As long as the state engages in public executions as punishment, it is critical that the information related to that execution should also be made public and transparently available. The Idaho Senate and House committees each voted to approve IDOCs recommended changes with limited opposition. Our government should not have anything to hide when it comes to the most serious thing that the government does, which is kill a human being, said Eppink of the ACLU, who was part of Covers legal team. If the way that Idaho is killing people was honorable, the Department of Correction in the state of Idaho would be putting that information on its website. But they dont want you to know this, because they dont want the public to understand how outrageous their entire execution process is, including the taxpayer money. The total cost of maintaining capital punishment is difficult to determine, based largely on the lengthy legal process afforded to death row inmates who appeal their sentences or convictions. The price of execution drugs also has risen in recent years as supplies dwindled. Several studies have shown that in cases where the death penalty is pursued, states on average spend hundreds of thousands of dollars more in taxpayer funds. After a district court ruled in favor of Cover, IDOC appealed to the state Supreme Court. The court ignored the departments disclosure changes in issuing its November 2020 decision and ordered IDOC to hand over all nonexempt records to Cover. The formal order took effect in March 2021. Part of Idahos response to my lawsuit was to change the law to allow IDOC to keep more secrets about executions and the sources of lethal injection drugs, and that is a real cause for concern, Cover said by email. The lawsuit made clear that there are substantial costs to willful noncompliance with the Public Records Act. The people of Idaho have a strong interest in knowing how the government is carrying out the death penalty in their name. Obtaining execution drugs a challenge for Idaho The records released in the Cover lawsuit pulled back the curtain on how Idaho in 2011 went about relaunching its execution program after 17 years, having last ended a prisoners life in 1994. IDOC soon discovered that lethal injection drugs had over that time become extremely difficult to obtain. Prison officials then contemplated sourcing them from Harris Pharma, an infamous supplier in India, according to the email records from Randy Blades, then-warden of the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, where death row inmates reside. The FDA later seized execution drugs bought by other states and illegally imported into the U.S. from Harris Pharma. It was almost impossible to find the necessary drugs that were considered acceptable by the U.S. Supreme Court, Brent Reinke, the IDOC director at the time and now a Twin Falls County commissioner, previously told the Utah Investigative Journalism Project. We used every bit of creativity we could because of the importance of what we were charged to carry out. The records also show how IDOC actively worked to keep its execution activities off the books. Top-level prison officials spent from confidential cash accounts, directed staff in an internal memo not to make any execution purchases through typical channels, and wound up sourcing the lethal injection drugs from pharmacies with dubious regulatory histories. This document is for staff use only. Do not release it to offenders or the general public, reads the memo, which includes pointers to prison staff on how to avoid the financial detection that could help identify a source of the execution drugs. Faced with a ticking clock on Rhoades Nov. 18, 2011, execution date, IDOC leveraged another state agency to place an order for pentobarbital sodium, a Schedule II controlled substance in the U.S. The supplier that agreed to sell it was the University Compounding Pharmacy in Salt Lake City, records show. State prison officials requested a pharmacist with State Hospital South, a psychiatric treatment center in Blackfoot within the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare network, submit the required U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration order form. The states Department of Health and Welfare lists its mission as being dedicated to strengthening the health, safety and independence of Idahoans. An IDHW spokesperson declined to respond to questions from the Statesman about who made the decision to help IDOC obtain execution drugs, nor explained how or why the department got involved. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare requested a clinical pharmacist employee travel to Salt Lake City in November 2011 to pick up pentobarbital from a pharmacy for the state of Idaho, IDHW spokesperson Niki Forbing-Orr said in an emailed statement. No one currently working for the department was involved in that decision 10 years ago. IDOC paid upwards of $10,000 in cash for the lethal injection drugs used in the Rhoades execution, Ross Castleton, a former IDOC deputy chief of prisons, said in a sworn deposition. The drug supplier was later revealed to be the Salt Lake City pharmacy. Idahos decision to buy lethal injection drugs across state lines would be repeated by top brass at IDOC less than a year later. Idaho next goes to Washington for lethal chemicals In 2012, IDOC again sought pentobarbital to execute a prisoner this time Richard Leavitt. He was charged with killing and mutilating a 31-year-old Blackfoot woman, and convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 1985. The day before Leavitts death warrant was expected to be issued on May 17, an internal prison report about the execution noted to staff that IDOC had already found another drug supplier. IDOC has a good source for the required chemicals this time, and it is anticipated we will not have the same troubles as the last execution, the May 16 document states. The document does not address what those purported issues were, or if they involved the compounding pharmacy in Salt Lake City. IDOC officials refuse to discuss lethal injection drugs. Flight records obtained from the Idaho Division of Aeronautics for this investigation show that on May 30, Tewalt and his then-boss, former IDOC prisons chief Kevin Kempf, took a state-chartered flight bound for Tacoma, Washington. They were the only two passengers on the 1-hour, 51-minute trip from Boise to Tacoma Narrows Airport, arriving at 5:16 p.m., and the 1-hour, 31-minute trip back that same night, arriving in Boise at 10:19 p.m. The Division of Aeronautics estimates the round-trip flight cost taxpayers $2,448. Tewalt, then an IDOC deputy chief of prisons, and Kempf brought with them as much as $15,000 in cash to buy the execution drugs from a Tacoma pharmacist, public records and court depositions from the Cover lawsuit show. Tewalt and Kempf carried the money aboard the flight in a suitcase and made the evening exchange in a Walmart parking lot, Pizzutos attorneys alleged in a March 2020 legal filing. Kempf later submitted an expense reimbursement in fiscal year 2013 for $16,383, which was included in a record released in the Cover lawsuit. A handwritten note in blue next to the line item reads execution on the document, which appears to be an internal IDOC financial audit. Kempf was later promoted to IDOC director in 2014. In a September 2016 sworn affidavit obtained in the Cover lawsuit, Kempf stated that IDOC last possessed pentobarbital in June 2012, for the Leavitt execution. Kempf left IDOC two years later to become the executive director of the Correctional Leaders Association, a trade group and lobby for the nations member prisons. As he exited, then-Gov. Butch Otter, who was in office for the Rhoades and Leavitt executions, pronounced Dec. 16, 2016, Kevin Kempf Day in Idaho, for his tireless work and dedication to public safety, according to Kempfs online professional bio. Kempf could not be reached for comment through his trade group. When Kempf left IDOC, Tewalt went with him, working for two years as the associations director of operations. Tewalt returned to IDOC in December 2018 as its appointed director, while Otter was still governor. A separate record released in the Cover lawsuit links the 2012 execution drug sale to the Union Avenue Compounding Pharmacy in Tacoma, as well as to a woman who says she knows nothing of lethal injections. The document what appears to be a fax dated Jan. 10, 2013 is on Union Avenue pharmacy letterhead and titled Receipt of Monies. It is signed by Kim Burkes, a pharmacist licensed in Washington state who owns the Tacoma compounding pharmacy. A handwritten note paper-clipped to the document also lists contact information for Burkes mother, Linda Hathcock. On the front porch of Hathcocks home, also in Tacoma, she told a Statesman reporter she had never seen the document before, and didnt know anything about the sale of execution drugs to Idaho. The only thing Hathcock said shed done in the past for work at her daughters pharmacy was some light cleaning. The lethal dose of pentobarbital acquired on that May 30 trip to Tacoma was used 13 days later to end Leavitts life, Cover lawsuit court depositions and documents reveal. The chemical has been purchased, an internal IDOC report dated May 24 reads. All necessary chemicals have been obtained, a follow-up report on May 31 informs staff. Castleton, the former IDOC deputy chief of prisons, testified in his deposition during the Cover lawsuit that Zmuda, the former IDOC chief of prisons, could also speak to the cost and source of the execution drugs in 2011 and 2012. Zmuda, now head of the Kansas Department of Corrections, did not respond to Statesman requests for an interview through his office. Kansas also maintains capital punishment and has nine inmates on death row, but it has not executed a prisoner since before 1976. In December, inside Burkes pharmacy located across the street from Tacomas only Walmart she declined a Statesman reporters in-person interview request, and later backed out of a scheduled phone interview. Instead, Burkes texted a brief statement and did not respond to follow-up requests for an interview or emailed questions. In her written statement, Burkes, 58, confirmed she received an order from IDOC in May 2012, though did not specify which drug she sold to prison officials. She also did not say what she was paid, or how the contact was initiated, or if IDOC officials have been in touch with her since. They provided me with the appropriate paperwork and I fulfilled the order and provided documentation of third-party quality control testing, Burkes wrote. I released the product to authorized Idaho DOC members when they came to our pharmacy to retrieve it. In February 2017, the Washington Department of Health placed Burkes pharmacists license on probation for one year for repeat inspection violations in 2015 and 2016, according to records obtained from the health department for this investigation. In addition, she was fined $1,432 and made to write an essay and attend trainings. The violations included stocking expired drugs on the pharmacys shelves and possessing insufficient patient information. Burkes license was reinstated in 2018 the same year Washington state abolished the death penalty. It was at least the second time a licensed staffer at Burkes pharmacy had been placed on probation. Washington Department of Health spokesperson Katie Pope said that in the states complaint-driven system, disciplinary action is rare. Over the past two years, just 35 of Washingtons 11,000 licensed pharmacists have faced such punishment. Missing records from Idahos controversial 2011-2012 executions The Idaho Department of Correction is current with its controlled substance license through the Drug Enforcement Administration. Documents released in the Cover lawsuit and also obtained from IDOC for this investigation show the department had such a license from August 2017 to November 2020, and then received a renewal in February 2021 with an expiration date of Nov. 30, 2023. Ray, IDOCs spokesperson, said by email that the department was also previously licensed from Nov. 9, 2011 to Nov. 30, 2014, which would have encompassed the Rhoades and Leavitt executions. However, the department has been unable to produce any form of record, including a mandated DEA order form for the purchase of pentobarbital in Tacoma in 2012, like the one State Hospital South submitted to the Salt Lake City pharmacy on IDOCs behalf in 2011. IDOC still possessed a copy of that 2011 DEA order form when it fulfilled the court order to turn over all records to Cover last year. A 2012 order form that the DEA would have also required of IDOC cannot be found, including in a follow-up public records request as part of this investigation, Ray said. IDOC was in full compliance with all DEA regulations for the 2011 and 2012 executions, Ray said by email, directing a Statesman reporter to the DEA. It would be inaccurate to suggest that IDOC was not in compliance with federal regulations because the department cannot produce records that expired long ago. A DEA regional spokesperson declined to confirm or answer questions about whether IDOC was properly licensed to handle Schedule II controlled substances in 2011 and 2012. The federal agency requires that registered agencies keep records involving all controlled substances for at least two years. Burkes, the Tacoma pharmacist, did not specify in her written statement what documents IDOC provided to her when it bought the drugs used in Leavitts execution. She said her pharmacy generally keeps records longer than is required, but not more than five years. Washington state also requires pharmacists to report all controlled substance dispensations to the states online prescription monitoring program. The obligation predates Burkes sale to IDOC in 2012, but the database is confidential, and review of the information is restricted to providers, prescribers, and state regulatory agencies, as well as law enforcement and prosecutors. Ray acknowledged IDOC did not have a DEA license from December 2014 through when the department applied for a new controlled substance certificate in March 2017, which the DEA issued to IDOC in August 2017. The department allowed the certificate to lapse because there were no imminent executions during that time frame necessitating the license, he said. Following Leavitts execution on June 12, 2012 a Tuesday IDOC in an after-action report, a document created to improve procedures for future lethal injections, recommended choosing a different day of the week for putting prisoners to death. Wednesday is a better execution day, rather than Tuesday, because of the quick turnaround at the beginning of the week, the report reads. On May 6, 2021, an Idaho district court judge signed the death warrant of inmate Gerald Pizzuto. His execution was scheduled for June 2 a Wednesday before he was granted a clemency hearing in November, which postponed his scheduled lethal injection. During the hearing, the Idaho Attorney Generals Office presented the states case for maintaining Pizzutos death sentence, and the parole board deliberated for another day behind closed doors before issuing its ruling a month later on Dec. 30. The seven-member board voted 4-3 to recommend that Pizzuto be pulled from death row and allowed to die in prison of natural causes. Gov. Brad Little had 30 days to consider the recommendation and approve or deny it. However, he rejected it on the same day, which stands to restart Pizzutos execution window. Pizzuto still has several active appeals in state and federal district courts. His attorneys also are challenging in court Littles power to overturn the parole boards ruling in clemency hearings, citing conflicting language between state law and the Idaho Constitution. A hearing is scheduled in state district court in Idaho County on Thursday. The AGs Office and IDOC declined to comment on the governors clemency decision, and prison officials have gone silent as prospects grow for reissuance of Pizzutos death warrant. Eppink, the ACLU of Idahos legal director, said it remains telling that the states prison system staged such a costly, multiyear legal battle over the release of records that Idahos highest court recognized were owed to the public. When it comes to putting people to death, he said, transparency about the process is essential to democracy. What governments, including Idaho, have tried to do is to write the people out of that whole equation, by not telling them anything and shrouding this whole process in secrecy, Eppink said. And when it comes to lethal injection drugs, that is the mechanism of death. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Magic Valley's Missing and Murdered This story is the second in a multi-part series on unsolved cases of missing and murdered people in south-central Idaho. Each story will run in Sunday's Times-News and online at Magicvalley.com. TWIN FALLS On May 7, 2011, a hunter hiking in a remote area east of Wells, Nevada, stumbled upon a 1997 red Mercury Tracer. Windows down, packrats inside, it was obvious the vehicle had been there for a while. The hunter reported it to police and when they ran the license plate the discovery brought more questions than answers. The abandoned vehicle belonged to Kevin Jay Bowman, who was 33 years old at the time and also missing. Eleven years later the circumstances around Bowmans disappearance still remain a mystery. The Kevin Bowmans of the world, those people get neglected, said Crystal Douglas, who runs the Idaho Cold Cases Facebook page. Because they arent young and blonde and pretty or theyre not a child, and men get the least attention in cold cases. Can you help? Anyone who has any information on the case should call the Twin Falls Police Department at 208-735-4357. Tipsters can be anonymous. Who is Kevin Bowman? Kevin Jay Bowman was born on Sept. 9, 1977. At the time he went missing he was living in Twin Falls at 1221 Monaco Street with a co-worker. Bowman worked as a roofer for Moller Construction. His physical description is listed as brown hair, brown eyes, 6 feet tall and 170 pounds. He has a scar extending from the top of his skull down past his right ear. Bowman was married to Shawna Barnes but they were reportedly split up. At the time of his disappearance, Bowman had an arrest warrant out theft in Colorado, said Detective Eric Strassner with the Twin Falls Police Department. It was a nonextraditable warrant meaning it wouldnt have affected him while he lived in Idaho. On Oct. 5, 2010, his employer accidentally paid him extra, Strassner said. Keith Moller, owner of Moller Construction and Kevins boss at the time, said the extra money was approximately $300. I personally believe that has nothing to do with Kevins disappearance, Moller said. Bowman was well-liked by the crew and was a good worker, Moller said. He was physically very fit and always on-time for work. Crew members of Bowmans at the time still live locally but could not be reached for comment. Kevin deserves our attention and someone to come forward, Moller said. Moller planned to take the extra money out of Bowmans next paycheck but he never returned to work. Soon before he disappeared, Bowman bought a 1997 red Mercury Tracer from a local dealership. He also purchased a prepaid phone, on or around Oct. 5, Strassner said. The last call on the phone was placed Oct. 14, 2010. Shortly after purchasing the vehicle and phone, Bowmans co-worker who he was living with woke up to find Bowman had packed up his belongings and left. No one reported him missing until Jan. 21, 2011. His mother who lived in California hadnt heard from him during the holidays and found that to be odd, Strassner said. Four months later, his Tracer would be found along the side of I-80 in Nevada, two hours from Twin Falls. It was like way off the main road; odd place for a car to be found, Strassner said. You had to try to get the car where it was. Because it had been exposed to the elements for so long, there was no forensic information recovered, he said. Bowmans luggage and keys were found inside. Located in an area of thick sagebrush, bushes and small trees, the car was resting against a tree, Strassner said. The driver-side mirror was broken off but the damage was considered minor. There was nothing that would determine there was foul play at the vehicle, Strassner said. It was just abandoned way off the road in an odd spot, definitely suspicious. Law enforcement combed the area around the car and didnt find any evidence to suggest that Bowman was deceased in that area, he said. After finding the vehicle, no new developments have been released. Bowmans case didnt receive the same attention as someone like Gabby Petito who disappeared from Wyoming last summer. Petitos case gathered national attention and the public actively helped produce tips, said Douglas. Take Kevin Bowman, what year did he go missing and what happened to him in Twin Falls before his car was found in Nevada, people will be like Who? she said. Douglas has operated the Idaho Cold Cases Facebook page since 2014 and now has more than 37,000 followers. She started the project after realizing how hard it was to find updated, accurate information on cold cases. It bloomed from Facebook to getting the cold case playing cards up into our prison system in 2015, she said. The first deck of cards featured 52 unsolved Idaho cases, dating from 1968 to 2012. The Idaho Department of Correction paid a portion of the total cost to produce 2,100 decks for inmates at prisons around the state, the Idaho Statesman reported in 2016. Douglas goal of creating the cards and highlighting cases on Facebook is to keep victims faces alive. The families do appreciate the publics response because then they know their loved one isnt forgotten, she said. Douglas hopes people with information regarding Bowmans case know there are different avenues of coming forward, some of which are anonymous. Are you comfortable going to the grave with what you know and not helping the victims family? she said. Solving a crime doesnt happen the same way it does on TV, Strassner said. This isnt CSI, he said. A lot of time cases get solved with the help of other people. The public also tends to assume that police arent doing anything if no new information is being released, Douglas said. Polices only responsibility is to the victims and their families. Some updates are kept from the public to preserve the investigation, she said. Strassner was given Bowmans file in 2019 to give it a fresh set of eyes. We never close our missing person cases till we have evidence to close it down, he said. As cops, we always think the worst but there is no information that he (Bowman) is not with us. Somebody out there knows something. Recent Idaho Cold Cases with new information Angie Dodge was murdered on June 13, 1996. Brian Dripps pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and rape on June 8, 2021. Christopher Tapp spent more than two decades behind bars after he was wrongly accused of Doge's murder. Regina Kreiger was murdered in 1995 at the age of 14. Gilberto Flores Rodriguez was arrested in 2019 based on the testimonies of three witnesses. On Oct. 15, 2021, he received a life sentence for her death. Raymond Jones disappeared in 1968 at the age of 39 years old while he was hunting for mountain goats in central Idaho's Lemhi County. His body was found on Sept. 17, 2021. Daralyn Johnson was nine years old when she was murdered in 1982. From Nampa, she disappeared while walking to school at Lincoln Elementary. Charles Fain was wrongly convicted of her death and was cleared by DNA evidence in 2011. In 2020, the DNA led police to David Dalrymple. Tammy Bristow was 18 years old when she was murdered in 1987 inside of her Sandpoint home. In 2017, detectives were able to use DNA from the scene to arrest William Rey Acosta. Stephanie Eldredge was 21 years old when she was murdered in 2007. From Idaho Falls, Eldredge was a mother to three young children. Her body was found in 2010, buried in the foothills. Kenneth Jones had been a suspect since her death but was unable to be charged until 2019. Julius Mihali disappeared from Twin Falls at age 65 on April 4, 2010. Police found that he had killed himself on Nov. 7, 2015, in Las Cruces, N.M. Winston Arthur Maxey III went missing at age 15 while attempting to hitchhike from Boise to the Oregon coast in 1971. Fifty years later, in 2021, his body was identified thanks to DNA. Maxey's remains had been found in July of 1971 in Englewood, Ore. Maxey also fathered a daughter but never knew it. Todd Hofflander disappeared in Idaho County in Sept. of 2010. In January 2021, remains that were found the previous year, were confirmed to be Hofflander. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 0 A former Idaho lawmaker has been convicted of raping a 19-year-old legislative intern after a dramatic trial in which the young woman fled the witness stand during testimony, saying I cant do this. The verdict was returned Friday. The intern told a Statehouse supervisor that Aaron von Ehlinger raped her at his apartment after the two had dinner at a Boise restaurant in March 2021. He said the sex was consensual. At the time, von Ehlinger was a Republican state representative from Lewiston, but he later resigned. Von Ehlinger was found guilty of rape. He was found not guilty of sexual penetration with a foreign object. Afterwards, prosecutors lauded the victim for her courage in coming forward. If President Joe Bidens disorderly and lethal Afghanistan withdrawal was the moment that fractured voters regard for him, then his vicious Atlanta speech last week may be the moment that defines his presidency. Speaking Tuesday at Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University, Biden uttered venomous, brutal accusations lacking factual basis. His shouting-in-the-wind delivery was inexplicable, and his decision to lash out at members of his own party Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema appears to have only strengthened their resolve not to give in to his demands. Biden called those who disagree with his political views on legislation domestic enemies. He compared them to Confederate President Jefferson Davis and former Alabama Democratic Party Committeeman and ardent, violent segregationist Bull Connor. In American politics, that is about as divisive as one can get at least he didnt mention Hitler. Biden bears no resemblance today to the man who ran for president, pledging over and over again to unify the country and restore a sense of calm and normalcy to politics. From the day he was sworn in to office and signed executive orders putting thousands out of work in the energy industry, he ceased to be that guy from Scranton that people thought he was. He has not been that guy since he invited, through ill-considered policy changes, untold numbers of illegal immigrants across our borders. He has not been that guy since he miserably failed the troops and the nations image during his catastrophic tail-between-his-legs retreat from Afghanistan. Biden, despite having no mandate and only the barest legislative majority for his party, has turned divide-and-conquer politics into the solution for everything, including the pandemic. You dont warn a nation that a winter of severe illness and death is coming for the unvaccinated because your aim is to bring people together; those words are intended as a threat and a slight, just like his resurrection of George Wallace in last weeks speech to score cheap political points. The scope of Bidens fall from grace from glib middle-class Pennsylvanian to venomous, lying politico who will say anything to please left-wing activists has been staggering. This has not gone unnoticed by voters. Last weeks Quinnipiac poll showed that a plurality of voters (49%) now believe Biden is doing more to divide the country than to unite it. Bidens approval rating among adults was at an abysmal 33% points; independents gave him 24%; Hispanics a bit more at 28%. His approval rating within his own party has fallen 12 points since November. The media tried to write off his fall as temporary last August, when a Washington Post-ABC News poll showed the public disapproving of his incompetent performance in Afghanistan by a 2-1 ratio. At the time, this event marked the first time in his presidency his approval rating was net negative. But in the time since, Biden has only kept losing support. This moment and the associated loss of credibility that Biden is suffering will have lingering effects in the American psyche. They might not remember all of the words, but they will remember Bidens vicious, nasty, bad-faith accusations, his flagrant falsehoods and his petulant tone. As with Afghanistan, the media and the people who surround Biden will dismiss the public reaction, and Biden will be worse off for it. Salena Zito is a CNN political analyst, and a staff reporter and columnist for the Washington Examiner. She reaches the Everyman and Everywoman through shoe-leather journalism, traveling from Main Street to the beltway and all places in between. Love 6 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Fail to study the past (history), from energizing grand aspirations to how-its-done tactics, and you will fail the present. Failure to study the basics definitely occurred when the Biden administration clan committed its disastrous 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. The relevant history Biden administration bigwigs failed to study was how to safely and professionally conduct a Noncombatant Evacuation Operation from a combat zone. The Biden bunch has no excuse. All the essential operational details (based on hard lessons learned) are laid out in a Joint Chiefs of Staff pamphlet titled Joint Publication 3-68. Anyone literate may read the Joint Pub on the internet, all seven chapters. The pamphlet provides sound planning guidance based on operational history, as lived and executed by outfits like the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy. Unfortunately, Bidens fake smart kids, like Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, cant bother with nitty-gritty history. In the media perception world of Blinken-Sullivan con men, a foreign policy success is a snotty sound bite CNN and Facebook applaud. These poseurs really do care more about the opinions of their self-crowned elite social and political fellow travelers than what actually happens in a world of blood, sweat, tears and once again freedom under calculated tyrannical assault by bad actors like Xi Jinpings national-communist China and Vladimir Putins national-socialist Russia. Relevant History Lesson: I pinch a quote from a column I wrote in 2004: Super-power status takes money, and a large number of people (how large is arguable, but 200 million is a plausible figure). The common economic interests linking Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan were a potential post-Cold War positive. Russia needed Ukraines immense agricultural productivity. RUBK explained: Rubik as in the puzzle Rubiks Cube. RUBK is Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan. The demographics, natural resources and economic capacities these four nations possess is a geostrategic formula for a global power. The 2004 column relied on a 1991 analysis James F. Dunnigan and I conducted as we prepared the second edition of A Quick and Dirty Guide To War. Dunnigan and I concluded (and note we were writing before the USSR officially collapsed in December 1991) that at some point Russians (individual names then unknown) would try to keep or revive their empire, with Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan the super-empowering core. We now have a name: Vladimir Putin. The KGB colonel has announced his energizing grand aspiration (fancy term for Blinken and Sullivan types: his strategic goal). A dispute rages over the precise translation of Putins April 25, 2005, lamentation. Did he say the Soviet Unions demise was a major geopolitical disaster of the (20th) century or that it was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century? The BBC and NBC News chose the catastrophe translation. Both translations confirm the USSRs collapse appalled Putin. The R Reality: For the last six months weve heard about the Russian Armys buildup on Ukraines border. Thats a serious threat. The U Reality: Since February 2014 Russia has waged a slow war inside Ukraine. In March 2014, Putin annexed the Crimean Peninsula. Kremlin-backed separatists occupy most of Ukraines Donbas region. The B Reality: the Biden administration says little about Russian finagling in Belarus (White Russia). Belarus remains a dictatorial basket case increasingly controlled by Moscow. And for K, Kazakhstan: scant coverage of Russian troops entering Kazakhstan to help its pro-Kremlin authoritarian leadership crush protests against their regime. Moscow covered the intervention by invoking the Collective Security Treaty Organization which is a Kremlin scam. RUBK. Big letters, big problem. Yet the Biden administration supported the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline. Oil and gas revenues give the Kremlin the cash to wage war and rebuild the Russian empire. Austin Bay is an author, syndicated columnist, professor, developmental aid advocate, radio commentator, retired reserve soldier, war game designer. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Last Monday we all paid our annual 24-hour tribute to the dream that all men (and women) are, by virtue of our shared humanity, created equal, and deserve to live in a world in which war is relegated to thoughtful museums and somber memorials. Its the day we take a few moments to ponder anew the legacy of the towering American, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who attempted by the strength of his own conscience, faith and oratory to convince us that all the long centuries of social darkness could be finally turned to the stronger light of human and divine love. As I drove around town last Monday, I listened to a thoughtful radio show about various groups attempting to live out Dr. Kings vision of non-violence in a struggling and violent world. What I heard was fascinating: stories of communities coming together to create alternatives to the social forces that frequently lead to suspicion, distrust, and hatreda lambs war of openness, empathy, and unshakable optimism in a better future. Peace, I was reminded, is not the destination. Peace is the road that takes us there. A noble thought, that. And yet as I listened to these stories of people whose lives are morally superior to my ownbecause they practice daily what I only occasionally considerI still felt myself drawing back, just a bit. And I didnt like myself for feeling that way. Because Ive never been fully able to chase the thought away: Those who plead for us to realize the power of peaceful hearts place that kind of love on a pedestal of equal height to the pedestal piled high with anger, doubt and suspicion. I wish I could say that these two battling armies inside of me are of equal strength, and compete for my heart on an equal playing field. But I fear they are not. Well call one of these armies Love. Well call the other army Suspicion. The Love part of me is what I choose. I make the decision to Love. I look for reasons to Love, and then I act on my choices. But in moments of sharp change or potential threats, Suspicion does not come to me as an intellectual decision. It is an involuntary emotional response, and it immediately leads me on a path away from the light I seek. And until whatever newly arrived threat can be studied and evaluated, protection and wariness become my instant watchwords, and love becomes temporarily but dismissively irrelevant in the face of an immediate menace. I have wondered why this is so. Scientists say our fears and suspicions are chemically-based defense systems rooted in our subconscious minds, where they have directed our existence since we were cavemen. Which leaves me with the sad realization that while my noble thoughts are reasoned thoughts, my suspicions are not only fundamentally unreasonable, they are also apparently hard-wired and unstoppable. And thus, we have everything from Mama Bears to armed militias. We all want to love, but the speed with which we retreat from carefully built towers of love to trenches of fear and hostility is staggering. And each time it happens on a local, national or world-wide scale, such retreats slow down or reverse our search for the peaceful world we universally seek. Whether this cycle is good or bad is irrelevant. Its just human. We are in such a cycle now. But the good news is that cycles never stop. The tide will eventually turn, and, like the spring that inevitably follows winter, we will once again play out the same human story that we have repeated so often before. Gradually, from our bunkers, we will reach out again, like flowers lifting toward the sun, or like soldiers lifting our helmets up on spikes to see if anyone is still trying to shoot them off. And only then, when the fighting finally lulls, will we climb warily out of our trenches, and start over, always starting over, always wondering if this time well finally get it right. Chris Huston is an author and award-winning columnist living in the Magic Valley. Connect with Chris on Facebook and Instagram at Chris Huston-Finding My Way and at chrishustonauthor.com. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As a tyke, I never dreamed of growing up to be a political activist/ commentator, but here I am, and its worked out pretty well for me. Ive been lucky enough to have a voice in public matters and eke out a modest living running my mouth as an independent populist agitator. Still, I have to confess to the sin of job envy. Not in the sense of being resentful, but regretful about my own inability to lift the trade of journalistic commentary to the heights attained by a small, feisty collection of unique public opinionators: Political Cartoonists. In framing issues and rallying people to think and act, these journalists have an unfair advantage over us mere word crafters. They can literally draw a picture to make their point! Thus, they reach masses of people viscerally as well as cerebrally. And visceral usually outpunches cerebral. Editorial cartooning is a profession made up largely of progressive mavericks who enter the social-political-cultural fray with an abundance of anti-establishment audacity, an eye for irony, a fondness for the underdog, an ability to laugh at absurdity, plus artistic talent. A classic example of this irreverent type is Art Young, who a century ago was part of the freewheeling staff of an iconoclastic magazine, The Masses. In 1917, at the onset of U.S. entry into World War I, he produced a bombshell of a cartoon titled Having Their Fling. It showed four warmongering characters: a capitalist, a newspaper editor, a politician and a minister dancing ecstatically to the drums of war, conducted by Beelzebub himself. The mighty U.S. government (then led by Democrat Woodrow Wilson) hated the mockery and promptly dragged the little magazine into court, charging that its cartoons were undermining the war effort. The humorless federal prosecutor demanded that Young explain what he meant: Meant? ...You have the picture in front of you. What did you intend to do when you drew this picture, Mr. Young? Intend to do? I intended to draw a picture. For what purpose? Why, to make people think, make them laugh, to express my feelings. Had you intended to obstruct recruiting and enlistments by such pictures? There isnt anything in there about recruiting and enlistment, is there? I dont believe in war, thats all, and I said so. A hung jury refused to convict, so our government convened a new jury, but that group of citizens also didnt convict. Victory! Yes, but bittersweet, for free speech actually isnt free, especially for a small publication forced to mount a long-term court battle against the power of a government wielding the suffocating flag of war. The financial costs of defending itself, and American liberty forced The Masses to shut down. But they couldnt shut down Art Young, who kept drawing elsewhere. Because cartooning is an expression of the human spirit that has been irrepressible since cave drawings, generation after generation of pen-and-ink champions of democracy like Young have blossomed. Moreover, the general publics appreciation and demand for the cartoonists sharp-pointed honesty and satire have never flagged, even increasing whenever the artists come under public assault by autocrats, plutocrats, theocrats, cultists, racists, demagogues, screwballs and assorted other censors. Its been my good fortune to get to know, work with, be inspired by and benefit from many of these free spirits as Ive hopscotched through a career as campaign organizer, editor, author, candidate, elected official, commentator, newsletter writer, and general anti-establishment imp. During my time as Texas agriculture commissioner, for example, our battle to restrain the poisonous power of the pesticide lobby was better advanced by the stinging pen of Austins Pulitzer-Prize winning cartooning genius, Ben Sargent, than by all of my own rhetorical harangues against the industrys deadly abuses. I know from experience that cartoonists matter. Populist author, public speaker and radio commentator Jim Hightower writes The Hightower Lowdown, a monthly newsletter chronicling the ongoing fights by Americas ordinary people against rule by plutocratic elites. Sign up at HightowerLowdown.org. Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 With an increase in COVID-19 patients and few intensive care unit beds open, Sovah Health-Danville is extending its pause on elective surgeries as an overall virus fatigue lingers as a major pandemic struggle. However, the Martinsville facility will resume elective outpatient procedures Monday, said Dr. Sheranda Gunn-Nolan, market chief medical officer, but elective cases will still be on hold there she added. On Friday, the health system was treating more than 60 people for the illness caused by the novel coronavirus across campuses in Danville and Martinsville, Gunn-Nolan told the Register & Bee. Thats up from just shy of 50 patients last week. A New York Times database based on information from the Department of Health and Human Services on Jan. 13 showed zero ICU beds available in Danville. As we have shared before, hospital capacity is fluid and changes rapidly, Gunn-Nolan said Friday. Currently our ICUs continue to operate at or near the top of capacity. The increase in patients forced Sovah Health to place a two-week pause on elective, non-emergent procedures. Officials have looked over the current situation and decided to continue that pause in Danville. COVID-19 cases in Danville and Pittsylvania County appeared to drop earlier this week at the same time a winter storm hit the state. Its likely the infections didnt stop, but the detection did since many testing sites and doctor offices were closed. The spike quickly rebounded. By Friday, Danville and Pittsylvania County combined recorded 258 new reports of COVID-19. That brings the seven-day rolling average to about 200. By comparison, there were about 120 daily cases reported in the peak of last years surge. Sundays winter storm and lingering impacts forced the Virginia Department of Health to cancel both testing and vaccination events across the state, Brookie Crawford, a spokesperson for the health department, told the Register & Bee. The weather is just one of the challenges health experts are enduring. We continue to battle pandemic fatigue, she explained. Its still important for people to practice their mitigation methods and take precautions as necessary. Dr. Scott Spillmann, director of the local health district, told the Register & Bee earlier this month hes noticed a drop in local residents wearing masks and staying distanced in stores and business. Its not over yet, he said, noting people are treating the pandemic as if it is. Last weeks storm likely limited residents ability to interact with others and in turn could possibly limit the spread of the virus. But a temporary pause to social situations isnt nearly as important as vaccinations in addition to practicing the three Ws: wash your hands, wear a mask and watch your distance, Crawford said. Vaccinations Theres no magic timeframe for when the omicron wave will subside locally. Just like any other surge, human behavior is the main factor in the outcome. Thats why its important for people to get vaccinated and boosted when eligible, she explained. Vaccination remains a critical tool to prevent and counter the pandemic. Its still possible to catch COVID-19 even if an individual is vaccinated and boosted, but the impacts are far less severe. Unvaccinated residents have a greater risk of hospitalization and death. Vaccination figures for Danville and Pittsylvania County havent shifted upward in the omicron wave, according to the health department. Only about half of residents are fully vaccinated and about 20% have received a booster dose. Children are the least vaccinated demographic in the region. Only about 6% of 5- to 11-year-olds are fully vaccinated in Danville and Pittsylvania County. In the next age group 12-15 only 31% have received the proper doses of shots. The health department is redoubling efforts to reach people of all ages who still havent been vaccinated even amid the weather battle. We are exploring additional partnerships with community organizations to help achieve this, Crawford explained. A clinic planned Saturday at Schoolfield Elementary School was canceled over weather concerns, the health department announced Friday. Another one is planned from 9 to 11 a.m. Jan. 29 at Gibson Elementary School. Schoolfields next vaccine event is scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. Feb. 12. These clinics provide first, second and booster doses for free. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments may be made at vase.vdh.virginia.gov or by calling 1-877-VAX-IN-VA. Hospitals The staffing struggle for Sovah Health and most hospitals around the country continues. Its worsened by people coming to the emergency room wanting a COVID-19 test or who are experiencing only a minor illness. We would like to remind the public that if an individuals condition is less severe and not life-threatening, we recommend they consider seeking care and treatment at an urgent care clinic or their primary care providers office so ER staff can focus on the most critical needs, Gunn-Nolan told the Register & Bee. The emergency room also isnt a testing site. Even with stressed testing system, residents should go to pharmacies and urgent care facilites to get a COVID-19 test instead of heading for the hopsital. Its critical that we reserve our hospital emergency rooms and rescue squads for medical emergencies, so if youre seeking a COVID test and it is not an emergency, please utilize our community testing events or testing at one of our retail pharmacy partners, Crawford said. The ultimate advice for people who have symptoms that arent life-threatening or have been exposed to COVID-19 to simply stay home. It will go a long way towards helping to limit exposure and stop the spread of the virus, Crawford said. The strength and perseverance of health care workers still on the job entering a third pandemic year amazes Gunn-Nolan the most. We are so grateful for our employees and physicians for their continued dedication to our patients, she said. We all have a role to play in ensuring that our community remains healthy and that everyone here has access to the care they need, and our staff is counting on the public to do their part. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Two residents of a short-staffed long-term care center were found dead Sunday night in Thomasville when police, first responders and medical personnel conducted a welfare check. An investigation into the center continues. According to a police statement released Tuesday, the families of the unidentified deceased residents of Pine Ridge Health & Rehabilitation Center had been notified of their deaths by staff before the police investigation began. Their bodies were sent to the autopsy center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Another two patients were found to be in critical condition. One was taken to High Point Medical Center, while the other was transported to Thomasville Medical Center. Officials with Principle LTC, the Kinston-based operator of Pine Ridge, could not be immediately reached for comment on the deaths and police investigation. Investigators said the welfare check was requested by residents, who told authorities staff members had not been seen by some residents and could not be reached by phone. Police arrived at the center at 706 Pineywood Road at 7:56 p.m. Sunday. According to the report, officers determined there was inadequate staffing to accommodate the 98 patients of the facility. The facility had one licensed practical nurse and two certified nursing assistants available at the time of the investigation. Officers contacted Thomasville Fire Department and Davidson County Emergency Medical Services for assistance with a door-to-door assessment of every resident. That took until 7:30 a.m. Monday. Obviously, the weather and road conditions contributed to the inadequate staffing issues with this facility, Capt. Brad Saintsing of the Thomasville Police Department said in the report. "First and foremost, we want to ensure each and every resident of the facility is getting the quality of care they deserve. With these types of facilities, there is a protocol, and we want to ensure it was followed as it relates to the weather and/or emergency situations." Among the investigating agencies are the State Bureau of Investigation, Davidson County District Attorneys Office, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and Davidson County Social Services. DHHS is currently at the center overseeing operations. According to the Principle website, it operates 56 centers involving about 7,200 beds in North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky, offering services ranging from short-term transitional care to Alzheimers and dementia care. In its latest report, the state said Pine Ridge had a cluster of eight staff members and two residents who had tested positive for COVID-19. There had been no related deaths as of Jan. 11. A cluster is defined as at least five cases over a 28-day period. The state does not report when the cases were diagnosed. The National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture (Estidamah), a standalone not-for-profit research centre based in Saudi Arabia, has embarked on a digital transformation drive to enhance its capabilities, help boost the local farmers output and support the kingdoms agriculture and food security and sustainability ambitions. Estidamah conducts applied research, adopts and tests innovative technologies that will contribute to sustainable agriculture, with the main aim being to increase crop production per unit area, boost water-use efficiency, in addition to localising modern cultivation technologies. As part of its digital transformation, the centre has engaged the services of IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation Hilal Computers for its next-generation digital infrastructure and cyber security services and Germany-based software solutions corporation SAP SE for ERP solutions. As part of the order, Hilal Computers is providing Estidamah with Dell infrastructure comprising Dell VxRail servers for its data centres. The tech refresh order involves installing new-generation systems and migrating all of the centres data into the new environment. The company is also providing cyber security services to ensure Estidamahs compliance with the Saudi National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) regulations. Spearheading Estimadahs digital transformation drive is Haitham Alghamdi, Head of Information Technology, who has been tackling the challenges head on since he joined the government entity in June 2021. Estidamah was previously run by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) and since 2019 has been transformed into a government entity. The centre is located at King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh Techno Valley. When I joined, we were facing a lot of challenges, because we were in the midst of a transition from being a Sabic-run entity to a government organisation. What we have been doing is evaluating the current systems and changing non-standard systems with a view to following the NCA regulations and enhancing our service and facilitating it, Alghamdi tells TradeArabia. Alghamdi is aiming to ensure that the IT infrastructure is designed to the highest standards and in compliance with NCA regulations as well as global IT requirements. At Estidamah, we have had to develop the ideas and strategies to be followed; pick the right vendors to provide consultation services and provide the best solution for the entity and we done this within six months; I could not have done that alone unless I had a team that was empowering me to do so. I'm trying to attain the highest level of performance and efficiency with reasonable prices. We have hired more skilled people to help us with the transformation. So we have two major vendors - Al Hilal for the bulk of the IT infrastructure and SAP for ERP solutions. Al Hilal engineers have the skills to make our vision comes through. They have been very helpful and are providing us consulting services to achieve the best solutions for the centre and make that transformation comes alive, says Alghamdi. Digital transformation of a research and development centre, which has involved a lot of processes and paper work, has been a challenge; and so has selecting the right solution to house that data - right from cyber security level to Dell VxRail servers - to ensure that Estidamah has a safe environment for its data that is easy and quick to access, he says. The digital transformation has in fact created additional assistants, who provide alerts, send emails, and if there is risk of a failure, provide a warning quickly to act. This is the beauty of the system which will create an optimised and smooth-operating work environment, he adds. - TradeArabia News Service Two residents of a short-staffed Thomasville long-term care facility were found dead Sunday night during a welfare check conducted by Thomasville police and other local first responders and medical personnel. According to a police report released Tuesday, the families of the unidentified deceased residents of Pine Ridge Health & Rehabilitation Center had been notified of their deaths by staff before the police investigation began. Their bodies were sent to the autopsy center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Another two patients were found to be in critical condition. One was taken to High Point Medical Center, while the other was transported to Thomasville Medical Center. Officials with Principle LTC, the Kinston-based operator of Pine Ridge, could not be immediately reached for comment on the deaths and police investigation. The report said the welfare check was requested by residents, who claimed staff members had not been seen by some residents and could not be reached by phone. Police arrived at the facility at 706 Pineywood Road at 7:56 p.m. Sunday. According to the report, responding officers determined there was inadequate staffing to accommodate the 98 patients of the facility. There was one licensed practical nurse and two certified nursing assistants available at the time of the investigation. Officers contacted Thomasville Fire Department and Davidson County Emergency Medical Services for assistance in conducting a door-to-door assessment of every resident that lasted until 7:30 a.m. Monday. Obviously, the weather and road conditions contributed to the inadequate staffing issues with this facility, Capt. Brad Saintsing said in the report. First and foremost, we want to ensure each and every resident of the facility is getting the quality of care they deserve. With these types of facilities, there is a protocol, and we want to ensure it was followed as it relates to the weather and/or emergency situations. Gov. Roy Cooper said in response to the deaths of the Pine Ridge residents that these reports are deeply troubling and need to be investigated thoroughly. The health and safety of patients, particularly those In long-term care facilities, are critical. The investigation has been expanded to include the State Bureau of Investigation, Davidson County District Attorneys Office, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, and Davidson County Social Services. DHHS is currently at the facility overseeing operations. According to the Principle website, it operates 56 centers involving about 7,200 beds overall in North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky, offering services ranging from short-term transitional care to Alzheimers and dementia care. The latest DHHS COVID-19 dashboard for long-term care facilities had Pine Ridge with a cluster of eight staff members and two residents. There had been no reported deaths as of Jan. 11. A cluster is defined as at least five cases over a 28-day period. The state does not report when the cases were diagnosed. A facility must be at least 28 days removed from its last new case to be taken off the list of clusters. The International Alliance for the Defense of Human Rights & Freedoms (IADL) has condemned the military recruitment of children by the polisario, saying it is a crime liable to prosecution in international courts. For the French NGO, the military recruitment of Sahrawi children is an international crime and those responsible for this criminal offense should be tried and face international prosecution. The recruitment of children, their exploitation and participation in armed conflicts and wars are completely prohibited and criminalized under international law, says the International Alliance, citing in this regard several multilateral conventions, organizations and treaties. These include the UN Charter, the Human Rights Charter, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, the Vancouver Principles, the Paris Principles and Resolution 2602 in operative paragraph 1. The Sahrawi children living in the Tindouf camps, who are supposed to be in schools, end up holding weapons. They are enrolled without the consent of their parents. Several images and videos show them undergoing military training in the Tindouf camps by the Polisario. AIDL calls for the opening of an international investigation in order to prosecute those responsible for these criminal acts before the International Court of Justice. The International Alliance says it follows closely this case and will send official complaints to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, UN Envoy for the Sahara Staffan de Mistura, the Council of Europe, the European Commission and the European Parliament so that those responsible for the military recruitment of Sahrawi children be held accountable. During the visit of Staffan de Mistura to the Tindouf camps, the Polisario propaganda media has broadcast images showing child soldiers in violation of international conventions. Sahrawi children are forced to take part in all military and political ceremonies. Exploited, indoctrinated, filled with hatred against Morocco, they are forced to go to Cuba to undergo training and brainwashing. This forced immigration is a serious violation of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, Supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime the civil, says the International Alliance, affirming that the criminal responsibility of the Polisario leaders and their accomplices is well-established under these international conventions. They send innocent children to the front line and used them as human shields against the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The Omicron variant has moved the COVID-19 pandemic into a new phase and could bring it to an end in Europe, the WHO Europe director said Sunday. "It's plausible that the region is moving towards a kind of pandemic endgame," Hans Kluge told AFP in an interview, adding that Omicron could infect 60 percent of Europeans by March. Once the current surge of Omicron sweeping across Europe subsides, "there will be for quite some weeks and months a global immunity, either thanks to the vaccine or because people have immunity due to the infection, and also lowering seasonality". "We anticipate that there will be a period of quiet before COVID-19 may come back towards the end of the year, but not necessarily the pandemic coming back," Kluge said. Top US scientist Anthony Fauci expressed similar optimism on Sunday, telling ABC News talk show "This Week" that with COVID-19 cases coming down "rather sharply" in parts of the United States, "things are looking good". While cautioning against over confidence, he said that if the recent fall in case numbers in areas like the US's northeast continued, "I believe that you will start to see a turnaround throughout the entire country". The WHO regional office for Africa also said last week that cases of COVID had plummeted in that region and deaths were declining for the first time since the Omicron-dominated fourth wave of the virus reached its peak. Focus on 'minimising disruption' The Omicron variant, which studies have shown is more contagious than Delta but generally leads to less severe infection among vaccinated people, has raised long-awaited hopes that COVID-19 is starting to shift from a pandemic to a more manageable endemic illness like seasonal flu. But Kluge cautioned that it was still too early to consider COVID-19 endemic. "There is a lot of talk about endemic but endemic means ... that it is possible to predict what's going to happen. This virus has surprised (us) more than once so we have to be very careful," Kluge said. With Omicron spreading so widely, other variants could still emerge, he warned. The European Commissioner for Internal Markets, Thierry Breton, whose brief includes vaccine production, said Sunday that it will be possible to adapt existing vaccines to any new variants that may emerge. "We will be able to better resist, including to new variants", he told French television LCI. "We will be ready to adapt the vaccines, especially the mRNA ones, if necessary to adapt them to more virulent variants". In the WHO Europe region, which comprises 53 countries including several in Central Asia, Omicron represented 15 percent of new cases as of January 18, compared to 6.3 percent a week earlier, the health body said. Focus on 'minimising disruption' Omicron is now the dominant variant in the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA, or Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), the EU health agency ECDC said last week. Because of the very fast spread of the variant across Europe, Kluge said emphasis ought to be on "minimising disruption of hospitals, schools and the economy, and putting huge efforts on protecting the vulnerable", rather than measures to stop transmission. He meanwhile urged people to exercise personal responsibility. "If you don't feel well, stay home, take a self test. If you're positive, isolate", he said. Kluge said the priority was to stabilise the situation in Europe, where vaccination levels range across countries from 25 to 95 percent of the population, leading to varying degrees of strain on hospitals and health-care system. "Stabilising means that the health system is no longer overwhelmed due to COVID-19 and can continue with the essential health services, which have unfortunately been really disrupted for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and routine immunisation". Asked whether fourth doses would be necessary to bring an end to the pandemic, Kluge was cautious, saying only that "we know that that immunity jumps up after each shot of the vaccine". The pandemic has so far killed nearly 5.6 million million people worldwide, according to official figures compiled by AFP, 1.7 million of them in Europe. 2022 AFP Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Scientists are keeping a close watch on a recently-discovered sub-variant of the Omicron version of the COVID-19 virus to determine how its emergence could effect future pandemic spread. The initial Omicron variant has become the dominant virus strain in recent months but British health authorities have notably identified hundreds of cases of the latest version, dubbed BA.2, while international data suggest it could spread relatively quickly. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) identified more than 400 cases in Britain in the first ten days of this month and has indicated the latest variant has been detected in some 40 other countries, accounting for a majority of most recent cases in some nations including India, Denmark and Sweden. The UKHSA indicated Friday it had designated the BA.2 sub-lineage as a variant under investigation (VUI) as cases of it were on the increase even if, in Britain, the BA.1 lineage currently remains dominant. The authority underlined that "there is still uncertainty around the significance of the changes to the viral genome," which required surveillance as, in parallel, cases in recent days showed a sharp rise in BA.2 incidence notably in India and Demark. "What surprised us is the rapidity with which this sub-variant, which has been circulating to a great extent in Asia, has taken hold in Denmark," French epidemiologist Antoine Flahault told AFP. Scientists must evaluate how the virus, which has engendered the worst global health crisis in a century, continues to evolve and mutate. Its latest incarnation does not possess the specific mutation used to track and compare BA.1 against Delta, the previously dominant strain. BA.2 has yet to be designated a variant of concernbut Flahault says countries have to be alert to the latest development as scientists ramp up surveillance. "(France) expected a spike in contaminations in mid-January: It didn't happen and perhaps that is due to this sub-variant, which seems very transmissible but not more virulent" than BA.1, he observed. "What interests us is if this (sub-variant) possesses different characteristics" from BA.1 in terms of contagiousness and severity, France's public health agency said Friday. To date, only a handful of BA.2 cases have emerged in Francebut the country is monitoring developments as they spread across the Channel. "Comparable severity" Flahault, director of the University of Geneva's Institute of Global Health, says the watchword is not panic but "vigilance" as "for now we have the impression (BA.2 case) severity is comparable to" classic variant Omicron cases. "But there are numerous questions on the table" and a need to monitor properties of the new variant on the block. "Very early observations from India and Denmark suggest there is no dramatic difference in severity compared to BA.1," tweeted Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College, London, adding the latest variant should not call into question the effectiveness of existing vaccines. Peacock stressed that "we do not currently have a strong handle on ... how much more transmissibility BA.2 might have over BA.1. However, we can make some guesses/early observations." He added that "there is likely to be minimal differences in vaccine effectiveness against BA.1 and BA.2. Personally, I'm not sure BA.2 is going to have a substantial impact on the current Omicron wave of the pandemic. "Several countries are near, or even past the peak of BA.1 waves. I would be very surprised if BA.2 caused a second wave at this point. Even with slightly higher transmissibility this absolutely is not a Delta-Omicron change and instead is likely to be slower and more subtle," he forecast. French Health Minister Olivier Veran said Thursday that BA.2 did not look as if it would prove a game-changer as variants appear on the scene "fairly regularly". But he indicated he would reserve judgment. "What we know for now is that (BA.2) more or less corresponds to the characteristics that we know of Omicron" mark one. 2022 AFP In this photo provided by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, surgeons prepare to transplant kidneys from a genetically modified pig into the body of a deceased recipient in September 2021. The experimental procedure was a step-by-step rehearsal for operations they hope to try in living patients possibly later in 2022, part of a quest to use animal organs to save human lives. Credit: UAB via AP Researchers on Thursday reported the latest in a surprising string of experiments in the quest to save human lives with organs from genetically modified pigs. This time around, surgeons in Alabama transplanted a pig's kidneys into a brain-dead mana step-by-step rehearsal for an operation they hope to try in living patients possibly later this year. "The organ shortage is in fact an unmitigated crisis and we've never had a real solution to it," said Dr. Jayme Locke of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who led the newest study and aims to begin a clinical trial of pig kidney transplants. Similar experiments have made headlines in recent months as research into animal-to-human transplants heats up. Twice this fall, surgeons at New York University temporarily attached a pig's kidney to blood vessels outside the body of a deceased recipient to watch them work. And earlier this month, surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center gave a dying man a heart from a gene-edited pig that so far is keeping him alive. But scientists still needed to learn more about how to test such transplants without risking a patient's life. With the help of a family who donated a loved one's body for science, Locke mimicked the way human organ transplants are donefrom removing the pig "donor" kidneys to sewing them inside the deceased man's abdomen. For a little over three days, until the man's body was removed from life support, the pair of pig kidneys survived with no sign of immediate rejection, her team reported Thursday in the American Journal of Transplantation. That was only one of several key findings. Locke said it wasn't clear if delicate pig kidney blood vessels could withstand the pounding force of human blood pressurebut they did. One kidney was damaged during removal from the pig and didn't work properly but the other rapidly started producing urine as a kidney should. No pig viruses were transmitted to the recipient, and no pig cells were found in his bloodstream. This August 2021 photo provided by Julie O'Hara shows Jim Parsons, a 57-year-old Alabama man who was declared brain-dead from a September 2021 dirt bike racing accident. Parsons' family donated his body for research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where scientists hope one day to use animal organs to save human lives. "After we heard about what the study was about, that it had the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives, we knew without a doubt that that was something that Jim would have definitely put his seal of approval on," said O'Hara, Parsons' ex-wife. Credit: Courtesy Julie O'Hara via AP But Locke said the kidney experiment could have more far-reaching impactbecause it shows that a brain-dead body can be a much-needed human model to test potential new medical treatments. The research was conducted in September after Jim Parsons, a 57-year-old Alabama man, was declared brain-dead from a dirt bike racing accident. After hearing this kind of research "had the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives, we knew without a doubt that that was something that Jim would have definitely put his seal of approval on," said Julie O'Hara, Parsons' ex-wife. The need for another source of organs is huge: While more than 41,000 transplants were performed in the U.S. last year, a record, more than 100,000 people remain on the national waiting list. Thousands die every year before getting an organ and thousands more never even get added to the list, considered too much of a long shot. Animal-to-human transplants, what's called xenotransplantation, have been attempted without success for decades. People's immune systems almost instantly attack the foreign tissue. But scientists now have new techniques to edit pig genes so their organs are more human-likeand some are anxious to try again. The recent string of pig experiments "is a big step forward," said Dr. David Kaczorowski of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Moving on to first-stage trials in potentially dozens of people is "becoming more and more feasible." A heart transplant surgeon, Kaczorowski has done experiments testing pig organs in non-human primates that helped pave the way but "there are only things we can learn by transplanting them into humans." Hurdles remain before formal testing in people begins, including deciding who would qualify to test a pig organ, said Karen Maschke, a research scholar at the Hastings Center who will help develop ethics and policy recommendations for the first clinical trials under a grant from the National Institutes of Health. In this photo provided by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, surgeons check whether kidneys from a genetically modified pig are working in the body of a deceased recipient in September 2021. The experimental procedure was a step-by-step rehearsal for operations they hope to try in living patients possibly later in 2022, part of a quest to use animal organs to save human lives. Credit: UAB via AP Scientists also still have much to learn about how long pig organs survive and how best to genetically alter them, cautioned Dr. Robert Montgomery of NYU Langone Health, who led that center's kidney experiments in the fall. "I think different organs will require different genetic modifications," he said in an email. For the newest kidney experiment, UAB teamed with Revivicor, the subsidiary of United Therapeutics that also provided organs for the recent heart transplant in Maryland and the kidney experiment in New York. Company scientists made 10 genetic changes to these pigs, knocking out some genes that trigger a human immune attack and make the animals' organs grow too largeand adding some human genes so the organs look less foreign to people's immune systems. Then there are practical questions such as how to minimize time spent getting pig organs to their destination. UAB housed the altered pigs in a germ-free facility in Birmingham complete with an operating room-like space to remove the organs and ready them for transplant. Revivicor chief scientific officer David Ayares said future plans include building more such facilities near transplant centers. Explore further Scientists transplant two gene-edited pig kidneys into human recipient More information: First clinical-grade porcine kidney xenotransplant using a human decedent model, American Journal of Transplantation (2022). Journal information: American Journal of Transplantation First clinical-grade porcine kidney xenotransplant using a human decedent model,(2022). DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16930 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The prime minister of Samoa has placed the small Pacific nation into a 48-hour lockdown after 15 passengers on a flight from Australia tested positive for COVID-19. The infected passengers were among 73 who arrived from Brisbane on Wednesday. Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa also said Saturday the government may cancel further flights from Australia. A scheduled flight from New Zealand on Saturday has already been postponed, according to Radio New Zealand. All the passengers were reportedly fully vaccinated and had tested negative for COVID-19 before departure. The governor of neighboring American Samoa, Lemanu Palepoi Sialega "Peleti" Mauga, issued a statement offering words of solidarity to Samoa and support for its prime minister. He also announced the cancellation of flights between the territory and Samoa for one week. Samoa, population 200,000, has reported 18 active cases. American Samoa also has 18 cases, all of them travelers from Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines flights from Honolulu. The latest group of seven who tested positive arrived Jan 6. There is no lockdown in American Samoa and flights between Honolulu and Pago Pago continue on limited basis. Explore further 1st case of COVID in American Samoa arrives on Hawaii flight 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, right, is watched by COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins as she speaks about the omicron situation while visiting New Plymouth, on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. New Zealand is among the few remaining countries to have avoided any outbreaks of the omicron variantbut Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Thursday an outbreak was inevitable and the nation would tighten restrictions as soon as one was detected. Credit: Mark Mitchell/New Zealand Herald via AP New Zealanders are set to face new COVID-19 restrictions after nine cases of the omicron variant were detected in a single family that flew to Auckland for a wedding earlier this month, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Sunday. The so-called "red setting" of the country's pandemic response includes heightened measures such as required mask wearing and limits on gatherings, and the restrictions will go into effect on Monday. Ardern stressed that "red is not lockdown," noting that businesses can remain open and people can still visit family and friends and move freely around the country. "Our plan for managing omicron cases in the early stage remains the same as delta, where we will rapidly test, contact trace and isolate cases and contacts in order to slow the spread," Ardern told reporters in Wellington on Sunday. New Zealand had been among the few remaining countries to have avoided any outbreaks of the omicron variant, but Ardern acknowledged last week that an outbreak was inevitable given the high transmissibility of the variant. The country has managed to contain the spread of the delta variant, with an average of about 20 new cases each day. But it has seen an increasing number of people arriving into the country and going into mandatory quarantine who are infected with omicron. That has put strain on the quarantine system and prompted the government to limit access for returning citizens while it decides what to do about reopening its borders, angering many people who want to return to New Zealand. About 93% of New Zealanders aged 12 and over are fully vaccinated and 52% have had a booster shot. The country has just begun vaccinating children aged between 5 and 11. The family from the Nelson-Marlborough region attended a wedding and other events while in Auckland, with estimates suggesting they came into contact with "well over 100 people at these events," Ardern said. "That means that omicron is now circulating in Auckland and possibly the Nelson-Marlborough region if not elsewhere," she added. The move to the red setting also impacts Ardern personally. The prime minister was planning to get married next weekend, but as a result of the new restrictions the celebration will be postponed. "I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic and to anyone who's caught up in that scenario, I am so sorry," she said. Explore further New Zealand says it won't use lockdowns when omicron spreads 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Most college students believe there's a mental health crisis on campuses throughout the nation. FatCamera/E+ via Getty Images Nearly 70% of college students say they are experiencing emotional distress or anxiety related to the pandemic. Thats according to a January 2022 survey that also found nearly 9 out of every 10 college students believe U.S. colleges and universities are facing a mental health crisis. Below are five articles from the archives of The Conversation that highlight tips for college students to take better care of their mental health. 1. Prioritize your mental health When students do poorly in a class due to mental health issues, occasionally they might seek a medical exception that can withdraw them from the class instead of failing it. But students who get this exception often fail to seek the actual help they need to deal with the mental health issue that led them to do poorly in the first place. Thats according to Nicholas Joyce, a psychologist at the University of South Florida. In my experience, many students who get the medical exception return the next semester without addressing their mental health needs and end up failing more courses, writes Joyce. Joyce recommends four ways college students can avoid having to seek a medical exception in the first place. 2. Seek campuses designed to boost your mood When selecting a college to attend, students should look at whether the campus design benefits their mental health. Green spaces on college campuses can alleviate stress. Rana Faure/Getty Images Campus design affects the college experience, and students can choose a campus or change their existing routines to support their mental health, they write. Such consideration is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when new rules and norms have left many students more anxious and depressed than normal. Read more: 5 things to look for on a college campus that benefit mental health 3. Make a wellness plan Before students even set foot on campus, they should develop a wellness plan to help them avoid major emotional distress. Thats according to Sandra M. Chafouleas, professor of educational psychology at the University of Connecticut, who details what every students wellness plan should include. personal wellness plans must be customized to meet each individual students own needs, she writes. And I believe that since it is unclear whether new college students will be on physical campuses this fall or learning online, these plans are more important than ever. Read more: 5 things college students should include in a plan for their wellness 4. Avoid academic burnout When college students suffer from burnout, it often leads them to experience feelings of isolation, low accomplishment and depression. Ryan Korstange, assistant professor of university studies at Middle Tennessee State University, writes about five tips on how college students can avoid exhaustion. [Over 140,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletters to understand the world. Sign up today.] The most effective way of preventing burnout is being sure you know why youre in college to begin with, he writes. Build your internal motivation by identifying the skills you need to develop and the experiences you want to have while you are in college. Read more: 5 tips for college students to avoid burnout 5. Spend time with a therapy dog Research has shown that spending just 10 minutes with a therapy dog can reduce college students stress levels. Thats why Christine Kivlen, an assistant professor of occupational therapy at Wayne State University, recommends students seek out therapy dog programs on campus. Kivlen writes about the calming effects of spending time with a therapy dog. Among other benefits, therapy dogs can help students achieve a stronger sense of belonging and better deal with being homesick and lonely, while also lessening their anxiety and stress. Read more: Therapy dogs help students cope with the stress of college life *** You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A mammoth green energy hub planned by OQ, the Sultanate of Omans integrated energy group, has been placed sixth in a ranking of the worlds Top 20 giga-scale green hydrogen projects. Green Energy Oman (GEO) is proposed to be developed in Al Wusta Governorate by an international consortium comprising OQ, Intercontinental Energy (ICE) billed as the worlds largest hydrogen developer, and Enertech of Kuwait, an Oman Observer report said. At full capacity, it will be powered by 25 gigawatts (GW) of solar and wind generation capacity, enabling the production of 1.8 million tonnes per annum of green hydrogen and 10 million tonnes of green ammonia. Given its immense scale, the GEO has been ranked 6th in size in a listing of the worlds largest green hydrogen schemes compiled by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), the Abu Dhabi based intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future. With the exception of Saudi Arabia, which earns the 20th rank for its Helios Green Fuels Project, Oman is the only Middle Eastern country in Irenas Top 20 index of gigascale green hydrogen schemes. Countries in Western Europe, South America Western and Southern Africa, besides Kazakhstan, China and Australia feature in the top 20 list. The biggest by far is HyDeal Ambition an uber-scale 67 GW scheme promoted by a consortium of 30 leading developers for establishment in Spain. Australia is set to host a sizeable array of giga-scale ventures, including the Western Green Energy Hub (28 GW) and Asian Renewable Energy Hub (14 GW). Irenas report, Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation: The Hydrogen Factor, spotlights some of the key countries that are at the forefront of the global green hydrogen revolution. The Omani governments vision, the Agency says, is to support the growth of a hydrogen-centric society within the next two decades. Oman is preparing a national hydrogen strategy with the aim of establishing a hydrogencentric society by 2040, Irena noted in its report. It also plans to become a large-scale exporter of green hydrogen or green ammonia. Several gigawatt-scale projects have already been announced, all capitalising on the abundant solar and wind resources in the Al Wusta Governorate and eyeing the Arabian Sea port of Duqm for exports. The biggest of these projects will be powered by 25 GW of solar and wind. The report welcomes the pathway charted by Oman, among other countries notably Australia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to pivot away from fossil fuels towards clean hydrogen in a bid to diversify their economies. To this end, countries like Oman can leverage established energy infrastructure, a skilled workforce and existing energy trade relations in their transition efforts, it noted. A Final Investment Decision (FID) to progress the multibillion-dollar Green Energy Oman project is slated in early 2026. Implementation is envisioned over a 10-year period with expansions dictated by international demand for green energy. -- TradeArabia News Service I spent two relaxing and healthy weeks in Hawaii. One in Maui and the other at the Hale Koa, a military hotel in Honolulu. Hawaii is definitely open for business and business was booming. Reservations for evening meals were hard to come by because of the large number of tourists. Yet each and every restaurant require proof of vaccination, including a booster shot. Masks were mandatory and if you entered a store without one you were asked, kindly, to please put one on, followed by the ubiquitous Mahalo. The tourists were a mixture of young families, newlyweds and the dying off of us baby boomers but we were holding our own. The beaches were full, but not crowded. Masks were encouraged outside but not required or mandated and we had no problems with our space being invaded. There didnt appear to be any real resistance to mask wearing, which probably was reflected in the requirements of being fully vaccinated before boarding a plane to Hawaii. Of course, masks were required on the plane and again, no one seemed to be the least bit bothered by such. Since anti-vaccinators and anti-mask folks arent allowed to travel to Hawaii, one could tell that our over all experience was not going to be interrupted by the less informed, but more vocal, amongst us. As a military retiree, I found the mask and vaccination requirements not in the least vexing. In fact, such requirements were even more pronounced at the Hale Koa as well as all military installations that we visited. It seemed that everyone in Hawaii, natives and tourists alike, were happy to comply. And none of us gave up any of our freedoms. Those of us who served in the military adhere to the proposition that to live free, it periodically requires adhering to a code of compliance. When I enlisted in the Navy over half a century ago, we were required to know and adhere to the military code of conduct. There are six articles of the code which emphasize how one is to conduct themselves if we should becomes a prisoner of the enemy. I have reproduced Articles One and Six as follows: Article I: I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense. Article VI: I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America. COVID is a national enemy and we are all prisoners of such. It has already killed as many Americans as we lost in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and 9/11 combined. It may eclipse all deaths from all wars since our establishment as a nation over 250 years ago. As such, I find the Code of Conduct comforting in the conflict against such an unrelenting enemy. I am more than willing to give my life against this enemy if it would spare my 4-year-old granddaughter, who is battling leukemia. The possibility of her contacting COVID could be a death sentence. Thus I am more than willing to acknowledge the requirement to wear a mask and being vaccinated. When one joins the military, one knows certain sacrifices are needed and certain dangers will be encountered. As such, one endures an endless process of being vaccinated against a myriad number of diseases in order to remain healthy in defense of our country. We need to reflect what it takes to fight and vanquish the common enemy of COVID for all our sakes and especially for the more vulnerable amongst us, such as older veterans and my granddaughter. Instead of thanking me for my service, how about joining in and becoming a warrior against the common enemy of COVID that is killing so many. Tom Muri is a retired military lawyer who writes from Montana, Arizona, and Hawaii. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 10 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 If theres one thing Montanans are about, its common sense. We work hard, play by the rules and dont like when Washington elites impose laws that go against what works for Montana. Thats why I fought against President Biden and the Democrats attempt to pass their partisan bill to enact a federal takeover of elections every step of the way because what they were trying to do didnt make sense, and its not what Montanans wanted. In Montana, thanks to the leadership of Gov. Greg Gianforte and Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, the Montana Legislature passed election integrity laws that make it harder to cheat, like strengthening voter ID laws. Its not only Montanans who agree that voters should show an ID before casting a ballot according to the Honest Elections Project, nearly 80% of Americans feel the same way. This seems like a no-brainer to most of us Montanans because after all, you need an ID to get a hunting or fishing license, to rent a car, or to get on an airplane. And now, in many liberal-run cities across our nation, Democrats are even enforcing ID checks to get into a coffee shop or sit down for dinner. So, its no wonder why were all left a little confused how President Joe Biden, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats, including the senior senator from Montana, tried to override the will of Montana voters and undermine state voter ID laws when it comes to something as foundational to our democracy as maintaining integrity in our elections. Why should the federal government reach their hands into business that Montanans already settled? If the Democrats multiple attempts to steamroll the Constitution, undercut Montanas election laws and make it easier to cheat seem to go against every ounce of your common sense, thats because it is. Although the Democrats tried hard to mislead the American people, including Schumer going to the Senate floor and lying about Montanas election integrity laws, their effort was never about voting rights. It was always about power and ensuring one-party rule forever. It was simply an attempt to tip the scales in their favor and control Washington, D.C. Undermining state voter ID laws was just the icing on the cake; their bill was jammed full with far-Left priorities to support their partisan power grab. If my colleagues had it their way, their so-called voting rights bill would have spent your tax dollars on political campaigns, mandated unsupervised ballot drop boxes, allowed for the counting of votes received after election day and prohibited states from cleaning up out-of-date voter rolls. I think most Montanans would agree these efforts just dont make sense. Our Founding Fathers feared concentrated power in the federal government and they knew what they were doing when they put the power to administer elections in the hands of the states. To abandon that founding principle would be a disservice to Montanans and all Americans who want safe, secure and trustworthy elections. Steve Daines represents Montana in the U.S. Senate. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 5 Funny 4 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 28 Serving as a caregiver is a full-time job, which can become stressful and require the loved one to make some tough decisions. Beginning Jan. 26 and continuing for five consecutive Wednesdays, a class entitled Powerful Tools for Caregivers will be offered at the South Iredell Senior Center, 202 N. Church St., which can help those serving in that role. Led by Jackie Negley, in-home services coordinator and family caregiver specialist with the Iredell County Council on Aging, the class will provide information on learning how to reduce personal stress, communicating effectively with others and handling challenging situations, learning how to make tough decisions and holding family meetings so that they can talk things out and get the help theyre looking for, learning how to handle grief, loss, end of life issues, provide access to local resources and more. There is no cost for the class; however, donations are greatly appreciated. Those participating in the class will receive a book that goes with the program. Its a caregiver help book, Negley said, which provides information perhaps not covered in the class. The book is given to them. Thats their book. Each class during the six weeks is 90 minutes and is a little time commitment, Negley shared. Participants are encouraged to come to all six because they are so different, and it is a series, so theyre getting benefits out of it from each class. Every class is a little different in what we cover, she noted. Caregivers have such a hard time dealing with all of the emotions that go along with caregiving, the guilt, the anger, the frustration. So we touch on those and how to handle that, how to deal with stress because caregivers are very, very stressed out. Also covered in the class, she noted, will be communication techniques, how to use what we call I messages instead of you messages, which if I go you did this, its a little bit more blaming. If you say I feel, it just changes the whole dynamic. So, a lot of caregivers when theyre stressed out, they get very angry and say things they would not normally say. It teaches them how to maybe be a little bit more in tune with what theyre saying and understand that okay, by me blaming them, Im making it worse. Im agitating them to the point that theyre becoming frustrated. In addition to the information covered in the class, Negley said they also take the time to let participants share what they are going through because every situation is different. Were here to help you, she said. Thats the whole idea behind it. All ages are welcome to attend. Registration is encouraged so she has an idea of how many are coming and proper preparation can be made for the class. While Negley noted she has never done Zoom for this particular class, she said it could be an option. And if someone needs to participate by doing Zoom, registration would be very important so she can have the proper equipment to have them join in the group. To register for the course, call the Iredell Council on Aging at 704-873-5171 or email jnegley@iredellcoa.org. In addition to leading the caregiver class, Negley facilitates a caregivers support group that meets every second and fourth Wednesday from 2-4 p.m. at the South Iredell Senior Center in Mooresville, with attendance averaging around four to 10 people. Even when the pandemic hit, Negley shared that they went to meeting via Zoom and I had my core group that came into the Zoom meetings, and they were there faithfully every time. The group returned to meeting in person about four or five months ago. This group is close knit and they share together, laugh together and are concerned for one another. Several called this group their lifeline. It is in this gathering that they can come and know that those listening understand, which is what a couple of the participants also noted. Friends dont understand what Im going through, one said, but here, they understand. And another one shared that they wished the group could meet more often. It is a respite to get out and be with people going through the same thing. They can identify. Its a blessing. Those who attend the support group may walk in as strangers, but Negley said that many of the participants have become friends and feel comfortable and safe with what they talk about. This is a safe zone. Were not here to judge your comments or how you feel about things or whatever, because weve all been there at some point. While the group initially started as a caregiver dementia group, Negley said it is for any caregiver, and that goes for the Powerful Tools for Caregivers class as well. I take any caregiver, because I feel that anybody, whether youre dealing with dementia or not, youre dealing with something involving caregiving and so you need to know youre not by yourself, she said. While both provide help and encouragement, the support group does look different from the caregiver class in that it is more about talking and sharing. They basically come in and kind of run it. Serving as the facilitator of the group, Negley said, Im just here to give everybody a chance and also if they have a specific question or if theyre looking for something specific. While people are not required to attend the support group, those that do attend have mentioned they get a lot out of it or they feel better when they leave here, Negley said, which is what one shared when they mentioned that the group is very helpful, many dont know what to do. Another said the group is informative and a third participant shared that the resources help us stay grounded. Those that attend the caregiver support group can be in different phases of serving as a caregiver too, Negley noted. There are some that continue to attend even following the death of their loved one or they have had to go to a facility. If they want to come in and share, Negley said, or if they just want to come in and listen all are welcome to come. And some have come and shared after their loss and it helps others who, as Negley noted, have not gone through that but are starting to see it and it just gives them that aha moment. And then there are those who maybe havent taken up that role as caregiver yet, but are starting to notice behavior that could warrant it in the future. They too can come and learn from the group. I would actually prefer to catch somebody before they get into caregiving, because then they are kind of a little bit more prepared to handle it, she said. Its that crisis situation where youre into it and youre in the midst of it, its a little bit harder to deal with where if we can be a little bit more proactive and get you either at the start of the journey, it makes it a lot easier and I think you learn, youre able to absorb more because youre not stressed out about trying to deal with everything else. Negley not only understands caregiving from the point of view as a facilitator, but she also served as a caregiver herself as she took care of her mother for five and a half years. And it is from her personal experience that she encourages others to come and visit the class and group. Unexpectedly diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, her mom underwent surgery, and within a short time, moved here to live with Negley and her husband. The diagnosis was not good, Negley said, and she wasnt expected to live long, but she lived five and a half-years, going through treatment. She eventually moved into an apartment and adjusted well. So Ive been there, and I know that caregivers struggle with a lot of different things. With me that was what do we do, whats the first thing we do? Its a crisis situation, and I really want to get caregivers before they get to that crisis situation. I will tell you the crisis happens regardless, Negley shared. I want to get them to the point that they realize that theyre not alone and maybe give them suggestions as to heres who you call or heres how you can handle this a little bit easier so youre not so completely bombarded and overwhelmed with everything. Negley said that she has been working in the aging services for 25 years 17 1/2 of those in this particular role. She previously worked in Pennsylvania as a care manager and an ombudsman, which is an advocate for people who are in facilities helping to solve problems that may arise. In addition to the family caregiver program, she handles in-home services, which are offered to seniors 60 and older in Iredell County. While not all of the services, such as Meals on Wheels and transportation, can go anywhere in the county, Negley did say she could go border to border with my services. These services include a chore program which helps with light housekeeping. We usually do it at least once a week for about three hours, and I actually have a couple of in-home aides, and we also contract out to provide that service, she said. There is also a personal care program that provides help with bathing, dressing and grooming, which is offered about twice a week for four hours. As a private nonprofit, the Council on Aging doesnt charge for their services. However, if people want to donate, they can do that. And, the senior can refer themselves for these services. It does not have to come from a doctor, Negley said. The senior can call and make the referral themselves. It can be a family member, it can be them, it can be a friend, just somebody who has the basic information that we need. But she did note that there is a small waiting list for those programs, just because the demand is so great. But we are working on dwindling that down with the contract agencies. Of course, theyve had staffing issues due to COVID, naturally. One thing that Negley wanted to share that anyone can take advantage of is her caregiver libraries, which are available in both the Mooresville and Statesville senior centers. She said that over the years with the funding they have had through the family caregiver program, weve been able to purchase books and videos for people. Book topics include dementia, things on caregivers, how to do caregiving, how to give somebody a bath, Parkinsons disease, Lewy Body dementia. There are so many different dementias out there, and they all affect people differently, Negley said. Just like any other library, people can go and check out a book by signing their name, phone number, title of the book and when they took it on the provided clipboard, and then return it when they are finished. The library in the Mooresville location is on the lower level of the citizen center near the kitchen. The books are in the white bookcase. If someone would like to donate books, Negley said she would take them for the library. Anyone can use this library. They dont have to be seniors, she stressed. DANVILLE, Pa. (AP) The last of the escaped monkeys from the crash of a truck towing a trailer load of 100 of the animals was accounted for by late Saturday, a day after the pickup collided with a dump truck on a Pennsylvania highway, authorities said. Several monkeys had escaped following Fridays collision, Pennsylvania State Police said. But only one had remained unaccounted for as of Saturday morning, prompting the Pennsylvania Game Commission and other agencies to launch a search for it amid frigid weather. Kristen Nordlund, a spokesperson with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in an email Saturday evening that all 100 of the cynomolgus macaque monkeys had since been accounted for. Three were dead after being euthanized. The email did not elaborate on why the three were euthanized or how all came to be accounted for. But Nordlund said those euthanized were done so humanely according to American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines. The shipment of monkeys was en route to a CDC-approved quarantine facility after arriving Friday morning at New Yorks Kennedy Airport from Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, police said. The Atlanta-based CDC said the agency was providing technical assistance to state police in Pennsylvania. The collision occured Friday on a state highway near an Interstate 80 exit in Pennsylvanias Montour County, Trooper Andrea Pelachick told The Daily Item newspaper of Sunbury. The location of the quarantine facility and the type of research for which the monkeys were apparently destined werent clear, but cynomolgus monkeys are often used in medical studies. A 2015 paper posted on the website of the National Center for Biotechnology Information referred to them as the most widely used primate in preclinical toxicology studies. Earlier, police had earlier urged people not to look for or capture any monkey, with troopers tweeting: Anyone who sees or locates the monkey is asked not to approach, attempt to catch, or come in contact with the monkey. Please call 911 immediately. Trooper Lauren Lesher had said the concern was due to it not being a domesticated animal and them being in an unknown territory. It is hard to say how they would react to a human approaching them. Lesher said state police secured the scene for the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the CDC. The condition of the motorists involved in the crash wasnt clear, nor was it immediately known whether any citations were issued. A crash witness, Michelle Fallon, told the Press Enterprise newspaper of Bloomsburg that she spoke with the pickup driver and a passenger after the crash. The driver appeared to be disoriented, and the passenger thought he might have injured his legs, she said. Crates littered the road Friday as troopers searched for monkeys, rifles in hand. Valley Township firefighters used thermal imaging to try to locate the animals, and a helicopter also assisted, the Press Enterprise newspaper of Bloomsburg reported. The pickup was heading west on I-80 when it got off at the Danville exit and then immediately tried to get back on, driving across the other lane, the newspaper reported. Fallon told the Press Enterprise that she was behind the pickup when it was hit on the passenger side by the dump truck, tearing off the front panel of the trailer and sending more than a dozen crates tumbling out. She and another motorist who stopped to help were standing near the scene when the other driver said he thought he saw a cat run across the road, Fallon said. Fallon peeked into a crate and saw a small monkey looking back at her, she told the newspaper. Theyre monkeys, she told the other motorist. BOISE, Idaho A man upset with being charged a $150 fee for smoking in his motel room fired multiple rounds from an assault-style rifle into the building before driving away, authorities in eastern Idaho said. The shooting occurred Friday morning at the Motel 6 in Rexburg, Idaho, and no one was injured, Rexburg Police Assistant Chief Gary Hagen said. Hagen said the man was taken into custody later that day in Alpine, Wyoming. His name hasn't been released. Police said he was traveling with a female companion. East Idaho News reports that the front of the building was hit multiple times, and that some bullets went through glass doors and through more walls inside the motel. Images at the scene showed shattered glass and numerous bullet holes in the building. The Madison School District issued a shelter-in-place order for a nearby elementary, middle and high school as a precaution. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Marshall Islands President David Kabua receives his Covid shot in Majuro in this file photo from 2021. Emergency personnel respond at the scene where NYPD officers were shot while responding to a domestic violence call in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, Jan. 21, 2022. Former Philippine Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is greeted by his supporters upon his arrival at the Supreme Court in Manila on April 17, 2017. Demonstrators from Chesapeake Climate Action Network stand outside the Maryland State House before the start of the state's 90-day legislative session Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022 in Annapolis to call attention to climate change. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark). (Steve Ruark/AP) Im glad to see that your article about the start of the Maryland General Assembly session (Maryland lawmakers return to work with coronavirus on their minds, Jan. 12) noted that climate change is one of the 2022 state legislative priorities. Im deeply concerned about the delays in the U.S. response to climate change, which has been widely evident recently in extreme weather events, from West Coast fires to deadly tornadoes in the Southeast. Since the federal governments efforts to address climate change have stalled, its even more critical for Maryland to take the lead in preventing climate destruction. Advertisement Transportation, electricity and buildings account for nearly 90% of Maryland greenhouse gas emissions. Thats why I agree with climate activists who are urging legislators to pass a bill that will lower carbon emissions by 60% from 2006 levels by 2030 and get Maryland to net-zero by 2045. These goals are achievable if we take specific actions, such as electrifying trucks and school busses, pass standards to save energy in public buildings and ensure a cleaner and more equitable electricity grid. Some legislators have expressed their support for climate legislation, while others are less than enthusiastic or are opposed. Regardless of where your representatives stand on climate, its more important than ever to send them an email or call them to let them know that Maryland needs meaningful climate legislation this year. Advertisement Linda Harder, Towson Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter. A luxury bed and breakfast inn, which the owner intends to call the Hotel California, is one step closer to coming to Napa. The citys Planning Commission unanimously approved a bed and breakfast use permit for the historic William Andrews House at 741 Seminary St. at a Thursday meeting. Though the project was approved under the name Heath Bed and Breakfast, owner John Heath said that, though nothing is currently set in stone, hes hoping to name the business 'Hotel California' as homage to the iconic 1976 rock song by The Eagles. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Special offer: Subscribe for $5.99 per mo In case the Eagles dont allow Heath to use the name, his backup plan is to call it the Hotel Cali. And the plan for the hotel goes beyond the name: Heath said each room of the hotel would be named and themed around a famous musician who underwent recovery from addiction. That may include Joe Walsh of the Eagles, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton or Stevie Ray Vaughn, he said. So many of those people have brought so much joy into our lives through years of music and its going to be done in a very luxurious way, Heath said. Heath added the hotel wont be advertised around this aspect, that it would be more of an underlying theme. Another plan incorporating the theme is to have a pianist and violinist play classics from the artists to entertain guests, he said. Though the commissioners spoke highly of the project, some said they didnt like the proposed name. But they noted the names of businesses arent up to them. Commission chair Gordon Huether said he likes the concept of honoring artists that have gone through addiction recovery, but the name choice seemed off. For such a gorgeous property, be called something like that seems really strange to me, for the Napa Valley, but its your property, Huether said. Commissioner Paul Kelley also said he doesnt think the Hotel California name is the best for the project, but he liked the theming. When I think of Hotel California, its not really a Victorian, Kelley said. Its out in the desert somewhere. But anyway, thats not in the purview of the commission. Even so, the commissioners said they appreciated the passion Heath was putting into the project. They also spoke well of the restoration process and the adaptive reuse of a Victorian mansion. We have to look for adaptive reuses for these larger Victorian mansions that dont really support single families anymore, Kelley said. In other news, the commission appointed Huether as chair of the commission and Bob Massaro as vice-chair. Traditionally, the commission appoints the vice-chair of the commission to the chair position each year. But the previous vice chair, Reed Onate, withdrew his application to be reappointed to the commission, As a result, the commissioner's members deliberated over who would be chair this year. Both Kelley, who was the chair last year, and Huether expressed that they wanted to be chair of the commission. Ultimately, Kelley withdrew his bid for the position, and the commission unanimously appointed Huether as chair. You can reach Edward Booth at (707) 256-2213. 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. As the COVID pandemic drags on, Napa thrift stores continue to bend and twist every which way to keep customers, and their donations, coming in. It seems to be working. Business was good during the holidays, said American Cancer Society Discovery Shop manager Bonnie Shields. Sales have been fabulous, at the Napa Methodist Thrift Store, said Martine Patrick, shop manager. "The community is very generous," with both donations and support, said Mina Byrne, president of Community Projects. The nonprofit shop remains temporarily closed due to the pandemic but plans to reopen in early February. As with other Napa retailers, Discovery Shop shoppers are asked to wear masks and use hand sanitizer when they visit, said Shields. The shop staff also follow COVID safety protocols and instructions, as posted by Shields office. The store (at 1380 Trancas St.) is currently open every day except Sundays and Mondays. Shields said many regulars still shop at the store, with one noticeable difference. The customers that used to visit by bus from their senior living communities havent yet returned. They are missed, she said. Where to thrift shop in Napa Community Projects 715 Franklin St., Napa 707-226-7585 Reopening in early February, date TBA American Cancer Society Discovery Shop 1380 Trancas St., Napa 707-224-4398 Current hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday. Napa Methodist Women's Thrift Shop 625 Randolph St., Napa Open starting Feb. 1 on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. One big change at the Discovery Shop, as a result from COVID, is that customers are asked to make appointments to donate their items. When the original COVID stay-at-home orders first ended, We were swamped, with donations from people who had been cleaning out closets while stuck at home, said Shields. It was just too overwhelming. By asking donors to make an appointment, they dont have to wait and the store can better accommodate their items, said Shields. Now that the holiday items have been sold, the store is now focusing on selling winter jackets. And they have plenty of them, said Shields. Some of the coats will also be donated to local coat drives and nonprofits, she noted. The Discovery Shop even has fur and fine leather outerwear to sell. For example, someone recently donated a mink-lined trench coat to the Discovery Shop. It has mink cuffs and a mink collar, and the mink lining is detachable. The coat will likely be priced at more than $1,000, Shields said. But there are plenty of everyday jackets and coats at much lower prices. After its normal holiday closure, Napas Community Projects had originally planned to reopen on Jan. 4, said Byrne. With the spread of Omicron, that date was pushed to Jan 18. However, after employees were exposed to COVID, the reopening date has been extended yet again, to early February. We went back and forth (on when to reopen) ... but why take a risk? said Byrne. She noted that many of their volunteers are elderly or live with higher-risk individuals. The extended closure also means that donations to Community Projects are temporarily on hold, to the dismay of some would-be donors. Were sorry, for the delay, said Byrne. She knows people have items they have been waiting to donate. We feel terrible they are disappointed. We know they want to help us. We look forward to seeing everyone when we open and make it a safe place for our staff, members, and the community to come in and shop, said Byrne. After being closed for 17 months due to the pandemic, in October, Napa Methodist Women's Thrift Shop reopened its thrift shop. Located at 625 Randolph St., its typically open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The shop was temporarily closed as usual during the holiday season but is set to reopen as planned on Feb. 1. All customers are required to mask up, and hand sanitizer is provided, said shop manager Martine Patrick. Donations can be brought on Tuesdays. The pandemic hasnt changed what they will or will not accept, said Patrick. This smaller thrift store accepts clothing, dishes, decor and other items, she said. However, items with a cord or plug are not accepted. Patrick said shes not seeing any particular trends from shoppers or items that people are donating. She centers the shop displays and promotions around holidays and seasons, said Patrick. We have a special table for Valentines, March is our big jewelry sale, April is Easter, then summer every month has a theme. The shop adds new inventory regularly, said Patrick. Its always full. You can reach reporter Jennifer Huffman at 256-2218 or jhuffman@napanews.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The California Department of Social Services has begun mailing $500 bonus checks to more than 500,000 caregivers in the state. "Eligible (in-home supportive services) providers began receiving their payments on January 20, 2022," said department spokesman Jason Montiel in an email. "It will take about a week to distribute them all." Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Special offer: Subscribe for $5.99 per mo Montiel said that providers who receive their payments through direct deposit will receive the bonus within two to three business days of issuance, while those who get their checks mailed will have to wait five to seven business days due to mail time. In order to be eligible for the payment, a caregiver must have worked at least two months between March 2020 and March 2021. Both in-home caregivers and those who provide Medi-Cal home and community-based services, such as Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, are eligible. The move comes as California faces a shortage of caregivers for the disabled and elderly. The Department of Social Services is expected to pay out more than $280 million in total to caregivers, with assistance from the federal government. "These payments are meant to recognize (in-home supportive service) providers for their efforts to keep IHSS recipients safely in their own homes during the pandemic and are in alignment with the Department's investment to increase IHSS provider retention and workforce development," Montiel previously told The Bee. Montiel said there are no further planned bonus payments. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Oklahoma bans almost all abortions Number of children in Japan falls to record low Karabakh President meets with of Free Homeland-UCA parliamentary faction members Armenian judge waves Artsakh flag at Ironman Triathlon (PHOTOS) Ambassador Wiktorin to finance minister: EU ready to continue providing assistance to Armenia government Armenia Prosecutor General admits there are difficulties in investigation of 'March 1' criminal case Copper price is stable 3 COVID-19 new cases confirmed in Armenia American Armenian youth hold protest rally outside Armenia embassy in Washington Japan protests against North Korean missile Gold is getting cheaper U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue issues joint statement Newspaper: Armenia Patrol Guard Service head to be summoned to Investigative Committee to give explanation Armenia parliament regular sittings continue Newspaper: Armenia opposition members falling into National Security Service trap by opening links Civil disobedience protests resume in Yerevan Earthquake shakes Armenia-Georgia border zone Mark Milley: Potential for significant international conflict between great powers is increasing EU: Poland fines in rule of law dispute now top $170 million Putin and Lukashenko discuss ongoing situation Greece and Bulgaria say new LNG terminal will help reduce dependence on Russia German vice chancellor calls for rapid construction of LNG terminals Rally of Resistance Movement takes place in France Square Robert Kocharyan takes part in opposition march Mario Draghi calls on EU to abandon requirement of unanimity in making foreign policy decisions Finland and Sweden not yet decided whether to join NATO Croatian president uses veto power to block Finland and Sweden from joining NATO Slovakia will seek exemption from the EU embargo on Russian oil imports NEWS.am digest: Blinken meets Mirzoyan in US, people detained during protests in Yerevan Turkish Foreign Ministry on meeting of special envoys in Vienna Opposition rally in central Yerevan starts with Sirusho's performance Italy to face serious issues in winter if Russian gas supplies are cut off now Johnson announces new military aid to Ukraine in amount of 300 million euros Resistance Movement rally on France Square in Yerevan EU hopes to adopt sixth round of sanctions against Russia at next EU Council meeting Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Spitak Spain extends OVID-19 entry restrictions Vayk joins demand for Nikol Pashinyan's resignation Putin and Macron discuss Ukraine Citizens demanding Pashinyan's resignation block road from Vayots Dzor to Yerevan Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Vanadzor demanding PM's resignation Citizens demanding Pashinyan's resignation block Gyumri-Yerevan highway Sirusho: Today I will join our compatriots in France Square Third meeting of Armenia and Turkey special representatives held in Vienna Dollar rises slightly after long decline, euro also goes up in Armenia Civil disobedience actions in regions: Yerevan-Goris highway blocked Azerbaijan settling occupied Armenian Hadrut, Shushi cities of Artsakh New colors and new services: Team Telecom Armenia completes rebranding Armenia legislature speaker receives France-Armenia Friendship Group delegation France senator: We are leaving for Armenia with Senate group Putin signs decree on economic measures against unfriendly countries Armenia legislature speaker: Authorities have repeatedly proposed dialogue to opposition Backpack action of protest being held outside Armenia parliament (PHOTOS) Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD statement does not correspond to reality Armenia defense minister receives Kansas National Guard delegation Armenia Police: Yerevan-Sevan motorway reopened Ned Price: Mirzoyan-Blinken meeting will launch US-Armenia strategic dialogue Mirzoyan, Nuland discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement process Civil disobedience actions are carried out in some Armenia cities Armenia 2nd-President Kocharyan, ex-deputy PM and now lawmaker Gevorgyan trial to resume Pashinyan to Morawiecki: This year we mark 30th anniversary of Armenia-Poland diplomatic relations No new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia Central Bank leaves refinancing rate unchanged at 9.25% Demonstrators demanding PM Pashinyan's resignation block Sevan-Yerevan motorway Police: 117 demonstrators apprehended in Yerevan Kansas National Guard leadership visiting Armenia Bloomberg: EU new gas partners Armenian member of Turkey legislature says he was thrown at table of wolves Italian PM slams Lavrov for his 'Hitler' statements in interview with local television South Korea and US plan to start air force exercises on May 9 Police special forces apprehend Armenia ex-president Robert Kocharyans son Police: 70 people apprehended from Yerevan streets World Press Freedom Index 2022: Journalism as a profession is humiliated in Armenia Newspaper: Armenia ruling party MPs are worried Borrell speaks on possible disconnection from SWIFT of new Russian banks Cyprus becomes first EU country with full 5G coverage Police apprehending participants of civil disobedience actions in Yerevan State Department: Deepening US-Armenia cooperation in nuclear energy will strengthen bilateral relations Peaceful disobedience actions resume in Yerevan early morning Mirzoyan: Armenia appreciates US support for developing energy sector Blinken underscores US commitment to help Armenia, Azerbaijan find sustainable peace, prosperity Eurozone economic sentiment falls much more than expected in April Apple faces big fine Armenia ex-president joins discussion in France Square Poland wants the EU to set a clear date for stopping Russian oil imports Armenia FM meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Armenia FM meets with Director of USAID Samantha Power Ann Linde says Finland will almost certainly apply for NATO membership Police beat reporters, obstruct their work in Yerevan European Commission may relieve Hungary, Slovakia of embargo on Russian oil purchase Resistance Movement to continue large-scale civil disobedience actions on 3 May in Yerevan and regions EU countries to continue to pay in euros or dollars for Russian gas Resistance Movement participants return to France Square Russian and Turkish defense ministers discuss current situation in Ukraine Ukrainian intelligence accuses Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan of helping Russia evade Western sanctions NEWS.am digest: Turkey says they have agreements with Armenia on border clarification Toivo Klaar informs about meeting of Armen Grigoryan and Hikmet Hajiyev in Brussels PACE initiates resolution on threats to journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan Diplomat kidnapped in Haiti Hungarian president asks Orban to form new government Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach stepped down as the head of the German navy after publicly saying Crimea was lost to Ukraine and that Vladimir Putin "probably" deserved respect, DW reported. "I have asked Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht to relieve me from my duties with immediate effect," Schoenbach said in a statement cited by the Reuters news agency. "The minister has accepted my request," he added. Schoenbach made the comments during a talk that he gave in a visit to India. Speaking at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, the German vice admiral said Putin "probably" deserved respect. "What he really wants is respect," the vice admiral said, speaking in English in remarks that were posted on a video on YouTube. "And, my God, giving someone respect is low cost, even no cost. ... It is easy to give him the respect he really demandsand probably also deserves," Schoenbach said, calling Russia an old and important country. Schoenbach said Russia's actions in Ukraine needed to be addressed, but added that "the Crimea Peninsula is gone: It will never come backthis is a fact." The remarks directly contradicted the official view held by the EU and the US. Washington and its allies say that Moscow's 2014 annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine was unacceptable and must be reversed. On Saturday, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said it has summoned German Ambassador Anka Feldhusen to stress "the categorical unacceptability" of Schoenbach's comments. The German government made no official statement, although it distanced itself from Schoenbach's comments on Saturday. "The content and choice of words of the statements in no way correspond to the position of the Federal Ministry of Defense," a German Defense Ministry spokesman told public broadcaster ZDF. Schoenbach must now explain himself to his superior, Inspector General Eberhard Zorn, the ministry said. Additionally, Germany's ruling coalition will discuss the navy chief's statements on Monday, ZDF reported. For his part, Schoenbach issued an apology on his Twitter account. "There is no need to quibble: it was clearly a mistake," he tweeted. "My defense policy remarks during a talk session at a think tank in India reflected my personal opinion in that moment. They in no way reflect the official position of the defense ministry," he wrote. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called on Germany to reject Schoenbach's comments regarding Crimea, saying they undermine the efforts to counter Russian aggression. "Ukraine is grateful to Germany for the support it has already provided since 2014, as well as for the diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict. But Germany's current statements are disappointing and run counter to that support and effort," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter. "The German partners must stop undermining unity with such words and actions and encouraging (Russian President) Vladimir Putin to launch a new attack on Ukraine," Kuleba added. Kyiv also highlighted its "deep disappointment" at the German government's position "on the failure to provide defense weapons to Ukraine." The lack of weapons support is another point of contention between the two countries. On Friday, reports emerged about Germany blocking Estonia from sending its German-made weapons to Ukraine. Berlin has long argued that it does not support sending weapons to active conflict zones and stressed that such deliveries would hinder negotiations and a peaceful resolution to the crisis. OCEAN CITY A judge has dismissed Ocean City from a federal lawsuit over a beach umbrella getting caught in the wind and impaling a woman. The lawsuit filed in June 2021 claimed that negligence on the part of the town and the rental company that owned the umbrella led to Jill Mendygrals injuries, The Daily Times reported. Advertisement A judge granted a motion to dismiss the claim against Ocean City on Jan. 13 but extended the chance for the plaintiff to file an updated complaint with more details. Facts shared in the judges opinion show that Mendygral, of Pennsylvania, was on the beach in 2018 when a wind advisory was in effect. An umbrella became dislodged from the sand and (flew) into the air, violently stabbing Plaintiff in her chest, according to the document. Advertisement She was taken to a hospital for emergency surgery, and the lawsuit claimed she was left with severe and permanent injuries. The lawsuit argued that Ocean City was aware of the risks related to open beach umbrellas amid heavy wind but didnt warn beachgoers. A judge sided with the town, which said it was protected by governmental immunity and owed no duty of care to plaintiff under a provision that limits liability for landowners who make their property available for recreational use by the public. While Ocean City cant be sued directly in this instance, the judges opinion says a claim can be brought against an individual worker because Mendygral alleges vicarious liability on the part of Ocean City for the acts of its employees. The judge has given the plaintiff 21 days to amend the complaint by either naming an individual or John Doe defendant. Thousands pay tribute to Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh Thich Nhat Hanh spent nearly four decades in exile after he was banished from his homeland for calling for an end to the Vietnam War. File photo: AFP Thousands of mourners packed a temple in Vietnam's Buddhist heartland early on Sunday to pay tribute to the late Vietnamese monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, credited with bringing mindfulness to the West. The Zen master died aged 95 on Saturday at the Tu Hieu Pagoda in the city of Hue. Thich Nhat Hanh spent nearly four decades in exile after he was banished from his homeland for calling for an end to the Vietnam War. Early on Sunday morning, chanting monks carried his body covered by a yellow sheet along with decorative umbrellas through the throng of mourners. The smell of incense wafted in the air, as they put his body in a wooden coffin and placed it in a hall decorated with yellow daisies. Buddhist monks in yellow and brown robes recited prayers and followers wearing grey stood in silent contemplation of his life. Among the mourners was Tran Dinh Huong, 46, who hastily travelled from Hanoi to pay her respects. "I read many of his books and his words helped me a lot when I was down or going through difficulties," she said. "I think it will be a very long time until Vietnam and the world has such a great teacher again." Nguyen Nhat from Ho Chi Minh City said it was deeply moving to see the body. "I admire him for his simple and modest life," he said. Thich Nhat Hanh's coffin is expected to remain in the hall for a week as mourners take turns to pray in front of it before a cremation ceremony next Saturday. (AFP) Taliban and Afghan civil society members begin talks This handout photograph shows Afghanistans Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi (L) and the Taliban delegation before departing for Oslo, Norway. Photo: AFP The first Taliban delegation to visit Europe since returning to power in Afghanistan began talks on Sunday with Afghan civil society members focused on human rights, Norway's foreign ministry said. Headed by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the delegation was to dedicate the first day of their three-day visit to talks with women activists and journalists, among others, before meeting Western diplomats on Monday and Tuesday. The talks, facilitated by Norway, were taking place behind closed doors at the Soria Moria Hotel on the outskirts of Oslo. The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated drastically since August, when international aid came to a sudden halt in the country, which is already suffering the effects of several severe droughts. Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt stressed last week that the talks would "not represent a legitimisation or recognition of the Taliban". The international community is waiting to see how the Islamic fundamentalists intend to govern Afghanistan, after having largely trampled on human rights during their first stint in power between 1996 and 2001. On Monday, the Taliban will meet representatives from the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Italy and the European Union, while Tuesday will be dedicated to bilateral talks with Norwegian officials. (AFP) Thousands protest vaccine rules in Belgium Thousands protest vaccine rules in Belgium Police fired water cannon and tear gas Sunday at stone-throwing protesters after tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through Brussels against Covid-19 rules. Authorities estimated that around 50,000 people paraded through the Belgian capital -- the largest in a spate of protests in the city over the past months. Clashes broke out close to the headquarters of the European Union as police used water cannon and tear gas to push back protesters hurling paving stones and firecrackers. News outlet RTL reported that masked demonstrators had smashed a glass entrance to the office of the EU's foreign policy agency. The protest comes as the Omicron wave causes infections to reach record highs across Europe. Protesters carried signs slamming Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and the Covid Safe pass required for entry into numerous venues. Organisers including the World Wide Demonstration for Freedom and Europeans United for Freedom had called for people to come from other EU states. Flags from Poland, the Netherlands, France and Romania could be seen in the crowd. "What has been happening since 2020 has allowed people to wake up to corruption," said Francesca Fanara, who had travelled from Lille in northern France, "I have come to march together." "It's a health dictatorship," said Adolfo Barbosa from Portugal. "It warms the heart to see these people here." The EU's health agency said on Friday that Omicron had now become the dominant variant circulating in the bloc and some neighbouring countries. Belgium has seen daily infections surge to over 60,000 in the past week in what authorities have called a "tsunami". But the milder variant and high rate of vaccination -- including people getting a third booster jab -- means that health systems have not come under the same strain as during earlier waves. De Croo on Friday announced that restaurants and bars could extend their opening hours -- although nightclubs still remain closed. Neighbouring France has said it will begin a gradual lifting of Covid restrictions from February 2 after authorities said there were "encouraging signs" that the wave of infections due to the Omicron variant is ebbing. (AFP) Make-up artist Shraddha Naik has worked with the 'Ek Villian' actor for a very long time and she wanted none other than her star friend to get her married to her husband Richard. Held at a serene hilltop in Lonavala, the Christian wedding ceremony saw Kapoor looking beautiful in a lilac dress, as per the wedding theme. Meanwhile, on the work front, the actor would be seen in Luv Ranjan's next, opposite Ranbir Kapoor. (ANI) According to Variety, as previously reported, 'Re-Live' co-writers Rachel Leyco and Valdez star as sisters Rochelle and Rowena, respectively. Soriano will play their mother, Thelma. Jhett Tolentino will executive produce in association with Shant Joshi's Fae Pictures. 'Re-Live' tells the story of Rowena, a transgender movie star who returns to her home in Guam for her high school reunion's "do-over week." Rowena's plan to live out her childhood dream of being a cheerleader falters when her mother's cancer begins to worsen, and she learns to value the family she left behind. The film marks Valdez's feature directorial debut. "Having a legendary Filipino actress like Maricel Soriano strengthens our commitment to telling our stories from our authentic experiences and for our Filipinx diaspora," Leyco and Valdez said in a statement. They added, "Now more than ever, this empowers us to further highlight our communities at a time when visibility must be taken to new heights to fight against the rise of anti-trans and anti-Asian violence." Soriano is one of the Philippines' most awarded actors, with a career spanning more than 50 years in film and television. 'Re-Live' is set to begin shooting in November in Hawai'i and Guam. It was previously selected for Inside Out's LGBT Finance Forum in 2021 and won the Inside Out Pitch Please! competition in 2019. Valdez received a Primetime Emmy nomination for outstanding actress in a short-form comedy or drama series for her lead role in 'Razor Tongue', which she created, crowdfunded and produced, as per Variety. (ANI) Following the tragic news of Alexander Jr's passing, Davis offered her condolences with an emotional tribute shared on her Twitter handle. The post featured a photo of King sitting with her late son and smiling for the camera at the 2019 American Music Awards in Los Angeles. The tweet read, "I am lifting and holding you up. LOVE you @ReginaKing and I am so sorry." Apart from Davis, several other celebrities have extended their condolences to King and her family, including Cynthia Bailey, comedian Loni Love, and actors Josh Gad and Marlee Matlin. King confirmed her son's death recently in a statement to People magazine, saying, "Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian. He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time. Thank you." Ian was King's only child, whom she shared with her ex-husband and record producer Ian Alexander Sr. Following in his father's musical footsteps, Ian was a deejay. King previously told People magazine that he was "an amazing young man." Despite her growing success as an actor and director, King said at the time that Ian was her biggest source of pride. After separating from Ian's father in 2007 after nine years of marriage, King admitted being a single parent wasn't always easy, but that nothing is stronger than her love for her son. (ANI) Carroll County Public Schools proposed fiscal 2023 operating budget still faces uncertainties in revenues and expenditures, according to Superintendent Steve Lockard. During a December school board work session, school staff stated that Carroll County anticipated receiving $6.6 million more in state funding for fiscal 2023 than it did in fiscal 2022. That assumption remains, Lockard said. Advertisement Were still assuming our estimate based on limited information, Lockard said during the school boards Jan. 12 meeting. In fiscal 2022, CCPS received $145.8 million from the state. Fiscal 2023 begins on July 1, 2022. Advertisement By the end of [January] we should have a pretty good idea of what that revenue number is and also where some of those dollars are being directed and what that means to us from a spending perspective, CCPS chief financial officer Chris Hartlove said during a presentation at the school boards Jan. 12 meeting. The cause of uncertainty is the COVID-19 pandemic and implementation of the first phases of the Blueprint for Marylands Future legislation. The Blueprint legislation is slated to create significant changes to the states funding formula for local public schools and mandate salary increases for teachers who receive a certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > This would result in a $900,000 increase in the CCPS budget, according to Hartlove. Hartlove previously said allocations from the county will increase by $6.4 million and the total increase for expenditures is estimated at $6.9 million. Lockard is requesting an additional $4 million in the budget to create a pool for employee negotiations, additional bus contractor requests and other improvements. We know were going to have more needs than just $6 million and thats basically why we decided to ask for additional dollars, Hartlove said on Jan. 12. Hartloves presentation stated that utilities, insurance and benefits in fiscal 2023 would be result in a $2.3 million increase over fiscal 2022. He also noted the loss of up to $1 million of Title I funding. Advertisement In the December work session we estimated a $2.5 million [increase] [$2.3 million] should be the number that sticks throughout the rest of the budget process, Hartlove said. Once CCPS receives information about updated state revenue figures, CCPS staff will finalize the budget plan. The school board is set to vote on the final fiscal 2023 budget in February. Actor Sharib Hashmi, who is playing a pivotal role in the movie, took to his Instagram handle and shared two pictures from the wrap party on the film set. The post that was shared on Saturday night features the whole cast and crew of the yet to be titled film. Sharing the pictures, Hashmi wrote a heartfelt note that read, "Made beautiful memories on the sets of this beautiful (yet untitled) film with a dream team. Produced by the awesommme @maddockfilms @pvijan" The 'Filmistaan' actor also praised Utekar, Sara and Vicky in the caption. "Director Saaab @laxman.utekar sirrr matlab aapne dil jeet liya ekdum ich @raghav_dop mere bhaii you're a sweetheart [?] @vickykaushal09 ab main aur bada wala fan ho gaya hoon yaarrr tumhara @saraalikhan95 aap staron jaisa behave .. kyun nahin karti yaarr. you're such a sweetheart really," Hashmi wrote. Going by the pictures and videos shared by several crew members on social media, the set appears to be prepared for filming a wedding scene. A leaked picture from the shoot set is also going rounds on Instagram where Vicky and Sara could be seen filming for a wedding scene. Vicky could be seen dressed in a groom's attire, while Sara was seen clad in a bride-red coloured saree. Both were holding garlands in their hands. Going by Hashmi's post, it is still not clear if the team has completely wrapped up the shooting, or had just completed Indore's shoot schedule for the movie helmed by 'Mimi' director Laxman Utekar. (ANI) Veteran actor Dharmendra shared a picture of Netaji's statue and along with it tweeted, "I salute you Neeta ji .... 'Zindgi hai qom ki ....tu Qom par lutaye ja'" Kangana Ranaut posted a story on her Instagram handle featuring the freedom fighter. She wrote, "One individual may die for an idea, but that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives." She added the hashtags, "#NetajiSubhashChandraBose #ParakramDiwas #NetajiJayanti." Actor and fitness enthusiast Milind Soman shared a couple of photos from when he and his wife Ankita Konwar had visited a temple in Japan where a statue of Netaji was erected. In the caption, he wrote, "Salute to a man of iron will and indomitable conviction, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, on the 125th anniversary of his birth! His impact and legacy have been celebrated the world over - here @ankita_earthy and I are in 2019, standing in front of a tribute erected in a temple in Japan, before starting our 110km long new year run from Tokyo to Fujiyama" Subhash Chandra Bose was an Indian freedom fighter who was born in Cuttack, Odisha on 23 January 1897. His birth anniversary is celebrated every year as Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji, his grand statue, made of granite, will be installed at India Gate as a symbol of India's indebtedness to him. (ANI) A day after Covid-19 cases scaled a new high above 48,000 mark, Omicron infections set a new record with Mumbai notching the maximum cases of the variant and deaths remained in double-digits, health officials said here on Saturday. After the previous record high of 48,270 (January 21), the number of daily Covid infectees cooled and returned to the 46,000 level, 46,393 on Saturday -- a drop of 1,877 new cases compared with Friday. As the spread continued in Pune, the Maharashtra government has dropped plans to reopen schools in the district from January 24, said Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The fatalities also came down from 52 a day earlier to 48 on Saturday, and the mortality rate fell from 1.91 per cent to 1.09 per cent. After notching a peak of 238 Omicron cases (January 14) the state infections of the variant catapulted to a new record -- from 144 a day earlier to a staggering 416 on Saturday. The government is continuing the intensive surveillance of passengers arriving at the three international airports - Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur - since December 1. A total of 307,966 travellers have landed here, including 48,505 from the "high risk" countries from where 579 have tested positive and another 670 from other countries, with all their reports sent for genomic sequencing to confirm if they are afflicted by Omicron. Another staggering 6,090 positive samples from field surveys conducted since November 1 have been sent for genomic sequencing with the results of 103 are awaited, the officials said. Omicron has spread extensively across several districts in the state, and out of the 2,759 cases till date, 1,225 have recovered. Pune district remains at the top with 1,182 cases of the variant, 1,009 in Mumbai, 178 in Nagpur, 134 in Thane, 59 in Sangli, 31 in Amravati, 20 each in Raigad and Aurangabad, 19 in Kolhapur, 15 in Satara, 13 in Wardha, 11 each in Osmanabad and Akola, 7 in Palghar, 6 in Buldhana, 5 in Nashik, 4 in Ahmednagar, 3 each in Nanded, Latur, Jalna, Parbhani and Gondiya, 2 each in Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Jalgaon and Bhandara, 1 in Beed, besides one from another state. Of the 46,393 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, Mumbai Metropolitan Region showed a decline from 10,493 a day earlier to 8,471 infections, while Mumbai city also fell sharply from 5,008 to 3,568 fresh cases. The next is Pune Circle's 18,729 infectees, Nagpur Circle 6,394, Nashik Circle 4,958, Aurangabad Circle 2,170, Latur 2,102, Kolhapur Circle 2,053, and Akola Circle's 1,516. The number of people sent to home quarantine declined sharply - dropping from 23,87,593 on Friday to 21,86,124 now, and another 3,382 have been shunted to institutional quarantine. Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Raigad and Palghar remain at the top with the highest number of aactive cases' currently in the state, with the afflictions shooting up from 264,388 a day before to 279,930 on Saturday, and the recovery rate again dropping 94.47 per cent to 94.03 per cent. The state's cumulative figures of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic in March 2020 now stands at 74,66,420 cases and 142,071 deaths, while a total of 70,40,618 patients have fully recovered till Saturday. --IANS qn/pgh ( 541 Words) 2022-01-22-23:06:04 (IANS) To understand the impact of Covid-19 on the children, the Delhi government has decided to conduct a survey on the basis of which the Happiness Curriculum will be updated. Updating the Happiness Curriculum will help in taking care of mental and emotional well-being of school-going children as being away from schools for a long time leading to mental stress and fear among them. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Manish Sisodia gave instructions to the concerned officials, the Delhi government said in a release. "This is for the first time that such a survey is being conducted. Along with children, the study will also focus on analysing the changes in parenting style, psychological and emotional state of parents, as children have spent most of their time during lockdown with them, in the past two years." "Along with students and parents, teachers have also seen many changes in their routine and teaching styles. This survey will analyse this aspect too. Since "Happiness" is a holistic process, it is important to understand the mental state of each and every person in students' lives," it added. Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, said that the last two years have been really tough and very stressful for the school children. Due to school closure students have been confined to home, which is leading to a situation of fear and stress among students. It is very important to understand their mental state, to bring them back to the normal situation. "With the help of this study and help from experts, we will modify the Happiness curriculum by introducing new chapters, stories and activities, so that students can learn to be stress-free in challenging situations like pandemic," it added. --IANS rdk/pgh ( 299 Words) 2022-01-23-00:40:03 (IANS) Amid the surge of Covid-19 cases in Meghalaya, anti-vaccination protesters organised a rally in the capital city Shillong against the alleged mandatory inoculation drive by the state government. Organised by the NGO Awaken India Movement (AIM), the anti-vaccination protesters took out a protest march from Motphran to Khyndailad, strongly opposing the compulsory vaccination by the health department. AIM Chairman Banshai Marbaniang, who led the protest march, said that people are protesting the mandatory vaccination by the state government against their fundamental rights of taking the vaccine jab of their choice. The protesters are also against the compulsory wearing of face mask and testing of their samples. "The authorities are forcing and harassing the non-vaccinated people to test their samples every 10 days. The AIM would hold protest marches on the matter in other parts of the state," Marbaniang told the media. According to reports of the National Health Mission, Meghalaya, the state on Saturday recorded the highest ever single-day spike of 406 new Covid positive cases pushing the number of active cases to 2,002, with one death due to the infection raising the total number of casualties to 1,496. Aman War, Meghalaya Director of Health Services, said that East Khasi Hills in which the state capital Shillong falls, the most coronavirus-hit district registered 304 fresh cases on Saturday, with the district currently having 1,377 active cases with 1,018 people succumbed to the contagious disease. Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong while talking to the media said that the state government is not considering imposing lockdown in the state following the sudden rise of new Covid-19 cases. The state government would review the situation arising out of sudden spurts of Covid cases and in view of the positive cases of Omicron variant found in the hill state and in the neighbouring states, Tynsong added. --IANS sc/khz/ ( 319 Words) 2022-01-23-01:12:02 (IANS) The human heart, the size of a fist, located just behind and slightly left of the breastbone, tirelessly beats an average of 100,000 times a day. However, conditions that stop the heart from pumping blood efficiently can cause serious problems and ultimately require a heart transplantation. In a study published in the journal 'Science Translational Medicine', researchers from Osaka University showed that a previously unknown mutation can lead to a condition called dilated cardiomyopathy, which is one of the main causes of heart failure. Heart failure refers to an incurable condition where the heart is no longer able to meet the body's demands in terms of blood supply. It is one of the most common causes of death and it affects almost 40 million people worldwide, representing a huge public health problem. One of the main factors leading to heart failure is a disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (or DCM). DCM is characterized by dilation of the heart's chambers and a pumping disfunction. Previous research has shown that DCM is often inherited and has a genetic basis. However, for up to 80 per cent of the familial DCM cases, the genetic mutation causing the disease has still not been known. The research team identified a gene called BAG5 as a novel causative gene for DCM. First, they studied patients from different families, highlighting a correlation between loss of function mutations in the BAG5 gene and DCM. The researchers found that this mutation has a complete penetrance, meaning that 100 per cent of the individuals presenting it will develop the disease. They then found in a mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy that mice without BAG5 exhibited the same symptoms of human DCM, such as dilatation of the heart's chambers and irregular heart rhythm. This indicated that mutations that erase the function of BAG5 can cause cardiomyopathy. "Here we showed that loss of BAG5 perturbs calcium handling in mouse cardiomyocytes," said Dr. Hideyuki Hakui, lead author of the study. BAG5 is important for calcium handling in the heart muscle cells, and calcium is essential for a regular rhythm and overall health of the cardiac muscle, explaining why a loss of BAG5 leads to cardiomyopathy. "After demonstrating that BAG5 mutations led to loss of functional BAG5 protein," continued Dr. Yoshihiro Asano, senior author of the study, "we also showed that administration of an AAV9-BAG5 vector in a murine model could restore cardiac function. This finding suggests that gene therapy with adeno-associated viruses (AAV) should be further investigated as a possible treatment alternative to heart transplantation for patients who are BAG5 deficient." AAV gene therapy refers to an innovative form of therapy aimed at fixing mutated genes in diseases that have a genetic cause like DCM. Therefore, these findings have paved the way for a potential precision medicine treatment based on gene therapy. (ANI) Tamil Nadu police are maintaining strict vigil at all the check posts bordering Kerala. With Sunday lockdown in place in both the states, and only the movement of essential vehicles allowed, the Tamil Nadu side has enforced strong monitoring at all the check posts in view of rising Covid cases. Deputy Superintendent (Dy SP) level officers are leading the police team that is monitoring the check posts in different parts of the state bordering Kerala. At Wayalar check post bordering Palakkad district, police have blocked the entry to Tamil Nadu and only a side road through which a single vehicle can travel, is open. To enter Tamil Nadu from Kerala, either RT-PCR negative certificate or two vaccination certificate is required on regular days but on the lockdown day, only people whose travel is indispensable are allowed into Tamil Nadu from Kerala. Medical emergencies and airport travel are the two areas that are given relaxation by the Tamil Nadu side. At Wandiperiyar, on the side of Tamil Nadu, police are also monitoring people reaching the state. Even those who reach the state walking are not allowed entry and all the pocket roads and forest path have also been cordoned off by Tamil Nadu police. State health minister told media persons on Sunday that the number of fresh and active cases in Tamil Nadu is much lower than in Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra. This is the reason why Tamil Nadu police are given instructions to prevent the entry of people, cattle, and vehicles from Kerala into the state. A strong contingent of Tamil Nadu police led by three Deputy SPs are monitoring the Kalliyakkavilai check post bordering Thiruvananthapuram. Police are not allowing vehicles going to the Tamil Nadu side unless there are genuine reasons like death in family or something of that importance. C. Raveendran, a businessman from Thiruvananthapuram who has relatives in Nagercoil and wants to visit there due to a function at his relative's place, had to return from Kalliyakkavilai. He told IANS, "Tamil Nadu police did not allow us to travel across the check post and hence had to cancel the trip." --IANS aal/skp/ ( 371 Words) 2022-01-23-13:32:02 (IANS) A recent study has found no evidence of recently infected mothers transmitting infectious SARS-CoV-2 through breastmilk to their baby. The study was published in the journal 'Pediatric Research'. The authors found that whilst a low proportion of breastmilk contained COVID-19 genetic material, this did not translate into the presence of infectious replicating viral particles or lead to evidence of clinical infection with SARS-CoV-2 in breastfeeding infants. Authors from the University of California (California, USA) analysed breastmilk samples from 110 lactating women who donated to the Mommy's Milk Human Milk Biorepository at the University of California, San Diego between March and September 2020. Of the 110 women included, 65 had a positive COVID-19 test, while 9 had symptoms but tested negative, and 36 were symptomatic but were not tested. Paul Krogstad and colleagues found SARS-CoV-2 genetic material (RNA) in the breastmilk of 7 women (6 per cent) with either confirmed infection or who reported being symptomatic. A second breastmilk sample taken from these 7 women between one and 97 days later did not contain any SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The authors did not find any infectious SARS-CoV-2 genetic material known as SgRNA, which is an indicator of virus replication, in the 7 breastmilk samples and when culturing other samples. There was no clinical evidence of infection in the infants who were breastfed by the 7 mothers with SARS-CoV-2 RNA in their milk. The authors cautioned that the sample size was low in this study and may not have captured all the potential factors that would predict the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in breastmilk. However, it was the largest study at this time to analyse breastmilk and provided evidence that breastfeeding from women proven or suspected to have had SARS-CoV-2 infection did not lead to COVID-19 infection in their infants. Paul Krogstad, the lead author, said: "Breastmilk is an invaluable source of nutrition to infants. In our study, we found no evidence that breastmilk from mothers infected with COVID-19 contained infectious genetic material and no clinical evidence was found to suggest the infants got infected, which suggests breastfeeding is not likely to be a hazard." The authors concluded that their study added to the evidence that women who were infected with COVID-19 and were breastfeeding their child had no risk of transmitting the virus through their breastmilk. (ANI) The Delhi High Court has asked the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) to provide information to help a probe into a fake Aadhaar card case, in which over 400 persons have been allegedly issued fake cards for enrolment in civil defence training in the national capital. Hearing a petition seeking issuance of appropriate orders for providing information of Aadhaar card holders for the investigation agency, Justice Chandra Dhari Singh directed the UIDAI to provide all relevant information of the persons as required for the purpose of probe as per the provisions of the Aadhaar Act. Advocate Nidhi Raman, counsel for the respondent authority, submitted that the UIDAI has no objection in sharing the information being sought, to the extent and in a manner as permissible under the provisions of the Aadhaar Act, upon being directed by the court. The petitioner has also sought to issue appropriate orders directing the respondents to ascertain the date and place of issuance of Aadhaar cards, date of updation and the documents submitted for updation from the Aadhaar card issuing authority. Advocate Kusum Dhalla, the public prosecutor for the state, sought a direction for disclosure of information as per the relevant sections of the law. She stated that in the course of the investigation conducted so far, prima facie it has emerged that the then District Magistrate of Shahdara and others had committed criminal misconduct by abusing their official position as public servants with an ulterior motive to give benefits to ineligible persons, and in total, approximately 450 candidates with fake Aadhaar cards had enrolled for training in civil defence. --IANS jw/arm ( 286 Words) 2022-01-22-21:18:03 (IANS) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) demanded a CBI probe into alleged illegal mining in chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi's home constituency of Chamkaur Sahib including that on forest land. Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said only an impartial probe could reveal the extent to which the chief minister and his family had looted the State exchequer through his personal illegal sand mining mafia. "The total loot by Channi in his 111-day tenure will be more than Rs 1,111 crore". "In a sensational disclosure, Mr Bikram Majithia also released audio recordings of the chief minister's closest aide and Salapur village Sarpanch Iqbal Singh and his son Binder in which they detailed the entire illegal sand mining operation being run with the chief minister's blessings," alleged SAD in a press release. Asserting that the recordings proved that Channi, Congress and Corruption were synonymous with each other, Mr Majithia said "it is also certain that the proceeds of this illegal activity were going to the AICC and this was why the Congress high command, as well as leaders like Harish Chaudhary were trying to save Channi by asserting that he was being victimised." He said the very fact that the Congress party came out in defense of Bhupinder Honey, the CM's nephew who was running the illegal mining racket, proved that Honey and Channi were using money to purchase patronage from the AICC. "This angle should also be probed thoroughly", he added. Mr Majithia while showing Honey's proximity to Channi through various photographs on official pages, said Honey had even been provided black cat commandos and a gypsy escort vehicle. He also showed pictures to prove Honey was using a vehicle with an MLA sticker pasted on it. Asserting that with the chief minister also holding charge of the mining and environment departments this was a case of conflict of interest and Mr Channi did not have any moral right to continue in office. (ANI) Annapolis police have completed an internal investigation into the source of videos shared on social media in October 2020 showing two people being questioned by detectives about a 2017 murder case. Annapolis Police Chief Ed Jackson said Tuesday that internal affairs investigators were unable to pinpoint how the videos were uploaded to Facebook and Instagram or by whom, but the investigation did confirm no one from the department accessed the videos or sent them outside of the agency. Advertisement Theres no evidence to suggest we leaked it out. In fact, we know we didnt leak it out, Jackson said. I have no reason to believe that there was any misconduct on behalf of anybody in APD. The videos, which were poor quality and hard to hear, circulated on social media in October 2020. The exposure created concern about the safety of the people revealed in the videos and risked eroding relationships with Annapolis residents who already have trust issues with the department. The videos show police questioning two people in interview rooms at the Annapolis Police Department on Taylor Avenue. The two men are asked about the homicides of George Forrester, a 40-year-old Severn man killed on Newtowne Drive in January 2017 and Charles Carroll Jr., a 25-year-old Baltimore man killed in the Bywater Mutual Homes community in July 2016. Advertisement Annapolis police did not announce when the internal investigation closed or release details about how it was conducted. Jackson asked the FBI to review the departments investigation to ensure it was done properly. The FBI did not do an independent investigation and had no records related to the incident, the agency said in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. The Annapolis Police Department denied a Maryland Public Information Act request for a summary report of the completed investigation in August and December, stating the records are exempt from disclosure and its release is contrary to the public interest because it would jeopardize the safety of witnesses and/or increase the possibility of witness intimidation. In an interview, Jackson agreed that a summary report of the investigation into how the two mens identities were compromised could risk their safety, and details of the report could give insight into an active murder investigation. Carroll Jr.s homicide case is still open. Forresters homicide case was closed by arrest, and a judge sentenced Lawrence Montague, of Annapolis, to 50 years in prison in 2017 for second-degree murder. Montague, 32, appealed his case to the Court of Appeals, the states highest court, over the states use of his jailhouse rap lyrics as evidence against him. The Court of Appeals ruled in December 2020 that Montagues lyrics included specific details relevant to the crime that served as direct proof of his involvement, setting a statewide precedent for the admission of rap lyrics. Daily Top Stories Daily Get the day's top news, sports, opinion, features and local events. > Jackson offered more details Tuesday into the roughly four-month internal investigation. Police interrogations videos are digitally tracked, Jackson said, because they are subject to discovery in court and eventually accessible by prosecutors and defense counsel. The digital evidence management system documents the time and user ID used to open and copy files. No one from the department accessed the videos that ended up online, he added. In the video shared on social media, a person appears to have used a phone to film a screen playing the original recorded interview. A person points a finger at the screen in the video uploaded to Facebook and Instagram, showing that the person used two devices, Jackson said. We dont have a suspect in mind. We cant determine how it got uploaded and whose responsible for that, Jackson said. But we determined it didnt come from [headquarters]. Although the person who posted the video online hasnt been identified, Jackson and Deputy Chief Stanley Brandford believe the purpose was to intimidate a homicide witness or discourage people from talking to the police. The internal affairs investigation did not find enough evidence to charge a suspect with witness intimidation. Advertisement Witness intimidation charges and convictions are rare. The Anne Arundel County States Attorneys Office did not charge or convict a single person with intimidating or influencing a witness in 2021, according to the office. A month after the Annapolis police interviews popped up online, Instagram removed four Baltimore-based accounts in November 2020 that were posting pictures and paperwork that showed people speaking to police. The accounts were openly intimidating people for cooperating with investigators and sometimes extorting money from the pictured subjects. Jackson said the Annapolis department is satisfied with its internal investigation and has observed no issues with digital witness intimidation in 2021. He remains concerned, however, the incident could dissuade people from cooperating confidentially with investigators. It was important to try our very best to get to the bottom of it because I wanted the public to know and have the confidence that if they ever have to give us information it will be protected, Jackson said. And we havent had any problems since then. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday urged the National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets to strive for a new dawn of progress from petty jealousies and soul-sapping prejudices of regions, religions, castes and classes, calling for equality between men and women, enjoying the highest measure of liberty, consistent with the common good. He laid equal emphasis on moulding with the continuously evolving times and carrying forward Indian values, traditions and the feeling of humanity while bringing about that change, while virtually interacting with the cadets of National Cadet Corps (NCC), taking part of the Republic Day Camp. The minister also exhorted the NCC cadets to dream big and work diligently towards achieving their goals by breaking the shackles of fear and scepticism. "Go ahead in your lives with a vision to create something new, something of the highest order, something that makes you successful and makes our country proud," he said. Rajnath lauded the youth organisation for instilling into its cadets the qualities of a leader, soldier, artist, musician and above all a good human being, making them a complete person. He commended NCC for developing the qualities of its cadets so that they create their own paths and give a new direction to society. He urged the cadets to find purpose in life and take inspiration from many NCC alumni who made a mark in society by adopting the qualities of unity, discipline, truthfulness, courage, harmony and leadership taught at the organisation. "The NCC is doing a yeoman service to the nation by transforming the youth into a cohesive and disciplined force," he said. The minister cited a saying of Swami Vivekananda, "You are lions, you are souls, pure, infinite, and perfect. The might of the universe is within you", exhorting the NCC cadets to dream big and work diligently towards achieving their goals by breaking the shackles of fear and scepticism. The minister decided to interact with the NCC cadets virtually as he is still Covid-19 positive and following all protocols. He told the cadets that, being an NCC alumnus and a teacher himself, he ensures that he does not miss any event organised by NCC. --IANS jw/pgh ( 375 Words) 2022-01-22-22:52:02 (IANS) The local police said that the nephew of Lesi Singh, Ashish Singh alias Athiya, is allegedly involved in three murder cases, including that former district council president Viswajeet Singh alias Rintu Singh, which had hit the headlines for several days. Purnea SP Daya Shankar said that the accused have confessed to the crime. Athiya, a notorious gangster, was allegedly present at the time of the murder of Rintu Singh and Beni Singh, who were killed due to a political revelry. Also, Athiya was the main conspirator in the murder of Neeraj Jha. "Following the murder of Rintu Singh on November 14, 2021, Athiya escaped to Madhya Pradesh. After technical surveillance on many of his family members, relatives and known persons, the location of Athiya was detected. Subsequently, we arrested him," Daya Shankar said. Following his confession, the police arrested six more persons who are said to be the sharp shooters of Athiya. --IANS ajk/arm ( 190 Words) 2022-01-22-23:18:04 (IANS) Congress Chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said: "First, as Chairman of Banking Recruitment Board, Now, as Chairman of Unity Small Finance Bank! The reward for maligning the UPA is being paid back in full by Prime Minister Narendra Modi." As per reports, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed former comptroller and auditor general (CAG) Vinod Rai as the independent chairman of the Unity Small Finance Bank (USFB). Congress has accused Rai for maligning the UPA government and had sought an apology from him. Party leader Salman Khurshid had said in the past that Rai as the Chairman of the Banking Services Recruitment Board, and did not utter a single word on the "huge banking scam" that was taking place in the country after the Narendra Modi government took over in 2014. Rai as CAG had in his report held then Telecom Minister A. Raja responsible for causing the state exchequer a loss of Rs 1,76,379 crore by allocating 2G spectrum licences at throwaway prices. In 2017, a special CBI court had acquitted all the 18 accused, including A. Raja and K. Kanimozhi, in the 2G spectrum allocation case. --IANS miz/pgh ( 223 Words) 2022-01-23-00:14:04 (IANS) Six persons who took part in the Clubhouse conversation where obscene and derogatory remarks were made against Muslim women have been identified, the Delhi Police said, adding all six individuals have joined the ongoing investigation into the case. "All the six were made to join the investigation either at their place of stay or the office," Deputy Commissioner of Police (IFSO), KPS Malhotra told IANS. The Mumbai Police Cyber Cell has also arrested three men from Haryana in the same case after a complaint was lodged in Mumbai by a woman. On January 17, a video of a Clubhouse conversation on the topic 'Muslim girls are more beautiful than Hindu girls' went viral on social media. In the said conversation, the participants were allegedly heard making obscene, vulgar and derogatory remarks targeting Muslim women and girls. Taking suo-motu cognisance over the issue on January 18, Delhi Commission for Women issued a notice to the Delhi Police Cyber Cell demanding immediate registration of an FIR and punitive action against the alleged persons. An FIR was then registered under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc. and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 354A (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code at the Special Cell police station. Sharing further details about all six suspected people, DCP Malhotra informed that of the six people that are being questioned, two are women and one is a minor boy. The first user was identified as Anchal Anand (username- koko0107), a resident of Kerala. She has admitted to using the name Anchal on Club House. She had participated in a conversation with one Roma. During the chatroom discussion, other members had passed derogatory and vulgar comments regarding women, but Anchal Anand had only passed general remarks. Her mobile phone and notepad have been seized. The second user was identified as Naumaan Jabber (user name - versace_on_me), a resident of Jodhpur in Rajasthan. He had created an account on the clubhouse in July 2021 in the name of @mr_casanova. He has been using this account continuously since then and created another account on the clubhouse around two months ago in the name of @vercase_on_me (name Toosexytoohandle) as a backup account. On January 6, at the request of one of his clubhouse friends Akash Suyal, Jabber shared his second account with him. Akash was having his account on the Clubhouse in the name of 'ryuga'. Later Akash changed the name of this account as '2ez4Akash xd' and again changed it to 'Kira xd'. On January 18, after this incident, Akash informed Naumaan regarding police action and the use of the clubhouse account. Meanwhile, the mobile phone of Nauman has been seized for forensic examination. The third user was identified as Harsh Pal, a resident of Dehradun in Uttarakhand. He created Clubhouse account ?? hrsh' in June 2021 and the same was deactivated on January 19, after the said incident on January 18. He said that he participated in the alleged Clubhouse Room for about 10 minutes but did not speak anything. His first name ??' was reflected in the alleged room and he was just a listener. Harsh Pal further informed that 'Harsh', whose name is mentioned or heard in the conversation (video) was another Harsh. The police have seized his mobile phone and one laptop for forensic examination. IANS earlier reported about the fourth user identified as Rahul Kapoor, a resident of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. During interrogation, he revealed that on directions from one Sallos, he had created the audio chat room in Clubhouse and handed over the moderator key to Sallos. Sallos joined other members and started talking dirty then he left the group. Rahul disclosed the real name of Kira x as Akash. The fifth user was a minor who is studying in class 12. During interrogation before his parents, the 17-year-old boy admitted being the moderator of the group. He had initially created the clubhouse account by the name of Sellos and later changed the account name to Alcoholic Singh. His mobile phone has been seized for forensic examination, the Police said. The sixth user was also a female identified as Roma Makkar, a resident of Nizammudin. The Police said that she had joined the investigation and had admitted to her voice. The DCP further informed that no one among the six identified has been arrested in the present case. "Before proceeding with any arrest, the authenticity of the video recording is to be ascertained. We have to rule out any voice modulation in the video, as the same may affect the trial of the case," Malhotra said. According to the official, the only evidence in the present case is the first source, who had video recorded the audio conversation. "That is the only evidence of the vulgar remarks, as the app does not record the audio conversations in the chat rooms," he added. Before making any arrest in the case and proceeding further, the DCP said that the authenticity of the video and the voice matching of the alleged persons is to be ascertained. (Ujwal Jalali can be reached at ujwal.j@ians.in) --IANS uj/khz/ ( 909 Words) 2022-01-23-02:20:02 (IANS) Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister wrote, "I pay homage to Balasaheb Thackeray on his Jayanti. He will be remembered forever as an outstanding leader who always stood with the people." Balasaheb Thackeray was born on January 23, 1926 in Pune. Balasaheb left his job as a cartoonist in the daily newspaper 'Free Press Journal' in 1960 to found the Shiv Sena on June 19, 1966 to advocate for the interest of Marathis or the people of Maharashtra. He passed away on November 17, 2012 after suffering a cardiac arrest at the age of 86. (ANI) Taking to Twitter Shah said, "I bow to the great leader of independence Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. He shook the foundation of foreign rule by organizing the youth with his extraordinary patriotism, indomitable courage and stunning speech." "His unparalleled sacrifice, tenacity and struggle for the motherland will always guide the country," Shah tweeted in Hindi. The Union Minister further in his tweet said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done innovative work of celebrating Netaji's incomparable contribution to India's independence as 'Parakram Diwas' across the country to keep his birth anniversary memorable." "This will serve to irrigate Netaji's dynamic thoughts and ideas in the generations to come," he tweeted. The government last year declared that his birth anniversary will be celebrated as 'Parakram Diwas' every year. The government, this year, has said that Republic Day celebrations will begin a day early, from January 23 to include Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary. Born to advocate Janakinath Bose in Odisha's Cuttack on January 23, 1897, Netaji went on to play a key role in the freedom movement. He is also known for establishing the Azad Hind Fauj. (ANI) All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a complete ban on the movie "Why I Killed Gandhi" as the film glorifies Nathuram Godse the traitor and killer of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. "All Indian Cine Workers Association demands a complete ban on the movie Why I Killed Gandhi which is to be released on OTT Platform in India on January 30, 2022, as this movie glorifies Nathuram Godse the traitor and killer of the father of nation Mahatma Gandhiji. Gandhiji is someone who is admired by entire INDIA and the world, Gandhiji's Ideology is a symbol of Love and Sacrifice for each and every Indian," the letter reads. The association further said that if this movie releases the entire nation will be shocked and devastated by the display of the heinous crime. "Nathuram Godse is (the Traitor and Assassin of Gandhiji) doesn't deserve an inch of respect by anyone in this country, the actor who played the role of Nathuram Godse (the traitor and the killer of Gandhiji) is a sitting MP in Lok Sabha and is under the oath of Indian Constitution, if this movie releases the entire nation will be shocked and devastated by the display of the heinous crime which occurred on January 30, 1948," it said. It further said that India has never forgotten and will never forget the contribution of Mahatma Gandhiji towards this democratic nation. "On behalf of the entire nation and all the movie associations, we are demanding that 'Why I Killed Gandhi' has to be Banned from the release on the OTT platform," the association added. 'Why I killed Gandhi' which is set to release on Limelight OTT on January 30 - Gandhi's death anniversary. Amol Kolhe was previously in Shiv Sena and a leading Marathi actor since 2008 and has acted in many period movies and played many roles of historic figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Kolhe joined Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 2019 and defeated Sena's Shivajirao Adhalarao Patil in the Shirur Lok Sabha election. (ANI) Speaking to media persons, Bommai said, "Netaji's statue already exists in Vidhanasoudha (premises), will be shifted in front of Vidhanasoudha building; a decision to be taken soon." Bommai has earlier said that the 125th birth anniversary of legendary freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose will be celebrated at Jakkur Flying School, Bengaluru, adding that about 100 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets and commanders will participate in it. Notably, the central government last year declared that his birth anniversary will be celebrated as 'Parakram Diwas' every year. The government announced that Netaji's birth anniversary that falls on January 23 would mark the start of Republic Day celebrations instead of a day later. Born to advocate Janakinath Bose in Odisha's Cuttack on January 23, 1897, Netaji went on to play a key role in the freedom movement. He is also known for establishing the Azad Hind Fauj. (ANI) Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Sunday said that the party will not allow the release of the movie 'Why I killed Gandhi' in Maharashtra. "If you portray Gandhiji's murderer as a hero, it is not acceptable. Our country is known through Gandhi and his ideology. He is celebrated worldwide. Congress will oppose it. We will request Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray not to allow this movie's release in Maharashtra," said the Congress leader. Earlier today, the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a complete ban on the movie "Why I Killed Gandhi" as the film glorifies Nathuram Godse the traitor and killer of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. "All Indian Cine Workers Association demands a complete ban on the movie Why I Killed Gandhi which is to be released on OTT Platform in India on January 30, 2022, as this movie glorifies Nathuram Godse the traitor and killer of the father of nation Mahatma Gandhiji. Gandhiji is someone who is admired by entire INDIA and the world, Gandhiji's Ideology is a symbol of Love and Sacrifice for each and every Indian," the letter reads. The association further said that if this movie releases the entire nation will be shocked and devastated by the display of the heinous crime. "Nathuram Godse is (the Traitor and Assassin of Gandhiji) doesn't deserve an inch of respect by anyone in this country, the actor who played the role of Nathuram Godse (the traitor and the killer of Gandhiji) is a sitting MP in Lok Sabha and is under the oath of Indian Constitution, if this movie releases the entire nation will be shocked and devastated by the display of the heinous crime which occurred on January 30, 1948," it said. 'Why I killed Gandhi' which is set to release on Limelight OTT on January 30 - Gandhi's death anniversary. Amol Kolhe was previously in Shiv Sena and a leading Marathi actor since 2008 and has acted in many period movies and played many roles of historic figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Kolhe joined Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 2019 and defeated Sena's Shivajirao Adhalarao Patil in the Shirur Lok Sabha election. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday expressed confidence that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win over 60 seats in the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. Speaking to ANI, Dhami said, "We are fully prepared and we are winning this time. Uttarakhand people are with BJP. We have done development works in the state under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. This time we have given the slogan 'Abki Baar 60 Paar' (this time, more than 60) and we will achieve that. We do not have any competition with others." Dhami further said that the party had released the first list of candidates on January 20 itself and the rest of the list will be released in the coming two-three days. He added BJP is following all the guidelines issued by the Election Commission and is campaigning digitally. Earlier on Saturday, the Election Commission of India extended the ban on physical rallies and roadshows till January 31 amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. Speaking on Uttarakhand's former chief minister Harish Rawat's name missing from the Congress' list of candidates for the upcoming polls in the state, Dhami said, "It is possible that Harish Rawat did not get his name entered himself, he might not be wanting to participate in elections." Meanwhile, polls to elect the 70-member Uttarakhand legislative assembly are scheduled to be held on February 14. The counting will take place on March 10. (ANI) Why is Anne Arundel officer back on duty? I just read the article that Anne Arundel County Police Department Cpl. Andrew Salenieks has returned to duty after his suspension (with pay) since last May. An intoxicated Salenieks apparently gave quite an Oscar-winning performance in Howard County that resulted in four criminal charges against him. Advertisement The arresting officer in Howard County wrote in his victim impact statement that His (Salenieks) behavior proved that there are flaws within the criminal justice system and officers who do not deserve to wear a badge are still among us " If the Howard County police feel Salenieks is not worthy to wear a badge, why does Annapolis feel he is? Advertisement Just wondering. Lois Ross, Annapolis Mayors inauguration event funding in unsettling The Capital Gazette story detailing the costs of Mayor Gavin Buckleys inauguration parade, swearing in and black tie ball revealed that significant amounts of money were paid by companies and individuals that have prior and current business relationships with the city to cover most of those expenses. In addition, the story revealed that a contribution went to repaint the mural on the West Street restaurant facade owned by the mayor. Although the transactions may fall within the parameters of the law, the relationships appear unseemly and conger the pay for play scandals committed by government officials and entities in other cities and states. At a time when many Annapolitans continue to struggle with COVID-19 and the isolation and financial challenges thereof, the self-serving daylong events appear out of touch. Buckley and his staff should know better. Robert Scanlon, Annapolis Why did Visit Annapolis contribute to mayors gala? I was surprised to read in the Capital Gazette that Mayor Gavin Buckleys recent inauguration cost $81,629.88, up from $40,000 for his first one. It was a party to remember. It had a 10-piece jazz orchestra, great food consisting of crab dip, shrimp cocktail, a prime rib station and an open bar. They also used the money raised to pay artist Jeff Huntington $1,000 to touch up the mural on Buckleys restaurant. Advertisement It was surprising to learn that a $5,000 check came from the quasi-government Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. This organizations job is to promote tourism. The government collects hotel taxes and gives them the money with the sole purpose of promoting tourism. They generate revenues for the local economy by promoting Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay across the country and around the world. The strategy combines multichannel advertising, TV, radio, social media, inbound marketing campaigns and direct sales initiatives. It now also involves giving $5,000 to the mayors swanky private party which most people cant afford to attend. How does this help promote tourism in Anne Arundel County? Many businesses have been hurt by the pandemic, none more than hotels and tourism businesses. People still ate at restaurants and shopped at stores. But how many people traveled the first two years of the pandemic? There have been countless jobs lost. Could they not have used this money better. The organization has been plagued with scandals and mismanagement. The mayor is a voting member of the board. Are they legally allowed to do this? Will anyone investigate this? Their job is to promote tourism in the city, not to take taxes given to them by the government to help host a 1% party and pay $1,000 to touch up a mural at the mayors restaurant. Mike Pantelides, Annapolis Pantelides served as mayor of Annapolis from 2013 to 2017. Everyone can help fight COVID Health care workers have been operating under extreme pressure for too long. This latest COVID-19 surge has been the worst weve seen in the two years of this pandemic. Fortunately, data shows that the current surge of patients hospitalized with the virus is plateauing and hopefully will continue to trend downward. That good news is much needed relief to front-line workers, who are still recovering from previous surges. Advertisement Even as the number of infected patients goes down and COVID is not at the forefront of our minds, health care facilities and their hardworking team members will still be recovering. They still need help to ensure that we dont continue this cycle. Please wear masks, wash your hands, stay home if youre sick and use your local emergency department for true emergencies only. Order your free tests provided by the federal government through the Postal Service, and access free testing in your community provided by the state, such as the new operation on the campus of University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie. When you see a health care worker, please thank them. Your gratitude and kindness gives them the encouragement that they can make it through this, and that their tireless work is making a difference. Any gesture small or large, whether its a letter of thanks or a meal donation, all help them to keep going. Thank you for helping us get through the roughest patch in a long two years. Jeffrey S. Armiger, Severna Park Armiger is chairman of the board of directors of the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center. Advertisement Jan. 6 rioters were not patriots While recently observing the anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, I paused and reflected on many things associated with that day. For instance, I pondered how the word patriot gets carelessly tossed around and often misused. It happened a lot on Jan. 6, 2021 with some hailing rioters and insurrectionists as patriots. To clarify my concern, lets start with Websters primary definition of a patriot. It is a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors. In fact, throughout our countrys history, a patriot has often been considered an American hero. With all that in mind, it is very offensive to hear a politician or someone who should know better distort the truth and call those who violently attacked and invaded the Capitol true patriots. That false representation needs to be called out each and every time we hear it. Offering an expanded definition, the only people deserving the title of patriot are the following: U.S. Capitol and Washington, D.C. police officers who fought valiantly to defend and save the Capitol; ICU doctors and nurses who are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19; first responders and health care professionals and caregivers who perform their jobs while facing adversity; election officials who ensure a free and fair election while facing death threats for simply doing their jobs; teachers who persevere in and out of the classroom to keep our students educated; and of course, members of the military serving in harms way. There certainly is room for others who truly deserve to join these ranks. But I ask all readers to consider this. Lets not allow patriotism to become defined by anger, denial, distortions and outright lies. Most of us know the meaning of a true patriot its someone who demonstrates real courage when faced with dire circumstances. Jim Scott, Arnold Advertisement Political landscape must change I agree with a statement in a recent Washington Post editorial: Mr. Bidens first year was not as bleak as many reports have portrayed. But he could have accomplished more. It wont matter what Biden does unless the Trump Republican Party is willing to put the country first over their quest to be the majority party in the House and Senate. In my opinion there needs to be reasonable term limits for our elected officials and judges. Regarding the media, we need more reporters and journalists and fewer political commentators. I used to respect and trust the majority of our leaders and our media but unfortunately no more. One more comment. Neither Biden nor Trump should be their partys nominee for president in 2024. Were you aware that Biden would be 82 and Trump would be 78 in 2024? They are both too old! (I am a senior citizen, too.) Edith Segree, Arnold Stoking fears about COVID Janet Holbrooks attack on Herb McMillan, Republican candidate for Anne Arundel County executive, was interesting to say the least, and difficult to believe at best. Holbrook accused McMillan of fear mongering. Thats interesting because McMillans commentary actually provided facts and context to calm fears. Her attack is difficult to believe, because it is Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and health officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, who she recommends us listening to, who have been stoking fear for the past two years. Pittman raised the possibility of school closures in order to justify his mask mandate. He repeated this in a Jan. 10 commentary piece just before Holbrook wrote her letter, claiming, masks keep kids in school. That statement was designed, and continues to be used, to create the fear that schools might close if citizens dont readily accept wearing masks. However, the notion that masks keep schools open, has little merit. There is a world outside of Anne Arundel County, that provides information that should be considered. In Florida, children have been going to school without masks, with no ill effects, for over a year. Children in Europe have too. Its interesting to consider why people like Holbrook, Pittman or Kalyanaraman arent interested in this information. Advertisement Its a bit childish, not very nice, and unprofessional of Holbrook to dismiss the scientific data McMillan presents as, lies damned lies, and statistics. Ironically, last year one of the experts Holbrook wants us to listen to, Kalyanaraman, had a restaurant lockdown blocked, because Judge Bill Mulford found his data to be, arbitrary and capricious, with no basis in fact. Holbrook has it backward. Using scientific data and common sense, McMillan stands for workers, small businesses and our kids (keeping schools open). He has led the fight against Pittmans fear mongering, lockdowns and excessive mandates. McMillan has earned our trust; Holbrook and experts like Kalyanaraman lost it a year ago. Dorothy Scott, Davidsonville McMillans blatant political agenda Herb McMillan is at it again in his commentary piece Anne Arundel County executive, health officer have betrayed our trust with COVID mask order. The last paragraph says it all, Ill honor the same oath as your county executive. This supposed op-ed piece is like a free paid political announcement. I wish the paper never published it. It degrades the concept of citizen participation in a free press due to the blatant political campaign agenda of the writer. Don Tartasky, Annapolis "Justice Manjunath was a very good lawyer. His services as the President of Advocates Association, High Court judge, chairman of the Karnataka River Waters and Border Disputes Authority, Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Backward Classes Commission is commendable," said Bommai in his condolence message. "I pray to the almighty to bestow eternal peace on the departed soul and give the strength to his family members and well wishers to bear this grief," he added. (ANI) The Andhra Pradesh government's ban on 'Chintamani' a Telugu stage play that has been around since 1920, has raised the hackles of the art and culture fraternity in the state. The play scripted by pre-independence era social crusader Kallakuri Narayana Rao that deals with the evils of prostitution, had celebrated its hundredth anniversary only last year. In normal times, the play is staged regularly all year round at village and temple fairs, and other social events, across Andhra Pradesh. While the play revolves around the central character of Chintamani, a prostitute who attains salvation through repentance, it is the character of Subbi Setti, a Bania or merchant community member who descends to abject poverty, is at the centre of the current controversy. The state government's move to ban 'Chintamani' had come following representations from the Arya Vysya community in Andhra Pradesh. The Telugu merchant community, known as 'Banias' in north India, has long been up in arms against the play in which the character of Subbi Setty is portrayed in extremely poor light. The ban order was issued on January 17, following the latest attempt by the Arya Vysya community, in the form of a memorandum submitted to the state government about four months ago. According to observers, the fact that Endowments Department Minister Vellampalli Srinivas, who also belongs to the community, helped matters move at a fast pace. Predictably, the Arya Vysya community is rejoicing over the ban on the play. Community representatives have been expressing their gratitude to the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. "The depiction of 'Subbi Setti' in the play, is very objectionable and humiliating. Showing him as ugly, and using charcoal as makeup to darken his complexion, and making him the butt of lewd jokes. It was intolerable to the Arya Vysyas" said Ambica Krishna, a leading member of the community, former legislator, and former chairman of the AP Film Development Corporation. The actual problem however does not lie with the playwright or the original script of 'Chintamani'. "The play was written by Kallakuri Narayana Rao garu to highlight the evils of wrong company, in this case, a prostitute. The language used by the author in the original play has nothing objectionable. But over the years, local drama troupes began to modify the situations and language of the play, in a bid to appeal to mass sentiments. It is the fault of these actors and local drama troupes who keep manipulating the script and go overboard penning ribald dialogues as per their whims and fancies to attract more people." said Golla Narayana, President of the Andhra Arts Academy, cultural organisation that was set up to spread the fervour of independence in British India. The last few days have seen several art and culture organisations join hands to voice their protest against the ban on 'Chintamani'. Their argument is that the play is a reflection of the social mores of the prevailing times when it was originally written. The government's decision to ban the play is being seen as too extreme a step. "If any part of the play is objectionable, or someone is making changes to it, you can warn such people. But a blanket ban is untenable, especially since the play gives us insights into the social ills of its time" says S Anil Kumar, Secretary, Praja Natya Mandali, Andhra Pradesh unit. He points out that in 2002, when the community had sought a ban on the play, the High Court had ruled in favour of the play after going through the original script However, the Arya Vysya community is firm that a blanket ban on staging the play, is the only solution. "It is impossible to monitor the plays which are staged in villages, and even in bylanes of towns and cities. We never know when and where a play is being staged. It will need to be videographed and then followed up, which is impractical to implement. A ban is the ideal solution," says Ambica Krishna. Meanwhile, concerns are being raised over the possible precedents that the ban sets for muzzling all kinds of creative expression in the days to come. "Today the ban is because a community is finding it objectionable. Tomorrow another community might object to another play or it could be that a political party finds fault with a stage play. This decision to ban a play, leaves the door open for future trouble." said G Narayana. Considering that the play survived several attempts to get it banned over the years, the urgency with which the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led state government has banned the play by issuing it through the general administration department is raising eyebrows. Observers opine that the ban may be the ruling party's ploy to garner favour of the community which though relatively small in numbers, has financial clout. While clarifying that the Arya Vysyas are well within their rights to protest against the caricaturing of their community, culture champions are finding fault with the state government for the arbitrarily disposing off a very important issue. --IANS pvn/ksk/ ( 858 Words) 2022-01-23-08:04:03 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday paid floral tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary in Lucknow. Addressing on the occasion, the Chief Minister said, "Netaji could have taken care of his family by staying in India or Britain and have earned money but he never accepted that life, he never accepted the British rule and he left his civil service job because for him nothing was more important than the independence of India," said CM Yogi. He further said that the slogan given by Netaji became the mantra of the country's independence. "For the independence of India, he gave up his job, he became a part of the ongoing struggle for independence, for the independence of India he also left the Congress office and after that, by staying outside India and forming the Azad Hind Fauj, he gave a new slogan to the youth of the country and it was "Tum Mujhe Khoon Do Main Tumhe Azadi Dunga" and it became the mantra of the country's independence," he added. Earlier in the day, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister remembered the late freedom fighter as "the great hero of the Indian freedom struggle" who gave the "immortal freedom mantra" 'You give me blood, I will give you freedom'. "The great hero of the Indian freedom struggle, the leader of 'Azad Hind Fauj', the inventor of the immortal freedom mantra 'You give me blood, I will give you freedom'. Tribute to 'Netaji' Subhash Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary 'Parakram Diwas'," he tweeted in Hindi. Born on January 23, 1897, Netaji played a crucial role in India's freedom movement. Subhas Chandra Bose had also established the Azad Hind Fauj. Meanwhile, in the first, India will begin Republic Day celebrations from January 23 instead of January 24, to include Netaji's birth anniversary. To commence the celebrations of Republic Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil the hologram statue of the freedom fighter at India Gate in Delhi on Sunday at around 6 pm. The Prime Minister has said that till the time the work for the "grand statue" of Netaji, made of granite, is completed, a hologram statue would be installed at the same place. The hologram statue will be powered by a 30,000 lumens 4K projector. An invisible, high gain, 90 per cent transparent holographic screen has been erected in such a way so that it is not visible to visitors. The 3D image of Netaji will be projected on it to create the effect of a hologram. The size of the hologram statue is 28 feet in height and 6 feet in width, according to a statement issued by Prime Minister's Office. (ANI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that sources have apprised that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will arrest Health Minister Satyender Kumar Jain in the coming days. Speaking at a press conference, the chief minister said the Centre conducted raids twice on the health minister but nothing has been found against him. They are welcome this time too. "Our sources have apprised us that in the coming days, ED will arrest Satyendar Jain. Raids by the Centre have been done twice against him but in vain. They are welcome this time too," Kejriwal said. The chief minister hit out the Central government and said "they can send all agencies against Satyendra Jain, Manish Sisodia and Bhagwant Mann. We are not afraid." The Aam Aadmi Party chief further noted, "With elections nearing, Central agencies are also becoming active. BJP can send all agencies. Not only, Satyendra Jain but they can also send them to me, Manish Sisodia, Bhagwant Mann. We will welcome them with a smile." "We will not cry like Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on ED raids. He is frustrated because he had done wrong... We have not done anything wrong so we are not afraid," he added. (ANI) Hours after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that sources have apprised that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will arrest Health Minister Satyendar Jain in the coming days, Jain on Sunday took a veiled jibe at the Centre and said that it is "politics" being done ahead of assembly polls, adding that the Aam Aadmi Party will not step back from contesting the polls due to this. The Delhi Health Minister said, "They are welcome to come whenever they want. Even before this, they have raided me twice but all went into vain." "This is all politics and last time they did it during the Punjab elections also. ED, CBI all are welcome. I am ready, if they want to arrest me, they can arrest me," he said. Meanwhile, Jain who is in Punjab for state election said "we will not take back steps because of all these. We are all way ready to fight the election." This comes soon after the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that sources have apprised that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will arrest Health Minister Satyender Kumar Jain in the coming days. Speaking at a press conference, the chief minister said the Centre conducted raids twice on the health minister but nothing has been found against him. They are welcome this time too. "Our sources have apprised us that in the coming days, ED will arrest Satyendar Jain. Raids by the Centre have been done twice against him but in vain. They are welcome this time too," Kejriwal said. The Aam Aadmi Party chief further noted, "With elections nearing, Central agencies are also becoming active. BJP can send all agencies. Not only, Satyendra Jain but they can also send them to me, Manish Sisodia, Bhagwant Mann. We will welcome them with a smile." Punjab will go to the polls on February 20. AAP had finished second in the last assembly elections in the state. (ANI) Complying with the Supreme Court's order, Supertech signed an agreement with Edifice Engineering for the execution of demolition of twin tower and made an advance payment to the firm for mobilisation of men, materials and machines. Also, the copy of the said demolition agreement duly signed by Supertech and Edifice Engineering has been submitted to the Authority. According to Supertech spokesperson, for safe demolition of twin tower, the company has submitted requests for issuing of required NOC/Directions/Guidelines with intimation to the Noida authority to various departments such as 1. The District Magistrate Gautam Budhh Nagar 2. City Magistrate, Noida, Gautam Buddh Nagar 3. The Commissioner of Police, Gautam Buddh Nagar 4. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Zone, Gautam Buddh Nagar 5. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Gautam Buddh Nagar 6. The Chief Fire Officer, Gautam Buddh Nagar 7. The Regional Officer, UP Pollution Control Board, Gautam Buddh Nagar 8. The General Manager, Gas Authority of India Limited, 14th floor, Jubilee Tower, B- 35 and 36, Sector 1, Noida 9. The Managing Director, UP Power Corporation Limited, Shakti Bhawan, 14 Ashok Marg, Lucknow 10. The Joint Chief Controller of Explosive, Central Circle Office, A Wing, 2nd floor Office, 63/4, Sanjay Place, Agra. The Supreme Court on Monday directed real estate developer Supertech Ltd to execute a contract within a week with a company to demolish its twin 40-storey towers in its Emerald Court project in Noida. A Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant was told by the Noida authority that Edifice Engineering has been chosen to carry out the demolition of twin towers in consultation with the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) Roorkee. "The contract (with a demolishing agency) shall be executed no later within a period of one week from today," the Bench told counsel appearing for Supertech. Senior advocate Parag Tripathi, appearing on behalf of Supertech Ltd told the Bench that there are no objections to the agency, which has been finalised. The apex court noted that the developer would be applying for all necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) within a period of one week. Notably, ED had initiated the process of money laundering investigation against Supertech and its chairman R K Arora in a case related to the alleged illegal construction of twin towers in Noida in collusion with corrupt Noida authority officials. Earlier in October, the Supreme Court ordered to demolish two of its 40-storey towers at its Emerald Court housing project in Noida. (ANI) Singh also expressed confidence in his party's alliance with BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) to win the elections. Taking to Twitter, Media Advisor of Singh Raveen Thukral said, "No question of post-poll alliance with Indian National Congress or Aam Aadmi Party. Punjab Lok Congress will win in alliance with BJP and SAD (Sanyukt). Hope Election Commission of India relaxes curbs soon so I can visit all 117 constituencies to talk to people and take our message to them.": Capt Amarinder." The former Chief Minister also informed that he will be contesting the elections from Patiala Urban. "Will contest from Patiala, won't leave my family's home of 300 years. Will seek votes on my own government's achievements and Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's accomplishments at Centre: Capt Amarinder," Thukral tweeted. The PLC currently has 37 of the 117 seats in Punjab as a part of its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and SAD (Sanyukt). Discussions on the possibility of another five seats for the party are in progress. Punjab will go to the polls on February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) The statement of AAP leader came after Channi challenged him to contest from Chamkaur Sahib. "I am getting a lot of love. Every time I have come to Dhuri, I have always received love. Whenever I come here, the people of Dhuri always break their own record of love they had given to me so far," Mann told the mediapersons in Dhuri. "Yesterday Charanjit Singh Channi challenged me to fight from Chamkaur Sahib. That's a reserved seat, so I can't fight from there. That's why I said that if you have so much passion to fight against me, then you come to Dhuri," he added. On being asked about fear of arrest of Delhi minister Satyendra Jain, he said, "Even before this, there was Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation raid at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's house. Nothing was found." Earlier today Mann visited Dhuri to conduct door to door campaigning for upcoming elections in Punjab. The polls to elect 117 members of the Legislative Assembly in Punjab will be held on February 20. The counting of votes will be done on March 10. (ANI) During a one-day visit to the state capital, Baghel will launch campaign theme, campaign song and social media WhatsApp programme for Uttarakhand Congress followed by a press conference, sources said. Earlier, with less than a month left for the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister who is also Congress' observer in UP launched Congress' door-to-door campaign in Noida and expressed confidence in the party's victory. The Congress on Saturday released its first list of 53 candidates for the Uttarakhand assembly elections. Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal will contest from the Srinagar seat and Leader of Opposition in the outgoing assembly Pritam Singh from the Chakrata (ST) constituency. Elections will be held for 70 assembly seats in Uttarakhand on February 14 and the results will be declared on March 10. (ANI) Ahead of the Budget session of Parliament, a total of 875 staff members have tested COVID-19 positive in the House so far, said official sources on Sunday. As per official sources, as many as 2,847 COVID-19 tests were conducted till January 20, out of which, 875 parliamentary staff members had tested positive. Of these, a total of 915 tests were done by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, out of which 271 cases found positive against coronavirus infection. On Sunday afternoon, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also tested positive for COVID-19 in Hyderabad and said that he has isolated himself. Taking to Twitter, the Vice President of India said, "The Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu, who is in Hyderabad, tested COVID positive today. He has decided to remain in self-isolation for a week. He has advised all those who came in contact with him to isolate themselves and get tested." The Rajya Sabha chairman also tested positive against coronavirus disease during the second wave in the mid of 2021. The Vice President has given clear instructions to conduct as many tests as possible and to also ensure that all help is provided to the secretariat officials including any need of medical facilities and hospitalisation for the staff and family members. Further, Rajya Sabha Secretariat has reimposed restrictions on the attendance of officials and staff to decrease the COVID-19 cases. As per the directions, 50 per cent of officials and staff below the rank of Under Secretary or Executive officer are required to work from home till the end of this month. They constitute about 65 per cent of the total employees. Those with disabilities and pregnant women are exempted from attending office. Starting and closing timings of the Secretariat are staggered to avoid crowding, according to the latest order. Notably, the monsoon session in 2020 was the first full session held under COVID-19 protocols with the Rajya sabha meeting in the first half of the day and Lok sabha during the second half. The same was followed for the first part of the Budget session during 2021. For the second part of the Budget session and monsoon and winter sessions last year, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha reverted to normal timings but members sitting in the chambers and galleries of respective Houses. Given the rising number of cases in India during the ongoing third surge of COVID-19 infection, the Budget session of Parliament slated to begin in a week is likely to happen with strict COVID protocols in place. Meanwhile, from January 4 to 8, around 65 of Rajya Sabha Secretariat, 200 of Lok Sabha Secretariat and 133 of allied services had tested COVID positive. The budget session of Parliament will be underway from January 31 and will conclude on April 8. (ANI) A memorial for 8-year-old Melissa Ortega grows Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022 at the corner of West 26th Street and South Pulaski Road where she was shot and killed Saturday in Little Village. Chicago police announced charges Wednesday against two suspects in her killing. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) An 8-year-old girl died Saturday after she was shot in the head in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago in the afternoon, police said. A 26-year-old man was also shot and is in critical condition at Mount Sinai Hospital, said Michelle Tannehill, a spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department. The girl was taken to Stroger Hospital where she was pronounced dead, police said in a media notification log. Advertisement Chicago police responded to the shooting in the 3900 block of West 26th Street at 2:45 p.m. Saturday, Tannehill said. The girl and an adult caring for her were walking on South Pulaski Road when they heard gunshots and ran into a bank, Tannehill said. They then noticed the girl had been struck in the head, she said. Advertisement The girl, and the adult, who was not injured, were not the intended targets, Tannehill said. The 26-year-old man was walking out of a store when someone shot him in the lower back, police said. At the scene, a pool of blood could be seen in front of Fifth Third Bank on the southeast corner of 26th Street and Pulaski Road. About 13 shell casings were found on South Komensky Avenue, and the back window of an SUV was shot out. Police have blocked off 26th Street from South Pulaski Road to South Karlov Avenue as of 4:30 p.m. Saturday. No one is in custody and police continue to investigate the shooting. scasanova@chicagotribune.com Four boys who went missing on Saturday night near the Slate Goadan area of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh are rescued on Sunday, informed local police. "Two of them have suffered minor injuries, however, all are safe. Rescue team is taking them to a hospital in Dharamshala," said Khushal Sharma, Superintendent of Police, Kangra. According to Sharma, four of them who went missing from Kangra belong to the 16-18 years of age group. The rescue team faced challenges in the search operation as there was continuous snowfall in the region. More details are awaited. (ANI) He added that the proposed amendments in Deputation Rules of All India Services will induce fear and hesitancy among IAS Officers in implementing policies of state governments of parties politically opposed to ruling party at Centre. "Proposed amendments in Deputation Rules of All India Services will induce fear & hesitancy among AIS Officers in implementing policies of State Govts. of parties politically opposed to ruling party at Centre. It'll weaken cooperative federalism; may be dropped. Wrote to Hon. PM," tweeted Vijayan. Earlier on Friday Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the Centre's proposed amendments to the Indian Administrative Service Cadre Rules and said the move will violate the constitutional jurisdiction prescribed for the Central and State Governments and will reduce the spirit of working fearlessly and faithfully in the All India Service officers posted in the state. The Centre has proposed an amendment to the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954, which would enable it to post IAS officers on central deputation, bypassing reservations of state governments. (ANI) The Statue of Netaji at India Gate is to honour his contribution to India's freedom struggle, Shah said at the event on Sunday. "This is not just a granite statue but a befitting tribute to the legendary Netaji, who gave up everything for India's freedom", he said. "Netaji's indomitable spirit still inspires youth. He took difficult routes from Calcutta to Berlin for India's freedom. Today, we are honouring Netaji for his contribution to India's Independence struggle", added the Home Minister. "I think after this India's youth would like to experience Netaji's 35,000 km journey from Calcutta to Berlin and later Japan; take inspiration from him", added Shah. "For many years there were people who wanted to remove the memory of freedom fighters who made sacrifices for the country. Today after the installation of the hologram statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, people are happy with the decision," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conferred the Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskars, for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 to honour disaster management workers. Prime Minister unveiled the hologram statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate here on Sunday to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter. (ANI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a public event marking the 125th birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose in Kolkata on Sunday said the state government is bringing back the Planning Commission conceptualised by the freedom fighter. "We are bringing Planning Commission in Bengal, even if it has been abolished by Delhi (Centre)," the Chief Minister said in Kolkata. She said that the Centre is building Subhas Chandra Bose's statue in Delhi at a time when it rejected West Bengal's tableau, depicting the role of Netaji in the Indian freedom struggle which highlights the indifferent attitude of the Centre towards the State. "Why so allergic to Bengal? You (Centre) rejected the Bengal tableau (for Republic Day)...You are making (Netaji) statue (in Delhi) because we pressurised you," she said. In a veiled attack at the Centre, the Trinamool Congress supremo said, "Some forces are trying to divide the country over religion, over Hindus and Muslims. I request them to read about Mahatma Gandhi ji, Swami Vivekananda ji and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose ji. None of these personalities ever talked about dividing the country." Born on January 23, 1897, Netaji played a crucial role in India's freedom movement.Subhash Chandra Bose had also established the Azad Hind Fauj. While there is a controversy over Bose's death in a plane crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, the Central government had in an RTI (Right to Information) in 2017 confirmed that he had died in the incident. Notably, last year, the Government had declared 23 January as Parakram Diwas to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. In a first, India will begin Republic Day celebrations from January 23 instead of January 24, to include the birth anniversary of Bose. It will end on January 30, the day Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. To commence the celebrations of Republic Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Netaji's 125th birth anniversary, is also unveiling the hologram statue of the freedom fighter at India Gate in Delhi on Sunday. On January 21, the Prime Minister said that a grand granite statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will be installed at India Gate soon. The Prime Minister has said that till the time the work for the "grand statue" of Netaji, made of granite, is completed, a hologram statue would be installed at the same place. India celebrates Republic Day on January 26 every year. (ANI) The grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will inspire democratic values and future generations as he refused to bow before the British, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while unveiling the hologram statue of Netaji at India Gate on Sunday. Addressing the event today, PM Modi said, "Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose refused to bow before the British. His statue will inspire democratic values and future generations." The Prime Minister also said that the grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who has established an independent government in India, is being installed in digital form near India Gate and soon this hologram statue will be replaced by a big granite statue. After unveiling the hologram statue, PM Modi also conferred the Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskars, for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The award is announced every year on January 23. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 51 lakh and a certificate in case of an institution and Rs 5 lakh and a certificate in case of an individual. Further, PM Modi stated that the disaster management was handled by the agricultural department earlier and international agencies hailed the initiatives in the disaster management sector. "Earlier disaster management was handled by the agricultural department. Our government strengthened NDRF. International agencies hailed our initiatives in the disaster management sector," the Prime Minister added. He said that the Central government has laid emphasis on reform as well as an emphasis on relief, rescue and rehabilitation. "We modernized NDRF, expanded it across the country. Space technology and other best possible practices have also been adopted for planning and management," PM Modi said. It has been the constant endeavour of the Prime Minister to honour the freedom fighters in a befitting manner and the special focus of these efforts has been on the legendary freedom fighter and visionary leader, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Several steps have been taken in this regard, including the announcement that his birth anniversary will be celebrated as Parakram Diwas every year. In this spirit, Republic Day celebrations will begin a day early, from January 23. (ANI) Soon after Defence Ministry's statement that the Chinese Army has communicated to them that they have found, Miram Taroun, the missing boy from Arunachal Pradesh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the government over the issue, demanding that the boy should be brought back to India. "Sarkar ho toh farz nibao (If you're the government then perform your duty), Brink back Miram Taroun," Gandhi tweeted in Hindi. The Defence Ministry PRO from Tezpur, Lt Col Harshvardhan Pandey on Sunday said, " The Chinese Army has communicated to us that they have found a missing boy from Arunachal Pradesh and the due procedure is being followed." Earlier, PRO had informed that the Indian Army has sought assistance from China's People Liberation Army (PLA) to locate and return a young boy who hails from Arunachal Pradesh and has been reportedly captured by the Chinese army. "17-year-old youth Miram Tarom of Zido, Arunachal Pradesh was reportedly captured by Chinese PLA across the Line of Actual Control. Indian Army immediately contacted PLA through a hotline, assistance from PLA has been sought to locate and return him as per protocol," PRO tweeted on Thursday. This came after, Arunachal East MP Tapir Gao on January 19 claimed that a 17-year-old youth has been abducted from inside Indian territory. Gao claimed that the youth was 'abducted' from Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Siang district. Gao further claimed that China's PLA has abducted the youth from where the Tsangpo River enters India in Arunachal Pradesh. He tweeted, "Chinese PLA has abducted Sh Miram Taron, 17 years of Zido vill. yesterday 18th Jan 2022 from inside Indian territory, Lungta Jor area (China-built 3-4 km road inside India in 2018) under Siyungla area (Bushing village) of Upper Siang dist., Arunachal Pradesh." In his tweet, Gao had tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Indian Army. (ANI) Presently, there are as many as 3,57,796 active cases in the state, while the COVID positivity rate stands at 22.77 per cent. In Karnataka, 22,842 recoveries from the virus and 19 Covid deaths have also been reported in the last 24 hours. Sudhakar further informed that 165 new cases of Omicron have been confirmed in Bengaluru today, taking the overall tally in the state to 931. (ANI) Former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Mohammad Mustafa, who is also the principal strategic adviser to Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday said that his statement in Malerkotla, which allegedly disturbed communal peace, is being misinterpreted and the word he used, Fitno, means rowdy. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Mohammad Mustafa said, "I was not doing any jalsa there, no one was giving a speech. It's an outburst. There is no case of Hindus, Muslims here; the area is Muslim dominated and both the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP have fielded Muslim candidates here. The word 'fitno' in my statement is being misinterpreted. No one verified it. Fitno means rowdy.'' Notably, both BJP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have accused Mustafa of disturbing social harmony. Responding to the allegations, Mustafa said, "We have devoted our entire lives for social harmony. Even in sleep, I cannot say that don't give space to Hindus." Explaining the incident, Mustafa said, "I was crossing the road when a group of boys tried to humiliate me. Beyond that place, a few more boys were singing. I went there and grabbed the mic and said that if such an act happened again, I wouldn't let these Fitno do jalsa here. It was completely an outburst.'' During the alleged speech, Mustafa had also said that he is a "qaumi sepoy" and not an "agent of the RSS". BJP leader Shajila Ilmi had questioned the statement. Mustafa asked what can he do if the party does not know what it means as it definitely doesn't mean religion. "We have been talking about Qaumi Tarana, Qaumi Zubaan. BJP people don't know what it means, so what can I do? It can't be called religious in any way. I've been wearing a uniform all my life, but sometimes we also make statements like a common man." Mustafa further said that if someone misbehaves with his family, he will not say that his hands are tied by the law. "There too, I reminded the district administration of their responsibility as to why such an act had taken place. I'd like to ask the administration why did they allow it even when a programme of Congress was already underway. You can say that in terms of law and order, I have crossed the boundary.'' Reacting to the FIR booked against him for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, Mustafa said that the law shall do its work. "FIR doesn't mean I'm guilty. If any man comes with a complaint, the police have to register an FIR. I will also seek the help of the law if needed," he said. An FIR has been lodged against the former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Mohammad Mustafa, who is also the principal strategic adviser to Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday allegedly for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion. The FIR has been registered in Malerkotla city police station, under section 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 125 (promoting enmity between classes in connection with election) of the Representation of People Act. A purported video of Mustafa, where he can be allegedly heard threatening of 'creating a situation that cannot be controlled if a particular community was allowed to hold their events near his events,' was shared by Chiranshu Rattan, spokesperson of BJP Punjab Youth Wing and is doing rounds on social media. (ANI) It's just been a few days since OnePlus launched its OnePlus 10 series, comprising two new smartphones, the OnePlus 10 and the OnePlus 10 Pro in China. And now a new report suggests that the company is working on a Lite version of the same. The OnePlus 10 series is yet to officially arrive in India and the more affordable OnePlus 9RT launched last week. A successor to the OnePlus 9R and 9RT might also be landing in the form of the OnePlus 10R, and as per a new rumour, it could pack a surprising punch in performance. As per GSM Arena, this new smartphone is expected to ship with MediaTek 9000 chipset. After a long time of sticking with only Qualcomm chipsets, OnePlus first went the MediaTek route with the Nord 2, and now that the Taiwanese chipmaker has a proper flagship SoC, it's ready to induct that into the flagship series, even if the 10R will be confined to some regions only. According to this rumour, the reason for OnePlus not going with the Dimensity 9000 in the 10 or 10 Pro has to do with North America's love of mmWave 5G and the MediaTek chip's lack of support for that. The OnePlus 10R is headed to China and India with a 120 Hz AMOLED display, and at least 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The OnePlus 10R could hit markets towards the end of Q2 2022. The delay has to do with the company wanting to give the 9RT some room to breathe. This phone was initially planned to launch in India in October, but issues with OxygenOS 12 caused the device to launch on January 14. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi after unveiling the hologram statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate on Sunday evening, said that the government has a target to build a new India before the 100th year of independence. "Netaji used to say 'Never lose faith in the dream of independent India. There is no power in the world that can shake India'," PM Modi said while addressing the event today. The Prime Minister said, "Today we have a goal to fulfil the dreams of an independent India. We have a target to build a new India before the 100th year of independence, 2047." Paying tribute to security personnel who lost their lives while serving the nation, PM Modi stated, "It was my good fortune that our government got the opportunity to declassify files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Today, I pay tribute to all NDRF and SDRF personnel who lost their lives while serving the nation." The Prime Minister also advised people to move ahead in their lives by taking inspiration from the 'Can Do, Will Do' spirit of Netaji as he refused to bow before the British. "Nothing could stop Netaji if he intended to do something. We also need to move further in our lives by taking inspiration from his 'Can Do, Will Do' spirit," he said. PM Modi shared his experience of a visit to the ancestral home of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Kolkata. "It was an honour for me to visit Netaji's ancestral home last year on his birth anniversary in Kolkata. I cannot explain in words the feeling to see his car in which he left Kolkata, his room where he used to study, etc," the Prime Minister added. The freedom struggle involved the sacrifices of many countrymen, but efforts were made not to mention the contribution of all of them in history, he said. "But today, the country is correcting those mistakes after decades of Independence," the Prime Minister said. He said that Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav aims at reviving India's identity and inspirations. "It was unfortunate that efforts were made to erase the contribution of many great personalities in India after independence," PM Modi stated. Speaking about disaster management in India, the Prime Minister said that for the first time, India has started the tradition of Joint Drill for Disaster Management. He said that the disaster management was handled by the agricultural department earlier and international agencies hailed the initiatives in the disaster management sector. "Earlier disaster management was handled by the agricultural department. Our government strengthened NDRF. International agencies hailed our initiatives in the disaster management sector," the Prime Minister added. He said that the Central government has laid emphasis on reform as well as an emphasis on relief, rescue and rehabilitation. "We modernized NDRF, expanded it across the country. Space technology and other best possible practices have also been adopted for planning and management," PM Modi said. PM Modi unveiled the hologram statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate today on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary. He said that the grand statue of Netaji will inspire democratic values and future generations. The Prime Minister also said that the grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is being installed in digital form near India Gate and soon this hologram statue will be replaced by a big granite statue. After unveiling the hologram statue, PM Modi also conferred the Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskars, for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The award is announced every year on January 23. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 51 lakh and a certificate in case of an institution and Rs 5 lakh and a certificate in case of an individual. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister who was also present on the occasion said that PM Modi has taken a historic decision on Parakram Diwas to honour Netaji's contribution to India's freedom struggle. The statue of Netaji at India Gate is to honour his contribution to India's freedom struggle, Shah said at the event today. "This is not just a granite statue but a befitting tribute to the legendary Netaji, who gave up everything for India's freedom", he said. It has been the constant endeavour of the Prime Minister to honour the freedom fighters in a befitting manner and the special focus of these efforts has been on the legendary freedom fighter and visionary leader, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Several steps have been taken in this regard, including the announcement that his birth anniversary will be celebrated as Parakram Diwas every year. In this spirit, Republic Day celebrations will begin a day early, from January 23. (ANI) RTHK: Blinken says Germany shares Ukraine concerns US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday he has "no doubts" Germany is maintaining a united front with Nato on the Ukraine crisis, after Berlin faced pressure to toughen its stance against potential Russian aggression. The top US diplomat also dismissed the idea of slapping punitive sanctions on Russia now, before any potential invasion of the former Soviet republic Ukraine, saying sanctions should be used as a means of "dissuading" Moscow from an attack. Blinken's comments follow a week of intense diplomacy in which he held talks with his Russian counterpart and also sat down with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as Kyiv voiced mounting fears of a Russian invasion. Germany was in the hot seat at the weekend after its navy chief Kay-Achim Schoenbach said Russian President Vladimir Putin deserves respect and also suggested it was "nonsense" to think Russia was ready to pour troops into Ukraine. Schoenbach resigned on Saturday, but his remarks rattled the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and Blinken did a round of talk show appearances in a bid to tamp down the worry. "I can tell you that the Germans very much share our concerns and are resolute and being determined to respond -- and to respond swiftly, effectively, and in a united way," Blinken said on NBC talk show 'Meet the Press'. "I have no doubts about that." On CBS News show 'Face the Nation, he also mentioned Germany's commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with Europe and Washington, saying, "I am very convinced there will be a united response to whatever Russia does." With Kyiv facing what Blinken has described as an "unprecedented" threat from Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western nations not to delay imposing sanctions on Moscow as a way to prevent an invasion. "I support imposing sanctions now," Zelensky told the Washington Post on Thursday. "Why do you need sanctions after we lose the whole territory of Ukraine?" But Blinken dismissed the idea of punishing Russia before any potential invasion of the former Soviet republic, saying the sanctions should be used as a means of "dissuading" Moscow from engaging in further aggression against Ukraine. "Once sanctions are triggered, you lose the deterrent effect," Blinken told CBS. "So what we're doing is putting together a whole series of actions that would figure into President Putin's calculus." That includes beefing up defences in Ukraine with more military assistance, Blinken said. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-01-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A memorial for 8-year-old Melissa Ortega grows Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022 at the corner of West 26th Street and South Pulaski Road where she was shot and killed Saturday in Little Village. Chicago police announced charges Wednesday against two suspects in her killing. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) One minute 8-year-old Melissa Ortega was walking with her mother through their Little Village community Saturday afternoon. The next, gunshots rang out, and mother and daughter broke into a sprint, trying to run to safety in a nearby bank. But it was too late. Advertisement One of those bullets had already struck the girl in the head as the pair walked in the 3900 block of West 26th Street at 2:45 p.m., according to Chicago police. She was rushed to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, where she was pronounced dead at 4:43 p.m. The Cook County medical examiners office identified her Sunday morning as Melissa Ortega, 8, of the 2800 block of South Tripp Avenue, also in Little Village. Advertisement Police investigate at the scene of a shooting in the 4000 block of West 26th Street Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Chicago. An 8-year-old girl died after she was shot in the head, and a 29-year-old man was in fair condition, according to police. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Police said the shooter wasnt aiming at Melissa who was a student in the third grade at Emiliano Zapata Academy or her mother. Authorities said the shooter intended to harm a 26-year-old man who was walking out of a store not far from where the girl and her mother stood. The 26-year-old also was shot in the lower back and he was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition; officials did not have an update on his condition Sunday morning. Melissa and her mother moved to Chicago in August after emigrating from Mexico, according to an online fundraising page created to offset funeral expenses. The GoFundMe page said she is to be buried in her hometown of Los Sauces in the Mexican state of Tabasco. They were both excited to start a new life in Chicago and build their American Dream. I was honored to have met Melissa and will always remember her beautiful smile, the creator of the page wrote. A spokeswoman for GoFundMe verified the validity of the page, ensuring that the more than $22,000 raised as of Sunday morning more than $2,000 beyond what the site originally set out to raise would go to Melissas relatives, as intended. In a statement, the Chicago Teachers Union lamented the shooting of another innocent child and extended its condolences to the Ortega family and all those who knew Melissa from Zapata Academy, saying it sends its love to Melissas family and the Zapata Academy community, and wish them peace and healing from this heartbreaking tragedy. The union also decried the ongoing violence in the city. Our union mourns the loss of another student from one of our school communities. This suffering is becoming all too familiar for many of Chicagos children and families, who our educators nurture and support every day, said the statement from CTU spokesman Ronnie Reese. Advertisement Mayor Lori Lightfoot and police Superintendent David Brown posted to Twitter on Sunday, calling on anyone with information to come forward. The Chicago Police Department stands with the Little Village community in the wake of this unthinkable tragedy and wont stop working until we find justice for this precious child and her family, Brown said. No arrests had been made and detectives continue to investigate. tatturner@chicagotribune.com The Delhi High Court has dismissed an appeal moved by a convict of an attempt to murder case. On the other hand, the High Court has modified his sentence and passed an order to release him for the period he has already undergone for his good conduct in the last one year. He had challenged the judgement of his conviction. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri in his recent judgement said,'' Keeping in view the appellant's age, the period of incarceration, his jail conduct for the last one year and other mitigating circumstances, this court deems it fit to modify the order on sentence and direct that the appellant be released on the period already undergone by him. The bench said,'' he has already undergone the sentence of four years, five months and nine days, along with his remission of six months and three days. His unexpired portion of the sentence is one year and 18 days. The fine amount has been deposited. His jail conduct for the last one year was also satisfactory. Justice Ohri said,'' the appeal is dismissed insofar as challenge to the judgement on conviction is concerned, however, the order on sentence is modified to the aforesaid extent. The trial court had convicted Saleem Khan for the offence of an attempt to murder and sentenced him for a period of six years. The court had imposed a fine of Rs. 5,000/- on him. He was also sentenced for a period of one year along with a fine of Rs. 1,000/- under section 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by a dangerous weapon or means) IPC. Advocate B. Badrinath, the counsel for the appellant, contended that the testimony of the complainant Mohd Yunus is unreliable on account of prior enmity with the appellant, which has been admitted by the complainant himself. It was further argued by the counsel that, ''neither the weapon of offence was recovered during investigation nor were the blood-stained clothes of complaint were seized. Appellant's counsel added that the testimony of Sahil, the brother of the complaint Yunus, was unreliable on the ground that he had not accompanied his brother to the hospital. It was also submitted that the PCR Form pertaining to the call on 100 number was not produced. He also contended that there were contradictions in the testimonies of the complainant and his brother at the time of the incident. Lastly, he contended that the Investigation Officer had not recorded the statement of any public witness. On the other hand, Additional Public Prosecutor supported the conviction and sentence. It was submitted that the testimonies of both Mohd. Yunus and Sahil are consistent with each other and reliable, as both have deposed that they were assaulted by the appellant, who was already known to them. The bench while rejecting the contention of the appellant said, ''combined with the fact that the testimonies of the complainant and his brother Sahil are cogent and consistent, the contention raised on behalf of the appellant that the weapon of offence was not recovered, has no merit. The next contention was that the testimonies of the complainant and his brother have contradictions on the aspect of the time of the incident. While the complainant deposed that the incident occurred around 10.00 pm, his brother Sahil deposed that the incident occurred around 08.00 pm. The bench said,'' in this regard, it is noted that in the alleged history of offence recorded by the doctor concerned in the MLC of Sahil, it was mentioned that the physical assault took place around 10.00 pm as per the patient himself. According to the prosecution, on the day of the incident, on 24 May 2017, around 10.00 pm, the complainant Mohd. Yunus was going along with his brother Sahil to take medicine. The appellant came and assaulted him with a knife. The assault resulted in injuries on his neck and on his right shoulder. The prosecution said, when Sahil tried to save his brother Yunus, he was also given a knife blow to him on his face. After it, Sahil made a call to 100 number. A PCR reached the spot and took them to GTB Hospital. In this regard, a case was lodged at Khajoori Khas police station in Delhi. (ANI) Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Aditya Thackrey on Sunday said that parents should make their own decisions and send their children to schools only if they feel it is safe to do. Schools in Maharashtra for classes 1 to 12 are to be re-opened on January 24 with COVID-19 protocols, the Maharashtra School Education Minister, Varsha Gaikwad, said on Thursday. "Even though we are re-opening schools from tomorrow, it is not compulsory for students to come to school. Parents are free to make their own decisions in this regard and should send their children to school only if they feel it is safe," said Thackrey while talking to the media. Talking about the 100 megawatts power generation plant built on Middle Vaitarna Dam by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), he said that in his opinion, it is the first-ever power generation plant built by a municipality. A renewable hybrid energy plant was inaugurated on the occasion of the 96th birth anniversary of Balasaheb Thackrey, founder of Shiv Sena. "Observing the 96th birth anniversary of Hinduhriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray, @mybmcembarked on a 100 MW Renewable Hybrid Energy plant at the Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Middle Vaitarna Dam. Thus becoming India's 1st to utilise hybrid energy," said a tweet from Aditya Thackrey's Twitter. Providing updates about Chief Minister Uddhav Thackrey's health, he said, "He is completely okay. He is taking precautions due to COVID-19 outbreak. He will be seen in an active role soon." When questioned on climate change, Thackrey said that the BMC has established a council on the issue. "Yesterday, hailstorm occured in different parts of Maharashtra and besides this, there are various other symptoms that clearly indicates that climate change is happening," he added. (ANI) Industrialist Ratan Tata has been honoured with the 'Assam Baibhav Award' for 2021 by the Assam Government. Tata wrote a letter of thanks to the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Thank you for your letter of January 8. I greatly appreciate and am deeply touched by the decision of the Government of Assam to bestow on me the 'Assam Baibhav Award' for the year 2021," reads the letter by the legendary industrialist. "I have been an admirer of your personal commitment to the well-being of Assamese people and it is, therefore, an exceptional honour to receive this award from you," he added. Tata thanked the Chief Minister for understanding his inability to personally receive the award at a function in Guwahati on January 24 and for his willingness to present it to him at a later date in Mumbai. "It will be a pleasure to meet you and our officers could work together to find a suitable date for such a meeting," he added. Chief Minister Sarma responded back with a tweet saying, "We are so immensely grateful Sri @RNTata2000for your gracious acceptance of the Assam Baibhav Award for 2021. It shall be an honour for me to personally meet you to share this token of our gratitude. We're so deeply indebted to you for your support to us all these years." (ANI) According to a BJP worker, the controversy broke out after the BJP flag was allegedly removed. There was a fierce scuffle between the supporters of both the parties. The police present there intervened and brought the situation under control. The BJP workers could be seen threatening the SAPAK workers by saying, "The BJP government is running from the centre to state, you will be blown away." (ANI) The Omicron variant driven wave of COVID-19 will now turn to small towns and villages in the coming few weeks after its transmission in metro cities as each time a wave follows this trend, said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan who is advising COVID-19 task force at IMA Kochi, Kerala. "Each time, a wave first hit high mobility areas which include metro cities and then to smaller areas and villages. So, within the next few weeks, it (Omicron driven wave) will travel to the smaller cities or towns and then the villages. This is a trend that's been observed worldwide," Dr Jayadevan told ANI. Speaking about whether Omicron could replace other COVID variants and it is going to remain as a common cold, Dr Rajeev said, "That is not true in fact if you look at the history of the pandemic in the last two years, variants have all died down. In fact, there is no variant that is survived long enough to be dominant. There may be a few stray cases here and there." He further cited an example of South Africa and said that their waves are classic. "Six months apart the first wave was the original Wuhan variant, the second was Beta, the third was Delta and the fourth was Omicron. For India, we were hit by the original Wuhan variant back in March 2021 and then we got hit by Delta last year. Now this year, we have been hit by Omicron. So it is quite convincible that Omicron will hang around for a while. It's unlikely that Delta will survive in the long run," he added. Dr Jayadevan also said that both variants at this time are behaving the same and none of them is more dangerous than the other because everybody knows Omicron behaves differently from Delta. "When delta came, a large section of our population was scared because they had never seen the virus before and they were not vaccinated, whereas Omicron is reaching at a time when the vast majority of people have either had natural exposure to the virus or vaccinated," he added. He also said there are also some studies that report that Omicron behaves slightly differently with different tissue cells and it is less amenable to cause infection in the lung. "I'm getting reports on the ground that lung disease specifically is lower with this (Omicron) variant," the health expert said. However, Dr Vivek Nangia, Principle Director and Head, Pulmonology at Max Hospital said that people are developing COVID-19 symptoms even when they aren't going out. "This is absolutely correct that Omicron has gone into a stage where it's more into community spread than only by the travellers coming from abroad which have led to a rise in COVID cases," Dr Nangia stated. He also said that the Omicron variant is unlike the Delta variant of coronavirus infection because people recover early in the case of Omicron. "People who haven't even travelled outside and not even from their home they are also developing symptoms," he added. (ANI) Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of the entire country for unveiling the hologram statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at India Gate on the 125th birth anniversary of the freedom fighter. Referring to Prime Minister's decision to install a grand statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at India Gate as part of celebrating Netaji's 125th birthday, Shah said, "The statue of Netaji will inspire the coming generations for valour, patriotism and sacrifice for many years because it will not only just a statue made of granite but will be a symbol of feeling for Netaji in the minds of crores of people of the country." Describing Netaji, as a personality who sacrificed his whole life by travelling 35,000 km by car and submarine, Shah said, "The journey from Calcutta to Berlin via Japan was Netaji's effort to liberate India and this statue will be a symbol of his patriotism." The Home Minister informed that till the time this statue is installed, a hologram statue of Netaji would take its place. Shah said, "Indians today would find peace as Prime Minister has honoured Netaji's contribution in the freedom struggle of the country after so many years." According to the Union Home Minister, the slogan of 'Chalo Dilli' gives consciousness and energy to the youth even today. "The stories of Netaji's struggle even today connect the youth with the reconstruction of India and many youths will move forward with inspiration in the days to come from his personality," Shah said. He said that for many years, efforts were made to forget the names of freedom fighters and revolutionaries who showed great valour and contributed to the freedom struggle of the country. The Home Minister said, "When Netaji's statue will be installed at India Gate, history will also be happy to see its beloved son." Shah said that the Prime Minister has taken another big decision to introduce an award in the name of Netaji in the country. "Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 will also be given here today." With this, all the people working in the field of disaster management, the awards associated with the name of Subhash Chandra Bose will always inspire them to do excellent work in the field of disaster management, the Home Minister said. (ANI) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday demanded immediate arrest of former DGP and principal strategic adviser to Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, Mohammad Mustafa for trying to incite communal clashes in Malerkotla with his alleged incendiary statements. Addressing media at Malerkotla in favour of party candidate Nusrat Iqram Khan, the SAD President also urged the Election Commission to take note of the development and order the immediate arrest of Mustafa. "This is much needed to restore the confidence of the people in the democratic set-up which has been vitiated by the officer who is the husband of Malerkotla MLA and Congress minister Razia Sultana." Badal also alleged that it was not the first time Mohammad Mustafa had vitiated the atmosphere in Malerkotla. "He is known to have registered hundreds of false cases against Akali workers. He has also oppressed the poor and downtrodden and created a fear psychosis in the minds of the people." Badal assured the people that the SAD knows how to handle such persons. "Mustafa will be proceeded against as per the law and will be held accountable for his misdeeds once the next SAD- BSP government is formed in the state." Badal, who was accompanied by party district president Iqbal Singh Jhundan and senior leader Mohammad Owaisi, also assured to develop Malerkotla as a tourism destination by building on its heritage stature. He also announced a medical college would be established in the district as well as separate colleges for boys and girls. In another press conference at Dhuri, the SAD President slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and said that they told Punjabis that they would give tickets to ordinary persons but had instead sold its tickets to the highest bidders. He alleged that the AAP ticket had been sold in Mohali to property developer Kulwant Singh. "Similarly around 50 other tickets have been sold, mainly to people with criminal records. One of them includes a former Akali Amit Rattan who was thrown out of the SAD after people complained that he had duped them on the pretext of doubling their money". Badal also lauded the services of Prakash Chand Garg to the people at large and announced that once the SAD-BSP government was formed, the senior leader would be inducted as a minister with an important portfolio. Speaking about AAP leader Bhagwant Mann, the SAD President said the latter was never given any recognition in the party. "For one year Arvind Kejriwal kept telling Punjabis he was looking for the right face while sitting alongside Mann. Even now when Mann has been announced as the party's chief ministerial candidate, posters across Punjab are still demanding a chance for Kejriwal. This itself proves that Mann is only a dummy candidate". Badal also lashed out at Bhagwant Mann for showing disrespect to the Sikh religion as well as his own mother. He said Mann had been publically denounced for being drunk in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. He said Mann had also sworn a false oath in the name of his mother that he would leave liquor but was found in an inebriated condition soon after. "Such an irresponsible person can never be trusted by Punjabis", he added. (ANI) The Chief Minister on Sunday said, "The investigation into the police firing incident will be led by Additional Chief Secretary Paban Borthakur." Earlier today Assam police tweeted, "Police personnel involved in the shooting incident at Kachalukhua, Nagaon have been sent to Police Reserve with immediate effect." "We have requested the Govt to institute a Commissioner level enquiry into the incident. If any lapse is found, guilty personnel will be taken to task," the police added. Earlier on Saturday, former student leader named Kirti Kamal Bora was injured in an encounter with the police in Nagaon city today, informed Nagaon district's Superintendent of Police Anand Mishra. Kirti Kamal Bora was later admitted to Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) for treatment. (ANI) Punjab Minister Razia Sultana on Sunday said that Congress will fight the election under the leadership of Navjot Singh Sidhu, Charanjit Singh Channi and Sunil Jakhar but the chief minister will be decided after the Assembly elections only. "There will be no tussle inside the party regarding CM's face. The election will be fought under the leadership of Sidhu, Channi and Sunil Jakhar. When the party wins the election, we will be asked about who our leader (CM) should be. This has been our tradition," said Razia. "All three of them are very good leaders. CM Channi has done a lot in a short span of time. At the same time, Navjot Singh Sidhu is an honest and emotional person. We will decide the leader after the election results," she said. "Last time the face of Captain Amarinder Singh was put forward, that decision was also taken after listening to all the voices in the party," she added. Last year in September when Navjot Singh Sidhu had resigned from the post of Punjab Congress President, Sultana also followed the suit in support of him and resigned from the post of minister. Although, later she withdrew her resignation and currently she holds ministerial berth of many important portfolios in the Channi government. On being asked about the question related to her resignation, Sultana said "sometimes such atmosphere gets created, but everything is fine now." Refusing the possibility of the Aam Aadmi Party forming government in the state, Razia said, "Last time to they fought the election with full power. Even then they claimed that they will win around 100 seats, this time also they are claiming the same." Commenting over her ongoing campaign on her seat as she has again been given the ticket by the Congress party for Malerkotla seat, Razia said, "The campaign has just started and Malerkotla has always been good for us." As Malerkotla has been made a district in May last year, Razia said, "We have fought a lot for this." "Every district has its own identity. Now separate funds will come in for Malerkotla and work will also be done. It was like a slum here till now. We have started sewerage and water supply work. We are working on improving the condition of education and health here. A medical college is also being opened," she said. Defending her husband Mohammad Mustafa, former Director-General of Police and principal advisor of Navjot Singh Sidhu, a recent statement which BJP and AAP are calling to be "communal", Razia said, "Our party is a secular party. I have won three elections from here. Mustafa has not even used the word Hindu in his statement. He simply said that he will not allow the worship of Fitno here. BJP is trying to spoil the atmosphere." Razia Sultana is the sole minister belonging to the Muslim community in the Channi government of Punjab. Razia is a third-time MLA from Malerkotla, a Muslim-dominated assembly constituency in Punjab. Earlier in 2002 and 2007, Razia won the elections from Malerkotla. However, in 2012, he had to face the defeat from Nesara Khatoon of Shiromani Akali Dal. Punjab will go to the polls on February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) A senior epidemiologist at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Sunday said SARS-CoV-2 which is commonly known as COVID-19 is heading towards an endemic stage. Endemic is a stage where cases are confined to a particular geographical location and the cases are constantly present in low numbers in that specific area. "Looking at the COVID-19 vaccination status and the natural infection, we can say that very soon, the majority of us will be getting an infection. And then this virus will convert into the endemic virus," Dr Sanjay Rai told ANI here. The AIIMS senior epidemiologist also remarked that those who recovered from the COVID are the best-protected people as of now based on the scientific evidence followed by vaccinated persons. "COVID-19 is RNA virus and the virus has mutated thousands of times. Although, the variant of concern are only five like alpha, beta, gamma delta and currently, Omicron which is a very fast transmitting disease. So very fast transmission is taking place all over the world," the health expert said. "The overall severity is less so the majority of us will get this infection. Based on the current scientific evidence, we can see those who recovered from the COVID they are the best-protected person as of now, then the second-best protective person is those who had the vaccination," he added. Dr Rai also said that Omicron spread is happening in the country and mainly in metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai because of the population density although in rural areas and eastern part of India progression of the virus is slow. The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is in the community transmission stage in India and has become dominant in multiple metros where new cases have been rising exponentially, the INSACOG has said in its latest bulletin. The INSACOG, in its January 10 bulletin that was released on Sunday, said while most Omicron cases so far have been asymptomatic or mild, hospitalisations and ICU cases have increased in the current wave and the threat level remains unchanged. (ANI) The Beijing 2022 opening ceremony rehearsal was conducted at the National Stadium, or the "Bird Nest," on Saturday night. About 4,000 participants were involved in the all-factor rehearsal, preparing for the opening ceremony to be held on February 4. With its length shortened to about 100 minutes due to cold weather and the COVID-19 pandemic, the opening ceremony, featuring low-carbon, scientific and technological innovations, aims to express the aspiration of building a community with a shared future for mankind and delivering a "simple, safe and splendid" Games, according to the organizers. Zhang Yimou, who directed the Beijing 2008 opening and closing ceremonies, is to become the first man to direct the ceremonies of both Summer and Winter Games as Beijing makes history as the first "dual Olympic city." The Winter Olympics will open on February 4, which coincides with "Lichun," the first of the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, indicating the start of spring. According to Zhang, "Lichun" will also become an important element at the opening ceremony, in an endeavor to present a warm and fascinating gala. Chang Yu, director of the opening and closing ceremonies department at the Beijing 2022 organizing committee, said the plans for the Olympics and Paralympics opening and closing ceremonies were confirmed by March 2021, and the rehearsal now is in the final stretch after months of preparation. The opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games will be very different from that of the 2008 Summer Games but equally impressive, and definitely should not be missed, said Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS). The Hindu Munnani has called for a probe by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) into the suicide of a 17-year-old girl alleging conversion behind the reason of her death. The state president of the Tamil Nadu unit of the Hindu Munnani, Kadeswara Subramaniam in a statement on Sunday said that the Tamil Nadu police has already ruled out conversion and that only an investigation by the NIA will bring out the truth. He said that the Tamil Nadu police were trying to intimidate those who were trying to raise the issue of conversion and said that the statement of several senior officers of the police amounts to threatening the complainants. The Hindu Munnani leader said that in a video that has surfaced after her death, the deceased Lavanya was seen saying that she was forced to clean toilets after being tortured by three persons in the school administration. Kadeswara Subramaniam also said that two nuns and a priest who were involved in the case must be arrested and said that the Hindu outfit would conduct protest marches across the state. The senior leader said that the major political parties in Tamil Nadu were silent on the matter and reminded them as to why they were not creating a hue and cry just like they had done during an alleged sexual assault on a student in a school run by the Hindu management in Coimbatore a few months ago. The Hindu Munnani leader said that the women's wing of the organisation will conduct a black flag demonstration across Tamil Nadu on Tuesday and the youth wing would organise massive protests against the forcible conversion in the state on Thursday. --IANS aal/skp ( 294 Words) 2022-01-23-17:34:05 (IANS) Five-time Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday called for the immediate release of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar "in the larger interest of consolidating peace and communal harmony in Punjab". In a statement here, Badal urged Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal not to allow a communal bias or political or electoral opportunism to dictate his decision and refusal to grant immediate clearance for Bhullar's release. "Bhullar must be released without even a moment's delay as he had already served his full term in jail. Punjab had suffered enough because of these petty communal and polarizing political conspiracies by the Congress rulers in the past. Arvind Kejrival must resist the temptation to walk the same path for the same petty reasons," said the elderly Badal in a statement. The former CM also drew Kejrival's attention to the serious health complications Bhullar is facing and said even the basic humanitarian concern, apart from just legal considerations, should compel "you to act expeditiously and positively in this case". "Arvind Kejrival mustn't try and polarize the peace loving Punjabis nor try and weaken the strong traditional brotherly bonds among different communities here," he said, adding, "communal politics doesn't help the cause of stability, peace and communal harmony." Badal urged the Delhi Chief Minister to "demonstrate sensitivity and responsibility towards society and the nation and not to do anything that strengthens a negative sentiment like communal polarisation. Punjab won't forgive anyone who messes with peace and communal harmony." The Akali stalwart said the release of Bhullar "will boost this sentiment of peace and brotherhood among communities in Punjab as it would help in mitigating the lingering sense of injustice against Bhullar," added Badal. Earlier in the day, in a recorded TV message from a Ludhiana hospital, Badal thanked Punjabis for their good wishes after he had tested positive for Covid-19. "I hope to be with my people in the next few days," the 94-year-old Akali Dal leader added. --IANS vg/pgh ( 343 Words) 2022-01-23-19:04:01 (IANS) More details are awaited. The incident took place on Monday around 11.45 p.m. when the research scholar was walking inside the campus. The student raised an alarm and shouted for help, but the accused fled from the spot by his motorcycle. A case under sections 354A (Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment), 354B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 379 (punishment for theft) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at the Vasant Kunj North police station and investigations launched. --IANS uj/vd ( 136 Words) 2022-01-23-20:28:04 (IANS) India's top virologist, Dr Gagandeep Kang has called the prescription of monoclonal antibody therapy by the doctors in the private hospitals of the country for the treatment of Omicron variant of COVID-19 patients "unethical, immoral and unscientific" and asked the medical fraternity to "practice better medicine than this". Notably, monoclonal antibodies treatment for COVID has been excluded in the revised National COVID task force treatment. In a series of tweets, Dr Kang said that she received a call from a 90-year-old diabetic patient from Chennai who narrated to her that he was advised admission to the hospital for the antibody treatment because he was in contact with someone who tested positive for SARS-CoV2. "A call from a 90-year diabetic uncle in Chennai who said he has advised admission to hospital and antibody treatment because he was in contact with someone who tested positive for SARS-CoV2 sparked this thread," she Dr Kang tweeted. "We know that 90 per cent or greater infections are currently Omicron in Indian cities. We know that the licensed monoclonal antibody products in India do not neutralise omicron. Yet doctors in private hospitals are prescribing monoclonal antibody therapy (and admission)," she added in her tweet. The Doctor further pointed out that there is little data in India which is why we do not know if the percentage of vaccinated elderly with Omicron will progress. "Please remember that even among clinical vulnerable, most contacts will stay asymptomatic or have mild symptoms & recover. Small no. develop severe illness (in India, we have little data so we do not know whether 5% or 20% of vaccinated elderly with omicron will progress)," she tweeted. "In any case, all the ones who would have gotten better anyway will do fine--but having given antibodies, doctors will ascribe that to their treatment and the hospitals will laugh all the way to the bank. The argument I hear from well-meaning doctors (thankfully not infectious disease specialists) is that it is only one lakh and my patient can afford to buy it, so why not?" Dr Kang said in the tweet. Dr Kang said that it is unethical, immoral and unscientific to provide the antibodies treatment and asked the doctors to practise better medicine. "Why not? It is unethical, immoral and unscientific. Surely, as doctors, we can teach and practice better medicine than this. And as patients, please ask for what each drug is expected to do and the evidence to back that up," Dr Kang said. (ANI) The opposition AIADMK on Sunday extended its support to the Tamil Nadu government for phase II of the Hogenakkal drinking water project in the state's Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts. AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, in a statement, also flayed the opposition of Karnataka to the project. "Karnataka doesn't have any moral or for that matter, legal rights to prevent the implementation of the Hogenakkal drinking water project within Tamil Nadu. The Karnataka side refuses to release the quantum of water in the Cauvery it is legally bound to do as per the Supreme court judgment unless all its reservoirs are filled up." He also said that the DMK government should implement the project and that the AIADMK led-opposition would extend its full support to it. Karnataka opposes any project in Tamil Nadu and the state does not have any right to do so, Panneerselvam said. Hesaid that a detailed project report on the Hogenakkal Drinking Water project was prepared in 1986 during the period of M.G. Ramachandran but could not be implemented due to a lack of funds. He said that in 1994 a DPR with a revised project report was domne. The AIADMK leader said that then Chief Minister and AIADMK leader, late J. Jayalalithaa had also sent a proposal to the Union government in 2005 and the foundation stone was unveiled in 2008. --IANS aal/vd ( 244 Words) 2022-01-23-21:02:03 (IANS) Even as the PM installed the Subhas Chandra Bose hologram on his 125th birth anniversary, as part of his continued appropriation as a freedom movement icon in the magnum opus of throwing into stark relief Netaji's persona, the tower of babble over his role went into overdrive. There are some important data points in history which need to be factored into his exact positioning amongst the Congress Big Four - Gandhiji, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Bose. Since superficiality and vacuousness are the order of the day, institutional memory needs to be given a booster dose so that things are put in the right perspective. In many ways, 1938 and 1939 were the moment of truth in a large number of Indian Princely States as powerful people's movements flourished against the high handedness of the Ruling dispensation which directly drew its strength from the Paramount Power in the Princely States. The challenge to the troika of Gandhiji, Nehru and Patel also came around the same time. At the Haripura Congress, Subhas Bose became president of the Congress and a year later in Tripuri, he forced the issue again despite strident opposition from the trio and won the Presidency by 95 votes more than Gandhiji's candidate Pattabhi Sitaramayya. After Bose won convincingly, Gandhi said Pattabhi's defeat was "more mine than his". At Tripuri in March 1939, GB Pant moved a resolution asking Bose to appoint a Working Committee in line with Gandhi's ideas. Bose in a passionate presidential address on March 10, 1939, where very specifically focusing on the Princely States, his opinion coalesced with Nehru, stated, "But since Haripura much has happened. Today we find that the Paramount Power is in league with the State authorities in most places. In such circumstances, should we of the Congress not draw closer to the people of the States? I have no doubt in my own mind as to what our duty is today. Besides lifting the above ban, the work of guiding the popular movements in the States for Civil Liberty and Responsible Government should be conducted by the Working Committee on a comprehensive and systematic basis. The work so far done has been of a piecemeal nature and there has hardly been any system or plan behind it. But the time has come when the Working Committee should assume this responsibility and discharge it in a comprehensive and systematic way and, if necessary, appoint a special sub-committee for the purpose." At the session proper, Bose fell very ill and was bed ridden. The Presidential election was dramatic and certainly unlike previous humdrum ones. The election was followed by sensational developments culminating in the resignation of twelve out of fifteen members of the Working Committee, headed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Dr Rajendra Prasad. Another distinguished member of the Working Committee, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, though he did not formally resign, issued a statement which led everybody to believe that he had also resigned. On the eve of the Tripuri Congress, events at Rajkot forced Mahatma Gandhi to undertake a vow of fast unto death. Gandhi chose not to travel to Tripuri and instead deliberately went to Rajkot. The Congress closed ranks against Bose and the best description of what transpired at the fabled session came from Bose's brother Sarat Bose's sharply written letter to Gandhiji on March 21, 1939. It was a scathing fulmination: What I saw and heard at Tripuri during the seven days I was there, was an eye opener to me. The exhibition of truth and non violence that I saw in persons whom the public look upon as your disciples (targeting Nehru, Patel, Azad and company) and representatives has to use your own words, 'stunk in my nostrils'. The election of Subhas was not a defeat for yourself, but of the high command of which Sardar Patel is the shining light. The propaganda that was carried on by them against the Rashtrapati and those who happen to share his political views was thoroughly mean, malicious and indicative and utterly devoid of even the semblance of truth and non-violence. At Tripuri, those who swear by you in public offered nothing but obstruction and for gaining their end, took the fullest and meanest advantage of Subhas's illness. Some ex members of the Working Committee went to the length of carrying on an insidious and incessant propaganda that the Rashtrapati's illness was a 'fake', and was only a political illness. The letter was a denouement of the Congress and the way it had treated Subhas Bose. At Gandhiji's insistence, Sardar responded to Sarat Bose's letter where he went onto politely dismiss all the charges levelled by Sarat Bose. All this finally culminated over time in Subhas Bose being disqualified by the Working Committee as the president of the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee. Bose split from the Congress and started the Forward Bloc in opposition to the Congress. Narahari D. Parikh in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel writes that, "Although throughout this period the dispute was between the Working Committee and Subhas Bose, he and his followers blamed the Sardar for everything who was the main target of their wrath. For this the real reason was the Sardar's forthright manner -- for he spoke frankly and bluntly and never learnt the art of pleasing anyone by sweet words." In his letter to Jawaharlal Nehru on August 28, 1939, Netaji complained, "If the old guard wanted to fight why did they not do so in a straightforward manner? Why did they bring Mahatma Gandhi between us?" On April 4, 1939 Sarat Chandra Bose had written to Nehru along the same lines, "I believe I shall not be unjust if I say that the members of the Working Committee would have shown greater courage and straightforwardness if they had decided to act on their own and not used Mahatmaji as their cover. Their plain duty was to keep Mahatmaji above all controversy as he should be in our political life." Both missives slammed Gandhi's followers like Sardar Patel, Bhulabhai Desai etc. Bose wrote about this painful experience in his essay "My strange Illness". Patel was the focus of his wrath in his letter of 28 March too. Bose wrote to Nehru, "Was there nothing wrong in Sardar Patel making full use of the name and authority of Mahatma Gandhi for electioneering purposes?" The Bose brothers targeted Patel, but realised equally that Patel was a stalking horse and proxy for Gandhiji himself. The tricky relationship between the closed group controlled by Gandhiji in the Congress Working Committee those days was patently unhappy with the entry of a powerful and popular outsider in Netaji. Though Nehru privately and often publicly remained for most part on Netaji's right side in this tussle. This proxy war resulted in Netaji leaving the Congress and taking up the path of freeing his country from the yoke of British rule by raising an army through a war time collaboration with the help of Axis powers inimical to the British Empire. --IANS pgh/ ( 1185 Words) 2022-01-23-21:22:03 (IANS) The Delhi police have also tightened the security ahead of the Republic Day celebrations. The police were seen checking the vehicles and asking for the passes from the commuters in wake of the ongoing night curfew. In the visuals near Delhi's Pragati Maidan area, the police were seen checking the passes of the commuters and the barricading could be seen in place. Earlier in the month, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) decided to impose a curfew in Delhi on Saturdays and Sundays to curb the COVID-19 surge. "It is also clarified that Night Curfew from 10 PM to 5 AM every day and Weekend Curfew from 10 PM of Friday till 5 AM of subsequent Monday, on the movement of individuals in NCT of Delhi shall also remain in force till further order," said the DDMA in its order earlier. (ANI) NASA ended its Galileo mission to Jupiter, on September 21, 2003, nearly 20 years ago. Now, scientists from Germany have unlocked a new secret from the mission's extensive data sets. For the first time, the research team, led by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS), was able to determine beyond doubt that the high-energy ions surrounding the gas giant as part of its inner radiation belt are primarily oxygen and sulphur ions. The results of the study were published in the journal 'Science Advances'. The ions are thought to have originated in volcanic eruptions on Jupiter's moon Io. Near the orbit of the moon Amalthea, which orbits Jupiter further inward, the team discovered an unexpectedly high concentration of high-energy oxygen ions that cannot be explained by Io's volcanic activity. A previously unknown ion source might have been at work here. Planets like Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn with global magnetic fields of their own are surrounded by so-called radiation belts: Trapped in the magnetic field, fast-moving charged particles such as electrons, protons, and heavier ions whiz around thus forming the invisible, torus-shaped radiation belts. With their high velocities reaching almost the speed of light, the particles can ionize other molecules when they collide, creating a hazardous environment that can also be dangerous to space probes and their instruments. In this respect, the gas giant Jupiter sported the most extreme radiation belts in the Solar System. In their new publication, researchers from the MPS, the California Institute of Technology (USA), the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (USA), the Laboratory of Instrumentation and Experimental Particle Physics (Portugal), and the Academy of Athens (Greece) presented the most comprehensive study to date of the heavy ions in Jupiter's inner radiation belts. Like Jupiter's massive magnetic field, its radiation belts extended several million kilometres into space; however, the region within the moon's orbit of Europa, an area with a radius of about 670,000 kilometres around the gas giant, was the scene of the highest energetic particle densities and velocities. Viewed from Jupiter, Europa was the second of the four large Jovian satellites named "Galilean moons" after their 17th century discoverer. Io was the innermost Galilean moon. With the space probes, Pioneer 11 in the mid-1970s, Galileo from 1995 to 2003, and currently Juno, three space missions have so far ventured into this innermost part of these radiation belts and performed in-situ measurements. "Unfortunately, the data from Pioneer 11 and Juno do not allow us to conclude beyond doubt what kind of ions the spacecraft encountered there," said MPS scientist Dr Elias Roussos, lead author of the new study, describing the current state of research. "Therefore, their energies and origin were also unclear until now," he added. Only the now rediscovered data from the last months of the Galileo mission was detailed enough to improve this situation. NASA's Galileo spacecraft reached the Jupiter system in 1995. Equipped with the Heavy Ion Counter (HIC), contributed by the California Institute of Technology, and the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD), developed and built by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in collaboration with the MPS, the mission spent the following eight years providing fundamental insights into the distribution and dynamics of charged particles around the gas giant. However, to protect the spacecraft, it initially flew solely through the outer, less extreme regions of the radiation belts. Only in 2003, shortly before the end of the mission, when a greater risk was justifiable, Galileo ventured into the innermost region within the orbits of the moons Amalthea and Thebe. Viewed from Jupiter, Amalthea and Thebe were the third and fourth moons of the giant planet. The orbits of Io and Europa lay farther outward. "Because of the exposure to strong radiation, it was to be expected that the measurement data from HIC and EPD from the inner region of the radiation belt would be heavily corrupted. After all, neither of these two instruments was specifically designed to operate in such a harsh environment," Roussos described his expectations when he started working on the current study three years ago. Nevertheless, the researcher wanted to see for himself. As a member of NASA's Cassini mission, he had witnessed Cassini's final, similarly daring orbits at Saturn two years earlier and analyzed the unique data from that final mission phase. "The thought of the long-completed Galileo mission kept coming to my mind," Roussos recalled. To his own surprise, among many unusable data sets there were also some that could be processed and analyzed with much effort. With the help of this scientific treasure, the authors of the current study had been able to determine for the first time the ion composition within the inner radiation belts, as well as the ions' velocities and spatial distribution. In contrast to the radiation belts of Earth and Saturn, which are dominated by protons, the region within the orbit of Io also contains large amounts of the much heavier oxygen and sulfur ions, with oxygen ions prevailing among the two. "The energy distribution of the heavy ions outside the orbit of Amalthea suggests that they are largely introduced from a more distant region of the radiations belts," Roussos said. The moon Io with its more than 400 active volcanoes, which repeatedly hurl large amounts of sulfur and sulfur dioxide into space, and to a lesser extent, Europa, are likely the main sources. Further inward, within Amalthea's orbit, the ion composition changes drastically in favour of oxygen. "The concentration and the energy of oxygen ions there is much higher than expected," Roussos said. Actually, the concentration should be decreasing in this region, as the moons Amalthea and Thebe absorb incoming ions; the two small moons' orbits thus form a kind of natural ion barrier. This behaviour is, for example, known from radiation belts of the Saturnian system with its many moons. The only explanation for the increased concentration of oxygen ions was therefore another, local source in the innermost region of the radiation belts. The release of oxygen following the collisions of sulfur ions with the fine dust particles of Jupiter's rings constituted one possibility, as the researchers' computer simulations showed. The rings, which are much fainter than the Saturnian ones, extended approximately as far as the orbit of Thebe. However, it was also conceivable that low-frequency electromagnetic waves in the magnetospheric environment of the innermost radiation belts heated oxygen ions to the observed energies. "Currently, it is not possible to distinguish in favour of either of these possible sources," Roussos said. Any of these two candidate mechanisms, nevertheless, had parallels to high energy particle production in stellar or extrasolar environments, further establishing that Jupiter's radiation belts extend into the astrophysical realm, a fact that the researcher hoped would justify their future exploration with a dedicated space mission. (ANI) A recent study provided new insights into what seasons looked like on a planet outside our solar system. The study, led by McGill University, was published in 'The Astronomical Journal'. The research opened up with one aspect of the atmosphere on XO-3b, one of a class of exoplanets (planets outside our solar system), which was that, the winds were so strong that they moved at the speed of sound. It is known as hot Jupiters. The eccentric orbit of the planet also led to seasonal variations hundreds of times stronger than what we experience on Earth. The researchers also suggested that the oval orbit, extremely high surface temperatures (2,000 degrees C- hot enough to vaporize rock) and "puffiness" of XO-3b revealed traces of the planet's history. The findings will potentially advance both the scientific understanding of how exoplanets form and evolve and give some context for planets in our own solar system. Hot Jupiters are massive, gaseous worlds like Jupiter, that orbit closer to their parent stars than Mercury is to the Sun. Though not present in our own solar system, they appeared to be common throughout the galaxy. Despite being the most studied type of exoplanet, major questions remained about how they form. Could there be subclasses of hot Jupiters with different formation stories? For example, did these planets take shape far from their parent stars -- at a distance where it's cold enough for molecules such as water to become solid -- or closer. The first scenario fit better with theories about how planets in our own solar system were born, but what would drive these types of planets to migrate so close to their parent stars remained unclear. To test those ideas, the authors of the recent McGill-led study used data from NASA's retired Spitzer Space Telescope to look at the atmosphere of exoplanet XO-3b. They observed eccentric seasons and measured wind speeds on the planet by obtaining a phase curve of the planet as it completed a full revolution about its host star. "This planet is an extremely interesting case study for atmospheric dynamics and interior evolution, as it lies in an intermediate regime of planetary mass where processes normally neglected for less massive hot Jupiters may come into play," said Lisa Dang, the first author of the paper and a PhD student at McGill University's Department of Physics. "XO-3b has an oval orbit rather than the circular orbit of almost all other known hot Jupiters. This suggests that it recently migrated toward its parent star; if that's the case, it will eventually settle into a more circular orbit." The eccentric orbit of the planet also led to seasonal variations hundreds of times stronger than what we experience on Earth. Nicolas Cowan, a McGill professor explained: "The entire planet receives three times more energy when it is close to its star during a brief sort of summer, than when it is far from the star." The researchers also re-estimated the planet's mass and radius and found that the planet was surprisingly puffier than expected. They suggested that the possible source of this heating could be due to leftover nuclear fusion. Observations by Gaia, an ESA (European Space Agency) mission, found that the planet was puffier than expected which indicated its interior may be particularly energetic. Spitzer observations also hinted that the planet produced much of its own heat as XO-3b's excess thermal emission wasn't seasonal -- it's observed throughout the year on XO-3b. It might be possible that the excess warmth was coming from the planet's interior, through a process called tidal heating. The star's gravitational squeeze on the planet oscillated as the oblong orbit took the planet farther and then closer to the star. The resulting changes in interior pressure produced heat. For Dang, this unusual hot Jupiter provided an opportunity to test ideas about which formation processes might produce certain characteristics in these exoplanets. For example, could tidal heating in other hot Jupiters also be a sign of recent migration? XO-3b alone won't unlock the mystery, but it served as an important test for emerging ideas about these scorching giants. (ANI) A recent study has quashed rumours that COVID-19 vaccination leads to infertility. The study published in the 'American Journal of Epidemiology' asserts that COVID-19 vaccination does not appear to affect fertility. The prospective study of couples trying to conceive found no association between COVID-19 vaccination and fecundability -- the probability of conception per menstrual cycle -- in female or male partners who received the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. In contrast, the findings indicated that COVID-19 infection among males may temporarily reduce fertility -- an outcome that could be avoidable through vaccination. "Many reproductive-aged individuals have cited concerns about fertility as a reason for remaining unvaccinated," said study lead author Dr Amelia Wesselink, research assistant professor of epidemiology at BUSPH. "Our study shows for the first time that COVID-19 vaccination in either partner is unrelated to fertility among couples trying to conceive through intercourse. Time-to-pregnancy was very similar regardless of vaccination status," she added. Wesselink and colleagues analysed survey data on COVID-19 vaccination and infection, and fecundability, among female and male participants in the BUSPH-based Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), an ongoing NIH-funded study that enrolls women trying to conceive and follows them from preconception through six months after delivery. Participants included 2,126 women in the US and Canada who provided information on sociodemographics, lifestyle, medical factors, and characteristics of their partners from December 2020 to September 2021, and the participants were followed in the study through November 2021. The researchers calculated the per menstrual cycle probability of conception using self-reported dates of participants' last menstrual period, typical menstrual cycle length, and pregnancy status. Fertility rates among female participants who received at least one dose of a vaccine were nearly identical to unvaccinated female participants. Fecundability was also similar for male partners who had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine compared with unvaccinated male participants. Additional analyses that considered the number of vaccine doses, the brand of vaccine, infertility history, occupation, and the geographic region also indicated no effect of vaccination on fertility. While COVID-19 infection was not strongly associated with fertility, men who tested positive for COVID within 60 days of a given cycle had reduced fertility compared to men who never tested positive, or men who tested positive at least 60 days prior. This data supported previous research that has linked COVID-19 infection in men with poor sperm quality and other reproductive dysfunction. "These data provide reassuring evidence that COVID vaccination in either partner does not affect fertility among couples trying to conceive," said study senior author Dr Lauren Wise, professor of epidemiology at BUSPH. "The prospective study design, large sample size, and geographically heterogeneous study population are study strengths, as was our control for many variables such as age, socioeconomic status, pre-existing health conditions, occupation, and stress levels," she added. The new data also help quell concerns about COVID-19 vaccines and fertility that arose from anecdotal reports of females experiencing menstrual cycle changes following vaccination. (ANI) As of Friday, over 200 million senior citizens in China have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, a health official said on Saturday. He Qinghua, a senior official with the National Health Commission, said at a press conference that as of Friday, over 2.96 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered on the Chinese mainland. More than 1.22 billion people have been fully vaccinated, with 209 million of that number being elderly people aged 60 or above, the official said. A lawmaker from the US state of Wisconsin has introduced a bill aimed at increasing Taiwan's asymmetric defence capabilities against China's military aggression. Representative Mike Gallagher introduced the Arm Taiwan Act, which would strengthen Taiwan's defences against a Chinese invasion by allocating USD 3 billion annually for a new Taiwan Security Assistance Initiative. According to a press release, the act would also condition future conventional arms sales on Taiwan's progress in preparing its military and fielding the weapons required to defeat China's war plans. "General Secretary Xi Jinping has made the unification of Taiwan with the mainland, by force if necessary, a key part of his legacy and the CCP is only growing more aggressive watching the Biden Administration's weakness in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Iran. Congress needs to step up to restore deterrence before it is too late. I am proud to join Senator Hawley in introducing the Arm Taiwan Act to provide Taiwan with the necessary resources and weapons to defeat an attempted invasion," said Rep. Gallagher. The Arm Taiwan Act urges the US Secretary of Defence to form the Taiwan Security Assistance Initiative and authorizes USD 3 billion annually for the initiative for fiscal years 2023 to 2027. The act specifies how funds authorized for the initiative should be used, with a specific emphasis on providing Taiwan with equipment, training, and other support required to accelerate Taiwan's deployment of the asymmetric defence capabilities required to delay, degrade, and deny a Chinese invasion against Taiwan. Gallagher said the funding will be conditional on the annual certification that Taiwan is matching US investments in its asymmetric defences, increasing defence spending, acquiring asymmetric defence capabilities as quickly as possible. "If the People's Republic of China were to invade and seize control of Taiwan, it would deal a severe blow to United States interests by destroying one of the world's leading democracies, casting doubt on the ability and resolve of the United States to uphold its security commitments; incentivizing other countries in the Indo-Pacific region to bandwagon with the People's Republic of China; and facilitating the formation of a regional order dominated by the People's Republic of China," the bill reads. Earlier in November 2021, Republican Josh Hawley, U.S. Senator for Missouri, introduced an identical Arm Taiwan Act. China continues to stake claims over Taiwan despite its self-governance for over seven decades.Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous country with political and economic relations with several other nations. (ANI) The United Kingdom has accused Russia of allegedly trying to install a "pro-Russian leader" in Ukraine and of maintaining links with certain former Ukrainian politicians. "We have information that indicates the Russian Government is looking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine. The former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate," the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in a Saturday statement. The UK foreign office also claimed that Russian intelligence services are "involved in the planning for an attack on Ukraine" and are maintaining contact with numerous former Ukrainian politicians including Ukraine's ex-Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. "The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine and is an insight into Kremlin thinking," British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said as quoted in the release. She called on Russia to de-escalate and warned of "severe costs." This controversy comes amid the Ukraine border crisis that has heightened tensions in Europe. Several western countries led by the US have accused Russia of amassing troops near the Ukrainian border in alleged preparation for an invasion. Moscow is saying it has no intention of invading Ukraine while stressing that it has the right to move forces within its own territory. (ANI) According to the commission, Saturday saw nine new local infections in Beijing, five in Tianjin, three in Guangdong, and one in Henan and Yunnan respectively, Xinhua reported. Across the Chinese mainland, a total of 37 imported COVID-19 cases were also reported Saturday, Xinhua further reported. Meanwhile, China is witnessing a rise in COVID-19 cases in its major cities including Beijing. After reporting the first case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the strict new COVID-19 restrictions come into force in the city. This comes ahead of Winter Olympics which is scheduled to be held next month. Beijing will now require travellers to get a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arrival in the Chinese capital, Taipei Times reported. The new rule, effective from Saturday to the end of March, is aimed to help with early detection of Omicron, which is surging globally, and the control of epidemic risks, Beijing Daily, a government newspaper, said on social media. (ANI) Washington [US], January 23 (ANI/Sputnik): US President Joe Biden held a meeting with his national security team, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, a day after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Geneva, the White House press pool informs. "Today President Biden met with his national security team in person and virtually at Camp David to discuss continued Russian aggressive actions toward Ukraine. President Biden was briefed on the current state of Russian military operations on Ukraine's borders and discussed both our ongoing efforts to de-escalate the situation with diplomacy and our range of deterrence measures that are being coordinated closely with our Allies and partners, including ongoing deliveries of security assistance to Ukraine," the White House said on Saturday. According to the release, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Counselor Steve Ricchetti joined Biden in person at Camp David, while other national security officials joined by secure video. "President Biden again affirmed that should Russia further invade Ukraine, the United States will impose swift and severe consequences on Russia with our Allies and partners," the White House said. On Friday, Lavrov and Blinken met in Geneva with the US secretary promising to provide a written response to Moscow's proposals on security guarantees next week. Western countries have been 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 military activity near the Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security. Russia has also affirmed that it has the right to move forces within its own territory. (ANI/Sputnik) New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Sunday informed that she has canceled her wedding amid a new wave of Omicron cases in the country. "My wedding won't be going ahead but I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic," Ardern said during a regular COVID-19 news conference today, CNN reported. She said that health authorities have reported nine Omicron cases in Motueka in a single-family household, CNN reported adding that the family travelled to Auckland to attend a wedding, a funeral, an amusement park, and a tourist attraction last weekend, prompting the country to move to the highest "red light" setting. When asked how she felt about her decision to cancel the wedding that was due to be held this summer, Ardern replied, "Such is life." Last month, New Zealand said it was pushing back its phased border reopening until the end of February over concerns about the Omicron variant, according to CNN. Chris Hipkins, the nation's minister for COVID-19 response, said: "Waiting till the end of February will increase New Zealand's overall protection and slow Omicron's eventual spread. There's no doubt this is disappointing and will upset many holiday plans, but it's important to set these changes out clearly today so they can have time to consider those plans." Hipkins also said New Zealand's Cabinet has agreed to other precautionary measures, including reducing the interval between a second Covid-19 vaccine dose and a booster shot from six months to four months, and increasing the required length of stay for returning travelers from seven to 10 days in managed isolation and quarantine, as per CNN. (ANI) Iran does not consider an interim deal in ongoing negotiations in the Austrian capital of Vienna aimed to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, a source close to the Iranian negotiating team told Tasnim News Agency. "The Iranian team seeks to achieve a lasting and credible agreement," the source was quoted as saying on Saturday. The NBC News network reported on Saturday that Russia has discussed a possible interim nuclear deal, which includes limited lifting of anti-Iran sanctions and re-imposition of certain restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities, with Iran in recent weeks as part of efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear pact, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Xinhua news agency reported. --IANS int/khz/ ( 130 Words) 2022-01-23-05:10:03 (IANS) Ukrainian Ambassador to Berlin Andriy Melnyk welcomed on Sunday the resignation of the Commander of the German Navy, Vice Adm. Kay-Achim Schonbach, who had previously said that Crimea would never return to Ukraine despite Kiev's attempts to put pressure on Moscow, Sputnik reported. Tensions between Ukraine and Russia have increased with Russian troop build-up near the two nations' borders spurring fears that Moscow could launch an invasion. On Saturday, Schonbach requested to be relieved of his post after the controversial statement. According to the vice-admiral, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht accepted his request, it reported. "We welcome Schonbach's resignation," Melnyk told the German newspaper Welt. The ambassador also stressed that Schonbach's statement "calls into question Germany's international standing and credibility, not only from the Ukrainian point of view." On Friday, Schonbach said at a conference in India's Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies that Crimea does not exist and that it will never come back. Moreover, the vice-admiral regarded Western accusations that Moscow allegedly plans to invade Ukraine as "nonsense." In addition, Schonbach stressed that India and Germany need Russia to confront the growing influence of China. Crimea became a part of Russia in a referendum held in March 2014 in which near 96% of Crimeans voted for joining Russia. Kiev considers Crimea to be a Ukrainian territory illegally occupied by Russia. Moscow has repeatedly stated that the decision made by the Crimean people was made in full compliance with international law and the UN Charter. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Crimean issue is "finally closed," Sputnik reported. In the past few months, the West and Ukraine have accused Russia of amassing troops near the Ukrainian border in alleged preparation for invasion. Russia said that it has no intention of invading Ukraine while stressing that it has the right to move forces within its own territory. Russia has also expressed concern over NATO's military activity near its borders and the ongoing military support for Ukraine, including an increase in the number of Western instructors in Donbas. In December, the Russian government proposed a set of mutual security guarantees in Europe to NATO and the United States, with their response still pending.(ANI) European Union agency has once again refused to lift the ban imposed on Pakistan's flights, local media reported citing a letter issued by European Union Aviation Safety Agency, stating that "it would conduct its own evaluation before allowing resumption of flights from Pakistan." "The closure of this significant safety concern was an important step towards a potential lifting of the suspension of your third country operator authorisation," the EASA stated in a letter to Pakistan International Airlines Chief Executive Officer Arshad Malik, Dawn reported. However, the letter notes that "EASA shall conduct an audit of the operator prior to lifting the suspension. Since deficiencies in state oversight were a contributor to the suspension decision, such (an) audit will have to include an assessment to verify if these deficiencies have been properly addressed and corrected." Pakistani carriers had been restricted from flying to EU states in July 2020 when the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) suspended Pakistan International Airlines' (PIA) authorisation to operate flights to EU member states, Dawn reported further. In December last year, an ICAO audit team that had visited Pakistan to undertake a safety audit of the aviation authority completed the process on December 10, according to lacal media. (ANI) On the 125th birth anniversary of late freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Indian National Army (INA) veterans of Malaysia recalled him and shared their own experiences, training and the impact that Netaji had on their lives. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador TS Tirumurti on Sunday remembered late freedom fighter Netaji and shared a first ever documentary of its kind- "At the Altar of India's Freedom' - INA Veterans of Malaysia" on twitter. Produced by the Indian High Commission at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the documentary has been created and directed by Choodie Shivaram. In a documentary, Tirumurti said, the film is an attempt to see Netaji, the Indian National Army and the Rani of Jhansi regiment through the eyes of the Malaysian veterans who fought alongside Netaji. Late Janaki Bai Fateh Singh, INA Veteran, Rani ki Jhansi Regiment, in a documentary said, "I had occasion to see Netaji for the first time at a public rally in Singapore. He is a dynamic speaker. I was very impressed. Intrigued to see him in real life, it was thrilling. We all went to the camp, girls from all over Malaysia infact, I was a platoon commander." Young Malaysian men and women, teenagers then; most of them had never seen India and yet put their lives in the line of fire and fought for India's freedom! An extraordinarily moving experience. Seethapathi, INA Veteran said, "when Netaji came, he announced that the Indian National Army to free Indian Nation, So, we all wanted to go" Tirumurti noted that the tremendous contribution and sacrifice of the Malaysians for the cost of India's independence has not been adequately documented. "While India has certainly recognized their extraordinary contribution. There is still a void When it comes to capturing their voices, their struggles and their stories of great courage," Tirumurti added. The Indian Cultural Center at Kuala Lumpur was renamed as Netaji Subhas Bose, Indian Cultural Center. "The Indian Cultural Center at Kuala Lumpur was renamed as Netaji SubashBose, Indian Cultural Center. The first Cultural Center to be named after Netaji. the Malaysian veterans, they are in their 90s Now, the youngest one, being 89," Tirumurti added. Notably, last year, the Government had declared 23rd January as Parakram Diwas to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Born on January 23, 1897, Netaji played a crucial role in India's freedom movement. Subhas Chandra Bose had also established the Azad Hind Fauj. In a first, India will begin Republic Day celebrations from January 23 instead of January 24, to include the birth anniversary of late freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. It will end on January 30, the day Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. To commence the celebrations of Republic Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Netaji's 125th birth anniversary, will unveil the hologram statue of the freedom fighter at India Gate in Delhi on Sunday at around 6 pm. On January 21, the Prime Minister informed that a grand granite statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will be installed at India Gate soon. (ANI) Nepal's former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has tested positive for COVID-19, senior leaders from the opposition CPN-UML confirmed. The former Prime Minister and Chairman of opposition Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist tested positive for COVID-19 after undergoing a test on Saturday, Bishnu Rijal, Deputy Chief of Central Publicity Department of the party told ANI. "Chairman of our Party- CPN (UML), KP Sharma Oli has tested positive for COVID-19 and is taking rest at his residence Balkot along with his spouse Radhika Shakya," Rijal tweeted. As per the Deputy Chief of Publicity Department of the party, Oli and Shakya underwent a test on Saturday after reporting complications in their health. "Antigen test was conducted beforehand the RT-PCR test of Saturday. They don't have major health complications and are doing well at their house under physician guidance," the Rijal further told ANI over the phone. Concerns have grown about the health status of the ailing former Prime Minister who years before had undergone a renal transplant and is always prone to infections and health complications. Nepal faced two waves of Coronavirus infection under his leadership and was criticized for not taking proper measures to curb the infection. Oli during his tenure also made statements claiming COVID can be cured using turmeric powder and consuming it with milk or boiled water. In recent weeks also, Oli was on run throughout the nation campaigning and holding mass and party meetings despite the raging cases of coronavirus in the Himalayan Nation. The second wave which passed through under his tenure saw a high number of deaths and infections fueled by the delta variant. Nepal on Saturday alone recorded a total of 10,254 new cases of coronavirus and 16 deaths taking the death toll in the country is 11,651 to date. Currently, there are 72,862 active cases in the country. (ANI) You are here: China Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong has urged efforts to step up assistance for people in difficulty, strengthen disability assistance work, and ensure the basic wellbeing of the people. Wang made the remarks during an inspection tour in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from Friday to Saturday. Wang emphasized the importance of improving the assistance system and scaling up input to guarantee the basic living needs of disadvantaged people and those with disabilities. Efforts should be made to strengthen help and support for people in difficulty due to COVID-19 or natural disasters, and ensure that all types of aid are allocated on time and in full, Wang said. He also ordered improved COVID-19 containment and safety management work in places including elderly care homes, children's homes and services facilities for people with disabilities. Overseas shipments of red pepper paste, called "gochujang" in Korean, came to $50.93 million in 2020, up 62.6 per cent compared with 2016 and 35.2 per cent from 2019, according to the data from Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp and the Agriculture Ministry. Exports of red pepper paste seem to have soared in recent years as more foreigners became interested in Korean food after watching K-pop stars, such as BTS, as well as increasing exposure to Korean culture on over-the-top services, Yonhap News Agency quoted the state company as saying. Experts said the Korean Wave generated by K-pop and TV dramas could turn fans in foreign countries into active consumers of South Korean products. The US was the top export market with a share of 26.4 per cent, followed by China with 17.3 per cent and Japan with 10.3 per cent. Exports to the Philippines and Canada accounted for 6 per cent and 4.3 per cent, respectively. Outbound shipments of soybean paste "doenjang" also jumped to $11.72 million in 2020, up 44.8 per cent from 2016, the data showed. --IANS ksk/ ( 227 Words) 2022-01-23-10:08:05 (IANS) Work to deepen the bay will mark a milestone in upgrades to the site, where the shallow waters can currently only accommodate small patrol vessels, according to Nikkei Asia. Further, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)'s Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative on Saturday released a January 16 satellite image showing two clamshell dredgers just off the coast of Ream accompanied by barges for collecting dredged sand. The vessels were also visible in a photo uploaded to Facebook by the Cambodian Minister of National Defense Tea Banh, who visited the site on the Gulf of Thailand on January 18 this year. China is funding upgrades at Ream naval base including an expansion of the port and the development of a ship repair facility. On the other hand, US has raised concerns that China is planning to host military assets at the base. In 2019, the US had seen a draft agreement between Cambodia and China that allowed Beijing to use Ream for 30 years, as reported by Wall Street Journal. Earlier, in June last year, US senior diplomat Wendy Sherman visited Phnom Penh and told Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that Washington had "serious concerns" about China's "military presence" at the site. Onshore, work has continued on the expansion, with several locations within the main administrative center in the southwest of the site having been cleared. Satellite images also show clearing for roads and a possible fence near a Vietnam-funded hospital and a small building and several concrete lots have also appeared along the coast. Taken together, the scale of recent demolition and land clearing, and especially the new dredging activity, indicates that the base is being prepared for significant infrastructure upgrades, CSIS report mentions. (ANI) Parliament Speaker Nikola Minchev, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, other state officials as well as foreign diplomats attended the event on Saturday, reports Xinhua news agency. In his speech, Radev said he devoted his first term to the battle for lawfulness and democracy. In the years to come, he would stand up for sovereignty, lawfulness, security and justice. "I will continue to be the president of all Bulgarian citizens, regardless of party affiliation, ethnicity and religion," he said, adding that he would defend the rights, interests and dignity of the people. "I believe that together we will continue to build a free, democratic, prosperous and modern state," he said. Radev, 58, won the presidential election for the first time in November 2016, and repeated his success in November 2021. --IANS ksk/ ( 166 Words) 2022-01-23-10:46:03 (IANS) China's oppression in Tibet has gone on for decades and so has the Tibetan freedom struggle. Tibetans in Tibet have seen, witnessed, and experienced the first-hand oppressiveness of Chinese rule. The communist party of China that has led the government for a centenary has opted for the most brutal ways to deal with Tibetans. The Communists not only destroyed countless relics but also robbed the Tibetan people of their livestock, jewellery, their robes and tents also, reported Just Earth News. During the period when the entire world was under strict lockdown to avoid the shackles of the COVID 19 pandemic, China despite being severely affected as well did not lose the opportunity to torture the Tibetans yet again, reported Just Earth News. Several Tibetan monasteries, nunneries and schools were forced to close down during the lockdown. The recent upsurge that became yet another saddening event for the Tibetans were the demolishment of a 99-foot tall statue of the Buddha in Kham Drakgo in the Sichuan Province, reported Just Earth News. According to other sources, it has also come out in the light that 45 huge prayer wheels erected near the Drakgo Monastery have also been removed and the prayer flags have been burned down. The statue was built with the permission of the local authorities and was not an unlawful act. The higher officials, however, started expressing their disliking of the size of the statue although it was causing no harm to any aspect. The authorities, without any consideration, ordered the demolition on December 12, 2021, and stated the false accusations of how the height of statues as such is prohibited, reported Just Earth News. This was the false reason given behind the demolition of the statue of Buddha. This reason, however, seems completely irrelevant to the destruction of the prayer wheels that also faced the same fate alongside the statue. Drakgo Monastery's Gaden Namgyal Monastic school was also demolished a few weeks before this incident under the claims that they had no proper documentation and were violating the law. The destruction of the statue and the prayer wheels is a direct attack on the religious traditions of Tibet. The lack of religious rights in Tibet has been emphasised on various grounds, reported Just Earth News. The lack of rights for the Tibetans to study their own culture and language is clear from the demolishment of schools like the one in Drakgo since they serve as an important hub of education related to Tibet. These attacks will continue without a speck of doubt since the communist party's aim is to completely wipe out every aspect of the Tibetan ethnicity, be it their tradition, language, culture and religion. The complete Sinicization of Tibet is their ultimate goal, reported Just Earth News. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is seen as a grave threat to their plan which is why the communist government has tried to defame him at all times. One of their main targets now is to appoint the next Dalai Lama as per their will so as to gain control over the religious rights of the Tibetans completely. The same strategy has been seen with their appointment of the Panchen Lama. It is clear, however, that they have no right to do so but the fact that they claim to have always owned Tibet is being used as leverage. The news of oppression in Tibet, the deaths and the destruction of the land stirs everyone to the core and makes us dread the fate of the Tibetans who live in a land as such with no freedom or escape. Tibet's issue is coming out in the limelight but it needs more support. Tibetans have suffered endlessly with their identities at stake, reported Just Earth News. (ANI) German naval chief, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schonbach has resigned over comments on Ukraine and Russia he made during his visit to India. His resignation on late Saturday night was accepted by Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht. Lambrecht has appointed his deputy as interim naval chief. During his interaction on January 21 at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, a military think tank in Delhi, Schonbach had said the idea that Moscow wanted to invade Kiev was "nonsense", adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin deserved respect. "Does Russia really want a small and tiny strip of Ukraine soil to integrate into their country? No, this is nonsense. Putin is probably putting pressure because can do it and he splits EU opinion. What he really wants is respect." Speaking about Putin, the German naval chief had also said: "He wants high-level respect and my God giving some respect is low cost, even no cost. If I was asked, it is easy to give him the respect he really demands and probably also deserves. Russia is an old country, Russia is an important country. Even we India, Germany, need Russia. We need Russia against Chinaa" Talking about Ukraine's possible admission into NATO, Schonbach had said: "Ukraine of course cannot meet the requirements because it's occupied in the Donbas region by the Russian Army or by what they call as militias." He also said that the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, was gone and would not come back to Ukraine. His comments, captured on video, caused outrage in Ukraine and a ripple effect in Berlin after which he was asked to step down. --IANS sk/ksk/ ( 293 Words) 2022-01-23-11:10:02 (IANS) "For this to happen, we call on Lebanon to distance itself from internal affairs of other countries and avoid being a platform for attacking Arab and Gulf countries," Xinhua news agency quoted Al-Sabah as saying following his meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati here on Saturday. Al-Sabah said his two-day visit to Lebanon also aims to convey a message of solidarity with the Lebanese people and to encourage Lebanon to implement necessary reforms to restore its prosperity. For his part, Mikati said Lebanon is looking forward to closer cooperation with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. "Lebanon will restore its strong ties with its Arab brothers," Mikati welcomed Al-Sabah's visit, adding the visit reflects "brotherly feelings and a long history of trust between Lebanon and Kuwait." This is the first visit by a senior Gulf official to Lebanon since a diplomatic rift between the two sides last year. GCC countries including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain expelled in October Lebanese diplomats and recalled their own envoys following a Lebanese Minister's controversial comments about the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen. --IANS ksk/ ( 211 Words) 2022-01-23-11:26:03 (IANS) China has erred in its understanding of Lithuania as the country's actions have further deepened Vilnius relations with Taipei. Last year, China entered into a spat with Lithuania over Vilnius allowing Taipei to open a de facto embassy using the name "Taiwan." Beijing recalled its ambassadors from Lithuania and downgraded its diplomatic ties with the Baltic state to the "charge d'affaires" level, according to Taipei Times. Further, China's move enabled Lithuania on a plate to Taiwan. Also, China used its economic leverage as punishment. First, it tried to pressure German industry giant Continental AG to stop using Lithuanian-made components. When a European Union (EU) trade commissioner said that Chinese customs were refusing to clear goods containing Lithuanian parts, China denied it was at fault, but it was too late; it had crossed the EU's red line in adopting unfair trade measures, as reported by Taipei Times. China, which has been using its economic clout to bully others, underestimated Lithuania. What started as a diplomatic dispute evolved into an issue that concerns "safeguarding the European single market from attack." France, which has assumed the EU presidency, was keen to deploy anti-coercion trade measures. German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock said that the EU would stand in solidarity against China's threats, while the US has voiced its support for Vilnius. China then tried to stir up antagonistic sentiment between Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte. The president had expressed his annoyance that he was not consulted on the name for the Taiwanese representative office, as reported by according to Taipei Times. The European Union the US and North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations' backing of Lithuania is not just about defending an ally, it is about teaching China a lesson, as reported by Taipei Times. The European Parliament is to continue supporting Taiwan by voting on two foreign policy reviews next month. The Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defence Policy are said to include pro-Taiwan recommendations and are expected to pass, according to Taipei Times. (ANI) Pakistan has never experienced the presidential system in a true sense and spirit, said the country's Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan on Saturday backing the "Islamic" Presidential System in detail. The presidential system is being discussed on social media alone but it has not come up for a discussion at the cabinet or government level so far, The News International quoted Ali Muhammad Khan as saying. Pakistan had never experienced the Islamic Presidential System, said Khan, adding that both the parliamentary and presidential systems have their own merits and demerits but the government has not taken any decision for holding a referendum for the Islamic Presidential System. The Minister also said that it is the people who will decide about the system. Referring that if the Islamic Presidential System gets its way in Pakistan, Khan said that it would be through polls in a democratic manner as Ayub Khan, Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf were not elected through the democratic process. Pakistani people in recent days have expressed their views a lot on social media over the presidential system. Currently, no political party has supported the highly controversial idea as the constitutional experts are of the view that any scheme that could damage the Constitution's Parliamentary and Islamic character would demolish the very basis of it, according to The News International. (ANI) Afghanistan exports have been suffering due to lack of air transit as air corridors have been suspended according to the statement of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI). According to ACCI officials, the suspension of flights via air corridors has created challenges in exporting merchants' goods abroad. The officials said they have been trying to solve the problem, but have made no progress to date, according to Tolo News. "ACCI had been trying to bring facilities and easiness, but so far, there is no progress," ACCI's deputy head Khairuddin Mayel said. Before the collapse of the former government, Afghan goods used to be transported out of the country to world markets through air corridors from airports in four provinces: Kabul, Kandahar, Balkh and Herat, according to Tolo News. Meanwhile, a number of traders urged the Taliban to solve the problem and facilitate the export of goods to world markets via air corridors. Further, according to ACCI, currently, only the air corridor between Afghanistan and China is active, and so far 1,500 tons of pine nuts have been exported to China in cargo flights. ACCI's statistics show that in the past five years, 1,800 flights transported goods valued at USD 600 million through air corridors to a number of countries including India, the United Arab Emirates, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany, according to Tolo News. (ANI) Conservative MP Nusrat Ghani, who became the first Muslim woman to be a UK government minister when she was appointed to a post at the Department for Transport, has said that her faith was raised as a reason for her sacking in 2020, the BBC reported. According to the Sunday Times, Ghani has said when she asked for an explanation, a Conservative government whip said her "Muslimness was raised as an issue" during discussions about the reshuffle and her status as a "Muslim woman... was making colleagues uncomfortable". The Wealden MP is quoted as saying she dropped the matter after being told that if she "persisted" in asking about it she "would be ostracised and her career and reputation would be destroyed". On Saturday night, UK Conservative Chief Whip Mark Spencer identified himself as the person Ghani's claims were made about, the BBC reported. He said the accusations were "completely false and defamatory" and denied ever using the words Ghani had alleged. Spencer went on to say it was "disappointing" that at the time she had declined to refer the matter for a formal Conservative Party investigation. Meanwhile, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has said the allegation should be investigated. In a tweet late Saturday night, he said there was "no place for Islamophobia or any form of racism" in the Conservative Party, adding that the allegations had to be "investigated properly and racism routed out". Ghani was sacked in a mini-reshuffle of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government in February 2020. --IANS san/ksk/ ( 264 Words) 2022-01-23-12:32:03 (IANS) China's National Health Commission on Saturday urged targeted COVID-19 response measures for people traveling home, as the country is seeing more cross-regional trips ahead of the Spring Festival. Tailored measures should be applied to people traveling from areas with different risk levels, Mi Feng, a spokesperson for the commission, told a press conference. Local authorities should not take a simplistic approach to COVID-19 containment by applying a one-size-fits-all policy, nor should they add excessive restrictions, Mi said. This year's Spring Festival travel rush began on Jan. 17 and will continue until Feb. 25, with the number of passenger trips expected to reach 1.18 billion, official data shows. According to data from the commission, the Chinese mainland on Friday recorded 23 new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19. Though there has been a marked drop in the number of domestic infections, Mi said that recent cluster cases indicate the risk of the virus spreading still exists. Satoshi Suzuki, ambassador of Japan to India on Sunday extended his wishes on the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Sharing a video message on the birth anniversary celebrations by Netaji Research Bureau, Satoshi said, "I wish to extend my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. As COVID-19 protocols prevent me from joining you in person in Kolkata on this memorable occasion. Kindly, allow me to convey my message through this video." "Any talks for India's fight for freedom are incomplete without the reference of Netaji, one of the most prominent and important figures of the time," he added. He also congratulated Netaji Research Bureau for organising the event to pay respect to the brave freedom fighter and leader who contributed to unifying the nation, which India finally attained 75 years ago. "That also makes this year special for the country. The year 2022 is also a special year for us as it marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between Japan and India," said the Japanese envoy. He said that this year's theme for the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between Japan and India is "Building a future for our centenary." "Today, Japan and India as strategic partners cooperate in the close and multi-layer manner in the Indo-Pacific as well as in the global arena through strong bi-lateral ties between the two countries," added the Japanese ambassador. Talking about the trust between the two nations, he said, "The trust between the two nations has been laid well beyond 70 years of our diplomatic history. We have never forgotten that it was the newly independent India then that extended enormous help to Japan to come back to the international community after World War II." Satoshi also named Swami Vivekananda, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Justice Radhabinod Pal, many great Indians, notably from Bengal who had been associated with then Japanese intellectuals and had played a large role in building modern India-Japan relations. "Undoubtedly, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was one of the persons who marked a new chapter in the history of the two nations. He is one of the most revered freedom fighters of India. His ardent passion and charismatic personality made him one of the most memorable Indians among the Japanese citizens," said Satoshi Suzuki. He also laid stress on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and his role in the formation of the Indian National Army (INA) and the Indian freedom movement. "It was in 1943 that Netaji arrived in Japan through a long trip from Germany and then he succeeded Rash Behari Bose, the Indian Independence League and Commander-in-Chief of Indian National Army (INA). He organised INA with thousands of young Indians - men and women, Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs. All equally joined to form the army for the cause of India's independence," he added. He also narrated about Bharati 'Asha' Sahay Choudhury, who was inspired by Netaji. "I would like to narrate about a person's biography who is widely read in Japan. There was an Indian lady, her name was Bharati 'Asha' Sahay Choudhury also known as Asako in Japan. She was born in Kobe, Japan in 1928 as the daughter of Anand Mohan Sahay, who served as the cabinet minister of the Provisional Government of Free India. Asha was also one of the devoted patriots, inspired by Netaji. Netaji opened opportunities to all Indian patriots, including young ladies like her to join INA for India's independence, said the Japanese ambassador. "National movement forged the unity of this diverse land. It brought people of diverse faith, diverse creed, diverse languages, together and then forged for the freedom of their motherland. Netaji and INA set a wonderful precedent for comprehensive unity and religious harmony to independent India in later days," he added. Netaji said, "One individual may die for an idea, but that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives.". "After 75 years of India's independence, his inspiration seems to be still vivid among the people in India and even among foreigners like us," said Satoshi. The Japanese envoy also recalled that the former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe was also inspired by Netaji. "Former PM Abe is also the one inspired by Netaji. On his visit to the memorial in Kolkata in August 2007, he said, "The Japanese are deeply moved by Bose's strong will to have led Indian independence movement from British rule. Netaji is a much-respected name in Japan," said Satoshi Suzuki. (ANI) Pakistan's police on Saturday applied baton charge to disperse women protesters in Sindh province's Tando Allahyar who agitated against the arrest of their family members following a Friday night arson attack on a '15 police helpline' centre in the city, a media report said. The Tando Allahyar police on Saturday beat women protesters with sticks which drew criticism from Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leadership. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also took notice of the use of force by police against the women and asked the Hyderabad DIG, Pir Mohammad Shah, for an inquiry, reported Dawn. Three cases have been registered by Tando Allahyar police against Asif Khanzada -- presumably brother and complainant of Bholu Khanzada murder case -- and many others at the A-Section police station of Tando Allahyar. An unspecified number of suspects were picked up, said the Pakistani publication. It came after an arson attack occurred on the police center on Friday night following the funeral of MQM-P activist, Khalilur Rehman alias Bholu Khanzada, who was gunned down at the gate of sessions court earlier in the day. Nearly 10 motorcycles and a private car present inside the police centre were torched. According to police officials, intruders took away their motorbikes and official instruments including charging devices of walkie-talkie sets. With regard to the arson attack, the police conducted raids on the houses of suspects. However, amid the crackdown, family members of the suspects blocked Hyderabad road near Islamia Mohallah and raised slogans against police highhandedness, according to Dawn. Pakistan police beat women protesters with sticks in order to disperse them. The video of the incident went viral and drew criticism from the political parties and government functionaries. (ANI) "Look, the [Afghan] Taliban were negotiating with the TTP and what we were told in our meetings was that their conditions and demands were so harsh and unacceptable that talks could not continue," Rashid said during a press conference on Saturday informing that the talks with the TTP had broken down, reported Dawn. The minister also said that TTP violated the ceasefire agreed by both sides earlier. "We did not contact them after that," said Rashid. With regard to the recent surge in terror attacks, Rashid emphasized that the blame could not be put on any side. The minister also informed that the Taliban played a key role in talks. "If they (TTP) will fight, we will fight back," said Rashid emphasizing that Islamabad's doors are always open for the TTP if they abide by law and constitution. It came as Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan last year had stated that Islamabad is in talks with the TTP for a ceasefire. (ANI) 'The People's Liberation Army in the South China Sea: An Organizational Guide' released by Recorded Future, a private cyber security company focus on China's military upgrading facilities in the South China Sea. New units of the People's Liberation Army have been established and existing ones upgraded over the past decade to man outposts in the South China Sea, leaving China's military better positioned to project power in the wider Indo-Pacific region, according to Radio Free Asia. China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea and has been engaged in territorial disputes with several neighbouring countries. The Chinese military occupies the entire Paracels archipelago and at least seven features in the Spratlys, with the number of troops stationed there estimated at more than 10,000, according to the report. With the main focus on the protection of China's maritime and territorial claims, the units have received sizable funding and grown rapidly over the past decade, according to Radio Free Asia. By projecting power in the South China Sea, Beijing wishes to project power within and beyond the first island chain, control access to vital sea lanes of communication or engage with the US in a conflict over the status of Taiwan. The 33-page report provides up-to-date and comprehensive research on China's solid military presence on the islands and features in the South China Sea. Zachary Haver, China defence analyst at Recorded Future and the author of the report said the biggest difficulty was identifying the PLA units. "China began fundamentally reorganizing the PLA around 2015, according to Haver, and deployed a significant number of new forces to the South China Sea over the past decade," he said. (ANI) Touted as China's biggest industrial investment in Europe, the USD 900 million Ling Long Tire factory is now a magnet of criticism for a Serbian government that opponents accuse of no-questions-asked subservience to China. Andrew Higgins, who was awarded the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting, writing in The New York Times (NYT) said that workers and activists face problems like human trafficking, prison-like working conditions and environmental abuse are endemic. Poor conditions for Vietnamese workers building a USD 900 million tire factory underscore a chasm between the promise of investment from China and grim realities on the ground. About 400 Vietnamese work in Zrenjanin, along with hundreds more Chinese, who get higher salaries and better living conditions, according to the workers and local labour activists. Meanwhile, a former farmer from Vietnam described his work conditions in Serbia as "miserable and dangerous," and said he was housed in a decrepit shack crammed with other Vietnamese workers and bullied by Chinese supervisors, reported Higgins. The Ling Long Tire project first took shape in September 2018 during meetings in Beijing between Serbia's populist president, Aleksandar Vucic, and Xi Jinping, China's leader. Xi, who has looked to Serbia as China's most dependable European friend at a time when other nations are souring on his country, praised the Balkan nation as a "good, honest friend and good partner," reported NYT. Vucic predicted that the tire factory, which plans to produce more than 130 million tires a year in Zrenjanin, and other planned ventures would make Serbia "the port for Chinese investments throughout the region." But the furore over working conditions has set back Serbia's years-long effort to join the European Union, whose view of China has become increasingly jaundiced, said Higgins. The European Parliament last month demanded an investigation into the treatment of Vietnamese labourers in Zrenjanin and voiced alarm "over China's increasing influence in Serbia and across the Western Balkans". It has also aggravated what has become Vucic's biggest political headache: public anger over damage to the environment widely blamed on the government's drive to juice the economy at all costs. Chinese ventures in Serbia, which include smoke-belching steelworks near Belgrade, the capital, and a copper mine and smelter in the southern town of Bor, have helped stoke this anger, reported NYT. Despite gushing praise of Beijing in the pro-government Serbian media, they have made China synonymous in the minds of many Serbs with environmental degradation. A few of the workers have fled. But for most of them, leaving would mean breaking their contracts and leaving family members in Vietnam in hock to labour brokers and loan sharks who paid their way to Serbia, the workers said, said Higgins. Vietnamese workers who agreed to be interviewed by The Times through an interpreter said they had lived for months in squalid barrack-like shelters previously used by a local farm to raise pigs and chickens. Moreover, labour contracts signed by Vietnamese workers with China Energy Engineering Group, a Ling Long subcontractor overseeing construction, commit each worker not to engage in trade union activities, and to "refrain from anything that would detract from his reputation or the reputation" of the Chinese company. Even more restrictive are the terms set by recruitment agencies in Vietnam. One agency, Song Hy Gia Lai International, demanded that all workers going to Europe sign a document pledging never to go on strike or protest. The document appears to have been copied and pasted from agreements originally drafted for labourers recruited in Vietnam for work in the Middle East: It warns that workers going to Serbia risk having their hands cut off if they steal, reported NYT. One Vietnamese worker who spoke to a Serbian TV station in November about what he described as inhumane living conditions was taken in for questioning by the Serbian police -- and released after signing a statement asserting that he had no complaints. Another who spoke to a Serbian media outlet was fired. (ANI) The protest was organized by the youth force of Central Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Swat chapter, with the protesters holding banners and placards and demanding immediate arrest of the killers, reported Dawn. The protest leaders said the killing reflected on the poor law and order situation prevailing in the province. They vowed to continue agitating till the culprits were arrested and brought to justice. They demanded of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan to ensure immediate arrest of the culprits, reported Dawn. Sheikh Hamid and his brother, Sheikh Mohammad were critically injured when two motorcyclists opened fire on them in Qazi Kallay area in the limits of Faqirabad police station of Peshawar on the night of last Sunday. They were taken to hospital, where Sheikh Hamid succumbed to injuries. (ANI) A number of Afghans based in Norway on Sunday protested against the Taliban delegation who are on a visit to the capital city of Oslo to discuss several issues with the country's officials and representatives of the international community. They said that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) does not represent the Afghans, citing Euronews, The Khaama Press reported. The demonstration was staged to oppose the visit of the Taliban delegation and their meetings with Norwegian authorities and members of the International community. The Afghan protestors said that the Taliban are on the blacklist for "terrorists" of the US and that they should not be negotiated within Norway, reported The Khaama Press. The Taliban delegation is led by the acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Motaqi who arrived in Oslo on Saturday and is supposed to meet with authorities from Norway and special representatives of France, Germany, Italy, Britain, the United States, and the European Union. Earlier, the Foreign Ministry of Norway in a statement had said that the invitation and negotiation with the Taliban do not mean their recognition but it is essential to address the ongoing humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, reported The Khaama Press. (ANI) Hamdullah Mohib, the National Security Advisor (NSA) for the previous Afghan government on Sunday said that failure to create "political cohesiveness and unity" led to the collapse of the Afghan republic. Mohib made the statement in an interview with Foreign Policy, where he recounted multiple factors which, according to him, led to the collapse of the republican system on August 15, 2021, reported Tolo News. According to Mohib, political unity was necessary to keep the security forces unified, saying that they brought in leaders from different backgrounds for the sake of national solidarity, but despite efforts, they failed to create political cohesiveness and unity. "This became incredibly difficult to achieve during the 2019 presidential elections, which once again completely ruptured the work we had done on political cohesion. I believe that our inability to put national unity ahead of political rivalries and competition for power sources was one major reason we failed," he said. Mohib also said there were divergent views on security issues inside the government which complicated analysis, according to him, it made security analysis problematic and security meetings ineffective, reported Tolo News. "In late 2020 and 2021, I developed divergent views on the management of the security sector with [then-Afghan] Vice President Amrullah Saleh. The analysis and information he was providing directly to Ghani did not correspond with the information that the Office of the National Security Council (ONSC) was receiving from the security ministries and the analysis produced by my own colleagues in the ONSC," he added. According to Mohib, the third factor behind the failure of the former government was tied to a stark transition in US foreign policy priorities, reported Tolo News. Mohib said that the US was getting more involved in confronting other threats such as those emanating from China and cyberspace, adding that supporting engagement in Afghanistan gradually lost its importance in the US administration. "Whatever the reasons, and I am sure there are many, the United States did make that final decision in April 2021 during Biden's administration to withdraw--at any cost--from Afghanistan. That announcement was a tipping point from which we were not able to recover," he said. Meanwhile, a number of political analysts said that the collapse of the previous government did leave Afghanistan in a very bad situation as the country is now facing a looming economic and humanitarian crisis, reported Tolo News. (ANI) Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Special Representative of the President of Iran for Afghanistan, said in a tweet on Saturday that in order to meet the needs of the Afghan people, Tehran has issued a three-month permit for the transfer of diesel to Afghanistan, according to Ariana News. Qomi also said that Iran's decision came following a request by the Taliban. "In order to meet the needs of the Afghan people in the winter and according to the request of the Afghan authorities from the Islamic Republic of Iran, a permit for the transit of diesel to Afghanistan from the territory of Iran was issued for three months," Ariana News quoted the official as saying. The Taliban cabinet last week held a meeting. The cabinet decided that it would consider import options to meet the people's fuel demand. (ANI) Taliban officials on Saturday said that they have started receiving the delivery of humanitarian assistance from China, according to Khaama Press. Further, the Taliban's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriates said that the relief assistance comprises 440 tonnes of rice that will be distributed to impoverished people in ten Northern Provinces. The recently arrived shipment is part of the humanitarian aid that has been pledged by China to the Afghan people. The spokesperson of the Ministry Abdul Mutalib Haqqani said that priority has been given to provinces that are most affected by recent snowfall and where there is a risk of closure of roads. Officials of the Ministry have also said that other shipments of humanitarian assistance will also reach Afghanistan in the coming days. Earlier, China had sent winter clothes, foodstuff, medicines, and COVID-19 vaccines to Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, according to Khaama Press. By providing aid to Afghanistan, China would like to include Taliban-led Afghanistan in joining the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure project. China has proposed the construction of the Peshawar-Kabul motorway as an extension of CPEC in Afghanistan. (ANI) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Sunday reported the second-largest incursion by Chinese military aircraft into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in history. As per the MND, 39 Chinese military aircraft intruded on Taiwan's ADIZ, reported Taiwan News. At 10:45 pm on Sunday evening, the MND reported that 39 People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) aircraft infringed on Taiwan's ADIZ. The aircraft included 24 Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, 10 Chengdu J-10 fighters, one Xi'an H-6 bomber, two Shaanxi Y-9 electronic warfare aircraft (Y-9 EW), and two Shaanxi Y-8 electronic intelligence spotter planes (Y-8 ELINT), reported Taiwan News. The MND said that it responded by scrambling combat patrol aircraft, issuing radio warnings, and deploying air defense missile systems. The 39 PLAAF military aircraft were spotted on Sunday, matching the 39 detected on October 2, 2021, the second-highest number recorded on one day. The all-time record for the most Chinese military aircraft seen violating Taiwan's ADIZ was set on October 4 of 2021 with 56 PLAAF planes, reported Taiwan News. (ANI) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday expressed gratitude for Australia and the UK support and said that Taiwan will continue working with both countries and other like-minded partners to promote a more open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific region, according to Taiwan News. Earlier, Australia and the UK highlighted the importance of Taiwan Strait peace and expressed support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations during a ministerial meeting on Friday. Further, UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace met with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Peter Dutton for the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations in Sydney, Australia on Friday. Also, the ministers reiterated the significance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues. On the other hand, the ministers backed Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations "as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite and as an observer or guest where it is," according to an Australia UK. joint statement. Meanwhile, both US and Japan stressed the importance of peace and stability in the strait and a peaceful resolution of cross-strait tensions during a virtual meeting, according to Taiwan News. (ANI) The UK foreign office on Saturday said that it has information that Kremlin is planning to install a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine. They said that the Russian government is planning to "install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine," reported CNN. "The former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate," the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said. Murayev told CNN Saturday "there is nothing to comment on" regarding the allegations, as he is a Ukrainian national and still facing Russian sanctions. The UK foreign office went on to name four other former Ukrainian officials, saying, "We have information that the Russian intelligence services maintain links with numerous former Ukrainian politicians" including Serhiy Arbuzov, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine from 2012 to 2014, and acting Prime Minister in 2014; Andriy Kluyev, First Deputy Prime Minister from 2010 to 2012 and Chief of Staff to former Ukrainian President Yanukovich, Vladimir Sivkovich, former Deputy Head of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council (RNBO); Mykola Azarov, Prime Minister of Ukraine from 2010-2014. "Some of these have contact with Russian intelligence officers currently involved in the planning for an attack on Ukraine," the British foreign office statement added. Meanwhile, Russia has denied allegations it is planning to attack Ukraine. Early Sunday, Russia's foreign ministry urged the UK's foreign office to "stop engaging in provocations," state news agency TASS reported. "The misinformation spread by the British Foreign Office is another evidence that these are the NATO countries, led by the Anglo-Saxons, that are escalating tensions around Ukraine. We call on the British Foreign Office to stop provocative activities, stop spreading nonsense and focus on studying the history of the Tatar-Mongol yoke," a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry told TASS. Meanwhile, Romania and Bulgaria slammed Russia's demands to move NATO troops, reported CNN. NATO members Romania and Bulgaria slammed Russia's demand to remove alliance troops from both countries as "unacceptable," with each arguing that the Kremlin has no right to interfere in the foreign policy decisions of other sovereign states. The comments from both countries came just hours after Russia's Foreign Ministry confirmed its demand for NATO to pull back troops from parts of eastern Europe including Bulgaria and Romania. The two countries are located on the Black Sea, which analysts believe Moscow sees as an important geostrategic buffer zone between itself and Europe. Russia and NATO have been at loggerheads since late last year when the Kremlin deployed an estimated 100,000 troops to its border with Ukraine. The military posturing has prompted fears that Russia is planning another incursion into Ukraine after invading and illegally annexing the Crimean peninsula in 2014. The United States and its NATO allies have repeatedly warned Russia any movement of its troops into Ukrainian territory would be met with what US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called "a severe and a united response." Diplomats from all sides have been attempting to negotiate a peaceful settlement, though one of Russia's core demands -- that NATO withdraws foreign military forces and equipment from members of the alliance who joined after 1997 -- was quickly deemed a non-starter by Western diplomats, reported CNN. NATO members have, in recent days, deployed military equipment and personnel to eastern alliance members in response to Russia's troop build-up in Ukraine. The US Embassy in Kyiv said Friday that the first shipment of American-directed materiel -- 200,000 pounds of lethal aid, including ammunition for fighters on the front lines -- has arrived in Ukraine. Though US President Joe Biden ruled out sending American combat troops to Ukraine, Washington has approved the shipment of US-origin weapons to Kyiv -- including highly sought-after American anti-aircraft systems from Latvia and Lithuania. (ANI) Officials at the Ministry of Education (MoE) said it will reopen schools for all age groups, both girls and boys, at the beginning of the new solar year, according to Tolo News. In the meantime, residents urged the government to take steps to reopen schools and universities for Afghan girls. Earlier, US special representative to Afghanistan Thomas West said girls' education was an important aspect that will attract international investment. Further, MoE Education officials said that they will decide over girls' schools without considering external pressures, adding that schools were closed temporarily across Afghanistan and will be opened in the coming spring. "If the international community and US pay the salaries of teachers or not, we, as the government, will open schools in the spring and this decision does not link with the demands of the US and international community," said Aziz Ahmad Reyan, head of the Publication and Public Relations of the MoE. On the other hand, Ahmad Taqqi, spokesman of the ministry said that ministry of higher education is making efforts to open universities very soon. Earlier, most of the schools and universities were closed in Afghanistan after the takeover by the Taliban in Kabul last August. (ANI) An Afghanistan delegation, led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, has reportedly met with the Afghan civil society members on Sunday in Oslo, Norway. The delegation will first meet with the US envoys and the talks would focus on the release of the frozen assets, the removal of its members' names from the blacklist, and the extension of relations between Kabul and Washington, according to Tolo News. Earlier, Afghanistan delegates landed in Norway's capital Oslo on Saturday night. "In the first meeting, with the Americans, the release of the Afghan assets, the removal of the blacklist, and also the resumption and extension of bilateral ties will be discussed," said Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman of the Taliban. The visit is the first of the Taliban delegation to Europe after it took power in Kabul last year and the meeting will be held from January 23 to 25, according to a statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. Earlier, Afghan missions abroad which are run by diplomats of the former government in a joint statement praised Norway for convening the talks on Afghanistan but called for further pressure by the international community for the formation of an inclusive government as well as to ensure human rights in the country. "The force which came to power after the changes is not inclusive and it doesn't reflect the wishes and intentions of the people," said Zarifa Yaqobi, a member of the Mawj and Tahwal movement. However, the official invitation of the Taliban's delegation to Norway faced diverse reactions. A movement named "Afghanistan Women's Government in Exile" in a statement accused the Islamic Emirate of violating human rights and criticized the Norwegian government for inviting the Kabul delegation. Some Afghans living in Europe staged protests in Oslo over the talks as well in front of the Norwegian embassy in London, according to Tolo News. (ANI) The disease was frightening. It had turned into a scourge, a pestilence that was sickening scores of people and sowing fear and uncertainty. But scientists and physicians had a weapon in the fight: a vaccine. Much of the populace embraced the shot, though others decried it as unproven and risky. As is often the case in the United States, the courts got involved. One of the major questions was whether a school district in Pennsylvania could prohibit an unvaccinated student from entering a building and going to class. The year was 1894. The disease was smallpox. The ruling came from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on July 11, 1894. In a unanimous decision, it affirmed a school district's authority to require smallpox vaccinations. "Is the regulation now under consideration a reasonable one?" the Supreme Court justices asked in their ruling. They decided that it was, and their decision has never been overturned. How the courts ruled on vaccinations nearly 128 years ago makes for fascinating Pennsylvania legal history. On Aug. 23, protesters against COVID-19 vaccinations and face masks, including Stacy Feige, 41, at right, gather during a School Board meeting at the Millcreek Township School District's Millcreek Education Center (not shown). History of doubt: Skeptics questioned vaccines long before COVID, despite health gains The decision also provides insight into what has become a defining debate of the past two years: How far can the government, including school boards, go to protect the community during a public health crisis? Parent vs. school board In 1894, a father sued the School District of the City of Williamsport. He claimed that the district had unlawfully banned his son from attending class because he was not vaccinated for smallpox, as the Williamsport School Board required. The father, Andrew J. Duffield, said the Williamsport School Board was out of line. He had lost his case before a judge on the Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas, prompting him to appeal to the state Supreme Court in the 1894 case, called Duffield v. School District of the City of Williamsport. The father, citing the federal and state constitutions, claimed the vaccination requirement violated his parental rights in deciding how best to care for the health of his son. Story continues "While the board may make reasonable regulations to preserve the order of the schools, and to protect the health, lives and limbs of the children while they are under its control, it is not a conservator of the public peace nor of the public health," the father's lawyer, W.H. Spencer, said in his argument before the state Supreme Court, according to official record of the case. "Over the children it has but a limited control, derived entirely from the parents, viz: that of restraint and correction and then only for educational purposes." "For all general purposes," Spencer also argued, "the parent's control follows the child into the schoolroom." Sound familiar? The lawyer for the Williamsport School District emphasized that the school directors approved the vaccination requirement to safeguard the entire community against the "grave danger" of smallpox. The lawyer, Frank P. Cummings, said that rights of the community as a whole had to be considered. "Plaintiff contends that the personal liberty of the individual is encroached upon by this act of defendant," Cummings argued. "In this case the personal liberty of the entire school is sought to be destroyed by the one against the many. "It was never intended that the safety of the community should be jeopardized to satisfy the whim of a small minority." Sound familiar? Forgotten plague: The story of Erie and the 1918-19 flu pandemic An issue of discretion, not science In ruling for the Williamsport School District, the state Supreme Court acknowledged that some people questioned the effectiveness of the smallpox vaccine. "Vaccination may be, or may not be, a preventive of smallpox," according to the court's opinion, by Justice Henry W. Williams. "That is a question about which medical men differ and which the law affords no means of determining in a summary manner. A decided majority of the medical profession believe in its efficacy. The municipal regulations of many, and I have no doubt of most, of the cities of this state and country, provide for it. Dahlkemper's decision: Erie County mandates face masks at public, private schools "In the present state of medical knowledge and public opinion upon this subject it would be impossible for a court to deny that there is reason for believing in the importance of vaccination as a means of protection from the scourge of smallpox." Diane Sutton, left, the principal at the Erie School District's Edison Elementary School, helps kindergarteners on Aug. 30, the first day of school in the 2021-22 academic year. The Erie School District required students to wear masks, in keeping with what was then a countywide policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Williams wrote, the role of the state Supreme Court in the case was not to weigh in on science, but to determine whether the Williamsport School Board acted properly and within its discretion. Williams wrote: "It is not an error in judgment, or a mistake upon some abstruse question of medical science, but an abuse of discretionary power, that justifies the courts in interfering with the conduct of the school board or setting aside its action." 'The good of many' Williams returned to the core question. "How far shall this right to exclude one for the good of many be carried?" he wrote. "That is a question addressed to the official discretion of the proper officers; and when that discretion is honestly and impartially exercised the courts will not interfere." Williams wrote that the county judge who had ruled in favor of the Williamsport School District's vaccination requirement had "reached the correct conclusion." Upset parents: Pa. school boards bearing brunt of anti-mask parents' anger. Hear what the sides say Much has changed since 1894. But as long as school boards take action to respond to public health crisis, the nearly 128-year-old decision in the case of the smallpox vaccine will continue to speak to us in frightening and uncertain times. Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNpalattella. Erie Times-News investigative reporter Ed Palattella is shown on Jan. 6. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Smallpox shots: PA Supreme Court OK'd it in 1894. What does it mean today? This year marks a point of transition for Maury County as many of the communitys elected positions, including the county mayor, county commissioners and odd-numbered school board seats, will again be on the ballot in the 2022 election. The county general election held on Aug. 4 and the city and state Nov. 8 election, including seats for city mayor, state representatives and governor, will likely lead to significant changes in leadership in Maury County and its municipalities. This is one of our largest elections in terms of candidates and offices that we have had on the ballot in eight years, Todd Baxter, Maury Countys administrator of elections told The Daily Herald. It is always important that people get out and vote, and more so with local elections, it is important. These are the people who decide what taxes you pay, what kind of schools you build and what kind of roads you drive on. School and county races will define August election The position of county mayor will likely be the center-point of the August election. Although petitions have not yet been issued, former county mayor Carlie Norman plans to pursue reelection, while incumbent Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles also plans to seek a second consecutive term in office. The position of sheriff, currently held by Bucky Rowland in his second four-year term, and all of the countys 22 commissioners will also be up for election. Education will also fuel the discourse leading up to the August election as all of Maury County Public Schools odd numbered school board seats will also be decided during the election. Maury Countys residents will also cast a ballot on who will serve as District Attorney for the states 22nd Judicial District. The position, currently held by Brent Cooper, will be decided by voters in Maury, Lawrence, Giles and Wayne counties. Voters will also choose the districts public defender and circuit court judges for districts 1, 2, 3, and 4. Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk and Register of Deeds will also be up for election. Story continues Trustee, General Sessions Judge Part I and II General Sessions Part I Associate Judge will also appear on the the ballot. One constable will also be chosen from each of the countys 11 districts. Those seeking to qualify to run in the August election must file a petition by the qualifying deadline of noon on April 7. Petitions will be issued starting Feb. 7. The last day to register to vote for this election is July 5. In order to run as a Republican in a partisan seat, the primary candidate must be chosen through the process of a Maury County Republican caucus. The Maury County Republican Convention is Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. when the party will cast its votes to determine the Republican candidates who will appear on the ballot in the August elections. Last year, the Tennessee legislature approved a bill allowing partisan school board elections, marking a sweeping change from the historically statewide nonpartisan school board elections. The bill was met with mixed reviews from Republicans and Democrats. More: Maury County Republican Party to hold caucus in 2022 General Election State and municipal leaders will be decided in November The November election will be defined by the race for governor. Gov. Bill Lee said in September that he will seek a second term in office. Meanwhile Dr. Casey Nicholson, a minister, Dr. Jason Martin, a doctor at Sumner Regional Medical Center, Stephen Maxwell and John A. Gentry have voiced their plans to run against the Republican incumbent. Following the states 10-year redistricting process, residents in Maury County will vote on at least one congressman and senator. Under the current draft of the plan, Baxter said residents in Maury County will vote for two seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives, including District 64 currently held by Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, and District 71 currently held by Rep. David Byrd. Maury Countys municipalities will also come front-and-center during the November election as Columbias residents will vote for their next mayor, a position currently held by attorney and investor Chaz Molder, and vice mayor, currently held by Christa Martin, a leader at Columbia State Community College. Voters in Mt. Pleasant will also cast their ballots for two city commissioners. Candidates seeking petitions in Columbia and Mt. Pleasant must qualify by Aug. 18 after petitions will be made available starting on June 20. Oct. 11 will be the last day to register to vote in the November election. Spring Hills next leaders to be chosen in spring 2023 On April 13, 2023, residents in Spring Hill will elect one alderman from each of the citys four wards. Petitions for election will be made available starting Nov. 21 with Jan. 19 being the qualifying deadline. How to register and vote in Maury County As the new election cycle begins to ramp up, citizens are encouraged to make sure they are registered to vote and properly identified with the Maury County Election Commission. Residents must make sure their address is up-to-date with the commission, and they are registered to vote in the county in which they reside. Maury County residents can register, update their address or check their registration status at www.GoVoteTN.com. Registering voters will only need a drivers license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. It is about as easy as it ever has been, Baxter said. There are several ways a person can do it from visiting the office and doing it online. In order to participate in the early voting periods or on Election Day for each election, registered voters need to bring a valid photo identification to the polls. A Tennessee drivers license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee state government or the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable. On each Election Day, Maury County residents must cast their votes in the district in which they reside. The Maury County Election Commission hosts 21 polling stations across the county on Election Day. There is at least one polling location for each voting district in the county. For additional information on precinct locations and more, contact the Maury County Election Commission at (931) 375-6001, or visit https://www.maurycounty-tn.gov/. What positions are up for election in 2022? Aug. 4 election: Maury County Mayor 22 County Commissioners in 11 Districts All odd number school board seats Maury County Sheriff Circuit Court Judges 1, 2, 3 and 4 District Attorney for the 22nd Judicial District Public Defender County Trustee General Sessions Judge Part I and II General Sessions Associate Judge Part I Maury County Circuit Court Clerk County Clerk Register of Deeds Constables for each of Maury Countys 11 districts. Primary selections for November election Nov. 8 election: Tennessee Governor Columbia Mayor Columbia Vice Mayor Two Mt. Pleasant Commissioners U.S. Senate U.S. Congress State Representative Republican State Executive Committee Man Democratic State Executive Committee Man Republican State Executive Committee Woman Democratic State Executive Committee Woman Reach Mike Christen at mchristen@c-dh.net. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeChristenCDH and on Instagram at @michaelmarco. Please consider supporting his work and that of other Daily Herald journalists by subscribing to the publication. This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Maury County, Tennessee, elections 2022: Voter guide for Columbia Four catalytic converters were recovered during a traffic stop in Barstow on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2021. The three people in the vehicle were arrested. Barstow police arrested two men and a woman earlier this week who they believe cut and stole at least four catalytic converters off vehicles. Mojave residents Michael Perez, 35, Brian Hernandez, 30, and 25-year-old Cassondra Scism were booked into county jail on various charges, including grand theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit a crime, authorities said. All three had been released on bail as of Saturday. The trio were arrested Tuesday after a city officer responded that morning at about 1:20 a.m. to the 200 block of North Yucca Avenue. The caller told the officer she had heard a loud cutting noise outside her home and saw three people standing around a neighbors vehicle, the Barstow Police Department said. The three people then got into a white Kia Soul and drove away. The officer checked under the neighbors vehicle and found the catalytic converter was sawed off and missing. The officer later spotted the Kia in the 500 block of E. Main Street and pulled the car over. As he walked up to the vehicle, he saw four catalytic converters in the Kias cargo compartment, officials said. Barstow police conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. Authorities said four catalytic converters were found inside along with an electric saw, bolt cutters and car jack. Police also found an electric saw, bolt cutters and car jack. One of the converters found matched the neighbors vehicle, according to authorities. Catalytic converters are anti-pollution devices prized by thieves because they require few tools to remove them. The vehicle part can also fetch several hundred to several thousand dollars in scrap metal or on the black market due to the precious metals inside. With the values of platinum, palladium and rhodium rising, thefts of the devices have been increasing also. In one year, reports of converter theft more than quadrupled from 3,389 in 2019 to 14,433 in 2020, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. State Farm reported converter theft had risen close to 293% nationwide from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 based on the number of claims filed compared to the year before. Story continues California led the country with the most thefts reported with more than 3 out of 10 claims being filed there. Daily Press reporter Martin Estacio may be reached at 760-955-5358 or MEstacio@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_mestacio. This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: 3 catalytic converter thieves arrested in Barstow, authorities say CHICAGO One minute 8-year-old Melissa Ortega was walking with her mother through their Little Village community Saturday afternoon. The next, gunshots rang out, and mother and daughter broke into a sprint, trying to run to safety in a nearby bank. But it was too late. One of those bullets had already struck Melissa in the head as the pair walked in the 3900 block of West 26th Street at 2:45 p.m., according to Chicago police. She was rushed to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, where she was pronounced dead at 4:43 p.m. The Cook County medical examiners office identified her Sunday morning as Melissa Ortega, 8, of the 2800 block of South Tripp Avenue, also in Little Village. Police said the shooter wasnt aiming at Melissa who was a student in the third grade at Emiliano Zapata Academy or her mother. Authorities said the shooter intended to harm a 26-year-old man who was walking out of a store not far from where Melissa and her mother stood. The 26-year-old also was shot in the lower back and he was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition; officials did not have an update on his condition Sunday morning. Melissa and her mother moved to Chicago in August after emigrating from Mexico, according to an online fundraising page created to offset funeral expenses. The GoFundMe page said Melissa is to be buried in her hometown of Los Sauces in the Mexican state of Tabasco. They were both excited to start a new life in Chicago and build their American Dream. I was honored to have met Melissa and will always remember her beautiful smile, the creator of the page wrote. A spokeswoman for GoFundMe verified the validity of the page, ensuring that the more than $26,000 raised as of Sunday afternoon more than $6,000 beyond what the site originally set out to raise would go to Melissas relatives, as intended. In a statement, the Chicago Teachers Union lamented the shooting of another innocent child and extended its condolences to the Ortega family and all those who knew Melissa from Zapata Academy, saying it sends its love to Melissas family and the Zapata Academy community, and wish them peace and healing from this heartbreaking tragedy. Story continues The union also decried the ongoing violence in the city. Our union mourns the loss of another student from one of our school communities. This suffering is becoming all too familiar for many of Chicagos children and families, who our educators nurture and support every day, said the statement from CTU spokesman Ronnie Reese. No arrests have been made and detectives continue to investigate. The Daily Beast Claudio Peri/Pool/ReutersROMESince the beginning of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Pope Francis has floated the idea that he wants to take a trip to Kyiv to try to broker a ceasefire. But now he says he would prefer to go to Moscow to try to talk some sense into Vladimir Putin, who he has not outwardly condemned in the now nearly three-month-old war and only did so lightly in a lengthy interview with an Italian newspaper.I feel that before going to Kyiv, I must go to Moscow, he told Corriere D Flash New Zealand will move to Red Light settings from 11:59 pm local time Sunday due to Omicron cases detected in the community, said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Sunday. The prime minister announced the government decision at Sunday's unscheduled media conference. According to the Red Light settings under the COVID-19 Protection Framework, gatherings will be limited to 100 people in places where COVID-19 vaccine passports are used. Ardern confirmed that nine COVID-19 cases reported in the Nelson Marlborough region had the Omicron variant. A further case was confirmed late Saturday. The cases attended a wedding in Auckland on Jan. 13, along with a funeral, an amusement park and the Sky Tower in the following days. These events had well over 100 people. Director-General of Health from the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, said that the risk of transmission by the confirmed Omicron cases is considered high. The source of the infection is not known yet. "Omicron is now circulating in Auckland and possibly the Nelson area, if not further," said Ardern. The New Zealand government will be taking a three-stage approach to the point where New Zealand sees 1,000 cases a day, said Ardern. Stage one will be the "stamp it out" approach, with contact tracing and testing, including rapid antigen tests. Stage two will be a transition stage. The third stage will see changes to contact tracing. More details of the three-stage plan will be released later, said Ardern. "The evidence from overseas suggests it moves very quickly," said Ardern, "the difference to previous outbreaks is we are now well vaccinated and well prepared." Ardern urged the public to get their booster jab of the COVID-19 vaccination. "Get boosted, and it makes all the differences," said Ardern. Ardern said the focus was now on getting people their boosters. The government is sticking to the four-month gap between the second dose and booster, but that would be continually reviewed. She also urged the public to get tested if they had any symptoms. There will be no lockdowns at Red Light settings as hospitality businesses and workplaces will be open. But number limits will be capped at 100 people in hospitalities and gathering if vaccine passports are used. Workplaces will be open but employees can choose to work from home. Mask wearing is highly recommended and mandatory in many indoor places such as public transport, retails and public venues. Epidemiologists Professors Michael Baker and Rod Jackson have urged the government to go further than the traffic light change, shift the eligibility for booster shots from four to three months, and delay the school year's start. Government support will be handed out to people who cannot be at work due to home isolation requirements. Finance Minister Grant Robertson said that the government leaves support scheme will be available for this situation. CAIRO (AP) Workers in war-wrecked Yemen recovered five more bodies from the rubble of a prison facility hit by a Saudi-led coalition airstrike, bringing the death toll to at least 87, an international aid group said Sunday. Internet access, meanwhile, remained largely down after another Saudi-led coalition airstrike hit a telecommunications center Friday at the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, according to advocacy group NetBlocks. The center is key to Yemens connection to the internet. Ahmed Mahat, head of the Doctors Without Borders mission in Yemen, said rescuers completed their search efforts late Saturday at the site of the prison in Yemens northern province of Saada, a stronghold of Houthi rebels on the border of Saudi Arabia. He said 266 people were wounded in the airstrike during an intense air and ground escalation in the countrys civil war. Yemens conflict began in 2014, when the Iranian-backed Houthis took the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, forcing the government to flee to the south, then to exile in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition, backed at the time by the U.S., entered the war months later to try restoring the government to power. Late Sunday, a Houthi ballistic missile landed in an industrial area in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, slightly wounding a foreigner, the Saudi-led coalition said according to the state-run news agency. There was no immediate comment from the Houthis. Djokovic, who has won the Australian Open on nine occasions, was denied the opportunity to defend the title he claimed last year after a federal court dismissed his effort to stay in the country to play at the tournament. Reports have since surfaced that Djokovic was planning to sue Tennis Australia, but Tiley denied that was the case in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday. Tiley also believes Djokovic will return to Australia despite the possibility the Serb could face a three-year ban from travelling into the country as a result of his deportation. Tiley blamed miscommunication with the federal government for the issues that resulted in Djokovic being kicked out of Australia. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Joe Biden marked his first anniversary in office with a gaffe over Ukraine that undid weeks of disciplined messaging and diplomatic preparation. Related: Russian ships, tanks and troops on the move to Ukraine as peace talks stall The presidents suggestion that a minor incursion by Russia might split Nato over how to respond sent the White House into frantic damage limitation mode. Officials insisted Biden had been referring to cyber-attacks and paramilitary activities and not Russian troops crossing the border. That failed to entirely calm nerves in Kyiv and other European capitals, especially as Biden also raised eyebrows by predicting that Vladimir Putin would move in to Ukraine because he has to do something and would probably prevail. The analysis of Natos weaknesses and Putins intentions was no doubt widely shared but Biden had said the quiet part loud, contradicting what his own officials had been saying. Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, had just been telling Foreign Policy that one of the great successes of the Biden administration was the 30 allies of Nato [were] speaking with one voice in the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Aides who have shadowed Biden through his long career as senator and vice-president are used to his prolix ways, and his tendency to draw on his deep foreign policy experience to over-explain, but the stakes are immeasurably greater as a president, trying to stare down Putin as Europe stands on the threshold of war. The stumble distracted from some of the foreign policy achievements of Bidens first year the mending of transatlantic ties, the bolstering of US support for the embattled government in Kyiv, and the development of a consistent policy towards Moscow which combined a openness to talks with a readiness to inflict punitive measures and a refusal to be divided from Nato allies. None of those gains were a given in US foreign policy after four years of Donald Trump, a president who frequently put domestic political and business advantage ahead of strategic national interests, particularly when it came to Russia. Mending alliances, returning to multilateralism and restoring predictability to US policy after the volatile Trump era is widely regarded as Bidens greatest success so far in foreign policy. Story continues His claim on taking office that America is back was backed up by a quick deal to extend the New Start treaty in Russia and thereby salvage the only major arms control agreement to survive Trump. The US rejoined the Paris climate accord and the United Nations Human Rights Council, re-engaged with major powers in nuclear talks with Iran, and convened a virtual Summit for Democracy in December. All those steps were in line with a broad strategy which Nathalie Tocci, director of the Rome-based Institute of International Affairs, describes as a Biden doctrine. I think its a strategic reorientation towards competition/conflict with China and, the other side of that coin, strengthening relationships with partners in Europe and in Asia, both bilaterally and multilaterally, Tocci said. And relying less on the military instrument in order to pursue US foreign policy goals. The Ukraine stumble was not the first time that strategy has been impaired by its execution. The withdrawal from Afghanistan was intended to be a decisive break with the past, extricating the US from its longest war so it could focus on its most important geopolitical challenge, the rapid rise of China. The departure turned to chaos when the Afghan army, which the US had spent $83m and 20 years trying to build, collapsed in a few days in the face of a Taliban offensive. The scenes of desperate Afghans trying to cling to departing US planes, some dying in the attempt, are an inescapable part of Bidens legacy. Taliban fighters atop a Humvee take part in a rally in Kabul in August. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Biden has argued he was boxed in by the Doha agreement the Trump administration signed with the Taliban in February 2020, under which the US was due to leave by May 2021. Biden was able to stretch that deadline by four months but maintained that staying any longer would have led to renewed attacks on US troops. Nathan Sales, an acting under secretary of state in the Trump administration, argued that the Doha deal was no longer binding on Biden, and he could have left a force to maintain US leverage. When one side of an agreement breaches it serially and flagrantly like the Taliban did, I think the Biden administration would have been well within its rights to say: Were not bound by it either, said Sales, now a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. Current US officials argue that whether the US declared the Taliban had been in violation or not, there would have been renewed attacks on US troops, forcing a decision to cut and run or send large-scale reinforcements. The status quo, they say, was not sustainable. Related: Putin, a rogue male on the rampage, threatens to start a war no one wants | Simon Tisdall Even considering the constraints imposed by the previous administration, the withdrawal was a fiasco. US planners failed to anticipate the speed of the collapse even though a government watchdog, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, had warned in 2021 that without US contractors to service planes and helicopters, the Afghan air force would no longer be able to function, depriving troops on the ground of a key advantage. For Afghans who worked with the US and its allies, and for the countrys women and girls, the departure seemed like a betrayal, raising a serious question mark over the administrations claims to have restored human rights to the heart of US foreign policy. Its record in that regard was already mixed. On one hand, the administration had taken a firm stand against Chinas mass persecution of Muslim Uyghurs, declaring it a genocide. Furthermore, the assembly of a coalition of some 130 countries to establish a global minimum tax was, according to Matt Duss, foreign affairs adviser to Senator Bernie Sanders, a step toward addressing global economic inequality which is one of the drivers of conflict and authoritarianism. Its an important first step and a courageous one, Duss said. He also pointed to the sanctions against surveillance companies like the Israeli NSO group, whose software was used by authoritarian regimes to target dissidents. That was a very consequential move, and there has been a massive pressure campaign trying to get them to roll it back, but theyve stood firm, he said. However, the steps taken against the Saudi monarchy for the heavy civilian toll from its air war in Yemen and the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi felt well short of what human rights campaigners and progressive Democrats had hoped for. The Biden administration continued to sell Riyadh substantial quantities of advanced weaponry. Weve basically returned to the traditional US approach of supporting human rights in countries that dont buy our weapons, Duss said. I very much hope that changes. A lot of bad blood Another way in which the manner of the US exit from Afghanistan undermined the administrations wider objectives was by alienating European allies, who felt left out of a decision they were obliged to follow. The pull-out really caused a lot of bad blood unnecessarily, Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said. You can call it the root cause of unhappiness within the alliance. The formation in September of Aukus, a partnership with the UK and Australia to help the latter acquire nuclear-powered submarines, was another sweeping move in the pivot towards Asia. But the protagonists had omitted to inform France, who discovered on the same day that their contract to sell Australia diesel submarines had been cancelled. Biden was forced to acknowledge the clumsy way it had been handled, and the rift clouded bilateral relations for months. Putins threat to Ukraine has helped rally the transatlantic alliance but as Biden revealed in his own public reflections, there are still serious divisions below the surface, limiting his room for manoeuvre. The presidents freedom of action on other global issues, like making progress in climate action or finding a nuclear compromise with Iran, will be hindered still further if Republicans gain control of Congress in this years midterm elections. In that case, the administrations record until now, mixed as it is, may prove to be the high point of the Biden doctrine. Edmonia Lewis is a pioneering Black and Native American artist from the 1800s Edmonia Lewis, thought to be the first African American and Native American sculptor to earn international recognition, will be featured on a new United States Postal Service (USPS) stamp which is set debut on Jan. 26. Lewis, born in upstate New York, moved to Europe in the 1860s. She set up an art studio in Rome, Italy and it became a must-see attraction for American tourists. Despite her popularity during her life, most of Lewis work went unnoticed after her death until an art historian found one of her sculptures in the late 1980s. Why a forgotten black female artist is getting her own US postage stamp https://t.co/4NLp3AeH4U pic.twitter.com/lHcUBYiBER New York Post (@nypost) January 22, 2022 The stamp is the 45th piece of the USPSs Black Heritage series, an initiative by the postal service to commemorate pioneers in the Black community. As the first African American and Native American sculptor to earn international recognition, Edmonia Lewis challenged social barriers and assumptions about artists in mid-19th century America, reads a USPS press release. Lewis, who is of African American and Ojibwa/Chippewa Native American descent, became an orphan at a young age after both her parents died. In 1862, her brother paid for her to attend Oberlin College in Ohio one of the only institutions of higher learning that accepted Black students at the time. Despite its perceived progressiveness, Lewis was wrongly accused of poisoning two white classmates and was brutally beaten and kidnapped by a white mob. After winning an acquittal and clearing her name, Lewis left school and traveled to Boston to pursue sculpting. This commemorative Edmonia Lewis forever stamp will go on sale January 26, as the 45th installment of the USPSs Black Heritage series. (PhotoCred: United States Postal Service) In 1864, she got her first big break after creating a sculptor of Robert Shaw, a colonel for the Union Army during the Civil War. Shaw was known for advocating for Black soldiers and leading one of the first Black regiments during the war. Story continues The sales from her work funded her move to Italy, where she began a bustling career as a sculptor. Her most prominent work is a 3,000-pound marble sculpture depicting the death of the most prolific Egyptian queen, Cleopatra. Edmonia Lewis was the first professional black sculptor and one of the most celebrated neoclassical sculptors of her time. The Death of Cleopatra is one her most recognised works. It depicts the famous Cleopatra in the moment of her death. pic.twitter.com/lNjnNnjjjo AFRICAN & BLACK HISTORY (@AfricanArchives) October 12, 2021 Lewis presented The Death of Cleopatra at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876, where it received mixed reviews. Some critics were reportedly disgusted by the sculptures realistic portrayal of suicide. Unable to sell the sculpture or pay for it to be sent back to Rome, Lewis left it behind where it mysteriously disappeared for decades. In 1988, Marilyn Richardson rediscovered the sculpture in an abandoned storeroom in an Illinois shopping mall. The sculpture currently resides at the Smithsonian Art Museum in Washington, D.C. The story of her life is exciting, inspirational, said East Greenbush Town Historian Robert Bobbie Reno to the Times Union. [Lewis] identified first as a Native American. Later she identified more as an African American. She was in two worlds. She deserves her stamp, she added. In addition to her portraits of famous figures, Lewis work also incorporated African American themes, including the celebration of newly won freedoms, and sensitively depicted her Native American heritage as peaceful and dignified, reads a USPS statement. Lewis will join influential African American figures like Booker T. Washington, who was the first Black person to appear on a stamp in 1940, and Harriet Tubman, who was the first Black woman to appear in 1978. Have you subscribed to theGrio podcasts, Dear Culture or Acting Up? Download our newest episodes now! TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku. Download theGrio today! The post Black Native American sculptress honored with USPS stamp appeared first on TheGrio. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday signaled that the U.S. and its European allies were prepared to make a "united response" against any further Russian aggression Ukraine, following his diplomatic trip through Europe last week. Appearing on CBS's "Face the Nation," Blinken said he discussed two paths with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, one of diplomacy and one of continued Russian aggression. "I tried to make clear both paths in my meeting with Foreign Minister Lavrov in Geneva this week and we'll see if we can advance the diplomacy. But even as we're doing that, we're preparing building up defenses, building up deterrence if Russia chooses the other path," he said. "We've been very clear that if there is any further Russian aggression in terms of sending Russian forces into Ukraine, there will be a swift, there will be a severe and there will be a united response from the United States and Europe," he added. "Face the Nation" host Margaret Brennan questioned whether NATO allies were truly on the same page, noting the recent resignation of the head of the German Navy, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach, after controversial pro-Putin remarks came to light. "I'm very confidant, based on the many consultations I've had with European allies and partners, that there will be a swift, calibrated and also united response," Blinken said. "Look, I sat with [German Chancellor Olaf Scholz] in Germany last week, as well as with my German counterpart, my French counterpart, my British counterpart and I am very convinced there will be a united response to whatever Russia does." Brennan pressed the secretary on what the U.S. could negotiate with Russia, noting that Russia's demands have been deemed non-starters. Russia has so far demanded that Ukraine be barred from ever joining NATO. The U.S. and European members of the alliance have said there are no plans for Ukraine to join any time soon. According to Blinken, Russia has put forward some ideas which the U.S. is consulting on with its allies. "We are now sharing our own ideas, as well as our own deep concerns and we'll see if in the mix there. There are things that we could do, again on a reciprocal basis, that would actually advance collective security in a way that answers some of what we're hearing from Russia answering a lot of what they're hearing from us," he said. The 20th century was a time of great innovation and progress in technology. Some of the most significant breakthroughs were in the areas of energy, medicine, and electronics. Leonard Northrup was among these important inventors. In a life that took him from making saddles to making solar power, Northrups own work with solar energy helped revolutionize the entire industry. Bridges Leonard L. Northrup, Jr., was born in Houston in March 1918. His father was an inventor, and both parents had deep roots in Texas History. At a young age, he showed a fascination with detail and developed a strong work ethic. He worked for a time as a youth in his grandfathers saddle factory and later delivered newspapers. As a young man, the family moved to Dallas, where he graduated high school in 1936. Inspired in part by his fathers love of science, he studied engineering. He stayed close to home for college, earning a degree at Southern Methodist University. He then went on to earn a masters degree in engineering at the University of Denver and a second masters degree, in business administration from Harvard University. During World War II, Northrup served in the army corps of engineers. He continued to serve shortly after the end of the war, eventually rising to the rank of captain. He met his first wife Jane Keliher while in the army, and the couple eventually had three children together. After he left the army, he began working for a Dallas-area machinery and aircraft parts manufacturer. Part of the companys business involved work on jet engines. In 1951, Northrup patented a process for cleaning jet engines much more quickly and efficiently. He followed it up with a 1954 patent for cleaning other small parts. In the 1950s, he became fascinated with refrigeration and early efforts at air conditioning. He had become successful enough that he and his wife designed a new home for their family in Dallas. He incorporated an innovative air conditioning system for the house, one of the first homes in the state to have a central air conditioning system. He began building and selling air conditioners for cars, devices that would be installed in the trunks of cars with cool air piped inside. When his friend Curtis Mathes began his electrical products company in the late 1950s, Northrup began selling Mathess air conditioning units for homes and apartment buildings. Story continues By the late 1960s, he bought Mathess air conditioning division as Mathes branched into televisions and electronics. Northrup found new ways to improve the efficiency of air conditioners. By the early 1970s, he had patented three new devices to improve electrical efficiency and heating and cooling. These inventions changed how Texans and millions of others across the South and West weather the heat of summer. Though others had created air conditioners and improved on them previously, Northrup helped make them much more efficient and widespread in homes across the country. In the 1970s, he turned his attention to solar power as the nation faced a series of crises in the energy industry. Consulting with scientists and engineers, Northrup began building solar collectors to heat air. He also began using new materials, curved lenses, and new designs to concentrate the amount of solar energy collected. Northrup also began constructing solar power towers to collect focused solar energy and tracking mirrors to maximize the energy collected. He also began applying his solar innovations into practical commercial products through his company, Northrup Energy. His inventions included the first solar-powered water heaters and solar-powered air conditioners. Between 1975 and 1978, he completed four patents on solar energy devices. Northrup also began working with photovoltaic hybrid energy systems, finding ways to incorporate solar cells into power generation. He garnered a great deal of respect within the solar industry, and by the end of the decade, his company merged with ARCO Solar. ARCO Solar later merged with BP Solar becoming the largest photovoltaic solar company in the world. In his later years, he served on the Board of Trustees of Trinity University in San Antonio and began ranching. In the 1980s, he founded American Limestone, a company that sought new ways to use Texas limestone in construction. His first wife died in 1989, and he married Mernie Myers in 1992. Now past 70, Northrup continued to study solar energy and new types of solar technology. In 2006, at the age of 88, he received his 14th and final patent. It was for a process to desalinate water using simple evaporation. Energized by the pursuit of knowledge, he continued to work until nearly his dying day. In February 2016, just weeks shy of his 98th birthday, he finally retired, content that his work was done. Sadly, his wife died just a couple of weeks later. And less than a week after he turned 98, Northrup died quietly in Dallas at his home, beloved by family and celebrated by colleagues for his triumphs in technology. Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Ken Bridges Leonard Northrup's innovations made world better place - I ran across this tweet last week from venture capitalist Balaji Srinivasan: Suppose there is a principle. The principle is good, but the proponents are bad. While quoting it endlessly, they distort the principle beyond recognition. In response, the opposition now opposes the principle even in principle. Whats a good term for this common phenomenon? I would call it a gaslighting feedback-loop. Gaslighting is a colloquialism that was made popular by the movie "Gaslight" (1944), in which a husband schemes to make his wife think shes crazy with a series of lies and dirty tricks so he can get her committed to an asylum and steal her money. Mr. Srinivasan has indeed outlined a common phenomenon in todays media-soaked culture and politics. So I wondered whether I could find an appropriate cartoon in my archives to illustrate the principle. It didnt take long. My April 28, 2019, Palm Beach Daily News cartoon about an open-carry activist, disingenuously posing as a fisherman so he could legally parade around public streets with an arsenal, fills the bill. The root issue behind the cartoon is the Second Amendment that gives Americans the right to bear arms. Many Americans hunt, target-shoot and own guns for security and personal protection. We quibble about some of the risks involved, but most Americans acknowledge and respect the Constitutional right. Despite this, right-wing politicians and gun lobbyists have gaslighted for decades about the Second Amendment being in danger of repeal, and equated the prospect of tightening regulations with government tyranny and loss of freedom. Fear-mongering rhetoric, such as theyre coming for your guns escalates every time theres a public outcry after a mass shooting. Gun rights activists also frequently insist that tighter regulations would unfairly punish good people for what bad people do, and respond with only a good guy with a gun can stop a bad guy with a gun. Though simplistic and illogical, this grievance has become the rationale for state legislatures proposing radical laws to arm teachers in the classroom and to legalize open-carry possession in public. Story continues Of course, you cant have bifurcated politics without the other side becoming equally strident. Therefore, an increasing number of gun opponents call for banning all handguns or semi-automatic weapons or, yes, getting rid of guns altogether. As a result, you get heavily armed guys parading around because they think their Second Amendment rights are threatened. In reality, not everyone has been sucked into this escalating feedback-loop of half-truths, fantasies and fallacies. Most Americans support the Second Amendment but also believe tighter firearms regulations and registration would be a good idea including a lot of gun owners. Unfortunately, our gaslighting addiction has created a political chasm that apparently cant be breeched. The publics gullibility to blatant distortions has tainted many issues and created a breeding ground for con artists in government. Its time for Americans to recognize the danger of this dynamic and shut off the gas. After all, there are those who love to play with fire. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Cartoonistry: Gaslighting is too common in our polarized country Jan. 22Gov. Bill Lee said this past week there's no need to declare a state of emergency, as Chattanooga hospitals and health care providers reported being pushed to the brink by an omicron-fueled COVID-19 surge that many frontline workers are calling the most stressful of the pandemic so far. Lee told reporters during a news briefing Thursday at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant that emergency declarations are "a tool we should use when we absolutely have to have it" and he doesn't believe that's the case now. "Hospitalizations are still lower than they were at their peak during the delta surge, so we don't have a plan for a state of emergency right now," Lee said. Dr. Jensen Hyde, a hospitalist treating COVID-19 patients at Erlanger Medical Center who holds a master's degree in public health, said that although the omicron variant seems to cause less severe disease in individual patients when compared to the delta variant, the stress it's putting on the health care system is far greater. Because omicron is so contagious and has infected so many more people, Hyde said patients regularly come in for other reasons such as heart attack or stroke and wind up testing positive for COVID-19. Some of those patients would normally be transferred to a rehab facility once stabilized, but because they're COVID-19 positive, those facilities won't take them due to safety protocols. That means those patients must stay in the hospital often until 10 days from their first COVID-19 symptoms or until testing negative for the disease which has resulted in a large backlog of patients and few open beds for not only coronavirus patients but other medical emergencies. "We have seen hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of these patients, so for an already stressed health care system to have that, and then to have it causing delays in discharge has really, really, really stressed hospital capacity," Hyde said. "That's nationwide that's not at all unique to Erlanger, it's not at all unique to Chattanooga. But it's hugely stressful on the system, and the system has been stressed. We did not need to be subjected to any more stress." Story continues Even though those COVID-19 patients with incidental infections aren't critically ill, Hyde said they still require special care and must remain in isolation due to the highly contagious nature of the disease. At the same time, omicron can still pack a serious and deadly punch particularly in the unvaccinated which is compounding the issue in a region with low vaccination rates. The potential for COVID-19 patients to overwhelm the health care system so that hospitals aren't able to care for those in need has been a top concern since the early days of the pandemic and a primary reason why states and local governments issued emergency orders and policies to limit transmission, such as face mask mandates and crowd restrictions. Tennessee was under a state of emergency from March 2020 to mid-November, which is when Lee allowed the order to expire. November was also when Lee signed a new law that would allow local governments to implement mask mandates for COVID-19 only when the governor issues an emergency order and counties report 1,000 new cases for every 100,000 residents in the past 14 days. The Tennessean reported this week that every county in the state had surpassed that threshold. As of Friday, there were 252 COVID-19 inpatients in Hamilton County hospitals, according to the Hamilton County Health Department. Though that figure is not as high as the peak of 372 patients seen during the early fall delta surge, it surpasses another high point of 242 set Dec. 31, 2020, and prompted Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger to reconvene the area's Joint COVID-19 Task Force for an emergency meeting. Coppinger previously told the Times Free Press, when omicron began to surge in late December, that even if the governor declared a state of emergency he did not have plans to reimplement a mask mandate. "We're limited as to what we can do, and I don't know that it would be necessary," Coppinger said Friday. "I've always said that with the vaccine here, that's that best preventive measure for staying out of the hospital or a fatality, but I thought it was important to reach back out to [the task force] to see if there were any resources that we could collectively provide to each other. "I wanted to see what they were seeing in the hospitals, because the numbers have consistently gone up. Staffing is an issue, and just the whole pandemic fatigue of everybody growing tired and weary," he said. Rae Bond, chair of the COVID-19 Task Force and CEO of the Chattanooga Hamilton County Medical Society, said the current staffing challenges in health care go far beyond the hospital walls. "Virtually every kind of practice setting is struggling with the staffing issue, because we have folks out for a variety of reasons, including being out with COVID symptoms," Bond said, adding that the sharp increase in childhood COVID-19 cases is also taking many adults out of work. "I do think that's an ongoing issue that's causing difficulty for every kind of medical practice." Hyde said hospitals have the physical beds and space for patients, but they don't have the staff particularly nurses to care for more people. "Even if you were able to find a whole class of nursing students that would sign on, they wouldn't have any experience, so it's a huge patient safety issue," Hyde said. "What we do, to try and keep patients as safe as humanly possible, is that we will close down beds so that we can maintain some sort of sane staffing ratios, so nurses aren't being forced to take care of 20 patients, and that means that our capacity continues to go down." Hyde said the situation has regionwide implications because there isn't room to transfer patients who need more specialized care to Chattanooga, so they wind up either delaying needed treatment or getting sub-par care somewhere that isn't able to meet their needs. "I think people were hearing [omicron is] milder, and they're not necessarily willing to take the same precautions. But if you're somebody who takes a public health view, or you're somebody who happens to work in a health care system, you might have a better understanding of the fact that the individual considerations are not the only consideration," she said. "Unfortunately, I think the vast majority of people either don't understand that or don't necessarily take that view, and hospitals are suffering." Staff writer Dave Flessner contributed to this story. Contact staff writer Elizabeth Fite at efite@timesfreepress.com or follow her on Twitter @ecfite. Flash Rumen Radev took office for a second consecutive term as President of Bulgaria on Saturday after an inauguration ceremony held here in front of the Unknown Soldier Monument. Parliament Speaker Nikola Minchev, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, other state officials as well as foreign diplomats attended the event. In his speech, Radev said he devoted his first term to the battle for lawfulness and democracy. In the years to come, he would stand up for sovereignty, lawfulness, security and justice. "I will continue to be the president of all Bulgarian citizens, regardless of party affiliation, ethnicity and religion," he said, adding that he would defend the rights, interests and dignity of the people. "I believe that together we will continue to build a free, democratic, prosperous and modern state," he said. Radev, 58, won the presidential election for the first time in November 2016, and repeated his success in November 2021. That goofy Indiana state senator who said teachers must be impartial in lessons about Nazism actually accomplished a lot. Was he convincing that instruction about Nazism should be impartial, not aimed at teaching kids that Hitler was bad? No. But Sen. Scott Baldwin, R-Noblesville, sponsor of a bill on what and how to teach, had accomplishments. Notable nationally, he brought laughter for late-night TV viewers throughout this troubled land as the Hoosier state was ridiculed anew for the enlightenment of its officials. Stephen Colbert on the Late Show quipped that Baldwins proposed restrictions on teaching would leave shop class and six hours of dodgeball as all that could be taught in Indiana schools. In a satirical example of being impartial on Nazism, Colbert presented a version of Saving Private Ryan, the classic World War II movie, with script altered to have an American officer portrayed by Tom Hanks say dont shoot, lets hear the Nazis out. Jokes about Baldwin abounded on TV, in print and especially on social media over his disagreement with a high school teacher during committee testimony on the bill and its restrictions on teachers expressing opinions. The teacher contended that neutrality can be carried too far and said its important to take a stand in the classroom, against Nazism. Baldwin said that teachers could provide instruction on the existence of Nazism, Marxism and fascism. Then of the isms he warned the teacher: I believe that weve gone too far when we take a position. ... We need to be impartial. After hearing what others thought about neutrality on Hitler, Baldwin retreated and apologized, claiming that he actually meant to say he unequivocally condemns Nazism, Marxism and fascism and that teachers should condemn those dangerous ideologies. Kind of hard to believe thats what he meant when he called for being impartial. In addition to bringing the joy of laughter, Baldwin accomplished something else. He brought down his own bill. With controversy over what the bill means, what Baldwin meant and what students should learn about Hitler, Republican Senate President Pro Tem Rod Bray said of the bill that there is no path forward for it and it will not be considered. Story continues Theres still a House version. The issue in some form, presumably with no neutrality for Nazism or equal time for Hitler, will be back later in this session or next year. Another unintended accomplishment for Baldwin is more focus on what is termed false balance. Thats when, whether in education or politics or journalism, a purported effort for fair balance, for equal time, isnt fair at all. Trying to balance a lesson plan about Hitler to achieve neutrality is of course false balance, just plain goofy. So was the directive by a Texas school administrator for teachers to provide reading materials with opposing views when discussing the Holocaust. Back when tobacco companies were still insisting that cigarettes are safe, despite proof of the link to lung cancer, some news organizations, thinking they were following journalism precepts of balanced coverage, for too long gave equal time to experts paid by Big Tobacco to dispute science. That was false balance. Climate change, until recently, was another example. Deniers paid by energy interests to spread lies and false theory were quoted at length in some places to give balance false balance. Presenting different views on what to do about climate change is proper, but still denying that it exists is like still arguing that the Earth is flat. There are times when the facts are clear, leaving no moral or intellectual requirement to distort the truth with an impartial false balance. Demanding impartiality in discussing Hitler, Nazism or the Holocaust is the extreme of false balance, as goofy as it gets. Jack Colwell is a columnist for The Tribune. Write to him in care of The Tribune or by email at jcolwell@comcast.net. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Indiana Sen, Scott Baldwin sponsored bill on what, how to teach The Dance Theatre of Harlem is set to premiere resident choreographer Robert Garland's "Higher Ground," inspired by Stevie Wonder. The Dance Theatre of Harlem, or DTH, enraptured a full house Saturday night at Detroit Opera House, where their program included the world premiere of Higher Ground, a piece set to multiple Stevie Wonder recordings. The ballet performance marked the return of live performance to the storied venue after two years. Ironically, the COVID-19 pandemic breakout forced the cancellation of Michigan Opera Theatres (MOT) remaining 2020-21 season offerings after a DTH appearance. DTH executive director Anna Glass, a Detroit native, joined MOT president and CEO Wayne S. Brown onstage before Saturdays performance. Dance Theatre of Harlem's Robert Garland and Anna Glass and the Motown Museum's Robin Terry (all center) are joined by dancers as they pose for a photo inside Motown's Studio A in Detroit on Dec. 14, 2021. March of 2020, we were here, she said, and the news was that New York was about to shut down and things were also shifting here in Michigan This is a homecoming for me personally, she told the audience. If you ask any of the dancers, they will tell you that Detroit is their favorite city to perform but its also their favorite theater because they love how you make them feel welcome. You are so warm, you are so generous with your enthusiasm for this company. We are so honored to be back. Higher Ground was the handiwork of DTH resident choreographer Robert Garland, and celebrated the joys and frustrations of Blackness in America over the last 50 years, set to the music of Motowns own Stevie Wonder. Each movement of the piece, which stretched out across several songs, was met with delighted reactions, particularly a powerfully grooving You Havent Done Nothin and a transcendent Saturn. Read more: Stevie Wonder's music to be celebrated by Dance Theatre of Harlem in Detroit world premiere Dancers Amanda Smith, Daphne Lee, Alexandra Hutchinson, Anthony Santos, Micah Bullard and Kouadio Davis did top-notch work in the robust, evolving piece. Before the show, Glass confided that Wonders lawyer told her the artist is choosy regarding licensing his music for projects, and has never approved the use of this much of his music for one project. Story continues I want to thank Mr. Stevie Wonder, she told the crowd. He was so excited and honored that we were premiering this ballet here in his hometown. If there was any drawback at all to the Wonder-ful set, it was the audiences curious hesitation to cheer when cheers were earned. At some moments, a voice from the audience would whoop with approval, or someone would enthusiastically begin clapping along with the beat, but they were met with almost defiant silence from the crowd. After a short intermission, the audience returned much more ready to react, surprisingly, to a piece that was superior in technique but much more somber in tone. Choreographer Claudia Schriers Passage was commissioned in 2019 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first ship of enslaved Africans arriving in North America. Spontaneous applause and cheers broke out repeatedly throughout the emotional performance, which drew from influences as diverse as Angolan kizomba, Spanish paso doble and classic ballet to create scenarios evoking everything from drowning escapees to heartless lynchings. A recurring, increasingly wrenching and scary pas de deux between lead male dancers Anthony Santos and Derek Brockington culminated in an absolutely wild display of muscle control that seemed to suspend time and drew shouts of Bravo! in the hall. The instant the lights went out, the audience exploded into thunderous, almost deafening applause. Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's 2018 "Balamouk" closed the program. In a move toward extra safety against COVID-19, MOT required proof of vaccination or negative Covid test results within the previous 72 hours, and an emergency medic setup was on site to provide testing if necessary. Dance Theatre of Harlem will perform this program again Sunday, Jan. 23 at 2:30 p.m. For info or tickets, visit michiganopera.org. Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @DBFreePress. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dance Theatre of Harlem reaches 'Higher Ground' with Stevie Wonder The incident occurred at Flip Flops Dockside Eatery in Fort Lauderdale. Bill Kingman/Getty Images Visitors to a waterfront restaurant swam to safety after a dining-area deck partially collapsed. The incident occurred at Flip Flops Dockside Eatery in Fort Lauderdale in Florida, per AP. Fire officials said the dock appeared to show signs of decay and they were investigating further. A group of people dining at a Florida waterfront restaurant fell into the water after the deck below them partially collapsed. Two diners received minor injuries as a result and had to be taken to a hospital, AP reported on Saturday. The incident occurred at Flip Flops Dockside Eatery in Fort Lauderdale. Diners were eating outside when a chunk of the deck fell away, fire officials told local news reporters. Flip Flops Dockside Eatery did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Following the collapse, at least three adults swam to a boat near the dock and were pulled out of the water by other people, per AP. The dock appeared to have signs of decay. Fort Lauderdale fire rescue battalion chief Stephen Gollan told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. It also appeared that repairs had recently been carried out, he said. According to WPLG Local 10, Fort Lauderdale building officials were investigating the structural integrity of the dock. In a mission statement on its website, the restaurant states that it wants everyone "to feel at home and to relax." It describes itself as a place where people can escape their worries "and chill out dockside watching the boats sail along the Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal while listening to the sounds of the islands." Read the original article on Business Insider Additional crews worked Sunday to repair gas lines as several businesses and residents remained without heat in downtown Akron. An update on how many of the 100 customers were still affected was not given Sunday in an email from Stephanie Moore, spokesperson for Dominion Energy Ohio. The outage could last into Monday with the company advising customers needing a warm place to sleep to call Dominion Energy at 877-542-2630. The gas outage was reported early Saturday morning where a city water main broke near Akron Children's Hospital. The city said the line was repaired Saturday as the street caved due to the underground water leak. More bad weather moved in Sunday. "We completed the water main repair yesterday afternoon, backfilled the excavation and placed temporary asphalt to open the street," Akron Public Service Director Chris Ludle said Sunday Akron city workers pump out water from a section of West Center Road near Akron Children's Hospital on Saturday. To avoid lines freezing and breaking inside apartments and offices, the gas company on Sunday advised customers to let water faucets drip, open cabinet doors to allow warmer air to reach uninsulated pipes below sinks and appliances near exterior walls, or disconnect water and drainage systems altogether, though the last bit of advice could also disable fire sprinkler systems, the company noted. Affected customers are residences or businesses along West Cedar and Exchange streets, as well as side streets connecting the two, from Akron Children's Hospital to Cleveland Clinic Akron General to just beyond Glendale Cemetery heading into Akron's West Hill neighborhood, according to information provided by the gas company. Moore said additional crews were called in from Ashtabula, Canton and Youngstown to help repair the waterlogged gas lines. The company asked customers not to tamper with gas meters, many of which are downhill from the municipal waterline break. Still investigating Saturday morning, Dominion Energy confirmed Sunday that the municipal main break caused water to enter its natural gas lines amid freezing temperatures. Story continues "Crews are in the process of removing the water," Moore said. "Once water is removed from the lines, gas service to customers can begin to be restored. Dominion Energy expects it to take most of Sunday and possibly into Monday to restore all impacted customers. Repairs are taking longer than anticipated due to frigid temperatures and falling snow." A rupture in a 16-inch water main early Saturday morning led to the collapse of a small section of West Center Street in downtown Akron. Moore said customers will be contacted when repairs are complete to have their gas service turned back on. With extreme cold in the forecast, the city of Akron extended warming center hours at four community centers. The nearest to the gas outage, Mason Community Learning Center at 700 E. Exchange St., was open Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The gas company also cautioned customers not to burn anything larger than a candle without adequate ventilation and avoid using stoves or ovens to keep warm. Reach reporter Doug Livingston at dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3792. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Dominion Energy dispatches more crews to restore downtown Akron gas by Monday Dispatch Reporter Danae King takes a selfie with Reporter Erica Thompson while at the Driving Park library branch's mobile newsroom. When I was a young reporter, my favorite thing about the job was that every day was a new experience and another chance to talk with interesting people. In my first days at The Dispatch, I met a woman who was mistakenly charged an advertiser's fee for having one of those historic tobacco ads on her barn. I talked with people devastated when a flood swept away their belongings and damaged their homes. I visited a Columbus woman who dedicated much of her time to improve health care access for Latinos. The Columbus Dispatch Assistant Metro Editor Ryan Smith takes a selfie while at the Driving Park library branch Mobile Newsroom with reporters Danae King and Mark Ferenchik. It's easy in this age of texting and Zoom calls to interview story subjects from the comfort of our homes. Sometimes, in light of the pandemic, it's necessary. But we and the readers miss out. More: Dispatch Mobile Newsroom: Telling stories in Columbus neighborhoods That face-to-face connection gives us a better understanding of the people we interview and the neighborhoods where they live and work. It builds trust and leads us to more people and stories that give readers a complete picture of a neighborhood. "You have to get out there," reporter Mark Ferenchik told me. "You have to talk to people and be there, because we're the eyes and ears of the community." More: Meet reporter Mark Ferenchik, the news man on top of local issues Ferenchik and reporter Erica Thompson have spent the last month working out of the Driving Park branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library as part of our mobile newsroom initiative. It was the second stop in a program dedicated to forming lasting relationships between the newspaper staff and residents of all Columbus communities. And in a way, it's taking us back to our roots of shoe-leather reporting. Erica Thompson We hope this initiative will benefit the residents of the community we visit as much as it is helping us. Thompson and Ferenchik split their time between working at the library and visiting people and businesses in Driving Park. They attended civic meetings and other events. Story continues More: Reporter Erica Thompson determined to be changemaker, storyteller for marginalized communities "I learned the extent to which the community felt overlooked by both the media and the city," Thompson said. "It felt good that the mobile newsroom gave us the opportunity to show that we do care." Kelly Lecker is interim editor of the Columbus DIspatch. Thompson and Ferenchik made connections that will help us cover Driving Park in the way it deserves. They highlighted problems, such as speeding on Livingston Avenue, and success stories such as Willis Beauty Supply, which has been in business for nearly 55 years. Columbus Dispatch reporter Danae King on Jan. 5, 2022. More: Black Business Spotlight: Willis Beauty Supply owners reflect on nearly 55-year history As Thompson pointed out, every neighborhood has its story to tell. Driving Park, for example, had about 15 Black-owned businesses that were at one time the pride of the neighborhood. "Most people don't know that entrepreneurial spirit," she said. The reporters listened to stories and sifted through memorabilia that one man brought to the library to show them. They are now the keepers of those stories and it's a privilege to be responsible for sharing them. More: Editor: In 2022, The Dispatch has 'ambitious agenda' to connect with entire community Too many times, crime dominated the headlines about Driving Park when, in reality, the neighborhood is so much more than that. "People just like to be heard. They liked that we were there covering all facets of their neighborhood, the good things that were happening," Ferenchik said. While we remain committed to Driving Park, and Northland, where we kicked off our mobile newsroom initiative last year, we are moving to the Hilltop next week. More: Dispatch Mobile Newsroom now has newsletter focused on underrepresented neighborhoods Danae King and other reporters will be working out of the newly renovated Hilltop branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. We're having an open house at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the library, so please stop in and say hello. After that, we'll head to Whitehall in the spring. We look forward to telling your stories. Kelly Lecker is interim editor of The Dispatch. klecker@dispatch.com @kellylecker This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: When is Columbus Dispatch mobile newsroom's move to Hilltop? Eddie Foisey moved to Cape Cod in the 1980s. I remember Cape Cod, you know, last guy over the bridge, shut off the light, he said. But a lot has changed in 40 years as Foisey would say, the place has grown up. The place has grown up, grown out, but most of all, it has grown expensive. The average home price on the Cape, according to Zillow, is more than $600,000. Foisey says he couldnt afford a place today. I mean, Im just a working guy, you know? Foisey isnt the only working guy who owns a house on the Cape. Brian Zinn works for a school and his wife, Denise, is a nurse. They bought a house in Brewster in 1997, finding it by dumb luck, she says, aided by their timely arrival. He agrees, it was just all serendipity. Twenty-four years later, the couple have moved, but lease the house to long-term renters. Zinn says its not just one thing that has caused this crisis. Its been a long time coming, its not just this crazy real estate boom causing all these issues its been a long time coming, he said. A long time coming in this case means decades. And when good-paying jobs dont pay enough for home ownership, what happens next? Denise Zinn described the difficulty in hiring new health care workers. As a new young resident they couldnt afford to live there, she said. She also brought up a question thats tough for New Englanders to ask themselves: At what point do I leave for someplace more affordable? Seriously, I guess I never loved living there, so I was always confused as to why people stayed. Denise Zinn joked that people would say they cant be land-locked, and then theyd work three jobs and never get to see the beach. The Zinns now own a home in Pittsburgh, a two-bedroom condo recently purchased for $51,500. Health care isnt the only industry feeling the pinch on the Cape. Rich Delaney, who recently returned from the United Nations COP26 summit on climate change in Glasgow, is stepping down as CEO of the Center for Coastal Studies on Cape Cod. He's an expert on the ocean and climate change. He noted how everything is linked. Story continues Rich Delaney, who is stepping down as CEO of the Center for Coastal Studies on Cape Cod, says his organization wants more graduate students but that housing in Provincetown and the lower Cape "has been a huge problem for us." Housing and climate? They have to be in-sync," Delaney said. "For a while you could justify it we live in this special unique wonderful place and theres all kinds of amenities for beaches and history and wonderful culture, but theres a limit to how much thats worth. He feels that challenge in looking at the next steps for his research institution. (It's) One of the big issues for the Center for Coastal Studies growth, because we want to have more grad students," Delaney said. "Housing in Provincetown and the lower Cape has been a huge problem for us, and it stopped the growth of the center in that regard. Delaneys staff of about 45 employees could handle more grad students and interns, but the center doesnt have a real program because in order to have a formalized program where we bring grad students in any large number down here, we need to have housing. Its not just nonprofits that are suffering. State Rep. Sarah Peake, D-Provincetown, recalled that when state Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kenneally visited businesses on the Cape earlier in the fall, he heard one thing, loud and clear. Business owner after business owner, whether it was a small restaurant owner or someone who owned a major appliance store in Harwich: We cannot find employees because people cannot afford to live here, she said. Radu Luca, executive director of the Provincetown Chamber of Commerce, said a significant chunk of the region's labor force is comprised of young people from Jamaica and Eastern Europe, who get a J-1 visa to work in the service industry. Radu Luca, executive director of the Provincetown Chamber of Commerce, said a significant chunk of the region's labor force is comprised of young people from Jamaica and Eastern Europe, who get a J-1 visa to work in the service industry. But theres a catch. Theres also a requirement with the J-1 Student Visa Program that employees have secured housing before they get here, he said. Outside investors Jay Coburn, CEO of the Community Development Partnership, said a few reasons why the Cape is uniquely expensive includes people wealthy buyers from Boston and New York who can invest more than locals, as well as current homeowners who dont support development. Theres great, broad consensus to support affordable housing. Until it has an address, he said. Other obstacles include restrictive zoning and lack of land. Density is the only economically viable way to build housing," Coburn said. "Its also the most environmentally sensitive way." If density is the answer, where is the money to build these projects? We have ARPA funds that are primed for one-time cost, so think capital projects like housing, said Peake. Massachusetts legislators dedicated $530 million of approved a $4 billion American Rescue Plan Act bill to housing. Beyond money, Peake said, we also need to bring stakeholders together. Realtors, housing assistance corp., the Community Development Partnership, work with local planning boards to get plans approved This sort of engagement seems to be working. The Community Development Partnership reported that every town on the Lower Cape has a development project in the pipeline. But some businesses cant wait they need housing for their staff now. Someone is trying to make it happen. Patrick Patrick is eighth generation Provincetown whose parents started Marine Specialties on Commercial Street, an Army Navy store that celebrated 60 years of business in 2021. Through the first 11 months of last year, the median price for a single-family home sold in Provincetown was $1.46 million, according to The Warren Group. According to Patrick, The writing was certainly on the wall by 2019. That year he had employees who couldnt find anywhere to live, so Patrick put them up in his parents house. He said this was crowded and not an ideal solution. Thats when Patrick, a seasoned real estate developer, started working on what he views as that solution: 28 dormitory rooms for up to 112 seasonal summer workers. In the off-season, these rooms would be occupied by students. The project, now named The Barracks, received all the necessary approvals and permits, has the support of the town, and even has some businesses interested. It also generated a lawsuit from abutters. On July 12, they filed an appeal to annul a planning board decision for a special permit. The project is being held up, but Patrick is optimistic about the Barracks, and Provincetown. His message to the abutters? I think Im doing my part to support the community so I think they can, maybe they can do their part, too. This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Cape Cod business owners must combat high housing costs to get workers You are here: World Flash A man wearing a face mask walks on a street in Manhattan of New York, the United States, Jan. 19, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently refuted the narrative that the Omicron variant signals the COVID-19 mitigating into a mild disease, warning that the pandemic is far from over. "This pandemic is nowhere near over," Tedros told reporters from the WHO's headquarters in Geneva, Singapore's Chinese-language Lianhe Zaobao paper reported on Thursday. The Omicron variant is much more contagious than previous strains and has spread rapidly since it was first detected in southern Africa in November. "Omicron may be less severe, on average, but the narrative that it is a mild disease is misleading," Tedros said Tuesday. "Make no mistake: Omicron is causing hospitalizations and deaths, and even the less severe cases are inundating health facilities," he added. Wildlife experts are cautiously hopeful following the birth of elephant twins at a reserve in Kenya. The two babies, a male and female, were born this week at Samburu National Reserve to a mother named Bora, the nonprofit Save the Elephants announced. The charitys elephant researchers work within the park and it also trains guides to help monitor the animals. The twins with their mother, Bora. (Photo: Jane Wynyard/ Save the Elephants) Twins are rarely encountered in elephant populations and form around only 1% of births, zoologist and Save the Elephants founder Iain Douglas-Hamilton said in a statement. Quite often the mothers dont have enough milk to support two calves. The quality of vegetation available for the mother elephant to eat, as well as the mothers experience, are both big factors in the potential survival of a pair of twins, according to an Instagram post from the nonprofit. In this case, Bora has successfully already raised one calf that was born in 2017. Researchers with the charity plan to pay close attention to the elephant family and monitor the young elephants health. The next few days will be touch and go for the new twins but we all have our fingers crossed for their survival, Douglas-Hamilton said. African elephants are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with the biggest threats being poaching and habitat loss. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow, 79, a Detroit native who spent 24 years on the federal bench, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow had a way with words and his courtroom was rarely dull because of it. He was humorous, blunt, compassionate. For 24 years, he used those traits to make people feel comfortable in the often intimidating federal court system, and was known to catch many off guard with his colorful remarks like telling a defendant who was upset about his jail conditions, Well, the Pontchartrain Hotel is full. Tarnow, a witty, knowledgeable and humble jurist who believed in second chances, treated prominent and common folks the same, preferred loose cardigans to stiff suits, and ruled on everything from child slavery and sex escort cases to public corruption and civil rights, died Friday. He was 79. He was the most truly human person in the courthouse, said longtime criminal defense attorney Bill Swor, whose relationship with Tarnow dates back 40 years, when the judge was a lawyer with the state's Appellate Defender's Office, and the two played in a lawyer softball league together. He understood the power his office held, and truly wanted to use his superpowers for good, said Swor, noting Tarnow had a well-kept secret. "He was always the smartest guy in the room," Swor said, "but never let anyone know he knew it." Tarnow, a Detroit native and onetime preeminent criminal appellate lawyer who was appointed to the federal bench in 1998, died Friday morning at Henry Ford Hospital, where he was being treated for heart issues. Our whole court grieves at the loss of Judge Arthur Tarnow, Chief U.S. District Judge Denise Page Hood said in a statement. Judge Tarnow was an excellent judge, fair in all ways and ever cognizant of the hurdles facing men and women returning to the community after serving a sentence in prison." She added: "He was also a loyal friend and a had a sense of humor that could sometimes catch you off guard or was just plain corny. Swor can attest to that, as he recalled a comment that Tarnow once made as he approached him at the bench during a proceeding. Story continues "He said to me, 'I know where you got that tie,' " Swor recalled, noting the tie was nothing special. Amused, Swor asked the judge, "You do? So where did I get it?" "Your closet," Tarnow replied. More: Veteran Wayne County prosecutor dies: 'She was a hell of a lawyer' More: Retired federal judge Marianne Battani dies after long illness: 'We have lost a gem' This is the Tarnow that hundreds of defendants and lawyers caught glimpses of during his distinguished career on the bench, where he delivered opinions in landmark cases, sometimes stirring controversy with his decisions. For example, Tarnow took some heat for granting compassionate release to numerous inmates during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a convicted murderer whom Tarnow had previously given two life terms. That inmate was locked back up after prosecutors appealed. Tarnow, though, issued a rare clarification in that case, explaining that he freed the man who had already served 22 years because he had turned his life around in prison and presented "compelling and extraordinary" reasons for releasing him. "As this court often reminds the attorneys who appear before it in compassionate release hearings, its goal ... is to evaluate defendants, not as they were at the time of their original sentencing, but as they are now," Tarnow wrote in his clarification. Perhaps this is what Tarnow is remembered for most his willingness to believe that people could change, and were worthy of second chances. "Judge Tarnow had a tough exterior but a heart of gold. He was always interested in giving offenders second chances," said former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade. "He devoted his life to serving indigent defendants, and that empathy for the least powerful members of society came through in all of his work." Like many others in the courthouse, McQuade was no stranger to Tarnow's deadpan humor. "His dry wit could sometimes knock you off balance, but once you spent some time with him, you realized that he used humor to put people at ease in the courtroom," said McQuade, adding the two connected over their shared love of the Detroit Tigers. "We will miss him." Longtime criminal defense attorney Mike Rataj echoed those sentiments, noting defense lawyers often relished the opportunity to have their cases heard by Tarnow. "He was a good guy. He was extremely intelligent and fair," Rataj said. "We're going to miss him." Tarnow, the son of a successful electrical supply business owner, grew up on the edge of the Boston Edison District. Neighbors included famed UAW President Walter Reuther, whose driver occasionally drove Tarnow to school in the labor leaders bulletproof Packard. He graduated from Mumford High School in 1959, then enrolled at the University of Michigan, returning home a year later to attend Wayne State University. There, he earned his bachelor's degree in 1963 and went on to earn his law degree with honors in 1965. I chose law, I think, to try to help people, Tarnow told the federal courts historical society in a 2017 interview. After law school, Tarnow traveled the world, working at universities in Australia and New Guinea, and visiting places like Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, the Philippines, several African countries, Israel and London. Upon his return to the states in the late 1960s, Tarnow was recruited by law school friends to work for the Legal Aid and Defender Office in Detroit, where he represented criminal defendants in their legal appeals. In 1970, Tarnow became the first full-time director of the newly created State Appellate Defenders Office. The next year, he married Mary Jacqueline Beaubien, a nurse whom he met through a friend. They had two sons. In 1972, Tarnow expressed an interest in politics, though it was brief. He ran for Detroit Recorders Court but lost the general election, so he spent the next 26 years in private practice. In 1997 came his big career jump. President Bill Clinton nominated Tarnow to the federal bench in Detroit, where he would oversee numerous high-profile cases, but remain humble in the process. There was no ego to deal with, many who knew him said. He was often spotted walking downtown alone and buying his lunch, chose to keep his first-floor courtroom rather than move higher up - he didn't like elevators and enjoyed being across the hall from the candy store - and installed two miniature cowbells in the jury box of his courtroom so jurors could let him know when it was time for a restroom break. I was overwhelmed, Tarnow said of his early days on the bench. It takes a lot of time to become an effective federal judge. The key thing is to listen and recognize that you dont know everything. Curiosity is important. Tarnow handled several high-profile cases over the years. In 1999, he temporarily blocked a new state law that would have banned so-called partial birth abortions and imposed a maximum penalty of up to life in prison for violations. In 2006, Tarnow ruled that proponents of Proposal 2 tricked voters into signing petitions to put an anti-affirmative measure on the statewide ballot. While he concluded that the deception didnt violate federal discrimination laws, he said those who were misled could rectify the situation by voting against the issue in the November election. The decision was upheld on appeal and Michigan voters went on to approve the measure, which banned race and gender preferences in government hiring and public-university admissions. In 2011, Tarnow presided over the sensational Miami Companions sex-ring case, which involved a nationwide escort service that sold sex for $500 an hour, had a black book of 3,000 customers and raked in more than $4 million, with metro Detroit being among its busiest ports. In 2014, Tarnow oversaw the child slavery case of a U-M janitor who was convicted of sneaking four west African children into the U.S., pretending they were his own, and abusing them with broomsticks, a toilet plunger and ice scraper. Tarnow sentenced the man to 11 years in prison, but an appeals court struck down the slavery conviction, forcing Tarnow to reduce the man's sentence to 21 months in prison. " 'You got a huge break," Tarnow told the defendant, adding: "I trust that you've learned your lesson as to your form of, quote unquote, 'discipline.' " Asked in 2018 how he would like to be remembered, Tarnow said: Being a public servant with great power is a large responsibility. It requires patience, the ability to listen to the parties, lawyers and law clerks, and a sense of fairness. He is survived by his wife, Jackie; sons Tom and Andrew; a brother, Robert; a sister, Adrienne Goldbaum, and two grandchildren. Due to COVID-19, the family is hoping to hold a memorial gathering this summer. Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Federal Judge Arthur Tarnow dies: 'most human person in courthouse' BROCKTON Several residents were displaced and one person was injured in two fires that broke out amid frigid temperatures in the city and a Brockton firefighter was injured when he fell through the stairs and into the basement of a house while battling a blaze at 69 Tilton Ave. The Leapfrog Group released its fall 2021 safety grade ratings. You can find out how Good Samaritan Medical Center and Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital compared to other hospitals nationwide when it comes to patient safety. In case you missed it, here are five stories from the past week throughout the Brockton area that resonated with our readers. Brockton firefighter injured after falling through stairs while battling house fire A Brockton firefighter was injured when he fell through the stairs and into the basement of a house while battling a blaze Tuesday evening at 69 Tilton Ave. "Upon arrival, the companies found heavy fire in the front hallway," Fire Chief Brian Nardelli said. "They started making their way up into the second floor, knocking down heavy fire, opening up walls." "At that time, one of our members fell through the floor going into the second floor and ended up in the basement," he said. Firefighter injured: Brockton firefighter injured after falling through stairs while battling house fire Fire photos: Mayday declared after Brockton firefighter falls through stairs fighting house fire Fire video: Brockton fire chief speaks about mayday call after firefighter falls through stairs Residents displaced: Several residents displaced, 1 hospitalized by 2 Brockton fires amid frigid temperatures 3-alarm fire photos: Families displaced by 3-alarm fire on Glenwood Street in Brockton Bridgewater prom shop is changing the fashion game one dress at a time Julie Costa found her calling after the pandemic left her jobless, and her creativity built a new business venture that gives young girls the ability to rent special occasion dresses for a discounted price. Miss Louise Prom Closet and Special Occasions Rental, formerly Lulu's Prom Closet and Special Occasions Rental, found a new home at 47 Broad St., Suite 101, in Bridgewater. The new space is over 800 square feet with three dressings rooms, a large outdoor display, and holds more than 3,000 dresses. Story continues New prom shop: Bridgewater prom shop is changing the fashion game one dress at a time Prom shop photos: Take a look at the dresses at Miss Louise Prom Closet in Bridgewater Which local town employees made the most in 2020? Here are the top 10 salaries. The Enterprise recently examined earnings for city and town employees in local communities from 2020, the latest data available. As in years past, the highest earning employees in most communities were police officers, firefighters and the superintendent of schools. More: Which East Bridgewater employees made the most in 2020? Here are the top 10 salaries More: Which Easton employees made the most in 2020? Here are the top 10 salaries More: Which West Bridgewater employees made the most in 2020? Here are the top 10 salaries East Bridgewater Town Hall Stoughton police help dog get new owner after being found alone in D.W. Field Park A dog found in D.W. Field Park by Avon police now has a new home thanks to Stoughton police. Stoughton police started off the new year by helping a lost dog find a happy new home. In a Facebook post about the dog, police said the dog was found in D.W. Field Park in Avon alone but unharmed. Avon police couldn't house him, so he stayed with a man who fostered him for a few days before moving into Stoughton police's animal control center. Stoughton police originally tried to find the dog's owner by asking people to share their Facebook post about him. The post was shared over 2,000 times. More: Stoughton police help dog get new owner after being found alone in D.W. Field Park Brockton ex-convict tells her success story on BET's 'American Gangster: Trap Queens' May 2021- Ayana Bean of Brockton is all smiles posing outside luxe Boston office space after receiving news of being on one of Amazon's bestsellers lists for her self-published book "A Year And A Day: Memoirs of a Regular Girl." In life, we all have chapters in our book we don't read out loud. It could be from embarrassment or not being ready to speak about the past. But not Brockton resident Ayana Bean. She is on rooftops shouting her story of going from being a convicted felon to transcending into an Amazon bestselling author, BET TV personality and founder of a non-profit organization. Brockton sccess story: Brockton ex-convict tells her success story on BET's 'American Gangster: Trap Queens' Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Firefighter injured, lost dog: Top 5 Brockton-area stories last week Jan. 22WILLMAR An intensive care registered nurse arrived at Carris Health-Rice Memorial Hospital Wednesday, part of an influx of health care workers funded by state pandemic funding. A respiratory therapist is expected to arrive early next week. The two are expected to offer a welcome respite for hospital staffers who have cared for patients with COVID-19 nonstop for nearly two years, said Kathy Dillon, executive director of acute care and chief nursing officer at Rice. Gov. Tim Walz announced earlier this week that $40 million in American Rescue Plan funding would be used to hire emergency health care workers to ease the burden on the state's hospitals. One hundred workers were assigned to 23 hospitals around the state in the past week. Another 100 workers will be assigned to more hospitals in the next week. The traveling workers have been hired to work 60 hours a week for 60 days, Dillon said. Each will provide the equivalent of a worker and a half while they are here. "We certainly are grateful," Dillon said. "In recent times, we have had to keep some more critical ICU patients than we might have on a normal day, and we certainly have stretched our resources within that department." The nurse said she was excited to be in Willmar and wanted to assist the staff however she could, Dillon said. Respiratory therapists are in short supply, Dillon said, so the additional help in that area will be useful, too. "Our staff has done an amazing job despite the fact that we've been put in very challenging situations," Dillon said, but fatigue has been set in. While the state's help is appreciated, she said, the community's help is needed, too, Dillon said. In the coming weeks, the community can help ease the stress on health care workers by wearing masks, avoiding large crowds and washing hands, and getting their vaccinations and booster shots, she said. "That will help us get through this and hopefully get past the need for the multiple hospitalizations and the need for critical care," she added. Story continues Carris Health and its parent organization CentraCare have required that all employees be vaccinated or apply for an exemption. That went into effect in mid-December, and those who didn't comply were placed on unpaid leave. It was a small percentage of the entire staff. While some may blame that policy for the staffing shortage, "I would say our staffing shortages began long before the requirements for employment," Dillon said. "There certainly may have been some impact with that, but overall it's such a combination of things that have occurred." The staffing problems have been compounded by the highly contagious omicron variant which has had numerous staffers out of work because they've tested positive or have been exposed. Labor shortages have hit many parts of the economy, not just health care. Many people have grown weary of the pandemic and are re-examining their careers, she said. "Overall, the impact of the requirement has had minimal impact," she said. "We've also experienced that people are interested in trying something new, so they've left our organization as well." All the health systems around the state are experiencing staffing challenges to some extent. "When we've had difficulty moving patients to find a critical care bed, it's been hard on all organizations," she said. Rice has employed traveling nurses before the pandemic, Dillon said, so that isn't new for the staff. The nurse who arrived this week has worked around the country, has broad experience and told the staff she's willing to help out wherever she can. Denise Netzley embracing nomadic living. Denise Netzley Airbnb is seeing users book longer stays, with 20% of nights booked for a month or more. One long-term traveller told Insider she has been living on Airbnb for the past six months. Although she's funding the trip with an inheritance, her monthly costs are comparable to her former rent. The decision came as life-changing ones tend to do in the middle of the night. It was January of last year and Denise Netzley said she had been thinking for several weeks about moving out of her apartment in Los Angeles and living for the foreseeable future on Airbnb. "I woke up," she told Insider, "and I was just like, 'Yeah, I'm doing this, 100% I'm doing this.'" The following morning she started getting rid of what belongings she could, moved the rest into storage, and made reservations on Airbnb. At 59 years old, Netzley had some savings from a career producing ads for Hollywood films, followed by a personal assistant business that was winding down. She also received an inheritance following the death of her father three years ago, which she said made the whole plan possible. Denise Netzley Denise Netzley In becoming a full-time Airbnb guest, Netzley was joining a growing set of power users who are booking longer and longer reservations on the platform. Company data show that roughly a fifth of nights booked were for stays longer than a month, CEO Brian Chesky said in a recent Twitter thread in which he announced that he too is now "living on Airbnb." The first reservation Netzley made was the one where she's currently living in her father's birthplace of Kansas City, Missouri. From there she worked backwards, filling in the months with stays in Mexico and South Africa. In making the reservations, Netzley discovered by accident that some hosts offer discounts ranging from 15% to 50% when a reservation passes a certain length. In May of last year, Netzley handed over the keys to her LA apartment and departed for a six-week stay in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Story continues "The first few days there I was completely overwhelmed, a fish out of water," she said. "But after the first week I got the lay of the land and I got comfortable enough to rent a car and start taking these day trips to different places, like Tulum." Denise Netzley in South Africa. Denise Netzley Netzley's advice to similarly out-of-water fish is simple: "Sit at the bar in any restaurant when you go, people are going to be more inclined to be conversational. The bartender is going to help make connections. I just always sit at the bar almost anywhere I go." She spent August in a Kansas City neighborhood that she was considering to live post-travel before jetting off to Cape Town where a condo in a ten-unit building became her two-month base-camp for shorter jaunts around Africa. "I found that I like having a home base," she said. "I just love the idea that I didn't have to schlep everything. I could just take a small bag and leave my stuff." Netzley added that she was able to get by with bringing about half the amount of stuff to Africa that she had brought with her to Mexico. And although she wasn't keeping a close eye on her budget, the purchasing power of the US dollar overseas meant that she was effectively living at a similar or lower monthly cost to what she would have paid in rent and expenses had she simply stayed in LA. On her way back to the US in December, she passed through Uganda and went on a gorilla trek that she said was the "absolute pinnacle" of the six-month journey. Now back in Kansas City at the same Airbnb host she stayed with in August, Netzley says she's "at a crossroads" trying to determine how she can continue to support her future travels, including launching a new business idea. Before she had set out in the first place, she had decided not to become attached to the inheritance money from her father, and now she's determined not to let this new business take over too much of her life. "I've discovered in this travel and in this year that there's so much joy out there," Netzley said." I would never give up that for money, ever." Read the original article on Business Insider By Michael Nienaber and Giuseppe Fonte BERLIN/ROME (Reuters) - Germany's flagship carrier Lufthansa is in talks to buy a 40% stake in state-owned Alitalia's successor ITA Airways, two people familiar with the negotiations said on Sunday, following a newspaper report that a deal could be unveiled next week. The talks about a tie-up between Germany's partly state-owned Lufthansa and ITA Airways are still ongoing with all outcomes possible, one of the sources said on condition of anonymity, adding the stake price was still under negotiation. The second source said Lufthansa and ITA were in talks over a 40% stake sale, but it could take longer than a few days to reach a comprehensive deal. A Lufthansa spokesperson declined to comment, but reiterated an earlier statement that the German carrier was open to the possibility of a partnership with ITA. An ITA spokesperson, when asked for comment by Reuters on a potential investment by Lufthansa, did not mention Lufthansa but said that the airline's top management would present a strategic plan to the company's board on Jan. 31. A data room would then be opened in the following days, he added, allowing a potential bidder or partner to have access to key financial documents to assess the value of the company. Italian daily Il Foglio reported on Saturday that the two companies could present a deal on a 40% stake next week as they were very close to agreeing over some key terms, such as the role of Rome's Fiumicino airport as a hub for direct flights to Africa and some routes to the Americas. Sources told Reuters on Jan. 12 that the Italian carrier was in contact with Lufthansa, British Airways and United States-based Delta Air Lines for an equity partnership, adding that formal talks could start by the end of March. Delta said on Jan. 13 it has no plans to invest in ITA. The German government currently holds 14% of Lufthansa shares following a bailout at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and aims to sell its stake by October 2023 at the latest. Story continues The group was saved from bankruptcy by Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Belgium with 9 billion euros ($10.21 billion) in financial support approved by the European Commission. A German economy ministry spokesperson declined to comment. A deal with ITA would be subject to approval by the European Union's competition watchdog. (Reporting by Michael Nienaber in Berlin and Giuseppe Fonte in Rome,; Additional reporting by Ilona Wissenbach in Frankfurt and Elvira Pollina in Milan; Editing by Susan Fenton) Barry Bolton, 66, has been chief of the fisheries division for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation since 2007. Before that, he served 18 years as the assistant chief and has worked for the Wildlife Department since 1979. After 43 years at the Wildlife Department, Bolton is retiring on Jan. 31 and plans to spend more time pursuing his hobbies of backpacking, woodworking and photography. He answered some questions from The Oklahoman about his career and the future of fishing in the state. 'If it's not a 180, it's close to it': Oklahoma Wildlife Department shifts bass management strategy In your 43 years at the Wildlife Department, what has been some of the biggest changes in Oklahoma fishing? Bolton: Some of my fisheries division co-workers have joked that the invention of the outboard motor must have been the biggest change to fishing during my career. Seriously, I do believe fishing in Oklahoma in 2022 is as good as it has ever been. We have developed world class fisheries for striped bass, paddlefish, blue catfish, largemouth bass and crappie. I could go on but the point is Oklahoma has incredible fishing opportunities in every corner of the state. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation never loses sight of the fact that we are funded by license revenues from hunters and anglers. We work diligently to ensure that we are providing a quality product to our constituents. Barry Bolton holds a striper caught on Lake Texoma. Bolton, who has been chief of fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for the past 15 years and has worked more than 40 years for the agency, is retiring Jan. 31. What do you think have been the biggest accomplishments during your time as head of fisheries? Bolton: First, it is important to point out that accomplishments in fisheries under my watch were a team effort. I have 75 incredible individuals on my staff that are passionate about Oklahoma's fisheries resources. That said, I am very proud of over $20 million of boating and fishing access projects we have funded across the state. Our hatchery staff continue to produce record numbers of fish for stocking in public and private waters. Recently, we initiated a program to propagate threatened and endangered fish and species of greatest conservation need. We have also pushed to increase awareness regarding native, nongame fishes. Our research and management personnel collect and analyze the data that form the basis of sound management decisions. We were able to create a streams management team to focus additional effort on those resources. I am very proud of the professionalism displayed by my staff when working with constituents, elected officials, and fisheries managers from other states. We have challenged our staff to make our department lakes showplaces and they have responded with enhanced access for anglers across the state. I have pushed to improve our research process and provided opportunities for employees to present their data at professional meetings. I have embraced an open door policy and encouraged open, honest communication with my field staff. Story continues More: 'A great year regardless:' Oklahoma deer hunters fall short of last season's record Barry Bolton holds a 53-pound king salmon that he caught in British Columbia. What have been the biggest disappointments? Bolton: Without a doubt my biggest disappointment has been my inability to move the needle on the importance of setting aside water in our streams and rivers for fish and wildlife. Many of our watersheds have been over-appropriated leaving little water for aquatic species. Oklahoma is one of only two states that does not provide water specifically for fish and wildlife. What are the major issues that Oklahoma fisheries are going to be facing in the near future? Bolton: Clearly, the biggest threats to managing Oklahoma's aquatic resources will be issues related to water quantity and water quality. If fish and wildlife resources continue to take the back seat to competing water uses, we will look up and many of our fisheries will be severely compromised. Oklahoma must find a way to turn the corner on water permitting, water conservation and water quality. What was the most difficult part of the job as head of fisheries? I believe state fish and wildlife agencies are most effective when we base our management decisions on sound biological and human dimensions data. I have struggled to embrace the notion that decisions can sometimes be driven by ever-shifting political winds. When this occurs, the resource often suffers. 'It's a pretty big show': Total Archery Challenge is bringing its 3D archery shoot to Oklahoma What has been the most rewarding part of the job? Bolton: My greatest joy has come from mentoring young fisheries professionals and witnessing the passion of this next generation of resource managers. Oklahoma seems to have a diverse set of fisheries for an inland state. Is this true? Bolton: Oklahoma is blessed with an incredible diversity of aquatic resources. Taxonomists recognize 177 species of fish across our various ecoregions. With 52 major reservoirs, thousands of smaller lakes and ponds and 78,000 miles of rivers and streams, fishing opportunities are available just outside your back door. It is important to point out that the fishing industry in Oklahoma generates annual sales of over $1.4 billion. 'Angry and heartsick': Oklahoma game wardens still investigating deaths of whooping cranes Is there any kind of fishing that we don't have here that you think might work? Bolton: Historically, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has provided some additional fishing opportunities with non-native species. The Lake Texoma striped bass fishery is certainly one success story. Potential impacts to native species must be carefully weighed when any non-native species is introduced into the state. Going forward, I see few additional opportunities to develop non-native fisheries in Oklahoma. What advice do you have for your successor? I have had the privilege of working for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for 43 years. Our employees are passionate about our mission and I sincerely believe we provide constituents a great product for the cost of their fishing or hunting license. We should remain diligent in our efforts to manage fisheries resources based on sound biological and human dimensions data. I would suggest that managing Oklahoma's aquatic resources during the next 40 years will be even more difficult for reasons I mentioned earlier. Education and outreach regarding these water issues will be a key to success. I absolutely believe that the next generation of fisheries managers are up to the task. Reporter Ed Godfrey looks for stories that impact your life. Be it news, outdoors, sports you name it, he wants to report it. Have a story idea? Contact him at egodfrey@oklahoman.com or on Twitter @EdGodfrey. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma fisheries boss to retire in January after 43-year career Watch: Guy Ritchie's London pub in flames for the second time in six months A pub belonging to film director Guy Ritchie was engulfed in flames after a blaze broke out for the second time in six months. Firefighters were called to the Lore of the Land pub in Fitzrovia, London, on Sunday morning (23 January) after flames engulfed a balcony at the rear. Fire crews raced to the pub on Conway Street at around 11.20am to battle the blaze. Firefighters were called to Guy Ritchie's pub Lore of the Land on Conway Street in Fitzrovia, London, on Saturday morning. (SWNS) Their speedy response meant the blaze was extinguished within 40 minutes, but witnesses said the back of the pub appeared to have suffered serious damage. Aerial footage and photos show the balcony engulfed in flames while firefighters battle them. Read more: Hunt for mystery man who rings doorbell at night and then walks away The images then show smoke billowing from the balcony after the fire was extinguished. According to some witnesses, it appeared the blaze may have been started by a malfunctioning electrical device. Firefighters battled the blaze, which is thought to have been started by a malfunctioning electrical device. (SWNS) Despite the dramatic scenes, witnesses said the fire wasn't as serious as the last in June last year, which destroyed the entire roof of the pub. In that blaze, ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled a fire which was believed to have started in the kitchen. London Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed they attended the latest blaze but said further details would be released later. Smoke could be seen billowing from the balcony after the blaze was extinguished. (SWNS) One local resident said: "I heard some pops and thought it was fireworks going on outside, but when I went out to have a look I saw the balcony on fire. "My immediate thought was oh god it's happening again, although after a short while it became clear that this fire wasn't as bad as the last one. "Firefighters arrived around 11:20am and, to my relief, had been on gone by 12:00pm. "The fire looked like it was started by some sort of electrical device on the balcony, but luckily it seems to have been contained solely to that area. "I hope that the damage to his pub isn't too severe." Watch: Guy Ritchie's house has been targeted by burglars Flash A Chinese envoy on Friday called on the United Nations to promote multilateralism, focus on development and fight climate change. Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), made the appeal in his remarks after hearing a briefing by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on his priorities for 2022. Stressing the need to practice true multilateralism, Geng said that protectionism and unilateralism will ultimately hurt the interests of others as well as one's own. He said that spreading hate speech and prejudice, inciting ideological antagonism, and holding back economic and technological advances of other countries will only result in confrontation and division in the world. Noting that the UN chief's priorities put forward approaches and initiatives on strengthening cooperation and improving global governance to tackle current and future challenges, Geng said that China will actively participate in the thematic discussion in the General Assembly scheduled for February. Calling on the world to fight the pandemic together, Geng said that countries need to expand cooperation in vaccine production, research and development in medicines to ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines, speed up vaccination in developing countries and bridge the immunization gap. "We should address the urgent needs of developing countries in advancing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on promoting cooperation in such fields as poverty reduction, connectivity, food security, green development, and digital economy," Geng said. It is imperative to protect and improve people's well-being, protect and promote human rights in the process of development, and let the fruits of development benefit all people, he said. As to green development, Geng said the world, while upholding the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, should promote international cooperation on climate change and implement the outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Developed economies need to take the lead in fulfilling emission reduction responsibilities and deliver on commitments to providing financial and technical support so as to create necessary conditions for developing countries to address climate change and achieve sustainable development, he added. GEORGIA Good news stories recently included Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent Martin Luther King Jr. Day supporting The King Center in Atlanta; free N95 masks will be distributed late this week at pharmacies in the state; how to get free COVID-19 tests; and a 6-month-old labradoodle named Hank is the first therapy dog to work with senior citizens in Forsyth County. Plus, rocker Joan Jett and the Blackhearts will perform at the Brookhaven Cherry Blossom event; a report says Georgia is among the best states to drive in; a Douglasville native has landed a spot on the Olympic bobsled team for the fourth time; a new Publix is about to open; and more in our roundup of good news stories from Georgia's Patch sites this week. Share your local news, events and pics by clicking "+" at the top of any page. Here are some of this week's good news headlines: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent Martin Luther King Jr. Day supporting The King Center in Atlanta. A spokesperson for the couple told PEOPLE magazine that the couple provided meals to volunteers and staff. Whether it's high gas prices or back-to-back traffic, some states can be an absolute nightmare to navigate behind the wheel. However, Georgia isn't apparently one of them. According to a new WalletHub study, the Peach State is among the best states to drive in, ranking No. 6 overall. Douglasville's Elana Meyers Taylor secured her spot on Team USA for the 2022 Winter Olympics, the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation announced Monday marking the bobsledder's fourth time at the Olympics. The Forsyth County Senior Services welcomed patrons and community members to a meet and greet on Jan. 4 with their first therapy dog, a 6-month-old labradoodle named Hank. Story continues The City of Brookhaven announced that Joan Jett and the Blackhearts will headline the 2022 Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival this year. N95 masks will be available for pickup late this week at pharmacies and health centers in Georgia that partnered with the federal government's COVID-19 vaccination campaign. More Good News Stories: Don't miss local news from Georgia. Sign up for free Patch alerts and daily newsletters. Thanks for reading Patch! This article originally appeared on the Sandy Springs Patch Healing The Divide co-founder Iris Koh (SCREENGRAB: Iris Koh YouTube channel) SINGAPORE Iris Koh, the controversial 46-year-old co-founder of anti-vaccination group Healing The Divide, and two men have been accused of conspiring to submit false vaccination status to the Ministry of Health (MOH). Dr Jipson Quah, 33, and Thomas Chua, 40, were each charged on Friday (21 January) with an offence of abetment by conspiracy to cheat. Koh was charged on Sunday with an offence of criminal conspiracy to cheat. All three have been remanded for further investigations. The offences of abetment by conspiracy to cheat and criminal conspiracy to cheat are both punishable with imprisonment for a term of up to three years, or a fine, or both. A further eight persons are under investigation for their suspected involvement in this conspiracy. Police report by MOH According to police, the MOH notified them on Friday of their investigations into a registered medical practitioner for an offence under the Infectious Diseases (Antigen Rapid Test Providers) Regulations 2021. It was suspected that he had submitted false information to the National Immunisation Registry that he had administered COVID-19 vaccines to individuals, when in fact he had not. The trio were arrested on the same day. Preliminary investigations revealed that the two men, a doctor and his assistant, had allegedly engaged in a conspiracy to cheat MOH by submitting the aforesaid false information with the intention to induce MOH to issue the Certificate of Vaccination against COVID-19 in the TraceTogether application. Koh is said to have referred clients, believed to be members of Healing The Divide (HTD), to Quah and had also suggested administering something in lieu of the vaccine to patients. This is not Koh's first brush with the law. She is also currently under investigation for an alleged offence of abetment by instigation of persons to obstruct public servants in the discharge of their public functions. MOH filed a police report against HTD in January, noting that Koh had exhorted parents to visit paediatric vaccination centres to overwhelm on-site medical staff with questions. Story continues Four clinics suspended, investigations ongoing Separately, MOH said on Sunday that it will be issuing notices of intention of suspension to four medical clinics which were licensed to Dr Quah and/or where he is a clinic manager, as well as revoking the ART approvals for these clinics. They are Wan Medical Clinic, Mayfair Medical Clinic, Mayfair Medical Clinic (Yishun Chong Pang), and Ong Clinic & Surgery (Yishun). Dr Quah will also be referred to the Singapore Medical Council for further investigations. The suspensions are in order to safeguard public health and ensure that clinic practices are in line with national COVID-19 policies and regulations, said the ministry. Wan Medical Clinic allegedly partnered Koh to offer remote ART Pre-Event Testing (PET) for members of HTD. MOH started its investigations following anonymous feedback last December. The clinic was said to have allowed individuals to submit to the clinic pre-recorded videos and/ or photos purporting to show that they had performed ART PET on themselves. The clinic then uploaded the negative ART results for these individuals. MOH noted that supervised PET must be conducted in real time and in the presence of a registered medical practitioner or qualified self-administered test supervisor. Conducting any unsupervised PET is against the law, and the test provider could face a fine not exceeding $5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or both. In addition, Dr Quah allegedly submitted a false positive ART result to the Patient Risk Profile Portal, a national healthcare system used by doctors to upload ART results and other patient information. This was so that the unvaccinated patient could obtain a recovered status and be exempted from vaccination-differentiated safe management measures. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Jan. 23An 80-year-old man and a 78-year-old woman were rescued from their Waipio Gentry home today after their garage was found emanating "heavy smoke and flames." The Honolulu Fire Department responded to a 911 call at around 12 :30 a.m. about a building fire at 94-1002 Koliana St. and found a "small " two-story, single-family home with smoke and fire coming from its garage. As firefighters battled the two-alarm fire in the garage, they received reports that two people were still inside the dwelling. Both were rescued from the smoke-filled home. The 80-year-old man was found near the door to the garage and the 78-year-old woman was still asleep in an upstairs bedroom. They received medical attention at the scene and were transferred to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services just before 1 a.m. EMS reported both occupants to be in stable condition. HFD was able to fully extinguish the fire before 1 :30 a.m. The origin of the fire was determined to be near the dryer and the cause was found to be accidental. Total damages from the fire have been estimated at $117, 000, including $110, 000 to the house itself and $7, 000 to its contents. A Houston deputy was killed early Sunday morning after pulling a man over in what officials described as a "brutal attack." Cpl. Charles Galloway, 47, was shot multiple times after pulling over a white Toyota Avalon at about 12:45 a.m. Sunday, according to Harris County Constable Ted Heap. The man driving the car exited the vehicle and immediately began to shoot at Galloway, who died at the scene. Constable Ted Heap. (Harris County Constable Precinct 5) He is survived by a daughter, as well as his sister, and the numerous numerous numerous officers here at Precinct 5 who were trained by him, who he mentored, and who are going to miss him tremendously, Heap said Sunday. A suspect in Galloway's shooting has not yet been identified. Heap described it as a routine traffic stop. Witnesses described the suspect as a young Hispanic male, who allegedly used what was characterized as an "assault type" weapon. The suspect returned to the car and drove off after the shooting. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner urged anyone with information on the suspect to reach out to police. "Corporal Galloway served with honor and distinction, and his life was taken as he served to keep the rest of us safe," Turner said. "Thank you for your service." The investigation will be taken over by the Houston Police Department, according to Houston Police Chief Troy Finner. "This is senseless, it makes no sense whatsoever," Finner said. "Our special investigative unit homicide has taken lead on it in a message to this suspect: The best thing you can do is turn yourself in. Peacefully." CORRECTION (Jan. 27, 2022, 9:09 a.m. ET): A caption in a previous version of this article misidentified the person in the photo. The photo is of Cpl. Charles Galloway, not Constable Ted Heap. What was once the biggest iceberg in the world released more than 167 billion tons of freshwater in three months and nearly 1 trillion tons in its lifespan, which could have profound effects on wildlife, scientists say. The A68A iceberg was part of the Larsen-C Ice Shelf on the Antarctica peninsula before it broke off in July 2017. At the time, it was the biggest iceberg on Earth at 2,208 square miles, larger than the state of Delaware. When the iceberg broke off, it began to drift across the Southern Ocean. In December 2020, the iceberg began to approach South Georgia island, about 1,300 miles off the Argentina coast. The island is home to wildlife including penguins and seals. Start your day smarter: Get USA TODAY's Daily Briefing in your inbox The A68A iceberg in Nov. 2020 with some smaller parts of ice that have broken off around it. Scientists said the iceberg broke apart just before it could have hit the seabed. A collision could have seriously damaged the island's ecosystem, including killing wildlife. A team of international scientists then examined the size and thickness of the iceberg since it first broke off using three satellites. The team found the iceberg had released more than 167 billion tons of water around the island in three months. That would be enough water to fill 61 million Olympic-size swimming pools. The findings are set to be published in the March 1 edition of Remote Sensing of Environment. "This is a huge amount of melt water," Anne Braakmann-Folgmann, a researcher at the University of Leeds in England and Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling, said in a statement. The melting was the result of the iceberg's movement from the cold waters along the Drake Passage to the warmer Scotia Sea near the island. When the iceberg approached the island, it dropped in thickness from 771 feet to 219 feet, most of which occurred from November 2020 to January 2021. By April 2021, it had completely melted, totaling 992 billion tons of ice lost in its 2,485-mile journey since it broke off in 2017. At its peak, 22 feet of ice melted each month. Story continues "Doomsday" glacier: Collapse of Florida-sized glacier may happen soon, raising sea levels and threatening coastal cities Rain: The Arctic will soon see more rain than snow. Scientists say it may speed up global warming. Luckily, the melting was enough to break the iceberg so it's "less of a risk in terms of blockage" of the island, but it still could have a significant effect. The cold freshwater drifts with the oceans currents, so the mixture with the salty warm waters will release nutrients into the waters. Scientists believe that will change or produce new plankton in the area, which affects the local food chain. What that means for the environment in the long term is not known. "The next thing we want to learn is whether it had a positive or negative impact on the ecosystem around South Georgia," Braakmann-Folgmann said. "Because A68A took a common route across the Drake Passage, we hope to learn more about icebergs taking a similar trajectory, and how they influence the polar oceans. Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iceberg size of Delaware dumps billions of tons of freshwater in ocean JERUSALEM (AP) Israel's Cabinet approved Sunday the launch of a state investigation into an affair involving the purchase of submarines and other warships from Germany, a case that has embroiled close confidants of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The graft scandal surrounds a possible conflict of interest and bribery involving a $2 billion purchase of naval vessels from Germany's Thyssenkrupp that implicated some of Netanyahu's closest associates. The former prime minister was questioned, but not named as a suspect, in the scandal, referred to in Hebrew as Case 3000. The Cabinet authorized establishing a state investigation into the case by vote. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett abstained. "The processes for defense acquisitions in this government are clean of outside considerations," Bennett said at the start of Sunday's Cabinet meeting. Our sole consideration is the security of Israel. The state commission of inquiry has sweeping authority to investigate and summon witnesses, and its recommendations typically guide government policy. Nitzan Horowitz, Israel's health minister and a Cabinet member, said the government investigation is a critical step in the fight against corruption and is essential for the defense establishment. The approval of a state investigation came more than a year after Defense Minister Benny Gantz authorized a probe into Netanyahu's role in the affair. Gantz said on Twitter after the vote that launching the investigation is of the highest security need, and a clear message that you cannot play with Israel's defense. Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak on Sunday called the matter the most serious corruption scandal in Israels history. Anti-Netanyahu protesters who demonstrated outside his Jerusalem residence until his ouster from office last year had called for an investigation into his role in the submarine scandal. Netanyahu is currently on trial in three other corruption cases and has denied any wrongdoing. He served as prime minister from 2009 until last year, when he was unseated by a coalition of his opponents following a fourth parliamentary election in two years. He now serves as leader of the opposition in the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Last week Israel signed an agreement with Germany to purchase three top-of-line submarines from Thyssenkrupp for three billion euros ($3.4 billion) to replace older ships retiring at the end of the decade. The Defense Ministry said they were not part of the state investigation. Netanyahus Likud party responded to the announcement, saying the investigation should look into how all those who for years opposed buying three more submarines suddenly approved the purchase," and dismissed the allegations of wrongdoing as idle political claims. MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Rafael Nadal finally got the better of a crazy, long tiebreaker and knew he'd won half the battle. After saving four set points and missing with the first six of his own, Nadal finally clinched a tiebreaker that lasted 28 minutes and 40 seconds to set himself on course to secure a spot in the Australian Open quarterfinals for a 14th time. After his 7-6 (14), 6-2, 6-2 fourth-round victory over fellow left-hander Adrian Mannarino on Sunday, Nadal is potentially just three wins away from a mens record 21st Grand Slam singles title. He later reflected on a tiebreaker where momentum swung wildly; where chants of Lets go Rafa, Lets go! rang out; where a point was decided on a 25-shot rally with both players scrambling at full stretch; and that ended only when Nadal volleyed from deep in the court and Mannarinos reflex reply skewed wide. Well, you know, I played a couple, he said, smiling, in reference to long tiebreakers. "But, yeah, (it was) a crazy one, chances for both. And, yeah, lucky to win that tiebreak at the end, no? Half of the match in the tiebreak, without a doubt. Nadal will next play Denis Shapovalov, the 22-year-old Canadian who finished off a 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 win over Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev on Margaret Court Arena less than an hour later to reach the last eight in Australia for the first time. Shapovalov had to isolate after testing positive for COVID-19 when he arrived in Australia ahead of the year's first major, but recovered quickly to help Canada win the ATP Cup in Sydney and now reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the third time. Women's No. 1 Ash Barty advanced to the quarterfinals for the fourth straight year when she beat 20-year-old American Amanda Anisimova 6-4, 6-3. Barty is aiming to be the first Australian woman to win her home Grand Slam title since 1978 and has gone through the first four rounds without dropping a set. Anisimova, coming off a third-round upset over defending champion Naomi Osaka, broke Bartys opening service game of the second set a first for the tournament but the two-time major winner responded by taking six of the last seven games. Story continues Barty beat Anisimova in the semifinals of the French Open in 2019 on the way to winning her first Grand Slam title and won her second at Wimbledon last year. She'll next play No. 21-seeded Jessica Pegula, who beat fifth-seeded Maria Sakkari 7-6 (0), 6-3. French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova breezed to a 6-2, 6-2 win over two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka and is into the last eight for the third time in four Grand Slam events. Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini completed a Grand Slam set with a 7-5, 7-6 (4), 6-4 win over 19th-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta in the last match on Day 7. The seventh-seeded Berrettini has now reached the quarterfinals at all four of the tennis majors and will next play No. 17 Gael Monfils, who beat Miomir Kecmanovic 7-5, 7-6 (4), 6-3. The 35-year-old Monfils made it to the last eight for the second time in 17 trips to Melbourne Park. Nadal, in his 17th campaign in Australia, is now tied with John Newcombe in second spot on the all-time list for most Australian Open quarterfinals, one behind Roger Federer's 15. Its also the 35-year-old Spaniard's 45th time into the last eight at a Grand Slam tournament, which is third on the all-time list behind Federer (58) and Novak Djokovic (51). He shares the men's record of 20 major titles with Federer and Djokovic. But he's the only one of the trio playing in this tournament. Nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic was deported on the eve of the tournament because he didn't meet Australia's strict COVID-19 vaccination rules. Federer is recovering from injury. Mannarino, who didn't finish his 4-hour, 38-minute four-set, third-round win over No. 18 Aslan Karatsev until after 2 a.m. on Saturday and appeared to be hampered by an abdominal or upper leg injury, threw everything at Nadal in the opening set on Rod Laver Arena, where temperatures approached 33 Celsius (91 F). After first set I couldnt really fight against Rafa, said the 33-year-old No. 69-ranked Mannarino. You know, he was playing too well for me not to be 100%. The second and third set just went all the way for Rafa, so thats it." The first set lasted 85 minutes, including the 'breaker, but after getting early breaks in the second and third sets the match was over in 2 hours, 40 minutes. Im very happy I survived that first set, without a doubt, said the sixth-seeded Nadal, who saved one of the only two breakpoint chances he faced, and converted five of 17. That crazy first set was so important. The No. 14-seeded Shapovalov spent almost 11 hours on court through the first three rounds, winning twice in four sets and once in five, and was surprised by the relative speed of his 2-hour, 21-minute win over Zverev. Definitely happy with where the game is at," he said. "I played pretty smart today. Shapovalov reached the U.S. Open quarterfinals in 2020 and was a semifinalist at Wimbledon last year, his career-best run to date at a major. He'll have to step it up against one of the greatest in the game. Its always an honor to go up against a guy like Rafa, Shapovalov said. Its always fun. Always going to be a battle against him. ___ More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Kentucky officials were searching Saturday for two suspects who allegedly killed a man while trying to steal his trailer, according to the Bullitt County sheriffs office. The deadly incident started early Saturday morning when Bullitt County authorities received a call about the theft of an enclosed trailer, according to the sheriffs office. The victim of the theft tried to pursue the suspects and wound up getting shot. He died despite efforts by a deputy and paramedics to treat him. A sheriffs deputy found Kevin Watts, a Bullitt County resident and the victim of the theft, suffering from a gunshot wound. The suspects crashed their truck head-on into a tree and then fled the scene, according to the sheriffs office. The assailants are believed to be two males and may be suffering from injuries consistent with a significant head on automobile collision, the sheriffs office said in a social media post Saturday. The suspects used a truck which was reported stolen when they tried to steal the trailer, according to the sheriffs office. They had also allegedly used a stolen license plate from a different vehicle. The suspects were believed to be operating in an area of five counties or more, the sheriffs office said. If anyone has seen an out of place 1999 white Dodge Ram truck since January 17 or any individuals showing signs of unexplained injury since the morning of January 22 , please contact the Bullitt County Sheriffs Office - (502)543-2514, the sheriffs office said in a Facebook post. Officials said the suspects should be considered armed and dangerous. Vietnam to start developing 6G in 2022 Vietnam is to focus on the development of 6G the sixth generation standard currently under development for wireless communications technologies in 2022. A telecommunication worker set up a telecom hub in Hanoi. Minister of information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung says it's high time for the country to invest in Cloud Computing, Digital Platform and As Service. VNA/VNS Photo Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung told a conference in Hanoi earlier this week that it's high time the country get ahead of the development curve and strengthen its digital infrastructure with emphasis on Cloud Computing, Digital Platform and As Service. As the industry's estimate, the digital economy is growing at a pace of US$136 billion a year with more than 64,000 firms. "Viet Nam is to quickly develop its digital infrastructure and technologies with an objective to become one of the world's leading nations in digitalisation with a vision for future development of the technology and meet the demand for skilled workers in the field," said the minister. He insisted on the importance of developing Vietnam's capacity for Cloud Computing and Digital Platform, two of the fastest-growing fields with an annual growth rate of 15-20 per cent. As the ministry's estimate, the market for cloud computing and digital platforms will have met or even surpass that of telecommunication, which has reached a market saturation point. In addition, the telecommunication sector must address a series of long-time issues such as bonus SIM, rampant advert text messages, and calls before it can further develop into a useful platform for the digital economy. The minister said digital infrastructure is among the highest priority for the Government, which has set a target to be among the top 30 nations with the most advanced and robust digital infrastructure by 2025. "In order to realise these targets, the telecommunication sector must start now to get ahead of the competition to develop 6G technologies and hardware as well as to build the country's 5G network," Hung said. He urged domestic firms to invest in the development and production of 5G, 6G hardware and promised the Government will provide them with additional support. The Lions Club of Pennsylvania collected different amounts of food, water, and supplies for the relief effort in Kentucky for the tornado victims. Districts from Western Pa. collected items Friday at the parking lot of Lowe's Home Improvement store in Cranberry Twp. CRANBERRY TWP. The Lions Club of Pennsylvania has collected items to send to Kentucky to help with the victims of the deadly and destructive tornadoes that occurred there in December. More: 2-month-old baby one of 12 children killed in devastating Kentucky tornadoes; rescue workers wade through rubble More: Donations collected in Brighton Twp. for tornado victims Riverside Lions Club King Lion Chip Campbell said all 17 districts in Pennsylvania contributed to the donation drive. Representatives and clubs from seven districts, including the six in the western part of the state, held their donation collection Friday at the parking lot of the Lowes Home Improvement store in Cranberry Township. Campbell said anything one can imagine was donated, from clothing, tools, appliances, furniture, food and other necessary supplies. Theres going to be a lot of stuff on that truck, he said. The drop-off in Cranberry was the final of three stops, which the other two locations being in Christiana and Harrisburg. The truck that was supposed to arrive in Cranberry for the drop-off was filled from the first two stops, forcing the Lions to get another truck. Two trucks of items will be going to Utica, Ky. to help benefit victims of the tornadoes that occurred in December. Lions Club District 14B Governor Mary Ann Belles, which includes Allegheny County, said her district helped donate items such as 30 cases of water, shovels, electric cords and pallets of apples. District 14N, which includes Beaver and Lawrence counties, raised more than $6,000 for spending, according to District Governor Jeffrey Loudermilk. The items that were purchased included kerosene heaters, red and yellow gas cans, generators and carbon dioxide filters, electric cords, shovels, rakes, heavy brooms, large tarps with tie-downs, chainsaws, clothes for children and adults, buckets, different food items, heavy-duty construction trash bags, work gloves, flashlights and batteries, diapers, Pampers, Depends, Band-Aids, toothbrushes, soap, cleaning supplies and disinfectant wipes. Lions Club District 14N, which includes Beaver and Lawrence Counties, spent over $6,000 in different supplies, ranging from food, clothing, and cleaning supplies, to generators, chainsaws, shovels, and rakes. The Lions Club even received a truck of donations from Paper Products Company Inc. Story continues From Cranberry, the supplies will be driven to Utica, Ky. International Lions Club President Douglas X. Alexander will be in Kentucky personally to receive the supplies. For Campbell, this is the second big giveaway event the Lions Club has been a part of recently, with the first being the donation of supplies in October 2020 to hurricane victims in Louisiana. More: Lions Clubs donate to aid Louisiana in hurricane aftermath He said the Lions Club and its members are always willing to go out of their way to help anybody in need any way they can. We love it. Thats what we do. Thats what the Lions do, Campbell said. More: Lions Club receives goggles, hand sanitizer for the county Nicholas Vercilla is a staff reporter for the Beaver County Times and Ellwood City Ledger. He can be reached at nvercilla@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Ellwood City Ledger: Lions Club of Pennsylvania collects items for Ky. tornado relief Spotlight Theatre Productions received a Freddie G Outstanding Production Award and performed during the closing ceremonies at the Junior Theater Festival Atlanta. Local students representing Spotlight Theatre Productions in Sarasota won a Freddie G Outstanding Production Award and other recognitions at the 2022 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta on Jan. 14-16 in Atlanta. Spotlight Theatre Productions also performed during the closing ceremonies. At the festival, groups performed 15 minutes of a Broadway Junior musical for adjudicators. Spotlight Theatre students performed selections from "Children of Eden JR." "This was a beautiful, tender, and sincere piece of musical theater storytelling. What a great ensemble," said Steven G. Kennedy, iTheatrics vice president of publications and choreography supervisor. Spotlight Theatre students Ada Jordan and Julianne Teague made it to the callback for future video shoots for how-to choreography videos. Also, Vivianna Coppa and Zahara Greco were distinguished as festival All-Stars. The Junior Theater Festival, called a rousing celebration of theater by the New York Times, empowers young people and educators creating student-driven musical theater around the globe. Tony Award winning actor Ali Stroker performed the headline concert. Actors Tommy Bracco and Kara Lindsay (Disney's "Newsies: The Broadway Musical") took part in a special Newsies panel via video. Groups also enjoyed a New Works Showcase of performance selections from upcoming Broadway Junior musicals. Spotlight Theatre has a history of success at past Junior Theater Festivals. The group won a Freddie G Outstanding Production Award at the 2021 JTF Texas. The group was recognized with a Freddie G Award for Excellence in Ensemble Work (2019 and 2016 JTF Atlanta); a Freddie G Excellence in Acting award (2020 and 2015 JTF Atlanta); and a Freddie G Excellence in Music award (2018, 2014, and 2013 JTF Atlanta). Spotlight Theatre Productions is a dynamic educational musical theater program full of multi-talented kids who sing, dance, act, and present top-notch productions. The organization aims to give children a place to grow as performers and as people, develop new friendships, and discover new self-confidence. For more information, visit spotlightkidsperform.com. Submitted by Allison Van Etten This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Local student performers honored at Junior Theater Festival Atlanta Jan. 23A Longmont man was bitten by his roommate's dog Thursday in the 2100 block of Frontier Street. The dog was placed on quarantine. A Longmont resident reported a theft Friday in the 800 block of Confidence Drive. There were no investigative leads or suspect information available. Longmont police on Friday took a report of graffiti in the 1700 block of 11th Avenue that occurred Tuesday. Criminal mischief was reported Friday to police in the 1600 block of Lashley Street. It was reported that a man had damaged property in the area. The man was later contacted and admitted to damaging the property. He was issued a summons for the incident. LOUISVILLE, Ky. The banner was unveiled, Russ Smith put his hands over his face, and fellow Cardinal great Darrell Griffith presented Smith with a framed No. 2 jersey. Smith had just earned a rare distinction: a Louisville player to have his jersey retired. His likeness a picture of him dribbling, probably looking to attack the basket now hung in between banners honoring Pervis Ellison and Denny Crum. Smith, who, as he noted during a brief speech to fans, had little college courters out of high school, had been forever enshrined as a Louisville legend. The No. 2 jersey, forever Smiths, became the fifth number to be retired in program history, joining Charlie Tyra (8), Wes Unseld (31), Griffith (35) and Ellison (41). Teammates of Smiths, including Kyle Kuric, Luke Hancock and Peyton Siva, congratulated Smith with pre-recorded videos, but the largest cheer of the evening came when former Louisville coach Rick Pitino appeared on the screen during the jersey retirement ceremony, which took place at halftime of Louisvilles 82-70 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday. I dont think Ive ever laughed as much in coaching a player, Pitino said of Smith. I dont think Ive ever cried as much in coaching a player. And certainly I dont think I could love a player any more than I love you. Congratulations, son. Smith & bourbon: Louisville basketball legend Russ Smith diving into another local passion: Kentucky bourbon Afterwards, Smith said: To hear him speak those words of me really sends chills through my body. Love Coach to death. A highlight reel of Smiths U of L highlights from 2010-2014 were shown before the game and during TV timeouts, much to the delight of a Yum Center crowd of 16,175, the largest of the season. Louisville basketball legend Russ Smith reacts to having his jersey retired during a halftime ceremony against Notre Dame at the YUM Center. Jan. 22, 2022 There will never be another player to grace the floor like you did, Siva said in his video. There will never be another Russdiculous, man. Smith scored 1,908 points during his Louisville career, the fifth-most in school history, and also tallied 257 total steals, a program record. Story continues As a freshman, however, Smith fought injuries and played sparingly. He considered transferring. I wanted to leave every day, especially when I was hurt. It was hard, Smith said Friday. More: Top 5 'Russdiculous' moments of Russ Smith's Louisville basketball career But Smith stayed, had a strong season off the bench as a sophomore and erupted as a junior to become one of the best players in the country. He led Louisville to the since-vacated 2013 national title and was named a consensus All-American in 2013-14. Smith, who is 30 years old and currently playing in the NBAs G-League, said he was grateful Louisville chose to retire his number sooner, rather than later. He noted some athletes are celebrated decades after their playing days, when their families may not be around to witness and treasure the event. In Smiths case, his grandmother was among those on the court with him to watch the banner unfurl. The University of Louisville did the right thing by doing it early, he said. On the game: Louisville basketball fans boo as Cardinals fall to Notre Dame for 4th loss in 5 games Smith, undersized at 6-foot, generated little interest from colleges out of high school and chose to attend prep school. He then became so interested in attending Louisville that he tried to commit before he even had a scholarship offer. At that point, even Smith couldnt foresee what was to come. The scholarship offer came, he committed, and then after a challenging freshman year he became a Cardinal great. Now, his accomplishments will be honored forever. I really wanted to come here, Smith said. Im glad it worked out. Hayes Gardner can be reached at hgardner@gannett.com; Twitter: @HayesGardner. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Russ Smith Louisville basketball star, NBA, jersey retirement ceremony A Fresno County man was arrested Saturday after being sought in an alleged assault on a police officer 10 days earlier. Daniel Osuna Leon, 39, of Orange Cove was booked into the Fresno County Jail on charges of assault on a police officer, evading police and grand theft. The incident took place just before 2 a.m. Jan. 10, when Fowler Police responded to a report of a man stealing a catalytic converter off a vehicle at an apartment complex. Leon, later identified as the suspect, is accused of fleeing the scene and ramming his car into a Fowler Police patrol vehicle as the officer was getting out, resulting in what was described as a serious leg injury. The officer is recovering, but remains off-duty. Authorities issued an alert for Leon to surrounding law enforcement agencies. Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium detectives had developed information on a possible location when Leon was arrested Saturday. Detectives said they uncovered more evidence showing Leon may be involved in other criminal activity. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriffs dispatch center at 559-600-3111 or Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867 or www.valleycrimestoppers.org. People can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. A man driving in a north Fresno neighborhood Saturday night was shot at multiple times and eventually was struck. The incident happened around 6:40 p.m. near the intersection of College and Birch avenues, in the Pinedale area, which is located north of Herndon Avenue and west of Blackstone Avenue. Fresno Police said a 47-year-old man who was driving in a white Chevy Tahoe with a female passenger was shot at roughly 15 times and was struck once in the lower leg. The man drove a short distance after getting shot then rushed to a nearby residence. Officers eventually located the victim, who was later transported to Fresno Community Regional Medical Center. Police said he suffered a non-life threatening injury and was in stable condition. The female passenger was not injured, Fresno Police said, as the majority, if not all, of the shots fired struck the drivers side of the SUV. Fresno Police said it was a drive-by shooting but they were not sure if the victim was the intended target. Police did not immediately have information on the possible suspect(s) or a motive for the shooting. The nation's top infectious disease expert is "as confident as you can be" that most states will have reached a peak of omicron COVID-19 cases by mid-February. Dr. Anthony Fauci, speaking Sunday on ABC's "This Week," said several states in the Northeast and Upper Midwest have seen cases peak and begin to decline sharply but that cases are still rising in the South and West. "You never want to be overconfident when you're dealing with this virus," Fauci said, adding that the coronavirus "surprised us in the past." Fauci said there may be "a bit more pain and suffering with hospitalizations" in parts of the country where a higher percentage of people have not been fully vaccinated or have not received a booster shot. Fauci said the goal is to get infections under control to where the virus isn't eliminated but the level is low enough that "it's essentially integrated into the general respiratory infections" that Americans have learned to live with. Also in the news: Scott Quiner, 55, an unvaccinated patient flown from Minnesota to Texas during a legal battle over whether his ventilator should be turned off, died Saturday, the familys attorney said. Arkansas reported almost 1,700 coronavirus hospitalizations Saturday, breaking the state's record for the fifth day in a row. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is postponing her wedding after announcing new restrictions Sunday. The restrictions came after nine cases of the omicron variant were found in a single family that flew to Auckland to attend a wedding. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in an interview with Israel's N12 News that he hopes COVID-19 boosters will be administered "once a year" and not once every four to five months, according to Reuters. Kiribati, one of the most isolated islands in the world, went into its first lockdown after the majority of passengers on the country's first international flight in months tested positive for COVID-19, the government said on Facebook. Story continues Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 70 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 866,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Global totals: More than 350.5 million cases and nearly 5.5 million deaths. More than 210 million Americans 63.3% are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What we're reading: Long COVID-19 patients are still struggling to reclaim their lives even many months after their infections. "I'm 29 years old and I feel like I'm 70," says one Georgia man. He's not alone. Read the full story. Keep refreshing this page for the latest news. Want more? Sign up for USA TODAY's Coronavirus Watch newsletter to receive updates directly to your inbox and join our Facebook group. COVID-19 at home tests are still in high demandbut, you can now order free kits sent by the USPS. Hall of Famer John Stockton, a mask and vaccine opponent, banished by Gonzaga Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton, arguably the most famous alumnus of Gonzaga University, has been banished from home games of the nation's No. 1 college basketball team because of his refusal to wear a mask. Stockton, who has espoused conspiracy theories about vaccines killing pro athletes in their prime, told the Spokane Spokesman-Review that the school in eastern Washington has suspended his season tickets because he would not don a mask at games. Besides COVID-19 vaccines, Stockton has publicly opposed mask mandates and shutdown measures aimed at curbing spread of the coronavirus. Stockton, born and raised in Spokane, Washington, had his number retired by Gonzaga and went on to become the NBA's all-time leader in assists and steals in 19 seasons with the Utah Jazz. Steve Gardner Right-wing extremists trying to win over anti-vaxxers Thousands of protesters demonstrated in near-freezing temperatures Sunday at the "Defeat the Mandates" rally in Washington. That's the kind of passion that makes them appealing to far-right groups. Right-wing extremists are trying to take advantage of the raw feelings caused by the pandemic "scamdemic,'' they call it to lure anti-vaxxers to their cause, regularly spreading disinformation videos and false statistics about vaccines on social media. The far right has certainly seized on anti-vaccine ideology as an important new front in their ideological and cultural struggle, said Brian Hughes, associate director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab at American University. They see anti-vaccine sentiment and COVID denialism as a market that they can exploit for views, for clicks and for merchandise sales," Hughes added. Will Carless COVID testing center searched by FBI An Illinois COVID-testing company under federal and state investigations had its headquarters searched by the FBI on Saturday. The Center for COVID Control and its main lab, which has been reimbursed more than $124 million from the federal government for coronavirus testing, was the subject of what an FBI spokesperson called "law enforcement activity.'' The company, based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, has been accused of providing inaccurate and deceptive test results. Authorities in Illinois and Oregon are investigating the Center for COVID Control, which according to its website had more than 300 locations across at least 26 states at one point. The company has also been sued by the Minnesota Attorney General. Grace Hauck Fourth vaccine dose at least doubles protection for those over 60, Israeli study finds Israeli health officials have argued in favor of a fourth dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for older people, and Sunday they presented evidence for their case. A fourth shot, or second booster, provided three times as much protection against severe illness and twice as much against infection in people over 60 than three doses, Israel's Health Ministry said Sunday, according to Reuters. On Monday, preliminary results from a study of health care workers at the Sheba Medical Center outside Tel Aviv indicated a fourth shot increased antibodies more than a third but not enough to prevent infections by the omicron variant. The ministry said the enhanced protection was still important for older folks. The latest study, conducted by the Sheba Center in collaboration with major Israeli universities, compared 400,000 people over 60 who got the fourth shot with 600,000 people in that age group who received a third dose more than four months before. Omicron infections have been setting records in heavily vaccinated Israel, where hospitalizations have also been rising but deaths have not. Beijing begins mass testing 2 million people ahead of Olympics A Beijing district that is home to 2 million residents began mass coronavirus testing Sunday as China tightened restrictions ahead of the Winter Olympics. The government told people in areas of the Chinese capital deemed at high risk for infection not to leave the city after 25 cases were found in the Fengtai district and 14 elsewhere. The ruling Communist Party is stepping up enforcement of its zero tolerance strategy aimed at isolating every infected person as Beijing prepares to open the Winter Games on Feb. 4 under intensive anti-virus controls. The Chinese capital must take the most resolute, decisive and strict measures to block the transmission chain of the epidemic, a city government spokesman, Xu Hejian, told a news conference. Non-US citizens entering country by land or ferry must be vaccinated Non-U.S. citizens need to be fully vaccinated before entering the country by land or ferry, even if they are traveling for "essential" purposes. The change, which went into effect Saturday, was first announced in October. These updated travel requirements reflect the Biden-Harris administrations commitment to protecting public health while safely facilitating the cross-border trade and travel that is critical to our economy, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement Thursday. Unvaccinated U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and U.S. nationals will still be able to enter the country via ferry or land port. Bailey Schulz Virginia parent arrested after alleged threat over mask rules A Virginia parent opposed to mask mandates has been charged with making an oral threat on school property after saying she would bring loaded guns to school Monday if her child was forced to wear a mask. Amelia King, 42, became upset after she was cut off during a public comment section of the Page County Public School Board meeting Thursday. My children will not come to school on Monday with a mask on. Thats not happening and I will bring every single gun loaded and ready, King said. Luray police issued a statement saying King later called and apologized for the remark. King was released on $5,000 unsecured bond. The school board ultimately voted to make masks optional for students beginning Monday. That followed an executive order by Gov. Glenn Youngkin giving parents the choice to send their children to school masked or unmasked. Patrick Hite, Staunton News Leader North Carolina asks for FEMA support amid hospitalization surge North Carolina hospitals are treating a record number of coronavirus patients, prompting state health officials to seek federal support in the Charlotte area. Atrium Health, the states largest health provider, along with Health and Human Services and Emergency Management officials are asking FEMA for staffing support, including additional nurses, Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement. To stretch capacity, Atrium Health said it has redeployed staff from urgent care and outpatient centers, limited non-urgent procedures, closed specialty centers and used state-provided flexibilities but it's still above 95% capacity. Unvaccinated people make up 72% of hospitalizations and 83% of COVID-19-related intensive care admissions statewide, officials said. Contributing: The Associated Press. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Omicron cases falling sharply in some states, Fauci says: COVID news Michael Cohen, left, and Donald Trump with his children Donald Jr. and Ivanka. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images (L), Bill Tompkins/Getty Images (R) Donald Trump's former lawyer said Trump told him that Donald Jr. should go to prison over Ivanka. Cohen said the instruction came when Trump's children were on the verge of indictment in 2012. Cohen was speaking to MSNBC about the Trump Organization and Capitol riot investigations. Donald Trump's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen said Trump told him in 2012 that if one of his kids had to go to prison over the family business to "make sure" it was Donald Jr., not Ivanka. Speaking to MSNBC on Saturday, Cohen said Trump gave him the instruction when his children were on the verge of being indicted by the Manhattan district attorney's office in 2012. "You may recall that there was the district attorney's case here for Trump SoHo where it was either Don or Ivanka was in very big trouble as a result of lying about the number of units that had been sold," Cohen told MSNBC's Alex Witt . "And Donald said it to me I mean I wouldn't say it if it wasn't said directly to me he goes, 'If one or the other has to go to prison, make sure that it's Don because Don would be able to handle it.'" Cohen spoke to MSNBC about the mounting pressure on the Trump family amid investigations into the Trump Organization's financial dealings and the January 6 riot. New York Attorney General Letitia James has said her investigation into the Trump Organization has "uncovered significant evidence" of fraudulent and misleading asset valuations. James has taken legal action to enforce the subpoenas issued to Donald Trump and his children Donald Jr. and Ivanka, who she says were "closely involved in the transactions in question." Meanwhile, the January 6 committee investigating the insurrection has asked Ivanka Trump to voluntarily cooperate with their probe. Cohen said he believes there is "not a chance" that the former president would offer to cooperate with the investigations to shield his daughter from legal troubles. Story continues "Donald cares only about Donald, more than he would care about his children," Cohen told MSNBC. Trump's former lawyer also said he believes the chances of the Trump children cooperating with either investigation are "slim to none." This week, Trump said the "vicious" January 6 committee and New York attorney general are targeting his adult children as part of their investigations. "It's a very unfair situation for my children. Very, very unfair," Trump told The Washington Examiner in an interview published Friday. Cohen was formerly one of the most trusted members of Trump's inner circle and was jailed in 2019 for three years for lying to Congress and financial crimes relating to hush-money payoffs to two women who said they had affairs with Trump. He has turned on his former boss, and in his 2020 memoir, "Disloyal," he alleged that Trump is a racist and a conman who has committed tax and financial crimes. A Trump spokesperson denied Cohen's claims and said he was attempting "to profit off of lies." Cohen has been cooperating with prosecutors in several investigations into Donald Trump and the Trump Organization. Read the original article on Business Insider When school started this past fall, my daughter and I agreed to walk to school each morning as much as possible. We are lucky enough to live less than a mile from our elementary school, and we have a safe path to traverse each morning on our journey. These 20 minute walks have proven to be valuable time for my daughter and me. We talk about whats happening in her classroom, things that make her nervous, her friends, and most importantly whats for lunch. As winter has settled in, our thin skin has halted our walks for a while, and I truly miss that time. Michelle Newman, Newark, is a member of Ohio's State Board of Education. How does this tie to whats happening at the State Board of Education? Right now, the State Board is tasked with one of its most important responsibilities selecting the next Superintendent of Public Instruction. The reason this is so incredibly important is that based on upcoming legislation and current conversations in both the House and Senate about education within our state, there is an intense push to privatize education in Ohio. For instance, while the school funding formula was revamped in 2021 and has now gone into effect, potential legislation like the backpack bill has been introduced and seems to be garnering a fair amount of chatter. The Backpack Bill sees school funding like each kid has a backpack of money, and it should travel with them wherever their families want them to go. Advocates of this funding mechanism tout the freedom of school choice. Parents should be able to pick where they want their child educated, and their tax dollars should follow. While at first glance this sounds reasonable and logical, the ramifications if enacted would be incredibly detrimental to the fabric of our communities. Public education was designed to form educated citizens and provide community socialization. The public school experience educates children to be successful and contributing members of our communities. The end consumer of graduates is the wider community. The stronger each student is, the stronger our communities can be. Through the public school experience, students meet and interact with people that hold different values, look different, talk different, and challenge the views outside our own front doors. Through this experience, the intent is to develop well rounded graduates with a wealth of experience and knowledge. Story continues The fact is, the idea of having ones mind exposed and opened to new ways of thinking has become something to fear, not something we strive for. Weve heard public comment at the State Board that some parents are angry when their children question anything said at home. Families have asserted that the role of public schooling is to merely educate on the basics while protecting their individual familys values - silencing anything in the classroom that may question the values or beliefs of any given individual. Not only is that impossible, but it is also a complete anthesis as to why public education was formed. My fear is that if Ohio moves towards a private model, families will choose schools that are protected thought bubbles and leave public schools behind as the choice of last resort. Kids could end up in schools with only those like-minded in an effort to stay in a protected echo chamber without ample opportunity to be exposed to the robust diversity of our communities. As we select our next superintendent, it is my intention to ensure we select a candidate that believes in the full possibilities of our public schools and will work to advance its excellence. Kids in public schools should be exposed to a robust and honest curriculum, develop the skills to think critically, and learn to have honest, productive conversations in both the classroom and outside its walls. The State of Ohio can be the best if we decide to do so. And personally, I really want to keep walking my daughter to school knowing that the public options in our neighborhood are fully supported and advocated for by those at the top of the ladder. Michelle Newman is the 9th district representative on Ohio's State board of Education, which includes all of Licking County. She can be contacted at michelle.newman@education.ohio.gov. This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Newman: The Backpack Bill is bad for education in Ohio NEW YORK COVID-19 infection rates for tested New York state residents dipped below 10% for a second day in a row a trend hailed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Saturday as extraordinary progress. Of nearly 300,000 COVID-19 test results reported, 9.23% were positive, the state data showed. The data showed the downward trend was evident across the state. We are below 10% positivity rate for the second day in a row. This is extraordinary progress, Hochul said in statement Saturday. As we continue to see numbers trend downward, lets also continue to do the right thing. Wash your hands, get the vaccine if you havent already, get the booster dose, and wear a mask. We will continue to see this downward trend in other parts of the state soon. According to the state data released by the governor, as of Friday the number of hospitalizations also declined, along with the number of patients needing intensive care unit treatment. In all, 179 new deaths were reported. The encouraging trend comes in the wake of good news the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dispensed about areas that were initially the hardest hit by the omicron variant including New York. At a White House briefing, Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the cases in some areas hit hardest by the super-fast spreading variant are now showing signs the infection has crested in New York and other northeastern states. These reports add more evidence to the importance of being up to date on your COVID vaccinations, she said. The number of New Yorkers whove completed a vaccination series, including a booster shot, is now at 71.3%, Saturdays state data showed. In late December, the omicron wave fueled a 63% spike in statewide hospitalizations in just one week, and a staggering 22% test positivity rate. The daily positivity rate was below 5% at the start of December, when the delta variant remained dominant. It is reassuring to know that in the face of a pandemic, supply chain interruptions and rising inflation, we in Okaloosa County have had a very positive year. Okaloosas economy is healthy with 97,381 people employed in Okaloosa County which is 4,003 more than one year ago. The unemployment rate is 2.9%, one of the lowest in Floridas 67 counties. In respect to job creation, the county was given 10 years to create 1,300 jobs in the high-value defense sector when awarded $64 million for the Triumph Grant for creation of the State Road 85 Bypass. The county not only met this requirement a full eight years early, but exceeded it by more than 600 jobs. Carolyn Ketchel / 2020 Joint-use agreement signed: Okaloosa County and Eglin Air Force Base ink new airport agreement Booming economy: Military moves, strong tourism could make 2022 a banner economic year locally With heavy input from our friends and neighbors, Okaloosa County is always looking to the future. From creating public beach access ways on Okaloosa Island to bike and pedestrian pathways from Brooks Bridge to Destin Bridge, were focused on creating an even better way of life for Okaloosa County. Whats more is Okaloosa County residents dont bear the burden for these projects. Rather, they are paid for by sharp increases in tourism revenue as people from across the country seek freedom that can be found only in Northwest Florida. This is all made possible by the strength of our economy, and the underlying philosophy of promoting freedom over lockdowns, coupled with fiscal restraint, that have resulted in a stable expansion of tourist activity as compared with other parts of the country. Yet, as tourism increases, so does the local infrastructure requirements needed to ensure we maintain a stable expansion. For example, Okaloosa has seen a dramatic increase in airport usage, where we now have 56 direct domestic flights to destinations on four major airlines. Just last year, we flew 2 million passengers through VPS! A new additional terminal is under construction and will be completed this year, and shortly visitors will be able to use a new state-of-the-art baggage handling system. Eight hundred parking spaces have been added on our apron. Finally, Okaloosa County completed a Joint Use Lease with Eglin AFB which will allow for flexibility in commercial flights that will not interfere with the military mission. Story continues Whats more, under the oversight of a fiscally conservative Okaloosa County Commission, our three-airport system in Okaloosa is debt free. Further the county has successfully completed much-needed projects. These include: Crestview Southwest Bypass and East-West Connector underway with all phases (Phase V from Interstate 10 north to State Road 90 kicked off in the fall and FDOT will start overpass later this year) Countywide Emergency Communications System upgrades underway A new mass notification system for our area schools A new law enforcement training complex in Crestview Several ongoing stormwater projects, including Lafitte Crescent Standish Court Meigs Drive, Sixth Street in Shalimar, Bluewater Bay, Overbrook and Lake Lorraine Additional road projects Commons/Henderson intersection, Hospital/Lewis Turner, PD&E for Northwest Bypass, State Road 2 widening Replacement for the aging Brooks Bridge in Fort Walton Beach Efforts to improve county roads by stabilizing about 10 miles of dirt roads We have heard from citizens who wish to have more water access for their boats. With that in mind, we expanded our inventory of waterfront access parks and boat launches. Your Board of County Commission approved acquiring properties on Rickey Avenue and Water Street in the south end of the county. Additionally, Crystal Beach property was purchased in cooperation with the city of Destin to give much-needed public access in the Destin area. A beach renourishment pilot project, which already has proven successful for about 3 miles of coastal sand is underway with the NuShore project. This promises to reduce the cost of expensive dredging. In an effort to recognize women who have served our nation since the Revolutionary War to present-day conflicts, eight bronze statues were placed at Veterans Park on Okaloosa Island. This provides historic preservation, educational opportunities to learn of womens service and preserves the land for the beauty of the wildlife including nesting herons, beavers, monarch butterflies and 240-plus coastal and migratory birds. Leadership matters in tough times. We continue to maintain one of the lowest ad valorem tax rates in Florida and are committed to common sense conservative solutions for our community. Okaloosa County is a leader in economic development and continues to make a difference for our citizens. Carolyn Ketchel is a county commissioner in Okaloosa County. A former Presidential Management Fellow during the Reagan years, she brings a comprehensive federal, state and local government background to her current position. This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Okaloosa County is moving in the right direction | Guestview Jan. 23JACKSON Mississippi's first business whose stated purpose is to create Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for college football players will soon be up and running. University of Texas boosters made news in December when they announced "Horns with Heart," a non-profit group that will pay Longhorns offensive linemen $50,000 a year. In return, the linemen will participate in charitable causes that impact both the university and the Austin, Texas, community as designated by the organization. The Grove Collective is different. It's a for-profit LLC founded by Jackson-area businessmen David Nutt, Crymes Pittman, William Liston, Matt McDonald, Lawrence Deas and Paul Hurst. It aims to use Mississippi's NIL law, which went into effect July 1, to benefit Ole Miss football. "We've created an entity that will seek to leverage and capitalize on the commercial value that those student-athletes create by virtue of their participation in athletics at Ole Miss and utilize that value to build a program that really the ultimate No. 1 goal is to just be something that serves the best interests of Ole Miss student-athletes," Liston said. The Grove Collective has been in the works for about five months. The formative stages have been spent meeting with website developers and targeting specific individuals in a fundraising effort. "I don't want to reveal names and amounts, but the support in that regard to date has been substantial," Liston said. The group's website could be launched in April. It will include more than just a link seeking contributions but will include some sort of content, Liston said, and ultimately merchandise. "Essentially what we're doing is creating an internet-based business," Liston said. The group is not currently a part of any NIL deals but expects that to change soon. Liston said the company does not exist for the purpose of handing cash to athletes. Story continues "At its baseline, it would have to be a valid quid pro quo between the payer and the payee," Liston said. The Grove Collective is not involved with recruits. In keeping with Mississippi law, its clients must be enrolled as students when they enter into a deal. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin and other coaches cannot arrange NIL deals for recruits, but when recruits ask questions and they do coaches can point to existing NIL agreements for players already in their program. One example likely used by Kiffin is former running back Jerrion Ealy, who had an NIL relationship with Liston, among others. "We think we're going to create the gold standard in NIL programs," Liston said. "It will be there to demonstrate concrete examples of working NIL arrangements with enrolled student-athletes, and any young man who wants to look to the examples we set is welcome to do so." The Grove Collective will start as a football-centric effort but could expand to other sports if the anticipated growth follows suit. PARRISH ALFORD is the college sports editor and columnist for the Daily Journal. Contact him at parrish.alford@journalinc.com. Graduates at the 2018 commencement ceremony at Rutgers University. (Seth Wenig / Associated Press) Skills, not schools might not be the best-known motto of our times, but its increasingly popular among employers. A growing number are willing to consider applicants for well-paid, white-collar jobs based on what they can do rather than on whether they hold a bachelor's degree. Earlier this month, the technology consulting firm Accenture announced that it was dramatically increasing its one-year apprenticeship program in the United States for training in such areas as data engineering and cybersecurity. Since 2016, the firm has hired 1,200 apprentices, most of whom did not have a four-year college degree. In 2020, Google began offering six-month certificate programs during the pandemic, at extremely low to no cost, that train people in fields such as data analytics, program management and UX design. Program managers typically earn more than $90,000 a year. Career training is nothing new, but Google's program is intended to replace the need for higher education by considering completion of these courses the equivalent of a bachelors degree in the relevant fields. Last June, I wrote about the effect of too many jobs which used to require just a high school diploma or some post-high school training now requiring a four-year bachelors degree. This "degree inflation" is a problem for students who choose not go to college or can't afford college. It's also a big problem for 40% of students at four-year institutions who never complete their degrees, despite investing time and money. Degree inflation doesnt work for employers, either, according to a Harvard Business School report. They end up paying more for college graduates who are less satisfied with the jobs, leave more quickly and often dont do as good a job as workers without a degree. Thats not the case in many European nations, where robust school-employer partnerships allow students to enter such fields as banking, software development, hotel management and social work without a four-year degree. Story continues COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement are proving potent forces that are starting to move the needle in the right direction. The pandemic created a labor shortage that prompted businesses to rethink their job requirements. And the push for racial equity has persuaded a hefty number of employers to commit to a more diverse workforce. With more than half of Black college students dropping out of college, it makes sense to hire on the basis of abilities rather than degrees. An effort called OneTen was launched at the end of 2020 by leaders at Merck and IBM, with a goal of getting a million Black workers who lack four-year degrees hired or promoted this decade. The aim is for them to find family-sustaining careers, with an emphasis on hiring for skills. More than 50 employers have signed on. The Rework American Business Network, an initiative of the Markle Foundation, has been prodding employers to place more emphasis on skills when hiring. It has drawn a handful of member businesses so far but theyre big ones, including AT&T, Kaiser Permanente and Microsoft. American workers without college degrees have been losing ground on many fronts partly from degree inflation and partly because so many skilled manufacturing jobs, which used to be a path to the middle class, have moved overseas. The Obama administration, whose education policies were strongly influenced by Microsoft founder Bill Gates' mantra that the jobs of the 21st century would increasingly require college degrees, pushed for ever-increasing numbers of students to attend college. President Trump insisted incorrectly that he could stem the outflow of manufacturing jobs and bring some of them back to the U.S. To his credit, though, he also signed an executive order a few months into the pandemic that requires hiring for many federal jobs to emphasize competency over formal education, noting that "overreliance on college degrees excludes capable candidates and undermines labor-market efficiencies." Forcing a return to a manufacturing economy was always a fantasy. But its impractical and ineffective to force students into years-long commitments and debt they don't need in order to have a successful career. The Biden administration, unfortunately, has not taken a lead on the skills-not-schools movement, when it could make this approach a part of federal education policy. Gov. Gavin Newsom, likewise, should put more effort into making California a leader in the apprenticeship and white-collar skills movement. Another possible benefit to the shift to favor skills over degrees: Colleges, noting that American families are finding ways to succeed without them and anxious to keep enrollment stable, might be prompted to stop the administrative bloat and reliance on the availability of loans that has been feeding the skyrocketing cost of tuition. Look, Im a big believer in college education. I was lucky enough to get one and so were my kids (with a lot of financial grunting and groaning on my part). And theres more to college than just getting trained for a good job. The richness of deeper knowledge, active research and stimulating discussion is worthwhile for its own sake. An educated populace capable of critical thinking is key to preserving our democracy. I also worry that the skills-not-schools movement might become an excuse to stop the push toward educational equity and undermine efforts to get more Black and Latino students qualified for four-year college degrees. But college isnt the dream for everyone. Not having a college degree shouldnt be an automatic employment disqualifier for well-paid jobs. We're starting to challenge seriously the decades-long trend of degree inflation. Lets keep that going. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. PHOENIX Malcolm Brogdon will be sidelined for an extended period of time, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle announced Saturday. Indiana's starting point guard has been dealing with a sore right Achilles for more than a month. "Malcolm's gonna be shut down for 10 days at minimum to begin a program to aggressively rehab his Achilles situation," Carlisle said. "We've just gotten to a point where we haven't made the progress that we need to make, and this plan is something that we got together and talked about (Saturday) with Malcolm." Malcolm Brogdon watches as the Pacers warm up against the Heat at FTX Arena in Miami on Dec. 21, 2021. Carlisle said Brogdon was set to begin the program Saturday and will be out through at least Jan. 31. Including Saturday's contest at Phoenix, the Pacers are slated to play six games during that span. Brogdon had missed 13 of Indiana's past 16 games entering Saturday. He looked sharp in a win over the Lakers on Wednesday night, scoring 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting in 26 minutes. Carlisle said Brogdon has "made significant progress" since the onset of the injury, but because it continues to linger, the franchise changed course. "He'll be doing things to get stronger, to build it up, and we can now do it without the distraction of whether he's feeling well enough to play this game or the next game or the next game," Carlisle said. "This, to me, is a good plan. It's the right plan, and we'll go from here." Brogdon is averaging 18.5 points and a team-high 5.9 assists per game this season. He joins the Pacers' other four projected starters for the 2021-22 campaign in street clothes. Swingman T.J. Warren has not played this season due to a left foot fracture. League-leading shot blocker Myles Turner (stress reaction in left foot), two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis (left ankle sprain), guard Caris LeVert (sore right calf) are out as well. Indiana announced Turner's injury Tuesday and said he will be reevaluated in two weeks. Carlisle said LeVert is day-to-day, while Sabonis' injury is more serious but still not long-term. Story continues "(Sabonis) is not gonna play (Saturday). He's not gonna play Monday (at New Orleans)," Carlisle said. " ... Beyond that I'm not sure, but he's making progress every day." Follow IndyStar Pacers beat writer James Boyd on Twitter: @RomeovilleKid. Reach him via email: jboyd1@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers shut down Malcolm Brogdon for 10 days to rehab right Achilles A 59-year-old Pensacola woman was killed and a 21-year-old Pensacola man was seriously injured in a traffic collision on Gulf Beach Highway on Saturday afternoon, according to a Florida Highway Patrol news release. Around 5:13 p.m., the 21-year-old was driving his pickup westbound on Gulf Beach Highway approaching Reservation Avenue. The 59-year-old was approaching from the opposite direction. More from the Highway Patrol: 74-year-old woman in custody after pursuit on U.S. 90 outside East Milton In case you missed it: Two people killed, third in critical condition, following Sunday crash in Escambia County According to the release, the pickup truck crossed into the eastbound lane and struck the woman's SUV. Both vehicles came to rest at the point of collision, and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash is under investigation. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Woman killed in head-on crash in West Pensacola (Getty Images) The Queen has been flown by helicopter to Sandringham from Windsor Castle on Sunday, where it is understood she will spend the next few weeks. The 95-year-old monarch usually stays in Sandringham for several weeks in the winter, hosting her family and attending St Mary Magdalene Church nearby on Christmas Day. However, a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases last December prompted the Queen to make the decision to remain at Windsor Castle as a precautionary measure. It marked the second consecutive year that the Queen stayed in Windsor instead of travelling to Sandringham due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She spent Christmas Day with Prince Philip in 2020, but spent the following year with Prince Charles and Camilla after the Duke of Edinburgh died last April. Last year was the first festive period the Queen celebrated without Philip, her husband of more than 73 years. On 6 February, the Queens reign will pass the historic milestone of 70 years and herald the start of Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The head of states winter break normally ends some time after accession , when she marks the day her father King George VI died in 1952. She has spent much of this year at Windsor Castle, where she and Philip shielded throughout the lockdowns. There were concerns for the Queens health during autumn last year after she pulled out of a number of major engagements, spent a night in hospital and was ordered to rest by royal doctors. The Queen was advised to carrying out light duties but also sprained her back, leading to her missing the Remembrance Sunday service. Buckingham Palace announced a number of events to celebrate Her Majestys Platinum Jubilee throughout 2022. The UK will enjoy a four-day bank holiday weekend from 2 to 5 June to mark the occasion, with public events and community activities planned to reflect on the Queens seven decades of service. Events include the Platinum Pudding competition, where members of the public are invited to submit their recipes for a new royal dessert, as well as a Platinum Party at the Palace staged by the BBC, and a Platinum Jubilee Pageant. Additional reporting by PA U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington invited a colleague from the opposite side of the aisle to visit West Texas this weekend for a chance to visit, meet with Lubbock-area experts and catch a Texas Tech basketball game while they were at it. U.S. Rep. Scott Peters, a California Democrat from San Diego, has been working with Arrington, R-Lubbock, in recent months to help lead a bi-partisan group of 60 Republicans and Democrats aimed at finding common ground and reconciliation on issues including budget reform. U.S. Rep. Scott Peters, D-California, and U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Lubbock, attended the Texas Tech vs. West Virginia men's basketball game Saturday at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock. Back in December, Roll Call reported that Arrington and Peters were resurrecting a proposal they first wrote the year before that would allow for expedited suspension of the statutory debt limit if accompanied by a plan to shrink what the government owes to creditors. The Bipartisan Policy Center, which has been offering periodic estimates of when the Treasury will run out of money, endorsed the Peters-Arrington measure, according to the Roll Call article. Peters arrived in Lubbock Friday and planned to be in the Hub City through the weekend, visiting with researchers at Texas Tech and others as part of his visit. They also took some time to enjoy the No. 18 Red Raiders take on the West Virginia Mountaineers. Tech would win the game 78-65. Before attending Saturday's men's basketball game at the United Supermarkets Arena, the pair shared some of their goals in a brief Q&A for the Avalanche-Journal. U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington Rep. Arrington Why did you invite Rep. Peters to West Texas? Arrington: Rep. Peters and I co-chair a bipartisan group that is focused on ways to fix the broken Congressional budgeting process and reduce our national debt. This is a great opportunity to spend time on how we can tackle these problems and, at the same time, strengthen our friendship with more West Texas hospitality and less DC hostility. I also want to impress upon Rep. Peters, who serves on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, the importance of rural regions like West Texas and our contributions to Americas economic competitiveness, food security, and energy independence. And, last but not least, I want to show a die-hard Duke fan what a championship basketball program looks like. Story continues How did you identify your shared interest in the budget? Arrington: We served together on the VA Committee and while we had our differences of opinion I always thought of him as a reasonable and conscientious person. When I learned Scott shared my passion for addressing the looming debt crisis, I asked if he would be willing to work with me on building a bipartisan coalition to reform our budget process. I was looking for three things in a Democrat partner someone I could trust, someone willing to make tough decisions, and someone who had earned the respect of their peers and an ability to influence other members of Congress. Scott hit all of the above. Do you two serve together on any committees? Arrington: In addition to serving together on the VA Committee, we were both appointed by the leaders of our respective parties to serve on the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Economic Committee. While Rep. Peters and I have different views on the role of government and even vastly differing policy preferences, he believes in capitalism and cares deeply about our unsustainable debt at least two things we had in common. How were you able to recruit 30 Republicans and 30 Democrats to join your Caucus? Arrington: Amazingly, we have Democrats and Republicans from across the entire political spectrum who have joined our group. A couple of things were key to creating a platform for productive, bipartisan action on addressing our nations ballooning debt. First, we agreed that both parties have played a role in creating this disastrous fiscal situation. No one gets a pass! Secondly, we agreed that the broken budget process which has resulted in costly continuing resolutions and ever-growing deficits is unacceptable and harmful for our country as a whole, regardless of political affiliation. The goal is simple: put the right incentives in place to force Congress to budget responsibly and live within our means like every American family, small business, and local government. How have you two navigated the inevitable tensions that arise between parties? How have you navigated some of the events of the past year? Arrington: It starts with setting the right tone to cultivate a constructive conversation, and Rep. Peters does that as well as anyone I know. While Rep. Peters and I can vehemently disagree on many policies, we dont question each others motives and we know the value of finding common ground. You will never find common ground if you dont have good relationships, and you cant have good relationships if youre constantly attacking people. Arrington: West Texans have strongly held convictions and unwavering core values, but we are also renowned for our friendliness and hospitality the two are not at odds. I committed from the outset of my time in Congress to fight hard for West Texas and my conservative principles without tearing down people with whom I disagreed. Im proud of my record of working across the aisle to improve our nations trade deals, rural healthcare, veteran services, and agriculture economy ensuring a stronger West Texas and a more prosperous nation. What do you hope to accomplish working together in the next year or in the future? Arrington: I hope we can change the culture in Washington so people can disagree on policy and debate vigorously without making it so personal that you cant find common ground necessary to solve big problems. I hope we can rein in the reckless deficit spending that is bankrupting our country and jeopardizing our childrens future. I hope my colleagues and I can put politics aside and work together to address the national debt before it robs us of our future economic prosperity and diminishes Americas leadership in the world. Rep. Peters Peters What brought you to Lubbock? Peters: As a senior member of the House Energy Subcommittee, I know I cant truly understand the US energy industry without visiting Texas. Ill be touring the Oilfield Technology Center at Texas Tech to learn more about the latest tools used for petroleum production. I look forward to speaking with one of the worlds most prominent climate scientists, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, as well as Dr. Marshall Watson who chairs the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Texas Tech. This is also a great opportunity to have some fun--were going to see a Red Raiders basketball game. Jodey Arrington is a colleague Ive worked closely with and hes become a good personal friend. It will be nice to spend some time together and to get to know more about the community he represents in Congress. How did you identify your shared interest in the budget? Peters: Over the last few years, I spoke with various members and organizations in Washington about the need to reform our budget process and address the national debt. Rep. Arrington and I just happened to find a lot of common ground on this specific issue, and we decided to combine efforts after working closely with the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Do you two serve together on any committees? Peters: We both served on the Veterans Affairs committee in 2017 and 2018. And now we serve together on the Joint Economic Committee, a bicameral Congressional Committee that reviews economic conditions and recommends improvements to economic policy. How were you able to recruit 30 Republicans and 30 Democrats to join your Caucus? Peters: When Rep. Arrington and I originally put together the group, there was some broad agreement that there are times to spend during emergencies like the COVID-19 crisis, but then there must also be times we recalibrate to tackle medium- and long-term deficit reduction. Believe it or not, addressing our national debt and improving Congress approach to budgeting are issues Americans across the political spectrum care about. I know constituents tell me personally or call my office about government spending, and I know other members Democrats and Republicans alike receive those calls as well. How have you two navigated the inevitable tensions that arise between parties and how have you navigated some of the events of the past year? Peters: Rep. Arrington and I dont agree on everything in fact, we probably dont agree on most policies. But in a world that has become so deeply divided along party lines, Ive found it gratifying and essential to find areas where Republicans and Democrats can come together to achieve a common goal. I think we agree its important to demonstrate that its both possible and worthwhile to team up and create feasible solutions to our nations greatest problems. What do you hope to accomplish working together in the next year or in the future? Peters: I think theres real momentum for our priorities this Congress. The House passed the bipartisan Fiscal State of the Nation resolution to require the Government Accountability Office to present an annual report to Congress and the country detailing the fiscal health of the nation. Were also pushing Congress to consider the Time to Rescue United States Trusts (TRUST) Act to create special bipartisan, bicameral rescue committees to save trust funds for Social Security, Disability Insurance, Medicare Hospital Insurance, and Highway programs that currently face insolvency. Finally, we will advocate for our own Responsible Budgeting Act, which will reduce debt-limit brinkmanship as long as the budget remains on a responsible path. Theres Senate interest in a number of these ideas, and I sense there will be a real push to get something done. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Rep. Arrington joins California colleague in Lubbock as part of bi-partisan effort Statesman Journal badge The impact of COVID-19 in Oregon facilities that primarily care for older adults was high-profile in the early days of the pandemic. It had started fading from the headlines a year later, in March 2021, when auditors from the Oregon Secretary of State looked at the state's handling of COVID-19 in these care settings. The report, which found about half of the Oregonians who had died from COVID-19 lived in a long-term care setting, piqued the interest of state government accountability reporter Claire Withycombe. Auditors found that while the state did take some proactive measures, it could do more to reduce infections in care. They suggested the state penalize facilities that didn't comply with infection control protocols. The Department of Human Services insisted they had levied about $500,000 in fines. Withycombe was interested in when and why the state did take action and wanted to look closer at those fines. READ THE SERIES: A third of COVID-19 deaths in Oregon tied to care facilities, which faced few penalties She requested state data about penalties levied against facilities for COVID-19 issues, dug through entries on the state's licensing website and reviewed thousands of pages of documents from state and federal agencies. There are several types of long-term care facilities providing care in Oregon and varying levels of oversight. While some information is available in real-time about which facilities have COVID-19, very little is readily available to the public about how it has spread and been handled in these facilities places where our parents, grandparents and loved ones reasonably should expect to be safe. Avamere Court at Keizer on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021 in Keizer, Ore. For months, nonessential visitors, including volunteers from a state office dedicated to oversight of facilities couldn't enter them. So what was happening on the ground? Each week, the state's health department publishes information about the number of cases and deaths in group care settings, including eldercare. Story continues Withycombe looked at Oregon Health Authority data to select about 40 facilities that had large outbreaks, repeated outbreaks and high death totals, She also requested reports from the Department of Human Services about state visits to those facilities to better understand what they, and the state, had done to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19. When the records started to arrive in late June, information about case counts was redacted meaning whole swaths of information about the spread of COVID-19 were blocked. Withycombe also researched publicly available records from the federal government, which regulates some types of care homes, about infection control measures in those facilities. Withycombe began threading together the weekly reports of COVID-19 cases in long-term care facilities with the dates of the state reports she received and the federal reports she looked up through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Statesman Journal requested updated data on state fines on Jan. 7. DHS provided a spreadsheet Jan. 21 showing 18 civil penalties related to COVID. Of those, though, the Statesman Journal was only able to identify three that were issued for how the facility managed the spread of COVID-19: a $12,870 fine to Gracelen Terrace, a $1,500 fine to Tanner Spring Memory Care and a $1,013 fine to Harvest Homes Inc. As of mid-January, nearly 2,000 Oregonians have died of COVID-19 in connection with a group care facility. That number includes residents, workers and close contacts of staff and workers. It also includes adult foster homes, which Withycombe did not include in her reporting. The health department repeatedly refused to provide the Statesman Journal with the total number of residents who have died in group care. The agency's weekly report on group care outbreaks, however, has the number of workers as of Jan. 12, three who have died in connection with a group care facility. Claire Withycombe, State Government Reporter Withycombe sought out sources who lived in care facilities or who had loved ones who did, to better understand the human impact of the pandemic and of the state's approach. She requested and received from the Secretary of State's Office documents reflecting the research and interviews auditors had conducted for their March 2021 report. The Statesman Journal found a regulatory system that emphasized supporting facilities rather than punishing them for lapses in health measures meant to protect residents against COVID-19. "Maybe more people would have died if they didn't do what they did," Fred Steele, the states Long Term Care ombudsman, said of the state's approach, "But we still had a lot of cases and a lot of death in long-term care from COVID because we weren't stronger, and we should have been, in our regulatory approach." Infections continue to be an issue in care homes as the COVID-19 pandemic lurches into its third year. On Jan. 12, the American Health Care Association, which represents about 14,000 nursing homes and assisted living facilities, issued a report warning that U.S. nursing homes are experiencing an "alarming" spike in cases due to the omicron variant of COVID-19. You may contact Claire Withycombe at cwithycombe@statesmanjournal.com, 503-910-3821 or follow her on Twitter @kcwithycombe. Support local journalism by subscribing to the Statesman Journal. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: How we reported this series on long-term care and COVID-19 in Oregon Charles Darwin Magdaluyo is the Duval Schools 2022 Teacher of the Year. Ribault High educator Charles Darwin Magdaluyo, who teaches human anatomy and physiology, is this year's Teacher of the Year for Duval County Public Schools. Magdaluyo, in accepting the award, said he understands what it is like to be a struggling student because he was one. Now, he wants to be the teacher who helps those students. "I want to be part of every child's success story, where I was with them in their challenging times," he said. These great moments dont just inspire me they drive me to be a better version of myself, to be of greater service to these young minds," he said. "I know how it feels to be someone who struggles a lot and almost gives up. I want to be felt as an educator who focuses more on students' hard work to succeed even when difficulties arise. I want to be a teacher I wish I could have. Magdaluyo and four additional finalists were recognized for their accomplishments Saturday evening at The EDDY Awards a private gala hosted by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. The EDDYs give us an opportunity to recognize excellence in education and the professionals who do so much for our students every single day, said Jacksonville Public Education Fund President Rachael Tutwiler Fortune. We know the key to closing the opportunity gap for low-income students and students of color lies in supporting our teachers and empowering them in their work. The EDDY Awards now in its 31st year returned to its gala format after pivoting to a live-streamed luncheon at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. The event was broadcast again this year on WJXT-TV/Channel 4 and hosted by local anchor Melanie Lawson. Who is Charles Darwin Magdaluyo? Ribault High School teacher Charles Darwin Magdaluyo was named 2022 VyStar Teacher of the Year for Duval County on Saturday. Known by his students as Mr. M, Magdaluyo has been teaching for seven years. He teaches Human Anatomy and Physiology to high school freshmen and seniors. Originally from the Phillippines, Magdaluyo launched professional learning communities within Duval Schools to help other international teachers become familiarized with teaching in Jacksonville. He also serves as a training facilitator and mentor for science teachers throughout the district. Story continues In his application, Magdaluyo said he understands what it feels like to be a struggling student because he also struggled in the classroom. What inspires me as an educator is my students' success stories," he said. "Every ah-ha! moment, every smiling face whenever they understand something they thought was difficult, every time they take a risk to do something in front of the class to show they can also do what other students can do these are things that don't just inspire me but drive me to do better day by day. But Magdaluyo almost didn't become a teacher. His parents wanted him to become a doctor and he went as far as taking medical board exams. He passed, but told his parents he couldn't shake his desire to teach. So they compromised: he could teach human anatomy. How is the Duval Schools Teacher of the Year selected? Selecting finalists and winners for the EDDY Awards is no small feat. Of the school district's 180 Teachers of the Year, 15 semi-finalists are selected. From there, five are named finalists. This year's finalists were Amanda Hildenbrand, Shakeya Lee, Candice Lilly, Nick Nelson and Magdaluyo. Semi-finalists, finalists and the ultimate winner are selected by community committees, which are composed of a group of teachers, Duval Teachers United representatives, PTA members and more. According to the education fund, the committee members review initial applications and eventually observe a group of teachers in the classroom as part of the decision-making process. Mr. Magdaluyo represents all the outstanding qualities our teachers bring to our classrooms every day, Superintendent Diana Greene said in a news release. The first thing you notice is his energy and his enthusiasm for student success. Then you see the outstanding quality of his teaching craft, particularly the way he individualizes instruction to reach every student." Greene added, "he inspires and motivates students in a very special and effective way. His drive and impact extend well beyond his classroom." Magdaluyo's current students seem to agree. In this class, we are never afraid to ask questions and make mistakes in concepts he teaches. We feel valued. We belong," said Jasmyn, who was featured in the education fund's finalist roundup. "Mr. Magdaluyo creates a safe environment for us in his classroom that allows us to ask for help if we do not understand something ... He tries to connect with all of us students and builds bonds. I truly believe that hes the best teacher in Duval County, and I wouldnt believe you if you said he was anything less than the best in all of Florida. What happens now that Mr. Magdaluyo has won Duval Teacher of the Year? As the 2022 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year, Magdaluyo will go on to compete for the statewide title. Last year, Duval Schools Teacher of the Year winner Jim Schmitt a Mandarin High history teacher went on to be named a state finalist for the top honor. Magdaluyo also received a cash prize, a classroom grant and a board seat on the Jacksonville Public Education Fund Board of Directors. All Teachers of the Year received access to a yearlong professional development program. State Teacher of the Year finalists will be named in the spring. Emily Bloch is an education reporter for The Florida Times-Union. Follow her on Twitter or email her. Sign up for her newsletter. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ribault High's Charles Darwin Magdaluyo is Duval Teacher of the Year Russia is dismissing a British claim that Moscow is looking to replace the Ukrainian government with pro-Russia officials, calling the suggestion "misinformation." "The disinformation spread by the British Foreign Office is more evidence that it is the NATO countries, led by the Anglo-Saxons, who are escalating tensions around Ukraine," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Sunday on the messaging service Telegram, according to The Associated Press. "We call on the British Foreign Office to stop provocative activities, stop spreading nonsense," she added. The United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office issued a statement earlier in the day claiming to have information indicating that the Russian government is looking to put a pro-Moscow leader in power in Kyiv. The office said information it obtained shows that the Russian intelligence service maintains connections with a number of former Ukrainian politicians, including former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, who served between 2010 and 2014. Former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevhen Murayev is being looked at as a potential candidate to lead the country, according to the British government. The British report and Russia's subsequent denial come amid increased tensions in the region. Moscow has amassed more than 100,000 troops near its border with Ukraine. The U.S. and other allied nations are concerned that Moscow may invade Kyiv. President Biden, during his marathon press conference on Wednesday, told reporters he believes Russia will "move in." Moscow, however, has denied reports that it is planning an invasion. National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said the British claim is "deeply disturbing," emphasizing that the Ukrainians have a right to defend themselves. "This kind of plotting is deeply concerning," Horne said, according to the AP. "The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine." Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset announced last week it has appointed Perry Farhat as Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Administrative Director of its Babs Siperstein PROUD Center. Farhat, of Bedminster, previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. He was assigned to the Government Fraud Unit and served as the offices LGBTQ Special Emphasis Program Manager. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset is committed to providing high quality, culturally competent care to our diverse communities, ensuring health equity and addressing disparities in care, the hospitals president and CEO Tony Cava said in a statement. We also strive to provide an inclusive work environment which embraces the unique perspectives and experiences of all of our team members. In his role, Perry will help us expand those efforts as a best-in-class hospital for diversity and inclusion. Perry Farhat is the new Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Administrative Director of the Babs Siperstein PROUD Center. The Babs Siperstein PROUD Center, the first primary care center in New Jersey dedicated to the specialized health care needs of the LGBTQ community, celebrates its fifth anniversary this month and has been recognized as a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. READ: Somerset Business Partnership holds diversity summit Prior to joining the U.S. Attorneys Office, Farhat prosecuted a wide range of criminal cases at the Somerset County Prosecutors Office and acted as community outreach liaison organizing events and trainings in Somerset Countys most vulnerable communities. He holds degrees from Rutgers Law School Camden, Boston University, and Rutgers University New Brunswick. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: RWJ Somerset taps new leader for LGBTQ health center Samuel L Jackson has reportedly stunned local diners in a Huddersfield restaurant after being spotted in the area filming a new series. The actor is believed to have arrived in Yorkshire to film the forthcoming Marvel series, Secret Invasion. Jackson, who has played Nick Fury in several films throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is set to front his own Disney Plus series as the character. Local reports have confirmed multiple sightings of the Hollywood A-lister, as Secret Invasion prepares to film in Halifax and Leeds. He has reportedly been seen taking photographs with fans and dining in a local restaurant. Secret Invasion will also star Cobie Smulders and Ben Mendelsohn, who is reprising the role of Talos from Captain Marvel. The series is expected to debut on Disney Plus later this year, and will consist of six episodes. Last year, Tom Cruise made headlines when he arrived in the UK to shoot scenes for the next Mission: Impossible film. The Jerry Maguire star visited a Birmingham curry house and enjoyed one dish so much he immediately ordered a second prompting one fan to brand him Tommy two tikkas. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said on Sunday that hes open to the idea of supporting Democratic primary challengers to Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), the two Democrats who have joined Senate Republicans in blocking major legislation. You have, sadly enough, two Democrats who choose to work with Republicans, rather than the president, and who have sabotaged the presidents effort to address the needs of working families in this country, Sanders told host Dana Bash, echoing frustrations he has expressed about Manchin and Sinema, who refuse to vote to change Senate rules that would allow Democratic-backed bills such as voting rights and social spending to pass. Asked if he would help campaign against Manchin and Sinema in their next Democratic primaries, Sanders did not oppose the idea. Well, thats a long way coming. Theyre not up until 2024, Sanders said. But if there were strong candidates in those states who were prepared to stand up for working families, who understand that the Democratic Party has got to be the party of working people taking on big money interests if those candidates were there in Arizona and West Virginia, yes, I would be happy to support them. You got 50 Republicans who dont want to do anything except criticize the president. And then you have, sadly enough, two Democrats who choose to work with the Republicans rather than the president, and who have sabotaged the presidents effort ... Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) pic.twitter.com/TKacjfBtOd The Recount (@therecount) January 23, 2022 Manchin is unlikely to face a progressive challenger who would gain traction; Donald Trump carried West Virginia by nearly 39 percentage points in 2020. But Sinema faces different political dynamics, with several groups already raising money for her eventual primary challenger. Donors are threatening to abandon her, and youth activists are holding a second hunger strike to protest Sinemas legislative inaction. Story continues On Saturday, leaders of the Arizona Democratic Party responded to her unwillingness to advance legislation by voting to censure Sinema, a symbolic condemnation of the woman who three years ago won Democrats first Arizona Senate election in a generation. After repeatedly blocking voting rights legislation Democrats consider necessary to preserve democracy, Sinema has grown increasingly isolated from many of her partys most influential officials and donors. Sanders on Sunday called the censure absolutely appropriate, especially in the context of her role in preventing the Senate from passing voting rights legislation. Sanders blasted the two senators last week after they joined Republicans in voting against changing Senate filibuster rules, slamming the door on Democrats latest effort to pass a voting rights bill. On Sunday, he repeated his exhaustion at the partys nearly six months of negotiating with Manchin and Sinema, which has resulted in virtually no progress. We need to bring important pieces of legislation that impact the lives of working families right onto the floor of the Senate, the Vermont senator said. And if the Republicans want to vote against lowering the cost of prescription drugs, climate change, home health care, whatever it may be and if the Democrats, two Democrats, want to join them, let the American people see whats happening. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Gov Kirsti Noem of South Dakota (Getty Images) The state of South Dakota will soon follow Texas and Mississippi with legislation that would cut back significantly on abortion rights in the state and directly challenge the precedent established by Roe v Wade. A pair of bills were unveiled by Kirsti Noem, the states conservative governor last week; one the bills would outlaw abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is around five to seven weeks into a pregnancy. That standard is well outside the standard set in the Supreme Courts landmark abortion rights ruling in Roe v Wade, which forbids bans on abortions before the third trimester of a pregnancy begins. The second bill would codify a recent executive order signed by Ms Noem, which bars abortion referrals through virtual doctor visits. If passed, the ban would be the third direct challenge to Roe behind a Texas bill banning abortions after 10 weeks and a Mississippi bill banning them after 15 weeks into the pregnancy. Texas bill is highly controversial on its own merits as well thanks to a provision that bans state officials from enforcing it and instead deputises residents to enforce the law via the court system via a bounty system. Her announcement coincided with the March for Life, an annual anti-abortion march held in Washington DC, which took place on Saturday. Every human life is unique and beautiful from the moment it is conceived. Every life is worthy of our protection, worthy of the right to live, said Ms Noem in a statement. We hope that this years March for Life will be the last and that the Supreme Court will finally protect every unborn life. But until that comes to pass, these bills will ensure that both unborn children and their mothers are protected in South Dakota. People attend the March for Life rally on the National Mall in Washington, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. The March for Life, for decades an annual protest against abortion, arrives this year as the Supreme Court has indicated it will allow states to impose tighter restrictions on abortion with a ruling in the coming months. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (AP) Her news release went on to tout an 80 per cent drop in abortions performed in the state over the past 10 years. The GOP is seen as pursuing a major push to further restrict abortion rights across the US thanks to newfound confidence that the anti-abortion movement has shown towards seeing abortion bans being upheld by the Supreme Court; that confidence is a direct result of the three successful confirmations of judges seen by abortion rights supporters as hostile to Roe V Wades precedent during the Trump administration. Donald Trumps nominees to the nations highest court are seen as having cemented a conservative majority on the bench for the next few decades and having the potential of posing the first major threat to abortion rights since Roe V Wade was decided. Activists gathered in DC last year as oral arguments were heard in the case of Mississippis law before the court. Numerous Democratic lawmakers including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer attended the pro-abortion rights demonstrations, while GOP politicians largely chose to support the anti-abortion protesters via social media if at all. CLEAR LAKE, TX Starbucks will no longer require COVID-19 vaccinations of its 228,000 workers at 9,000 U.S. coffee shops, including those in Clear Lake. Starbucks is one of the first big companies to change vaccination policies after the U.S. Supreme Court quashed a vaccine mandate that would have affected about 84 million workers, or about half of the U.S. labor force. Had the mandate been allowed to stand, workers would have had to either get fully vaccinated or submit to weekly testing. The courts Jan. 13 6-3 ruling came as the omicron coronavirus variant was driving a surge in COVID-19 infections. Nothing in the Supreme Court ruling, which allows the Biden administration to proceed with a vaccine mandate for most U.S. health care workers, requires companies with 100 or more employees to ease vaccination requirements. The new Starbucks vaccination policy, first reported by The Associated Press, was announced in a memo to employees Tuesday. Amtrak temporarily suspended its vaccine mandate in December, before the Supreme Court ruling. In a memo to employees seen by Reuters, Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said nearly 96 percent of its employees were either fully vaccination or had received an accommodation for religious or medical reasons. More big businesses operating in Clear Lake could follow suit as the coronavirus surge worsens the countrys labor shortage. A record 8.8 million people called out sick with COVID-19 between Dec. 29-Jan. 10, according to data reported by The Washington Post. Retail establishments and their advocates have been vocal critics of the now-blocked requirement, arguing theyre already struggling to find enough workers as the coronavirus pandemic persists. Millions of Americans have quit their jobs since the pandemic began in whats being called The Great Resignation. Brett Coburn, a lawyer at Atlanta-based Alston & Bird, told The New York Times a lot of companies were pursuing the vaccine or test requirement only because they were being required to do so. Story continues The AP reported Boston-based General Electric Co. got rid of its vaccine mandate last week after the court ruled, according to IEU-CWA Local 201, the union representing machinists, electricians and other GE employees. Overall, GE has 56,000 U.S. workers. Not all big businesses plan to follow the lead of Starbucks and GE, though. New York-based Citigroup Inc., one of the largest banks in the U.S., in October said its workers needed to be fully vaccinated or receive an accommodation by Jan. 14. Citigroup told the AP that 99 percent of its employees are now fully vaccinated. Its up to employers to navigate state and local laws in the absence of a federal mandate. More than a dozen states prohibit COVID-19 vaccine mandates of any kind, CNBC reported. For most employers, it has proved to be a day-to-day crisis because when they think they know the answer, the rules change, Domenique Camacho Moran, a labor and employment lawyer with the firm Farrell Fritz, told The New York Times. This article originally appeared on the Clear Lake Patch CONROE-MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX Starbucks will no longer require COVID-19 vaccinations of its 228,000 workers at 9,000 U.S. coffee shops, including those in Montgomery County. Starbucks is one of the first big companies to change vaccination policies after the U.S. Supreme Court quashed a vaccine mandate that would have affected about 84 million workers, or about half of the U.S. labor force. Had the mandate been allowed to stand, workers would have had to either get fully vaccinated or submit to weekly testing. The courts Jan. 13 6-3 ruling came as the omicron coronavirus variant was driving a surge in COVID-19 infections. Nothing in the Supreme Court ruling, which allows the Biden administration to proceed with a vaccine mandate for most U.S. health care workers, requires companies with 100 or more employees to ease vaccination requirements. The new Starbucks vaccination policy, first reported by The Associated Press, was announced in a memo to employees Tuesday. Amtrak temporarily suspended its vaccine mandate in December, before the Supreme Court ruling. In a memo to employees seen by Reuters, Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said nearly 96 percent of its employees were either fully vaccination or had received an accommodation for religious or medical reasons. More big businesses operating in Montgomery County could follow suit as the coronavirus surge worsens the countrys labor shortage. A record 8.8 million people called out sick with COVID-19 between Dec. 29-Jan. 10, according to data reported by The Washington Post. Retail establishments and their advocates have been vocal critics of the now-blocked requirement, arguing theyre already struggling to find enough workers as the coronavirus pandemic persists. Millions of Americans have quit their jobs since the pandemic began in whats being called The Great Resignation. Brett Coburn, a lawyer at Atlanta-based Alston & Bird, told The New York Times a lot of companies were pursuing the vaccine or test requirement only because they were being required to do so. Story continues The AP reported Boston-based General Electric Co. got rid of its vaccine mandate last week after the court ruled, according to IEU-CWA Local 201, the union representing machinists, electricians and other GE employees. Overall, GE has 56,000 U.S. workers. Not all big businesses plan to follow the lead of Starbucks and GE, though. New York-based Citigroup Inc., one of the largest banks in the U.S., in October said its workers needed to be fully vaccinated or receive an accommodation by Jan. 14. Citigroup told the AP that 99 percent of its employees are now fully vaccinated. Its up to employers to navigate state and local laws in the absence of a federal mandate. More than a dozen states prohibit COVID-19 vaccine mandates of any kind, CNBC reported. For most employers, it has proved to be a day-to-day crisis because when they think they know the answer, the rules change, Domenique Camacho Moran, a labor and employment lawyer with the firm Farrell Fritz, told The New York Times. This article originally appeared on the Conroe-Montgomery County Patch Editors note: Extreme cold weather can produce unusual phenomena, from so-called sea smoke to slushy ocean waves. As atmospheric scientist Scott Denning explains, these striking events are caused mainly by the behavior of water at very cold temperatures. 1. Why do lake and ocean waters appear to steam during cold snaps? There are three phases, or states, of water: solid ice, liquid water and gaseous water vapor. Even in extremely cold weather, liquid water cant be colder than the freezing point about 32 degrees Fahrenheit so the surface of the ocean is much warmer than the air above it. A lot of water evaporates from the warmer ocean into the colder dry air above. As soon as this invisible gas rises even just a little bit above the relatively warm water, it hits air that is much colder and cant hold much vapor, so the vapor condenses into microscopic droplets of liquid water in the air. Some people call the wispy clouds caused by condensation just above the winter ocean or lakes sea smoke. Thats a better term than steam. Real steam is very hot water vapor that is, water in its gas phase, which is invisible. 2. Weather watchers seem to get very excited about thundersnow. What is it and why is it rare? Thunder is a sonic boom created when a lightning bolt causes the air to expand faster than the speed of sound. Lightning is formed by sparks of static electricity between the clouds and ground. The friction that forms this static is usually caused by rapidly rising thermals of buoyant air on hot summer days, which is why thunderstorms are common in summer. Air cant rise from the cold winter ground because cold air is dense, so thunder in winter is pretty unusual. Thundersnow happens when really cold air blows in from up north. This cold air is denser than the air at the surface, so it literally falls down, pushing surface air up over the top of it. This can create exactly the same kind of static charge as a summer thunderstorm, and BOOM thundersnow! This only happens with a really dramatic change in temperature, such as the approach of an Arctic cold front. Story continues 3. How common is it for the oceans to freeze outside of the polar regions? Saltwater has a lower freezing point than fresh water, which is why we put salt on our streets and sidewalks to melt ice in winter. Seawater is salty enough that it has to get really cold to freeze around 28 F. Its pretty unusual for seawater to freeze in the continental United States, though it happens all the time in the Arctic winter. When seawater freezes, most of its salt is pushed down into the ocean water underneath it. This is why people in the Arctic can melt sea ice for drinking water. As little bits of freshwater ice form at the oceans surface, the remaining water gets saltier and saltier, so it gets harder and harder for it to freeze. But sometimes when its been extremely cold, little ice floes form at the surface of the ocean. Waves break them up, so that the surface can become like a wavy slurpee. For anyone willing to brave the cold, its wild to stand by the shore and watch the smoking slushy sea with its slow-motion surf. At the poles, its so cold that floating ice crystals eventually converge and solidify into sea ice. 4. Scientists have found that Mars has snowfalls too. How are they different from snow on Earth? The atmosphere on Mars is nearly pure carbon dioxide, which we know as the main greenhouse gas thats driving climate change here on Earth. But Mars atmosphere is much thinner than ours, so it doesnt trap much heat. On a nice Martian summer day, temperatures can reach 70 F and then fall to minus 100 F the same night. Winters are even colder there. It gets so cold in polar winters on Mars that the air itself freezes, making tiny carbon dioxide snowflakes the size of red blood cells, which pile deep enough to make polar caps of dry ice. During the long polar night, around one-third of Mars entire atmosphere falls as snow. This makes a partial vacuum, sucking the winds from the planets summer hemisphere to its winter hemisphere to make up the difference. In spring, these planet-scale winds reverse direction as the dry ice turns back to gas and starts to fall out on the other end of Mars. Further out in the solar system, the ice giant planets and many of their moons have huge amounts of water and carbon dioxide ice much larger quantities than all of our oceans. But on Earth, dry ice cant form above minus 110 F. So there will never be carbon dioxide snow on our planet just frozen water in all of its many forms. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Scott Denning, Colorado State University. Read more: Scott Denning receives funding from the US Department of Energy and NASA. OSLO, Norway (AP) A Taliban delegation led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Sunday started three days of talks in Oslo with Western officials and Afghan civil society representatives amid a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The closed-door meetings were taking place at a hotel in the snow-capped mountains above the Norwegian capital and are the first time since the Taliban took over in August that their representatives have held official meetings in Europe. The talks were not without controversy, however, reigniting the debate over whether they legitimize the Taliban government, especially since they were being held in Norway, a NATO country involved in Afghanistan from 2001 until the Taliban take over last summer. Speaking at the end of the first day of talks, Taliban delegate Shafiullah Azam told The Associated Press that the meetings with Western officials were a step to legitimize (the) Afghan government," adding that this type of invitation and communication will help (the) European community, (the) U.S. or many other countries to erase the wrong picture of the Afghan government. That statement may irk the Talibans Norwegian hosts. Earlier, Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt stressed that the talks were not a legitimation or recognition of the Taliban. On Sunday, 200 protesters gathered on an icy square in front of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry in Oslo to condemn the meetings with the Taliban, which has not received diplomatic recognition from any foreign government. The Taliban has not changed as some in the international community like to say, said Ahman Yasir, a Norwegian Afghan living in Norway for around two decades. They are as brutal as they were in 2001 and before. Taliban leaders met with some women's rights and human rights activists on Sunday, but there was no official word about those talks. Starting Monday, Taliban representatives will meet with delegations from Western nations and will be certain to press their demand that nearly $10 billion frozen by the United States and other Western countries be released as Afghanistan faces a precarious humanitarian situation. Story continues We are requesting them to unfreeze Afghan assets and not punish ordinary Afghans because of the political discourse, said Shafiullah Azam. Because of the starvation, because of the deadly winter, I think its time for the international community to support Afghans, not punish them because of their political disputes." The United Nations has managed to provide some liquidity and allowed the Taliban administration to pay for imports, including electricity. But the U.N. has warned that as many as 1 million Afghan children are in danger of starving and most of the countrys 38 million people are living below the poverty line. Faced with the Taliban's request for funds, Western powers are likely to put the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan high on their agenda, along with the Wests recurring demand for the Taliban administration to share power with Afghanistans minority ethnic and religious groups. Since sweeping to power in mid-August, the Taliban have imposed widespread restrictions, many of them directed at women. Women have been banned from many jobs outside the health and education fields, their access to education has been restricted beyond sixth grade and they have been ordered to wear the hijab. The Taliban have, however, stopped short of imposing the burqa, which was compulsory when they previously ruled Afghanistan in the 1990s. The Taliban have increasingly targeted Afghanistans beleaguered rights groups, as well as journalists, detaining and sometimes beating television crews covering demonstrations. A U.S. delegation, led by Special Representative for Afghanistan Tom West, plans to discuss the formation of a representative political system; responses to the urgent humanitarian and economic crises; security and counterterrorism concerns; and human rights, especially education for girls and women, according to a statement released by the U.S. State Department. The Scandinavian country, home to the Nobel Peace Prize, is no stranger to diplomacy. It has been involved in peace efforts in a number of countries, including Mozambique, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Colombia, the Philippines, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Syria, Myanmar, Somalia, Sri Lanka and South Sudan. Long before she got into trouble with the law, Cristina Nichole Iglesias felt that the body she was born in wasn't hers. By the 10th grade, court documents say, she was wearing girls' clothes and trying various hairstyles. This week, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons is set to decide whether to recommend Iglesias for gender affirmation surgery after evaluating the case under order from a federal judge last month. If approved, Iglesias could become the first inmate to receive such an operation while in federal custody. This is a landmark and monumental move forward, and something we hope will be followed up with treatment and care, said Ed Yohnka, a spokesperson for ACLU of Illinois, which handled Iglesias case. The decision is imminent because of a Dec. 27 ruling from U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel of Illinois Southern District that directed the Bureau of Prisons Transgender Executive Council to decide Iglesias case by Monday, the first time the bureau had ever been mandated to do so by judicial order. Iglesias, 47, is an inmate at FMC Carswell, a federal prison medical facility for women in Fort Worth, Texas. She pleaded guilty in 2005 to sending an envelope to British officials that she falsely claimed contained anthrax and is scheduled to be released in December. An estimated 1,200 transgender individuals are in the federal prison system, or about .07% of the overall inmate population of about 156,000. Members of Georgia's transgender and non-binary community stroll through the city's Midtown district during Gay Pride Festival's Transgender Rights March in Atlanta, Oct. 12, 2019. In her ruling, Rosenstengel noted that Iglesias is not the first federal inmate to receive approval for surgery. The transgender council previously recommended another inmate for surgery in October, the first time it had ever done so but the urgency assigned by the judge because of previous delays could make Iglesias the first to have the operation. The BOP system... has never provided a single surgery for a transgender person, said Amy Whelan, a senior staff attorney for the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Its well overdue time that they start providing that necessary care. Story continues Iglesias' struggles began at a young age The Bureau of Prisons transgender council is a group of senior-level administrators who guide agency decisions about transgender inmates, including their placement and care, bureau spokesperson Randilee Giamusso said. It includes two psychiatrists, a psychologist and a pharmacist, according to court records. The documents say Iglesias entered the federal prison system in 1994, and it was from a federal prison that she sent the letter to British officials, listing the detention center as the return address. "No threat was carried out in any way," wrote her public defender, Kathleen Williams, in asking for a more lenient sentence. She noted Iglesias' history of bipolar disorder and the crime's consistency with Iglesias' decade-long history of sending such letters. "No anthrax was actually sent," Williams wrote. "This is not a typical terrorist act." Iglesias ultimately received a 20-year sentence. Meanwhile, she continued to experience gender dysphoria but did not receive hormone therapy until 2015. By 2016, the documents say, Iglesias had informed prison health officials that she wanted gender confirmation surgery and requested transfer to a womens prison facility, both to fit her identity and because of harassment from male prisoners. Iglesias, whose gender dysphoria was so extreme that she considered self-castration, was placed under suicide watch numerous times, according to the documents. Gender dysphoria is a medical condition marked by mental distress brought on by an incongruity between a persons gender identity and their sex assigned at birth, which can cause anxiety and depression if left untreated. Not all transgender people experience gender dysphoria, and for those who do, surgery isnt always necessary. Julian Niebauer, a 10-year-old transgender boy, takes part in a rally for transgender rights that drew about 75 people Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the Capitol in Madison, Wis. In Iglesias case, Bureau of Prisons health professionals had by 2019 supported her eligibility for gender affirmation surgery, also referred to as gender confirmation surgery. It wasnt until May that she was transferred from the federal penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, to FMC Carswell. In her ruling, judge Rosenstengel faulted bureau officials for unnecessarily denying and delaying Iglesias treatment despite being well-aware that inmates with gender dysphoria are at a higher risk of suffering from mental health issues and resorting to self-harm." The judge added: "She is at risk for suicide, and her psychological condition will continue to deteriorate. Should the council recommend Iglesias for surgery, the judge ordered that Iglesias be immediately referred to the prisons bureaus medical director, who will make the final determination. The bureau then would have two days to submit a plan and timeline for Iglesias care and begin the search for a surgeon to perform the procedure. If Iglesias request is denied by either the council or medical director, the judge ordered that the bureau file a notice with the court within seven days explaining the decision. Giamusso, of the prisons bureau, said the BOP does not comment on any individual inmate's litigation or legal matters, medical information or conditions of confinement "for privacy, safety and security reasons." However, she said the council does provide "a wide range of gender affirming accommodations based on comprehensive and individualized assessments. These accommodations can include gender affirming surgical referral when deemed appropriate." Prisons 'have historically fallen behind' in providing care In a statement, Iglesias said she was excited by the judges order, without which she would have continued to fall through the cracks. I am happy to have had the chance to tell my story and am hopeful that other transgender people will benefit from my case. While that day was an important and emotional one for Iglesias, Yohnka said, the fact that no federal inmate has previously received gender affirmation surgery shows the challenges faced by transgender prisoners. He hopes Iglesias case will help shape bureau guidelines for future cases as it moves forward. One hopes this would lead to a streamlined process where their first question would be about what care someone needs as opposed to creating barriers, he said. Whelan, who worked on a similar case at the state level, echoed that sentiment. Prisons have historically fallen behind in providing the care that the medical community knows is required, she said. In this January 2018 file photo, inmates walk the grounds of the Idaho State Correctional Institution in Kuna, Idaho. Transgender inmate Adree Edmo spent most of her prison term at this men's prison facility until a federal judge in December 2018 ordered the state to provide Edmo with gender confirmation surgery to make her physical characteristics match her gender identity as a woman -- one of few times nationwide that prisoners at the state level have been approved for the medical procedure. Whelan represented Adree Edmo, who as an Idaho state prisoner successfully sued for the right to have state-funded sex reassignment surgery. The states appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court and Edmo received the surgery in July 2020. Previously, a California inmate in 2017 became the nations first prisoner to have state-funded surgery as part of a settlement there. The decisions, Whelan said, are part of a growing pattern of courts understanding something that the medical and mental health community has understood for decades that there is a clear course of treatment for people who experience gender dysphoria, and that withholding that care can be extremely harmful and discriminatory. Protocols for transgender care have been set by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and endorsed by groups such as the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Family Physicians and World Health Organization. Those guidelines call for individuals to live in their identified gender role for at least one continuous year before proceeding with surgery, a procedure that should be supported by their primary care provider with referrals from two mental health professionals. Yohnka, of the ACLU, said he hopes Iglesias situation can offer hope for other transgender inmates seeking gender affirming surgery that a court is paying attention to their plight and that its possible they will actually get the care they have long sought for their own health. It really does create an atmosphere and an opportunity for folks moving forward. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gender affirming surgery: Federal inmate could be nation's first Rebecca Lanette Taylor allegedly tried to purchase a child (Crockett Police Department) A Texas woman tried to purchase a one-year-old boy for $500,000 from his mother as she queued in a Walmart self-checkout line, authorities say. Rebecca Lanette Taylor, 49, from Crockett, allegedly told the mother who was waiting with her baby and infant son that she liked her the boys blonde hair and blue eyes and inquired how much she could buy him for. According to a police affidavit obtained by local news site The Messenger, the mother tried to laugh the comment off, thinking Ms Taylor was joking. Ms Taylor then told her she was prepared to pay $250,000 and had the cash in her car, and that she had been waiting to purchase a child for a long time. The mother responded that no amount of money would do, and told her to get away from her child. At this point a second unidentified woman appeared and began asking what the boys name was, according to the probable cause affidavit filed by Crocket Police Department lieutenant Ahleea Price. Even though the mother refused to tell them, Ms Taylor and the other woman somehow learned the boys name and began calling out to him. Police say she waited for the two women to leave the store, but after exiting she was accosted again while trying to reach her car. Once in the parking lot Taylor began screaming at (the mum), saying if she wouldnt take $250,000 for him, then she would give her $500,000 because she wanted him and she was going to take him, the affidavit stated. As the mother locked herself and her children in her car, Ms Taylor stood behind a black SUV parked next to hers and repeatedly told her she she wanted to purchase the child for $500,000. Taylor eventually left in the SUV. Lieutenant Price reviewed Walmarts CCTV footage and found it supported the mothers claims, and went to Ms Taylors home to speak to her. According to the affidavit, Ms Taylor told the officer she she doesnt like thieves. Then she stated I could speak with her attorney and to get off her precipice. She slammed the door shut. Police obtained an arrest warrant and Ms Taylor was taken into custody on 18 January and charged with the third-degree felony of the sale or purchase of a child. Ms Taylor was held on $50,000 bail at Houston County Jail. She was reportedly released on Thursday. Donald Trumps onetime attorney and fixer Michael Cohen was asked Saturday if the former president will try to shield his children from the intensifying probes into the Trump Organization or the Jan. 6 insurrection. Cohen said with a laugh: Not a chance. Cohen even claimed to Alex Witt on MSNBC that Trump once told him that if one or the other ever had to go to prison over the family business, make sure its Donald Jr., not daughter Ivanka, because his son would be able to handle it. Cohen added: Donald cares only about Donald, more than he would care about his children. Trump family loyalty could become a key issue as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection appears increasingly interested in questioning those closest to Trump, including his children. In another investigation involving the Trump Organization, Eric Trump and Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self incrimination more than 500 times when questioned by the New York attorney generals office for its investigation into the companys finances, according to a court filing. Now the Jan. 6 House committee wants to interview Ivanka Trump about her reported pleas to her dad to do something about the violence that erupted at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and call off his supporters. Asked if she will try to protect her father in the Jan. 6 probe or in business investigations, Cohen responded: Very much like her father, Ivanka is interested only in Ivanka. She hasnt yet publicly responded to the committees request earlier this week that she voluntarily discuss events surrounding the insurrection. But a spokesperson noted that she appealed to Trump supporters on Jan. 6 to end the violence. She did, however, initially refer to rioters in a tweet that day as American patriots before deleting it. What Ivanka Trump had to say last Jan. 6. (Photo: Screen Shot/Twitter/Ivanka Trump) Asked about the likelihood that Ivanka will cooperate with the select committee or the investigations into the Trump Organization, Cohen replied: I think the answer to that is slim to none, and slim left the building. Story continues In the key legal mess currently involving the Trump family, Cohen agreed with New York Attorney General Letitia James allegations in a court filing earlier this week of Donald Trumps brazenly inflated valuations of his properties that worked to his advantage for loans. It was my experience that Mr. Trump inflated his total assets when it served his purposes, and deflated his assets to reduce his real estate taxes, Cohen testified before House lawmakers in 2019. James has subpoenaed the former president, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr., demanding their testimony in connection with her civil investigation into the familys business practices. Cohen completed his three-year sentence for campaign finance violations while working for Trump, lying to Congress and other offenses in November. He has sued Trump, former U.S. Attorney General William Barr and federal prison officials, claiming his home confinement, which began in May 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, was suspended weeks later in retaliation for a tell-all book he was writing about the then-president. Check out Cohens full interview in the video clip up top. He begins to talk about Ivanka Trumps unlikely cooperation in various investigations at 5:45. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... This story has been updated to include new information provided by police Jan. 24. Two men were killed during a shooting inside a Georgetown restaurant following an altercation Saturday night, according to Delaware State Police. The shooting occurred shortly before 7:30 p.m. at El Nopalito Restaurant located at 22095 Du Pont Blvd., police said. Earlier in the night, a group of men had been asked to leave the restaurant due to disorderly behavior and having a dispute with other customers. Sometime later, two of the men who had been asked to leave returned to the restaurant with masks on, police said. MORE: 14-year-old boy critically wounded, marking 1 of 3 injured in Wilmington shootings Thursday One of the masked men then approached 31-year old Armando Vicente Chilel Lopez, of Georgetown, and took a necklace from his neck. When Lopez lunged at him, the second masked man took a gun from his waistband and shot him, according to police. The second masked man then shot a second time into the dining area and hit 28-year-old Honorio Velasquez, of Bridgeville, as the masked pair fled the restaurant, police said. Velasquez was pronounced dead at the scene. Lopez was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police announced Monday they are seeking information on a gray pickup truck with an extended cab that fled the area after the shooting and may have been involved in the incident. No other information on the occupants of the vehicle or on the suspects in the shooting was available. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Grassi at 302-365-8441. Information may be provided anonymously by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333. DATABASE: Tracking gun violence in Delaware Contact the reporter at jcastaneda1@delawareonline.com or connect with him on Twitter @joseicastaneda. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Georgetown police: 2 men killed in restaurant shooting Saturday University of Florida President Kent Fuchs delivers the commencement address during the fall 2021 commencement at Exactech Arena in Gainesville on Dec. 17. As the University of Florida prepares to search for its next president, state lawmakers are trying to make it easier to hide contenders for the position from the public. Bills being considered in the current state legislative session, HB 703 and SB 520, would shield the names of candidates for a state university or college presidency from public release until the finalists are selected. The legislation would also close meetings held to vet candidates to the public. But even under current law, a shadow selection process can happen outside of public view that flouts Floridas Sunshine Law. During its last presidential search, UF held public meetings on such issues as compensation for the job but met privately with serious contenders in order to keep their names secret until late in the process. More Sun editorials: Progress made, but much work remains on racial equity efforts in Gainesville Power plant decision raises questions about UF-Gainesville partnership Florida officials should improve access to COVID testing, not discourage its use The state legislation now being considered would require a list of presidential finalists to be released three weeks before a scheduled vote on a hiring decision, which would actually improve on the rushed process in which current UF President Kent Fuchs was hired. Fuchs formally applied for the job, was declared a finalist and was hired all over the course of just five days in 2014. Sun reporting later revealed that UF booked out-of-town hotel rooms under false names and billed them to companies affiliated with a university trustee to hide meetings with Fuchs and other candidates from the public. A senior university official used a private email account when coordinating hotels and travel to avoid the public records requirements put on her UF account. UF needs to conduct a more open process this time around to show that candidates are being selected based on their qualifications, not behind-the-scenes maneuvering by Gov. Ron DeSantis or other state political leaders. Fuchs announced Jan. 5 that he would be stepping down as president by early next year, following months of controversy over political influence on university decisions. Story continues Last year, Florida State University showed how politics can affect a presidential search. State Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran was initially considered for the FSU presidency, despite his lack of higher education experience and a conflict of interest posed by him being part of the body with the final vote on hiring university presidents. Richard Corcoran, Florida Education Commissioner and former Speaker of the Florida House, responds to questions asked by the Florida State Presidential Search Committee on Saturday, May 15, 2021. But FSUs presidential search committee ultimately chose three finalists with strong academic credentials and past university leadership experience, before hiring former Harvard University vice provost Richard McCullough for the job. Of course, three of the previous four FSU presidents John Thrasher, T.K. Wetherell and Sandy D'Alemberte were state lawmakers before being hired to the position. The sponsor of SB 520 state Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg contends the legislation would allow for the the broadest pool of applicants possible." Under current open government laws, Brandes told the Tallahassee Democrat, People wont apply to Florida schools because their records will be made public to their previous employer and their jobs might be jeopardized as a result. But as First Amendment Foundation Executive Director Pamela Marsh said, Floridas institutions have risen in national rankings while led by presidents selected without such public records exemptions. Her group successfully fought past versions of the legislation introduced over the last several years Whatever happens with the current bills, UF needs to hire its next president in an open and transparent process based on the candidates qualifications and not political connections. Join the conversation Send a letter to the editor (up to 200 words) to letters@gainesville.com. Letters must include the writer's full name and city of residence. Additional guidelines for submitting letters and longer guest columns can be found at bit.ly/sunopinionguidelines. Journalism matters. Your support matters. Get a digital subscription to the Gainesville Sun. Includes must-see content on Gainesville.com and Gatorsports.com, breaking news and updates on all your devices, and access to the Gainesville.com ePaper. Visit www.gainesville.com/subscribenow to sign up. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Editorial: UF presidential search must be open and transparent U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, left, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) In his meandering news conference last week, President Biden repeated, as he often does, a bit of ancient advice from his father: If everything is equally important to you, nothing is important to you. He was referring to his decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, but the maxim also applies to his confrontation with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine. For Putin, Ukraine is national security problem No. 1. Without Ukraine as a satellite, Russia is a diminished giant. Ukraine isnt a military threat to anyone, but a successful democratic government in Kyiv especially one that yearns to align itself with NATO would give Russians a dangerous alternative model to Putins authoritarian regime. For Biden, meanwhile, Ukraine is only one of many foreign policy problems, and its not the top of his list. The president wants to focus on confronting China and reviving traditional alliances, not defending Kyiv. Thats why Biden set out early last year to build what he called a stable and predictable relationship with Putin; he didnt want Russia to be a problem. Putin, alas, had other ideas. Stable and predictable didnt work for him. He doesnt like a status quo in which Ukraine keeps inching toward the West. Nor does he relish being taken for granted. The result is an asymmetric crisis. Despite Russia's denials, Putin's troop buildup near Ukraine is clearly a threat to invade, but neither the United States nor any other country is willing to use military force in response. Ukrainian tanks on the move in December. (Andriy Dubchak / Associated Press) Instead, Biden has warned that an invasion will result in massive economic sanctions against Moscow but as he acknowledged inartfully last week, other NATO countries havent agreed on all the details. When the president added, in a distressingly imprecise Bidenism, that a minor incursion by Russia might not draw a massive Western response, that was undeniably a gaffe one his aides spent the rest of the week trying to clean up. But it fit Michael Kinsleys classic definition: A gaffe is when a politician tells the truth some obvious truth he isnt supposed to say. Story continues By the end of the week, Bidens misstep, slightly clarified, had become U.S. policy. Russia has an extensive playbook of aggression short of military action, including cyberattacks [and] paramilitary tactics," Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said Friday after meeting with Russia's foreign minister. Such lesser moves would draw a calibrated response, Blinken said. There are plenty of reasons Germany and other U.S. allies have qualms about massive sanctions on Russia. For one thing, economic sanctions rarely succeed in changing a countrys behavior especially when the target is a relatively wealthy country with alternative sources of income. And measures against Russia will hurt European countries more than they hurt us, Douglas A. Rediker of the nonpartisan Brookings Institution warned. Europe will reluctantly go along with a major sanctions package designed by the United States, but how long is that sustainable? If Putin responds by cutting his countrys natural gas deliveries to Europe in midwinter, Germany and other countries will feel immediate pain, he noted. Without Russian gas Europe cannot maintain both heating in homes and existing manufacturing capacity, he said. Theres a larger lesson here. The United States is still a superpower, but our ability to influence events overseas is increasingly limited by the growing power of others. Our domestic political debate hasnt entirely caught up with that reality. Presidents of both parties still face frequent demands that they address international problems everywhere. But the global expectations forged in the Cold War and the unipolar moment that followed it are unrealistic, as we should have learned in Afghanistan and Iraq. The United States is an overstretched hegemon, foreign policy scholar Hal Brands of Johns Hopkins wrote in Foreign Affairs last week. Washington has more responsibilities and more enemies than it has coercive means. More bluntly, we dont have the resources to fight in Ukraine and Taiwan at the same time. That mismatch doesnt merely limit U.S. military options, Brands warned; it also produces the loss of diplomatic influence in situations short of war. Leaders in Moscow and Tehran can see that the United States is stretched thin militarily and eager to pay more attention to China. One of Bidens responses to that problem has been to rely on alliances like NATO, but that means as in the case of Ukraine hes constrained by what allies are willing to support. Eventually, an overstretched superpower has to trim its ambitions, expand its military, or both. But the underlying cause is a mismatch of commitments and capabilities, not a failure of will in the Oval Office much less a propensity for gaffes. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The State Department condemned the recent ISIS attack in northeast Syria in a statement released Saturday. The attack, an attempt to free detained members of ISIS, occurred Thursday on a Provincial Internal Security Forces detention center located in Hasakah, Syria, per the statement. The Associated Press reported that the attack left dozens dead. Ned Price, spokesperson for the State Department, commended the Syrian Democratic Forces "for their swift response and continued commitment to the fight against ISIS in northeast Syria" in the statement. The statement also extended "sincere condolences" to the families of the Syrian guards who died in the attack. "This attack highlights the importance of, and the need to fully fund, the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS's initiatives," the State Department's press release read. "To improve the secure and humane detention of ISIS fighters, including by strengthening detention facility security." It continued: "It also underscores the urgent need for countries of origin to repatriate, rehabilitate, reintegrate, and prosecute, where appropriate, their nationals detained in northeast Syria." The State Department reaffirmed its commitment to "counter the remnants of ISIS" alongside partners in the region. "The losses sustained by our partners in these attacks are a stark reminder of the very real challenges the region continues to face," Price wrote. By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican's landmark fraud and embezzlement trial resumes after a long break on Tuesday with the beleaguered prosecution buoyed by two favourable decisions in related cases by Swiss and Italian courts. The trial, in which defendants are accused of fraud and other crimes around the Vatican's 350 million euro ($400 million) purchase of a luxury building in London, is still mired in procedural wrangling. Tuesday's hearing, only the sixth since the trial started amid much fanfare in July, will likely do little more than settle several more preliminary issues, meaning the trial won't get going in earnest until February. At the last hearing on Dec. 14 - which lasted only 10 minutes - a frustrated court president Giuseppe Pignatone said he hoped the preliminary phase could end soon so the hearings could be held more frequently. Four of original 10 defendants were temporarily removed from the indictment in October after Pignatone found fault with the original investigation. He ordered the prosecution to go back and repeat questioning of the four because procedural steps designed to protect the defendants was not followed the first time around. At Tuesday's hearing, the prosecution is expected to announce which charges it intends to either keep or drop against each of the four. All 10 defendants, including a once-powerful Vatican cardinal, have denied wrongdoing. Lawyers for two Italian brokers for the Vatican's investment in the London building - Raffaele Mincione and Gianluigi Torzi - have insisted that their clients cannot get a fair trial in the Vatican. Mincione helped the Vatican make the original investment in 2014. In 2018, when the Vatican felt it was allegedly being fleeced by Mincione, it turned to Torzi to try to take total control of the building. The Vatican has charged Mincione with fraud, embezzlement and money laundering. Torzi is charged with fraud, extortion and money laundering. Story continues This month, the prosecution got a much-needed boost from two foreign courts, which, while ruling on related cases, effectively rejected defence assertions about alleged lack of fairness for their clients in the Vatican judicial system. Torzi is in London fighting extradition requests by both Italy and the Vatican for alleged financial crimes. In a decision published this month, Italy's supreme court rejected assertions by Torzi's lawyers attacking the credibility of the Vatican court. Earlier in January, a Swiss court rejected a request by Mincione to unblock funds that the Vatican prosecutors had asked be frozen while the trial continues. Mincione's lawyers had also cited what they said were defects in the Vatican judicial system. The Vatican's Secretariat of State sank more than 350 million euros into the London investment. The Vatican is now in the final stages of selling the building at a reported loss of 100 million euros. The most prominent defendant is Cardinal Angelo Becciu, a former deputy secretary of state who was sacked by Pope Francis for alleged nepotism before the trial began. Becciu was deputy secretary of state in the early phases of the deal. ($1 = 0.8818 euros) (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Frances Kerry) Even a billion dollars in federal cash and a $600-million surplus aren't enough to satisfy all the demands for funding made on a state budget. But the rare pandemic windfall allowed Gov. Dan McKee around eight months before he has to face primary voters to show his support for retired military veterans, the Rhode Island Convention Center and affordable-housing developers, among others. Here are some early reactions to the $12.8-billion spending plan. Military pensions Veterans for years have been lobbying Rhode Island to join states including such as Massachusetts and Connecticut that exempt military retirement benefits from state taxes. (Rhode Island currently exempts the first $15,000 in military pension income.) And McKee's budget would do that gradually over the next five years. More: McKee's $12.8-billion budget targets COVID recovery, avoids tax or fee hikes The tax cut is one of the few permanent state tax or spending changes proposed in a budget dominated by one-time spending. The cost of the military exemption to the state in lost revenue would rise from $736,000 in the first year to $5.8 million annually when the exemption is fully phased in, according to Department of Revenue estimates. Convention Center Gov. Dan McKee The pandemic halted conventions and sporting events while turning the Rhode Island Convention Center and Dunkin' Donuts Center into COVID testing sites and mass vaccination clinics. Now McKee wants to get the facilities going again and budgets $47 million in federal American Rescue Plan money for them. What's the money for? McKee would spent $9 million to cover operating losses at the Convention Center Authority and the remaining $38 million for "facility improvements." Those improvements, according to Department of Administration spokesman Derek Gomes, include a new roof for the Dunkin' Donuts Center, a renovation of the fifth floor of the Convention Center, heating, ventilation and cooling work and "tech upgrades." Story continues More: This Just In: McKee's budget; people want to live here Medicaid Progressives are unenthusiastic about much of the budget including the absence of any tax increases on high earners but they welcome McKee's move to expand Medicaid eligibility for undocumented immigrants and new mothers. For $6.6 million, the budget would make all new mothers with incomes up to 258% of the federal poverty level regardless of immigration status eligible for a full year of Medicaid after the birth of a child. Currently, mothers who make between 138% and 258% of the poverty level are eligible for coverage 60 days after birth. (Women who make up to 258% are already eligible while they are pregnant.) The budget's "Cover All Kids" proposal, estimated to cost $1.9 million, would extend Medicaid coverage to children now ineligible due to immigration status. Housing If there was any doubt that housing has risen from obscurity to the top of the state policy agenda, the $250 million in federal funds McKee wants to spend on a variety of housing programs should put an end to it. Homes RI, a coalition led by nonprofit housing developers, had suggested half a billion dollars for affordable housing in the budget and said in a statement it was "pleased" by McKee's plan. However, the group asked state lawmakers, who will ultimately decide what is spent, "to consider fully funding our collective recommended investments." "We ask state leaders to also think about long-term, sustained investments in housing that will be necessary for the prosperity of the State in decades to come especially for Rhode Islanders with the lowest incomes," Homes RI said in a news release. More: RI housing market plagued by a critical shortage of homes in December The proposed Rescue Plan spending on housing includes $90 million that would go into Rhode Island Housing's affordable housing development programs, $50 million for down payment assistance and $25 million for affordable housing site acquisition. But it also includes $55 million for real estate programs whose contours are relatively undefined. It proposes $20 million to build "workforce housing" for people making up to 120% of area median income, $10 million to "increase developers ability to get projects under way" and $25 million to redevelop properties in low-income communities "for the express purpose of creating housing and community/commercial spaces that satisfy community needs, as well as supporting critical home repairs." There is no spending proposed on traditional government-run public housing. Children McKee's budget receives mixed reviews from health care and social service providers. It includes large infusions of federal cash for child care workers, social workers and pediatricians' practices but does not raise the reimbursement rates for many services, which providers say have not kept up with rising costs. One example is in Early Intervention, a program that provides free therapy and special education for children younger than 3. Last year, shortages of clinicians and therapists forced all Early Intervention providers in the state to put children not already receiving services on a wait list. McKee's budget includes $11 million in federal money for Early Intervention on top of the $5.5 million lawmakers approved at the start of this year. But what happens after that federal money runs out is unclear, as it is for other proposed one-time boosts for child care workers, pediatric medical practices and child welfare workers. The Community Provider Network of Rhode Island, a trade association for providers of services to people with developmental disabilities, praised McKee's Cover All Kids, housing and child care proposals. "However, the proposed budget neglects to solve the underlying structural financing for the early intervention program," the group said in a new release. "Using [American Rescue Plan] funding, which is one-time funding, without proposing State investments to maintain these programs, is disappointing, and doing so merely delays the problem rather than solving it." The budget also did not include additional funding for the First Connections program that sends nurses or case workers to check in on newborns. Cities and towns Former Cumberland mayor McKee talks a lot about helping municipalities, so it's no surprise that city and town leaders are mostly pleased with the budget. The budget would maintain school aid and allow communities to give businesses breaks on the tangible tax they pay without General Assembly approval. But it would not fully fund the payments, mostly to Providence, that communities receive for forgoing taxes from nonprofits. The budget includes $47 million for a municipal matching grant program for building or renovating a "community wellness center." Administration officials said the definition of community wellness center is based in federal law and had few specific examples of what would qualify. However, one thing that they said would qualify for the money is a "municipal learning center," McKee's signature local education program. The budget separately includes $15 million for municipal learning centers. The McKee administration says, in addition to the original center in Cumberland, it has received interest from five communities in building nine new municipal learning centers. They would be in Middletown, North Providence, Central Falls and Woonsocket, plus five in Providence. Not in the budget There was no mention of funding for redeveloping the vacant Industrial Trust tower in downtown Providence. However, the budget gives state Commerce officials enough money in a variety of economic development programs to invest in a Superman Building project if they decide to create one. panderson@providencejournal.com (401) 277-7384 On Twitter: @PatrickAnderso_ This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Here's a breakdown of Gov. Dan Mckee's Rhode Island state budget WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is postponing her wedding after announcing new COVID-19 restrictions Sunday following the discovery of nine cases of the omicron variant in a single family that flew to Auckland to attend a wedding. The so-called red setting of the country's pandemic response includes heightened measures such as required mask wearing and limits on gatherings. The restrictions will go into effect on Monday. Ardern stressed that red is not lockdown, noting that businesses can remain open and people can still visit family and friends and move freely around the country. "Our plan for managing omicron cases in the early stage remains the same as delta, where we will rapidly test, contact trace and isolate cases and contacts in order to slow the spread, Ardern told reporters. But her own wedding plans are on hold. The 41-year-old prime minister was planning to tie the knot next weekend. I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic and to anyone whos caught up in that scenario, I am so sorry, she said. New Zealand had been among the few remaining countries to have avoided any outbreaks of the omicron variant, but Ardern acknowledged last week that an outbreak was inevitable given the high transmissibility of the variant. The country has managed to contain the spread of the delta variant, with an average of about 20 new cases each day. It has seen an increasing number of people arriving into the country and going into mandatory quarantine who are infected with omicron. That has put strain on the quarantine system and prompted the government to limit access for returning citizens while it decides what to do about reopening its borders, angering many people who want to return to New Zealand. About 93% of New Zealanders aged 12 and over are fully vaccinated, and 52% have had a booster shot. The country has just begun vaccinating children aged between 5 and 11. Story continues The family from the Nelson-Marlborough region attended a wedding and other events while in Auckland earlier this month, with estimates suggesting they came into contact with well over 100 people at these events, Ardern said. That means that omicron is now circulating in Auckland and possibly the Nelson-Marlborough region if not elsewhere," she added. Ardern plans to marry her longtime partner, Clarke Gayford. They have a 2-year-old daughter, Neve. Ardern in 2018 became just the second elected world leader in modern history to give birth while holding office. Jacinda Ardern Mark Mitchell-Pool/Getty Images New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Sunday that she had canceled her wedding as the country implements a strict lockdown meant to control the spread of Omicron, BBC reports. According to The Washington Post, the new lockdown includes an indoor mask mandate, restrictions on gatherings, and social distancing requirements. Gatherings that require proof of vaccination will be capped at 100 attendees, while events that allow the unvaccinated to attend will be capped at 25. New Zealand has so far had considerable success in controlling the spread of COVID-19, with only 15,000 confirmed cases and 52 deaths to date in a country of about five million. Almost 80 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. The highly infectious Omicron variant could put an end to that record of success, with Ardern announcing that she expects the number of new cases per day will exceed 1,000 in the coming weeks. "I am no different to, dare I say it, thousands of other New Zealanders who have had much more devastating impacts felt by the pandemic, the most gutting of which is the inability to be with a loved one sometimes when they are gravely ill," Ardern said. The 41-year-old Labour prime minister has been engaged to television host Clarke Gayford since 2019. In 2018, she gave birth to their daughter. You may also like Florida advances DeSantis-backed ban on making white people feel 'discomfort' or 'guilt' from past racism California deputy DA opposed to vaccine mandates dies of COVID-19 Russia's not the USSR, and this isn't World War II. Does Biden realize? The Rev. Troy Reynolds has gone from learning to leading after his first year at First Christian Church. Reynolds grew up the son of a pastor, and his family moved all around the Midwest. They ended up in Lexington, Nebraska, where he graduated from high school in 1989. He then studied at Nebraska Christian College, and after that he ended up pastoring in Wayne for 27 years. Reynolds said he really enjoyed growing up in the church, and he knew it was his calling to continue in his fathers footsteps of helping others and teaching scripture. Out of college, Reynolds ended up at Journey Christian Church, where he pastored for the entirety of his stay in Wayne. He said it was a great small town community that was bolstered by a vibrant, youthful demographic provided by nearby Wayne State College. However, an opportunity to lead a new flock was presented to him, and just about a year ago he moved his family across the river to start his journey in southwest Iowa. Reynolds has been at First Christian Church, 20794 Highway 92, for about a year now, and looking back he said its been a time for much learning about the area, the community and his congregation. Its been great, he said. Weve really enjoyed getting to know Council Bluffs. Its so much more than what you see from the interstate. Reynolds lives here with his wife, Stephanie, and their youngest daughter, Katie, who is a high school sophomore. They have an older daughter and son, Tahlia and Aaron, as well. Outside of church life, Troy Reynolds said he loves being outdoors. He and his wife enjoy taking walks and hikes, and he said hes glad to see such a large trail presence in Council Bluffs. With the new year upon him, and it being his second year with First Christian, he said hes ready to take what hes learned from the community and help his congregation make Council Bluffs a better place. Joe Shearer Did you know that National Plan for Vacation Day is Tuesday? Join the Council Bluffs Convention & Visitors Bureau and other tourism industry partners in celebration by planning your next vacation. Whether youre looking to bring friends and family to Council Bluffs for a visit, are interested in vacationing in your backyard or itching to see what the rest of the state of Iowa has to offer, we have tips and tools to make your planning easy and fun. Browse the new Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County Inspirational GuideCheck out our new Inspirational Guide that is hot off the press. In this guide, youll find articles and photos covering some of the wonderful things there are to do and experience in Council Bluffs and the rest of Pottawattamie County. There are tons of ideas for families, history-lovers, art buffs, outdoor adventurists and nightlife enthusiasts. View the digital version online at uncb.link/inspirational_guide. Browse Travel Iowas Travel Guide Regardless of whether youre a native Iowan or have never been to Iowa before, youll be pleasantly surprised with all the exciting and unique things there are to do and see across the state. From visiting the bridges of Madison County, shopping at the Amana Colonies or exploring the caves at Maquoketa Caves State Park, there are tons of things to do here. Browse the digital version of Travel Iowas guide on the Travel Iowa website, traveliowa.com, or fill out their simple order form to receive a printed copy. Plan a custom trip with our new trip planner tool We are so excited to announce a brand new tool available on our website, UNleashCB.com. Visitors can now create a custom trip with our trip planner tool. Simply browse our list of attractions, restaurants, hotels and events, and then save the places that interest you, and youll end up with a custom itinerary for your upcoming trip. The itinerary then can be shared, printed or downloaded. Plan your Iowa road trip with Travel Iowas build a trip toolUse Travel Iowas Build a Trip tool for an unforgettable Iowa road trip. Simply input your desired starting and ending locations on Travel Iowas website and it will show you all the attractions, restaurants, shops and museums along the route. Stop by the Welcome Center for more information Did you know that we have a welcome center in our office in Council Bluffs? The center is filled with brochures, flyers, maps and information about Council Bluffs, the state of Iowa, the Omaha metropolitan area and our neighboring midwestern states. Our friendly staff is also available to give your recommendations and the insiders scoop to plan an awesome trip. The office is located at 509 23rd Ave. and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Happy planning! Vacation planning isnt just for Jan. 25. This fun and exciting activity can be done anytime throughout the year with the resources mentioned above. Take advantage of your much-deserved time off by unleashing your wanderlust and traveling when it is safe to do so. We wish you happy planning and safe travels. DES MOINES The problems are clear for many to see: Iowa needs more child care options, and they need to be more affordable for parents. For Alex Glenn, director of human resources for Generation Next child development centers and preschools in Central Iowa, the best way to address what parties call a child care crisis is both simple and expensive. I know this answers not going to appease a lot of people, but its money, Glenn said. Magic wand it is throwing money at the problem. According to state figures, almost 1 in 4 Iowans live in a child care desert, which is an area with a shortage of licensed child care providers. The issue is more pronounced in rural Iowa, where more than 1 in 3 Iowans live in child care deserts. Access is not the only issue. So is affordability. A family earning the states median income of roughly $77,000 would pay 15% of the income on child care at a licensed center, or 10% at a registered home, according to the states Child Care Resource and Referral. The national nonprofit advocacy organization Child Care Aware of America classifies affordable child care as 7% of a familys income. Staffing at the child care centers is a part of the overall problem as well. Centers are having a difficult time finding and retaining workers 4 out of 5 child care centers nationally said they are experiencing a staffing shortage, according to a recent survey by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. In that same survey, roughly 4 out of 5 respondents said wages are a main challenge for both recruiting and retaining workers. The median annual wage for a child care worker in Iowa was $25,460 as of May 2020, the last time federal labor data is available. Policymakers are wrestling with how to address the complex and intertwined problems: how to create more openings at child care centers while also helping the centers pay their workers better without asking parents to pay even more than they already do. Dawn Oliver Wiand, president and chief executive officer of the Iowa Womens Foundation and a member of the child care task force established by Gov. Kim Reynolds, discussed all those issues on this weekends episode of Iowa Press on Iowa PBS. Like Glenn, who also made his comments on the same Iowa Press episode, Oliver Wiand said any solution will have to include some kind of financial assistance. Its going to take multiple solutions in multiple ways, and those are going to be different from community to community, Oliver Wiand said. We look at a public-private partnership. We need to see both federal and state dollars. But we also need to see business dollars and philanthropic dollars all coming together to address this issue and to really look at what solutions we can put into place to help. Our No. 1 recommendation from the governors child care task force was to increase wages and find a way to get benefits for child care providers. How? Thats the big thing. What is that going to take? Glenn was asked if that means money from government assistance or subsidies. I dont know where else it comes from, to be honest with you, he said. Republican lawmakers, who have agenda-setting majorities in the Iowa Legislature along with the Republican governor, have been attempting to address child care over the past two legislative sessions. Last year, legislators passed a law that allows Iowans receiving child care assistance to be slowly weaned off that assistance rather than dropped cold turkey when they reach a certain income level. That law addressed what had become known as the child care cliff. This year, many of the Republican-led proposals have to do with regulations on or financing or tax breaks for child care centers. Reynolds task force met and made 15 formal recommendations. Among them is a recommendation that the state provide more flexibility in the child care assistance program. But the task force did not recommend raising the programs income threshold. The task force, which was comprised of child care stakeholders and business leaders, also recommended creating new and supporting existing tax credits and incentives to encourage child care employers to hire more staff and create more openings. Thats why youre seeing us propose so many pieces, because we know there isnt just one that completely changes the shift of the child care issue, said House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford. I dont think as many of us in the Legislature would be talking about it, between the House, Senate and the governors office, if we didnt think that were making a positive impact. I think weve already started down that path. And its going to take time to get more investment in local communities, with partnerships, and all that takes time. One Republican proposal this year would increase the allowed ratio of children-to-workers in a child care setting. Republicans proposed changing the ratio from the current level of six children per worker to 8-to-1. After hearing concerns from providers, Republicans last week said theyll amend their proposal to 7-to-1. Ratios exist for a reason, and its safety. Its a quality education, Glenn said, comparing child-to-staff ratios to efforts to reduce class sizes in schools, which data has showed provides a better education for students. That way we can individualize education, we can provide more individualized care, we can get to know the children a little bit better, and we can keep them as safe as possible. Glenn said things like streamlining regulations or providing tax incentives are helpful, but the most helpful thing still is financial assistance, especially because of the staffing issues. We need larger centers, especially in those rural communities. We need the ability to house these children and care for them and provide educational opportunities, he said. But we also need to find staff for those. I know the Iowa Child Care Challenge has opened up about 9,000 spots, or is trying to for child care. But my first thought is, Whos going to staff those? Its difficult right now. We need help to not only to build those child care centers and places, but we need benefits that are comparable to other fields. And the money just isnt there to do so. Oliver Wiand said because of the high cost of child care, financial relief should not come from more costs to parents. She said the Iowa Womens Foundation proposes increasing the income threshold for Iowans to receive child care assistance from 145% of the federal poverty level to 185%. At 145%, for example, a family of four in Iowa making $40,237 is at the threshold of eligibility for full child care assistance. Raising that to 185% would increase that threshold to $51,337. First we need to do that, Oliver Wiand said. And then we need to look at what are other ways that we can increase revenue and decrease expenses for our child care centers without increasing parent fees. We cannot put this issue on the back of parents anymore. We have to step out of the box and find unique, different ways to address this. Iowa House Democrats have proposed raising that threshold to 200%. That would increase the income threshold for a family of four to $55,500. Lets look at child care reimbursement. Lets look at wages for child care workers. Lets make sure that were actually paying the people who are caring for our kids as well as we can so that they stay in the position, said House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, a Democrat from Windsor Heights. We need to be focusing on increasing the workforce, not getting rid of regulations that were actually designed to keep kids safe in child care centers. I think were focusing on the wrong thing here. James Q. Lynch of The Gazette Des Moines Bureau contributed. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on all parties to the Sahara conflict to resume the UN-led political process to reach a solution to this regional dispute. It is time for the parties to understand the need for dialogue to reach a solution to the Sahara issue, which has been going on for several decades, said the UN Chief during his latest press conference held in New York. It is in the interest of all to resolve once and for all this dispute in a region which is facing extremely serious security challenges and growing terrorism threat from the Sahel, he added. Due to these challenges, it is time for the parties to understand the need for a dialogue to reach a solution and not simply maintain an indefinite process with no hope of resolution, underlined Mr. Guterres. His remarks come following the first tour made by his personal envoy for the Sahara Staffan de Mistura to the region for consultations with Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the polisario-controlled camps in Tindouf, Southern Algeria. UN Security Council resolution 2602, adopted on October 29, 2021, calls on the parties to the Sahara conflict to continue their commitment to the roundtable process, in a spirit of realism and compromise, to achieve a realistic, pragmatic, sustainable political solution based on compromise. Morocco has reiterated commitment to the resumption of the political process under the exclusive auspices of the UN to achieve a political solution on the basis of the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative and within the framework of the roundtables format gathering the four participants. Morocco reiterated, on Sunday in Cairo, its full solidarity with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the heinous attack perpetrated by the Houthis and their supporters against the Abu Dhabi airport and the industrial region of Musaffah last Monday. This came during an extraordinary meeting of the Arab League Council, held at the level of permanent representatives and devoted to addressing the repercussions of these attacks. Morocco, King, government and people, strongly condemned these attacks and expressed full solidarity with the brotherly UAE in defending the security of its territories and its citizens, said Moroccos ambassador to Egypt and permanent representative to the Arab League, Ahmed Tazi. Tazi recalled that King Mohammed VI had reiterated Moroccos permanent support with the United Arab Emirates in defending the security of its territories and the safety of its citizens. Actually, King Mohammed VI had strongly condemned the despicable attack perpetrated by the Houthi militia and their supporters against the United Arab Emirates, which targeted innocent people and civilian facilities, in a phone call with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Emirati Armed Forces. The Sovereign had reiterated Moroccos firm support for all measures taken by the United Arab Emirates to defend their territory and the peace of their people in the face of the despicable attacks by the Houthi militia and its supporters. In his address, the Moroccan diplomat expressed hope that attacks targeting the Gulf States will cease, that legitimacy will prevail and that the Yemeni people will regain their cohesion. The Council of the Arab League held an emergency meeting, at the level of permanent representatives, at UAEs request to examine the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Houthi militias. The explosion of three tankers in the Musaffah area southwest of Abu Dhabi last Monday left three people dead and six others injured. In his address during the emergency meeting, UAE Minister of State, Khalifa Shaheen Almarar, stressed that the continued threat of the Houthis on the national security of the Gulf States represents a threat to Arab national security. He warned that the indifference of the international community to take a clear position against this militia gives it more room to continue committing its crimes against the countries of the region and the Yemeni people. He also underlined that the Houthi terrorist group could not have continued its aggression without the continuous flow of weapons and support from Iran, which still refrains from playing a positive role to stop Houthi acts. The attack by Iran-backed Houthi militias, in which drones were used, drew worldwide condemnation. The Nebraska Press Association has launched a new public website to provide greater public access and notification to the workings of all government entities and courts in Nebraska. The website www.nepublicnotices.com is a cooperative effort of all Nebraska newspapers and is managed through the NPA. The free-access website was initiated in June 2021. Currently there are over 90,000 notices on the site and more are posted each day. The notices are fully searchable by keyword, type of notice, date, publication, county, or by city or village. After public notices appear in print in newspapers, as required by state statutes, they are then uploaded by newspapers to the website within 24 to 48 hours of publication. The executive director of the Nebraska Press Association, Dennis DeRossett, said the newspapers across Nebraska funded development of the site, as well as all costs involved with hosting and maintaining it; there is no additional cost to any government entity or court for notices to appear on this website. This is a true public service to the people of Nebraska, provided by community newspapers across the state, he said. Amy Johnson, owner and publisher of the Springview Herald and current board president of NPA, said, This project has come together extremely well because Nebraskas newspapers are committed to the belief that public notices are an essential part of the foundation of a democracy. Through public notices, units of government at all levels notify taxpayers when, where and how they conduct the publics business. Nebraskans get their local news and information from printed newspapers and digital platforms, and this new statewide public notice website enables a larger audience to have access to this important information. DeRossett said the goal is to have 100% of all public notices in Nebraska to be on the website after first appearing in print, which establishes the legal basis for statutory publishing requirements. Through the cooperation of all newspapers across the state, and using advances in technology, we are confident we can achieve this self-imposed benchmark by June 2022 the first anniversary date of the site, he said. Johnson added, Most people may only be affected by or concerned with notices from their local community, but having access to all notices statewide is a valuable resource in many ways. As an example, she said, bid notices will now get wider exposure, which could result in more bidders for projects and possibly more competitive pricing. She added, Whether its a notice of a meeting or public hearing, or an ordinance that changes zoning requirements, or a request for bids, these involve use of taxpayer dollars. Public notices are the key in providing that information from the unit of government back to the taxpayers. DeRossett said state statutes spell out publication requirements for public notices to appear in newspapers, as well as rates newspapers can charge. Public notices are not just advertising they are an integral part of a legal process of notification and accountability by units of government, and the courts, to the taxpayers, he said. The Nebraska Press Association is the oldest trade association in Nebraska; it will celebrate its 150th anniversary year in 2023. OVID, Colo. You have to know what youre looking for to spot the would-be 1894 Perkins County Canal. Satellite photos help. They uncover long indentions in the South Platte River valley, between the river and the modern incursions of Sedgwick County Road 28 and Interstate 76. If you take the county road a scenic byway marking the 1860-61 Pony Express path through the area look north into the fields closer to I-76s Ovid exit, then south closer to the Julesburg exit. Youll see weaving embankments and cuts through shallow hills, their serrated but otherwise smooth earthen sides testifying that nature didnt put them there. The canals last remnants are east of the Julesburg Cemetery, southeast of the I-76 interchange that appears from maps and photos to sit atop the old dig. One can drive along the cemeterys east edge and see the intended canal running north, heading toward I-76 and Nebraska. They never got there. The story of the Perkins County pioneers who dug the canal one of determination and suffering deserves telling as 2022 residents grapple with Nebraskas surprise plan to finish their canal after 128 years. Bring the water east Zealous, even unscrupulous real estate promoters had lured thousands of white settlers to the Plains after the Civil War with the promise nonsensical to modern ears that rain follows the plow. By 1893, a quarter-century after Nebraska entered the Union, they had bitterly learned it wasnt so. Nebraskas crops mostly burned up from drought in 1893 and 1894. Meanwhile, the nationwide Panic of 1893 turned into the nations longest depression to that time. Farmers near rivers and creeks at least had a potential remedy: irrigation. But people in Perkins County once the southern part of Keith County before splitting off in 1887 had no surface streams at all. They looked west, across the state line, to where the South Platte ran through the northern part of Sedgwick County to enter Nebraska west of present-day Big Springs. Well go there, they said. A monster mass meeting was held at Madrid today at which Perkins County citizens turned out in mass to take steps to construct an irrigation ditch from a point near Julesburg, Colo., said an Omaha Daily Bee dispatch dated June 13, 1894. That meeting followed three years of talk, failed financing efforts and surveys by Mark Burke, a Grant-based civil engineer whose 1902 map of Sedgwick County preserves the canals intended path there. Truly countywide Another meeting followed July 12 at Grant, still the county seat. County commissioners called a special election to issue some $90,000 in bonds for a 65-mile-long canal meant to end at the Perkins-Lincoln county line. It is claimed by skillful engineers, the Bee dispatch continued, that plenty of water can be thus obtained to thoroughly water the whole of Perkins County. More than two-thirds of county voters approved the bonds on Aug. 17. People are jubilant, as they will be able to get work and support themselves without asking aid from the county, the Hastings Daily Nebraskan reported. They formed the Equitable Irrigation and Water Power Co. to handle the project. Under the bonds terms, only bona fide residents of Perkins County were to be given work building the canal, the Nebraska State Journal said Sept. 18. The first shovels by then had pierced the South Plattes south bank, south of present-day Ovid. Burkes winding survey line crossed into Nebraska, clipped off Keith Countys southwest corner en route to Perkins County and connected to a series of planned natural reservoirs north of Grant. Nearly 500 wagon teams and scrapers were at work by mid-November. County Clerk Arthur Wilcox said in an account in the Blair Weekly Telegram of Jan. 3, 1895, that almost every voter in the county between 500 and 600 went out there to work on it. They took their teams, and in some cases cows and families. But their dream of liquid gold soon evaporated, replaced by nightmare. Shadiness and starvation The Omaha Bee had given its readers a rosy account of the project. A Nov. 12 dispatch said all but 600 shares in the Equitable company had been sold at $10 each only county residents could own them and the $90,000 in bonds voted by Perkins County have been sold. In fact, the opposite had happened. Inability to sell the $90,000 bonds recently voted by Perkins County has caused a cessation of work on the big ditch, North Platte newsman Ira L. Bare reported Nov. 28 in his Lincoln County Tribune. About 300 teams were at work up to last week, but no money being in sight, nearly all the men at work have quit. Burke described the projects demise in a written account excerpted by the Grant Tribune-Sentinel in October 1986, when hopes were high for an ultimately failed plan to finish the old canal and run it south toward Enders Reservoir in Chase County. The 1894 ditch company, he said, had arranged to sell the Perkins County bonds for cash. A Hastings firm would sell them to the state through State Treasurer Joseph Bartley, who later was impeached and removed from office in 1897 for embezzling $150,000 in state funds. A committee of residents led by one Austin Yonne, Burke wrote, tried to have the county directly sell the bonds to the Board of Educational Lands and Funds, of which Bartley was one of five members. The board balked. As a result, Burke wrote, the action of the Yonne committee ... completely destroyed the possibility of completing the enterprise. The 600 county residents, having completed $25,000 worth of work, hadnt been paid. Merchants refused to sell more supplies, being already out considerable money for goods furnished to laborers on the ditch, said Wilcox, the county clerk. And winter had set in. The Jan. 3, 1895, Blair Telegram article said Perkins County had 3,000 people who are actually destitute between the drought and the failed canal project. The consequence, Wilcox said in the article, is that the farmers who did this work upon the ditch are a great deal worse off than if they had not gone there at all. Storing a seed The Perkins County Canal project was officially given up on June 24, 1895. After completing 16 miles about one-fourth of the planned length it faded into the hills without ever leaving Colorado. Its failure amounted to a state calamity, Burke said in his account. But thanks to the national depression, there was no other source from which to obtain the necessary money to complete the project. In time, Perkins County farmers would learn the full extent of the water below them the Ogallala Aquifer that runs below most of the Great Plains and turn their arid county into blooming farmland. But generations of their neighbors would remember the waylaid canal project. Everybody seems to have at least one great-grandfather who either worked on or in some way was connected with the canal, Tribune-Sentinel reporter Larry Gauthier wrote in 1986. Though the canal has never been finished, the seeds of its revival survive in the 1923 South Platte River Compact in which Colorado agreed to let Nebraska try again. Theyre alive, in part, thanks to one of the projects hopeful organizers and the son of another. On Dec. 19, 1921, the Omaha Daily Bee wrote that Ogallalas Keith County Community Club had been working for months to finish the aborted canal to irrigate some 75,000 acres. Three weeks earlier, residents of Keith, Perkins and Deuel counties had formed a temporary organization for the new project. Mark Burke, still living in the area, was its engineer. Its secretary-treasurer, Robert Goodall, was born in Grant and was 3 when his father, Henry, co-organized the original projects Equitable company. Goodall, a young Ogallala jeweler, would become a prolific inventor and founder of the former Good-All Manufacturing Co. Ogallalas indoor recreation center and now-retired library are named for him and his late wife, Clarice. Rather than fight Nebraskas canal effort in court, Colorado which had passed a law in 1917 forbidding Nebraska from acquiring water rights in its state agreed to negotiate. After 16 months of talks, the two states reached agreement at a concluding meeting in Ogallala on April 24, 1923. North Platte had held a previous meeting that January, followed by another in Hastings. The citizens of western Nebraska have every reason to rejoice over the outcome of the meeting held in Ogallala last Friday, the Keith County News wrote on April 26. Plans are now being made for the organization of an irrigation district, and if you are a landowner on the south table and want to get in on this project, it would be advisable to make the fact known at once ... Alas, no. Though Congress ratified the compact in 1926 both states legislatures already had done so another depression, the greatest America had ever known, lay around the bend three years after that. Local attention then turned to realizing the far larger irrigation and hydropower projects along the two Platte branches. By 1941, Kingsley Dam on the North Platte was finished, Lake McConaughy was filling and the interlinked Sutherland Project, including Sutherland Reservoir and Lake Maloney, was in operation. Except for that foiled 1980s effort the one that last stirred up stories from the 1894 dig no one has tried to redeem the Perkins County pioneers work across the Colorado line in the South Platte River Compacts 99 years of life. Until now. 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. Even in west central Nebraska, few people knew anything about a partly built 1894 irrigation canal starting in Colorado that Gov. Pete Ricketts now wants to finish. North Plattes Kent Miller, 49-year general manager of the Twin Platte Natural Resources District, was one of those few. He long felt like a lonely voice in Nebraska water-policy circles, he says, for urging the state over many years to invoke its right under its 1923 South Platte River Compact with Colorado to finish the aborted Perkins County Canal. Ive gotten a variety of answers as to why the state never did, Miller told The Telegraph. It was, Oh, heres Kent talking about the South Platte Compact again. So he was pleasantly shocked Jan. 10 when Ricketts, citing a raft of upstream proposals for tapping the South Platte along Colorados Front Range, proposed spending $500 million to revive and complete the old canal project. Its something I felt Nebraska should have dealt with for a long time to secure the South Platte water its legally entitled to, Miller said. Board members of the four-county Twin Platte NRD, which includes Keith County and thus touches the Colorado line, havent taken an official position on resurrecting the 128-year-old canal project. But when Miller briefed them on Ricketts proposal Jan. 13, I said we were supportive and there was absolutely no objection, he said. Legislative Bill 1015, which would authorize the Perkins County Canals completion, hasnt been scheduled for a public hearing. Speaker Mike Hilgers introduced it on behalf of the governor. LB 1015s preamble would declare the canal essential to the economic prosperity, health and welfare of the people of the state of Nebraska, and to the environmental health of the entire Platte River Basin, to protect Nebraskas full entitlement to the flows of the South Platte River under the 1923 compact. Ratified by both states legislatures and then by Congress in 1926, the compact allows Nebraska to build the canal even to buy or seize Colorado land as necessary along or near the route surveyed for Perkins County 128 years ago. Just 16 of its planned 65 miles were dug in fall 1894, starting from the South Platte in Sedgwick County just south of Ovid. Construction never reached the Nebraska line, breaking off when financing collapsed, according to newspaper stories prior to the 1923 compact. Its terms would let Nebraska divert up to 500 cubic feet per second from the South Platte into the canal but only during the irrigation off-season between Oct. 15 and April 1. The compact requires Colorado to maintain a minimum average river flow of 120 cubic feet per second into Nebraska the rest of the year. The two states maintain a South Platte gage at Julesburg under the accord. Its unclear whether a 21st-century version of the canal would have to stick to the 1894 survey line inside Nebraska or even go into Perkins County at all, Miller said. Its water would have to be used first for surface irrigation, he added. But customers for a canal would have to be found. Perkins County farmers whose ancestors attempted the canal following disastrous droughts in 1893 and 1894 learned how to exploit the underground Ogallala Aquifer over the century after the compacts ratification. Their Keith County neighbors dusted off the canal project in late 1921, expecting to water 75,000 acres and use hills and valleys as natural reservoirs. Their plan brought Colorado to the compact table. If a completed canal watered farmland in southern Keith County, Miller said, return flows would make their way north to the South Platte from there. Upstream projects in Colorado return water in a similar way. Thats the beauty of surface water irrigation, Miller said. Its not as efficient as groundwater, but that inefficiency is how it keeps the river whole. Only once since Miller became Twin Platte NRD manager in 1973 has anyone seriously pursued the aborted canal project, he said. That was in the 1980s, when the Upper Republican NRD and four local partners proposed reviving the Sedgwick County part of the canal and ending it near Enders Dam and Reservoir on Frenchman Creek in Chase County. That creek feeds into the Republican River, subject of a separate compact between Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas. The idea was to help maintain Enders levels and recharge groundwater for irrigators, the Grant Tribune-Sentinel wrote then. Congress in 1986 agreed to fund half the $1 million cost of studying the notion, with the Upper Republican NRD and its partners covering the rest. But the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation shelved the South Platte-Frenchman Valley Project. It is doubtful that an economically feasible plan can be developed under federal criteria, bureau Commissioner C. Dale Duvall told the late U.S. Rep. Virginia Smith of Chappell during a 1989 hearing. Around the same time, Miller said, an attorney for Twin Platte NRD suggested securing rights to the Perkins County Canal project in the NRDs name. Nothing ever came of it, he said. In discussing his plan Jan. 10, Ricketts pointed to a Colorado Water Conservation Board list of 283 potential upstream projects that would tap the South Platte. If all were approved and completed, Nebraskas South Platte flows would be slashed by 90%, the governor said. The Colorado boards list includes a $20 million project to develop Ovid Reservoir, a 5,772-acre storage lake just downstream from where the 1894 canal started. The Water Conservation Board lists the project at a mid-term readiness level for construction. It would reduce South Platte flows at the Julesburg gage below the 120 cfs irrigation-season average mandated by the 1923 compact, according to a November 2018 Colorado District Court publication. Building the aborted 1894 canal, Miller said, wouldnt remove the long-term threat to Nebraskas South Platte flows. But it would put Colorado on notice, he added. Colorado has said Nebraska hasnt utilized the canal portion of the compact for a hundred years, (so) why would they now? Miller said. I think without utilizing this provision in the compact, Colorado is looking to dry up the South Platte River at the Nebraska border. 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. I wrapped up my deer hunting last weekend with a late anterless only season permit, which closed Jan. 16. There is a river antlerless private land permit that runs until Jan. 31. It is kind of confusing. Check your permits. I hunted several properties bordering the Platte River from Brady to Cozad and did not see a deer. I was totally amazed that not one deer was out along the river. In all my years of hunting Ive never experienced anything like this before. I would be interested in hearing what other hunters experienced. I had a hunch that there were some issues with our deer population after the preliminary numbers were crunched from deer check-in stations during the November firearm season. Those numbers indicated that the statewide harvest was down 12% compared to 2020. During the nine-day firearms season, 37,053 deer were harvested, compared to 42,078 in 2020. Closer to home, the deer harvest in the southwest region of the state, our region, was down 19% from last year. I have sent emails to a couple Nebraska Game and Parks Commission biologists to see if I can get a handle on this. Ill keep you posted. SHOT show report The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade show wrapped up last Thursday. SHOT is the place to see what is new in the outdoor market. Ill focus on what is new in pistols for this column. I get to whats new in rifles and shotguns in future columns. All the big pistol manufacturers offered new models in the concealed carry category. Beyond that, it looked like this was the year of the renaissance of the Browning Hi Power. Several well-known pistol makers revealed models of upgraded and improved versions of John Brownings famous design. I have always appreciated Brownings work. Those who are students of the gun will know that Fabrique Nationale Herstal was the original manufacturer of John Moses Brownings classic design, but they had some improvements for 2022. Upgrades included a double stack 17-round magazine, increasing the 9mm capacity of the original by 25%. The pistol is offered in black, stainless steel, and FN flat dark earth PVD finish. It will be available with two pairs of grips with seven unique grip pairs available. The gun has an all-metal frame and slide and 40 ounces in weight. It has a crisp single action trigger, adjustable steel FN 509 pattern rear sights, fully ambidextrous controls, easy-cocking slide and redesigned ergonomics. The famous Hi Power slide bite has been specifically addressed by adding a longer beavertail to shield the web of your hand between index finger and thumb. The upgraded Hi Power boasts a rapid takedown process that eliminates the old pins and bushings for easier maintenance. The slide features an oversized ejection port and the distinctive keyhole muzzle profile. It has a 4.7-inch cold hammer forged barrel with a target crown for improved accuracy. EAA has begun importing a Turkish-built Girsan clone of the classic Browning Hi Power. The company just announced the release of the MC P35 Match model. This pistol is said to include a flat trigger, an accessory rail, a beveled magazine well, adjustable sights, a fiber optic front sight and improved ergonomics. Springfield Armory offered another modern take on the Browning Hi Power, the SA-35. This pistol has subtle but significant upgrades to Brownings original P-35 design. Built in the USA, the SA-35 features forged steel parts for strength and durability, improved ergonomics, enhanced controls, modern sights, an improved feed ramp design and an increased 15 round capacity. Like the Fabrique Nationale offering, this pistol is built with a magazine disconnect so the magazine can drop free for quicker reloading. The pistol comes with a factory tuned trigger with a smooth pull and crisp, clean break. It is chambered in the classic 9mm Parabellum. Ive been impressed with the Springfield Armory pistols Ive shot, so Im thinking hard about this pistol for myself. Incidentally, the Springfield Armory SA-35 just won On Target magazines Editors Choice Award. Colt was back with a new short barreled version of their Python, 3-inch barrel. Colt will now offer the pistol with 3-inch, 4-inch and 6-inch configurations. Last year Colt re-introduced the new Python and it was an immediate hit. The Python is considered by many to be the pinnacle of pistol design. I love wheel guns and the .357 cartridge and have wanted a Python for years. New Winchester shotshell Another SHOT Show unveiling: Winchester introduced its new Super Pheasant Diamond Grade shotshell ammunition. Super Pheasant Diamond Grade brings 8% antimony, copper-plated shot to the upland field in a 5-shot configuration. In simple English, it hits harder. Initial offerings include 2 inch for 12- and 20-gauge as well as a 3-inch 12-gauge load. A key differentiator in this shotshell is the Diamond Grade Shot. The 8% antimony hardening alloy is four times more antimony than standard target loads, resulting in the hardest copper-plated shot available to target shooters. The shot is also precision sorted, meaning only the roundest shot is used. This results in better flight characteristics, tighter patterns and more downrange energy whether shooting clay targets or upland game. Final comment I was talking with a local outdoorsman and shooter friend of mine a couple of days ago and we were discussing many of the SHOT show offerings. When we got to the topic of ammo, he had an interesting observation, You know, Im tired of watching YouTube videos of ammo company CEOs telling me that they are running their factories 24-hours a day, making billions of rounds of ammunition and shipping it out as fast as they can get it on the truck. Yet, we are not seeing it get to the shelf of local sporting good stores. Where is all the ammo going? And when it comes to the new Winchester Diamond Grade stuff you just mentioned, there are only two problems ... we cant get the ammo and we dont have any pheasants! The man says it like it is. Wish something like this could be done for insulin. Reply Thread Link Another sources says they're negotiating with a TX company for that. Reply Parent Thread Link i think california is going to start making its own. i hope it catches on; it's the biggest fucking scam in history Reply Parent Thread Link I love this!?I saw an article today that California is trying to pass a law to allow minors to her vaccinated w/o parental consent and a law in Michigan just passed to lower the age of concealed carry to 18 AND allow it on school property. It really hammered home that CA is one of the few states trying to move forward not backwards Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Insulin costs are insane. My cat was (mis)diagnosed with diabetes and when I had to buy insulin for her, it was 120$ for one vial! Animals use human grade insulin, so that was shocking to me to realize that was the cost of a VIAL of insulin. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link When Banting and Best isolated insulin in 1922 in Canada, they sold the patent to the University of Toronto for $1 because they felt that insulin should be available for everyone who needed it. They also only patented it because they were afraid of American manufacturers doing exactly what they've done Reply Parent Thread Link As an aussie, our meds are free (okay not free but very reasonable). I was telling my Mum how much insulin costs over there and she legit didnt believe me at first. I had to show her the proof! Then we moved on to peoples posts of itemised hospital bills and she about fainted. Reply Parent Thread Link Amazing how it takes a damn billionaire to do something right for once Reply Thread Link he's rich so i immediately cannot trust this Reply Thread Link Yeah like from the summary I feel like this could maybe be an amazing thing, but coming from a famous rich person I cannot help but think "oh you found a different way to make a bazillion % profit from people in need? COOL!" Like I guess if it helps people that's great, but we have so much further to go Reply Parent Thread Link he's self-made rich though. Reply Parent Thread Link Why do you think that necessarily makes him different? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link There's no such thing as 'self-made.' He may not have been gifted wealth but no one makes the kind of money he has without immense help + dicking over other people. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The good thing abt him is that he more or less doesnt react He would prob just let you eat him Reply Parent Thread Link I don't know this guy, but I checked my pills. They are about $15 LESS than I pay with my insurance for a 3 month supply. My blood thinners will be hundreds of dollars less per month. Edited at 2022-01-23 03:10 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Right? I was immediately like, what's the catch? How are you profiting from this? Cuban isn't Bezos-level shitty but he's still a capitalist after all Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This sounds like Costco profit margins. Awesome that it will be an option for people. Hopefully they expand number of drugs over time as well. Reply Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link My immediate reaction is not to trust this, but at the same time I know that realistically so few people can afford commonly prescribed medications without insurance that this could probably be wildly profitable. Reply Thread Link LMFAOOOOOOOOO | The Dallas Mavericks are consistently white in a black league. Why? | Dallas Mavericks | The Guardian https://t.co/x5OW9oFJFM jas the scissor sister (@ScammerSultan) January 21, 2022 Do you think he did this because of the recent article posted by the guardian about the mavericks? Reply Thread Link Do we think he developed an online pharmacy, negotiated wholesale prices for a hundred medications, hired pharmacists, and launched a website because of an article posted yesterday? No, I do not. Reply Parent Thread Link LOL. Mavs so white and then the article says they usually have more than three white players on their 12 man roster. The horror. In 15 of the last 21 Mavs seasons, there were three or more white players on the 12-man active roster. In more than half of those 15 seasons there were at least four white players, not to mention at least two starting white players. The article could have been interesting but it was all over the place and the click baity title certainly doesnt help. Reply Parent Thread Link huh? lol Reply Parent Thread Link We need universal drug (and dental) coverage here in Canada. Reply Thread Link You are so right!! Reply Parent Thread Link we need dental so bad omg rip my teeth Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I'm American I thought you already had it! I just got insurance for the first time in 2 years, but this time I'll be able to afford to use it. About to have so many doctor appointments. I wish we had universal healthcare here. I don't even think the pandemic would've been as bad if we did. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link He's always really skeptical about health benefit claims on Shark Tank so I feel like this is pretty on brand for him, I have no reason to believe his actual claims or anything but I guess if it is a positive alternative for anyone that needs it, good for them! Reply Thread Link I love when he calls out the bullshit pills people try to push on Shark Tank. The others will sit and say they want to hear about profits and all that and Mark is just nope. This is bull Reply Parent Thread Link What a fucking joke of a country where we need Oligarchs to help us since we can't do universal health care and pharmaceuticals are insanely priced. Reply Thread Link My insurance refuses to cover the correct dosage of a medication I need so I'm hoping this site will make it feasible for me to just pay a few dollars out of pocket instead of cutting pills every day. I'm skeptical but it would be nice if it actually does what it says it does. Reply Thread Link You can click on it now to see if they have your medication and what the price is. 100+ meds is really a drop in the bucket, though. It makes a huge difference that he focused on some of the most commonly prescribed, so no shade. I'm just saying that there's clearly a lot of stuff not available on his site. Reply Parent Thread Link join the site and tell us if you could do it Reply Parent Thread Link i knew i made the right choice like 20 years ago when i decided he was my rich nerd billionaire crush Reply Thread Link this country is a joke Reply Thread Link It really is. Americans are living in the worlds wealthiest failed state - one that is on full speed ahead auto-pilot toward authoritarianism and most people are too daft to realize it or they just dont care. Reply Parent Thread Link At least he's not going to space (as you said OP) or investing in NFTs? Wait, I just googled, he has NFTs. Moving on. I hope that his website helps out a lot of people. I'm rooting for people in need. Reply Thread Link For me, the news stories were enough. This family should sink back i to obscurity but with more legal troubles and pinishment fir their abuse and grifting. Reply Thread Link Im really excited to check these videos out, OP! My heart goes out to the victims of Josh, from his sisters who were children to the children who were exploited in the CSAM. Its sickening. Theres a podcast called Leaving Eden that is hosted by an ex-fundamentalist and it does an excellent job of doing deep dives into fundie subjects/families while giving personal context. Its an empathetic podcast, and Sadie Carpenter and her cohost Gavriel HaCohen have done some impactful episodes on the Duggars and the extent of abuse in their brand of fundamentalist Christianity. I highly recommend it. Reply Thread Link Thank you for that podcast recommendation. The YouTube channel Fundie Fridays just put a new video about the extent of the abuse in the Quiverfull movement as well. Major trigger warning (which she has two at the beginning of the video). Shes really good. I havent finished this video yet but I like her other videos on different types of fundamentalist Christianity. Reply Parent Thread Link Was just about to recommend Fundie Fridays! The videos about the Camerons (Kirk and Candace) and Teletubbies cracked me up. I also enjoy the Welcome to Plathville reaction videos. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Watching now. Thank you kindly! Reply Thread Link Please everyone I cannot recommend enough the podcast: Some Place Under Neith Episodes 12 through 17. It is a thoroughly investigated deep-dive into the cult the Duggars belong to, the Institute of Basic Life Principals. They cover Anna's 'courting' by Josh at length and how it was almost entirely not her choice at all to be married to him (and on a larger scale, how women do not have any choices in this cult at all, for any reason). (And lastly I recommend every episode of this podcast in general. But especially episodes 12-17) Reply Thread Link I love that podcast so much Reply Parent Thread Link ME TOO! It's so wonderful. Reply Parent Thread Link i love that podcast. amber is a bit much sometimes but natalie is great. i actually really enjoy LPOTL but i still can't believe natalie is married to henry. the more i think about it the stranger it becomes but is also somehow makes sense Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Whats so sad to me is that her parents knownigly gave her to a monster, even the other crazy religious families pulled their daughter away from Josh after they heard Reply Thread Link I realized I accidentally posted the same video twice, I fixed it now Reply Thread Link Im gonna read this later when I have more time thanks OP. I still listen to Feathers In My Hair a Teen Mom podcast when I can but sometimes the host will do stuff on them and evangelicals so I try to catch up that way. Reply Thread Link I wonder if she truly believe he's innocent or if she just stays with him because his and her parents tell her to do so. Some of the Duggar kids have seemingly gotten away from the cult (but are still into the christian lifestyle), I wonder if they would help her escape the marriage and getting back on track. Reply Thread Link Her brother left the cult and publicly offered to take her in and support her in the past. So she has people who would help her. Reply Parent Thread Link That was a few kids ago though. She's now got 7 kids and maybe not even a high school education if she didn't get her GED. She's in a hard spot where it would be hard for people to help her due to how many kids she has, and she's also not qualified enough to make the amount of income it would take to have that many kids in daycare and still afford to live. She could probably get off to a great start if she got a book deal, but she's at such a huge disadvantage in so many ways with how sheltered she's been from the world. I really don't like Anna, but she's between a rock and a hard place. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The Quiverfull movement is entirely fucked up for so many reasons but more emphasis should be put on the financial abuse it involves. Having more kids than you can afford chains wives to their husbands and husbands to the church because there isn't any other way to support themselves, and the Duggars are a huge part of the propaganda for the movement. They pretend they're self-made and hide the abject, desperate poverty they lived in before TLC started paying them for the opportunity to spread their shitty worldview. It's why their brand of fundamentalism fights so hard against any social safety nets - if families aren't forced to depend on the largesse of the church's charity, they don't have to live and die leashed to the institution. Reply Thread Link Its nothing new. She falls in the same category as Dottie Sandusky or Camille Cosby. Their entire existence is based on another man. Reply Thread Link I honestly feel badly for Anna. She was raised in a warped way, had warped ideas shoved into her head, was basically sold off to this complete monster with no choice in the matter, has little to no life skills aside from domestic shit, and now has a small army of children to support, something she could likely not manage on her own if she broke away from the families. She might loathe him, and resent every waking moment of her life with him, but leaving? Unlikely. Shes locked down too throughly Reply Thread Link I agree to an extent, but at the same time, the fact that some of her siblings have managed to leave the cult, while she continues to stand by him, makes it harder for me to sympathize. I know she is brainwashed in ways, but she has so many people that would stand by her and support her she should ever leave him, and instead she chooses not to. Reply Parent Thread Link I think it's like those women who live in domestic violence. They know it's bad and they should leave, but for some reason they believe it will only happens once or it was because of them. I hope it doesn't happen but if it does, I really hope she leaves his ass if he ever touches one of their kids Reply Parent Thread Expand Link She's one of those people where I can't truly feel bad for them anymore because she won't leave. I want her to do better but it's clear she does not want the best for herself or her kids by staying so I can't be like "how sad for Anna" when the rumors are... she's sticking by her man and is blaming everyone else for getting him locked up. Edited at 2022-01-23 07:41 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Shes both a victim and enabler, I feel like I should have sympathy and empathy for her, but Im really having a hard time. It was hard to watch the clips of his victims being forced to defend their abuser. I hope the girls find peace and healing, and hope anyone enabled him, be forever reminded how horrible they are. Reply Thread Link I know it would be very hard and difficult for Anna to leave. But Josh is a known pedophile who has preyed on family members before and her staying means that she will be providing him with little girls. Damn, even writing that made me sick. Reply Thread Link Kat Von D is being sued by the former manager of her tattoo shop. Stephanie Davidson worked as a manager of Von D's High Voltage Tattoo studio in California between 2017 and 2020. The shop was required to shut down at the start of the pandemic, and began reopening around June 2020. It was then that Davidson was let go. * During the government-mandated shutdown of business in March 2020, Kat Von D often "questioned whether the pandemic was real" in a group chat with the High Voltage employees.* When California Governor Gavin Newsom began allowing some businesses to reopen in April, tattoo shops were not included. Stephanie Davidson is considered to be part of a high risk group because she has Type 1 diabetes but she was expected "to work illegally in violation of the Stay at Home orders" while the business was operating during the mandated lockdown period.* Kat Von D planned to "open privately" and cover the front entrance of the shop so that the public couldn't see inside until California's "idiot governor lifts this ridiculous lock down."* When Davidson asked about safety protocols at the shop before returning to her work, her concerns were "dismissed." Kat's text response: "Please know that I will not be wearing masks and refuse to do so."* When the shop was legally allowed to reopen to the public in June, Von D reiterated her stance on masks, contact tracing, temperature checks, and other COVID safety protocols, and argued that masks could restrict oxygen and cause customers to pass out. (Doctors have debunked such claims, however, and said wearing them does not affect oxygen levels.)* High Voltage employees who weren't comfortable returning to the shop were told they no longer worked for Von D. The employees who remained and took precautions got to hear comments about it from Kat. "You're going to wear a maxi pad on your face?" Von D said to one employee who wore a mask. She also criticized another employee by saying they lived in "a state of fear based on mainstream media narrative."* After June 19 (when High Voltage Tattoo legally reopened without safety protocols in place) Davidson took her concerns to the Governor's Office and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Two weeks later, she was told that her job had been given to another person.Davidson's attorneys said that Von D "puts profits and publicity over the health of her employees and the safety of her customers" and that the lawsuit has been filed to hold her "accountable for her unlawful behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic.""She intentionally and unlawfully ignored state laws and regulations created to protect both workers and the public," they said. "No matter what any business owner's beliefs may be, you cannot ignore the law and force employees to choose between risking their health or keeping their job. When you do, there are consequences. She will be held accountable for her malicious actions."She's now seeking unspecified damages, and alleges that she faced retaliation, discrimination in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, unlawful business practices, and wrongful termination, among other issues, while working under the celebrity tattoo artist. She also claims in the complaint that Von D failed to pay her an hourly minimum wage or base salary instead providing her with a "ten percent share of every tattoo paid for each day, which on some days was $0."In case you missed it: In June 2018 (while she was pregnant), she posted (and then deleted) on Instagram that was going to raise "a vegan child without vaccinations." In March 2019, she posted an 11 minute video on YouTube (which has since been deleted) saying she wasn't an anti-vaxxer or an anti-Semite. She said, "After doing a bunch of research and reading the ingredients, naturally I experienced some hesitancy. Since then, we have decided as parents to consult with our pediatrician and just let him educate us and guide us. But, unlike before, I have learned my lesson and I am choosing not to make our decision or any of our baby's health records public."In a March 2020 interview with the LA Times to promote her new vegan shoe line, she said again that she was not an anti-vaxxer:"When it comes to the vaccine issue, I was six months pregnant at the time, and I was still trying to figure out my birthing plan to have my son. And, at the time, I made a completely thoughtless post on my Instagram on whether or not I would vaccinate my son. And, because of it, people think I'm something that I'm not. But the truth is, I'm not an anti-vaxxer at all. I just made a mistake, and I was completely uninformed. It was stupid, and I really shouldn't have opened my big mouth on the subject." While dwindling supplies and the potential for an upsurge in conflict are driving away foreign investors, Colombia still has a large amount of proven reserves and ongoing interest from existing investors. Colombia still relies heavily on oil and gas for its own energy security as well as for its contribution to the GDP. Colombias dwindling supplies and failure to attract new foreign investment means its oil industry is unlikely to reach pre-pandemic levels this decade according to Rystad Energy. Despite being Latin Americas third-biggest oil producer, after Brazil and Mexico, Colombias oil output has dropped to just 730,000 bpd, falling further from 754,000 bpd in 2020. Its gas industry is faring no better. Output has been declining since 2012 and Colombia now produces just 1.07 Bcf/d. Sofia Forestieri, an upstream analyst, explained the situation, Colombia is in urgent need of additional investments and exploration success as proven resources have dwindled. It must double these resources in the next decade to continue to be energy self-sufficient. Although its exploration sector stayed dormant in recent years, there is some hope from wildcats following a recent acreage offering. Yet, instability and crime in the country continue to drive away investment. While the Colombian government officially came to a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2016, there are now fears that conflict could pick up once again. Throughout 2021, we saw civil unrest across the country, with widespread anti-government demonstrations. In addition, violence has been increasing in certain regions, as illegal armed groups and drug trade prevail in the country. In fact, estimates suggest that the cocaine trade may be contributing the same amount or more the GDP than the oil industry, suggesting that the cocaine business is likely to continue to the detriment of oil. The instability becomes more of an issue because many of the oil and gas resources in Colombia are located in conflict zones. For example, Catatumbo is thought to have around 17 million barrels of unexplored oil reserves, but access is limited due to the unwillingness to invest in the territory. In addition to crime driving away investment, now a political candidate is stating his opposition to fossil fuel production. Colombian Senator and presidential front-runner Gustavo Petro is calling on the rest of Latin America to move away from fossil fuels. He announced this month that if he is to become president, hell start the phasing out of fossil fuels in a shift to creating a knowledge-based, tourism-driven economy. Related: When Will The U.S. Tap its Massive Geothermal Energy Potential? This does not necessarily mean an end to oil production, with existing activities continuing for around 12 years. However, he would halt new exploration activities in a shift towards renewable energy development, in a bid to tackle climate change alongside many Western powers. Petro hopes that Chiles president-elect Gabriel Boric, and Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will join him in creating an alliance in a movement towards economies that are decarbonized, productive and based on knowledge. However, Colombia still relies heavily on oil and gas for its own energy security as well as for its contribution to the GDP. With 1.82 billion barrels of proven crude reserves registered in 2020 and further untapped reserves, a switch to green would mean a sacrifice. But that doesnt mean there isnt still hope for Colombias existing oil operations. In December, it held a bid round which saw Canadas Parex Resources win bids for 18 areas. Other Canadian energy firms Canacol Energy and Frontera Energy also won bids. State-owned Ecopetrol and its Hocol subsidiary took a piece of the action, bidding on five blocks. This suggests that while foreign investors are not flocking to Colombia, it has maintained its appeal with certain investors. Colombian Energy Minister Diego Mesa stated of the bidding round, Today we received valid bids for 30 new areas out of the 53 on offer. Yet another Canadian firm, Calgary-based Arrow Exploration has its hand in multiple projects in Colombia, with operations in both the Middle Magdalena Valley as well as the Llanos Basin. Arrow is looking to expand its portfolio, pursuing value transformative drilling and tie-in activities, recently boosting production by 1000 bpd through a $1.3 million tie-in project. CEO of Arrow, Marshall Abbott, stated, We have multiple, near-term catalysts in a jurisdiction that is extremely supportive of our industry, is under-explored and has existing infrastructure in place. In addition, Our portfolio contains both development wells, providing low-risk immediately cash-generative growth opportunities, but also higher risk exploration opportunities, which we look forward to drilling, he said. While dwindling supplies and the potential for an upsurge in conflict are driving away foreign investors, Colombia still has a large quantity of proven reserves and ongoing interest from existing investors. Canadian firms are expanding their foothold in Colombia, with several companies picking up new exploration developments across the country. However, in the lead-up to the presidential elections, the front-runners pledge to move away from fossil fuels must be taken seriously. While existing operations are expected to continue for over a decade, new exploration activities may be halted should Petro come into power. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Some of Europes biggest ETF providers have changed the indices that some of their products track, a move that is causing resentment among fund selectors. The ESG trend has transformed markets in recent years, but some funds may have become slightly too obsessed with it. Not everyone likes ESG is how Bloomberg columnist Matt Levine titled a recent column in which he discussed pro-ESG arguments and then went on to detail the case of Unilever, which one fund manager said had lost the plot because of its fixation on ESG. Unilever seems to be labouring under the weight of a management which is obsessed with publicly displaying sustainability credentials at the expense of focusing on the fundamentals of the business, wrote the head of Fundsmith Equity Fund, Terry Smith, earlier this month as quoted by the Financial Times. And hes not the only one who has a problem with an excessive focus on ESG. Another FT report from this month cited fund industry insiders as saying some managers were less than thrilled with the wave of ESG washing over the industry. According to the report, a growing number of passive funds are including ESG requirements for the companies they track because of the flow of investment into ESG-aligned businesses. The trend has gathered so much momentum that some of Europes biggest ETF providers are changing the indices that some of their products track. These include iShares, BNP Paribas, and DWS, and they are causing some resentment among fund selectors as they cut off access to companies such as Shell. According to one industry source the FT spoke to, this resentment is not a common sentiment, but its not unheard of, either. I can understand that some investors are concerned when ETF promoters change the underlying indices of their ETFs since they may have a different investment objective than that of the new index, Detlef Glow, a senior executive at Refinitiv Lipper, told the FT. Its easy to see how an investors objective could differ from that of a fund provider right now. Energy has become the top-performing industry on the stock market in the United States, and its not because of the influx of EV makers that listed in droves in the past couple of years. Its because of the oil price rally. The energy segment of the S&P 500 rose by a combined 46.3 percent last year, versus 24.3 percent for the overall index, according to data released in December. But thats not all. The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund gained 46.60 percent between January and mid-December 2021, and the SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF recorded a massive 64.31-percent gain in the period. Clearly, not everybody likes ESG. But everybody likes good returns. In his column, Bloombergs Levine detailed the main arguments in favor of ESG requirements, the most plausible of which from a practical perspective is that while shifting to ESG priorities might affect profits negatively in the short term, it would secure long-term profitability. And yet, too much of a focus on ESG might not be advisable as the Unilever case suggests. Unilever seems to be labouring under the weight of a management which is obsessed with publicly displaying sustainability credentials at the expense of focusing on the fundamentals of the business, Terry Smith wrote. Related: A Tale Of Two Shipping Markets The same could be said about a lot of companies, although whether all of them are neglecting the fundamentals of their business is a separate question. Yet especially in energy, we are seeing a massive effort on the part of European supermajors to greenify their business even if they continue drawing criticism from environmental organizationsand activistin this case, meaning ESGinvestors, for not doing enough. And yet, their share prices have been on the rise, not in tune with their ESG commitments but in tune with oil price changes. Its easy to see why fund providers would rush to ESGthe media are talking about little else these days. But, according to the FT report, they have overdone it a bit by not informing fund selectors they would be switching indices, possibly assuming everyone would be happy with the switch. Fund selectors hate funds being changed without prior warning, Chris Chancellor, senior director of global insights at Broadridge, told the FT. For [a fund] to change without prior warnings and conversation means [selectors] may have a fund that doesnt fit with the reasons they added it to the portfolio. Change with little warning creates a trust issue, he said, adding, If a change is forced on [a client] at short notice, that doesnt feel like a partnership and you lose trust that is hard to build in the first place. It seems the investment industry has a slight problem of a remedy showing the potential to be worse than the disease. With the global focus on a changing climate and how to slow down the change, it is no wonder a lot of investors are buying into the Lose now, but save later argument in favor of ESG. But, as Fundsmiths Smith says, companies shouldnt lose the plot because of overfocusing on ESG. If that happens, the business begins to suffer, and that suffering could become chronic. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A look at Omaha's historic 'theater row', the Official Nelson Mandela Exhibition, dinosaurs and wardrobe selections from the hit British-American television series and movie "Downton Abbey" will be featured at the Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St., as part of its 2022-23 exhibit schedule. 'Theater Row: Stage and Screen in Early 20th Century Omaha' Feb. 12 through Jan. 29, 2023 During the first half of the 20th century, along Douglas Street between 14th and 16th, was a boom of theater houses whose development tells a story of the evolution of stage to screen. The 'Theater Row' exhibit highlights four giants of early Omaha theater houses in Omaha that gave this area its nickname: The Empress, The Moon, The Rialto and The World Theater. Using photographs and objects from the museums collection, each theater tells a story tied to the growth of Omaha and the development of the theater industry from its earliest connections to vaudevillian stage acts to the more modern films. 'Nelson Mandela: The Official Exhibition' March 5 through July 3 "Nelson Mandela: The Official Exhibition" is a new global touring exhibition that takes visitors on a personal journey through the life of one of the worlds most known political leaders: Nelson Mandela. Produced by Round Room Live in partnership with The Royal House of Mandela and RHoM Investments, the exhibition is an immersive and interactive experience that features previously unseen film, photos and the displays of more than 150 historical artifacts and personal effects on loan from the Mandela family, museums and archives worldwide. Many of these personal belongings and objects have never previously been seen outside of South Africa. These items, including the suit worn for the opening of the South African parliament in 1996; a traditional head dress gifted to him by The King of Xhosa people, King Xolilzwe Sigcawu, as he awarded Mandela the ancient tribal warrior honor of the Isithwalandwe Sesizwe, for the rst time in two centuries; his presidential desk and chair and his much loved iconic beige trench coat, combine with media presentations and scenic re-creations, to enable visitors to learn about key moments in Mandelas life. 'Dinosaur Revolution' May 28 through Sept. 4 Bring the kids to uncover the facts and fossils about dinosaurs in "Dinosaur Revolution." The exhibition will feature reptilian role-play activities, undertake three Mesozoic Missions spanning 150 million years and mimic dinosaur behaviors. Driven by questions and answers, "Dinosaur Revolution" will present new discoveries, and debunk popular myths. The exhibit will also feature what its like to crush the earth beneath gigantic feet in "Make Tracks in the Triassic" and lessons in flight in "Glide through the Jurassic." Kids can also earn junior paleontologist credentials. Dressing the Abbey Sept. 22 through Jan. 8, 2023 "Dressing the Abbey" is a costume exhibition that will highlight fashion from one of the most globally watched television shows, "Downton Abbey." Experience original costumes worn by the stars of the show and movie that depict fashions of the British aristocracy in the early 20th century. The exhibition will also showcase the turbulence and changes in the late Edwardian era through the 1920s through the fashions of the period. The costumes range from country tweeds and riding outfits; servants uniforms and footmen's livery; to lavish evening attire crafted from beautiful fabrics and decorated with intricate embroidery, lace, and beading. For information about current and upcoming exhibits at the Durham Museum, visit durhammuseum.org. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. When Wendy and Janet Norman decided to have a baby, they went sperm shopping through Xytex Corp., a sperm bank. The couple chose Donor #9623. Xytex, the Normans later claimed, told them the man spoke multiple languages and was pursuing a doctorate. Xytex had also assured them that it carefully screened all donors by reviewing their family health history and criminal records and that it subjected donors to intensive physical exams and interviews to verify the information. But after Wendy Norman gave birth to a son in 2002, the couple learned their child had inherited a genetic blood disorder for which Wendy was not a carrier. He would, much later, require extended hospitalizations because of suicidal and homicidal thoughts. Even later, they learned that the donor, James Christopher Aggeles, had lied to the sperm bank about his background and that the sperm bank had not verified the information he provided. Nor did it make him supply his medical records or sign a release that would have made it possible to obtain them. As law professors who study reproductive technology, we see this case and others like it as showing why the government should tighten regulations over sperm and egg donation so that prospective parents and donor-conceived adults receive accurate and complete details about their donors medical, academic and criminal history. A wrongful birth? Aggeles wasnt pursuing an advanced degree when he began donating sperm. He didnt even have a college degree at that point. He also failed to disclose his diagnosis of schizophrenia, a severe mental health condition requiring lifelong treatment. Schizophrenia has a high level of heritability in families. He had also been arrested at the time of his donation and was later incarcerated for burglary. When the Normans sued Xytex, a local court initially dismissed almost all claims in their case. They appealed to Georgias Supreme Court, which in 2020 allowed several of their claims to go forward. The Normans could, for instance, seek financial compensation, partly to cover the additional expenses they might have avoided had they learned about the donors medical history sooner. The court also told the Normans they could try to recover the price difference between what they paid for the sperm they received and its market value. Finally, the Normans were allowed to allege under the states Fair Business Practice Act that the sperm bank had misrepresented to the public the quality of its sperm and its screening process. The Supreme Court of Georgia did not, however, permit the couple to sue over what is known as a wrongful birth claim. These claims are negligence actions brought by parents based on the birth of a child with disabilities or genetic disorders because of a providers failure to identify the risk. The case is still pending. Limited regulation The Normans lawsuit is hardly unique. Other families have sued sperm banks after having donor-conceived children who wound up with a variety of genetic disorders. In many of those cases, the sperm banks said they routinely test sperm and exclude donors who could pass along genes that cause genetic diseases. In those instances, the families have grounds for accusing the sperm banks of fraud and negligence. This litigation is on the rise because of the growing popularity of direct-to-consumer DNA testing, which makes it easier to identify previously anonymous sperm donors and to learn about genetic risks donor-conceived people may have inherited from them. Its also happening because of the absence of clear rules and laws regulating sperm banks. There is little regulation of reproductive technologies of any kind, including in vitro fertilization, a procedure that fertilizes the egg with sperm in the laboratory instead of the body, at the state or federal level. Because the government does not track artificial insemination, the number of donor-conceived people is unknown. The federal government requires only that donated sperm and eggs be treated like other human tissue and tested for communicable diseases infectious conditions that spread through viruses, bacteria and other means but not genetic diseases. There are also no federal requirements that sperm banks obtain and verify information about a donors medical history, educational background or criminal record. The movie Delivery Man revolves around what happens when a sperm bank uses a single donors sperm to make hundreds of babies. What is the basis for these lawsuits? The allowable grounds for fertility negligence vary by state. Some states let families sue clinics that fail to screen donors, even when the parents seek damages associated with the birth of the child with a dangerous genetic condition. This would essentially allow a wrongful birth claim to go forward. But a growing number of states, at least 14 so far, prohibit such claims. That is leading many courts, like the Supreme Court of Georgia, to define the injury as distinct from the birth of the donor-conceived child. The end of anonymity One complication in terms of resolving these disputes is that most sperm donations are anonymous. At odds with the donors interest in keeping his identity a secret, we argue, are donor-conceived peoples strong interests in learning about their donors, including their medical, educational and criminal history and even identity. DNA tests, including direct-to-consumer kits like 23andMe, are rendering donor anonymity impossible to maintain. And internet searches, as the Normans discovered, can make it possible to see whether a donor, once identified, has misrepresented their personal information. The movie The Kids Are All Right hinged on the complications that can arise when a family gets to know a sperm donor. States are beginning to set rules Because Congress has taken no action regarding assisted reproductive technology since 1992, states have slowly begun to step in. In 2011, Washington required the disclosure of donor-identifying information and medical history when a child turns 18. On Jan. 1, 2022, Connecticut enacted the Uniform Parentage Act, which is based on model legislation drafted by a national nonpartisan commission to fill widespread legislative gaps. The measure requires that fertility clinics collect identifying information from donors and indicate whether donors have agreed to disclosure. Another pending measure in New York would require sperm and egg donor banks to collect and verify medical, educational and criminal felony conviction history information from any donor. That legislation would also provide prospective parents who purchase eggs or sperm and donor-conceived people with the right to obtain such information without personally identifying the donor. This option could make it possible to preserve donor anonymity, at least theoretically. [Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.] The bill was drafted at least partially in response to the experience of Laura and David Gunner, whose donor-conceived son died of an opioid overdose. After their sons death, the Gunners learned that a few years earlier, the donor himself had died and that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. The donor had not disclosed his mental illness or hospitalizations for behavioral issues. Costs are not a barrier Its possible that measures like the one pending in New York state would make fertility treatment somewhat more expensive. Genetic testing, however, might not add much to the cost because it would only be done once, rather than each time a patient obtains a vial of sperm. With artificial insemination, its rare for a pregnancy to occur on the first or second try. As we learned from Tyler Sniff, an advocate for the New York bill and a director of the nonprofit U.S. Donor Conceived Council, DNA testing companies offer relatively inexpensive options that can cost less than $300. To be sure, disclosure requirements might overpromise how much prospective parents can learn about their future children. But we are certain that these issues will become even more critical as technology continues to outpace its regulation and as both donor-conceived adults and an increasing number of people who used sperm banks advocate for their interests. The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. During his first mission trip to Ecuador, Brad King and fellow church members worked at an orphanage. While there, the group learned of several locals who would be kicked out of their homes, which were on government property. The volunteers many of whom attend Westside Church in Omaha committed to building one home a year for the impacted families. Once you start, King said, it kind of gets in your heart, and you feel like you want to do more. King, who is 73, has gone on to take more than 20 international trips, many to Ecuador, and more than 40 domestic mission trips, averaging two to four trips a year. But the coronavirus pandemic halted Kings trips, forcing him and other volunteers to take a year off because of ever-changing restrictions and guidelines. King said he and his team were bummed to miss the trip. But the cancellation also left the Ecuadorian family to whom they had promised a home stuck where they were for another year. King and the rest of the Westside Church group arent the only ones who have had their plans put on hold. The number of mission trips, especially international ones, has declined because of the pandemic. Some groups shifted gears, opting to take domestic trips or donate to international causes. Others found opportunities to volunteer in their own communities. Christ for the City International an organization based in Omaha that helps facilitate mission trips saw a sharp decrease in trips in 2020, doing 10% of the number it might organize in a typical year, said Jacob Hjemvick, chief operations officer. Although based here, Christ for the City has ministry bases in 16 countries. Last year saw some recovery in the number of trips, but it still was at 20% to 25% of a typical year. This year, Hjemvick said, he expects to see 80% to 90% of the typical annual number of domestic trips and a little over 30% of international trips the organization had been doing before the pandemic. In a typical year, about 2,000 people would take mission trips through Christ for the City, with about 500 heading overseas. For the last two years, only about 70 or 80 people were traveling internationally. Over the last two years, Hjemvick said, the changing nature of travel restrictions tied to the pandemic kept many churches from taking trips. Its been difficult to predict whats happening six months down the road, let alone one month, he said. Stuck on the sidelines at home, many church groups opted to donate money toward the organizations ministry bases instead. Donations were up roughly 10% compared with 2019, Hjemvick said. The unfortunate thing is that not as many people are getting to experience it as in past years, but it doesnt (stop) the work from continuing on, Hjemvick said. The money allowed missionaries based in other countries to get creative. Some assembled and delivered food baskets to those in need. The office here in Omaha is not the best place to have all the answers for whats going on in Colombia, Costa Rica, Zimbabwe or any of the other places we work, Hjemvick said. We rely on local leaders, and decision-making and authority is all in their hands. Unable to send youth and adult teams on mission trips to Costa Rica, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church opted to send financial aid to ministries in the country through Christ for the City International. Beautiful Savior, which is in La Vista, typically sends groups to Costa Rica three or four times a year, said Scott Wollberg, the churchs operations director. With trips on hold, they reached out to trip organizers with Christ for the City to see how they could continue to serve and finance ministries in the Central American country. At home, the church ramped up its annual Make a Difference week. Congregants completed service projects across the Omaha metro area. Many worked with Open Door Mission and Siena Francis House and cleaned up local parks, Wollberg said. At Open Door Mission, church members made and packaged sandwich lunches for local students who werent getting school food because they were staying home and learning remotely. It was an eye-opener, Wollberg said, to see the need in the community. Local service projects have become part of many church members routines now. Our emphasis all along is to go out and serve. Be the hands and feet of Christ, Wollberg said. Whether they do that in a foreign nation or here in Omaha, we dont care, as long as theyre doing it. That has been one benefit from the pandemic. Despite the efforts of groups at Beautiful Savior and other local organizations, officials at Open Door Mission said they have seen a steep decline in volunteers since the pandemic began. Prior to the pandemic, about 15,000 volunteers were coming in monthly, said Candace Gregory, president and CEO. Now that number is down to about 6,000. While youth groups have come in to replicate their mission experience locally, Gregory said it doesnt make up for the loss of volunteers. Running the shelters programming, she said, isnt sustainable without volunteers. Initially, the organization limited the number of volunteers to allow for social distancing and to keep patrons and staff safe. But those numbers have yet to pick back up to where they were. Volunteering is a habit, Gregory said. You get into a routine, a schedule. Then we had a pandemic that was huge, and we were isolating and people were told to stay in place. Now, trying to win people back is extremely hard. At the same time, the pandemic brought to light the struggles of people in the community, particularly food insecurity. The shelter has seen a significant uptick in people participating in the volunteer in place program. That allows volunteers to take on projects such as making blankets, packing sack lunches or assembling toiletry kits from home. People dont have to travel overseas to get to the mission field, Gregory said. They found other opportunities, and I think it was a real eye-opener to the poverty and social issues that are very much alive in our own community, Gregory said. Thats a positive that came out of it. Omaha World-Herald: Afternoon Update The latest headlines sent at 4:45 p.m. daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. It seems to be a striking proposal: That Nebraska could use eminent domain in Colorado and build a canal that diverts water from the South Platte River for irrigation in Nebraska. But the idea floated earlier this month by Gov. Pete Ricketts and other Nebraska officials is laid out in a compact agreed to by the two states and approved by Congress almost 100 years ago. Nebraska officials want to invoke the 1923 South Platte River Compact to build that canal and a reservoir system, and ensure Nebraska continues receiving water that they say is at risk as the population on Colorados Front Range booms. But with a $500 million estimated price tag, a history of failed attempts, confusion from Colorado, the potential for lawsuits and a stream of unknown details, one fundamental question hangs over the proposal: Would it be worth it? Canal idea predates compact Even in communications between Delph Carpenter, who negotiated the compact for Colorado, and then-Nebraska Gov. Samuel McKelvie, the canal project was referred to as old. The old Perkins County canal was projected in the early (1890s) with the object of diverting water from the South Platte some miles above Julesburg, within the State of Colorado, for the irrigation of lands in Nebraska lying south of the river and particularly of that beautiful area of land in Perkins County between Ogallala (sic) and Grant, a 1921 letter from Carpenter reads. Construction efforts had started in 1891, according to the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. But it was abandoned due to financial troubles. Remnants of the abandoned ditch are still visible near Julesburg. Another effort to pursue the canal, this time by the North Platte-based Twin Platte Natural Resources District, was derailed in the 1980s because it didnt comply with requirements of the Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act. The compact, borne out of a desire to resolve litigation, is more than the canal. It currently entitles Nebraska to up to 120 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water between April 1 and Oct. 15. Brian Dunnigan, who served as Nebraskas director of natural resources from 2008 to 2015 and spent over 30 years with the department, said he and other directors had always been very aware of the compact and its provisions. We made sure that Nebraska was getting what Nebraska was entitled to under the provisions of the compact, he said. Current director Tom Riley told The World-Herald that flows drop below 120 cfs nearly every year at times during that time period. When it happens, Nebraska calls Colorado and it addresses the issue by limiting its users who are subject to the compact. Another part of the compact would allow Nebraska to also claim water outside that growing season provided theres a canal. The canal could run from near Ovid, Colorado, east near the route of the abandoned Perkins County Canal, it says. And Nebraska could buy land or even use eminent domain to make it happen. With such a canal, the state would be entitled to divert 500 cfs for irrigation between Oct. 15 and April 1. However, data from the Julesburg gage suggests Nebraska has been getting about that much from Colorado for the last 10 years of record during the non-irrigation season, Riley said. The goal of the project would be to keep it that way. Asked how the state would avoid what happened in the 80s, Riley pointed out that was 40 years ago. And, as he understands it, those proponents chose not to try to comply with endangered species requirements. For us, such compliance and meeting those conditions thats just a foregone conclusion in the design process. This is just what we do, he said. Colorado disputes Nebraskas rationale In revealing his desire to resurrect the plan, Ricketts earlier this month sounded alarm bells that without the project, agriculture, drinking water across the state, power generation and the environment could be affected. After our people, water is the greatest natural resource that we have in our state, Ricketts said at a press conference, where he announced he would seek $500 million from the State Legislature to pursue the project. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and the states Department of Natural Resources said they learned of the situation the same day Ricketts announced it publicly. We hope to more fully understand Nebraskas concerns and goals, as so far those concerns and goals are quite simply hard to make sense of, Polis said in a statement. Since then, officials havent shared a vision of an exact route for the newly proposed Perkins County Canal, nor details of the reservoir system it would feed into. Despite its colloquial name, the canal wouldnt be located in Perkins County, according to the Governors Office. It could be on or close to the countys northern border, though. The general manager of the Twin Platte Natural Resources District, Kent Miller, has been promoting the project for over 25 years. I think its absolutely critical. And I've thought this for over 25 years: That it was critical that Nebraska utilize this provision of the compact, he said. And basically, finally, the governor is doing it. The impetus for doing this now: Ricketts cited projects in Colorado, and said the states long-term goals could deplete flows on the South Platte River by 90%. He referenced nearly 300 announced projects set to cost about $10 billion, referring to a list of projects identified through Colorados local roundtable process, based in river watersheds. The process feeds into the statewide Colorado Water Plan. Polis said Ricketts comments seemed to reflect a misunderstanding of that process. These ideas should not be taken as formally approved projects that will be implemented and all are subject to major conversations including with Nebraska, he said. The projects in that list arent guaranteed funding and many havent begun any permitting process, according to Colorado Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Chris Arend. Ninety-eight of the projects are in process or complete, according to Sara Leonard, spokesperson for the Colorado Water Conservation Board. But not all are construction projects. Some are water conservation projects, she said, and environment and recreation enhancements. Joe Frank, a roundtable member and general manager of the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District in Colorado, said he hadnt sorted through how many of the projects would even impact the flow of the river, but said that many of them would not. As for Nebraskas assessment that flows could be restricted by 90%, he cant understand how that figures. A Nebraska Department of Resources fact sheet features that projection. That sheet shows the 90% was inferred from a 2017 Colorado report on water storage options along the South Platte to capture flows that would usually leave Colorado in excess of the minimum legally required amounts. But Frank said that level of restriction could never actually happen. Were at the tail end of the river here and depend on those flows. ... We would never allow that to happen Colorados own water law would prevent that development upstream to impact our flows here, let alone the state line, by 90%, he said. Dollars and sense Theres a long list of steps before the interstate canal could become a reality. Theres legal analysis to be done, engineering, permitting, endangered species considerations and more. But Riley said the first step is securing funding. Ricketts is asking for $500 million in his budget proposal for the project, which he said would develop over a number of years. The half-billion may not be enough to finish it, he said. Of that, $400 million would be transferred from the states cash reserve fund into a new Perkins County Canal Project Fund in the Department of Natural Resources, and $100 million would come from Nebraskas allocation of federal pandemic relief money in the American Rescue Plan Act. Ricketts office said that funding request was based on historical information, including a 1982 engineering study from the Bureau of Reclamation. More important than the straight cost estimate, though, may be another question: Would the water Nebraska actually gets out of this be worth the cost? Anthony Schutz, a law professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Dave Aiken, longtime water and agricultural law specialist at UNL, both pointed out its uncertain how much water Nebraska could get out of such a canal. The price tag is very high for this kind of project, Schutz said. The likes of which we havent seriously considered building for a very long time. So it requires, I think, a significant inquiry into: What, exactly, are we going to get out of this? Colorado would have dibs on some water before Nebraska, even if it were to build the canal. Colorado has the right to divert the first 35,000 acre-feet of water for its own off-season storage, Aiken said, even if it cuts into what Nebraska wants to divert. (For reference, Nebraskas Calamus Reservoir currently stores about 94,000 acre-feet at 74% full.) Schutz pointed out that there are other water users in line ahead of Nebraskas canal in the compact, too anything on the upper part of the river, and uses in place before Dec 17, 1921. How much water are we looking at getting in Nebraska? Aiken said. You know, is it 5,000 acre-feet a year? Is it 50,000 acre-feet a year? Is it 100,000? I mean, we really dont know. And, you know, the South Platte River is not a river with a lot of water in it. Could canal lead to a court battle? Theres some ambiguity in the compact, Aiken said, and people have built projects and invested in them in the years since it was signed. The states could resolve any differences by negotiation, or by litigation. If Nebraska ends up being really serious about this, I think its inevitable theyre going to end up in court, Aiken said. Riley, with DNR, said that Nebraskas approach will be to work collaboratively with Colorado, and that he expects Colorado to comply without a need for court action. If disagreements arent resolved, though, he said interstate compacts and conflicts like that are addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court. We have a good relationship with the Colorado state engineer. And well keep that dialogue open, Riley said. The question still remains, though: How much water would Nebraska actually get out of this? Riley didnt give an estimate, but said actual yield would vary year to year. Were not going to necessarily get any more, we just wanna make sure we dont get any less, Riley said. Thats the real risk, right? Losing water that we already might have. 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. As my kindergartner fumbled with his shoes, I stood at our door sifting through the mental parenting checklist newly lodged in my brain: backpack. Sweatshirt. Snacks. Sunscreen. Water bottle. KN95 mask. Vaccination card. Jesse asked for his cloth mask, and I explained again that if he wore that one hed need to have on a surgical mask, too, which could make it hard to run around at recess. So I did my best to twist the elastic ear loops on the KN95 into a size that would fit his cherubic face, and we headed out the door. When we got to Will Rogers Learning Community, our school in Santa Monica, California, the entry path was split into two lines by a velvet rope. Kids and parents clustered at the rope entrance examining a paper with large print poised on a music stand. It listed the classes with COVID cases, whose kids had to be tested to enter school. Those kids were shunted to the right, into the cafeteria where staff members were helping them stick swabs up their tiny noses. The rest of the kids headed into the building. This is parenting in Southern California in the days of omicron, swimming in an ocean of angst, with currents constantly shifting direction, an awkward soup of fear, determination and gratitude for those doing the hard work of keeping schools working. The messiness is evident in the nations second-largest school district, Los Angeles Unified, where roughly 520,000 kids started pouring back into schools Jan. 11 for the first time in three weeks. There is a lot of urgency in keeping schools open, says Manuel Pastor, a sociologist who directs University of Southern Californias Equity Research Institute. Indeed, under a California law that took effect in July, Los Angeles cant switch to distance learning unless there is a severe staffing shortage. Yet at the same time, the schools have strengthened safety measures that were already among the strictest in the country, upgrading masking and testing requirements. The push-pull is essential because physical attendance is vitally important to the kids already disadvantaged because they speak other languages at home, or have parents who cant or dont help with their lessons, Pastor said. Yet these same kids are more likely to create risks if they bring the virus home, because their families are more likely to live in crowded homes, their parents are more likely to be essential workers, and they are more likely to have unvaccinated siblings or relatives. Its kind of the worst of both possible worlds in terms of challenges in remote learning and the challenges with going back to school, he said. Before students could return on Jan. 11, they had to participate in baseline testing, either through a home rapid test a few days before school started which can sometimes give false-negative results or a PCR test at a stationary site. Some 65,000 kids tested positive before school reopened; another 85,000 or so were also absent the first day, partly, perhaps, because of parental fear of the virus. Testing was the easiest part about getting back into school, according to many families. There were 60 locations for students to pick up free tests. The district already had the largest weekly coronavirus testing program in the nation, testing every staff member and student every week. Children in quarantine wont have the option to Zoom into their classrooms, however. Schools have not trained their teachers to simultaneously teach to in-room and online students. Officials say that with the districts modified quarantine rules which call for only students who test positive or have active symptoms of illness to stay home those who are quarantined should be recovering, anyway, and are likely to return in a few days. Even for those who got into school, the transition was not always smooth. On the morning schools reopened their doors, Daily Pass, the app where students upload their test results, crashed. So instead of flashing their phones at the schoolhouse door, kids formed lines around schools and underwent a highly unscientific process to vet their state of infectiousness. Some schools went back to asking screening questions to students and parents. Interim Superintendent Megan Reilly apologized for the Daily Pass glitches. I knew that today was not going to be a day that we didnt have some bumps along the road, she said at a news conference. Meanwhile, administrative staff members were brought in to substitute for 2,000 or so teachers (out of 25,000) who were out with COVID or caring for someone infected with the virus. On Jan. 12, a school board member substituted in a classroom, and another classroom had a Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) architect helping out. Jenna Schwartz, an LAUSD parent who co-founded the group Parents Supporting Teachers, said the district is bringing in thousands of staffers to help out. That isnt as bad as it sounds, she said. The narrative is that bus drivers will be teaching algebra, but the truth is, there are a huge amount of credentialed teachers that work in admin now, she said. One of the perks of having bureaucracy is that there are a huge amount of people who can fill in. The districts modified quarantine policy says that if there is an exposure in a classroom, students can remain in school while asymptomatic, testing on the fifth day after a suspected exposure. But not every school is implementing that policy, and some schools, like public charters, have leeway to make their own decisions. Paulina Jones 6-year-old daughter, a kindergartner at Citizens of the World Hollywood charter school, was sent home with the rest of her class for 10 days due to an exposure the first week back in school. Thats why Jones was driving to work on Jan. 11, to a construction site where she is a manager, with her daughter in the back seat. Jones fears its a scenario that will keep happening, over and over. Half the school is under quarantine right now, she said. Between the long winter break and this quarantine, her daughter has had only one in-person instructional day in a month. And the Zoom instruction just doesnt work for this age group, Jones said. Its extremely stressful for me to have her at work with me, but its more beneficial than taking 10 days off of work, she said. We all have to make hard decisions right now, and I have to support my family. Theres a weariness to the waves of illness, Jones said. If there was an end in sight, I would take time off of work, but theres no end in sight. Pastor said the situation echoes the early days of 2020, but with a noticeable difference: Theres no talk of a shutdown. Theres just talk about managing the illness so we dont overwhelm hospitals and health care, he said. There are going to be a lot of scary moments for parents. The words echoed in my head as I watched Jesse, fitted with his new KN95, teeter as he settled his backpack onto his small frame, then gallop off toward the right lane to enter school. As he disappeared into the school gates, I could hear him chattering to another kid: Im ready. ___ KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. Nature unites people like little else. Some of us are hikers, hunters or anglers; some simply enjoy the birds in their yards. Every one of us relies on healthy land and water. And where many other issues may divide us, we have always believed that a commitment to conservation overwhelmingly transcends our differences. Despite that, 2021 was a tumultuous year for conservation. For example, we saw healthy skepticism for America the Beautifuls seemingly vague objectives become a source of disinformation at angry town halls. The question for the conservation community became, What do Nebraskans really want for our states land and water? To find out, a coalition of Nebraska conservation groups took the unusual step of engaging pollster New Bridge Strategy. Just as we expected, Nebraskans said they support conservation action, regardless of political persuasion. We found that 79% of Republicans, 84% of independents and 83%of Democrats said that more needs to be done in Nebraska to protect land, water and wildlife. So, how do we do more in a state like Nebraska, where 95% of the land is in private ownership? One effective way is through the use of conservation easements. An easement restricts only certain agreed-upon uses of the land, customized to landowner wishes. In Nebraska, easements often support and even enhance agriculture, hunting and ecotourism on private land. Used strategically, they can provide an outsize conservation benefit on high-value habitat while supporting family farms, ranches, rural communities, and landowners. Landowners want the option to decide if easements are right for them. Switzer Ranch, home to the Calamus Outfitters in Loup County, has an easement on part of its operation. The conservation of our natural areas is through working lands, said Sarah Sortum, rancher and co-founder. Private property owners are the best stewards of the land. Were in the best position to make a really informed decision about what should happen in the future. Fully 90% of Nebraskans not only support conservation easements, they support using public money to pay for them; namely, through grants from the Nebraska Environmental Trust. The trust and its board have allocated lottery proceeds toward natural resource conservation since 1993, including conservation easements on important habitat. Yet, as the board make-up of the trust has changed, the tool has fallen out of favor among some of its members. This represents not only a lost opportunity for landowners, but also money left on the table. Often, these awards are paired with matching dollars from inside and outside the state, effectively doubling Nebraskas bang for our buck. With the introduction of LB1135 in the Unicameral, this conversation is especially timely. If passed, this legislation will undermine the benefits of easements and diminish landowner control. We are thrilled, but not surprised, that Nebraskans are united around conservation. As your fellow citizens and devoted conservationists, we are more committed than ever to protect nature in Nebraska for its own sake, for our wildlife, and for its contribution to our own well-being. Lets not leave easements out of the conversation about the future we all want for our state. John Cougher is state director of The Nature Conservancy. Audubon Nebraska and the Sierra Club contributed to drafting this article. Audubon, Sierra Club, Lower Platte South Natural Resource District and The Nature Conservancy committed funding to conduct the polling. John Cougher is state director of The Nature Conservancy. Audubon Nebraska and the Sierra Club contributed to drafting this article. Audubon, Sierra Club, Lower Platte South Natural Resource District and The Nature Conservancy committed funding to conduct the polling. My columns have typically focused on matters related to public safety, law enforcement or controversial societal issues. Today, prompted by recent news, a bit of my family history and my reflections on being a community columnist over the last year and a half, Im focusing on freedom of the press and speech, as well as a sincere expression of appreciation for the Omaha World-Herald and its readers. The news stories prompting my ruminations began with the November 2021 reports about New York hedge fund Alden Global Capital making an unsolicited bid to purchase Lee Enterprises, the owner of the OWH. The Poynter Institute, a nonprofit institute that studies journalism and other industry observers described Alden as having a reputation for acquiring newspapers, cutting staff in newsrooms and other departments, and selling the real estate. While the Lee board rejected the bid, the prospect of the possible sale generated concerns about the potential loss of a reliable source of news in the Omaha area. A Jan. 2 Associated Press story in the OWH reporting the last pro-democracy media outlet in Hong Kong had been closed after a police raid caught my attention. According to the news report, this was the culmination of a series of actions by the citys authorities and the Chinese Communist Party central government in Beijing to eradicate all vestiges of a democratic society in Hong Kong. Then, I read an AP report in the Jan. 4 OWH about the fact that 45 journalists had been killed worldwide in 2021 while doing their jobs; and that media staff are most often killed for exposing corruption, crime and abuse of power. These news reports prompted me to reflect on the importance of a free press in preserving American democracy, the privilege of having a quality newspaper in our community and my own good fortune of having the opportunity to be a community columnist. The story about suppression of free expression by the Chinese Communist Party resonated with me because of my family history. My father was a university professor in China during the 1949 Chinese Communist Revolution. He was strongly opposed to the Communist Party and wrote letters critical of both the party and the ideology, which were published by press outlets. When the Communists took over, my father had to leave the country to avoid arrest and incarceration for re-education. After stays in England and New Zealand, he ultimately ended up in the U.S., where he established a new life. Thus, Communist suppression of a free press and free expression indirectly led to my being born and raised as an American. The dichotomy of my father being forced to flee the country for expressing his opinions in the press and my being welcomed to provide commentary in the OWH is not lost on me. The fact that free speech and a free press are enshrined in the very First Amendment to our Constitution is a reminder of the importance with which our Founding Fathers viewed these freedoms. The American system of democracy requires a responsible government and an engaged citizenry to function properly. A free and honest press is essential for both criteria: It holds government accountable and it informs the citizenry to facilitate engagement. The role of the free press is particularly relevant in todays environment, where many people get their news from social media and other digital echo chambers. In this environment, any assertion, if repeated enough, becomes fact and reaffirms what we already believe. The inevitable result is that the extremes the far left and the far right will grow and the moderate middle those open minded and willing to compromise will shrink. Counteracting extremism requires that people make a concerted effort to seek out opposing views, try to understand the root causes of our divides, and work to find common ground where possible. I personally consume news from sources on multiple sides of the political spectrum. Websites that rate news outlets on factual accuracy and bias can be helpful in evaluating and finding a diverse menu of news sources. Two such sites, Mediabiasfactcheck.com, and Ad Fontes Media rate the OWH well in factual reporting. Media Bias Fact Check rates the paper high for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact check record. Ad Fontes analysis places OWH content generally on its grid as balanced and most reliable for news. The AP, whose stories I referenced earlier, is rated very high for factual reporting and least biased by Media Bias Fact Check and scores in the center at Ad Fontes. In comparison, CNN and the Huffington Post are rated as mixed for factual reporting and left biased while Fox News is rated mixed factually and strongly right biased by Media Bias Fact Check. A balanced, independent and factually accurate news source like the OWH is a valuable resource for our community. I appreciate having the opportunity to offer my commentary and I also appreciate the reader feedback. Thomas Jefferson famously mused that he would rather have newspapers without a government than a government without newspapers. We Americans are fortunate to have the First Amendment enshrined in our nations Constitution. We should treasure and protect this freedom. Weysan Dun is a retired veteran of the FBI and served as the special agent in charge of multiple FBI field offices around the U.S., including the Omaha field office, which covers Nebraska and Iowa. Nebraska is spending prodigiously on its prisons: Over the past decade, costs increased 51%, from $179.8 million in 2011 to $272.3 million last year. Were getting a horrible return on this investment. While our prison population has grown more than any other states in the past decade, violent crime in Nebraska is up 17%; recidivism is up; and our prisons are badly overcrowded, dangerously understaffed hellholes. As Nebraska legislators tackle this crisis, they must focus on fiscal responsibility and public safety. These are not mutually exclusive goals, and neither will be achieved by building a new quarter-billion-dollar prison advocated by Gov. Pete Ricketts and others. Like adding lanes to freeways in an effort to address traffic jams, additional prison beds will quickly fill up, and the same troubles will emerge if we fail to address their root causes. Legislators and the administration have significant work to do before we can figure out what construction and renovation will actually help solve our problems. Corrections workers and inmates describe staffers working around the clock, maximum-security units left unguarded, and a 19-year-old woman the sole officer assigned to a gallery of 60 prisoners. At the Tecumseh prison opened in 2001 in a failed effort to alleviate crowding inmates are locked down from Thursday night until Monday morning because of staff shortages. This is dangerous to inmates, to officers and to the general public, which 95% of inmates will eventually rejoin, their mental health and substance abuse problems largely unaddressed and their life skills barely enhanced if not eroded by the conditions of their confinement. Its ridiculously expensive. The Flatwater Free Press, which is collaborating with The World-Herald on Paying the Price, an examination of the states prison crisis, reported Friday that overtime has cost Nebraska taxpayers $48 million in the past three years. Thats going to grow dramatically in the coming months because to combat the staff shortage, starting pay has gone up $8 an hour and overtime is now double pay rather than the traditional time and a half. I think were going to get blown away by overtime costs, said Doug Koebernick, the states inspector general for prisons. At the end of 2021, the Corrections Department had 650 staff vacancies. While the big pay increases have attracted applicants, Koebernick said Nebraska would be wise to wait a few months to see if applicants interest is sustained and the staff shortage is being meaningfully alleviated. Even with the increased applications, many have concerns about the states ability to adequately staff a new prison. Koebernick believes that if construction is needed, it would be wise to expand or model a larger facility after the Work Ethic Camp in McCook, a 200-bed center focused on treatment and education. Such programming ultimately plays an important role in public safety, but the staff crunch makes it less available throughout the prison system. Paroles are down, the most common reason being that an inmate has not completed required programming. It serves fiscal responsibility and public safety to give inmates every tool possible to be productive members of society through education, addiction and mental health counseling, and incentives to comply with their terms of release. The Legislature has in its hands a report from the Criminal Justice Reinvestment Working Group that includes 21 policy recommendations. The options ... provide an avenue for Nebraska to avoid additional spending over the next decade, and establish the ability to invest a portion of what would have been spent on new prison beds on measures to strengthen public safety and address behavioral health issues across the state. The working group, which included Ricketts, Judiciary Committee Chairman Steve Lathrop, the Nebraska chief justice, the corrections director and others, reached consensus on 17 options that would streamline parole, reduce the number of inmates released without parole, improve access to problem-solving courts and behavioral health services, invest in housing and more. The report includes four options that did not have consensus support, including establishing misdemeanor penalties for simple possession of small amounts of drugs other than marijuana a nonviolent crime that indicates substance abuse better treated as a health disorder than as felonious conduct. The World-Herald found that much of the prison population increase in the past decade has been driven by a 2009 gun law that, among other things, led to some crimes being prosecuted in state court at Nebraska taxpayer expense that previously would have landed in federal court. But those simple non-marijuana drug possession cases accounted for 13% of prison admissions last year. Lack of diversion programs and problem-solving courts in some parts of the state result in the use of prison for individuals with drug and/or mental health challenges. The Legislature can make progress in reforming our criminal justice system by drawing on the various policy options. None of these fiscally responsible ideas are soft-on-crime, bleeding-heart thinking. Recommendations from the Justice Reinvestment Initiative are being used in Mississippi, Texas, Utah and other states that, unlike Nebraska, are reducing their prison population. None of this is a magic bullet, either criminal justice changes take years to play out. But these recommendations promise the opportunity to unplug Nebraskas escalating crisis at less cost than simply expanding capacity and with greater lasting benefit to public safety. Solar power I wholeheartedly agree with Madison Kinkaid, Midlands Voices, (Jan. 9). For the last 50 years, I have hoped for widespread availability of solar panels for our home like in Europe. In the 1970s, we made homemade solar to heat our home and thought it wouldn't be long for everyone to be able to power our homes and even sell it back to OPPD. With mass production, the expense of solar could become more economically feasible for all. For 50 years, the powers that be have resisted thinking to the future, siding with the gas and coal industry for short term gains. I see that NPPD is supporting solar farms at Ogallala and several others in outstate locations. I was encouraged to also hear OPPD is thinking of the same, Bravo! It's about time! In multiple opinion polls, our fellow citizens now consider climate change a high priority. It's time for HOAs to change the restrictions on solar panels on residences. If we all had solar there would not be a need to build more power plants. It could be a point of pride for a community to say, "Come here, we are building for the common good of our city and our world." It's overdue, but, maybe not too late. Deb Gilbert, Murdock, Neb. Renewable energy During this past year, the increasing consequences of global warming/climate change have been evident throughout the world. These include: wildfires, flooding, drought, crop failure, loss of habitat and natural resources. To blunt or slow these changes on a global scale will require the transition from fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy. The most obvious is solar energy. The Department of Energy report in September 2021 estimates that solar could provide 40% of our energy needs within 15 years. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has stated: "Solar energy is our cheapest and fastest growing source of clean energy ... and could produce enough energy to power all homes in the U.S. by 2035." The Omaha World Herald article by Madison Kincaid ("Are aesthetics more important than the environment in Omaha?") looks at the artificial barriers to home solar energy installation. Most evident are restrictions in HOA covenants and various neighborhood restrictions. Over 25 states have solar rights statutes granting all citizens the right to install home solar energy systems. Nebraska does not. Nebraska statutes 66-901, 66-913 and 66-914 lay the groundwork for various renewable energy use, but don't include solar access rights for all citizens. We need such a statute to join those states moving forward to renewable energy and away from fossil fuel use. John Wupper, Elkhorn Reason to 'paws' Kevin Cole's article in the OWH on Jan. 13 ("Cat 'enraged' after scolding, attacks Omaha woman") made me "paws" to wonder: How does one make a cat take a timeout? Nevertheless, "purrfect" ending! Kathleen M. Wells, Omaha Buffalo hunt Very interesting article about the buffalo hunt with the Russian Prince (Midlands Voices, Jan. 9). I was familiar with story because of Bill Cody and George Custer, but additional details make it more interesting. Cant wait for the Ghost of the Buffalo Grass. Thank you, Bill Moore. Gary Domet, Omaha PALO, Iowa Leasing land as a tenant means a little more uncertainty for farmers. Making decisions on how to manage the farm ground and setting up agreements to continue farming the land all while not knowing how a landowner may respond in the future can be a challenge. Deb Yates, a Palo, Iowa, farmer, said there have been fewer acres available for lease in the area, impacting her 31-year old son, Matt, who is looking to begin building his own farming operation. Part of that is due to a solar project being constructed near the eastern Iowa town. Some landowners have been setting up leases to the solar company instead of using it as farm ground. We added a cow-calf herd because we cant get any more land, Yates said. Its just not available. My son has been courting different landowners around here, but on some hes waiting his turn because the tenants are 65-plus years old and we dont want to push another farmer out. While some farmers may have difficulties, Steve Bruere, president of Peoples Company in Des Moines, said this doesnt represent all absentee owners. Most landowners who do not operate on or live on the ground they own are often former farmers or have lived in a farming household, so they can understand a bit more when working with the operators. I own farmland personally and I actually hire farm managers to manage my land, Bruere said. Its a communication thing. Weve always said that owners who are focused on maximizing cash yields do that at a detriment of long-term sustainability. One attitude Bruere has encouraged for landowners is to have more transparency with tenants in both directions. Landowners should ask about yield data and input costs so they have a better idea how to set up rent prices during negotiations. We are in a position where we can be smarter about how we manage farms because of technology, he said. As you get more transparency, you get more communication and more equitable outcomes for both farmers and landowners. More than 80% of the land in Iowa is rented, based on information in the 2017 Iowa State University farmland ownership survey, conducted every five years. In that survey, which will be updated for 2022, nearly 20% of Iowa farmland was owned by trusts, with 19% owned for long-term investment or by family inheritance. The corporate- or investment-owned land is often the sticking point for complaints. In some of these cases, the land is more of an investment property, said Bari Richter, a representative with Iowa for Responsible Solar. Thats when you start leasing ground for a certain number of years and its not necessarily an emotional connection but more about the investment. Richter said one reason landowners may choose to rent to a non-farming entity is due to the opportunity for a higher lease payment for a longer period of time. While it makes financial sense to get the most you can for land, it does have a ripple effect for farmers in those communities. In one industrial solar project in Coggon, Iowa, Richter said a farmer is losing 540 acres out of his lease portfolio, which will make other rented farm land much more competitive. Now hes got to go find additional acreage, and to do that it means possibly breaking in on other peoples leases, she said. Then you have a domino effect going on as he tries to make up for that ground. Yates said in her experience some long-distance landowners arent as conscientious about the environmental impacts of certain land management practices. That leads to deterioration, weighing on the production potential of the farm ground. You can say this needs to be done, and all they want to know is the cost, Yates said. Thats all they care about. However, Bruere said making a broad statement about absentee landowners is not possible. While there are some who may take a less hands-on approach with their land, many are acutely aware of what is going on. I can show examples of landowners who treat their land like a classic antique car, Bruere said, but there are also folks who are out of touch and arent good stewards either. Its hard to put a broad brush against it. I would say by and large, one of the challenges weve seen is a lot of absentee landowners relied on their farm tenant to (do some of that). Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 More than a century ago Bloomingtons west side, with its coal mine, gas works and railroad shops, could be a tough place to live and work. And it was tough on animals too, many of whom toiled hours upon end hauling heavy loads, often overworked, underfed and in the cruelest of cases physically battered. There was quite a howl raised yesterday by people who had occasion to go past the (McLean County Coal Co.) coal mine, reported The Pantagraph of July 15, 1899. One of the horses, used in drawing the cars of coal away from the chutes, had a sore foot. The sore was about the size of a saucer, and was the great attraction for a big army of flies. Railroad men who are used to seeing mangled arms and legs said that the sight was sickening to them." The Pantagraph, as was its practice at the time, called upon the local humane society to investigate the incident and, if warranted, see to the prosecution in county court of those responsible. During the age before automobiles, workhorses, rather than domesticated household pets, demanded the most attention from animal welfare advocates. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals dates to 1866 and the work of Henry Bergh, a wealthy philanthropist known as The Great Meddler for his willingness to protect the mute servants of mankind. Berghs work attracted the interest of like-minded folks across the nation, with the Illinois Humane Society organizing in 1869. Seven years later The Daily Leader, a long-defunct Bloomington newspaper, called for the establishment of a humane society-type organization on the local level. We have no sympathy with that mawkish sentimentally that denounces the shedding of the blood of a chicken until an opiate has been administered, declared The Leader, but we believe that the man who would needlessly torture a brute shows his own kinship to the brute creation, and richly deserves to be punished for his inhumanity. Its not known when the first animal welfare group organized locally, though by the early 1880s there was one active enough to investigate reports of abuse. Yesterday the attention of a reporter was called to the old horse driven by Mr. Joel Holly, and we hand the matter over to the humane society, read a brief notice in the July 26, 1883, Pantagraph. The animal is as poor as Jobs turkey, and besides it has a sore on its shoulder as big as a half bushel. After a period of inactivity, a major reorganization of the Bloomington humane society occurred in the summer of 1889. The revitalized group dedicated itself to halting, among other practices, the beating of animals, dog fights, overloading horse cars, overloading teams cruelties on railroad stock trains, bleeding calves, plucking live fowls, the clipping of horses, (and) driving galled and disabled animals. Although combating animal cruelty occupied the bulk of the local societys efforts, members also concerned themselves with the more sinister specter of child abuse, since it too involved taking advantage of those incapable of protecting themselves. On April 26, 1894, for example, Jerry Flanady and his wife were each fined $10 in McLean County court on charges of cruelty after tying their son to a bedpost, the humane society having alerted law enforcement to the case. Local animal welfare advocates concerned themselves with creatures great and small. In July 1898, in yet another case undertaken by the local society, a boy named Hougham faced a fine of $3 for cruelty to a sparrow. As part of his release the court instructed this little fellow to inform any boy perpetrating similar acts on sparrows that such cruelty ran counter to the principles of humanity and the bylaws of the humane society. W.H. Kerrick served as the investigating agent and prosecuting attorney for the local society for much of the 1890s and into the first decade of the 20th century (there was yet another reorganization in 1907). In June 1900 Kerrick reported that the society had handled an average of 150 complaints annually over the past seven years. Generally my speaking to the persons complained of is all that is necessary, he added. We usually have about a dozen contested cases a year and never but once, as I remember, did we come out second best. Our society has done much good and we expect to keep right on. Back in the spring of 1894 the Illinois Humane Society embarked on a project to place a novel and striking card in livery stables, streetcar barns and other similar businesses across the state. Taking the form of a poem, the notice reminded handlers of their duty to properly care for their equine brothers and sisters. The idea came from Luther Laflin Mills, a prominent Chicago attorney and director of the state society, who found such a notice in a London stable. The poem ends with this observation: He (the horse) cant complain, but Gods all seeing eye Beholds thy cruelty and hears his cry. He was designed thy servant, not thy drudge; Remember! His creator is thy judge. Pieces From Our Past is a weekly column by the McLean County Museum of History. Bill Kemp is librarian at the museum. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NORMAL A relatively new Illinois National Guard unit based in Normal will be serving in the Horn of Africa after a deployment ceremony Saturday at Heartland Community College. About 200 members of the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade will deploy on a 10-month mission and serve alongside U.S. Navy and Air Force units, together with French and other coalition members, as they provide a variety of roles in securing U.S. interests in Djibouti, a strategically located country on the northeast coast of Africa. Situated on the Bab el Mandeb Strait, the area is a major crossroad for transportation on the Horn of Africa and home of a U.S. Navy base. The 404th MEB is made up of several specialties, everything from tactical planning to engineering to air defense to public affairs and even helping to maintain health and welfare of local civilians, said Lt. Col. Justin Towell, commander of the 404th MEB. The unit brings together several specialties that are needed to secure U.S. interests in the face of terrorism and civil disturbance or assist regular army units in maintaining the peace after armed conflict, said Illinois National Guard Adjutant General Commanding Officer Rich Neely. Neely said the 404th MEB grew out of lessons learned in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is a new concept, he said. The Army really looked at how they maneuvered in this member-enhanced brigade concept. Whats unique about this mission is the command and control piece. Its a senior staff that is working at lower echelons to ensure all the services in this joint task force are represented. Sgt. Paul Bond of Normal, a 404th MEB member, said he has worked for about a year preparing the brigade for the deployment. Bond, a unit operations training non-commissioned officer, was responsible for making sure the citizen soldiers were ready to perform basic military operations, if called upon. That training included pre-deployments to Camp Dodge Joint Maneuver Training Center in Johnston, Iowa, and the Marseilles, Illinois Training Center, he said. You want to build and bring everyone together to make a cohesive unit, he said. Saturdays deployment ceremony was not typical of many Illinois Guard ceremonies in the past. Family members, who are a major part of the units support structure, were required to stay home and watch the proceedings on a Facebook video feed, due to fear of the spread of COVID-19 to the guardsmen. Everyone present at the event wore masks. We even had to get permission from the Army to have the deployment ceremony, said Lt. Col. Brad Leighton, public affairs spokesman for the Illinois National Guard. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 BLOOMINGTON A 23-year-old man was arrested Friday after officers say he beat and held a woman against her will for around two days. An arrest statement sent to The Pantagraph from the McLean County State's Attorney's Office said dispatchers were told Meontay D. Wheeler trapped the victim in a home and beat her for days. When police got to the scene, they found the victim had been hurt badly. The report said she had bruises and cuts all over her body, severe burns on her chest, neck and behind, and wrist and head injuries consistent with being strangled and restrained. Additionally, police said large chunks of her hair had been pulled out. The document said Wheeler got angry with the victim over a pending domestic battery case and demanded she recant her statements. Police said they were told the battery suspect has acted extremely violent in recent months. The report also said the victim was not allowed to eat and was only provided water twice while she was restrained by Wheeler. Sgt. Jim Clesson with the Bloomington Police Department said Wheeler was arrested by BPD officers. The suspect was charged with aggravated battery inflicting great bodily harm and torture, a Class 1 felony, aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, and aggravated domestic battery involving strangulation, a Class 2 felony. His bond was set at $1 million. Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 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. CHICAGO - Humans arent the only ones who search out warmer waters and fresh seafood during the dark days of winter. Some bald eagles head south as well, departing from Canada, Minnesota and Wisconsin for the (relatively) balmy temperatures of Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. Drawn to unfrozen stretches of river, the majestic visitors marked by snow-white heads, lemon-yellow beaks and wingspans of up to 8 feet can be seen by the dozens on the Mississippi River in January and February, fishing for their meals and perching in bare trees. You dont just see an eagle in its natural habitat you (can sometimes) see 50 or 100. Sometimes even more than that, said American Birding Association webmaster Greg Neise, who has been birding in Chicago since the 1970s. They gather in these big flocks around the dams. Prime eagle-viewing season is now underway, both on the Mississippi and on smaller Illinois rivers, with events such as the annual Great River Eagles Days in Quincy on Saturday and Sunday. There are also options for those who want to try eagle-spotting on the Fox and Des Plaines rivers, check out the most popular site for local viewing, or drive three to four hours in search of a spectacle. Starved Rock State Park in Utica is Neises top pick for beginner eagle-spotting in the Chicago area. Located 94 miles southwest of the city, Starved Rock offers the chance to hike 0.3 miles up 65 steps to a good viewing point high above the Illinois River. If you have binoculars, bring them, and wear hiking shoes. The trail can be icy. Another option is the elevated deck at the Illinois Waterway Visitors Center, just across the river from the park. You can get a pretty good view of eagles fishing, Neise said. Last week, Starved Rock counted more than 26 eagles, according to Lisa Sons, a natural resources coordinator for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The park has resident eagles as well as winter visitors, and all are drawn to the churning pockets of open water created by the Starved Rock Lock and Dam. Its kind of like a free fish buffet, Sons said. There are no guarantees when it comes to eagle viewing, but in January the odds are good at Starved Rock, Sons said: Especially with these colder temperatures that are happening this week, youll see at least one. If not, youre not looking hard enough. For those with accessibility issues, theres a drive along the river from the Starved Rock boat ramp to the main parking lot; look for eagles perched on tall cottonwood and sycamore trees. Theres also a stationary viewing scope beside the river, just across the lawn from the visitors center. For those willing to travel to the Mississippi, where eagles are even more plentiful, resources such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District eagle count webpage detailing the number of birds counted each Wednesday at various locations along the Mississippi River remove some of the guesswork. Lock and Dam 16, 17 and 18 are seeing numbers in the hundreds, said Bailey Anderegg, a park ranger for the Army Corps of Engineers. Lock 18, about 240 miles southwest of Chicago in Burlington, Iowa, has seen particularly high numbers, she said. On Jan. 19, rangers counted 290 adult eagles and 166 juveniles. This is starting to be peak eagle season, so you will start seeing more and more as we get into the end of January, the beginning of February. Thats typically when we see our biggest numbers, said Anderegg. Lock 13, which is closer to Chicago in Fulton, Illinois, is also attracting eagles, with 38 adults counted by park rangers on Jan 19. Lock 14 near Le Claire, Iowa, is a big favorite among birding clubs and photographers, due to an island that allows viewers to get closer to the birds, Neise said. In 2017, Lock 14 made an Audubon magazine list of five eagle-photography hot spots nationwide. A lot of people say thats the best place (for eagle viewing) within striking distance of Chicago, Neise said. But Lock 14 isnt attracting eagles in large numbers at this point, with the latest Army Corps of Engineers count yielding only 17 adult birds. Eagles are a big conservation success story, both for Illinois and the nation. Habitat destruction and hunting took a heavy toll on the birds, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. And after World War II, the pesticide DDT interfered with the bald eagles ability to produce sturdy eggs, causing further decline. By 1963, there were only 417 known nesting pairs of bald eagles in the low 48 states, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior, and 10 years later the birds were classified as endangered throughout most of the country. But the eagles have bounced back, with the aid of federal law prohibiting eagle hunting and a ban on DDT. There are now an estimated 316,700 bald eagles in the lower 48 states, and the birds are a fairly common sight in the Chicago area. Along the Fox River, almost any dam with open water will draw a few eagles this time of year, Neise said. On the Des Plaines River, look, again, for open water. Theres an eagles nest near Lyons, less than a mile from a rocky area of the Des Plaines River where the water is slow to freeze, Neise said. If the rocky area just north of the intersection of Joliet Avenue and Ogden Avenue remains unfrozen, the Lyons eagle pair may try to fish there. Theyre an opportunistic bird of prey and theyre quite lazy, to be honest, said Sons. So theyre going to go wherever theres the best source of food and its easiest to catch. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Dr Patrick Asuming, an Economist, says, the usage of Ghana card for all financial transactions will help in widening the tax net. Dr Asuming, who is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana (UG), said the decision would also support the countrys revenue generation efforts for national development. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, the Economist said the card could help track economic activities and close the loopholes in the informal sector. He said the move would give the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) the opportunity to tax and also go after individuals and organizations that evaded tax payment. It will help have a stronger footing to track the kind of economic activity people are involved in, and be able to tell when people are not paying their taxes and go after them, Dr Asuming said. Citing the United States of America (USA) where a similar system was in place, he said, each time someone went to rent a house, buy a car, or do a major investment, their social security number was required. Therefore, at the end of the year, the bank would have the information about all transactions made, together with the interest income earned by the individual and send the same information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for action to be taken. In our case, the Ghana card is the tax identification number (TIN). So GRA will have the Ghana card number as our tax ID and every time there are transactions in your bank, GRA will know that TIN is performing this transaction. "So if at the end of the year they crosscheck their records and realise that even though GHC100,000 million went into your account, theres no record that you filled any tax and paid, then it means that youd be made to go and pay your appropriate tax, he said. That, he noted would widen the tax net and help generate more revenue. Mr John Awuah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Association of Bankers (GAB), said the integration of all cards into the Ghana card would help tax agencies to be able to follow the money. If everything is tied to one card that gives visibility to the tax authority, it can only be a positive development for tax collection. This will, therefore, help with the Governments revenue mobilisation plan, he said. He also said there would be sanctity in the banking system because the banks would be able to detect fraudulent activities perpetrated by people who would temper with IDs that did not belong to them. He, therefore, said the community of banks was ready to work with the stakeholders to ensure that the timelines were met to make customers comfortable. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI) has filed a contempt application against Investigative Journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, and three others at a High Court in Accra. The contempt application averred that Manasseh, Edwin Appiah, an Editor, Sulemana Briamah of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), and the MFWA as an entity (respondents), had published highly prejudicial articles against the church. They had also made commentaries as well as conclusive statements of fact on unresolved issues, which are yet to be determined by the High Court. The application is, therefore, urging the court to commit the respondents to prison for contempt of court for the publications. The contempt application stems from three separate suits initiated by six former pastors of the church, which, among other things, alleged the non-payment of their Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contribution by the church. They are Larry Odonkor, Emmanuel Oko-Mensah, Edward Laryea, Seth Duncan, Edem Kofi Amankwah, and Faith Fiakojo. The church, in its affidavit, stated that in the three defamation suits, it forewarned the respondents that the first three publications were not only defamatory but potentially in contempt of court. Despite, the caution to the respondents and after being served with copies of the defamation suits, the respondents threw all caution to the wind and went ahead and published the first, second and third publications on their Facebook walls on December 25, last year, it said. The applicant stated that by the defiant republication of the articles, the respondents ought to demonstrate to the High Court that there could be no limits to the way they practice their brand of journalism. That, the church noted, regenerated a fresh heated public debate and discussion on the six suits pending before the Honourable Court. The church mentioned that three articles, which had been the subject matter of the contempt application, titled: Darkness in a Lighthouse, were published on April 23, 27 and 29, last year. Another article, titled: Lighthouse begs for more time to file defence, was also published on May 25, 2021. Two of the articles, which were published on August 25 and 26, 2021 are titled: Lighthouse pastors were not employees - SSNIT Rules, and Evidence: How Lighthouse incriminated itself but SSNIT looked away, respectively. The church noted that the article, titled: Darkness in the Lighthouse, was published 37 times between April 23 and May 1, 2021 on the respondents Facebook walls and twitter accounts and same generated thousands of comments and shares on Facebook and other social media handles. The applicant held that the conduct of the respondents amounted to serial contempt in the highest, considering, especially, the repeated and defiant re-publication. Accordingly, the applicant averred that the respondents were liable to be convicted for contempt of court without the option of a fine but a custodial sentence. It opined that the respondents were unrepentant and without any remorse whatsoever as they will continue to bring the administration of justice into disrepute by conducting media trial. The respondents have also arrogated to themselves the power of the High Court to make conclusive findings of fact and pronouncements as well as passed judgement on issues, which are yet to be determined by the court, the applicant said. The contempt application has since been served on the respondents and court is expected to hear the application on January 31, this year. Source: GNA 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 Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta has banned the sale of scrap metal in the country. The immediate ban comes amid an effort to end what the government says are "rising cases of vandalism of key public installations". It will be in force until the government puts in place a framework to regulate the sourcing, trade and export of scrap metal. Kenya was last week plunged into a national blackout, its worst in recent years, with initial findings linking it to vandalism of high-voltage lines in the capital Nairobi. Nine senior managers of the state electricity distributor Kenya Power and Lighting Company have been arrested and arraigned in connection with the power outage. Kenya has been witnessing increased vandalism of key infrastructure, including railway tracks, communication masts and electricity transmission lines. Mr Kenyatta says the destruction of key infrastructure is a treasonable act as it amounts to economic sabotage. It is not the first time the president has issued a warning on the matter. While launching the new standard gauge railway in 2017, Mr Kenyatta said he would approve the execution of anyone sentenced to death for destroying the multibillion-dollar infrastructure project funded from Chinese loans. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Vice President of the Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, left the country for New York, United States of America on Saturday, January 22, 2022. Ahead of meetings with senior officials of the United Nations, Dr Bawumia will deliver, on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, a statement during the open debate of the UN Security Council, to which Ghana was recently elected as a non-permanent member. Dr Bawumia is also expected to hold discussions in Washington DC with the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Ms Molly Phee on strengthening the cooperation between the two countries on issues of mutual interest. The Vice President returns to Accra on Friday, January 28, 2022. 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 Mrs Elizabeth Kwastoe Tawiah Sackey, the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), has announced the preparedness of the Assembly to implement the #operationcleanyourfrontage campaign to better the sanitation situation in the capital. She said beginning February 1, this year, the Assembly would organise a cleanup exercise in all three Sub Metros after, which health officers would begin enforcement of the by-law. The Mayor said this in an interview with the media on the sidelines of a meeting held between the Greater Accra Regional Minister, and all Municipal Chief Executives (MCEs) and their technical teams in the Region. The meeting was to review the action plans of the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) on how best they could implement the campaign in their respective jurisdictions. The campaign, which is a subset of the Lets Make Accra Work agenda, is being spearheaded by Mr Henry Quartey, the Regional Minister. The campaign mandates landlords, business owners, property managers among others to take responsibility for the frontages of their properties and ensure a clean city. Mrs Sackey said the Assembly was currently sensitizing stakeholders, including the public and corporate institutions on the modalities ahead of the implementation of the operation clean your frontage initiative. She urged traders to organise their refuse in waste bins to ensure efficient collection in the markets, adding that the Assembly would not hesitate to punish people who flouted the Assemblys by-laws on sanitation. Mr Quartey commended the Assemblies for an impressive pilot of the campaign emphasizing that the operation was not aimed at arresting citizens but to improve sanitation. We are doing this together with the citizens. We will continue to engage the citizens for them to understand that the task is for the betterment of the city and the country at large, he said. Source: GNA 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 Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, a Governance Lecturer at the Central University, has slammed Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin for having a military security detail. Four soldiers guarding the Speaker, according to a letter signed by Chief of Staff, Major General Nicholas Peter Andoh, have been recalled to base. The letter read they were "attached to the Office of the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament without the proper procedure." It is humbly requested that the personnel are withdrawn with effect from 14 January 2022 while efforts are made to regularise their attachment, it further said. However, the Speaker and the Minority in Parliament find the withdrawal of the soldiers as unfair treatment. Speaker Fumes To the Speaker, the action as "untenable". A statement issued by his Office questioned the withdrawal saying the action "hints at the possibility of a plot to place the safety and security of the Speaker in harm's way." To him, this is a "bad precedent" and "detracts from the political gains that Ghana has made", and further warned that "if it is an attempt to gag the Speaker, this move will serve to only widen the gap between the legislature and the other arms of government". Minority Lambasts Gov't A couple of days later, the NDC Members of Parliament (MPs) led by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddirisu joined the fray saying the decision to withdraw these soldiers was "politically motivated". The Minority, in a statement, said they are ''saddened and strongly denounce the withdrawal by President Akufo-Addos government of the military detail attached to the office of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon Alban Bagbin with effect from the 14th January, 2022. It is pertinent to note that the only reason given for the shameful withdrawal of Mr Speakers security detail is that the attachment was done without following the proper procedure''. ''Curiously, the government fails and/ or omits to spell out the procedure for the attachment of military personnel to high profile personalities such as the speaker of Parliament. If the action of the military high command is in good faith, the irregularity in relation to the attachment could be rectified without necessarily having to withdraw the personnel...the minority is certain that the action of the military high command relative to the withdrawal of Mr Speakers security detail is politically motivated and calculated to diminish his confidence in his bid to impartially and independently steer the affairs of the legislative arm of government'', they added. Dr. Otchere-Ankrah's Take To Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, the Speaker doesn't deserve to be protected by Military officers. He wondered why the Speaker's request was granted in the first place asking ''who granted that he should be given the four soldiers?'' He cautioned the government not to set such precedent saying ''if there is something you cannot continue, don't begin. Just don't start! We've had Speaker upon Speaker and we say none has had a Military [protection]. Why is it that just this Speaker (Bagbin) says he wants military protection? I don't agree with him that, to begin with, he would request military protection because his predecessors never had military protection''. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Scores of human lives and properties were lost in an explosion that occurred at Appiatse in the Bogoso District of the Western Region, Thursday. According to a statement signed by the Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, about 59 injured people were rescued from the rubble with the help of the Police Service, Fire Service, the Municipal Authority and residents. As at 17:00 hours, a total of seventeen (17) people have, sadly, been confirmed dead, and fifty-nine (59) injured persons had been rescued, bringing to seventy-six (76) the number of persons known, so far, to have been affected by the tragedy. Out of the fifty-nine (59) injured persons, forty-two (42) are receiving treatment and some in critical condition, the statement indicated. Reacting to this during an interview on Neat FM's Me Man Nti programme, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi consoled the affected families and urged authorities to give miners training in how to handle explosives. Listen to him in the video below 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 Artist's rendition of X-ray beam illuminating a solution of powdered crystalline chalcogenates. Credit: Ella Maru Studios Crystals reveal the hidden geometry of molecules to the naked eye. Scientists use crystals to figure out the atomic structure of new materials, but many can't be grown large enough. Now, a team of researchers report a new technique in the January 19 issue of Nature that can discover the crystalline structure of any material. To truly understand a chemical, a scientist needs to know how its atoms are arranged. Sometimes that's easy: for example, both diamond and gold are made of a single kind of atom (carbon or gold, respectively) arranged in a cubic grid. But often it's harder to figure out more complicated ones. "Every single one of these is a special snowflakegrowing them is really difficult," says UConn chemical physicist Nate Hohman. Hohman studies metal organic chacogenolates. They're made of a metal combined with an organic polymer and an element from column 16 of the periodic table (sulfur, selenium, tellurium or polonium.) Some are brightly colored pigments; others become more electrically conductive when light is shined on them; others make good solid lubricants that don't burn up in the high temperatures of oil refineries or mines. It's a large, useful family of chemicals. But the ones Hohman studieshybrid chalcogenolatesare really difficult to crystallize. Hohman's lab couldn't solve the atomic structures, because they couldn't grow large perfect crystals. Even the tiny powdered crystals they could get were imperfect and messy. X-ray crystallography is the standard way to figure out the atomic arrangements of more complicated materials. A famous, early example was how Rosalind Franklin used it to figure out the structure of DNA. She isolated large, perfect pieces of DNA in crystalline form, and then illuminated them with X-rays. X-rays are so small they diffract through the spaces between atoms, the same way visible light diffracts through slots in metal. By doing the math on the diffraction pattern, you can figure out the spacing of the slotsor atomsthat made it. Once you know the atomic structure of a material, a whole new world opens up. Materials scientists use that information to design specific materials to do special things. For example, maybe you have a material that bends light in cool ways, so that it becomes invisible under ultraviolet light. If you understand the atomic structure, you might be able to tweak itsubstitute a similar element of a different size in a specific spot, sayand make it do the same thing in visible light. Voila, an invisibility cloak! Hybrid chalcogenolates, the compounds Hohman studies, won't make you invisible. But they might make excellent new chemical catalysts and semiconductors. Currently he's working with ones based on silver. His favorite, mithrene, is made of silver and selenium and glows a brilliant blue in UV light or "whenever grad students are around," Hohman says. Elyse Schreiber, a chemistry graduate student in Hohman's lab, convinced Hohman they should try illuminating some of the small, messy hybrid chalcogenolates in a high powered X-ray beam anyway. If they could figure out the math, it would solve all their problems. While working at the Linac Coherent Light Source at the SLAC linear accelerator in Menlo Park, California, Schreiber met Aaron Brewster, a researcher at Berkeley. Brewster mentioned he'd solved the math required to solve the crystal structure of difficult materials using X-ray crystallography. But he needed something to test it on. Hohman and Schreiber had the material. They provided plenty of tiny, imperfect chalcogenolate crystals, which they mixed into water emulsified with Dawn dish soap (another indispensable item in Hohman's lab that glows blue) and shot jets of them into the accelerator beam. Each X-ray pulse illuminated the crystals incredibly brightly, allowing Brewster to capture a snapshot of the atomic structures of hundreds of tiny crystals. With enough snapshots, Brewster was able to run the calculations and figure out how the atoms were arranged. Not only did they solve the crystal structuresthey also figured out that the previous best guesses of what those structures were had been wrong. In theory, the technique, called small-molecule serial femtosecond crystallography, or smSFX, can be used for any chemical or material. Computer scientists Nicolas Sauter and Daniel Paley at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory also helped develop smSFX. When you have a true powder, Paley explains, it's like having a million crystals that are all jumbled together, full of imperfections, and scrambled in every possible orientation. Rather than diffracting the whole jumble together and getting a muddied readout of electron densities, like existing powder diffraction techniques, smSFX is so precise that it can diffract individual grains, one at a time. "This gives it a special sharpening effect," he said. "So that is actually the kind of secret sauce of this whole method. Normally you shoot all million at once, but now you shoot 10,000 all in sequence," Paley says. "There is a huge array of fascinating physical and even chemical dynamics that occur at ultrafast timescales and this technique could help us to understand how these dynamic events affect the structure of microcrystalline materials. In a way, connecting the dots between a material's structure and its function," Schreiber elaborates. Hohman is equally excited about their success. "Now that we can solve these hard to crystallize structures, we can design the best" structures for our purposes, Hohman says. Often, a material will come close to having a certain desirable property, but its crystalline structure won't be quite right. Hohman hopes that with the data they can get from X-ray crystallography using Brewster's technique, they can design better materials from the ground up. Now, Hohman and Brewster are collaborating with Tess Smidt, a machine learning specialist at MIT, to try to teach a computer to design materials with specific properties. This work involved the use of the SACLA free-electron laser in Japan, the Linac Coherent Light Source at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, and the Molecular Foundry and National Energy Research Scientific Computing Centers, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science user facilities located at Berkeley Lab. More information: Elyse Schriber, Chemical crystallography by serial femtosecond X-ray diffraction, Nature (2022). www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04218-3 Journal information: Nature Elyse Schriber, Chemical crystallography by serial femtosecond X-ray diffraction,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04218-3 Career and technical education students say the programs give them an opportunity to learn something that interests them and pick up valuable skills that they can use to head right into the workforce. Greenwich student Kiersten Alling is enrolled in the heavy equipment program. I like how were out and about on the job sites and really learning stuff were actually going to need to know, she said during the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES Legislative Breakfast on Friday. The event was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brayden Shattuck, of Queensbury, is studying environmental conservation. Shattuck also enjoys the program. It really prepares me for what the future will be like when I finally do get a job, he said. Kate Lott, a business partner with Saratoga Honda, said there is a tremendous demand for skilled automotive technicians and dealerships are competing for talent. Its been very difficult. Were driving each others costs up, she said. Technicians used to start at about $15 to $16 per hour. That has increased to $20, according to Lott. Weve had to pass those costs onto our clients, she said. Lott said they need to find people because the average age of their technical staff is about 55 years old. Jeremy DeLor graduated from the CTE program and now owns a residential construction company that does everything including patios, kitchens and bathrooms. DeLor said he believes without the head start provided by the CTE program, he would not have been able to get to the point of owning his own business at a young age. He said he got to learn about the industry by working with actual construction companies. You get more in depth with certain things and really prepares to get you out in the field, he said. One of the goals of superintendents is to get the Legislature to increase the amount of aid for CTE programs. Greenwich Superintendent Mark Fish said one of the issues is that the state provides aid on only the first $30,000 of the salary of a CTE instructor. That aid amount has not changed in two decades, but the average salary of an instructor has increased during that time. Fish said school districts are making up the difference in cost. Hartford Superintendent of Schools Andrew Cook, chairman of the BOCES Chief School Officers Advocacy Committee, said school officials are lobbying for the state to increase that number to $67,000. That would save districts from having to incur those out-of-pocket costs. We could potentially send two or three more students to CTE programs, he said. Increasing CTE is one of three legislative priorities. Cook said the second one is to make sure that districts receive adequate increases in school aid. Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing $31.3 billion in school aid, which is an increase of $2.1 billion, or about 7%. She is also proposing to increase Foundation Aid under the state formula, which takes into account a districts population and income level. In addition, Cook said Hochul is proposing setting a floor so that districts would receive at least a 3% increase regardless of their enrollment. Cook said that would help schools that have experienced a decline in population. Fewer students does not necessarily equate to cost savings, he added, because districts have fixed costs such as annual increases in salaries and health insurance and retirement benefits. Cook said the other priority is a request for the state to increase the threshold for small construction projects from $100,000 to $250,000. These projects do not require a special vote but are included in school districts budgets. School districts and communities value these projects because they can be completed quickly and efficiently and often address items identified in our building conditions survey, he said. However, Cook said the $100,000 does not go very far, especially when soft costs are taken into account. About $85,000 worth of construction can be done. The $100,000 amount has not changed since 2002, according to Cook. We feel that this increase is more in line with the actual cost of construction, he said. Because the event was virtual, BOCES culinary students had prepared a box of baked goods that were distributed to attendees ahead of time. Among the legislators who were on the Zoom call were state Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury; state Sen. Daphne Jordan, R-Halfmoon; and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake. This was the last legislative breakfast for District Superintendent James Dexter, who is retiring in August. Dexter thanked the lawmakers for their support. We are so privileged to have such caring and wonderful legislators, he said. Thank you for everything youve done and for paying attention to our needs. Were really appreciative. BOCES Board President John Rieger thanked Dexter for his service. We wish you well in your new endeavors whatever they might be, he said. Michael Goot is night and weekend editor of The Post-Star. Reach him at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BALLSTON SPA A Troy woman was sentenced on Friday to 3 years in prison after police found crack cocaine during a traffic stop in Moreau last April. Brittaney L. Tatsey, 28, was pulled over on the Northway at about 11:15 p.m. on April 2 for at traffic infraction. After speaking with Tatsey, the trooper had cause to request a search of the vehicle and Tatsey granted consent, police reported. The search found numerous plastic baggies, containing a total of about 196 grams of crack cocaine, police said. Tatsey also had items consistent with the packaging and sale of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. Tatsey had pleaded guilty on Aug. 26 to felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. She was also sentenced to 1 to 2 years of post-release supervision. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A new congressional scorecard appears to show that Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, has, in fact, moved to the right in her voting record. Political experts say that the 21st Congressional District has moved to the right too. On a new scorecard from Heritage Action for America, a prominent national conservative advocacy and education organization, Stefanik received a score of 88, on a scale from zero to 100, for 2021, bringing her career-long score to 49. The score is a marked improvement in conservative rankings from previous scores of 56% for 2019 and 2020, 24% for 2017 and 2018, and 29% for 2015 and 2016. Her 88% for 2021 is just below the 94% average for House Republicans. Some conservative groups objected when Stefanik was elected to the No. 3 House leadership post in May, saying they were wary of Stefaniks past moderate leanings. Stefanik, in a telephone interview on Tuesday, said that her latest score reflects the change in the nature of legislation the House has been voting on. Last year was the first time in her career that the White House, Senate and House of Representatives were all controlled by Democrats, she said. My record always puts the district first, she said. Stefanik, in 2021, voted in line with the Heritage Action positions on all but one of 12 votes that factored into the 2021 scorecard. In the lone exception, Stefanik was an original co-sponsor and voted in favor of legislation to streamline the process to obtain agriculture worker immigrant visas, a key priority of upstate farmers but legislation Heritage Action opposes. In one instance, Stefanik switched her stance from a previous vote on the same legislation. On May 17, 2019, Stefanik was among eight Republicans who voted in favor of the Equality Act, legislation that passed the House but not the Senate, to prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation or gender identity at public accommodations and facilities, according to the Library of Congress government information website. Among other things, the legislation would require that individuals have access to restrooms, lockers rooms and dressing rooms based on the individuals gender identity. On Feb. 27, 2021, Stefanik voted against the same legislation, reintroduced, bringing her in line with the Heritage Action position. Only three Republicans voted in favor of the legislation this time. Stefanik said she "supports nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation," but the legislation goes too far. She said that after the initial vote in 2019, constituents raised concerns about the legislation. She asked sponsors of the legislation to address concerns about use of public restrooms and about how it would affect womens sports, and the sponsors did not address the issues, so she voted against it. I listened to the district, and that was a concern, she said. Lindsey Curnutte, a spokeswoman for Heritage Action, said the organization does not comment on fluctuation in scores of individual House members, but the average score of Republican House members, in general, improved last year. The average Republican House member score increased 9 percentage points, from 85% for 2019 and 2020, while Stefaniks score increased 32 percentage points. Four candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Stefanik in November: Matt Castelli, a former CIA counterterrorism official from Wilton; Bridie Farrell, a political activist and former competitive skater from North River; Matt Putorti, a lawyer from Whitehall; and Ezra Watson, a technician from Wilton. Watson, in a telephone interview, said the Heritage Action scorecard should be viewed in conjunction with other factors. The evolution here is more than just a move toward conservatism, its a move toward Trumpism, he said. Its not a surprise at all, said Farrell, referring to Stefaniks increase in score. Castelli said scorecards, regardless of ideological interest, are more of a partisan purity test than a measure of voting. When you talk to North Country voters, they dont really care about these scorecards or tests, Castelli said. I think this scorecard kind of quantifies the shift that Elise has made, Putorti said. The scorecard is the latest indication of Stefaniks evolution, a change that has increased her national stature among Trump Republicans, and has seemingly benefited her locally at the ballot box. In 2020, Stefanik handily won reelection with 58.8% of the vote. State Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, and Assemblyman Matt Simpson, R-Brant Lake, also won handily against seemingly strong Democratic opponents. Republican, Conservative and Democratic political experts say that the district, too, has moved to the right, even as voter enrollment has increased. Over a five-year period after Trumps election, active enrollment in the 21st Congressional District increased by 25,385 voters, an increase of 5.9%, according to the most recent state Board of Elections statistics on Nov. 1. Conservative Party enrollment, with 833 more voters, increased by 13.7%, more than double the rate of total enrollment growth. Enrollment not affiliated with any political party, with 13,984 more voters, increased by 16.4%. Republican enrollment increased by 6,490 voters, and increase of 3.9%. Democratic enrollment increased by 5,894, an increase of 5%. I do think there has been a trend, said St. Lawrence County Republican Chairwoman Connie Elen. Personally and politically, I think her voting record stands with the Republicans and Conservatives of St. Lawrence County. Former Rep. John Faso, R-Kinderhook, now a consultant to the state Conservative Party, said the 21st District is reflective of a national trend. Across the country, youve seen rural areas trending conservative in their voting patterns. I think that is also true of the North Country, he said. Faso said it would be difficult to say whether Stefanik evolved with the district or if the district evolved with Stefanik. I think shes pretty reflective of where the district is, he said. Former Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, has often said the 21st District was made up primarily of Rockefeller Republicans and Reagan Democrats. Thats no longer the case, he said Tuesday. The electorate that once was more tolerant began to change in 2016, and has continued to move to the right since then, he said. Owens said that when he ran for Congress in 2009, 2010 and 2012, voters seemed more willing to split their votes between party lines. My sense is that is no longer the case, he said. Stefanik said its not so much that voters in the district are changing political philosophy, but that voters are reacting to the change in philosophy of the Democratic Party. Its not the district, necessarily, moving. Its the Democratic Party moving to the left, she said. Watson, one of the four Democratic congressional candidates, said that he has recognized a shift to the right in the district. I know that is going on, he said. My overarching thought is that people are going to come to their senses and wake up. Watson said to help counter that shift, he will begin a voter enrollment drive in early February at college campuses in the 21st District. Farrell, another Democratic candidate, said that she does not pay much attention to statistics and political experts. When Im meeting with people in the district, its all about local issues, she said. Castelli said that voter enrollment statistics do not reflect how dissatisfied many Republicans are with the direction of the party. They say, Its not my Republican Party, he said. Putorti said that a Democrat can win by uniting a coalition of Democratic, unaffiliated and dissatisfied Republican voters. We need to make sure that we are listening to the voters, he said. Love 6 Funny 2 Wow 2 Sad 2 Angry 9 How out of control is inflation? One measure says it all: Prices are now rising as fast in one month as they used to rise in a whole year when President Joe Biden took office. The measure of inflation that gets the most attention is the consumer price index (CPI), which estimates the prices consumers are paying for a typical combination of goods and services. The CPI rose 8.5 percent in the 12 ... The more critical I become of Joe Biden's bumbling presidency, the more often I get the question of whether I regret not supporting Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Let me check. Nope. No regrets. I'm still not missing Trump. Still think his extreme lack of honor and his low-rent character made him unsuitable to serve as president of the United States. Still glad he was dragged kicking and screaming out of the Oval Office. Still think had he won the election he very well could have destroyed the Republic. (And, by the way, I believe the same of Biden, if he gets his way with Congress). And I still think two things can be true at the same time: Joe Biden is a disaster as president. And Donald Trump was a disaster as president. That Americans were given such a lousy choice for the highest office in the land speaks to the failure of our political system. I'm no more willing today than I was a year ago to declare one better or worse than the other. They are both really, really bad. And if their names appear across from each other on the 2024 ballot, I will for the third straight time cast my vote for whichever third-party candidate appears to be the least offensive. How could anyone be worse than what the Republicans and Democrats have offered us in the past two cycles, and are threatening to do so again? No matter our partisan leanings, we should tell the two major parties right now that if they give us another unqualified pairing in 2024, we'll withhold our votes. Make them stop taking our votes for granted. Party loyalty among the electorate is dropping, and that's a positive. The latest polling data from Gallup finds that 42% of voters identify as independent, compared to just 29% Democrat and 27% Republican. And yet the two parties still hold a political duopoly. The only way to change that is to stop voting for crappy candidates just because they have an R or D after their name. Feel free to make another pick, even if you're accused of wasting your vote. There are solid Democrats and Republicans who are capable of leading the nation from the middle, but the parties ignore them in favor of hard partisans. They force conformity of everyone who gets elected under their banner. Look how Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, Mitt Romney and Fred Upton are being treated for stepping out of the party line. Americans are tired of it. Chart the presidential approval ratings over the past five years they are consistently below 50%. Congress' numbers are even worse. None of the scoundrels in Washington were elected by the political parties. They were elected by the people. But whose bidding do they do? This next cycle is ripe for an independent candidate who can break the destructive hold the two parties have on our political system and chart the way toward a less poisonous partisan future. And to a presidential election in which we don't have to hold our noses to cast our ballots. Nolan Finley writes for The Detroit News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is pushing for a 4% flat tax in Iowa, and regular Iowans are being told theyre in for $1,300 in savings if it happens. Our advice: Dont count it. Tax debates are rife with misleading claims, and so far we havent seen much explanation about who will benefit most, and least, from this cut. Its still early. We're told the governor's bill was introduced just a few days ago, but already plenty of news reports are parroting the line that the "average" Iowa family will pay $1,300 less. Some consumer advice: Be wary when a politician trots out the word "average." Often, it hides a lot of detail. (A good way to think of it is that Hank Aaron hit 755 home runs while his brother, Tommie, hit 13. So, the Aaron brothers averaged 384 home runs, right?) Technically true, but it doesnt really tell the whole story, does it? Debates over tax cuts can be the same way. A better way to measure the typical family is to look to the median, meaning half are above a certain line while half fall below it. According to reporting by The Gazettes Erin Murphy, the governors office says the median Iowa taxpayer would get a $900 tax cut. Which is nothing to sneeze at. But is it true? Common Good Iowa, a group that opposes the cut, told us the median tax filer would only get $300. (Initially, they thought it might be $600). The governor's office and Common Good Iowa arrive at their figures using different methodologies, and we arent here to sort those out. But what we already know is that wealthier families will do better than the typical or even the "average" Iowa family if the flat tax and retirement income proposal the governor is pitching is passed by the legislature. According to one analysis we've seen, the average (there's that word again) savings for a tax filer with more than $1 million in taxable income will be more than $68,000; for a filer with taxable income between $500,000 and $1 million, the average savings would be more than $15,000. The governor calls this proposal "fair." We dont agree. Middle income Iowans already pay their fair share of taxes; this proposal will help wealthier Iowans more than those in the middle. Whats more: The administration says we can afford this if we continue to see revenues grow by 4% a year and keep spending to 2%. First, revenue projections change from year to year, and while over the past 20 years, revenues have grown, on average, by about 4%, the states Revenue Estimating Conference only projects growth of 1.9% this year. Its true that Iowa has a surplus (Republicans say its due to smart GOP budgeting policies, while Democrats point to a big influx of one-time federal Covid relief funds.) But what worries us is this: Even if the governors assumptions hold true, the idea of keeping spending at 2% doesnt recognize Iowas needs for sufficient investments in mental health, child care, broadband, clean water, workforce and education. So far, we haven't seen that. Weve shortchanged K-12 education for years, and at a time when inflation has hit a 40-year high of 7%, that stinginess is even more apparent. So why a flat tax? Republican legislators say Iowa needs to be more competitive. But Iowas been cutting taxes for years, and it doesnt seem to have changed the trajectory of the state. Remember the "historic" 2013 commercial property tax cut? Or the 2018 income tax cut, the largest in state history? We also saw a big tax cut in the late 1990s. All those tax cuts were supposed to change things. But year after year, Iowa's population has barely grown and our young people keep leaving the state. We lose people to states with lower income taxes (South Dakota) and states with higher income taxes (Minnesota). At some point, youd think we would figure out that taxes arent the key factor here. Our hope is there will be greater clarity in the coming days and weeks about who will benefit from this plan to overhaul how Iowa taxes its citizens and pays for government services. Even more, we hope lawmakers will take a look at all the needs of this state and take a more balanced approach. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Hong Kong's good governance brooks no interference or smearing Xinhua) 09:03, January 23, 2022 China's national flag (five-star red flag) and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are seen in south China's Hong Kong, Oct. 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu) In defiance of history and reality, the European Parliament has repeatedly smeared Hong Kong and attacked China citing "democracy and freedom." BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Some politicians in the European Parliament have attempted to manipulate facts about Hong Kong in order to meddle in China's internal affairs once more. Their hypocrisy, however, will become more visible in the eyes of the world, while their evil intentions will go nowhere. In their latest attempt to make waves over Hong Kong, the European Parliament passed a resolution on Thursday that smeared Hong Kong's democracy and freedom, calling for sanctions against China's central government and Hong Kong government officials, and called for a boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. It should be noted that the resolution is not legally binding on European Union (EU) member states' policies toward China. The so-called resolution's adoption is merely a ruse by some members of the European Parliament to smear China. Photo taken on July 31, 2021 shows the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in south China's Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu) When Hong Kong was in disarray not too long ago, the central government took decisive action by passing the national security law in Hong Kong, improving Hong Kong's electoral system, and firmly enforcing the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong." These measures have helped Hong Kong back to the track of stability and prosperity, and helped to re-establish Hong Kong's democratic development. Since then, Hong Kong has enjoyed sound and effective governance. In defiance of history and reality, the European Parliament has repeatedly smeared Hong Kong and attacked China citing "democracy and freedom." Those politicians may claim to "stand with Hong Kong," but in fact they harbor no good intentions. Their latest move demonstrates that they do not want a stable and prosperous Hong Kong and are attempting to whitewash anti-China elements in the city. They are still fantasizing about using Hong Kong as a launching pad against China. Their political farce and nefarious intentions, however, are doomed to fail. Students attend a live class given by the Shenzhou-13 crew members, in south China's Hong Kong, Dec. 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) In fact, the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong are also in the interests of more than 2,300 EU businesses and 350,000 EU citizens in the city. In the context of growing China-EU cooperation, the European Parliament's blunder is akin to working against itself. Hong Kong is part of China and brooks no external interference. Those politicians should bear in mind that nothing can change China's firm determination to safeguard the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and promote the sustained success of "one country, two systems." (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) TAIPEI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Taiwanese companies received export orders worth a total of 175.05 billion U.S. dollars from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong in 2021, up 27.2 percent from the 2020 figure, the island's economic affairs department has said. In December 2021 alone, orders from the mainland and Hong Kong grew 4.5 percent year on year to 16.76 billion dollars, according to the statement. Orders for electronic products showed the greatest increase, growing 5.4 percent year on year in December, followed by orders for optical components. Taiwanese companies saw their total export orders increase 26.3 percent year on year to 674.13 billion dollars in 2021, the statement said. Driven by strong consumer demand and high raw material prices, Taiwan's export orders performed well in 2021, the department said. It predicted that the challenges posed by the COVID-19 resurgence and unstable supply chains will affect the momentum of orders in January this year. FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS Three young men who police say are responsible for the shooting at the St. Clair Square shopping mall were charged on Friday. Jeremiah T. Handy, 18, and Andre Gillespie, 19, both of East St. Louis, and Ronnie K. Edmonds, 18, of Cahokia Heights face felony charges from St. Clair County State's Attorney Jim Gomric's office. One person, whose name has not been released, was struck by the gunfire and remains in stable condition at a St. Louis hospital, according to police. Fairview Heights Police Chief Christopher Locke said after Thursday's shooting that the three suspects and their victim were all known to each other. "It was a not a random attack," he said. Through a press release Thursday afternoon, Fairview Heights police said officers were dispatched at about 4:18 p.m. to a call reporting that shots had been fired inside the mall. Locke said the officers arrived "within seconds." There was a heavy police presence and law enforcement began blocking off parking lot entrances around 5:30 p.m. The mall was closed for the remainder of the evening. The victim was initially transported to a local hospital and later airlifted to a St. Louis hospital, Locke said. "While officers were responding, witnesses alerted us to two suspicious individuals," he said. Locke credited those witnesses with providing the information that led to the arrests of Handy and Edmonds near the scene Thursday. They later took Gillespie into custody, according to an updated news release issued Friday on the Fairview Heights Police Department's website. Tristan Bergman, who works at the mall, described his experience hiding out inside his store. He called it "terrifying." "Me and my coworker were just sitting, doing our usual thing and then we thought we heard gun shots," Bergman said. "We weren't really sure. The mall is always loud. But to be safe, we just locked the door and ran to the back and hid. Then we heard the helicopter and knew it was serious. We're just glad that we're OK." Handy, 18, faces charges of aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a valid FOID card, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and obstructing justice. He is being held at the St. Clair County Jail on $150,000 bond. According to the charging documents, Handy had previously been tried as a juvenile for a burglary. Edmonds, 18, was charged with obstructing justice, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a firearm without the required FOID card. His bond was set at $75,000. According to the arrest warrant, Edmonds discarded a Taurus G2C 9mm handgun in the bathroom of Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, located at 6600 North Illinois St. near the entrance of the mall. Gillespie, 19, was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a firearm without the required FOID card. His bond was set at $40,000. Officers from Belleville, Caseyville, O'Fallon and Swansea police departments assisted at the scene, as did Illinois State Police and the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHICAGO - An 8-year-old girl died Saturday after she was shot in the head in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago in the afternoon, police said. A 26-year-old man was also shot and is in critical condition at Mount Sinai Hospital, said Michelle Tannehill, a spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department. The girl was taken to Stroger Hospital where she was pronounced dead, police said in a media notification log. Chicago police responded to the shooting in the 3900 block of West 26th Street at 2:45 p.m. Saturday, Tannehill said. The girl and an adult caring for her were walking on South Pulaski Road when they heard gunshots and ran into a bank, Tannehill said. They then noticed the girl had been struck in the head, she said. The girl, and the adult, who was not injured, were not the intended targets, Tannehill said. The 26-year-old man was walking out of a store when someone shot him in the lower back, police said. At the scene, a pool of blood could be seen in front of Fifth Third Bank on the southeast corner of 26th Street and Pulaski Road. About 13 shell casings were found on South Komensky Avenue, and the back window of an SUV was shot out. Police have blocked off 26th Street from South Pulaski Road to South Karlov Avenue as of 4:30 p.m. Saturday. No one is in custody and police continue to investigate the shooting. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHICAGO A man known as the "Dreadhead Cowboy" has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in connection with a rush-hour horseback ride he took along Chicago's Dan Ryan Expressway in 2020. Adam Hollingsworth pleaded guilty Friday to aggravated animal cruelty and was sentenced to a year in prison by a Cook County judge, court records show. With credit he earned while on electronic home monitoring as his case was pending, Hollingsworth could be released from the Cook County Jail as early as Monday. Hollingsworth was arrested in September 2020 after disrupting traffic on the Dan Ryan Expressway while galloping his horse, Nunu, amid rush hour traffic in an act of civil disobedience he said was intended to draw attention to gun violence against children. Hollingsworth's ride resulted in extensive delays on the expressway, with traffic backed up for miles. Officials initially said the horse was so severely injured by the eight-mile ride on asphalt that it might have to be euthanized, but Nunu was later reported to have significantly recovered. Hollingsworth had become known earlier in 2020 for his positive interactions with police and protesters amid frequent protests against police brutality. He had also made appearances in Chicago neighborhoods to promote the U.S. census. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DES MOINES The problems are clear for many to see: Iowa needs more child care options, and they need to be more affordable for parents. For Alex Glenn, director of human resources for Generation Next child development centers and preschools in Central Iowa, the best way to address what parties call a child care crisis is both simple and expensive. I know this answers not going to appease a lot of people, but its money, Glenn said. Magic wand it is throwing money at the problem. According to state figures, almost 1 in 4 Iowans live in a child care desert, which is an area with a shortage of licensed child care providers. The issue is more pronounced in rural Iowa, where more than 1 in 3 Iowans live in child care deserts. Access is not the only issue. So is affordability. A family earning the states median income of roughly $77,000 would pay 15% of the income on child care at a licensed center, or 10% at a registered home, according to the states Child Care Resource and Referral. The national nonprofit advocacy organization Child Care Aware of America classifies affordable child care as 7% of a familys income. Staffing at the child care centers is a part of the overall problem as well. Centers are having a difficult time finding and retaining workers 4 out of 5 child care centers nationally said they are experiencing a staffing shortage, according to a recent survey by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. In that same survey, roughly 4 out of 5 respondents said wages are a main challenge for both recruiting and retaining workers. The median annual wage for a child care worker in Iowa was $25,460 as of May 2020, the last time federal labor data is available. Policymakers are wrestling with how to address the complex and intertwined problems: how to create more openings at child care centers while also helping the centers pay their workers better without asking parents to pay even more than they already do. Dawn Oliver Wiand, president and chief executive officer of the Iowa Womens Foundation and a member of the child care task force established by Gov. Kim Reynolds, discussed all those issues on this weekends episode of Iowa Press on Iowa PBS. Like Glenn, who also made his comments on the same Iowa Press episode, Oliver Wiand said any solution will have to include some kind of financial assistance. Its going to take multiple solutions in multiple ways, and those are going to be different from community to community, Oliver Wiand said. We look at a public-private partnership. We need to see both federal and state dollars. But we also need to see business dollars and philanthropic dollars all coming together to address this issue and to really look at what solutions we can put into place to help. Our No. 1 recommendation from the governors child care task force was to increase wages and find a way to get benefits for child care providers. How? Thats the big thing. What is that going to take? Glenn was asked if that means money from government assistance or subsidies. I dont know where else it comes from, to be honest with you, he said. Republican lawmakers, who have agenda-setting majorities in the Iowa Legislature along with the Republican governor, have been attempting to address child care over the past two legislative sessions. Last year, legislators passed a law that allows Iowans receiving child care assistance to be slowly weaned off that assistance rather than dropped cold turkey when they reach a certain income level. That law addressed what had become known as the child care cliff. This year, many of the Republican-led proposals have to do with regulations on or financing or tax breaks for child care centers. Reynolds task force met and made 15 formal recommendations. Among them is a recommendation that the state provide more flexibility in the child care assistance program. But the task force did not recommend raising the programs income threshold. The task force, which was comprised of child care stakeholders and business leaders, also recommended creating new and supporting existing tax credits and incentives to encourage child care employers to hire more staff and create more openings. Thats why youre seeing us propose so many pieces, because we know there isnt just one that completely changes the shift of the child care issue, said House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford. I dont think as many of us in the Legislature would be talking about it, between the House, Senate and the governors office, if we didnt think that were making a positive impact. I think weve already started down that path. And its going to take time to get more investment in local communities, with partnerships, and all that takes time. One Republican proposal this year would increase the allowed ratio of children-to-workers in a child care setting. Republicans proposed changing the ratio from the current level of six children per worker to 8-to-1. After hearing concerns from providers, Republicans last week said theyll amend their proposal to 7-to-1. Ratios exist for a reason, and its safety. Its a quality education, Glenn said, comparing child-to-staff ratios to efforts to reduce class sizes in schools, which data has showed provides a better education for students. That way we can individualize education, we can provide more individualized care, we can get to know the children a little bit better, and we can keep them as safe as possible. Glenn said things like streamlining regulations or providing tax incentives are helpful, but the most helpful thing still is financial assistance, especially because of the staffing issues. We need larger centers, especially in those rural communities. We need the ability to house these children and care for them and provide educational opportunities, he said. But we also need to find staff for those. I know the Iowa Child Care Challenge has opened up about 9,000 spots, or is trying to for child care. But my first thought is, Whos going to staff those? Its difficult right now. We need help to not only to build those child care centers and places, but we need benefits that are comparable to other fields. And the money just isnt there to do so. Oliver Wiand said because of the high cost of child care, financial relief should not come from more costs to parents. She said the Iowa Womens Foundation proposes increasing the income threshold for Iowans to receive child care assistance from 145% of the federal poverty level to 185%. At 145%, for example, a family of four in Iowa making $40,237 is at the threshold of eligibility for full child care assistance. Raising that to 185% would increase that threshold to $51,337. First we need to do that, Oliver Wiand said. And then we need to look at what are other ways that we can increase revenue and decrease expenses for our child care centers without increasing parent fees. We cannot put this issue on the back of parents anymore. We have to step out of the box and find unique, different ways to address this. Iowa House Democrats have proposed raising that threshold to 200%. That would increase the income threshold for a family of four to $55,500. Lets look at child care reimbursement. Lets look at wages for child care workers. Lets make sure that were actually paying the people who are caring for our kids as well as we can so that they stay in the position, said House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, a Democrat from Windsor Heights. We need to be focusing on increasing the workforce, not getting rid of regulations that were actually designed to keep kids safe in child care centers. I think were focusing on the wrong thing here. James Q. Lynch of The Gazette Des Moines Bureau contributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A gunman holding four people hostage at a Colleyville, Texas, synagogue last weekend provides another reminder of the daily threat of gun violence to our local communities. San Jose, where I am mayor, is hardly immune: Our 1 million residents have endured three mass shootings in three years, along with hundreds of gun-inflicted killings, suicides and serious injuries. Last June our City Council unanimously approved my proposals that will mitigate gun harm in our community and a final vote on Jan. 25 should turn them into law. The proposals include two requirements for gun owners that no city or state in the U.S. has ever implemented: the purchase of liability insurance and the payment of annual fees to fund violence-reduction initiatives. We anticipate that a barrage of lawsuits from the firearm industry and gun rights advocates will follow. Why should any city subject itself to litigation? Because now-common horrific reports of shootings throughout the nation do little more than elicit a performative parade of prayers and platitudes from Congress. Because problem-solving must be elevated over political posturing. Because, as one grieving mother urged as I hugged her at her sons memorial, we just need somebody to do something. My proposals take a page from public health approaches that have reduced auto-related deaths, tobacco use and teen pregnancy in the U.S. They incentivize responsibility, draw on multi-disciplinary learning and invest in proven harm-reduction initiatives with the guidance of experts. Requiring every gun owner in my city to carry liability insurance will better compensate unintentional shooting victims and their families for medical and related expenses. More importantly, insurance can also incentivize safer gun ownership. Risk-adjusted premiums will encourage owners to take gun-safety courses, use gun safes or install child-safe trigger locks to reduce the annual toll of accidental gun harm. Unintentional shootings often involving children annually claim the lives of 500 Americans and injure another 26,000. The new laws coming to San Jose apply lessons from the insurance industrys impact on auto safety. Reducing premiums on policyholders who drive more safely or buy cars with airbags or anti-lock brakes helped to reduce per-mile auto fatalities by nearly 80% over the last five decades, saving 3.5 million lives. We need a similar approach to address unintentional firearm risk because approximately 4.6 million children live in a household where a gun is kept unlocked and loaded, and shootings have become the second-leading cause of death among U.S. children and adolescents. Imposing a modest annual fee on gun owners can support underfunded domestic violence and suicide prevention programs, gun-safety classes, mental health services and addiction intervention. Weve invited doctors, public health experts, and yes, gun owners, to help identify how to allocate the money from these fees in ways that will reduce gun violence. Prioritizing those investments to serve residents in gun-owning households will have the biggest impact because studies suggest that even a properly stored firearm in the home significantly increases occupants risk of death by homicide and suicide. Gun rights advocates argue that gun owners should not have to pay a fee to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms. To be sure, the Second Amendment protects the rights of citizens to own guns, but it doesnt require the public to subsidize gun ownership. Every day, taxpayers bear the financial burden of police officers, ambulances and trauma surgeons responding to gun violence. These direct costs of gun violence total $40 million annually for San Jose taxpayers, and $1.4 billion for taxpayers statewide. Critics say that criminals wont obey insurance or fee mandates and they are right. But these ordinances create a legal mandate that gives police the means for at least the temporary forfeiture of guns from dangerous law-breakers. Particularly given the legally frail status of concealed-carry regulations before the current Supreme Court, law enforcement agencies face steep challenges keeping communities safe amid the ubiquitous presence of guns. Giving the police the ability to distinguish the scofflaws from the law-abiding among gun owners will have tremendous public safety benefits. These new laws wont end all gun violence. Were deploying other interventions as well, such as bolstering gun violence restraining orders, banning untraceable ghost guns and preventing the illegal purchasing of firearms for people such as felons or minors who are not allowed to buy guns themselves. We need to coordinate early mental health interventions for individuals showing signs of distress as well. While Congress dallies, communities dont have the luxury of dismissing the devastation of gun violence. We live among grieving family members; we hear echoes of painful eulogies and we work with traumatized friends. These new laws are no panacea, but they can reduce the unnecessary suffering in our community during a crisis that it is long past time to do something about. Sam Liccardo is the mayor of San Jose, Americas 10th-largest city. 2022 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 The more critical I become of Joe Biden's bumbling presidency, the more often I get the question of whether I regret not supporting Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Let me check. Nope. No regrets. I'm still not missing Trump. Still think his extreme lack of honor and his low-rent character made him unsuitable to serve as president of the United States. Still glad he was dragged kicking and screaming out of the Oval Office. Still think had he won the election he very well could have destroyed the Republic. (And, by the way, I believe the same of Biden, if he gets his way with Congress). And I still think two things can be true at the same time: Joe Biden is a disaster as president. And Donald Trump was a disaster as president. That Americans were given such a lousy choice for the highest office in the land speaks to the failure of our political system. I'm no more willing today than I was a year ago to declare one better or worse than the other. They are both really, really bad. And if their names appear across from each other on the 2024 ballot, I will for the third straight time cast my vote for whichever third-party candidate appears to be the least offensive. How could anyone be worse than what the Republicans and Democrats have offered us in the past two cycles, and are threatening to do so again? No matter our partisan leanings, we should tell the two major parties right now that if they give us another unqualified pairing in 2024, we'll withhold our votes. Make them stop taking our votes for granted. Party loyalty among the electorate is dropping, and that's a positive. The latest polling data from Gallup finds that 42% of voters identify as independent, compared to just 29% Democrat and 27% Republican. And yet the two parties still hold a political duopoly. The only way to change that is to stop voting for crappy candidates just because they have an R or D after their name. Feel free to make another pick, even if you're accused of wasting your vote. There are solid Democrats and Republicans who are capable of leading the nation from the middle, but the parties ignore them in favor of hard partisans. They force conformity of everyone who gets elected under their banner. Look how Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, Mitt Romney and Fred Upton are being treated for stepping out of the party line. Americans are tired of it. Chart the presidential approval ratings over the past five years they are consistently below 50%. Congress' numbers are even worse. None of the scoundrels in Washington were elected by the political parties. They were elected by the people. But whose bidding do they do? This next cycle is ripe for an independent candidate who can break the destructive hold the two parties have on our political system and chart the way toward a less poisonous partisan future. And to a presidential election in which we don't have to hold our noses to cast our ballots. Nolan Finley writes for The Detroit News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Chicago is one of a handful of American cities where a deadly fungal infection, Candida auris, has been spreading rapidly. It was first detected five years ago. By 2019, researchers were noting the emergence of a strain of the infection that is resistant to antifungal medications. C. auris is a superbug an antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infection that does not respond to existing medications such as antifungals. It kills 30% to 60% of patients who contract it, mostly in nursing homes and hospitals. And it is not alone. As chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Rush University Childrens Hospital in Chicago and an expert in antimicrobial resistance, I have witnessed this crisis with my own eyes. But I need you to see it too. Millions of people around the world contract drug-resistant infections every year, and almost 2,000 die every day. Our global health care system is on a collision course with a superbug pandemic. As a 2019 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found, America must stop referring to a coming post-antibiotic era its already here. The good news is that combating superbugs is not a question of the science. While developing better antibiotics and antifungals will be challenging, we can do it. The bad news is that distorted market forces are discouraging their development. The problem we face is baked into the DNA of infectious bugs. Its in their nature to evolve and adapt. Thats why, especially in recent years, doctors have become increasingly judicious in prescribing antibiotics. Every dose encourages the microbes to adapt, strengthen and grow more resistant to treatment. Under such circumstances, the prudent course is a two-pronged strategy. First, we must conserve our current arsenal of antibiotics to slow superbugs evolution. Second, we must elevate the development of new and stronger antimicrobials as a public health priority to be ready as more AMR infections inevitably emerge. The medical and scientific communities are working hard on our end. The federal government can help by enacting antimicrobial policies that address the problem. Making new antimicrobials today is not economically viable. New antimicrobial products are not designed to be widely prescribed, but instead used sparingly, against infections resistant to current treatments. That means the market for them isnt large enough to support the cost of research and development. Thus, the incentives of the health care system which needs antimicrobials to support most modern medical care, from cancer chemotherapy to C-sections are out of alignment with those of drug manufacturers, which cannot earn returns on their investments under current policy. Changes to federal law could help microbiologists develop what I would argue are some of the most important medicines of the 21st century medicines we need right now and know we will need more of. A promising reform now under consideration in Congress is called the PASTEUR Act. Its a bipartisan bill that would change the nations purchasing system for new antimicrobials. In its current arrangement, the government buys antimicrobials based on the volume of doses. The PASTEUR Act would change this system to a long-term subscription model, in which the government would pay a set fee upfront for access to novel antimicrobials that address the most pressing public health needs. Whereas the current system of sustaining research and development investments on per-dose sales does not fit the science or economics of the market for antimicrobials, the system proposed in the PASTEUR Act would provide the financing needed to spur the innovation of new antimicrobials and encourage their judicious use to protect the longevity of these treatments. With Illinois as an epicenter of C. auris, our senators and representatives should be leading on this urgent challenge. Its a bipartisan policy issue with life-or-death consequences. We cannot sit back and wait for AMR infections to overrun our health care system in another pandemic. Superbug preparedness is a choice and one we cannot afford to ignore. Dr. Latania K. Logan is chief of pediatric infectious diseases and a public health researcher at Rush University Childrens Hospital and a professor of pediatrics at Rush Medical College. 2022 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Its reported there is a teacher shortage in Iowa. Why? Is it pay? A survey by Zip Recruiter says Iowa ranks 46th out of 50 states for entry level pay averaging $33,296, which computes to about $14 per hour. A person could make more working for Walmart. Working conditions? A few years ago the Republican-controlled legislature effectively gutted collective bargaining, which covers teachers. They can no longer bargain for working conditions, just wages which can be capped at 1% annually. Respect for the profession? The governor and some legislators have been pushing for using public funds to send kids to private or charter schools, passing laws telling schools what they can and cannot teach, moving to censure what books can be in school libraries, accusing teachers of peddling pornography and threatening teachers with felony convictions if they dont comply. The governors dislike toward teachers is obvious. The unwillingness of the governor and majority legislators to fully fund and support public education continues. And they wonder why there is a teacher shortage. John R. Martin Davenport Love 17 Funny 3 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 1 Its not every man who gets to live out his childhood dream. But every day that Bob Sutherlin gets to crank up his tractor or care for his cattle on the family ranch between Corvallis and Stevensville, he does exactly that. I grew up in Stevensville, Sutherlin said. Ever since I was little, I wanted to be on a tractor or doing something that had to do with agriculture. When he was little, he was thrilled when the neighbor let him drive a tractor. He was a sophomore in high school when he first started buying cows. For years, he and his wife, Laurie, rented ground to run his cattle and farm until they could afford to buy their own place. Over the years, they built a herd of registered Red Angus that now has seed stock scattered all over the world. As they could, they increased the size of their landholdings. We were fortunate that we could piece it all together, Sutherlin said. When you grow up not having ground and have to put it together yourself, you take a different look at that land. Its something you worked for your whole life and wanted. And it was that connection with the knowledge that their son, Chad, wanted to follow in his folks' footsteps that helped the couple decide to recently put almost 378 acres of some of the richest farm ground in Ravalli County into a conservation easement that will ensure it remains agricultural ground forever. We wanted to keep it in ag, Sutherlin said. Its all we have ever wanted to do with the ground and dont want to see anything else done with it. The funds that will offset the value the family gave up by placing an easement on the property will go toward adding additional land in the Bitterroot to raise crops and cattle. Were going to add to the farm with what we got from the land trust, Sutherlin said. Were not going out and buying a new Cadillac. Were going to add land to it. We want to farm. He (their son) wants to farm and I have three grandsons who might want to farm too. When you put 30 years into building a cow herd, you need to be sure that you have ground to put them on, he said. It takes good productive ground to raise enough hay to winter these cattle. You just cant let it go away. With real estate prices rapidly on the rise in Ravalli County, the Sutherlin family knows it could have sold out and purchased more land somewhere else. But they know from experience the Bitterroot Valley has always been a good place to raise crops and cattle because of its dependable irrigation water supply. Its not a bed of roses in other places except theres more land, Sutherlin said. In the Bitterroot, you can have a dry year, but it seems like it always takes care of you and you can always raise a crop. For the 45 years Ive been raising cattle, I never had a year where we didnt get a decent crop. Maybe not a bumper one, but a decent crop. And that water stored and used for irrigation helps more than those in agriculture. You have to have a certain amount of agriculture to maintain the aquifer here, he said. If you dont have some irrigation in all these ditches to put some water back into the ground, the water table would drop to where people dont have any well water. The valley would also quickly turn brown once the weather turned warm. Most of the ground is two weeks from a drought if we dont have the water," Sutherlin said. In the summertime, its green and beautiful. Its why people come here. Bitter Root Land Trust executive director Gavin Ricklefs said the land preserved by the Sutherlin family is some of the most productive farmland in the state. They are on our best soils, Ricklefs said. That area between Corvallis and Stevensville on the Eastside Highway is some of the best ground in the state of Montana. At a time like this when land values are so high and the opportunity to convert that to a different use is there for all of our ag families, it makes the decision to do this that much more difficult from a financial standpoint, he said. But it also makes it that much more laudable and appreciated. Its a challenging decision to limit development on your land permanently. Theres not more important ground in the valley for production. We can all recognize the value of what the Sutherlins and their neighbors have done now more than ever with the way the valley is growing and changing, he said. Its really evident how important it is to be able to conserve some of our best ground and really make sure it's the Bitterroot we all know and love. Who is really going to appreciate and feel it is our kids and grandkids 50 to 100 years from now when there is still agriculture and we can still grow our food here and still drive the Eastside Highway and see that open space, Ricklefs said. Fourth-generation Bitterroot Valley rancher Allen Maki serves as chair of the countys Right to Farm and Ranch Board and has been on the Open Lands Board since its inception. Conservation easements like the Sutherlins are a demonstration to others in agriculture that the industry will continue in the valley. No one wants to be the last guy standing, Maki said. You need neighbors who support the industry and there have to be people involved to ensure that it continues. Subdivisions are easy to do in the Bitterroot. Much of the land was subdivided into 10-acre orchard lots in the early 1900s. People might see an 80-acre place but what they dont know is that its already been divided into eight 10-acre parcels, Maki said. We already have pre-subdivided farms here in most places. Thats a problem here in our valley. The 2017 agriculture census showed 42% of ag producers in Ravalli County were over 65 years old. About 74% were over 55. That gives you an idea how important these conservation easements are in transferring family farms to the next generation, he said. Without an easement in place, theres a temptation to sell it all off in 10-acre parcels. Ravalli County has about 370,000 acres of private land. As of 2017, only about 70,000 are directly being used for agriculture. That leaves about 275,000 acres already developed or forested, Maki said. You hear people say that the open lands program is locking up all the land for housing, but only a quarter of all the private land is still in production. Once thats gone, its gone forever, Maki said. There is a lot of infill where houses can be built without having to develop open farmland. Maki said the countys open lands program has provided some hope for those who want to continue to produce crops and livestock in the valley. Twenty years ago, that wasnt the case, Maki said. People used to say there was no future in agriculture here, but you dont hear that anymore. The main reason for that is the open lands program. Chad Sutherlin supported his parents' decision to preserve their family farm. I thought it was the right thing to do for down the road, he said. Its tough to keep stuff in agriculture in this valley. Laurie Sutherlin said the decision wasnt an easy one, but the family, in part, took the long view. The one thing I said is that I sure wish I could be here 100 years from now to see what the rest of the valley looks like compared to these easements, she said. Her husband believes the larger places protected by an easement will gain value in the future. "Maybe today its not worth as much but a big piece of ground will have a really good value in years to come, he said. I dont think we lost anything if you look down the road. Its nice that there are so many pieces getting put into the land trust. There is a lot of people who want to preserve this ag in the valley. Love 12 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. Have a heart, send a Valentine. Sapphire Lutheran Homes is asking for valentines for the 150 residents on their campus. Dominic Farrenkopf, director of Community Life at Sapphire Lutheran Homes, said this is the fourth year they have requested valentines. He is hoping community members, church groups, social clubs, book clubs, service clubs, day cares and schools will send valentines. We are requesting any and all valentines, he said. You dont have to make 150 but you could make 10. The residents absolutely love getting these and the more variety they get the happier they are. Farrenkopf said the response has been great the last few years. Weve received valentines from people all over the state and the world, he said. Last year we got some from Germany. It makes the residents feel so special to be remembered or thought of even by a complete stranger. It is exciting to see the variety, they come from all ages and there is a unique blend of types. From store-bought to handcrafted, from simple to elaborate and from secular to religious, the valentines bring cheer. Some have a joke, lollipop, or conversation hearts, we get a big variety of what people send and from where the valentines are sent, he said. This year, rather than just a large envelope outside each residents door for valentines, SLH has upgraded to accommodate the volume. Those envelopes go so full that we couldnt fit them all in, Farrenkopf said. This year we got white paper bags and will hang them outside their door. Now we can really fill them up to capacity. If this is anything like last year, well get a lot of valentines. SLH has delivered bags to schools for students to add decorations. We work with schools. We call them inter-generational activities and blend the seniors with the children, Farrenkopf said. Its usually quite successful because both generations enjoy each other. Having the kids decorate the bags adds an element of fun. The residents are excited to see the bag and watch it fill up! On Thursday, Corvallis Primary School students in Liz Jamesons and Michelle Studers fourth-grade classes were busy decorating the white paper bags that will be valentine receptacles. The students will also make valentines for the recipient of their decorated bags. Jameson said the students communicate often with the seniors. Weve made cards for them for other things, Christmas and Halloween for example, Jameson said. A lot of them recognize the names and want the same person to make a bag for. We dont know last names and there are no pictures, but the kids remember who they made cards for. She compared it to an adopt-a-grandparent program. We used to go over and meet them and now with COVID we cant, Jameson said. We used to go make Christmas cookies and the change is very sad. But were making the bags, and school children and maybe adults throughout the valley are making the valentines. Were decorating the bags because we have a super relationship with Dominic. Jameson said Farrenkopf has come to her class every year for around 20 years to read to her students. He also comes to teach writing poetry, she said. We also make cards for the Soroptimists. They give a tea for everyone over age 90 in the valley, but they havent been able to due to COVID, but we made cards for them to give. Most of the kids got a card back, which was very cool. The students decorated the bags and wrote on the bottom, Made especially for you by and put their names. In the adjacent room, students in Michelle Studers fourth-grade class were also decorating bags. Studor said the effort teaches compassion. The kids get excited about helping others in the community, they feel like they are part of something, Studor said. We had made Christmas cards for them in December. The kids are excited to be decorating bags and they will make a valentine to put in there too. Her students had computer designs pulled up for decoration ideas. They are very talented, Studor said. Farrenkopf said the valentine program is great for Sapphire Lutheran Homes residents because many are now single and far from their families. We havent been moving around as much as we once were, he said. We are opening up now and have visitors again, but it just feels good to be remembered. Valentines Day is a day we highlight the love of our fellow man, so when you get a card in the mail that someone is thinking of you, it touches your heart. They know they arent forgotten and feel connected with the rest of the world. Farrenkopf said all valentines are welcome, do not need to be addressed to a specific individual and return addresses are optional. We can accept them from now until Valentines Day, Farrenkopf said. They can mail them or drop them off. Were open 24-hours a day so people need to ring the bell then leave the cards at the front desk. We distribute them evenly. If you have someone in particular you want to give a valentine to, write their name on the outside of the envelope and well make sure they get it. To participate in the project, deliver or mail valentines to Sapphire Lutheran Homes, attention Dominic Farrenkopf, 501 N. 10th St., Hamilton, MT 59840. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Freight trains are seen at Nairobi station of Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Nov. 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui) The AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry Albert Muchanga stressed that a growing number of African countries are now implementing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is driving development across the continent. ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Anchored on win-win outcomes, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is opening up development opportunities across the African continent, an African Union (AU) official has said. Speaking exclusively to Xinhua recently, Albert Muchanga, the Commissioner for Trade and Industry of the AU Commission, stressed that a growing number of African countries are now implementing the BRI, which is driving development across the continent. "The Belt and Road Initiative in Africa is really opening up opportunities for the development of infrastructure, including energy as well as the promotion of road development; and we in Africa welcome that," Muchanga told Xinhua. "By involving a lot of African countries, we are broadening the process; and by increasing the areas of cooperation we are deepening it," the AU commissioner said. Photo taken on Nov. 22, 2021 shows wind turbines of the De Aar wind power project invested by China's Longyuan Power and its South African partners in De Aar, South Africa. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran) Muchanga recalled the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the AU and China's National Development and Reform Commission within the framework of the AU-China Cooperation Plan on the Belt and Road, covering priority sectors such as health, food security, infrastructure and energy. "A number of countries across Africa are implementing the Belt and Road Initiative; and the recently signed MOU reflects the fact that it is also going to be implemented at the level of the African Union Commission, which is very, very, very good," he said. "The cooperation is anchored on win-win outcomes and this is good for the two partners -- the African continent on one hand and China as a country on the other hand," the AU trade and industry commissioner added. According to Muchanga, the MOU that was signed virtually last month is a commitment to realize the objectives of what was agreed upon between China and Africa towards the successful implementation of the BRI. "The coordination mechanism is a platform for ensuring that whatever commitments that have been made between Africa and China are going to be implemented; and to show commitment towards its implementation," he said. "Through this signature we say 'we are ready, we are willing and we are going to do it'," Muchanga added. China has been Africa's largest trading partner for more than a dozen years. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, the two sides have multiplied their efforts to cooperate. Over fifty African countries and the African Union Commission have so far signed cooperation agreements with China. Amid the growing list of African countries cooperating with China under the BRI mechanism, many African countries have realized new deep seaports, thousands of kilometers of roads and railways that have transformed logistics across Africa, among other development projects. It may have been a surprise to most of the state to hear Montana Rail Link start 2022 with an announcement it wanted out of its lease with BNSF Railway, but not for Lochiel Edwards, a Montana wheat farmer who always has one ear on the track. Edwards, who has negotiated shipping terms for the Montana Grain Growers in the past and even chartered a rail consultancy several years ago, said years of increased rail traffic across Montana had transformed BNSFs southern route from the low-energy line it was willing to lease out in 1987, to something it couldnt do without. All the railroads were struggling in the 80s. They were having a hard time and Im guessing that Burlington Northern was ready to dish that off. Somebody made the decision that they really didnt need that expense. It was costing them to run it, Edwards said. My point is, that was then, this is now. Theyre hauling half the carloads of grain in America. Asia has become a big deal. America is buying stuff like crazy. I think they would like to have that capacity now and not have to rely on MRL to do it. That assessment was very much in line with what MRL CEO Derek Ollmann shared with employees in a Jan. 10 letter announcing the regional railroad was getting out of its lease 20 years early. The freight environment has evolved, however, and over 90% of the volume moving on MRL is BNSF trains, Ollmann told employees. We are a critical link in BNSFs northern transcontinental network, delivering grain, consumer, and industrial products to the West Coast. BNSF operating the line as part of their network will ensure competitive access to global markets while continuing to provide consistent and reliable service to our customers. An MRL spokesman told Lee Montana Newspapers the company would only respond to written questions. We declined. BNSFs traffic has been increasing exponentially in Montana over the past decade. The Bakken oil boom increased oil-by-rail traffic out of North Dakota more than six-fold during the first half of the decade just ended, with the U.S. Government Accountability Office putting the amount of oil shipped by rail daily at 965,000 barrels by 2013. By 2016, two years after the oil patch cooled off, westbound oil shipments across Montana numbered 154,000 barrels a day en route to Washington state refineries, according to Sightline Institute. During that same time, Montanas wheat farmers went from producing 134 million bushels of wheat in 2000 to more than 228 million bushels in 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Montana also experienced a grain export boom with 10 different million-bushel elevators complete with loop tracks for loading unit trains of 100 or more cars. The most recent grain complex, built east of Billings in 2020 by Gavilon Grain, is just a few miles from MRLs southern boundary and has 2.3 million bushels of storage capacity. In 2016, BNSF's northern region had its busiest agriculture year, shipping 300,000 railcars to ports in Oregon and Washington. Most of that traffic runs through Montana. The same year ag shipments were setting a record, BNSF's southern route through Montana became part of a Seattle-to-Texas route for shipping containers, the kind that carry everything from clothing to televisions and refrigerated food. The Montana Grain Growers, responding to the news of BNSF taking over, said it was confident Montanas ag economy wouldnt be negatively affected. The transition from MRL operation back to BNSF should be pretty seamless for grain customers, as the pricing and the rail cars have been from BNSF all along, said Tryg Koch, MGGA president, in a press release. We believe BNSFs culture of reinvestment in infrastructure will be positive for the return of this line to BNSF management. Wheat farmers had faced challenging shipping terms as freight traffic scaled up in Montana, first as shipping terms shifted early in the decade for elevators shipping fewer than 100 cars at a time, though rates were negotiated down. Later, higher rail traffic and weather made it hard to get shipments rolling. Coal shippers ran into similar challenges, though BNSF responded to shipping problems in 2014 with a $1.4 billion investment in track improvements in Montana and North Dakota. By 2015, the northern region was the fastest growing part of BNSF's business, according to the company, which was spending billions on upgrades. On the southern line, that investment meant building multiple rail sidings that were more than a mile long so that trains approaching each other could pass, ideally, without one of them coming to a halt. The railroad vernacular for the such an interchange is meet-pass capability. The railroad was also laying down track to accommodate coal trains bound for the Pacific Northwest. The 2010s were explosive for exports of coal from Montana and Wyoming, starting with the development of Signal Peak mine, which was built primarily for exports and connected to the southern line by a 35-mile-long rail spur. Coal mines like Spring Creek and Decker were scaled up for sales to countries in the Asian Pacific region, with the coal moving through Westshore Terminal in British Columbia. At its peak, Montana was shipping about 40 million tons of coalout of state a year. All that coal was originating in the southern part of the state in BNSF territory. In 2021, about 11 million tons of Montana coal crossed MRL territory to reach Vancouver ports, while a smaller amount moved east across the southern route to power plants in the Midwest. Theres an adage that its hard to stop a train, but Steven Read says it's harder to get a train rolling once its been sided. The president of Global Coal Sales Group manages shipments of Signal Peak mine coal to customers in the Asia-Pacific. Signal Peak, Montanas only underground coal mine, is about 35 miles north of Billings. The company has its own 35-mile track connecting to the BNSF southern route. On the mine end, theres a rail loop long enough to accommodate a mile-long train. Coal cars crawl across the loop at about three-quarters of a mile an hour, each one passing beneath a chute for filling. BNSF crews work the mine route and get the coal trains headed to Vancouver, British Columbia, but theres a handoff to a Montana Rail Link crew that has to take place when the coal shipment traverses the MRL segment. Read expects Signal Peak shipments to work better once BNSF controls the train all the way to Vancouver simply because its one fewer transaction. Railroads operate on momentum. And when things are moving well and things are clicking, railroads run well, Read said. When that momentum is broken, it takes an exponential amount of time, what you were down, to actually recover the system. A shipment sided for any reason can take days to get going again, Read said, and those trains are sometimes passed by coal trains shipped later that didn't run into delays. At the other end of the coal run in Vancouver there may be ships waiting at a cost of $15,000 a day. The decade of growth shows up in MRLs revenue projection in February 2020, when the company asked the U.S. Surface and Transportation Board to change the definition of what constitutes a Class I railroad. Class I is the largest size. At the time, any railroad with $504.8 million in total revenue was at the threshold of Class I status. The Class II designation makes MRL eligible for Short Line Rehabilitation Tax Credits, through which it received about $3 million a year for infrastructure investments, according to STB. MRL operationally and economically continues to be a regional railroad, but may exceed the Class I revenue threshold within two years, the company told STB. The companys total revenue for 2018 was already at $398 million. It was forecasting a revenue growth of at least 23% in just four years with 84% of its revenue coming from interchanges with BNSF trains. Its a good time to be a short line or regional railroad, said Amy Krouse, of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, but the conditions seemed right on the MRL line for a transition back to BNSF. I think overall, we've weathered the pandemic really, really well. We're the nation's critical workforce. You know, we were scrappy, nothing's really changed in that regard, Krouse said of her industry. "This one, I just think was sort of a unique circumstance, where it was BNSF and theyre releasing the line. They did a lot of great things, they built the traffic back and in the end that seemed to make the most sense for the two parties. And I'm really glad to see that BNSF is retaining the workforce. MRL is on the large end of the scale for short line and regional railroads. The average short line railroad operates on just a few miles of track with smaller revenues to match. It was a rule change request by Montana Rail Link in 1991 that persuaded the Surface and Transportation Board to allow the railroad, with revenues less than $250 million at that time, to be designated a Class II. MRL operated about 720 miles of mainline miles stretching from Huntley to Sandpoint, Idaho in 2020. The company reports it employs about 1,200 people. BNSf has indicated it will retain MRLs employees. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Do you find it annoying when a competitor runs a Google Ad triggered by a search for your business name? Have you thought about running a Google Ad that triggers off the name of a competitor? A recent federal appellate court opinion affects what you can do. Google Ads are the advertisements you sometimes see at the top of Google search results. They are labeled Ad. Any business can buy one. You can designate your ad to trigger off a search for a specific word or phrase, such as the name of a competitor or competing product. By using negative keywords, you can prevent your ad from running in response to certain searches. For example, if you sell squash rackets, you might choose squash recipe as a negative keyword so your ad doesnt appear in such searches. Until now, the case law was fairly settled concerning the legality of running Google Ads using a competitors business or product names or trademarks. Generally speaking, you can legally run a Google Ad triggered by a search for the trademark of a competitor and you can set your Google Ad to include a searched word. But you risk committing trademark infringement if you include the trademark of your competitor in the text of the ad. For example, Chipotle legally could run Google Ads triggered by searches for Chick-fil-A. But Chipotle might get in trademark trouble if its ad has Chick-fil-A in the text. Legal risk arises if you use the competitors trademark in the Google Ad in a way that creates an appearance you are the competitor or affiliated with or endorsed by it. You can mention the trademark of a competitor in the body of the ad in legitimate comparative advertising, such as saying Chipotle is tastier than Chick-fil-A. The recent court decision creates a small but risky opening for businesses that want to stop Google Ads triggered by their trademarks and run by competitors. In June, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in favor of 1-800 Contacts in a case brought by the Federal Trade Commission. 1-800 Contacts advertises its contact lenses heavily on the internet. The company dislikes other internet retailers running Google Ads triggered by its name because it may lose business to cheaper options. Since 2004, 1-800 Contacts has been suing internet retailers of contact lenses that trigger their Google Ads off the 1-800 Contacts trademark, accusing them of trademark infringement. It has won no cases, but it persuaded at least 13 competitors to settle. In those settlements, 1-800 Contacts agrees with the internet competitor that neither party will run Google Ads triggered by the trademarks of the other, and each party will use negative keywords to ensure its ads dont appear in searches for the other partys trademarks. The FTC attacked 1-800 Contacts for these settlements, claiming they hurt price competition. It ordered 1-800 Contacts to stop them. In June, the appeals court reversed the FTC and allowed 1-800 Contacts to continue with this settlement structure. It held that protecting trademarks is pro-competition. The court didnt close the door on the FTC attacking such settlements again, but the FTC would have to dig hard to win. The court left open for future litigation the possibility that requiring the use of negative keywords in settlements might cross the legal line. 1-800 Contacts is now back on the litigation warpath. It recently sued competitor Warby Parker, claiming Warby Parker went beyond just using the 1-800 Contacts trademark as a trigger term. It alleges Warby Parker didnt identify itself in its Google ads and created special landing pages on its website to receive click-through traffic, and such landing pages purportedly mimicked the look of the 1-800 Contacts website. So, where do things stand now for businesses looking to run Google Ads off the trademarks of competitors? The law itself hasnt changed, but businesses should be extra careful to not craft an ad in a way that might confuse consumers. If using special landing pages on a website to receive traffic from such ads, dont mimic the website of the competitor. Avoid using the trademark of your competitor in the URL for the landing page. Dont use trademarks of competitors except in carefully crafted comparative advertising. The big change is the court decision creates an opportunity for trademark bullying and for conspiring to not compete. A company that files a trademark infringement lawsuit against a competitor over Google Ads might not have a strong case, but it might have enough economic power to force the competitor into a settlement like the ones 1-800 Contacts was getting. This presents the opportunity for collusion. Competitors could agree to not run Google Ads off each others trademarks and to use negative keywords to make certain that doesnt happen. Taking this approach is risky. The FTC might attack it again. Private antitrust litigants might also attack. But some bold internet-focused businesses might try it. A group of Richmond Public Schools teachers are planning to call in sick Monday in response to the Omicron surge of COVID-19, according to a press release. The announcement comes as the Richmond School Board plans to meet later on Sunday to address a legal matter. The Omicron surge has resulted in severe staffing shortages, which make daily operations difficult and place tremendous strain on remaining staff who struggle to meet the needs of students, the press release from a group of dozens of teachers states, many of whom are absent themselves due to illness, quarantines, or fear of coming to school. Superintendent Jason Kamras acknowledged Sunday that teachers are under stress but urged them to come to school. We understand the extraordinary challenges our educators are facing this year and will continue to do everything possible to support them," Kamras said. "We know their students are excited to see them tomorrow and were expecting all healthy educators to report as normal. The letter calls for more information on when schools would close, better access to KN95 masks and virtual or half-day Wednesdays among other safety measures. A flyer has also circulated online demanding the school division provide explicit metrics for what would trigger school closures. Weeks ago, the Richmond Education Association, who is not the organizer of the sickout, told the administration that teachers were heading toward a crisis and that in-person school was becoming more difficult to conduct. Teachers in RPS who spoke to the Richmond Times-Dispatch on background say theyve seen days where half of their students are absent due to COVID. Theyve also said that some staff members have caught COVID-19 upward of three times, and describe the schools as a place where COVID is spreading rapidly. In Kamras daily newsletter, RPS Direct, where he announces new COVID-19 cases among students and staff, numbers have increased exponentially. Kamras has vowed to keep schools open, deploying central office staff into school buildings. Former Sen. Glen Sturtevant, who lost his seat in 2019 after one term, will run for election next year in a new Senate district in Chesterfield County and Colonial Heights, setting up a three-way battle for the Republican nomination with Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, and businesswoman Tina Ramirez. Sturtevant, 39, says he will seek the party nomination in the new 12th District under a political map the Virginia Supreme Court approved last month, which shifts the district from one side of the Richmond area to the other and leans it heavily Republican. The new district does not include the incumbent senator for the 12th, Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, whose home in western Henrico County is now part of the new 16th District. But the new 12th does include the home of Chase, who currently represents the 11th District and recently dropped out of a GOP congressional nomination contest for the right to challenge Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th. It is a brand-new, newly drawn Senate district, Sturtevant told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. There is no incumbent, though there are folks in office who happen to live there. Ramirez, who lost a primary battle to challenge Spanberger two years ago, recently declared her candidacy for the new Senate seat. She withdrew from the race for the Republican nomination in the new 7th Congressional District, which the court moved out of the Richmond suburbs and into Prince William County and the Fredericksburg area. Democrats now hold a 21-19 edge in the Senate. The 12th District seat will be key to Republicans effort to regain control of the Senate next year or potentially this coming November, depending on the outcome of a federal lawsuit seeking to force immediate elections in new legislative districts under the Supreme Court map. Sturtevant was a rising star in the Virginia Republican Party after defeating former Chesterfield Supervisor Dan Gecker in a hard-fought election in 2015 in the 10th Senate District, which covers parts of Chesterfield, Richmond and Powhatan County. He won that election by about 1,500 votes, succeeding longtime Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, who retired after 34 years in the General Assembly. Sturtevants victory assured Republican control of the Senate during the long fight over expansion of Virginias Medicaid program, which he opposed. Four years later, Sturtevant lost the 10th District seat to Democrat Ghazala Hashmi by more than 6,800 votes in a Democratic electoral wave that cost the GOP its majorities in the Senate and the House of Delegates. Hashmi, faced with running in a new 12th District that voted strongly for President Donald Trump, has announced she is moving to the new 15th Senate District, a heavily Democratic area that covers Chesterfield and part of South Richmond. The new 10th is a heavily Republican district that includes parts of 10 counties, including Hanover, Powhatan and Goochland, but not Chesterfield. In seeking the new 12th District seat, Sturtevant, a lawyer in Richmond, is running on the same issues that propelled Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin into the governors office: opposition to vaccine and face mask mandates to fight COVID-19; blocking teaching anti-racist doctrines in public schools; boosting financial and political support for law enforcement; and cutting taxes to lower the cost of living. These are things that matter to most people in Chesterfield and Colonial Heights, he said. We need to have a state senator that can get Governor Youngkins agenda passed. Sturtevant sidestepped questions about how he would match up against Chase, a conservative firebrand who styles herself after Trump, and Ramirez, the founder of a nonprofit for religious freedom who also embraces conservative positions on public education. The voters are the ones who will make up their minds with that, he said. Its important to have an effective, competent, conservative state senator for Chesterfield and Colonial Heights. Sturtevant said he decided to run for the Senate again in response to the events of the past two years, which were shaped by the COVID pandemic and the so-called reckoning on racial issues after the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis in the spring of 2020. I cant sit on the sidelines and watch a lot of the things that have happened, he said. Sturtevant said he attended a meeting on Thursday of the Chesterfield School Board, which retained a requirement for students to wear face masks, despite Youngkins executive order, scheduled to take effect Monday, to ban the statewide mask mandate for public school students and give parents an opt-out from local school mask mandates. His wife, Lori, teaches first grade at Robious Elementary School, and his three children, ages 8 to 12, attend Chesterfield public schools. I support getting rid of the mandate, he said. Sturtevant said he is vaccinated against COVID and encourages vaccinations for Virginians, but not under government mandate, especially if it could cost people their jobs. Its great that we have all of these vaccines, he said. People should be vaccinated if its the right decision for them, but it shouldnt be mandated. Sturtevant also took aim at critical race theory, which was central to Youngkins campaign and those of House Republicans. The theory, centering on institutional racism in the U.S. dating to slavery, isnt taught in Virginia public schools, and he said he aims to keep it that way. We cannot have any ideology teaching kids that some are inherently oppressors and some are inherently oppressed, he said. Thats wrong. Sturtevant intends to campaign on making communities safer and opposes any attempt to defund police, a demand that arose on the political left during the protests over police brutality against Black people, but generally hasnt been done in Virginia. He also embraced Youngkins plan for cuts in income taxes, sales taxes and gasoline taxes to help offset higher prices because of increased inflation. We can help lower the cost of living on Virginia families, Sturtevant said. Roanoke has benefited for decades from a vibrant arts community. As that community adjusts to a health crisis and its challenges, the city has designated fiscal year 2022-2023 the Year of the Artist, a program aimed at developing a creative problem-solvers collective. The program will launch Tuesday, with the newly formed Roanoke Artists Network meeting online to begin planning. The network will meet four more times before the official kick-off July 1. Its not yet clear what that kick-off will look like. Were building this as we go, Douglas Jackson, the citys arts and culture coordinator, said. We have some structure, but we hope were going to build a learning community. Were intentionally not releasing everything at once because we want to see what we can make. The network mission is threefold: brainstorm new ways to support young creatives; meet community challenges; and further integrate arts into the city fabric. Implementation would follow. First we want to get everybody together and talk about whats possible, Jackson said. Well have trainings, give grants, have exhibits and mentorship, get artists involved with the city and have artist-driven plans and projects. Well learn as we do it. The concept is not limited to visual arts, said stalwart Roanoke-based jazz pianist William Penn. The Year of the Artist is for all forms of art, musicians, writers, dancers; its for the whole art community, Roanoke-based jazz pianist William Penn said. We dont have a narrow definition of art. Penn, whose music career spans decades, chairs the Roanoke Arts Commissions fundraising committee. Studies show that the arts have an increasing and positive impact on people and communities, including better physical and mental health; better school grades; greater capacity for compassion and empathy; and more local engagement. The collective result: more livable communities. Weve given a lot of thought to pandemic hardships, said Katherine Devine, a local visual artist with a long history of community involvement in the Roanoke Valley. Were asking, How can we as artists impact our community as part of recovery [from COVID]? Artists are the bridge to the community. The Roanoke Artist Network will meet online at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Subsequent meeting topic themes include Artists as Arts Leaders, Partnerships and Collaborations and Building on Assets and Resources. Organizers at each meeting will issue a new Call for Artists an invitation to submit work for a specific theme or purpose. The project received about $270,000 through a National Endowment for the Arts grant, money from the city and the federal 2021 American Rescue Plan Act stimulus package. Its so great not to have to worry that if we support one effort, were slighting another, Devine said. Its a generous budget. The Year of the Artist coincides with the city implementing a new comprehensive plan. A year ago, with adoption of the city 2040 Comprehensive Plan and the annual Strategic Plan, we reinforced our commitment to enhancing the vitality of our neighborhoods, City Manager Bob Cowell said in a news release. Expanding public art efforts is one way were exploring alignment with the established goals in these plans. Were inviting artists to explore with us, create with us, and help us effect change. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan addresses public space in a section called Livable Built Environment: Interactive Spaces. It reads in part, Roanoke recognizes that vibrant spaces create a sense of community and social interaction. Policies for interactive spaces focus on creating physical, public places for people to come together. We want to co-create these projects with our community of artists, Roanoke Arts Commission Chair Cari C. Gates said in the press release. We know the arts can help us form a healthier, more prosperous, and more welcoming community. The arts can foster strong and effective citizen engagement and connect us in surprising ways. With these projects, were setting out to learn how this can be uniquely done here in Roanoke. As part of the initiatives collaborative nature, all city departments may bring ideas to the table. Susan Jennings was the first [arts and culture director], and she was fantastic about working with the city across departments, Jackson said. Now, say, Public Works or Transportation will come to us and say, Hey, how about this art project? So, we get an artist at the table as we talk about it. Were going to put a lot of emphasis on that aspect. Organizers hope that the Year of the Artist will become on-going policy for meeting challenges in Roanoke, rather than a one-and-done project. Art-making is creative problem-solving, Devine said. We have a number of problems that are new to our community because of the new situation we find ourselves in now. Strengthening our creativity will help us address these issues. Jackson added: We want to be a welcoming community where everyone can contribute. This is what were trying to build. Artists are a stand-in for everybody. We want people to be able to say, This what the arts do for me, this is how Im creative, and this is how Im growing. Learn more and register to participate at roanokearts.org/YOTA. Nobody but yours truly remembers the very first column I wrote for this newspaper, so heres a reminder: It appeared in March 2009, just shy of 13 years ago. The subject was smoking in restaurants, and a recently enacted ban. The Virginia General Assembly had just passed that legislation the effective date was Jan. 1, 2010. Former state Sen. Brandon Bell, a Republican who used to represent Roanoke County, first sponsored it in 2006. That was at the cajoling of his wife, Debbie Bell, whos extra sensitive to tobacco smoke. At some point prior to 2006, the Bells went on a trip to Florida, and Debbie marveled at the indoor air quality of Sunshine State restaurants. I could actually breathe, Debbie told me in 2009. I said, Brandon, theres no cigarette smoke here. A waiter informed them that Floridas legislature banned smoking in eateries. Debbie said, Why cant we do this in Virginia? Brandon Bell recalled. I said, Well, we could, but its political suicide. Thats especially true because Virginias a tobacco state. Nevertheless, Brandon Bell sponsored that legislation in 2006. To everyones surprise, it passed the Senate that year (but not the House of Delegates). Alas, his prediction turned out prescient. Bell lost his next Republican primary, in 2007, to Ralph Smith. (Today he runs his own wealth management business in southwest Roanoke County.) But guess what? Another lawmaker brought the restaurant smoking ban back in 2009 and it passed. Nowadays, its not even a controversy. Nobodys kicking up a fuss and pining for the good old days of smoky dining rooms. No ones mounting arguments on behalf of smokers rights. Believe it or not, that was actually a term once bandied in public-policy debates. Now everyone takes clean air in restaurants for granted. In the past 25 years, has any other law been more impactful on the everyday lives of average Virginians? I cant think of one. Anyway, that 13-year-old column said we should all thank Debbie Bell, whos now 50. And we should do it again, because that restaurant smoking ban is still working. Meanwhile, Bell could probably use a kind word or two, because the last 10 days have been not so swell. On Jan. 13, Debbie was diagnosed with COVID-19. Fortunately, she was fully vaccinated and boosted against the novel coronavirus. Her symptoms werent severe. She described them as like a bad head cold. Luckily, she didnt wind up in a hospital ICU and on a ventilator, like so many other COVID sufferers have. Because on Jan. 14, Bell got fired from the job shes held for the past eight years. It was through that that her family had health insurance. She found out she was fired in an email. Debbie was the Virginia attorney generals community outreach coordinator for Western Virginia. There are five such positions covering the commonwealth. Her territory spanned 21 counties plus a bunch of cities basically, from Harrisonburg southwest to Pulaski County and then east to Danville. The job paid about $58,000, Debbie said. She worked out of an office in northwest Roanoke, but the work took her to community meetings all over. On average, Bell put nearly 9,000 miles on her state-assigned vehicle in each of those eight years. She was more or less the Attorney General Mark Herrings on the ground eyes and ears for our region. And she was passionate about it. Whatever people needed in Southwest Virginia, I reported that back to the Richmond office, Bell told me. She worked closely with law enforcement agencies, an avocation shes felt drawn to since an unpaid college internship years ago with the Roanoke County police. Occasionally, shed meet with opioid addicts and the people who treat them. Or senior citizens or crime victims. The latter truly pulled on her heartstrings. A large part of her job was merely listening, and figuring out how existing resources could address the needs she heard. She led a steering committee that launched a regional effort by law enforcement agencies to engage with seniors, and educate them on how to avoid being victimized. Shes particularly proud of the Roanoke Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. Bell said she created that by networking with 30 different law-enforcement and human-service agencies. And she led it until Jan. 15. Since her dismissal, some of its participants have called asking where it stands. The job is basically bridging the gap, and forming relationships between [government] services and law enforcement, Bell said. Theres so many people that were involved in getting these groups off the ground. All five community outreach coordinators in the Office of the Attorney General were among the 30 or so employees who got canned Jan. 14, the day before Attorney General Jason Miyares was sworn in. They were informed their jobs ended as of Jan. 15. Miyares is a Republican who defeated the incumbent Democrat, Herring, in November. Although it stung, and left lots of uncertainty about her familys health insurance, Bell knows its not personal, that elections have consequences, and that new administrations come with changes in both faces and policies. She thinks the dismissal could have been handled better, though. Heres how she described that email, to the Richmond Times-Dispatch: It was cold, it was brutal, it was cruel. Something tells me shell land on her feet and will be back working again in public policy soon. She has a lot of passion, which ought to be a prerequisite for public service if its not already one. And she has a track record of accomplishment beginning with the restaurant smoking legislation she persuaded her husband to sponsor, even though it may have cost him his political career. The latter sends a strong message of commitment to do the right thing, despite the possible consequences. Virginia could use more public servants like that. Contact metro columnist Dan Casey at 981-3423 or dan.casey@roanoke.com . Follow him on Twitter: @dancaseysblog . Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RICHMOND Upholding campaign promises, elected Republicans in Richmond are working to outlaw from public schools concepts deemed divisive, including critical race theory, leaving educators in Southwest Virginia perplexed as they continue weathering complaints from a misled public. For his first act after inauguration a week ago, Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order to end the use of inherently divisive concepts, including Critical Race Theory, in K-12 public education. And in one of his first bills introduced to the Virginia House of Delegates, Del. Wren Williams, R-Patrick, goes a step further with House Bill 781, which proposes criminalizing the teaching of concepts deemed divisive. Williams bill would make it a class-four misdemeanor, on par with public intoxication, for teachers to instruct ideas like critical race theory, often abbreviated as CRT. The bill was introduced to curtail rogue teachers in public education, Williams said during a phone call Monday. As an example of critical race theory in his district, Williams said diversity and equity training and other resources have been given to teachers. Theres no real wordplay here. Were aiming at the roots of CRT and were trying to oust it from our public education system, Williams said. This is meant to root out activists from our public education system, and criminalize them if they do not abide by the curriculum that we have implemented, in order to protect our kids. But the bill would not stop at critical race theory, said Williams, who is a lawyer. The phrase divisive concept could criminalize the instruction of other controversial, disputed or disagreeable ideas. This would apply to anti-Semitic teachings. It would apply to anti-Islam teachings, anti-Buddha teachings, all kinds of divisive concepts, Williams said. The goal is to present facts and history objectively, and then allow our students to make their own decisions. Additionally, HB 781 would stop schools from training teachers or students on social-emotional learning, partly defined by the state as the process through which people develop healthy identities, manage emotions, achieve goals and make responsible decisions. It would also prevent school districts from employing equity or diversity directors. The establishment of equity directors in our school system is the embodiment of critical race theory, Williams said. They should probably be looking for another job, because we dont need that type of divisive teaching in our schools. Williams interpreted critical race theory as teaching that people are superior or inferior due to their skin colors, are discouraged from achieving based on race, and that the theory blames centuries of past slavery on people living in the present day. Williams said its a problem when teachers instruct subjective truths, or truth as they see it. I have a good understanding of the concept of using race as a lens to view things, however, I disagree with that concept, Williams said. I believe that its proven fact that the only thing really holding you back is your own work ethic, and your own values, in order to succeed in this country. While maintaining that schoolchildren in grades K-12 are not taught critical race theory, some educators disagree with such critical definitions of the study, suggesting Williams understanding is itself subjective. Under attack Critical race theory is nothing new. The concept has existed since the 1970s, describing a college-level academic method of studying race as a construct of society, and a way to closely examine the impacts and legacy of racism on ingrained social structures and other longstanding institutions, such as, for example, policing and schooling. Some school teachers and administrators in and around Roanoke are flummoxed by recent politicization of critical race theory, insisting that the concepts taught in law schools and sometimes mentioned during teacher training sessions are not instructed to K-12 students. Taisha Steele is the former director of guidance and school counseling for Roanoke City Public Schools who is now director of Human and Civil Rights for Virginia Education Association. She is one such official who said critical race theory is not taught in K-12 settings. She spoke during an online panel discussion hosted by Roanoke Points of Diversity recently, addressing the facts of critical race theory. The way it shows up for me in the public K-12 sector is in the form of misinformation, Steele said, of critical race theory. Another way that we see CRT showing up in the public K-12 education space is where unfortunately people are attacking social-emotional learning. Because children come from homes with a variety of experiences, it is important for teachers to have tools that help them support every student, Steele said, explaining the significance of social-emotional learning. People are attacking social-emotional learning, which means theyre also attacking the need for mental health services in schools, Steele said. When thats being attacked, and asked to be taken away, thats really scary. So many misperceptions If critical race theory is banned from Roanoke County Public Schools, the curriculum would not look any different than what is taught now, said Jessica McClung, assistant superintendent of student services and human resources for Roanoke County, overseeing the schools equity and engagement office. This became a political hot topic. People have so many misperceptions, McClung said during a December phone call. Ive even heard from a parent of a student who was getting ready to go into kindergarten, concerned that we were going to teach critical race. Kindergarteners are preoccupied learning how to walk quietly, single-file in the hallways, and how to spell their last names, or how to treat classmates with basic courtesies like kindness and understanding, she said. Even for older students, McClung said critical race theory is at a level beyond K-12 education. Its not about preaching or indoctrinating anything, its about respect and responsibility, McClung said, of equity and engagement in Roanoke County. Its about making all kids feel like they belong in our schools. Of course schools want to recognize cultural differences among their varied student groups, and Roanoke County has done so for years, McClung said. It can be as simple as recognizing different religious holidays, reminding teachers that some kids might be fasting and therefore more fatigued than usual on a given school day. The truth of the matter is, teachers are going to make mistakes, and parents are going to make mistakes when youre dealing with difficult conversations, McClung said. But I believe its a time to learn and not shame, and to give grace if mistakes are made. Leaping to colorful conclusions As politicians like Youngkin and Williams have continued campaigns against critical race theory and other apparently divisive concepts, similar rhetoric has found its way into school board meeting rooms across Southwest Virginia. Tammy Riggs, principal at Colonial Elementary School in Botetourt County, addressed her school board during its December meeting. At the last school board meeting, my school and our teachers were accused of having LGBTQ flags in our schools, and indoctrinating children with all of that, as well as CRT, Riggs said, presenting to the board colorful learning materials that were mistaken as gay pride flags. Im here to clarify some things. During Novembers school board meeting in Botetourt, a member of the public showed the board blurry photographs to point out what were supposedly LGBTQ+ pride flags, apparently being used to indoctrinate elementary schoolchildren. In December, Riggs brought those photographed items to the school board meeting and said they are not flags of any stripe. This is simply a plaque that I found which was colorful and sent a good message, and its been hanging in our school for years, Riggs said, holding up a small, rainbow-painted sign. Its hanging in my office, where it shall remain. The other item accused of being a rainbow pride flag turns out to just be a colorful pocket chart, used by students for interactive learning activities, she said. Similar charts are used across subjects in elementary schools all over. The claims that have been made about the colorful things in my school or in regards to what we are teaching are simply ludicrous, Riggs said. I could not sit any longer and let false information be said about the teachers in this division. She said the Botetourt County board has for months received heat from the public about topics like diversity and equity, in part because the school division provides teachers with diversity training and seats an equity task force, which includes two parent members. You can go into any classroom and see a diverse population of learners with varying learning styles and emotional needs as well. That is diversity, Riggs said. We make every effort to make sure that all students have equal access to quality programs and opportunities. That is equity. It is important for educators to be culturally aware of students with diverse backgrounds, she said. Its a daily duty of teachers to accept children for who they are, and to help them reach their potential, instilling in them leadership abilities and core human values, like sympathy and compassion. Pretty simple. No underlying meaning of any of these things. No secret initiatives or conspiracies, Riggs said. Its as simple as making sure all of our students, no matter who they are and what they bring to the table, receive a quality education. The comments from Riggs came one month after Botetourt school board members assured a heckling crowd that students were not being secretly vaccinated against COVID-19. A political agenda In a recording provided by staffers dated April 2021, Youngkin said critical race theory is using race to divide us. We need to step back and remove the forced use of critical race theory, but then we also have to use something else, Youngkin said. I do believe that one of the challenges Republicans have had is were very good at saying no, and were not terribly good about providing an alternative. So far, in Youngkins first executive order, and in the text of HB 781, alternatives are not suggested for the now-banned concepts that teachers contacted for this story insist are not taught. Youngkin appointed a new diversity director, Angela Sailor, on Wednesday, directing her in an executive order to be responsive to the rights of parents in curriculum decision-making, while ensuring history education is honest, objective and complete. I think that we need to teach all our history, both the good and the bad, Youngkin said. But we need to also recognize a political agenda when we see one. 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. Nothing opens the door to opportunity like education. Lives are transformed by gaining the knowledge and skills needed to land a good job and launch a career, support a family, and give back to the community. This is the proven path to upward mobility for individual Americans and to prosperity for our communities and country. But today some obstacles lie in that path that we need to work together to remove. Too many young people and adults invest heavily in education and training that is not well aligned with current and emerging job opportunities. Others struggle to afford postsecondary educational opportunities at all. Many lack the cost and benefit information needed to make good decisions. Some of these problems trace back to choices our state has made. Although our top-ranked higher education system is among Virginias chief competitive advantages, we shortchange it and the students it serves financially. For example, Tennessee in 2020 invested $10,969 per student, and North Carolina spent $10,742 per student. In contrast, Virginia provided only $6,519 per student. The obstacles on the employer side are formidable, too. A recent national survey of CEOs found that the lack of qualified workers is the biggest single impediment to business growth, a finding that matches our own experience here in the Roanoke Valley and around Virginia. Our states loss of talent after graduation is especially disturbing. Recent studies show that the number of young Virginians leaving the commonwealth for better jobs elsewhere has been growing. One way to keep talented students here is to connect them with Virginia employers via internships before they graduate. Such experiences benefit students, preparing them for the workplace and helping them pay for college. But the Virginia Chamber of Commerce recently reported that, although 70 percent of Virginia employers would like to hire interns, only about 10 percent actually do. The good news is that these challenges represent opportunities, and business and education leaders in Virginia are working together to address them. Take a look at the Growth4VA proposals presented by the Virginia Business Higher Education Council (VBHEC) (www.growth4VA.com), the Blueprint Virginia 2030 workforce and education recommendations by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce (www.blueprintvirginia.org), and the GO Virginia Foundations initiatives to address regional workforce needs (www.govirginia.org). These organizations agree that Virginias strong revenue position creates a once-in-generations opportunity to invest in affordable talent pathways: programs developed collaboratively by educators and employers that enable students to move efficiently from learning to earning, with a work-based learning experience along the way and a full-time job here in Virginia as the end result. The new state budget proposed by outgoing Gov. Ralph Northam addresses the affordability aspect well. The General Assembly will determine the mix of funding for student financial aid and for operating support that relieves tuition pressures. Whatever that mix, we hope our legislators will maintain or increase the overall affordability investment contained in the introduced budget. But investing in affordability without also tackling the talent development and alignment challenge is a formula for continued under-performance and workforce shortages. Heres where Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the General Assembly can make a huge difference: First, lets scale up internship offerings regionally and statewide so that every Virginia student and every Virginia employer who wants to participate in a work-based learning experience has that opportunity. The foundation has been laid for this win-win arrangement through the Virginia Talent and Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP), a collaboration between the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) that gives students and employers the tools they need to connect. This partnership was initiated by the General Assembly in 2018 when it created the Innovative Internship Program at VBHECs urging, and it is strongly supported by business and higher education leaders. Governor Youngkin, Democratic Sen. Mamie Locke, and Republican Del. Carrie Coyner recently proposed new investments in internships through V-TOP. The General Assembly should approve this bipartisan initiative. Second, lets use our very successful GO Virginia regional collaboration model as the mechanism for incentivizing development of industry-specific talent pathways in each part of Virginia. When employers in an industry sector or cluster come together with community colleges and four-year institutions to align curricula with workforce needs, incorporate work-based learning, and provide first-job opportunities for students, everyone benefits. Virginia can and should be the national leader in incentivizing talent pathways development. Governor Youngkins newly announced plan to invest $75 million in talent pathways through GO Virginia is the right way to start. Finally, lets make targeted investments in educational programs that address our most serious workforce shortages. The success of the Tech Talent Investment Program adopted in connection with Amazons large Virginia investment shows that our higher education institutions will respond creatively when a clear degree or credential target is identified, and funds are set aside. We should use that successful model to help meet other high-demand workforce needs, especially in healthcare where todays severe workforce shortages will continue unless we take creative and decisive action now. Virginia can be the Top State for Talent if we invest strategically in business-education partnerships that create affordable talent pathways for all Virginians. Theres no more effective way to meet our workforce needs, grow our economy, and create better job opportunities in every part of our dynamic and diverse commonwealth. Nancy Howell Agee is president and CEO of Carilion Clinic. She chairs the GO Virginia state board and is vice chair of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. W. Heywood Fralin, a longtime business leader in the Roanoke Valley, is past chairman of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. He currently serves on the GO Virginia state board. PARIS, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Elysee confirmed Sunday that a French soldier was killed during a mission in northern Mali on Saturday afternoon. According to an Elysee press release, the soldier was killed in a mortar attack on the Barkhane camp in Gao, northern Mali. More than 50 French soldiers have lost their lives in France's military deployment in the Sahel region. Since 2014, France has deployed about 5,100 troops as part of Operation Barkhane to help the G5 Sahel countries -- Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger -- maintain control of their territories while also preventing the region from becoming a safe haven for Islamist groups. Last year President Emmanuel Macron announced the reform of France's military presence in Mali, saying that the Operation Barkhane would come to an end and the troops would reduce to 2,500-3,000 by 2023. Despite France's ongoing military operation and the United Nations' peacekeeping mission, terrorist threats still persist in central and northern Mali. By Deisy Buitrago and Vivian Sequera BARINAS (Reuters) -A Venezuelan opposition candidate on Sunday won an election for governor of Barinas state, the birth place of the late former leader Hugo Chavez, bringing an end to 22 years of Socialist party rule there. The vote in Barinas, a re-run of the November race for the state's governor's office, will not alter the Socialist party's control of the majority of governorships in the country, but represents a symbolic victory for the fractured opposition. "The triumph is for Barinas and all of Venezuela," victorious opposition candidate Sergio Garrido told Reuters. Last year, Argenis Chavez - brother of the former leader - had contested the vote for the ruling party but did not emerge victorious. Instead, the Supreme Court ordered the vote be repeated after disqualifying opposition candidate Freddy Superlano. The decision followed an order made by the comptroller general in August saying Superlano was under administrative investigation and was disqualified from running. The surviving Chavez subsequently pulled out of the re-run and was replaced by former Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, who competed against Garrido. Garrido picked up 55.36% of the votes, while Arreaza received 41.27%, Barinas state representatives of Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) said in a message broadcast on state television. The state has some 600,000 registered voters. Arreaza conceded defeat in a message on Twitter before the official results were announced. "The information we have received ... indicates that while we increased our vote, we did not meet our objective," Arreaza said. People on motorcycles and other vehicles took to the streets to celebrate the victory, Reuters witnesses said. "It was impossible for Jorge Arreaza to win because we had our own candidate who knows every inch of Barinas," said Marielena Rivas, a 61-year-old accountant. The opposition victory came in spite of ruling party efforts to sway voters, Garrido said in a video message while waiting for official results. Story continues The ruling party has since November delivered subsidized bags of food and ramped up gasoline supplies, advocacy groups and opponents said, denouncing the tactic as misuse of state funds. The ruling party won governorships in 19 of Venezuela's 23 states in November, while the opposition won in three. But the ruling party saw the number of votes it received drop to 3.9 million in the November elections, according to election authorities, down from 5.9 million votes during regional elections in 2017. (Reporting by Deisy Buitrago in Barinas and Vivian Sequera; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Pravin Char and Bill Berkrot) Seventeen employees of Nebraskas prison system more than doubled the size of their paychecks during the past fiscal year. How? They made more in overtime payments than they did in base salary, according to data the state recently provided the Flatwater Free Press. Some 145 employees of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services made at least half their base salary in overtime part of spiraling overtime costs in the prison system that have cost taxpayers $48 million in the past three years. The states highest overtime earner a corrections caseworker named Donald Hiatt made nearly double his salary in overtime between July 2020 and June 2021. He earned a base pay of $47,840, and an additional $97,400 in overtime pay. Hiatts total annual payment: $145,240. He did not return Facebook messages and emails seeking comment. The large individual overtime payments reflect an ongoing crisis faced by the states prisons, long overcrowded and now severely understaffed, according to state leaders and experts. And while recent raises for prison staff offer some hope, Nebraskas most understaffed prisons have seen little relief in reducing the need for overtime hours, said Scott Frakes, director of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. In the short term, overtime will cost taxpayers even more: Before the recent raises, it cost 15% more to pay overtime than it did to hire a new employee. The raises which also supercharge overtime pay boost that difference to about 55%, Frakes said. It will always be more economical to find and hire and onboard new people, Frakes said. Thats been our emphasis all along, to reduce mandatory overtime to the bare minimum. These overtime payments pad paychecks. They can also contribute to burnout, fatigue and high turnover rates among prison staff, say experts and former guards especially because overtime work often becomes mandatory for essential prison employees. Hiatt, for example, worked an average of 97 hours per week his regular 40 and then 57 more in overtime hours according to state prison officials. The next highest overtime earners, Curtis Hurst and Bemnet Habtu, both corrections corporals, worked an average of 49 and 50 hours in overtime, respectively. Frakes confirmed that, for some corrections employees, an 80-hour week is not unusual. Youve got to be on your toes, be alert, said Mark Foxall, former director of the Douglas County Department of Corrections and now a faculty member at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Those things are challenging in an eight-hour shift, let alone a 16-hour shift. Are you as alert in hour 14 as you were in hour 1? How does that physical and mental fatigue accumulate over the course of several overtime shifts in a week? Six months after the initial records request, the State of Nebraska in January disclosed the overtime pay earned by all state employees during the 2021 fiscal year. The Flatwater Free Press has added that data to a searchable state salary database. The state spent $35.7 million on overtime during that year. Nearly half, $15.4 million, went to employees of a single department, the states prison system. The top five highest overtime earners in the state were all corrections employees. Out of the top 20 highest earners, 15 worked in corrections. The Flatwater Free Press reached out to ten of the top overtime earners in corrections. None returned emails seeking comment. These top earners, who often work up to 80 hours a week, are most likely volunteering for the majority of those shifts, Frakes said. The union contract grants staff members the right to work overtime without an upper limit, and seniority determines who can claim voluntary overtime shifts. What we look for is performance, as opposed to straight hours, Frakes said. Are they able to perform at the level that we establish good performance? Are they staying awake and alert? If they're doing all those things, then there's no issue to address. Mandatory overtime shifts, on the other hand, are assigned in order of reverse seniority. Recently, Frakes said, some prison guards have often been required to stay four more hours after their regular 12-hour shift. The states two maximum security prisons, located in Tecumseh and at Lincolns Nebraska State Penitentiary, rely heavily on these overtime shifts to fill mandatory posts. Some corrections staff like the overtime, said Michael Chipman, president of the Nebraska Fraternal Order of Police 88, the union representing corrections officers and other security staff. But even an excessive amount of voluntary overtime still causes burnout, he said. Nebraska correctional officers described a continual sense of fatigue and worried about the impact of overtime on their well-being, according to a 2021 report by Doug Koebernick, inspector general of the Nebraska Correctional System. Former employees told the Flatwater Free Press that the long hours took them away from their families, and brought on panic attacks and sleep loss. Rapid turnover continues to be an issue for Nebraskas prison system. By the end of September, state corrections had lost 330 prison guards over the course of 2021. The department projected that one out of every four Nebraska prison employees would leave their job in 2021, according to its most recent quarterly report. Corrections is not the most glamorous job. Its a challenging job, said Foxall, discussing high turnover in American prisons. Hiring problems predate the pandemic. The pandemic has exacerbated problems. The state hopes the recent raises announced for correctional officers will help recruit and retain staff, lowering the departments reliance on overtime to keep afloat. Within six weeks of the change, the department saw 630 applications for corporal positions, compared to 162 applications the five weeks prior. The department has hired about 140 of those applicants, Frakes said. But the new union contract will drive up overtime expenses as well in addition to increasing hourly salaries, the contract boosted overtime pay from time-and-a-half to double. Since the raises went into effect, droves of corrections employees have volunteered for overtime or holiday shifts, Koebernick said. Now, with the increase of people wanting to get overtime because of the pay, I think were going to see a significant change in the amount of money spent on overtime, Koebernick said. I think were going to get blown away. That 100 Nebraska prison employees made more than half their base salary in overtime last year is a testament to the level of need, said Eric Thompson, director of the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It signals that theres a limited number of people qualified to do the essential and often unpleasant work of guarding and managing the cases of inmates. Rampant overtime is far from ideal. But its also currently necessary, said Dustin White, an economics professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In the short run, you just have to find people, White said. Its essentially a bribe. Youre trying to figure out, how do I convince people to do this for now until I can figure out a better solution? The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Gov. Pete Ricketts cracked open the door to medical marijuana Friday, just weeks after appearing in television advertisements denouncing the substance. The governor's apparent softening came in response to a medical marijuana bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte. Groene, himself a former opponent, introduced LB1275 on Thursday. While I continue to have concerns about marijuana use for any reason, I am open to learning more about this bill, Ricketts said when asked about the new proposal. John Kuehn, a former state senator and co-chair of Smart Approaches to Marijuana Nebraska, also expressed a willingness to consider Groene's proposal. Both took a different tone than the SAM-sponsored ads that aired last month. They featured Ricketts decrying the dangers of medical marijuana and arguing that the only difference between medical and recreational marijuana is the terminology. Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, the Legislature's leading proponent of medical marijuana and co-sponsor of a medical marijuana petition drive, said she welcomed former opponents recognizing the benefits of medical marijuana. But she said Groene's bill would be of no help to Nebraskans. Wishart said key problems include that LB1275 does not provide for the growing and processing of cannabis in Nebraska, while federal laws prohibit the transportation of cannabis across state lines. In addition, Wishart said, the bill would create so many hurdles for families of children with epilepsy that it would make access "impossible" and would limit other users to those with terminal illnesses, very advanced cancers or severe or persistent muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy. "I will not stop our ballot initiative for any legislation that does not legitimately create a safe and effective medical cannabis system in our state," she said. "Access for sick Nebraskans is not something I am willing to settle on. I will continue to have their back." The Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana petition drive includes a pair of proposed laws. One would allow qualified patients to use, possess and acquire limited amounts of cannabis for medical use. The other would set up the regulatory structure for entities that manufacture, distribute and dispense cannabis to patients. Groene said he had introduced LB1275 out of concern that, if the Legislature doesnt act, the petition initiatives will get on the ballot and pass. He said his bill would allow the Legislature to put in the controls needed to regulate marijuana for medical purposes. He previously opposed medical marijuana but changed his position last year, saying he had heard from a number of families who believe that marijuana helps with the treatment of epilepsy and cancer and in end-of-life scenarios and are getting the marijuana from other states. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 PEORIA A jury's paperwork mix-up resulted in a central Illinois judge announcing a not guilty verdict in a murder trial, only to inform the defendant minutes later that he had in fact been convicted. Micha Gordon and his attorney hugged Thursday after Peoria County Circuit Judge John Vespa spoke the words not guilty in announcing the jury's apparent verdict on a first-degree murder charge. But the jurors immediately appeared puzzled at the verdict the judge had read. It turned out the panel of 12 jurors had filled out the wrong form, and after about five minutes, Vespa read a new verdict: guilty, the (Peoria) Journal Star reported. Gordon, 55, now faces at least 20 and possibly up to 60 years in prison when he is sentenced March 24 in the August 2021, stabbing death of Rolando Westbrook, 37. Gordon said he was jumped by Westbrook and used his knife to try to fend off the younger but larger man, whose body was found with multiple stab wounds. Gordon testified that the stabbing occurred after he and Westbrook had argued about alcohol after they had been separately drinking and partying with friends at a public housing complex in Peoria. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SIOUX CITY -- Kinseth Hospitality Inc. is asking the Sioux City Council to amend its development agreement with the city for the 150-room Courtyard by Marriott Hotel due to problems hiring as many hotel staff as the company promised. According to documents filed with the city, the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the $22 million, five-story downtown hotel connected to the Sioux City Convention Center. The hotel opened on May 14, 2020 during the first year of the pandemic. Kinseth Hospitality, a North Liberty, Iowa-based company, manages both the Convention Center and the hotel. "While the new hotel is fully operational, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the hospitality business and the ability to hire and retain workers. Due to the widespread workforce issues, Kinseth has requested an amendment to the number of full-time employees required under the agreement to more adequately reflect the challenges of the pandemic," the documents stated. Although Kinseth continues to actively recruit and train new employees, it currently has 19 full-time and 37 part-time employees, according to the documents. Under the current development agreement, Kinseth was to employ 40 full-time employees by Jan. 1, 2020. "Due to the current conditions and the nature of some part-time work, the (full-time employee) count currently equals 23.6," the documents stated. Messages left for the hotel's manager and a Kinseth project manager were not immediately returned Friday. The proposed second amendment will adjust the number of full-time employees so that Kinseth must employ 20 full-time employees by July 1, 2021 and maintain that number through July 1, 2023. From July 1, 2024 through July 1, 2034, Kinseth must employ 30 full-time employees. City Economic Development Director Marty Dougherty said he thinks the hotel is facing the same challenges that every hospitality business in the country is currently up against amid the ongoing pandemic. "It's the fact that the pandemic reduced hospitality business and, then, there's been some difficulty finding and training people," he said. "They've told us they would hire more now if they could find them. They do intend to increase their staff levels when they can find more people and as things improve, and they have been improving. Their business is picking up, as you would find with most hotels in the area." If the council votes in favor of the amendment to the development agreement at its meeting on Monday, the action will not change Kinseth's previous financial commitments for the project, including the payment of property taxes and hotel/motel taxes. Revenue from the Iowa Reinvestment District began in October 2019 and will not be impacted by the amendment, according to the documents. In support of Kinseth's investment, the city funded the construction of a parking structure behind the hotel, as well as modifications to the current Convention Center. "It's a beautiful hotel. I hear nothing but good things from the people who stay there," Dougherty said. "I think they're going to do very, very well. We love the fact that it's in that area and next to the Convention Center and in the Historic Fourth Street area, where there's so many restaurants and things to do. I think it's well-positioned, but they opened during the pandemic." In the fall of 2018, work began on converting 7,500 square feet of Convention Center space into a ballroom for events and constructing a new 7,260-square-foot "pre-function" space that attaches to the five-story hotel. The Sioux City Council awarded the $2.9 million Convention Center contract to L&L Builders after rebidding the project. The Convention Center renovation was the second of two city-funded projects, both of which combined cost over $2 million more than expected, to support the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel. A $3.7 million bid for the first project, construction of a two-story parking deck at Fifth and Virginia streets to accommodate hotel guests, came in approximately $1.2 million more than the architect's original estimate. Since it was built in 1988, the Convention Center has hosted thousands of events. The City of Sioux City has said the new space will help market the facility and draw additional events, resulting in additional hotel/motel and sales taxes. 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. Most of us have been in the situation of chatting with someone and the conversation comes around to religion and then to Christianity the opportunity arises for us to explain to them something of what we believe. We're caught a bit off guard, we're not that used to put these sorts of things into words and the result is not exactly what we'd have hoped for. So how was your weekend is a common Monday morning question at work. You might say that youve fairly ordinary Saturday afternoon with a thing at in-laws and just stayed at home Saturday night. Then church on Sunday was pretty good. The person youre talking with might respond with I didn't know you went to church leading you to reply, almost every Sunday, which may prompt a provocative question of why would a sensible bloke as yourself go to church? The next question could be does your wife make you go? You might respond by feeling a bit defensive and say I go because it's my choice okay because I'm a Christian. Do you know what I mean? While the other person in the conversation is more so curious than attempting to be provocative, they are seeking to learn more and may ask I wouldn't have the foggiest, do enlighten me, comrade Whether youre the person whos been stumped by your Monday morning catchup at work or the person bemused that your colleague is a Christian, keep listening as theres something for everyone. Confusing Often Christians respond in an unclear manner when explaining their faith. Being a Christian is all about following Christ. Such a statement might seem apparent and simple to a churchgoer but is confusing to everyone else and it is the responsibility of the Christian to be clear on what is being said. If youve been on the receiving end of a Christian spiritual statement thats left you more confused than before, I would like to apologise that youve not had the benefit of a clear presentation of the Gospel, what it means to be a Christian or been given more jargon when youve truly wanted to know what following Christ, having a relationship with Him, or who the Holy Spirit is. Too often Christians focus on just how Jesus has died for our sins or unintentionally portray the impression that to go to heaven you only need to be good. In doing so, Christians have invertedly been responsible for a lot of fingers wagging which comes off as prejudicial judgement on non-believers especially when prompted by the next question of I think Im a good person, how come youre saying Im a sinner or words to such effect. Crazy Another common directionthat such conversation ends up is with non-believers being told to live like Jesus, and if youre not yet a Christian you might rightfully think that this crazy churchgoer is telling me to be like someone invisible that floats around the sky. Its time for Christians to have better conversations both in and especially outside of the church. While evangelism can be in the form of flyers and overt conversations being had, being invitational to others for Christ often takes place best naturally through engagement with our neighbours. As our churches plan for another year of challenges not just arising from COVID, Christians ought to be the ones in our local communities giving not just a hand out to those doing it tough but being a listening ear to get into the shoes especially of those who have not yet decided to follow Jesus. Coming to attend church fellowship inperson on a Sunday morning for an hour or so while such is encouraging to our congregation (and brave during the ongoing COVID pandemic) isnt enough to help our church be salt and light in the local community. Being present in the community is the first step to building local connections and finding the opportunities to have meaningful conversations about Jesus. Its time that we strive to move beyond the average run of the mill conversation and hold fast to each opportunity to holistically share the Gospel. Speaking well, concisely and presenting the Gospel message in an easy-to-understand manner is important. Too often we have focused on Jesus dying for our sins without giving the power of Christs resurrection enough credence. When we present the Gospel message, it is also important to be relevant to the local context in understanding the various existing perspectives that people that you speak with have especially in a highly multicultural and multi-faith country such as Australia. Repentance Christianity cannot be presented in a way that merely gives off the impression that Jesus is perhaps just another good teacher or a moral philosopher, but we need to be putting in and explaining the importance of the call to action being repentance. At first and not to be unexpected, our message will be offensive, but we speak such with love and patience through prayer. Ultimately, we rest assured that in making disciples of Christ, we have the Holy Spirit with us every step of the way which in turn calls us to be obedient to Jesus teaching and not give up in journeying with non-believers and new Christians. We need to be building bridges, not walls with the followers of Jesus bringing the Gospel message to the community. An active church is not just bringing faithful long-time parishioners in on a Sunday morning to strengthen the inside of the chapel buildings. Now is a great time for every Christian to help our neighboursbridge the gap toward accessing the Gospel in a way that is easy to understandwithout the walls of jargon or a timid presentation of Christ. Being in the local community as an active Christian living out the Word and making disciples is a great step towards expanding Gods kingdom. Iowa has been in a child care crisis for decades. There is a shortfall of 360,000 spaces for Iowa children in child care. We reached a tipping point when parents, particularly women, were forced to make tough choices during the pandemic to care for children, affecting our economy and businesses. This crisis has been brewing for years with little attention given to families' needs. Iowa leads the nation in the number of parents that work outside the home. Among households with children in Iowa, 22% are headed by a single mother, and of these, 39% are living below the poverty line. Parents in Iowa, particularly female head of households, need Iowa legislators to step forward and support their efforts to work AND care for their families. Quality, affordable child care is an integral driver of our economy, allowing parents to thrive in the workforce. Iowa ended fiscal year 2021 with a budget surplus of 1.24 billion. It's not fiscally responsible to continue with huge budget surpluses while families are in crisis. Are legislators and the governor really interested in helping Iowa families this session? Theresa Weaver-Basye, Sioux City Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group. Dear Care and Feeding, My mother is a difficult person. Someone who only met her briefly might be struck by how bubbly and sweet she is, but I overdosed on that long ago and have seen the manipulative person behind the mask. My wife and I recently had our second child, a daughter whom weve given a very feminine name, but we mostly call her by a short, ambisexual nickname (along the lines of Sam for Samantha or Max for Maxine). My mother, however, keeps referring to her by a different and more feminine nickname, one we dislike. I realize that children will accrue different names over time and that its not that unusual for a grandparent to have a different pet name for a grandchild than the name the parents use, and I also know that this is not a very high-stakes matter. But I do think its a low-key example of her being controlling, and in this case doubles as policing gender norms. I might feel differently about the use of this name if it were coming from a different person (or even just a different grandparent). How justified would I be in insisting she use the same nickname we do? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nickname Troubles Dear NT, I think you can insist all you want, but Im going to go out on a limb here and guess that it wont make a whit of differenceunless by insist you mean telling her that if she doesnt use the nickname youve chosen, she will not be granted an audience with the child. Its possible that would work. But since you havent mentioned this nuclear option (which I hasten to say I do not recommendunless what you are looking for is justification to cut your mother out of your life in which case you might try a more direct approach), I imagine you are only looking for permission to wrest control from her. Advertisement Heres the thing: This is a losing battle for multiple reasons. For one, you cant control a controlleror, if you do manage to in one narrow area, it will pop up elsewhere and continue to madden you (itll be a game of control whack-a-mole). Really, when it comes to you and your mother, this is a proxy battleor, at least, its both about the name and about your relationship with your mother. So even if you win on this front, you are going to continue to be angry and on high alert. It may be time to deal with these issues around your mother head-on. Advertisement Meanwhile, if you hate the name your mother uses, tell her that: Mom, please dont call Max Maxinetta. We hate that name! We call her Max, OK? Repeat as necessary. Mom may argue that Maxinetta is a much more beautiful nickname than Max. Are you justified in saying Haha, not to us? Sure. Knock yourself out. You might win this battle. But what about the war? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And keep in mind, as you wage the nickname battle, that youre not going to get to control (for long) the name your daughter is called by others anyway. Or for that matter what nickname she decides to use once shes old enough to talk and have opinions of her own, so you might as well steel yourself now for that, too. Slate Plus Members Get More Advice From Michelle Each Week From this weeks letter, Im Worried What My Toddlers Horrible Behavior Now Means for His Future: Im starting to have visions of him as the adult who wont take no for an answer. Dear Care and Feeding, My spouse (she/her) and I (he/him) are tangled up in our 21-year-old daughters hair. Shes a college senior and generally doing well, except for one knotty issue: Shes headed to the stylist for a severe haircut for a college theater role (think Captain Picard in Star Trek). One of us feels youth is a good time for experimentation and notes that people, including women, can sport shaved heads if they like (after all, hair grows back). The other parent is certain that shearing her lovely locks is a serious mistake our daughter will deeply regret. (Shell be looking for a social services job soon. What, this parent wonders, will interviewers say about a candidate whose scalp is reminiscent of Sir Ben Kingsley?) Please dont brush us off. Help us get to the root of our problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all seriousness, one of us is losing sleep over the situation. Hair Squabble Dear HS, Youve come to the right person: I dont brush anyone off, and I love detangling a knot thats keeping someone up at night. Im betting that one strand of this problem is only the latest outcropping of an ongoing conflict between you and your spouse (sorry; I have a limited store of hair references; plus I get tired of puns fast). The two of you have very different ideas about how much a parents opinion matters past a certain point and how involved youre supposed to be in your grown-up childs life, as well as (Im guessing) a longtime conflict about whats appropriate deportment, attire, and stylei.e., one of you is much more conservative than the other. Advertisement Advertisement If youve managed all these years without this difference in worldviews (and child-rearing approaches) causing a serious rift, then you two must be very good at balancing affection and respect with opposing viewpoints (Im impressed). But now that your daughter is most definitely no longer a child, perhaps you can retire this particular sort of conflict. Which brings me to the second part of my response, which I shall state frankly: It is absolutely none of either of her parents business what your daughter does to or with her hair. Nor is it for one of you to concern yourself with what interviewers will have to say. (My own guess is that many if not most of themif they are accustomed to interviewing young peoplewill be well used to seeing a variety of personal styles among them, hair- and otherwise.) Your daughter can decide for herself if this is a concern for her. Advertisement As to the anxious parent: Get some sleep. This young woman will be out in the wide, wild world soon enough. If her decisions about her hair are keeping you up, just wait till you have to swallow her choices about where and how and with whom to live. Get used to being on the sidelines now and beat the Christmas rush. Catch Up on Care and Feeding If you missed Fridays column, read it here. Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group! Dear Care and Feeding, I have a nearly 2-year-old daughter. We were lucky enough to receive piles of hand-me-down baby clothes, accessories, and toys from friends, colleagues, and neighbors. Most were not given but lent to us, on the explicit or implicit assumption that we would give them back once we were done with them. Ive been carefully photographing everything, sorting it, and returning it as we finish with it. Its a lot of work keeping track of everything, but I am grateful for all the generosity, so its the least I can do. Id now like to pass it forward and lend out the things we own, and that my daughter has outgrown, to friends/family. However, I do want it all back afterwards, either for another child if we decide to have one or to continue to lend to other friends. But so far my experiences of lending things have left me very annoyed! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One friend of a friend moved back to her home country and left the baby clothes randomly scattered amongst various people whod lent them to her. We still havent tracked ours down. We gave my husbands cousin our daughters newborn clothes, and my husband stressed that wed like them back and asked her to take photos to remember which things were ours. Her baby is now a year old, so we started pressing for the clothes back and she eventually told us she has no idea whats ours and what isnt. I sent her the photos Id taken of all the clothes we gave her, at which point she said she didnt have time to fish these things out from among all of her childs outgrown clothes, and if we wanted them back we had to go to her house and find them ourselves. Advertisement Is it naive of me to think that other people will take as much care of borrowed clothes as I did? Should I accept that I should only give out things Im prepared to not see again? Or is there a way to politely but firmly tell people that I am very happy for them to use things for as long as they want, but please remember which things I gave them, and give them back to me afterwards? Advertisement Would-Be Generous Dear Would-Be, It is naive of you to think that other people will take as much care of borrowed clothes as you did. You should accept that you should only give out things youre prepared to never see again. And finally, instead of politely but firmly telling people that youre very happy for them to use things for as long as they want, but please remember which things you gave themamong the no doubt many things others have passed along to themand return them afterward, I would strongly suggest you stop this madness. Most people with babies are not going to make time to create the sort of database you did. Advertisement Advertisement Im not saying theres anything wrong with your having done it (you do you! I am in awe!), only that its not reasonable to suppose that others will follow suit. (I still feel just a little bit guilty about the sweaters someone gave me for my daughter nearly 29 years ago with the caveat that theyd want them backbecause I have no idea what happened to themand even more grateful to the many people who gave me hand-me-downs without any such strings attached and I am also ruefully amused at my own long-ago self, who once passed along a fabulous black diaper bag, when such things were in rare supply, with a request that it be returned when it was no longer needed. What was I thinking?) Either give hand-me-downs freely or dont hand them down at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Want Advice From Care and Feeding? Submit your questions about parenting and family life here. Its anonymous! (Questions may be edited for publication.) Dear Care and Feeding, After many years of longing, I met my wonderful husband at the age of 38. We knew pretty quickly that we wanted to be together and that we might want to have a child, but we were not willing to rush into parenthood without knowing each other better. So we visited the fertility clinic. The first thing I was told was that my ovarian reserve was so low Id probably never get pregnant naturally. Three rounds of IVF later, we had frozen three embryos. By then we were ready to try to get pregnant and figured we might as well give it a shot the old-fashioned way. And lo and behold, I got pregnant naturally and delivered my amazing daughter at the age of 42. Yay! But the embryos created a possibility and a dilemma I never expected to have. Advertisement Advertisement I hadnt thought in advance that I might want more than one child, but I have loved being a mom. My daughter brings me so much joy that Id love to experience it all again. But I am now 45. My husband is 43. And he feels differently. But this is not (quite) the story of husband doesnt want another child. He simply cant decide. He loves being a dad and says he likes the idea of another child, but is worried about the impact on his career (which is very demanding), our marriage (we have had some issues in the past), and his own happiness. Im not willing to make a deal and say Ill do all the work, since I also have a career and I know Id resent it if I were essentially single-parenting while married. Advertisement Advertisement He says he is really thinking about it, but that giving him a deadline is only going to backfire and deny him the chance to decide for himself. Every time I bring it up, we end up fighting. He feels like I am pressuring him; I feel like he is stringing me along, and I worry that because we have these embryos, this crazy limbo can go on forever. We have been through couples counseling, and I have seen my own therapist, who says that my husband clearly does not want a second child. I feel like I should mentally and practically move on, with gratitude for all that I have. Give away the baby stuff. Enjoy my daughter and live my life. But we have those embryos! And he doesnt want to destroy them either! (Indeed, we keep paying not insignificant storage fees for them.) Finally, there is the issue of my age, which really weighs on me. I had mentally set 45 as a limit for myself, but now I find myself wondering if that is an arbitrary endpoint. How old IS too old? I am healthy, but I worry about not being around for my kids later in their lives. I guess the only options are to make the decision myself that we are not going forward because Im too old (set my own boundary) or be zen about his indecision (why is that so hard for me?). Ive tried mindfulness and meditation. It helps some, but I still feel stuck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Embryo Limbo Dear EL, First, Id say that you need to think hard about whether you really want to have another child, and what you think your life might look like if you did. I think you are on your own in figuring this out, because while I dont know if your therapist is rightif your husband has already made up his mind and is unwilling or unable to tell you this hard truthit doesnt sound as if you two are getting anywhere talking about it. It may be that having another child is so important to you, and that you are so certain you will regret it if you dont try, that you will decide you need to push aheadwhatever that ends up meaning for your marriage (and youll get no judgment from me if this is what you conclude). Advertisement But I have a strong feeling that you need to think this through fully, as I say, all by yourself, and from every possible angle. I remember going through a period of desperately wanting a second child (I had been certain I wanted only one) for the very reason you mentionplus, my daughter was a toddler, and as much as I adored her, I just plain missed having a baby. I was over 40 by then, and I was really struggling with this (for many reasons that included but were not limited to my career and my husbands feelings about a second child). Advertisement I spent months wrestling with this, and one of the things that happened was that the longing passed. Im not suggesting that this will happen to you (or that it would happen to anyone else)Im just saying that this was what happened to me. It was one of the things that happened. I also realized that the deep pleasure I took in being a mother was going to be fulfilled for the rest of my life in many different ways with my one and only child (I was right: Shes 28 now and I am still enjoying it very much). And I remembered why I had been so committed to stopping at one. In other words, the fever passed, my cooler head prevailed. I have never once been sorry about my decision. Advertisement Advertisement You may have a very different path. But only you can determine that. Take the time to turn it over in your mind. Try to picture yourself when a second child is, say, 3 as well. Or even a third! Will you feel the same mournfulnessso common among mothersthat you feel now? Maybe what youre longing for are the special baby moments that have passed, knowing that they are once and for all done? You might feel thisit sounds like you will feel thiswhether your last baby is your first child or your fifth. Advertisement Advertisement And I will say this: I dont think you can be zen about it. Youre asking too much of yourself if you believe that you should not think of this as a big, life-changing decision. I also dont think you ought to simply tell yourself youre too old. If youre going to decide not to go forward with this, dont decide that based on something you have to persuade yourself of. And yes, I understand that your situation is complicated by the existence of those frozen embryosthat you have a decision to make about them, too. But do try to work through this one question at a time. I think you will be able to have a more productive conversation with your husband once you have more clarity about your own thinking and your own feelings. Ill be thinking of you and wishing you well. Michelle More Advice From Slate Im a 35-year-old single woman and last year I began to have a panicked feeling that my time was running out to meet someone and have kids. I have been seeing a counselor since last September about it, and she has helped me sort through my feelings and look at my options. I now know I want to have a child on my own, but I know my family will disapprove. What should I do? The British government surprised the world Saturday night by issuing an unusual public statement accusing the Kremlin of pursuing a plot to install a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine. Britains Foreign Office said Russian intelligence officers had been in touch with numerous former Ukrainian politicians as part of its plans and had already chosen a potential candidate to head up the new government. The British foreign ministry didnt provide much in the way of evidence to back its explosive assertions that were immediately denied by Moscow. The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking, Liz Truss, Britains foreign secretary, said in a statement. Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britains Foreign Office specifically mentioned that Moscow was considering making Yevheniy Murayev, a former Ukrainian lawmaker, the leader of this new puppet government. Murayev outright laughed off the allegations. Youve made my evening. The British Foreign Office seems confused, Murayev said. It isnt very logical. Im banned from Russia. Not only that but money from my fathers firm there has been confiscated. British officials also said they had information that Russias intelligence services had ties to several former Ukrainian politicians to carry out the plot. Coming at a time of high tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine, Moscow insisted the statement only marked the latest provocation. The disinformation spread by the British Foreign Office is more evidence that it is the NATO countries, led by the Anglo-Saxons, who are escalating tensions around Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement British officials said they issued the unusual statement in part to let the Kremlin know that they were wise to its plans for Ukraine. Intelligence officials in Washington tell the New York Times that they believe the British intelligence is right. The Russians have a plan and we clearly think its worth people knowing about it, a Western official tells the Washington Post. Calling it out takes away the element of surprise and also reduces the chances of Russia succeeding if they actually attempt it. Advertisement A senior U.K. official warned Sunday that Russia would face severe economic sanctions if it were to proceed with the effort to install a puppet government in Ukraine. Therell be very serious consequences if Russia takes this move to try and invade but also install a puppet regime, British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab told Sky News on Sunday. The threat, coupled with the surprise Saturday night announcement, shows how Britain is trying to forge a unique path two years after leaving the European Union. The U.K. is differentiating itself from Germany and France, and to some extent, even the U.S., Malcolm Chalmers, the deputy director general of the Royal United Services Institute, a think tank in London, tells the New York Times. That comes out of Brexit, and the sense that we have to define ourselves as an independent middle power. https://sputniknews.com/20220123/biden-discusses-alleged-russian-aggression-toward-ukraine-with-national-security-team---white-house-1092457990.html Biden Discusses Alleged Russian Aggression Toward Ukraine With National Security Team - White House Biden Discusses Alleged Russian Aggression Toward Ukraine With National Security Team - White House WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden held a meeting with his national security team, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan, a day after... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T01:44+0000 2022-01-23T01:44+0000 2022-01-23T01:43+0000 russia ukraine us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/13/1092378555_0:148:3114:1900_1920x0_80_0_0_94a4e24bdee9847ef724410e00b657dc.jpg "Today President Biden met with his national security team in person and virtually at Camp David to discuss continued Russian aggressive actions toward Ukraine," the White House said on Saturday. According to the release, Sullivan and Counselor Steve Ricchetti joined Biden in person at Camp David, while other national security officials joined by secure video.On Friday, Lavrov and Blinken met in Geneva with the US secretary promising to provide a written response to Moscow's proposals on security guarantees next week.Western countries have been 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 military activity near the Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security. Russia has also affirmed that it has the right to move forces within its own territory.The White House readout came shortly after the Russian Foreign Ministry shot down accusations aired by the UK that Russia was intending to install a "pro-Russian" leadership in Ukraine. https://sputniknews.com/20220102/white-house-biden-told-zelensky-us-allies-will-respond-decisively-if-russia-invades-ukraine-1091985073.html ukraine us Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 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 russia, ukraine, us https://sputniknews.com/20220123/blinken-us-warned-about-russias-possible-plans-similar-to-those-described-by-uk-1092466228.html Blinken Says Russia Seeks to Topple Ukrainian Gov't as UK Claims 'Pro-Russian Coup Plot' in Kiev Blinken Says Russia Seeks to Topple Ukrainian Gov't as UK Claims 'Pro-Russian Coup Plot' in Kiev Earlier on Sunday, the UK Foreign Office accused Moscow of allegedly trying to install a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine, without providing any evidence to back... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T14:10+0000 2022-01-23T14:10+0000 2022-01-23T16:27+0000 us russia ukraine antony blinken /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/17/1092467030_0:172:3027:1875_1920x0_80_0_0_2268a72ffcf02eacd2217acc6cbceb6e.jpg US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview with CNN that the United States had warned about Russia's possible plans similar to those previously described by the United Kingdom.The UK Foreign Office on Sunday alleged that the Kremlin is trying to install a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine, naming Yevhen Murayev as the possible candidate, but failed to provide any evidence to back its claims.According to Blinken, the US has repeatedly warned about such a tactic publicly. He, however, refused to comment on "specific pieces of intelligence".Shortly after the Foreign Office made its claims on Sunday, the Russian Embassy in the UK called on Westminster to stop "rhetorical provocations" around Ukraine, saying that the UK had sidelined itself by its short-sighted policies and now sees its role in encouraging anti-Russian sentiments.'Lose the Deterrent Effect'Blinken also said that Washington believes imposing sanctions on Russia now would cause them to lose their deterrent effect.When CNN's Dana Bash asked whether Blinken could foresee any scenario in which US servicemen became involved in the tense situation in Ukraine, the Secretary of State, rather than giving a straight answer, said that NATO "is looking at very practical and important measures it would take in the event of further Russian aggression".Still, he noted, Washington believes that there are a number of areas in which the United States and Russia can tackle mutual concerns including arms control. Blinken also listed "greater transparency, risk reduction, the placement of missile systems" among such issues.His comments come as tensions around the situation in Ukraine continue to mount, with western countries accusing Russia of "amassing troops" on the Ukrainian border and allegedly preparing to "invade" the neighbouring country. Moscow has repeatedly denied the claims. In December, the Kremlin rolled out its security proposals to NATO and the US, demanding in particular that the alliance does not expand eastwards and deploy offensive weapons in the countries bordering Russia. Later in January, the parties gathered in Geneva to discuss the security proposals. NATO and the US have largely criticised the proposals, but still praised the meetings as a necessary means of diplomacy. Still, Washington has yet to submit its written response to Moscow in regard to the security proposals. https://sputniknews.com/20220123/report-uk-claims-moscow-plans-to-install-pro-russian-govt-in-ukraine-are-based-on-us-intel-1092466456.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Daria Bedenko Daria Bedenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Daria Bedenko us, russia, ukraine, antony blinken https://sputniknews.com/20220123/burkina-fasos-defence-minister-rejects-reports-on-presidents-detention-1092463936.html Burkina Faso's Defence Minister Rejects Reports on President's Detention Burkina Faso's Defence Minister Rejects Reports on President's Detention MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The defense minister of Burkina Faso has rejected reports on detention of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore and said that the situation... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T12:05+0000 2022-01-23T12:05+0000 2022-01-23T12:05+0000 africa burkina faso military coup coup coup d'etat /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105643/63/1056436335_0:0:5184:2916_1920x0_80_0_0_633e1843b78e9a9fffe5078caef927ce.jpg Earlier in the day, the media reported citing a communique that the government of Burkina Faso rejected reports on the seizure of power by the army.Gunfire in military camps was heard in the Burkinese capital of Ouagadougou on early Sunday, and the reason has not been reported yet, as radio station RFI said. There is a jail in one of the camps where Gen. Gilbert Diendere is serving his sentence for a coup attempt in 2015.The shooting was also reported to have been heard in one of the country's largest cities of Kaya.This come a day after clashes erupted between police and protesters who staged a rally after the authorities failed to curb violence that gripped the country. Earlier in January, a group of soldiers was arrested for allegedly plotting to destabilize institutions, the country's media said. burkina faso Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 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 africa, burkina faso, military coup, coup, coup d'etat https://sputniknews.com/20220123/chirac-thanked-yeltsin-for-saving-abducted-french-un-official---former-russian-minister-1092471483.html Chirac Thanked Yeltsin for Saving Abducted French UN Official - Former Russian Minister Chirac Thanked Yeltsin for Saving Abducted French UN Official - Former Russian Minister MOSCOW (Sputnik) - In the late 1990s, then French President Jacques Chirac personally called Russian President Boris Yeltsin to thank him for the help in... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T20:42+0000 2022-01-23T20:42+0000 2022-01-23T21:02+0000 boris yeltsin jacques chirac north caucasus north ossetia caucasus russia sergei stepashin /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105541/02/1055410216_0:301:2573:1748_1920x0_80_0_0_47e4455cc0c52b83ec28aa2ca13cbb96.jpg Cochetel was abducted on January 29, 1998 in Vladikavkaz, the capital city of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The French official served at the time as the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in the North Caucasus.On December 12, 1998, Cochetel was released as a result of a special operation of the Russian Interior Ministry with the participation of Deputy Minister Vladimir Rushailo and Mikhail Gutseriev, now influential businessman and billionaire. In the 1990s, Gutseriev founded the Ingushetia Special Economic Zone, the first of its kind in Russia, and supervised it as Vice-Speaker of the State Duma.Gutseriev put pressure on Chechen businessmen, which helped to rescue Cochetel, who spent almost a year in Chechen captivity, the former official noted. Gutseriev also helped in the rescue of Russian President's Plenipotentiary Representative in Chechnya Valentin Vlasov.Stepashin added that he himself was awarded the Commander Order of the Legion of Honour by the French, but, according to him, this merit should be shared between him and Gutseriev. Stepashin also expressed his sincere gratitude to Gutseriev for his participation in the rescue of Russian soldiers, for his courage and bravery. north caucasus north ossetia caucasus Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 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 boris yeltsin, jacques chirac, north caucasus, north ossetia, caucasus, russia, sergei stepashin https://sputniknews.com/20220123/ex-wh-adviser-melania-demanded-guests-including-ivanka-sign-in-with-usher-for-residential-entry--1092458873.html Ex-WH Adviser: Melania Demanded Guests, Including Ivanka, Sign In With Usher for Residential Entry Ex-WH Adviser: Melania Demanded Guests, Including Ivanka, Sign In With Usher for Residential Entry Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former White House aide and ex-friend of the former US first lady, Melania Trump, followed up a February 2018 resignation with the... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T04:05+0000 2022-01-23T04:05+0000 2022-01-23T05:07+0000 donald trump trump administration stephanie winston wolkoff /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/0d/1080762807_0:0:1178:664_1920x0_80_0_0_53f4f2a5140bfe1306f7f020b0578da1.jpg During Trump's single term in the White House, the first lady of the US, Melania Trump, told her husband that all guests who enter the presidential residence must first sign in with the chief usher, according to a series of tweets issued on Saturday by Wolkoff. She emphasised that even Ivanka Trump, Trump's eldest daughter and adviser at the time, was required to sign in with Timothy Harleth, the former rooms manager at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC. Harleth held the position until early 2021, when US President Joe Biden assumed office. Wolkoff's tweet comes not long after former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham's interview with the 9-person panel. The former press secretary told members of Congress that, in the days leading up to the deadly insurrection on 6 January 2021, then-US President Donald Trump held a series of secret meetings. She also encouraged the panel to look into White House call logs, as Trump was "paranoid of leaks" at the time. Ivanka Trump has also been called on to provide the panel with relevant information on Trump's actions amid the 6 January riot. In a separate Twitter thread, Wolkoff attempted to counter a number of narratives allegedly perpetuated by both the Trump White House and The New York Times. Wolkoff has repeatedly asserted that the reported $26 million she received for planning Trump's inauguration was not pocketed, but paid out to vendors. The thread's first tweet included a copy of her resignation letter to Melania Trump. Wolkoff argued that the work environment was toxic and that Grisham and other staffers were "horribly disrespectful".Wolkoff, like several others who resigned from the Trump administration, published a White House-focused tell-all in the wake of her exit. Prior to the publication of "Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady", Wolkoff reportedly failed to follow protocol, which calls for a draft copy to be issued to the US Department of Justice. Trump's DOJ alleged in a lawsuit filing that the ex-aide breached her non-disclosure agreement. Both Wolkoff and Simon and Simon & Schuster subsidiary Gallery Books panned the suit as an attempt to block the truth from reaching the public. The suit, which sought out compensation associated with the book, was dismissed by the US Department of Justice's Civil Division in the first few weeks of the Biden administration. "The Department evaluated the case and concluded that dismissal without prejudice was in the best interests of the United States based on the facts and the law", a DOJ official said at the time. https://sputniknews.com/20220120/trump-held-secret-meetings-in-days-leading-up-to-capitol-riot-ex-press-secretary-tells-jan-6-panel-1092406425.html https://sputniknews.com/20210214/melania-trump-had-little-budget-as-flotus-it-all-went-to-ivanka--jared-kushner-ex-aide-claims-1082074043.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Evan Craighead Evan Craighead News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Evan Craighead donald trump, trump administration, stephanie winston wolkoff https://sputniknews.com/20220123/home-office-wont-yield-to-prince-harry-in-legal-battle-over-his-police-protection-in-uk-report-1092459421.html Home Office Won't Yield to Prince Harry in Legal Battle Over His Police Protection in UK: Report Home Office Won't Yield to Prince Harry in Legal Battle Over His Police Protection in UK: Report The Metropolitan Police Service, which protects members of the Royal Family around the world, stopped providing security for Prince Harry and his wife after... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T05:52+0000 2022-01-23T05:52+0000 2022-01-23T07:24+0000 queen elizabeth ii prince harry police protection uk home office legal action uk /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107926/80/1079268024_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_267914ab12221e711863f1e6d5eda1ab.jpg The Home Office "will not back down" in its extraordinary legal battle against Prince Harry over his police protection when he visits the UK later this year, the Daily Mail has cited unnamed sources as saying.After giving up royal duties last year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex now have to pay the cost of their security on their own, and according to some estimates, security for the couple requires up to $3 million annually. Earlier this month, Prince Harry launched a legal action over the Home Office's reluctance to provide police protection to him in the UK."When Harry left The Firm the terms of his divorce were clear. Like other members of the public, he and his wife are not able to hire armed cops at will no matter how much they offer to pay", the source added.It was a thinly-veiled nod to a previous statement by Prince Harry's representative, who said that "the Duke first offered to pay personally for UK police protection for himself and his family in January of 2020 at Sandringham" and that the "offer was dismissed". According to the representative, Harry "remains willing to cover the cost of security, as not to impose on the British taxpayer".Separately, the Daily Mail quoted an unnamed spokesperson for the Sussexes as saying that "the UK Home Office ignored [Prince Harry's] pleas for more help and greater flexibility".The remarks come after legal representatives of Prince Harry filed a "pre-action protocol" letter with the Home Office, stating that they are ready to sue the UK government if no further security is provided when the Sussexes travel to Britain this summer to take part in celebrations dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign.Late last week, an unnamed royal source was cited by The Sun as saying that the Queen is unlikely to support Harry's efforts to regain the police protection because "it is not a matter for Her Majesty's government".Having stepped down from their royal duties last spring, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who currently reside in California are no longer protected by the Metropolitan Police Service. Still, Prince Harry was accompanied by UK police when he arrived in Britain last April to attend Prince Philip's funeral, but when he returned for the unveiling of a statue of Princess Diana at Kensington Palace with his brother William in July, he had to pay for his security on his own. https://sputniknews.com/20211027/when-harry-met-meghan-harry-was-struggling-to-find-himself-had-anger-issues-before---report-1090260549.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg queen elizabeth ii, prince harry, police, protection, uk home office, legal action, uk https://sputniknews.com/20220123/more-trouble-lurking-for-netanyahu-israeli-authorities-may-open-probe-into-sub-affair-1092460370.html More Trouble Lurking for Netanyahu? Israeli Authorities May Open Probe Into Sub Affair More Trouble Lurking for Netanyahu? Israeli Authorities May Open Probe Into Sub Affair Previously, neither the police nor the Jewish state's attorney general had found enough evidence to link the former prime minister with what could potentially... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T07:49+0000 2022-01-23T07:49+0000 2022-01-23T07:49+0000 middle east benjamin netanyahu submarine submarines israel /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/05/1083079187_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_baa26aa438620d3f2ca1152b719197e9.jpg Every Sunday, Israel's government convenes to discuss the most burning issues. Over the past two years, it has been the coronavirus pandemic that continues to take its toll on the country.This Sunday, the agenda will be topped by another issue, however, the so-called submarine affair, also known as Case 3000.How It All BeganIt all started in 2009 when Michael (Miki) Ganor, an Israeli businessman, approached then-Navy commander Eliezer Marom and Deputy Head of National Security Council Avriel Bar-Yosef to convince them to buy three submarines from the German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.On the surface, Ganor's offer made sense. That was the year Israel discovered its first gas fields and it wanted to protect them from potential threats emanating from Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.But the catch was that Ganor was the Israeli representative of ThyssenKrupp and he offered Israeli officials large amounts of cash to make sure that it would be his company, and not any other to get the lucrative deal.His efforts eventually paid off. ThyssenKrupp finally inked an agreement with Israel. Israel simply needed to fork over more than $1 billion for three submarines and relevant equipment, while the German government bore 30 percent of that cost.The TwistYet, the plot twist is that there were those believed that Israel didn't need these pricey vessels. Then-Minister of Defence Moshe (Boogie) Yaalon thought that enlarging the submarine fleet to nine was an unnecessary adventure, while then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believed they were needed not as an addition but as a replacement for three others, set to expire in 2025.Netanyahu is still held responsible for the "waste" of public funds. But he is also blamed for allegedly knowing about Ganor's deeds, something that he denies.It doesn't stop there, however. In 2019, there were two more twists in the plot. The first was that Netanyahu purportedly gave Germany the go ahead to sell their submarines to Egypt allegedly in exchange for a discount from ThyssenKrupp and to obtain a detailed plan of what vessels Cairo would receive.The second was the ex-PM held shares in a company that manufactured steel and sold it to ThyssenKrupp and many other clients.Here again, Netanyahu's story is different. According to him, Germany didn't need Israel's approval to sell its equipment. As for the stocks, he claimed he bought the shares in 2007, when he served as the head of the opposition. He alleges he sold them a year and seven months after he became PM, a deal that allegedly brought him millions of dollars in revenue.Is a Probe Necessary?Israel's liberal circles have been pushing for a probe into the submarine affair for years. They have also suggested that Netanyahu should face trial for his alleged involvement.Earlier, neither the Israeli police, nor Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit had found enough evidence to link the former PM to the case. But things might change after Sunday, if the government approves an official probe into the scandal.The timing is interesting. Last Thursday, Israel sealed another multi-billion dollar deal with Germany's ThyssenKrupp, agreeing to buy three submarines at a higher price than what Netanyahu once paid.The new vessels are expected to replace three old subs, but supporters of the ex-PM are already voicing concerns, saying that double standards are at play here, and noting: What's okay for the current government is not okay for Netanyahu. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Elizabeth Blade Elizabeth Blade News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Elizabeth Blade middle east, benjamin netanyahu, submarine, submarines, israel You know that feeling when youre riding a fancy brand-new rollercoaster and youre literally being smashed and banged around from side to side and never know what to expect next? Well, as cheesy as it sounds, I can think of no better analogy to describe my college experience a rollercoast https://sputniknews.com/20220123/moscow-kiev-wests-provocations-in-donbass-and-attacks-on-russians-wont-be-tolerated-1092461336.html Moscow: Kiev, West's Provocations in Donbass and Attacks on Russians Won't Be Tolerated Moscow: Kiev, West's Provocations in Donbass and Attacks on Russians Won't Be Tolerated Earlier, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu warned that private US military companies were planning provocations in Eastern Ukraine involving the use of... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T09:53+0000 2022-01-23T09:53+0000 2022-01-23T10:50+0000 europe russia ukraine donbass /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107732/30/1077323073_0:173:3027:1875_1920x0_80_0_0_f626ad5ca59767a8e343a8aa1c75d9ef.jpg Moscow will not tolerate any provocations from the Ukrainian government or the West in the Donbass region, the head of the Russian delegation in Geneva Konstantin Gavrilov has stated in an interview with the YouTube channel "Izolenta live". He added that similarly the Kremlin will not tolerate any attacks against Russian citizens who live in this region.Gavrilov stressed that Russia issued this warning "loud and clear" across news media outlets. He added that the West and Kiev are trying to create an informational cover-up for these provocations by continuing to accuse Russia of planning an invasion of Ukraine.Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated on 21 December that Russia was aware of the presence of at least 120 employees of American private military companies (PMCs) in Ukraine and that they were moving unidentified chemical components to the cities of Avdeevka and Krasny Liman. These two cities are located not far between the buffer zone separating the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.Shoigu said this was done to commit provocations in the Donbass region.The US Department of Defence challenged Shoigu's statements calling them "completely false". The Pentagon's spokesman did not elaborate what specific parts of Shoigu's statements were false and how the Department of Defence knew that.Gavrilov's warnings against Kiev and the West about provocations in the Donbass region come amid continuing tensions around Ukraine. Western nations have accused Russia of amassing its troops near the border with Ukraine and expressed concerns that Moscow might be planning an offensive. The Kremlin strongly denied these allegations and lashed out at the criticism noting that Russia has the sovereign right to move its armed forces as it pleases within the bounds of its territory.Earlier this month, Russian diplomats met with their counterparts from the US and NATO to discuss ways of reducing the tensions and returning to strategic stability. Moscow forwarded its proposals, which included the mutual refusal to deploy certain armaments near each others' borders as well as the demand to prevent the further eastward expansion of NATO.NATO rejected most of the proposals, but the US still positively reviewed the January meetings, calling them the start of a dialogue. Washington promised to give a written response to Russia and make proposals of its own. At the same time, the West has not toned down its rhetoric of suspecting Russia of planning an invasion of Ukraine. The US drafted a list of options for responding to such an offensive, which included sanctions against Russia of varying severity. https://sputniknews.com/20211221/shoigu-private-us-military-firms-preparing-provocations-with-chemical-components-in-eastern-ukraine-1091693740.html https://sputniknews.com/20220121/russias-zakharova-nudges-uks-truss-over-remark-about-invading-forces-faced-by-ukraine-1092431884.html ukraine donbass Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg europe, russia, ukraine, donbass https://sputniknews.com/20220123/report-uk-claims-moscow-plans-to-install-pro-russian-govt-in-ukraine-are-based-on-us-intel-1092466456.html Report: UK Claims Moscow 'Plans to Install Pro-Russian Gov't in Ukraine' Are Based On US Intel Report: UK Claims Moscow 'Plans to Install Pro-Russian Gov't in Ukraine' Are Based On US Intel LONDON (Sputnik) - The statement of the UK Foreign Office about Russia's intention to put a pro-Russian leader in power in Kiev is based on the information... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T14:24+0000 2022-01-23T14:24+0000 2022-01-23T14:24+0000 intel russia ukraine us uk /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/02/1083289175_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_4cbb6eacd29a0e9d7457faa089722f33.jpg The statement of the UK Foreign Office came just a few hours after the Russian Foreign Ministry warned about the impending information and military provocations from the West, in particular the United States, with the aim to escalate the situation around Ukraine.Earlier in the day, London has accused Russia of allegedly trying to install a "pro-Russian leader" in Ukraine, naming former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevhen Murayev as a potential candidate. The UK did not provide any evidence to support its claims. Moscow has denied allegations and urged London to stop provocations.Murayev, who has been under the Russian sanctions since 2018, responded by saying that his family has assets arrested in Russia and suggested asking "Mr. Bean" for clarifications on the UK's claims.London's allegation about Murayev is the second questionable statement on Ukraine coming from the British diplomacy under the leadership of Liz Truss in the last two days. On Friday, speaking at the Lowy Institute think tank in Sydney, Truss said that Ukraine had survived many invasions, "from the Mongols to the Tatars", prompting Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to question the quality of education the UK top diplomat received. ukraine us Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 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 intel, russia, ukraine, us, uk https://sputniknews.com/20220123/ukrainian-diplomat-likens-german-failure-to-block-nord-stream-2-to-nazi-atrocities-during-wwii-1092464720.html Ukrainian Diplomat Likens German Failure to Block Nord Stream 2 to Nazi Atrocities During WWII Ukrainian Diplomat Likens German Failure to Block Nord Stream 2 to Nazi Atrocities During WWII Germany committed countless war crimes and acts of genocide in The Ukraine during the Second World War but post-Soviet nationalist governments have glorified... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T15:39+0000 2022-01-23T15:39+0000 2022-01-23T22:17+0000 dominic raab sky news russia ukraine britain germany great britain uk vladimir putin crimea /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/17/1092463891_0:0:3261:1835_1920x0_80_0_0_fdd93657ed5545d3b9b33bbc606c94c0.jpg Kiev's ambassador to the UK has compared Germany's reluctance to supply arms to Ukraine or block a Russian pipeline to Nazi Second World War crimes.Vadym Prystaiko told Sky News Trevor Phillips on Sunday morning he couldn't say what "I really think of Germany" since "there are cameras around".His undiplomatic language followed comments by German Navy chief Kay-Achim Schonbach on Friday that Kiev should give up on taking Crimea back under its control, and that Russian president Vladimir Putin deserved international "respect". Schonbach was forced to resign on Saturday."I would expect Germany to be the last ones" in NATO to say such things, Prystaiko said. "So many Ukrainians still remember what Germans did in our part of the globe, and Ukraine especially.""We are talking 80 or 90 years ago," Phillips interjected. Phillips called it a "major accusation" against the current German government that it was "repeating the treatment of Ukrainians from the last century""That was not what I said," the ambassador insisted. "What I said was that if I have to listen from somebody about things like Ukrainians not to be given the weapons to defend itself, the Germans would have to stay at the very end of the long, long line of our European partners."Asked if Germany was a reliable ally, Prystaiko said: "We rely on them in economic sanctions if they're serious with that, but I don't see the seriousness when they're still keeping laying down the pipelines going around our territory."Ukraine has vehemently opposed the new Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia across the Baltic Sea, fearing the shutdown of one of its few remaining income sources in the form of an older and less-efficient conduit across its own territory.Asked if Kiev wanted Berlin to cancel the start-up of the completed NS2 pipeline, the diplomat replied: "Absolutely".German forces committed many war crimes in Ukraine during the Second World war, including the September 1941 Babi Yar massacre of Kiev's entire Jewish population of over 33,000.Ironically, Ukraine has increasingly glorified Nazi collaborators including Stepan Bandera since the 2014 Euromaidan coup. Bandera and his Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists carried out or assisted in the genocide of Jews and ethnic Poles during the war, and fought as guerrillas against the liberating Soviet army in 1944.Prystaiko also revealed Ukraine had several times as many troops mass near its eatern border as Russia did and was prepared to fight, but admitted its army was not that well equipped for the prolonged fight with Russians.He also gave credence to British Foreign Office claims quickly dismissed by the Russian Foreign Ministry but repeated by Justice Secretary Dominic Raab on the same programme that Moscow was planning to install a pro-Russian leader in Kiev. https://sputniknews.com/20220123/extremely-unlikely-that-uk-would-send-soldiers-to-defend-ukraine-british-deputy-pm-raab-says-1092460862.html russia ukraine britain germany great britain crimea donbass Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 James Tweedie https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 James Tweedie https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png dominic raab, sky news, russia, ukraine, britain, germany, great britain, uk, vladimir putin, crimea, donbass, stepan bandera, wwii, genocide, holocaust, euromaidan, babi yar, nazi https://sputniknews.com/20220123/us-analyst-explains-how-nato-countries-can-neutralise-russian-exclave-of-kaliningrad-1092463752.html US Analyst Explains How NATO Countries Can 'Neutralise' Russian Exclave of Kaliningrad US Analyst Explains How NATO Countries Can 'Neutralise' Russian Exclave of Kaliningrad The presence of advanced Russian armaments in the exclave bordering Poland and the Baltic Sea has long prompted concerns by military analysts. Having... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T12:17+0000 2022-01-23T12:17+0000 2022-01-23T12:17+0000 kaliningrad europe russia iskander-m nato /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/17/1092463701_0:56:3443:1993_1920x0_80_0_0_09cfad01596420a0cea296a6e86f0cca.jpg NATO member states have to take into consideration the "threat" coming from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad when planning for any alleged Russian "invasion", an analyst at the Lexington Institute in the US, Sarah White has stated in an article for the online news outlet 19fortyfive.White pointed out that Kaliningrad hosts an array of advanced Russian weapons, including Iskander-M (NATO reporting name SS-26) launchers that can launch both conventional and nuclear missiles within a 500-kilometre radius, which is enough to hit all of the Baltic states and Poland the exclave's neighbours. She added that the exclave is also likely to have a fleet of warships as well as fighter jets armed with cruise missiles.The American analyst alleged that most security experts ignore Kaliningrad, while, in fact, NATO might have to fight a two-front war in the event of an armed conflict with Moscow. Poland and Lithuania, which border the exclave, might not be prepared to "neutralise" Kaliningrad, White stated.She suggested that both countries need to procure certain types of armaments in order to do that. Namely, they will need to buy Patriot missile systems from the US as they are allegedly the only way to intercept missiles launched by Iskander systems. Poland has already ordered and received the first shipment of the missile systems, but the rest is yet to arrive.Lithuania, however, like the other Baltic countries, can hardly afford to purchase them, White said in the article. She noted that NATO has so far been reluctant to supply these systems to the Baltic states fearing it might be seen as an aggressive move by Russia.In addition to the Patriot systems, the American analyst suggested that both countries could use fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets and M-1 Abrams tanks. Both of them have already been ordered by Poland, but none has arrived so far. White stressed the need to prioritise these shipments in light of the current tensions with Russia. The analyst further admitted that just as is the case with the Patriots, Lithuania can hardly afford to spend money on such expensive American armaments.The article, inked by Sarah White, comes amid increased tensions around Ukraine as Western countries accuse Russia of amassing troops near the border with the country. NATO member states have expressed fears that Moscow might be planning an invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin, for its part, has strongly rejected these allegations calling them unfounded. At the same time, Russia defends its sovereign right to move and deploy its armed forces within its borders at its own discretion. https://sputniknews.com/20220123/moscow-kiev-wests-provocations-in-donbass-and-attacks-on-russians-wont-be-tolerated-1092461336.html kaliningrad Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg kaliningrad, europe, russia, iskander-m, nato https://sputniknews.com/20220123/us-navy-says-detained-ship-from-iran-carrying-weapons-for-houthi-movement-1092461209.html US Navy Says Detained Ship From Iran Carrying Cargo for Houthi Movement US Navy Says Detained Ship From Iran Carrying Cargo for Houthi Movement The vessel was transporting 40 tonnes of fertiliser, which could potentially be used to create explosives. 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T09:34+0000 2022-01-23T09:34+0000 2022-01-23T10:53+0000 yemen us iran houthi rebels us navy houthi movement weapons /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/06/1082555006_0:107:2048:1259_1920x0_80_0_0_fa7a0a9e357b5ddd31b47d9aa503f912.jpg The American Navy has detained a ship in the Gulf of Oman with cargo for the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Navy said in a statement that its guided-missile destroyer, the USS Cole, and patrol ships had stopped and searched the vessel that was en route to war-hit Yemen last Tuesday.About 40 tonnes of urea fertiliser, known to be a key ingredient in homemade improvised explosive devices, were hidden on board, according to the statement. The Iranian authorities have not commented on the matter yet.The developments follow Houthi militants last month launching a massive missile and drone attack on military and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. A Houthi spokesperson claimed that a number of drones and missiles targeted the Ministry of Defence, King Khalid Airport, King Fahd Air Base in Taif, and Aramco in Jeddah, as well as many other military sites.Yemen has been ravaged by a conflict between government forces led by President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and the Houthi Ansar Allah movement for almost seven years. The situation was further complicated after Saudi Arabia joined the conflict on the side of Yemen's government in 2015, launching air, land, and sea operations against the Houthi movement.Since February 2020, the Houthis have been carrying out a large-scale operation against the Yemeni Army in Marib to gain control over the province, which is also a political, military, and economic centre.Last year, US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking argued that Iran's purported support of Yemen's Houthi movement is "quite significant and it's lethal", allegations that were rejected by Tehran as unsubstantiated. https://sputniknews.com/20220118/houthis-slam-saudi-arabia-uae-for-bombing-residential-areas-in-yemeni-capital-1092344645.html https://sputniknews.com/20220110/us-media-concerned-by-irans-growing-naval-might-beefing-up-of-asymmetric-warfare-capabilities-1092156676.html yemen iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg yemen, us, iran, houthi rebels, us navy, houthi movement, weapons https://sputniknews.com/20220123/us-senator-compares-bidens-policy-towards-russia-with-wests-appeasement-of-nazi-germany-1092470023.html US Senator Compares Biden's Policy Towards Russia With West's Appeasement of Nazi Germany US Senator Compares Biden's Policy Towards Russia With West's Appeasement of Nazi Germany Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier warned against imposing immediate economic sanctions on Russia simply on the suspicion that it might invade Ukraine... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T18:53+0000 2022-01-23T18:53+0000 2022-01-23T18:54+0000 us russia ukraine sanctions /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/1d/1082762156_0:0:2931:1649_1920x0_80_0_0_cfc12c5cb7f718be8bc0ff5cafba6498.jpg Republican Senator Joni Ernst has called on the White House to start imposing sanctions against Russia immediately instead of waiting for its invasion in Ukraine, which Washington fears might happen despite Moscow's assurances of the opposite. In an interview with CNN, Ernst criticised Biden's approach to handling Russia arguing that the US "needs to act now".Ernst went as far as to call Biden's policy a "doctrine of appeasement" a term historically used to describe the western European countries' approach to handling Nazi Germany's territorial ambitions. The congresswoman suggested that the White House's current policy won't prevent Russia from invading the neighbouring state.The GOP senator suggested that cutting Russia off the SWIFT banking system, reportedly discussed in the White House as a possible response to the invasion, was one option to deter Moscow from aggressive actions. She also suggested arming the Ukrainian army with not only defensive, but also lethal weapons despite the risk of Kiev and radical groups using it against the self-proclaimed people's republics in the country's east and civilians living there.The lawmaker also stressed that Washington must also ensure the safety and security of Americans "that are in the Donbass region", evacuating them if necessary. It is unclear if there are any US citizens are actually living in the Donbass region (which is sometimes shelled by the Ukrainian military).White House Opposes the Idea of Pre-Emptive SanctionsJoni Ernst's proposals contradict ideas regarding anti-Russian sanctions expressed earlier today by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He argued that there was no point in slapping Russia with sanctions right now since the sanctions will lose their deterrent effect.The US has been discussing possible sanctions options with European allies in recent months in light of their claims that Russia has been gathering troops at the border with Ukraine. Western politicians expressed concerns that Moscow might be planning an invasion in Ukraine, but presented no evidence to back up their fears.The Kremlin strongly rejected the allegations and promised that it has no plans to invade its neighbour. Furthermore, Moscow defended its right to move and redeploy its troops within its own borders as it sees fit since it is Moscow's sovereign right to do so. https://sputniknews.com/20220123/extremely-unlikely-that-uk-would-send-soldiers-to-defend-ukraine-british-deputy-pm-raab-says-1092460862.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg us, russia, ukraine, sanctions https://sputniknews.com/20220123/us-state-department-officially-orders-diplomats-families-non-essential-staffers-to-leave-ukraine-1092472680.html US State Department Officially Orders Diplomats' Families, Non-Essential Staffers to Leave Ukraine US State Department Officially Orders Diplomats' Families, Non-Essential Staffers to Leave Ukraine The United States Department of State (DOS) has ordered the departure of eligible family members from its embassy in Kiev, Ukraine. The DOS also authorised the... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T23:21+0000 2022-01-23T23:21+0000 2022-01-24T04:36+0000 ukraine kiev us embassy in kiev us state department /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105443/09/1054430985_0:272:3501:2241_1920x0_80_0_0_5143d6815287167a8a94fbf16beb1f8b.jpg On Sunday, the State Department upgraded Ukraine's level four travel advisory, stating, "Do not travel to Ukraine due to the increased threats of Russian military action and COVID-19". The country had already been at level four due to COVID-19 concerns.The State Department's alert stressed for all Americans in Ukraine to depart the country as soon as possible."On January 23, 2022, the Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of US direct hire employees and ordered the departure of eligible family members from Embassy Kyiv due to the continued threat of Russian military action", reads the statement. "US citizens in Ukraine should consider departing now using commercial or other privately available transportation options".The possibility of a Russian military action in Ukraine would severely limit the US Embassy's ability to provide services to Americans in Ukraine, according to the State Department.Shortly after the release was issued, the State Department issued "do not travel" notices for Russia, citing ongoing "tensions" along Russia's border with Ukraine.A senior US State Department official has indicated that the US Embassy would continue to operate in an uninterrupted manner. Asked about how many Americans were stationed in Ukraine, the official was not able to provide an accurate figure.Despite its latest actions, the same official further noted that the US was still interested in finding a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis, adding that the evacuation call was wholly meant as a "precaution".Sunday's announcement came days after the US agency denied reports that it would be planning to evacuate relatives of embassy staffers in Kiev.The US-Russia Tug of War Over UkraineTensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine have been building since the Crimea Peninsula joined Russia in 2014. Russia asserts that they legally took over the territory through a referendum, whereas the West has repeatedly referred to it as a military invasion. On Saturday, a report out of the United Kingdom claimed that Russia is aiming to replace the current Ukrainian government with a pro-Moscow leadership. The assertion was based on an intelligence assessment to which the UK government provided no evidence to back its claims. Russia's Foreign Ministry has refuted the UK's claims, with officials referring to the accusations as complete "nonsense".Ukraine, the United States, and its NATO allies have accused Russia of amassing over 100,000 troops along the Ukrainian-Russian border. The Kremlin has refuted the claims and has pointed to NATO military activity near Russia as a threat to their security. Zakharova has stressed that Russia is waiting on a US response to their security proposals.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his Russian counterpart this week to de-escalate the situation. The Kremlin has presented the Biden administration with security proposals, including an agreement with NATO to end its eastward expansion and to remove offensive weapons in countries bordering Russia. Washington has yet to provide a formal response. ukraine kiev Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Nevin Brown Nevin Brown News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Nevin Brown ukraine, kiev, us embassy in kiev, us state department https://sputniknews.com/20220123/variant-under-investigation-what-is-known-about-omicron-ba2-1092462622.html 'Variant Under Investigation': What is Known About Omicron BA.2 'Variant Under Investigation': What is Known About Omicron BA.2 Earlier this week, virologist Tom Peacock of Imperial College London tweeted that as far as Omicron BA.2 is concerned, "very early observations from India and... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T11:12+0000 2022-01-23T11:12+0000 2022-01-23T16:24+0000 france denmark sweden india uk coronavirus covid-19 variant omicron strain omicron covid strain /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/1e/1091915822_0:0:3070:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_7c6db2e48a60ec804c9cb3311fb5d4aa.jpg Experts at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have described the Omicron sub-variant BA.2 as a "variant under investigation" amid a number of cases being found in Britain and beyond. So, what is known about this new COVID strain at present? The Omicron sub-variant was first identified in India and South Africa in late December 2021. The new strain is believed to have emerged from a mutation of Omicron, officially known as BA.1. BA.2 is thought to have over 20 mutations, with about half of them being part of the spike protein that interacts with human cells and is the key to the process of coronavirus entering a human body. The World Health Organisation (WHO) currently does not distinguish between BA.1 and BA.2 as the sub-variant is now under intense scrutiny by the global scientific community. Some say BA.2 poses certain challenges to scientists, as it is not easy to track in terms of PCR test protocol-related detection. The sub-variant has already been detected in at least 43 countries, with increasing cases in such countries as India, the UK, France, Denmark, and Sweden. French Health Minister Olivier Veran believes BA.2 doesn't look as if it is "a game-changer" because COVID variants appear on the scene "fairly regularly". Virologist Tom Peacock of Imperial College London suggests "there is likely to be minimal differences in vaccine effectiveness against BA.1 and BA.2". He also argues he is "not sure BA.2 is going to have a substantial impact on the current Omicron wave of the pandemic". https://sputniknews.com/20220122/uk-health-officials-play-down-426-cases-of-new-omicron-ba2-sub-strain-1092453081.html france denmark sweden india Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg france, denmark, sweden, india, uk, coronavirus, covid-19, variant, omicron strain https://sputniknews.com/20220123/west-using-ukraine-as-instrument-of-advancing-regional-interests--russian-foreign-ministry-1092472506.html West Using Ukraine as Instrument of Advancing Regional Interests -Russian Foreign Ministry West Using Ukraine as Instrument of Advancing Regional Interests -Russian Foreign Ministry MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The West is using Kiev as an instrument in order to advance its own interests in the region and influence certain processes, the Russian... 23.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-23T22:34+0000 2022-01-23T22:34+0000 2022-01-23T22:33+0000 russia ukraine russian foreign ministry kiev /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/102658/21/1026582187_0:209:4000:2459_1920x0_80_0_0_e6b00f5c54648f8528d90bbf39700d2b.jpg "Ukraine is perceived by the West as an instrument of influence, of carrying out its interests in the region, destabilizing the situation, endlessly accusing us [Russia]," Zakharova said in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper.She emphasized that Western countries need reasons to constantly justify anti-Russian sanctions and are using Ukraine in that respect despite the fact that there is no evidence of any plans to Russian "aggression."The Russian Foreign Ministrys spokeswoman reiterated that Moscow is waiting for a response from the US to its proposals on security guarantees."We have submitted written proposals to our Western partners, first of all the United States. We have been very open in our actions ... Now we have responded immediately to their desire to hold some kind of clarification meeting. It was held despite the schedule... We are showing absolute cooperation, we are waiting for written answers to each of the points," Zakharova told Izvestia.She stressed that the meeting held between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Geneva on Friday was organized at the initiative of the US.On Friday, Lavrov and Blinken met in Geneva and the US secretary promised to provide a written response to Moscow's proposals on security guarantees next week.Western countries have been 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 military activity near the Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security. Russia has also affirmed that it has the right to move forces within its own territory. ukraine kiev Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 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 russia, ukraine, russian foreign ministry, kiev The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Conservation and Survey Division (CSD) School of Natural Resources has established a new applied geophysics research program in Scottsbluff that is prepared to investigate environmental and agricultural issues in the Scottsbluff area and elsewhere in Nebraska. Many pieces of geophysical research equipment have been acquired by CSD Geoscientist Dr. Mohamed Khalil Aboushanab since he joined the faculty at the UNL Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center at Scottsbluff in September 2021. A key piece of equipment is a new, state-of-the-art resistivity meter that can capture resistivity images of the earths subsurface up to 300 feet in depth. These images can help discover and investigate groundwater aquifers, mineral resources, subsurface geological structures, archaeological remains, and many other features. Thus the new equipment can be used to study many different environmental and engineering problems. To conduct a resistivity survey, a string of non-destructive probes is set up on the ground surface. The probes can measure a slice of subsurface up to 1,300 feet long. An electric current is injected through them, and the electrical resistivity below the surface is measured with a resistivity meter. After this data is collected, mathematically-based software is used to produce two-dimension and three-dimension images of the subsurface. Potential applications for the new resistivity meter include studies of groundwater-surface water interactions; nitrate contamination in aquifers; soil salinization; soil piping; rodent burrows; claypans; sinkholes; differential settlement; landslides and other mass movements; drainage pipe problems; irrigation-canal collapses; leak detection at animal-waste storage ponds and treatment lagoons; and tree-root biomass detection. In addition to the new resistivity meter, Dr. Khalil Aboushanab has acquired frequency-domain electromagnetic equipment, which can measure earth resistivity to depths of up to 200 feet without any contact with the ground, and a self-potential system, which can delineate vertical or horizontal water seepage. CSD is also investigating the purchase of new time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) equipment that can survey to maximum depths of approximately 1,300 feet. Together, the new equipment now available in Scottsbluff and Dr. Khalil Aboushanabs more than 20 years of experience in using resistivity and electromagnetic methods for geophysical exploration represent a major expansion of CSDs ability to engage in applied research to serve Nebraskans. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form While the West Nebraska Arts Centers legacy extends back 55 years in the community, the building also has a rich history. WNAC was established in 1967 and is located on the corner of 18th Street and First Avenue in downtown Scottsbluff. But before the building was an arts center, part of it was the Scottsbluff Carnegie Library. To celebrate the buildings centennial, WNAC Director Michelle Denton said they have organized a 100 years of community exhibit. The west end of our building was the Carnegie Library, and its hard to see that it got added onto, Denton said. So, it turns 100 years old in a couple of months and we wanted to do something with 100. WNAC had a show idea featuring an artist who painted 100 items, but due to some health issues, the plans changed. The 100 years of community exhibit is focused on the communitys perspective of what makes the community home. The artwork can be anything associated with the 100 years in our community, Denton said. It could be the monument, it could be farming, it could be the airport or the Oregon Trail. The artwork must be original and cannot be copies. Artists may submit their pieces through any medium they choose photos, quilts, paintings, pottery. Each artist can submit two entries for the show. The property was the site of the old Campbellite Church, which St. Andrews Episcopal Church sold to the city library on July 26, 1921. The library board obtained funds from the Carnegie Foundation to construct the first portion of the present building in 1921 (the west third). The library then moved into the Scottsbluff Carnegie Library in April 1922, adding a large addition on the east side with a WPA grant in 1936. The Scottsbluff Carnegie Library was constructed from 1921 to April 1922 and was one of the libraries in 68 communities, townships or counties in the state funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, according to the National Park Service. Carnegie was a wealthy industrialist who provided money to build libraries across the country. Scottsbluffs Carnegie Library was one of the last two Carnegies Libraries built in Nebraska. It was funded through a $15,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation and is one of the few remaining buildings with architectural details from the 1920s in Scottsbluff. The city library then relocated to its new location in September 1966, and the Carnegie Library was loaned to Hiram Scott College for a year. That next summer, the West Nebraska League of Arts became a nonprofit organization and leased the building from the city. It wasnt until 1976 when the nonprofit changed the name to the West Nebraska Arts Center. The final renovation of the building brought it to its present state with a gallery, upstairs office and storage room, the Dorothy Bronson Gallery, an educational classroom and offices of the director and assistant director in 1982. Currently, WNAC has 20 to 24 shows a year in the two galleries, art classes four days a week, fundraisers and workshops. We love our community and celebrate our 100 years with this upcoming show, said Denton. WNAC invites the community to celebrate the Carnegie Librarys 100th birthday through an artistic lens that not only highlights the civic architecture of previous periods that built the community but also each persons connection to its landscape. We want to bring it all together for the month of March, said Denton. Look around your community and find places that you love, then, bring it here for everyone to enjoy. I want them to celebrate their own connection to this area and maybe some history about the Carnegie Library. Entries will be accepted Feb. 22-27 at WNAC, and the exhibit will be on display March 3-27. There will be an opening reception at WNAC March 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. The public can view the exhibit Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends from 1 to 5 p.m. The arts center is closed Mondays. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form 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. Beth Cole, of Merna, has always been an artsy person. She began her artistic endeavors on the piano, but over the last decade she has been moving her artistic medium of choice to painting. I came to painting from music. My first love was piano, and I still love piano, she said. I always wanted to paint, and I told my husband when I get older, I want to paint. Cole waited until she and her husband became empty nesters. With her kids off to college, she had more time to start a new hobby. That hobby quickly became more than just a weekend pastime and more of a serious part of her life. She currently has her artwork being displayed at the West Nebraska Arts Center in the show Love, Morning by Beth Cole. Gretchen Peters shes (an) amazing artist and person, and she actually invited me to the Oregon Trail (Days) Art Show thats in Gering, and so I showed there. And I met her in person and so many other fabulous people that put that show on and other artists, too, that showed. I just loved it, Cole said. Anyway, she (Peters) contacted me I dont know maybe a month or so after that or a couple months and said they (WNAC) had an opening someone had cancelled and would I be interested in filling it. ... I said I would love to and thank you for thinking of me and Id be honored. At first, Cole wasnt sure she could fill such a space "Ill never forget that she said we need 30-40 paintings. I said 'oh dear'" but she managed to fill the main gallery with beautiful landscape paintings of the morning hour. I am in love with the colors of morning. And the dependability of it, Cole said in her artistic statement for the show. Light overcomes darkness day after day. For it is a symbol of a bigger and better truth that gives hope to all of us. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5). These paintings come from that special love letter that comes daily without fail. It is sent by the Creator of Light and signed Love, Morning. Cole had her opening reception for the show on Dec. 30, and it ended up being a kind of family reunion as well as a celebration of her artwork. A lot of people came, and I had a great time, she said. I have a big family. Im from western Nebraska, from Chappell. I grew up on a wheat farm out there, and my dad is 88 and he came with his wife, and my youngest sister lives in Ogallala and she bought another sister and my niece and another sister. So, I just had a bunch of people there. It was fun. And, I have a couple of cousins that ones in Bridgeport and ones in Scottsbluff and so they came, so it was fun. The opening reception also felt like a celebration of her artistic journey, she said, and how far she has come. When she first began painting, Cole said she had a lot to learn. She took a bunch of workshops and ended up tossing many a painting. The best thing that has taught me in life is practice, the ability to show up every day and dont be afraid to throw something away. Ive thrown so many things away, she said, laughing, and thats how you learn. She experimented with various media, including watercolor, acrylic and oil. When she first tried oil, she knew she found her go-to. Im just a slow painter, so I take my time, and oil allows me to be a little bit more flexible and come back and scrape something off or move it around or whatever, and I just love that, she said. Cole said she loves all aspects of painting, and she believes its because of her musical background. For her, music and painting and all artistic forms for that matter are connected. I came from the world of music, and I think music and art are so connected, she said, because I was just thinking about this the other day you think about a composer; we wouldnt have music without a composer. And in art, composition is just so important to having a successful painting. And so, the root of that word is compose. And so as an artist, youre doing the same thing youre writing it, youre writing the story, youre writing the painting, youre composing it, just like a composer of music would. So, theyre very connected. In the musical world, theres the melody line and theres harmony and theres rhythm and theres all of those things in painting also, so I feel like the two are really, really connected. Coles show will be in the Main Gallery at the West Nebraska Arts Center until Jan. 30. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form 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. If you read my column of last Sunday, and I hope you did, it was about the discovery of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen in November of 1922 by the archaeologist Howard Carter. At the end of the column, I mentioned that we have here in Iredell County a genuine Egyptian mummy of about the same age as King Tut, and suggested that you might visit the Iredell Museum at 134 Court St., Statesville, and see Margaret the Mummy. This column I wrote on Tutankhamen piqued my curiosity about how we got a mummy of our own, a rarity for even large cities with wealthy museums. Margaret the Mummy came to Statesville in 1957. Before this she had resided in a museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and before that she had reposed she thought for eternity in Faiyum, also spelled Fayum, a city about 80 miles southeast of the capital city of Cairo, that has been inhabited since 5200 B.C. Those who know such things say Margaret lived and died during the 22nd Dynasty, which spanned 1000 to 700 years before the birth of Jesus (BCE). Supposedly, a Baptist missionary was in Luxor, Egypt, and wanted a souvenir, and he purchased Margaret from a street vendor. This is supposed to have occurred around the year 1900, when those in charge of keeping Egypts antiquities in Egypt were less than vigilant in their duties. In 1907, Margaret ended up in the museum of the Crozer Theological Seminary in Upland, Pennsylvania, where the missionary had gone to school. In 1957 the museum closed and the museums collection was disbursed. Fortunately, the Arts and Sciences Museum, as the Iredell Museums was then known, was just then getting organized. Richard Casanova (1918-1994), on the board, heard about the mummys availability and decided the mummy would make a fine addition to our local museum. Margaret made the trip south from Pennsylvania to Statesville in June of 1957. Based on X-rays of her disjointed skeleton, it was established that Margaret is female, a young woman who never suffered from malnutrition. Dr. Irvin Shaefer, then of Iredell Memorial Hospital, identified the specimen as female and further speculated that she was probably from a well-to-do family. From photographs of the innermost mummy case, called a cartonnage, Dr. John Taylor, an Egyptologist with the British Museum, stated that Margaret closely resembled other mummies from the Faiyum region. As to Margarets name, we dont know what her real name was, as it is not given in the hieroglyphics on her mummy case. She is believed to have been an average person of the middle class. The name Margaret came about as a result of a 1981 contest among local school children. Jamie Vacca came up with the winning nickname, Margaret, and Leslie Steele cleverly invented the mummys official name, Tuttina. For unknown reasons, this mummy was not fully processed and preserved as usual, and as a result, all of her that has survived is her skeleton, and it is not intact. The museum has X-ray photographs of Margarets jumbled, mixed bones, made at Iredell Memorial Hospital in July of 1957. One might say that Margaret is a barebones mummy, without skin, hair, fingernails and muscle tissue. That she was young is evidenced from the fact that some of her teeth had not yet erupted. Several theories have been advanced as to why her remains were not treated better, one being that she accidently died in the desert and that when her body was found, it was already too dried-out for the mummification process. One wonders if advances in archaeology and DNA investigation might reveal more about our mummy than was available in the late 1950s. Furthermore, archaeological discoveries continue to be made in Egypt. In 2020, more than a hundred ancient coffins, some with mummies inside, and around forty gilded statues were found south of Cairo, in a vast necropolis at Saqqara, Giza, Egypt. Every four or five years some Egyptologist or engineer comes along with a new theory as to how the pyramids were built, thus keeping this magnificent civilization that blossomed beside the Nile River in the news. You can visit Margaret in all her glory at the Iredell Museums, 134 Court St., Statesville. General admission is $5 and masks are required. Museum hours are Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. O.C. Stonestreet is the author of Tales From Old Iredell County, They Called Iredell County Home and Once Upon a Time in Mooresville, NC. Lake Norman Humane had planned to celebrate the life and legacy of Betty White on Monday, which was her 100th birthday. They planned to remember the late actress who was a well-known animal advocate with snack foods and a gathering but the snowy weather made that impossible. A nationwide effort to honor Betty White, however, went on as scheduled and Lake Norman Humane, along with other local rescue groups, reaped the rewards. The Betty White Challenge raised more than $18,000 for Lake Norman Humane, Piedmont Animal Rescue, Rescue Ranch and Iredell County Animal Services. Piedmont Animal Rescue Director Jason Benge said more than $7,100 had come in as of Thursday morning, and additional donations had not yet been counted. Lake Norman Humane Director Jason Hayes said the amount raised as of Friday afternoon exceeded $7,000 and more was coming in. And monetary donations were not the only way fans of the actress and animal advocates paid tribute, Hayes said. Donations of items on Lake Norman Humanes wish list also arrived at the facility on Charlotte Highway near Mooresville. And at the Rescue Ranch in Statesville, the donations totaled $4,424. The donations to Iredell County Animal Services amounted to $548. White, who died Dec. 31, was a dedicated animal welfare activist, and in the days following her death, the Betty White Challenge arose, encouraging people to donate at least $5 to an animal rescue organization of their choice. And, on the local level, folks came through with donations, meaning these organizations can save more animals, Benge said. On Thursday, as donations were still coming in, Benge and Donald Gullett, development director, were doing just that. We just picked up five dogs today, Benge said. The five dogs will not be available for adoption right away as they are scared and under-socialized and will need a lot of love and care to get them ready to be pets. Benge said the donations through the Betty White Challenge will help in this endeavor. Benge said the more than $7,000 will mean PAR can help more animals. He said this money will help PAR to be able to pull more dogs from local shelters and to get them any medical and social rehabilitation needed to get them adopted. Hayes said the generosity shown by the community was nothing short of remarkable. I dont think Ive ever seen that many donations to that level, Hayes said. This was especially remarkable since the campaign sprung up quickly, and most organizations did little marketing on their own. This means everything, Hayes said. Lake Norman Humane posted a photo of one its dogs, Duke, who is currently undergoing treatment for advanced heartworm disease. Hayes said this money will go a long way toward helping Duke and other heartworm positive dogs recover and be adopted. Heartworm is incredibly expensive to treat and it is so common in our region, he said. Heartworm is spread by mosquitos, which are much more common in warmer climates such as in North Carolina We are truly moved by how many wonderful people honored Betty Whites lifelong commitment to animal welfare with a donation in her honor to Lake Norman Humane. It is absolutely heartwarming to see how many lives Betty White touched. Your support saves lives, a post on Lake Norman Humanes Facebook page read. We are so grateful to honor Bettys legacy and we are truly grateful that that many folks chose us, Hayes said. Amy Spear, Rescue Ranch development manager, said that organization is also thankful that people chose Rescue Ranch and to honor Whites legacy. We are so grateful for our supporters who participated in the Betty White Challenge. We were so happy to be a part of this campaign and honor Betty White on what would have been her 100th birthday, Spear said. Israeli defense manufacturer Soltam delivered twelve ATMOS 2000 truck-mounted 155mm artillery vehicles to the Philippines at the end of 2021. This is the second Asian country to receive ATMOS, Thailand received six in 2015. Each ATMOS vehicle cost nearly $4 million and they arrived in the Philippines with additional equipment to form two artillery batteries of six guns each. Philippines ordered ATMOS in 2019 and plans to use it to provide mobile artillery support against Islamic terrorist and communist rebels, especially those whose remote camps are discovered by aerial surveillance. The NATO standard 155mm howitzer can fire a shell at targets up to 41 kilometers distant, which is most effective using expensive (at least $15,000 each) GPS guided shells. The Philippines will use unguided shells, which cost less than $150 each and are most effective targets less than 30 kilometers away. ATMOS was the first truck-mounted 155mm artillery vehicle to enter service, even though France and South Africa were developing the concept before Soltam. The Israelis have a knack for developing hybrid weapons and doing it first and better than anyone else. Even before Israel became a nation, they had to improvise sufficient numbers of effective weapons to survive. Carrying artillery on a truck is nothing new. It allows the artillery to be moved around faster and with less wear and tear than towing it behind a truck. Artillery carried on a truck takes longer to unload and prepare to fire. At first the only ready-to-fire vehicular artillery in a were armored vehicles similar to tanks, but armed with indirect-fire artillery guns and howitzers rather than the smaller caliber direct-fire guns used by tanks. Tanks and, until recently self-propelled artillery travelled on tracks, which are more expensive, wear out more quickly and must be replaced more frequently than tires. Although Israel did not need something like ATMOS itself, its defense firms were accustomed to improvising to provide export customers with innovative weapons they needed. Israel applied some modern tech to the truck-mounted artillery demand and came up the first of several workable designs. On the rear of ATMOS is a mechanism that is placed on the ground to brace the gun, which can than be elevated or swerved as needed to aim the gun at the target. The current version of ATMOS 2000 uses a 22-ton 6x6 cross-country truck that carries 27 rounds of 155mm ammo as well as the 155mm gun and six or more personnel. ATMOS only four men to emplace and operate the gun, which can fire shells at the rate of four to six a minute. Normally an ATMOS crew is six men, to make it easier to maintain and emplace the gun and deal with crewmen being lost to combat or non-combat causes. Like all Soltam artillery and mortar systems, ATMOS has a very capable and easy to use fire control system. The loading and aiming mechanism is equally efficient allowing the gun to be aimed, loaded, and fired with a small crew. Soltam 120mm mortar systems are even bigger sellers than ATMOS because there is more demand for improved 120mm weapons. Over 70 ATMOS systems have been sold so far, including some modified and built under license in in Romania and Poland. The Israeli army only recently ordered some ATMOS 2000 vehicles to replace elderly M109 self-propelled armored 155mm guns. Israel has become one of the largest arms exporters by getting new systems to market faster and then upgrading them faster than the competition. That now includes China, which introduced the PCL-181, a new truck-mounted 155mm artillery vehicle in 2020. With this, they follow the example of France, Sweden, South Africa and Israel. These other nations have been selling similar systems since 2001. China recently developed the PCL-181, which is a 25- ton 6x6 truck carrying a gun crew of eight and a truck-bed mounted 155mm howitzer. PCL-181 will replace current towed howitzers. PCL-181 can be carried in heavy transport aircraft China recently introduced, and builds on the experience of similar systems built by other nations since the 1990s. China plans to offer an export version and these will compete with the earlier and very similar, SH-1 system that was developed just for the export market and introduced in 2006. In the 1990s, a French firm was the first to develop a truck-mounted 155mm system called Caesar, which entered service in 2003. In 2009 France sent eight Caesar howitzers to Afghanistan. The roads in Afghanistan are pretty bad, and wheeled combat vehicles have a hard time of it. But Caesar was built to handle cross country operations. Afghanistan was the first time Caesar has served in combat and was successful. The French Army has ordered about a hundred and another hundred have been exported. Caesar is the lightest of the truck-mounted 155mm howitzers, weighing 18 tons. Other nations have built heavier (20-30 ton) systems, usually on a 6x6 heavy truck chassis. This French experience with Caesar in Afghanistan encouraged Sweden about the ability of its Archer system to operate in the vast rural areas of Scandinavia. Some parts of rural Sweden are similar to Afghanistan, but worse (more swamps). Sweden had had some Archer systems in service 2013 and 24 by 2017 and eventually 48. There have been no export customers. South Africa introduced a similar T5-52 in 2002 but was unable to find any export customers. The Israeli ATMOS finally got some combat experience in the brief 2020 war between Armenia and ATMOS user Azerbaijan. None of these systems can be considered an exotic piece of technology. For example, Archer is an FH77 155mm/L52 howitzer mounted on a modified Volvo 6x6 dump truck. The vehicle, with the howitzer on board, weighs 30 tons. L52 means the barrel is 52 times the caliber (8 meters/25 feet). When the vehicle halts, the four-man crew can extend the metal braces in the rear, raise the barrel, and be firing within minutes. After firing, the vehicle can be moving in less than a minute. Archer can use the Excalibur GPS guided round, which means Archer and an ammo vehicle can supply lots of effective firepower without the need for constant resupply. Each Archer vehicle costs about $5 million. A Longview man pleaded guilty Friday in Cowlitz County Superior Court to assisting in the wounding of a Castle Rock officer with a vehicle in February 2021. Timothy Rollo Bean, 34, was sentenced to about four years in prison Friday for two charges in the Castle Rock crime, as well as two misdemeanors in an unrelated crime he was found guilty of in December 2021. Sentencing Bean pleaded guilty Friday to the felony of a hit and run accident causing an injury and attempting to elude officers in the Castle Rock case. He was also sentenced for two counts of first-degree criminal trespass in a separate, December 2021 verdict, in which he admitted to entering strangers Longview home while high on methamphetamines, but did not intentionally destroy property. On Friday, Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Thad Scudder sentenced Bean to a total of 50 months in prison for all of his convicted crimes. A Lewis County Judge will decide the outcome of his remaining motor vehicle theft charge in Lewis County. Castle Rock crime Castle Rock Officer Bill Zimmerman said the patrol vehicle he was driving was hit by an alleged stolen commercial van when he tried to pull over the driver on Feb. 28, 2021, east of Castle Rock. Zimmerman said he suffered a concussion and fractured neck vertebrae as a result, and could not work for about three months. Surveillance video from a Toutle grocery store shows the van reversed and backed into Zimmermans patrol car twice, according to the Lower Columbia Major Crimes team. At Fridays hearing, Scudder read Beans guilty statement, which said Bean was scared and surprised when the driver Dale Woodley, 41, hit Zimmerman. Bean panicked and encouraged the driver to drive away from Officer Zimmermans vehicle, Scudder read from Beans guilty plea. Woodley, the driver, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, attempting to elude police, second-degree malicious mischief and possession of a stolen vehicle in May 2021 in Cowlitz County Superior Court, and is serving a roughly 8 1/2-year sentence. Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney Jason Laurine also read a statement from Zimmerman, in which he said his wife and children still have nightmares about the incident, and the physical and emotional pain this has caused me will never go away. Bean apologized for his involvement in both cases and said he is hoping to receive addiction treatment in prison. Im really, really sorry and ashamed for my actions and participation in all these events, he said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Minecraft, Mojang, LinkedIn, Skype did not see changes after takeover by Microsoft; Activision Blizzard will not be such an easy drive for Satya Nadella. The success of Microsofts biggest deal ever rides on rehabilitating Activision Blizzard culture, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella declared after announcing the $69 billion transaction. Accomplishing that will require Microsoft to deviate from its usual hands-off approach on acquisitions to tackle what amounts to a clean up job of fixing the famed maker of the Call of Duty games franchise, which faces multiple accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct, analysts and management experts say. Microsoft has traditionally allowed the companies it acquires to run autonomously, RBC Capital Markets analyst Rishi Jaluria said. In recent years, Microsoft purchased LinkedIn, GitHub, Skype and Mojang, the Stockholm-based creator of the video game series Minecraft, all of which have not seen major changes since their acquisitions. The Activision deal announced on Tuesday will require a heavier hand. Since July, Activision has faced a lawsuit from California regulators alleging the company "fostered a sexist culture." It also has been the subject of investigative stories detailing allegations of sexual harassment internally, and its employees have staged walkouts to protest Activisions response to the issues. Activision said it received requests from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for information "regarding employment matters and related issues," and is cooperating with the agency. Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, whose handling of the alleged misconduct has attracted media scrutiny, is expected to leave the company after the transaction closes, according to one source. However, cultural issues are never one person, Jaluria said. There is going to be a lot more work for Microsoft. The company has begun making changes. Activision recently pushed out about three dozen employees following its own investigation and said it made high-level personnel changes and increased its investment in anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training as of last October. Its board of directors formed a Workplace Responsibility Committee to oversee the company's progress in improving culture. Activision said it has investigated -- and will continue to investigate -- complaints of harassment, discrimination and retaliation and will provide regular updates. In October, Activision announced a zero-tolerance harassment policy. "We recognized that we needed to make improvements in our culture and ensure an environment where people feel safe, comfortable and respected," Kotick told Reuters. A Microsoft spokesperson said the company is committed to inclusion and respect in gaming and is "looking forward to extending our culture of proactive inclusion to the great teams across Activision Blizzard." Before the deal is expected to close by fiscal 2023, Microsoft is limited by what it can do, said Kathryn Harrigan, a professor at Columbia Business School who specializes in corporate growth and turnarounds. Beyond declaring that it is a priority, Microsoft can ask questions and collect data, she said, adding that one good place to start is to gather information such as salary data to identify wage disparity. Activision agreed to pay $18 million in September to settle a complaint filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over sexual harassment and discrimination issues. After the deal closes, Microsoft can take a more active role by hiring advisers, bringing in law firms or mandating sensitivity training, said Brian Uzzi, a professor at Northwesterns Kellogg School of Management. Microsoft could also launch its own investigation of the culture at Activision, he added. Ultimately, Microsoft could decide to revamp Activisions management team, Jaluria said. LIGHT AT END OF TUNNEL That would be good news for some Activision employees, who have demanded Koticks removal by staging a walkout and circulating a petition. Jessica Gonzalez, a former Activision employee who has helped lead worker activism, said she is cautiously optimistic that conditions will improve following the acquisition. But workers still need better representation at the company to achieve lasting change, she said. Microsoft will need to overcome its own culture issues. The company's board of directors in January said it hired a law firm to conduct a review of its sexual harassment and gender discrimination policies after shareholders supported a proposal in November calling on Microsoft to review the effectiveness of its policies. That vote followed a Wall Street Journal report that Microsoft founder Bill Gates left the companys board in 2020 amid a probe of the billionaire's past intimate relationship with a female employee. Nadella issued a statement on Jan. 13 announcing plans for the review, saying the board appreciates the importance of a safe and inclusive workforce. He called culture our No. 1 priority. He used similar language in his remarks Tuesday about Activision. Here is what NASA will do if an asteroid was about to hit Earth. A horrific tragedy will play itself out if asteroid impacts Earth Every day we see reports of some massive asteroid or the other approaching Earth and then flying by the planet. These near Earth objects have tremendous powers of destruction if they did hit Earth. But have you ever wondered about what will happen if asteroid hits Earth? US space agency NASA keeps a watchful eye on the happenings in space, especially those that threaten the Earth, like asteroids. NASA reacts to it accordingly if it sees anything dangerous coming towards the planet. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has recently released a video discussing what will really happen if an asteroid hits Earth. The video features NASA Planetary Defense Expert Dr. Kelly Fast and she can be seen saying that it is important to find and locate the asteroids before they become a threat as doing so can prevent the biggest natural disaster of them all. Currently, an asteroid hitting Earth is the only natural disaster that can actually be prevented, the expert said in the video. NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office tracks asteroids and calculates their orbits far into the future. If an asteroid impact threat is discovered years or decades in advance, then a mission to deflect teh asteroid away from hitting Earth may be possible. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: However, the problem is that many asteroids escape detection till they are very near Earth and they do not leave much time to take action. These actually fly in towards the Earth from various blind spots especially while coming from the direction of the Sun. How can an asteroid be prevented from hitting Earth There are a few methods that NASA is studying to deflect an asteroid on a course to impact Earth. One of these techniques is called a gravity tractor. According to NASA, the techniques involves a spacecraft that would rendezvous with an asteroid (but not land on its surface) and maintain its relative, optimal position to use the mutual gravity attraction between the satellite and the asteroid to slowly alter the course of the asteroid. A gravity tractor spacecraft could even enhance its own gravitational attraction by first plucking a boulder off the surface of the asteroid to add to its own mass. Apart from this a kinetic impactor is currently the simplest and most technologically mature method available to defend against asteroids. In this technique, a spacecraft is launched that simply slams itself into the asteroid at speed. This mission has recently been lauched and it is called the Double-Asteroid Redirect Test mission (DART). Scientists will test the kinetic impact technique of DART on an asteroid system called Didymos in 2022. Nuclear explosive device methods are considered the last resort when it comes to near Earth orbit (NEO) asteroid deflection. However, they may end up being the most effective for preventing a cataclysmic event. When warning time is short or the asteroid is large, deploying a nuclear device is the most effective option. A standoff detonation is the method with the most controllability and predictability for using a nuclear device to deflect an asteroid. This method works by detonating a nuclear device at a few hundred meters above the surface of the asteroid. Dany Tirza, a former Israeli army colonel, says his company Yozmot Ltd aims to produce a body-worn camera enabling police to scan crowds and detect suspects in real time, even if their faces are obscured. Twenty years after he planned the controversial barrier between Israel and the Palestinians, Dany Tirza is developing a security tool that requires no cement: body cameras with facial recognition technology. Tirza, a former Israeli army colonel, says his company Yozmot Ltd aims to produce a body-worn camera enabling police to scan crowds and detect suspects in real time, even if their faces are obscured. Facial recognition in law enforcement has sparked global criticism, with US tech giants backing away from providing the technology to police, citing privacy risks. Proponents including Tirza, however, tout its ability to track down criminals or missing persons. "The policeman will know who he is facing," he said. 'It's easy' Tirza, 63, spoke to AFP from his home in Kfar Adumim, a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank. He said he hopes to use technology made by Tel Aviv-based Corsight AI to develop a body-worn police camera that could instantly identify people in a crowd, even if they wear masks, make-up or camouflage, and could match them to photographs dating back decades. Tirza said no partnership agreement between Yozmot and Corsight has been signed. Corsight CEO Rob Watts did not confirm any specific collaborations but said his company was working with some 230 "integrators" worldwide who incorporated facial recognition software into cameras. The technology allows clients to build databases, whether of company employees allowed into a building, ticket holders permitted into a stadium, or suspects wanted by the police, Watts said. Tirza said he partnered with Tel Aviv-based Corsight AI to develop a body-worn police camera that could instantly identify people in a crowd, even if they wear masks, make-up or camouflage, and could match them to photographs dating back decades. He said Australian and British police were already piloting the technology. The facial recognition industry was worth about $3.7 billion in 2020, according to market research firm Mordor Intelligence, which projected growth to $11.6 billion by 2026. Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon and IBM have all declared temporary or permanent freezes on selling facial recognition programmes to law enforcement. France last month ordered the US-based Clearview AI to delete data on its citizens, saying the company violated privacy when it built a facial recognition database using images "scraped" from the internet. Watts called Clearview's actions "abhorrent" and said Corsight AI did not sell to China, Russia or Myanmar because of "human rights and ethics". "What we want to do is promote facial recognition as a force for good," he said. He said Corsight had hired Tony Porter, the United Kingdom's former surveillance camera commissioner, as chief privacy officer, and the software would blur or delete faces deemed not of interest within seconds. Corsight AI was valued at about $55 million in a recent funding round, Watts said, estimating this would grow to $250 million by year's end and noting the technology's potential. "Why do I need a credit card? I don't, I've got a face," he said. "The consumer will very, very quickly and readily adopt facial recognition because it's easy." Controversial history Surveillance technology developed in Israel has a chequered history. In this file photo taken on November 9, 2021, Israeli soldiers walk past surveillance cameras in the flashpoint Palestinian city of Hebron. The NSO Group, founded by Israeli military intelligence veterans, makes the Pegasus software that can spy on mobile phones. US authorities blacklisted NSO in November, and Facebook and Apple have sued the company after the spyware was discovered on devices belonging to dissidents and journalists. NSO says Pegasus meets the Israeli defence ministry's export rules. Israeli facial recognition software, too, has encountered criticism. In November, former Israeli soldiers revealed they had photographed thousands of Palestinians to build a database for a sweeping facial recognition surveillance programme in the West Bank city of Hebron. In 2020, Microsoft divested from Israeli facial recognition firm AnyVision, now renamed Oosto, over the company's alleged involvement in surveilling Palestinians. Oosto works with law enforcement agencies and private companies worldwide, and its software is used at checkpoints where Palestinian labourers cross into Israel. Corsight CEO Watts said his company has "a number of contracts in Israelgovernmental contracts and agencies", but declined to elaborate, citing non-disclosure agreements. 'Control' Palestinian digital rights activist Nadim Nashif said the use of facial recognition technology entrenched Israel's "control" over Palestinians and added to a "domination" of physical spaces. But Tirza praised its use at checkpoints, saying the main aim was to reduce "friction" between soldiers and residents. Part towering concrete slabs, part fence, the barrier now snakes for more than 500 kilometres (310 miles) along the Israel-West Bank border. Tirza was a colonel in the Israeli military in 2002 when he was tasked with designing a barrier in response to attacks during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising. Part towering concrete slabs, part fence, it now snakes for more than 500 kilometres (310 miles), only partly along the Israel-West Bank border. Palestinians say the barrier's construction grabbed nearly 10 percent of the West Bank, and the International Court of Justice ruled it illegal. But Tirza said it also reshaped the conflict. Until it was built, "a lot of people thought you cannot separate" Israelis and Palestinians, he said. Tirza said he expected to have the body camera finished within a year, and hopes to market it to US and Mexican law enforcementthough he acknowledged some reluctance. "They were very interested, but everyone says we have to check the laws" to see whether it goes too far, he said. "But I believe it is not too far." 2022 AFP Clute, TX (77531) Today Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. High 86F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 76F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Grand Island Senior High Auditorium was filled Saturday with the sound of nearly 160 fourth through sixth graders as Sing Around Nebraska made a stop in Grand Island. Sing Around Nebraska are daylong choir workshops for students held in several locations across the state. The Grand Island site hosted students from Grand Island Public Schools, Northwest Public Schools, Holdrege, Fairfield, Seward, Giltner and Wood River. The multi-location event is put on by the Nebraska Choral Directors Association. Throughout January and February students who are selected by their teachers can participate in their areas Sing Around Nebraska choir. James Holys, who teaches music at Wasmer and Seedling Mile elementaries, was the 2022 Grand Island site co-chair. Clark Roush, award-winning conductor and director of York Colleges music department, was the guest clinician. Roush said Sing Across Nebraska is a unique opportunity for students. To get some of them in there for a day like that, its not like theyre with all of their elementary mates, he said. They are in a room full of people that love music as much as they do. That doesnt often happen in our life, where we could surround ourselves with other people who are equally passionate about something that we really, really care about. By the time Sing Around Nebraska choir members get to meet Roush at their rehearsal space, they already know the songs well. The work [music teachers] do to make this happen is just stunning. All Ive had to do is learn the music and just show up, Roush said. This year the songs were The Fox, Firefly, Setting of the Benedictus, Inscription of Hope and Lift Every Voice and Sing. Lifting the students voices is what Sing Around Nebraska is about, Holys said. Its going to be a great life-changing experience. Really an awesome thing. Its a lot of work, but its definitely worth it. Roush said the students of Sing Around Nebraskas age group are in a formative stage of developing as musicians. I think its a real positive thing, Roush said. That age is about the time where a lot of males are thinking maybe the singing thing really isnt for me, or maybe its not manly. At the end of the day, Im absolutely exhausted, Roush admitted. He has been guest conductor for Sing Around Nebraska before. Its just so fulfilling. Im so grateful so humble at the response to the art and how kind the teachers, parents and kids are. Following a full day of rehearsal, the students and teachers hard work culminated in a public performance late Saturday afternoon, nearly 160 young voices rising toward the GISH rafters. Jessica Votipka is the education reporter at the Grand Island Independent. She can be reached at 308-381-5420. 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. Paris, TX (75460) Today Cloudy early, then thunderstorms developing this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 82F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low near 65F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. BRADLEY A northern Illinois police officer who was critically wounded in a December shooting that killed another officer is out of intensive care and may soon be released from a hospital, his family says. Bradley police Officer Tyler Bailey's family said Saturday in a statement released by Illinois State Police that Bailey, 27, was moved this week out of a hospital's ICU unit and was now receiving standard hospital care. "He is no longer in critical condition, he is stable, and he is getting ready to start the next chapter of his recovery," Bailey's family said, adding that it's likely he "will soon be released from the hospital to begin his next phase of treatment." "While there remains a long road ahead for Tyler in his recovery, it's an incredible feeling to be able to share this information with the community that has been with us every step of the way," Bailey's family said. Bailey was shot in the head on Dec. 29 outside a northern Illinois hotel during a shooting that killed his Bradley police partner, 49-year-old Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic. Prosecutors said the two officers were shot as they were investigating a complaint about dogs that were barking in a car parked outside of a Comfort Inn. Two people, 25-year-old Darius Sullivan and Xandria Harris, 26, are charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder in that attack. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Higher agricultural production costs are in store for the new year, but Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service specialists have a few suggestions to help relieve some of the impacts on South Carolina farmers. The first bit of advice comes from Clemson Farm Business Consultant Scott Mickey, who says farmers should pay attention to production costs and what the market is offering. Mickey, who is stationed at the Clemson Sandhill Research and Education Center, gave this advice to about 100 farmers during the annual South Carolina Corn and Soybean Meeting in Santee. Production costs including energy, fertilizer and fuel prices are higher, Mickey said. Fertilizer and fuel are more than double what they were last year. These costs impact much of the farmers budgets. Pay close attention to production costs and what the market is doing so that you can avoid any surprises. Other expenses such as crop protection and insurance also are among the rising production costs. Mickey reported crop insurance prices are higher for corn and soybeans, with corn at $5.60 per bushel and soybeans at $12.45. These numbers do not paint a pretty picture, but thats what were faced with, he said. Soybean growers also should pay close attention to South America, where soybean acreage has doubled in the past 20 years. The South American harvest can impact prices in the United States. As for South Carolina soybeans, Michael Plumblee, Clemson Extension corn and soybean specialist located at the Edisto REC, reported 390,000 acres of soybeans were planted in the state in 2021. The projected soybean yield is 36 bushels per acre. This is up from 35 bushels per acre in 2020, Plumblee said. Corn yield is up too. About 420,000 acres of corn were planted in the state this year, with the projected corn yield at 134 bushels per acre. This is up from 132 bushels per acre in 2020. Plumblee also discussed a study funded by the S.C. Soybean Board, evaluating the effects of rain on bifenthrin insecticide. From this research, it was concluded that bifenthrin provides good insect control in soybeans even when simulated rainfall was applied 0 to 30 minutes after application. No significant differences were found with respect to wash-off intervals, he said. Furthermore, water alone did not impact insect presence. Plumblee also reported on crop issues faced in the 2021 growing season, county corn hybrid trial results, and a soybean trial evaluating planting date by maturity group. John Mueller, a plant pathologist also stationed at the Edisto REC, advised farmers using fungicides to start planning early. There was a shortage of some fungicides in 2020, Mueller said. We dont know what availability will look like this year, so consider looking into the supply of any fungicides you want to use as soon as you can. Glen Harris, an extension agronomist from the University of Georgia, advised farmers get back to the basics and fertilize or feed the soil and not the plant. Feeding the soil involves replenishing nutrients, as well as improving texture so that the soil aerates as needed and is better able to retain moisture, providing a suitable habitat for essential microbes. Determining where losses may be coming from in a field so that problems can be corrected is another means of ensuring success. Featured speaker Nathan Graham, harvesting product specialist from Case IH, a farm equipment manufacturer, explained how using the proper equipment can help farmers curtail losses. Graham talked about how using automated combines can take the guesswork out of where grain losses may be coming from in a field. In addition to using the proper equipment, properly irrigating crops is another way to help ensure strong productivity. The Clemson Extension Water Resources Team has developed a new Extension program the Center Pivot Irrigation Testing (CPIT) program to help South Carolina farmers irrigate more efficiently. Kendall Kirk, water resources team member and Clemson Extension precision agriculture engineer, talked about this pilot program. The objective is to provide a health check of the pivots in a center pivot irrigation system, Kirk said. These tests measure irrigation uniformity. Lack of uniformity contributes to higher costs for growers and wasted water resources. Uniformity tests, conducted by Clemson Extension agents, provide graphs and maps of irrigation depths in relation to pivot center and tower locations, calibrated percent timer charts, positions of observed issues (clogs, leaks, etc.), estimated costs of under- and over-irrigation, estimated payoff period for sprinkler package retrofit, endgun shutoff positions and savings, irrigation costs, maximum application rate and more. Contact a member of the Clemson Extension Water Resources Team for more information. A list of team members and their contact information can be found at https://www.clemson.edu/extension/water/team.html. Water is one of the main issues affecting agriculture, said Harry Ott, president of the South Carolina Farm Bureau. Ott spoke about the water battle farmers are constantly fighting, as well as other issues the states agriculture sector faces. He encouraged those present to contact his office to help find solutions for these issues. Laura Jordan from the South Carolina Department of Agriculture talked about the South Carolina Agricultural Tax Exemption (SCATE) program that rolls out for farmers in 2022. Beginning on Feb. 1 South Carolina farmers can apply for these cards from the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. After April 1 farmers must show their SCATE cards to claim sales tax exemptions. To apply for a SCATE card, go to www.scatecard.com. Denise Attaway reports for Public Service and Agriculture in the Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Every girl deserves to feel like Cinderella on prom night, but for some, finances get in the way. The SC Bar Young Lawyers Division (YLD) invites you to be a fairy godmother and make a student's dreams come true by donating to the Cinderella Project. The Cinderella Project provides free, new or gently worn prom dresses for students who lack the resources to buy a gown for their high school prom. You can be a fairy godmother by donating clean dresses in all sizes, evening bags, jewelry, shoes and other accessories. The ability to attend high school prom is considered a rite of passage to many, said Leslie McIntosh, Cinderella Project Committee chair and an Anderson attorney. Every student should have the ability to attend without the worry of the expense associated with purchasing a dress, shoes, accessories, etc. Since its inception, the Cinderella Project has provided thousands of girls with the means to attend prom. There is nothing quite like seeing the joy and excitement on a girls face when she has found the perfect dress. Donate at any of the following locations by Feb. 12: Orangeburg County Solicitor's Office, 121 Docket St., Orangeburg 29115 Calhoun County Library., 900 F.R. Huff Drive, St. Matthews, 29135 The Cinderella Project boutique will be at First Presbyterian Church of Orangeburg on Saturday, Feb. 19. Students can shop for a free gown with a personal stylist from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Don't forget your student ID. For more information visit www.cinderellaprojectsc.com. The South Carolina Bar is a statewide organization dedicated to improving the legal profession, the law and the administration of justice for all South Carolinians. It serves more than 17,000 lawyer members and provides resources to educators and citizens of the Palmetto State. The Young Lawyers Division, which oversees a variety of community service projects statewide, includes all members of the SC Bar under 36 and those with less than five years membership. Learn more at www.scbar.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 On the occasion of his 295th birthday, Col. William Danger Thomson posthumously received special recognition in Calhoun Countys Fort Motte community. Col. William Thomson was a major factor in the Southern campaign against the British and the historical marker, which were here to dedicate today, is long overdue for his contributions, said one of Thomsons fifth-great-grandsons, James Jim Hane Jr., president of the Thomas Taylor Chapter of the S.C. Sons of the American Revolution. On Jan. 16, at the historic St. Matthews Parish Church in Fort Motte, the Thomas Taylor Chapter of the S.C. Sons of the American Revolution and the William Thomson Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution met to dedicate a marker recognizing both Thomson and his home, Belleville Plantation. The marker is erected along U.S. Highway 601 on the Col. William Thomson Highway portion near the Belleville area. Event organizers held the dedication service at St. Matthews Parish Church because of special ties to Thomson and several members of the SCSAR and NSDAR chapters represented. Col. Thomson was a member of this church not this building, not this location but a member of the church congregation here, said Reta Westbury, regent of the William Thomson Chapter of the NSDAR, adding that Thomson served on the churchs first vestry. William Thomson was an easy-going gentleman, yet he was a fierce fighter whose courage and conduct gave him influence over his men and other officers and other people, particularly in the state of South Carolina, and thats why they repeatedly called him Danger or Old Danger, said one of Thomsons fifth-great-grandsons, historian R. Douglas MacIntyre, guest speaker. He was 49 at the time of the Battle of Sullivans Island, which was old for that time, MacIntyre said. We are grateful for this man, who gravitated towards action and repeatedly rose to the occasion. He helped form the foundation of this can do country. He inspires us, these centuries later, with these vivid examples of competence, commitment and character, he added. Im grateful for the DAR, SAR and the people of this community who have kept his memory alive, MacIntyre said. MacIntyre noted that Thomson was a wealthy businessman, a 15-term legislator, a pillar of society and a father of 12 children. Today, were honoring a man who lived his entire life on the early American frontier. Its a different world in so many ways. He was born in the backcountry of the British colony of Pennsylvania on this day 295 years ago. As a boy, he moved South with his parents and siblings, like many other Scots-Irish immigrants who were trying to build a better life in the South, MacIntyre said. As a boy, Thomson and his family first moved to Tinkling Springs, Virginia and then to modern-day Calhoun County. He built his home, Belleville, where he raised his family and planted indigo, among other crops. The NSDAR also dedicated a separate marker honoring Revolutionary War Patriots as part of a national America250 project. The goal is to crisscross the United States to recognize the patriots, explained Winifred Winnie Rickenbaker, DAR Project Patriot/America250 chair and registrar of the William Thomson Chapter NSDAR. Westbury thanked the Rev. Janet Echols, rector of St. Matthews Parish Church, for letting the event take place in the church that was special to Thomson and his family. Contact the writer: mbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5545. Follow on Twitter: @MRBrownTandD Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. (TBTCO) - Thi truong chung khoan Viet Nam co ban van giu nhip on inh trong quy au nam nay, tuy nhien, thi truong chiu ap luc ieu chinh kha manh ke tu cuoi thang 3 en nay do tac ong tu cac yeu to ngoai bien va cac vu viec sai pham mang tinh on le cua mot so ca nhan, to chuc. Theo cac chuyen gia, nhung tac ong en tam ly ngan han cua nha au tu la kho tranh khoi, nhung ay la co hoi e huong dong tien i ung huong, giup thi truong gan uc, khoi trong e phat trien ben vung. A Casper man was arrested earlier this month after Natrona County sheriffs deputies alleged he falsely reported being shot at his Casper Mountain home. The report prompted an emergency response from the sheriffs office, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, two fire districts, Wyoming Medical Center and an air ambulance out of Rawlins. Air ambulance fees vary widely, but flights can cost between $11,000 and $49,000, according to recent estimates in Wyoming. While insurance, Medicare or Medicaid can assist with some of that cost, its unclear how the bill breaks down for flights that dont result in transport to a hospital. According to an affidavit in Natrona County Circuit Court, the man called 911 late on Jan. 12, saying he had been shot and was bleeding. Court documents state he did not stay on the line and did not answer numerous subsequent calls from the dispatch center and a responding officer. When deputies arrived at his home on Casper Mountain around 20 minutes following the report, the affidavit states they saw the mans vehicle parked out front with a window down and music playing, but heard no response when trying to call out to him. They reportedly found the man lying on a recliner with his feet up in a bedroom, appearing to be having trouble breathing but with no visible blood. The affidavit states that after deputies called out several times, the man opened his eyes, removed a cowboy hat from his chest, said April Fools, Motherf*****s and chuckled. No evidence of a gunshot wound or other emergency was found, authorities say. After determining the man was safe, court documents state the officers placed him under arrest and booked him into the Natrona County Detention Center. Jail records show he was still there on Friday, under a $3,000 cash or surety bond. The man, 71-year-old Tracy Lamont, told a judge in his initial appearance last week that he had been shot near the gate of his home, and that the bullet had grazed him. He pleaded not guilty to the charge against him. Falsely reporting a crime is a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a fine of $750. Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DOUGLAS Harriet Hageman, the Donald Trump-endorsed candidate seeking to unseat Rep. Liz Cheney, won big Saturday in a straw poll of House candidates held by the Wyoming Republican State Central Committee. The secret ballot of party activists awarded Hageman 59 votes, Cheney six, state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, two and Denton Knapp one. The vote comes eight months before the GOP primary. I think its a good sign. Its not an endorsement, but these are the county activists Hageman told the Star-Tribune after the vote. The state party itself is not statutorily allowed to endorse a candidate in the primary. The state central committee consists of three representatives from each county and members of the state party, for a total of 74 votes. Only 71, including three of Hagemans family members, voted Saturday. The bearing of the vote on the outcome of the August primary is uncertain: There are 196,179 registered Republican voters in Wyoming as of January. The straw poll is a indication of current party leaderships views, not the state as a whole. Straw polls, even with a far higher number of voters, do not have an accurate track record in Wyoming in recent years. Then candidate Cynthia Lummis lost to Sheridan County GOP Chairman Bryan Miller by a double-digit margin in a straw poll of Senate candidates held at the Wyoming Republican Partys 2020 convention. Between 300 and 400 people voted in that poll. Lummis went on to beat Miller in the primary by almost 50 points in the primary less than two months later. Still, the vote highlights the hostility that many in the Wyoming Republican Partys leadership feel toward Cheney since her much publicized break with Trump. Cheney, for her part, has called party leaders radical. At Saturdays meeting, Hagemans high vote count was announced first and met with a round of applause. When Cheneys tally was announced, a couple members in the room audibly scoffed. The only elections that matter are in August and November, Jeremy Adler, a spokesperson for the Cheney campaign, said in response to the vote. There was division in the room over the intention of the straw poll. This smells like an endorsement to me, said Natrona County Committeeman Joe Mcginley, who had publicly disagreed with party leaders before. Whether that is the true intention of the state ... or not, thats what it appears to be. Karl Allred, the Uinta County GOP chairman, saw it differently. This is not an endorsement, he said. This is merely asking for the opinion of the body at this time. Hugh Hageman, a member of the state central committee and Harriets brother, recused himself from being a vote teller. He and two other of Harriet Hagemans family members voted in the straw poll. There will be lots of polls over the next eight months, and they will all show different things, Harriet Hageman said. The straw poll results are not exactly shocking. The state GOP has repeatedly denounced Cheney after she began to publicly criticize Trump. Cheney voted to impeach Trump over the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and she maintains he helped to incite his supporters with unfounded allegations of voter fraud. In early 2021, the Wyoming GOP leadership censured Cheney for her vote to impeach Trump. More recently, the state party narrowly voted to no longer recognize Cheney as a Republican, a move that is symbolic. The actions against Cheney come in a year in which Wyomings lone representative steadfastly maintains Trump is a threat to the rule of law in the U.S. Cheneys criticism of Trump and her impeachment vote has made her reelection effort the most difficult of her political career. Previously, shes coasted to reelection. This time, she faces a formidable challenge from Hageman, a lawyer and 2018 gubernatorial candidate. Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 7 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. SHERIDAN Waldo E. Spike Forbes has brought and appealed another case against members of the Forbes family to the Wyoming Supreme Court. The court heard oral arguments in the Forbes familys latest case Wednesday. According to court documents, the Forbes family fortune comes from American businessman William Hathaway Forbes, who inherited his fathers Massachusetts trust and investment advisory firm, J.M. Forbes & Co. In the 1920s, William Hathaway Forbes established the Beckton Ranch Trust a trust Spike Forbes attorney Mitchell Edwards called not your typical trust to manage and hold property in Sheridan County on behalf of the family and its descendants, Spike Forbes brief said. Spike Forbes, along with his siblings William C. Cam Forbes, Julia Forbes and Edith Forbes, among 17 other members of the Forbes family, are beneficiaries of the trusts 1,188 shares. Cam, Julia and Edith Forbes, as well as Spike Forbes nephew, Donald Bingham, are trustees of the Beckton Ranch Trust. Disagreements among the siblings, however, soon resulted in personal and legal conflicts for the Forbes family. There is tension between Spike Forbes and his siblings who are serving as trustees, said Justin Daraie, an attorney representing three of the trustees, during oral arguments. According to his trial brief, Spike Forbes resigned as a Beckton Ranch Trust trustee in 2007, citing disagreements with his siblings. Soon after, the other Forbes siblings made a series of land and water transactions of which Spike did not approve. Spike Forbes sued in 2011, resulting in a case that itself reached the Wyoming Supreme Court in 2015. The court held trustees Cam Forbes and Julia Forbes breached their fiduciary duty of loyalty and engaged in self-dealing or acting in their own best interest as a fiduciary but did not warrant their removal as trustees. Spike Forbes sued again in 2019, after he tried to give his trust shares to other family members and a foundation. Trustees instituted a sealed-bid process to determine the values of the shares after Spike Forbes gave away his shares, court documents state, which found each share was worth about $6,000, far less than Spike Forbes estimation of over $21,000. This case is now before the Wyoming Supreme Court. Because new Wyoming Supreme Court Justice John Fenn heard the case as a 4th Judicial District Court judge in 2020, he recused himself from the case this time. Fifth Judicial District Court Judge Bobbi Overfield heard the case in Fenns place. Edwards, Spike Forbes attorney, argued before the justices the trustees breached fiduciary duties again by misrepresenting the value of trust shares and engaging in self-dealing by facilitating a restrictive bidding appraisal process. Edwards asserted the trustees accounting reports indicated to Spike Forbes each share in the Beckton Ranch Trust was worth $21,000. Allowing others to purchase a share for the trustees far slighter price of $6,000 would be self-dealing and a breach of fiduciary duty. It is self-dealing, and it could cause harm, Edwards said before the court. As a result, Edwards requested the court reverse and remand the district courts decision in the case. Daraie, attorney for Julia Forbes, Edith Forbes and Bingham, argued trustees never misrepresented the value of shares to Spike Forbes. The trustees appraised the value of Beckton Ranch Trust shares through a sealed bidding process, through which the trustees learned what people were willing to pay for shares of the trust. This, Daraie argued, was a reasonable way to determine the value of each share of the trust. Daraie also argued there has been no evidence of actual harm suffered by Spike Forbes as a result of the trustees most recent actions. Without harm, Daraie said, there is no need for a legal remedy on appeal. Timothy Tarver, attorney for Cam Forbes, made three simple assertions in his argument before the court: The trustees were authorized to act as they did; the trustees acted reasonably; and the trusts accounting was reasonable. The discrepancy between Forbes anticipated share value of over $21,000 per share and the actual value of $6,000 per share was the result of a misunderstanding on Spike Forbes part, Tarver said. The trustees sent out reports indicating the trusts underlying assets rather than any individual or collectible share were worth $21,000. For these reasons, Daraie and Tarver asked the court to uphold the district courts ruling. The court took the matter under advisement and will issue a written ruling in response to the parties arguments at a later date. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The COVID-19 pandemic couldnt have come at a much worse time for the U.S. Census Bureau. Once a decade, the bureau takes a tally of all the people living in the United States at a certain point in time: in the most recent case, on April 1, 2020. Under normal conditions, counting heads in April is representative of the population, but 2020 was, of course, anything but normal. The Census date came as federal, state and local governments were shutting down businesses and other aspects of daily life in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Given all the restrictions and precautions, it was not a convenient time to conduct a count. But more importantly, anecdotal and preliminary data suggests that the 2020 count quickly became outdated. As restrictions began to ease in some states in the weeks and months following the count, residents seeking fewer restrictions, more social distancing or just a different lifestyle flocked to places like Wyoming. Park County experienced a surge in new residents that could be palpably felt in a red-hot real estate market. For decades, tales of buyers snapping up properties for more than the asking price and sight unseen were the kind of thing that local residents heard from friends and family members in other parts of the country; Park County, wed say, was generally a steady market. But that went out the window in the summer of 2020, with buyers at times getting into bidding wars over local properties theyd never actually visited. People poured in from other states and, anecdotally, it feels as though theyve continued to do so. Exactly none of that shift was captured by the 2020 Census the population count that determines, among other things, so much of the state and federal funding that our local communities receive. The City of Worland is also convinced that they were undercounted. Its a real shame, and, although Worland leaders plan to appeal their Census figures, its something we can do little about; the data gathered amid the height of the pandemic will be one of the primary data points used in planning and funding decisions until another count is conducted in 2030. However, we hope that our state lawmakers will at least consider the problems with the count as they draw new boundaries for legislative districts. In the fall, the Legislatures Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee endorsed a plan that would allow the Big Horn Basin to keep its nine seats in the state House and Senate, despite not having quite enough population to stay within the desired parameters. The committees goal has been to keep all districts within 10% of one another with no district more than 5% above or below the ideal population but the plan would allow the Basin to deviate by 6.2%. However, theres some continuing unease about making an exception for this region. To me, that is a concern, state Rep. Cathy Connolly, D-Laramie, said at a Thursday committee meeting, according to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. It would only work if we all agree that is acceptable, Connolly said of the Big Horn Basin proposal. What I see happening is any region that is decreased in their proportional representation certainly will have grounds to make a complaint because of that. The Tribune Eagle said Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, also voiced concern that certain areas of the state are being held to different standards in the draft redistricting plan. I am really concerned at this point in time that we will get through this thing, and there will be no redistricting plan that passes the Legislature, Hicks said. In certain parts of the state, we are quantum leaps away from being able to support the committee plan. Lawmakers have an extremely tough task, but we hope they can see the wisdom of keeping the Big Horn Basin intact. While we in Park, Big Horn, Washakie and Hot Springs counties certainly want to see our representation preserved and maximized, the real argument in support of the Basins nine-seat plan is that there arent any good alternatives. For instance, Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, submitted a rather absurd proposal that would have created a massive district stretching from Jackson to Clark one that would be impossible to effectively represent. We would add to the argument our strong belief that, at least in Park County, the Census data has dramatically undercounted the number of people living here today. While its hard to ask legislators to consider anything other than the official population count, its also not fair to rely on and effectively punish our region with data that certainly seems to be flawed. CJ Baker is the editor of the Powell Tribune. This column is reprinted through the Wyoming News Exchange. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Every 10 years, Wyoming lawmakers are tasked with redrawing the states legislative districts in light of population changes. Redistricting is an essential part of the process that starts when U.S. Census workers tally the states residents. As communities grow or shrink, Wyomings map is redrawn to best reflect those changes. Its a necessary component in a representative government. A newcomer to the process might expect that it would go smoothly in a state like Wyoming, where one-party control limits the red and blue battles that occur in more bipartisan states. But this year, the work has been anything but smooth. Wyomings population increased by 2.3% in last years census count. But that growth was uneven. Nine Wyoming counties experienced growth. Another 14 saw their populations fall. Those changes, for the most part, broke down along urban and rural lines. Put simply, Wyomings larger cities expanded and its smaller communities shrunk. That reality has triggered disagreements. Some lawmakers, especially those representing the larger, growing communities, want the redrawn maps to reflect the population changes. Legislators in smaller communities, understandably, arent excited about ceding any control to more populous parts of the state. Even though were declining in population in rural Wyoming, I think theres a reluctance to give up some of that power, Rep. Albert Sommers, R-Pinedale, told WyoFile earlier this month. The tensions not so much between Democrats and Republicans as it is between regions of the state, or between urban and rural. Theres a second divide as well. Democrats make up only a fraction of the Legislature, so Republicans, without having to battle the left, have taken at times to battling themselves. Theres been recent accusations, with little supporting evidence, that redistricting maps favor moderate Republicans over more hardline party members. Further complicating this process: The Wyoming Legislature performs the redistricting process for the Wyoming Legislature. In other words, lawmakers are voting on changes that affect one another, leading to inevitably messy moments. It just has been difficult because, despite everyones best intentions and best efforts, this process gets personal, Sen. Mike Gierau, D-Jackson, told the Star-Tribune. There isnt any way around it. (In 14 states, an independent commission draws the lines rather than lawmakers. Gierau has authored a bill for the upcoming session that would bring Wyoming under such as system.) Those challenges have lengthened the redistricting process. At one point, the Corporations Committee hoped to be done with redistricting by Dec. 1. Seven weeks later, the work is still not done. So where do we go from here? Regardless of the disagreements, this task must be completed. Lawmakers should stick to the guiding principles adopted earlier in the process to see the work through. These include matters that we should all be able to agree on: districts should be contiguous, compact and reflect a community of interest, they should have populations that are substantially equal and that the voting power of minority groups should not be diluted by the process. The principles are relatively simple, and they offer a clear way forward. But are lawmakers following them? Weve seen instances to the contrary, including legislators who have asserted redistricting should be a popularity contest rather than a reflection of how Wyomings population is changing. Thats not helpful. Neither are attempts to ignore what the census data is telling us about changes within our urban and rural communities. It doesnt have to be this difficult. Instead of a complicated, contentious process, lets follow the sensible guidelines that lawmakers have already developed and agreed to. Lets focus on following the principles, rather than ignoring them because they dont offer the answers certain lawmakers want to hear. Lawmakers owe the public a redistricting process thats fair and accurate. We deserve nothing less. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Editor: Expanding Medicaid is a good idea for Wyoming. Here are a few things to consider as the legislature takes another look at expansion in the coming legislative session. Wyoming is looking to diversify the economy. Medicaid expansion would bring tens of millions of dollars to the state each year. This money will end up supporting our hospitals, clinics and the general healthcare industry. Business leaders in states that have expanded Medicaid realized this boost to the general economy and supported expansion. Whether business interests in Wyoming will be able to figure out the general benefits to the economy remains to be seen. I have supported Medicaid expansion since the late 80s when the concept was first presented to the legislature in the form of the Federal Welfare Reform Act of 1988. Remember folks -- this reform act was a product of the Reagan administration. Hardly a bastion of liberal commie ideals. Under the first Bush administration many states did expand Medicaid. Meanwhile Wyoming has refused to recognize the benefits and the legislature voting no nine times. While the state leaders are wringing their hands over budget short falls, they are leaving millions of federal money on the table in the guise of -- what? Misguided conservative ideology? Would that the PTBs would be as conservative when it comes to gorging on the COVID and American Rescue Act funds. If you support Medicaid expansion now is the time to contact your legislators and encourage the to support expansion in the coming legislative session. Want more information on expansion and how to help, call Mary Ann Budenske at 306-215-4732, Email her at mbudenske@aol.com or Friend her on Facebook. MARY ANN BUDENSKE, Casper Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SMALL business owners in three Caribbean countries will get the opportunity to showcase how their enterprises are transforming their communities, and themselves, due to support from the social enterprise, Nudge Caribbean. The opportunity comes tomorrow, at an event called Nudge Now, which is being organised by Nudge Caribbean, which was founded by Anya Ayoung-Chee, design strategist and social entrepreneur, and Julie Avey, Massy Groups senior vice president of People and Culture. Osmond Baboolal will be 40 years old soon. Those who know, will always see him as a child. He could have been saved. He deserved being saved. But we all failed him. This is how. NEAR the junction leading to the mud volcano and narco mansion of Piparo is the turn-off to Pooran Street in the former sugarcane village of Williamsville. Here you will find the ruins of a burnt-out house hidden behind the bushes. And so it has come to pass. One week after the island-wide blackout of February 16, we told you in this space that, from among the best authority available, there would be, there could be no one to blame for what happened. We told you that the determination had already been made as to what happened, how and why, and that nobody could have been held responsible for that. It was a warning against the natural national tendency to go for blood. Loud had been the shouts of sabotage, the result of worker discontentment, and a clamour for heads to roll. PHOENIX The state Court of Appeals has rebuffed a bid by a group that spent $260,000 attacking a 2014 foe of Doug Duceys in his first gubernatorial campaign to escape a fine for violating state campaign finance laws. In a split decision, the judges said the record shows that the Legacy Foundation Action Fund waited too long before appealing a more than $95,000 fine imposed by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission over its commercials targeting former Mesa Mayor Scott Smith. In fact, Judge Randall Howe pointed out that even the state Supreme Court upheld that finding. Undeterred, attorneys for the conservative political fund then opened a new legal front with this lawsuit, arguing that the commission did not have any legal authority to impose the fine in the first place. But the majority of the appellate judges said Legacy showed no manifest abuse of authority that would now allow it to pursue a new lawsuit after having missed the deadline to appeal the original fine. And that, they said, means it forfeited any right to make new arguments. There was no immediate response from attorneys for the foundation. The case stems from a commercial that ran in early 2014 when Smith was pursuing the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Produced by the Legacy Foundation, it noted that Smith, who was mayor of Mesa, also was president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. More to the point, it focused on some of the stands the conference had taken. They fully endorsed Obamacare from the start, the commercial said. And it said the conference supported the Obama administrations efforts to regulate carbon emissions and backed the presidents proposal to limit our Second Amendment rights. It even featured photos of Smith placed next to pictures of a smiling Obama. Only thing is, Arizona law requires anyone who seeks to influence an election to publicly disclose the spending. The Legacy Foundation, however, did not, leading to a complaint against it by the Clean Elections Commission. Jason Torchinsky, one of the attorneys for the fund, argued there was nothing improper about the commercial. He said it was not designed to influence the election but simply to educate Arizonans about Smith. And Torchinsky noted that the ad made no reference to Smiths race against Ducey nor even to Smiths status as a candidate. The commission concluded otherwise, saying it was was an attempt to affect the Republican gubernatorial primary, noting the commercial ran just as Smith was stepping down as Mesa mayor to launch his statewide campaign. And the panel imposed that $95,460 fine. Legacys first lawsuit was thrown out by a trial judge for failing to appeal within 14 days as required by law. That decision was upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court in 2018. But the justices said they were not ruling on whether Legacy could attack the fine with an alternate legal theory. The result was this case, with attorneys for Legacy raising new arguments about why it was never required to disclose the spending and, by extension, why it doesnt have to pay the fine. Some of this is was a rehash of the original arguments. Attorney Brian Bergin argued that the commission, in concluding the purpose of the commercial was to affect the 2014 GOP primary, ignored the plain language of what viewers saw. The Arizona advertisement discusses issues: government spending, Second Amendment rights, and the regulation of carbon emissions, Bergin wrote, while telling viewers the policies are wrong for Mesa and urging them to call Smith and tell him to support policies that are good for Mesa. But Tom Collins, the commissions executive director, said that ignores other facts. He pointed out that the positions taken by mayors organization the ones that Legacy Foundation said it was educating Mesa voters about all were taken before Smith became president of the group. And then there was the fact that by the time the commercials aired Smith was no longer its president. But he was running for governor. Taken together, allegations (about Smith) that were not correct, the timing of the ad and other factors, theres really no way to see the ad as anything other than what it is: an attack ad designed to urge folks to vote against Mayor Smith for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2014 because he was Obamas favorite mayor, Collins said. Bergin also told the Court of Appeals there was a key flaw in the commissions case against his client. He contends that the commission is required to identify the candidate that the commercial was made by or on behalf of. Legacy is certainly not a candidate and was not working on behalf of any candidate, Bergin said. The appellate court rejected that claim, saying Legacy showed no manifest abuse of authority that would allow it a second try to overturn the fine. Howe similarly dismissed Bergins contention that only the secretary of state has the power to enforce campaign finance laws and not the commission which was created by voters in 1998. And the court rebuffed arguments that it should allow Legacy to effectively re-litigate the issue by claiming that the rules on campaign finance reporting infringed on the organizations free speech rights. This is not a situation in which a litigant had no earlier opportunity to litigate the agencys jurisdiction, Howe wrote. Collins said Friday that Legacy still hasnt paid the fine. He said interest is continuing to accumulate but could not provide a specific figure. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. After cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on a New Mexico film set after actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop handgun in October, one city councilmember is moving to prevent such a tragedy from happening in Tucson. Councilman Steve Kozachik introduced a motion in December to ban live ammunition on film sets in Tucson, which was unanimously passed by City Council. Now, the city is working those requirements into the permits productions must obtain from Tucson when filming here. Baldwin has said he never pulled the trigger on the prop gun on the set of Rust and did not know how a live bullet ended up on the film set, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Many industry guidelines are utilized on film sets to ensure the safety of real guns used as props, and even modified weapons are checked several times, usually by a trained armorer, before they end up in an actors hands. Industry standards say no real bullets should ever be used on film sets. But as the New Mexico shooting is still being investigated, Tucsons moving to put gun safety guidelines into official standards for filming in the city. Lets not wait for someone to get killed to deal with it. I mean, this wasnt on anybodys radar screen until the issue popped up in New Mexico, Kozachik said. The councilman has a personal connection to the film industry, as his brother, Pete Kozachik, has worked on films such as Coraline, James and the Giant Peach and The Nightmare Before Christmas. After Hutchins death, Kozachik and local independent filmmakers held a vigil at the Tucson Convention Center. Everybodys reaction is What was a live round doing in that gun? And nobody has that answer, Kozachik said. I visited sets that (Petes) worked on and seen how they create special effects. The reality is that any effect youre trying to achieve by using a weapon, you can achieve it in post-production you dont need live ammunition to create a special effect. The new rules will follow guidelines from the Actors Equity Association, which prohibit live ammunition on sets, say simulated or dummy weapons must be used whenever possible and require that firearms are never directly pointed at anyone. Although the Actors Equity Association deals with theater productions, Kozachik says their guidelines can easily be applied to film. In order to film in Tucson, filmmakers must sign a license agreement with the city. City Attorney Mike Rankin said he expects to build the Actors Equity Association language about gun safety into the permits next week. If a production is found in violation of the permit, it will be revoked, along with the filmmakers rights to film in the city. Tucson has a rich film history, but its been a while since a major Hollywood studio has set its sights on the city. Most film permits the city issues are for productions such as fashion shoots and commercials, according to Peter Catalanotte, director of Film Tucson, the city and Pima Countys official film office. Other neighboring states, including New Mexico, out-compete Arizona in providing the tax incentives that attract productions, and the large studios that might feature live-action gun scenes are rare occasions in the city. Because we dont have state credits, we cant lure big feature films here. Those are typically the things that have guns and explosives in them, a reality show generally doesnt. Fashion shoots certainly dont, Catalanotte said. The issue of gun safety hasnt been a huge issue for us. But on the rare occasion where we had a project where they were involved, we always made sure to contact city officials and the police and the fire department and county officials. Tucson recently hosted a large production, however, after state, county and city leaders joined with Visit Tucson and Rio Nuevo to put together an incentive package for the HBO production Duster. One episode of the series, set in the 1970s, was filmed in downtown Tucson and on the second floor of City Hall. Catalanotte couldnt say if the production featured ammunition due to HBOs strict publicity standards. According to Catalanotte, that production brought about $10 million into Tucsons economy, a boost the city often misses out on as neighboring states out-compete in incentivizing filmmaking. Im totally supportive of bringing the film industry back. But we can do it safely, too, Kozachik said. From now on, productions set in Tucson must follow a strict set of industry guidelines that will soon be bound in city filming permits. But despite the new contract terms, its unclear how the city will ensure productions follow them. I would not expect the city, via (the Tucson Police Department) or other agency, to be actively looking for violations, Rankin said in an email. We dont have those kinds of resources. Film Tucson will work with the film productions that come here to make them aware of the requirements, and the license will put the productions on notice of those requirements. Catalanotte said Film Tucson actively engages with local officials to make sure the filmmakers are abiding by local and state laws. Ultimately, he said the new permit conditions are a welcome measure to ensure safe conditions for Tucsons film industry. The law that Kozachik has championed, it just adds to a more safe environment in Tucson and were happy to promote it, he said. Contact reporter Nicole Ludden at nludden@tucson.com Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. 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. Partnership between COSCO, Port of Boston testifies to China-U.S. win-win cooperation: ambassador Xinhua) 09:39, January 23, 2022 WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The cooperation between China's shipping giant COSCO and the U.S. Port of Boston has been an example of the win-win economic and trade cooperation between China and the United States, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang said on Friday. Qin made the remarks at a ceremony after accepting the plaque of recognition and a commemorative jacket from the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) and the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA). Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of a direct vessel service to Boston by China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited (COSCO Shipping), Qin said COSCO Shipping's cooperation with the Port of Boston "has not only saved 9,000 jobs in the region's shipping industry, but also created another 400,000 jobs and energized many trading companies." Calling their cooperation a good example, Qin said that "in China's 40-plus years of reform and opening-up, the U.S. has got deeply involved in China's development, and also benefited a lot from it." China-U.S. trade has provided many quality but inexpensive products for American consumers, and supported 2.6 million American jobs, said the ambassador, adding "China and the U.S. have long been bound together by our shared interests." "We have learned from the past five decades that China-U.S. cooperation can deliver many good things for both countries and the whole world," Qin said, citing the "tangible benefits and opportunities for places like the Port of Boston, for our longshoremen, and for all of us." China and the United States "have no better choice than solidarity and cooperation" in the face of global challenges, including fighting the pandemic, restoring growth, stabilizing the industrial chain and supply chain, and addressing climate change, he said, calling on the two sides to follow the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation and bringing bilateral relations back to the right track. This will give the world "some long-awaited stability and certainty," Qin said, warning that "if China and the U.S. enter into conflict and confrontation, if we fight a trade war or a new 'Cold War,' it will be a political tragedy that benefits no one." Michael Meyran, maritime director of Massport, said at the ceremony that the 20-year partnership between COSCO Shipping and the Port of Boston has been the perfect model of how to do business between the two countries, adding that he hopes to continue this partnership in the long term. ILA Vice President Bernie O'Donnell, representing more than 9,000 longshoremen at the Port of Boston and their families, expressed his appreciation to the Chinese companies for their long-term contributions to Boston. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) The West Hartford Police Department is warning the public about thieves operating a new scam known as check washing, where thieves use chemicals to remove ink from the checks, then write in higher amounts and different recipients of the funds. West Hartford Capt. Eric Rocheleau said police have received several complaints from residents who have reported stolen checks that were altered. Advertisement Some of the victims said their checks were stolen after they dropped mail and local U.S. Post Office locations. Advertisement Rocheleau said West Hartford detectives are investigating one case in which the apparent thieves used custom made tools to remove mail from a postal drop box. That theft was reported by a passing resident,. Rocheleau said his department is working with the Postal Inspector and Postal Police on the thefts. So far there have been no arrests. We recommend that mail be dropped off during business hours in an attempt to prevent these types of thefts, Rocheleau said. Checks should not be left in household mailboxes for letter carriers pick up either. He also recommended that West Hartford residents check their accounts for suspicious activity. A late notice from a creditor could be a sign of a stolen check. PHOENIX A judge gave a nine-year prison sentence Friday to a man for helping move a dead body in the 2014 death of an Arizona man who was bound, gagged and struck with an ax in a killing involving people affiliated with a white supremacist prison gang. Charles Eugene Robbins, who was given credit for having already served nearly seven years of the sentence, had previously pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and abandoning a dead body in the death of 40-year-old Joshua Calkins. Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss, Robbins said to Calkins family before he was sentenced. Authorities say Robbins went to the apartment where Calkins had been tortured to help Christopher Mason, an Aryan Brotherhood member who is charged with murder in Calkins death, clean up the scene and hide the body. Investigators say Mason attacked Calkins because Calkins romantic relationship with a woman affiliated with the Aryan Brotherhood had ended badly and because Calkins had robbed a drug dealer who was a friend of Calkins ex-girlfriend. They say Calkins, who was badly beaten over the course of a day, begged for his life and was forced to apologize over the phone for having robbed the drug dealer. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Mason, who has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges. His trial is scheduled for July 19. He maintains he is innocent, said Terry Lynn Lovett Bublik, one of Masons attorneys. Prosecutors sought an 11-year prison sentence, while Robbins asked for seven years in prison. Authorities say Calkins former girlfriend, Brenna Janette Maas, gave permission to Mason to kill Calkins. Maas is serving a 25-year sentence for her guilty pleas to conspiring to commit kidnapping and assisting a criminal street gang in Calkins death. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. The following is the opinion and analysis of Tom Simplot, the director of the Arizona Department of Housing: Nearly 40% of Arizonas residents are over the age of 50, and the elderly population in our state is rapidly growing. With rising housing costs, many seniors on a fixed income are working to balance the cost of their rent/mortgage and other basic needs such as food or medical care. The pandemic has added to this despair as seniors are one of the most impacted groups who face feelings of isolation and the loss of loved ones. At the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH), we are constantly searching for ways to combat homelessness and expand affordable housing especially for vulnerable populations like our seniors. Working with our partners, ADOH is supporting an increasingly popular housing option for older adults to help solve the issues of loneliness while reducing their housing costs significantly. Its called home sharing. In honoring the passing of the incomparable Betty White, we remember that home sharing is not a new concept. Whites popular 80s sitcom Golden Girls was based on four older women (including a mother-daughter pair) who share one house to reduce living costs. In the show, this arrangement created a unique opportunity for the girls to share experiences and build a stronger connection to each other. It can work that way in real life also. Sharon Kha and Deborah Knox, co-founders of Tucson Home Sharing, have been living together for over five years now. While this arrangement was born out of necessity, to combine budgets and save money, their time together has changed their relationship into a friendship. And thats the intrinsic value of home sharing. When Kha began battling Parkinsons disease, she knew living alone could be problematic, but the thought of moving into an assisted living facility was also not what she wanted. Some friends connected her with Knox, who was looking to downsize her living space and get out of a mortgage that was no longer affordable. The two women talked on the phone a few times and discovered many shared interests and the same basic need an affordable home. The Tucson Golden Girls were a match! Once they moved in together, both found exactly what they were looking for not just affordable living, but a human connection to help navigate lifes ups and downs. Inspired by their own experience, Knox and Kha launched Tucson Home Sharing in 2021 to provide outreach, education and advocacy for senior home sharing. The organization provides public forums on the third Thursday of every month to help interested seniors discover the benefits of home sharing. You can learn about the group at tucsonhomesharing.org. For many years there have been shared housing senior living programs across the nation, but Kha, Knox and ADOH want to help grow this resource for Arizona. With fundraising help from Kha and Knox, the Pima Council on Aging (PCOA) has created a pilot program to connect seniors who want to give home sharing a try. The program helps match people based on shared interests and PCOA conducts interviews and background checks and reviews properties before pairing seniors as roommates. While seniors can still find a roommate organically, like Kha and Knox did, many do not know where to start. Tucson Home Sharing and the Pima Council on Aging are helping with that heavy lift of matching seniors with potential roommates. Along with ADOH, Tucson Home Sharing and the Pima Council on Aging, there are national resources for those interested in this concept. The National Shared Housing Resource Center (NSHRC) is a network of independent nonprofit home-sharing programs across the United States. Through educational programs, the NSHRC raises awareness of the benefits of home sharing and encourages best practices. There are many hands participating in the growth and popularity of home sharing, a smart tool to use as we work to develop more affordable housing in Arizona. Tom Simplot is the director of the Arizona Department of Housing. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: It was my honor to serve on the first Citizens Advisory Committee, the Pima Association of Governments and Regional Transportation Authority Boards, and finally as RTA Chair in 2014. Along with all in Pima County, I have watched with pride as the RTAs plan, with its hundreds of projects, has unfolded. Accordingly, I am disheartened as we witness the city of Tucsons efforts to derail the RTA, a hugely successful voter-approved and citizen-driven regional initiative. The city continues to claim that it is not getting its fair share of funding and projects from the RTA and that the city deserves to hold more city-favored weighted votes on both the PAG and RTA boards. With fabricated and melodramatic outrage, the mayor and council intend to disrupt and undo all things RTA. The RTAs jurisdictional members have twisted themselves up into pretzels trying to reach accommodation with the city, all with no success. Digging in its heels, throwing elbows and below-the-belt punches, the city continues to bully and threatens to pick up its marbles or tax dollars and walk away from the RTA entirely, including from the RTAs renewal by 2026. I say, enough is enough. Let the city of Tucson walk, and good riddance. Now is the time for the RTA to come up with a Plan B for RTA Next. Imagine the freedom that regional planners and jurisdictions would enjoy by not having the millstone of the city of Tucson around their necks, and not having to hear rants of inequity and false claims of not being heard. A reasonable person might ask if it is just coincidence that the three remaining RTA projects that are running over budget and most fraught with confusion and controversy are all within the city of Tucson. Is an RTA Plan B without the city of Tucson possible? It may not be, but given the current direction of the mayor and City Council, it is certainly worth exploring. Being held hostage is never a good thing. Its obvious to all that the city is going to walk, no matter how often and loudly it proclaims that it is trying to work with the RTA. Five years ago, the city promised its taxpayers that a half-cent sales tax designed in large part to repair the citys neglected and decaying roads would be a short-term solution. Now, the city wants to renew and possibly raise that tax in a 2022 election to a full cent and keep it in place indefinitely. Then, the city wont have to be bothered with that pesky RTA, or so city leaders think. The disingenuous claims by the city defy logic. All fail to acknowledge the substantial improvements the city has realized since 2006, including the modern streetcar, Houghton Road corridor, Sabino Canyon/Kolb road extension and bridge, Tanque Verde Road corridor, Valencia Road corridor and its intersection with Kolb Road, widening and modernization improvements on practically every major intersection in the city, scores of bus pullouts, miles of city sidewalks and bike lanes, and more. I urge the jurisdiction leaders who sit on the boards of PAG and RTA to seriously consider formulating an RTA Next Plan B right away, and not be intimidated by the juvenile playground tactics of the city. I ask them to charge the PAG/RTA staff of transportation experts to come up with an alternative RTA plan without the city of Tucson, and let their creativity and imagination run wild. The two boards need to weigh and balance all the outstanding what ifs. Who knows, by saying goodbye to the city of Tucson, the PAG/RTA, and our region, may find itself saying, Why not? Pima County Supervisor Steve Christy represents District 4, which spans from Mount Lemmon through the Tanque Verde and Rincon valleys to Corona de Tucson and west to Green Valley. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Infrastructure bill: Gov. Kevin Stitt joined 15 other Republican governors asking the Biden administration to exempt states from excessive consideration of equity, union memberships, or climate as lenses to view suitable projects for the the infrastructure bill largely opposed by the GOP. Your administration should not attempt to push a social agenda through hard infrastructure investments and instead should consider economically sound principles that align with state priorities, says a letter to Biden signed by Stitt and the others. Innovation, not regulation, is the driver of economic growth, and we ask that your administration not burden states or private sector partners with needless and unnecessary red tape. (Y)our administration should halt any attempts to put unnecessary restrictions on the sourcing of labor or materials that would exacerbate the crises our industries are already facing. Taxes: The Oklahoma Tax Commission said it will start processing 2021 tax returns on Monday, the same as the Internal Revenue Service. Also like the IRS, the Tax Commission is giving taxpayers an extra weekend, until April 18, to file their returns because of the District of Columbias Emancipation Day holiday. Taxes II: Lowering its corporate income tax rate from 6% to 4% ties Oklahoma for second-lowest among the 44 states that levy the tax, according to the Tax Foundation. Only North Carolina, at 2.5%, is lower. Of the six states without a corporate income tax, four (including Texas) collect a gross receipts tax, which is a tax on total sales that does not allow for business-related deductions. In Oklahoma, as in most states, corporate income taxes represent a very small share of tax revenue. Campaigns and elections: U.S. Sen. James Lankford is venturing into something of a lions den. According to the Sequoyah County Times, Lankford is speaking at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Sequoyah County Fairgrounds, 464101 E. 1070 Rd., Sallisaw. Sequoyah County is the home turf of Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman John Bennett, who is supporting Jackson Lahmeyer in the GOP primary for Lankfords seat in the Senate and led an effort to censure Lankford for not sufficiently supporting former President Donald Trumps attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Undemocratic and unAmerican is how Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jason Bollinger described Lankfords defense of the Senate filibuster and opposition to the election law measure Republicans defeated with the help of the filibuster. Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jackson Lahmeyer issued a Martin Luther King Jr. Day statement equating what he called discrimination based on vaccination status to the racial discrimination and segregation of Kings day. Meetings and events: Tulsa author Connie Cronley and her book A Life on Fire will be featured at Hearts on Fire, a Valentines champagne reception and fundraiser for Heart of the Party, the Tulsa Chapter of the Oklahoma Federation of Democratic Women, to be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 13 the Summit Club, 15 W. Sixth St. Tickets are $30 or $50 and include a signed book. They can be obtained before Feb. 8 at secure.actblue.com/donate/heartsonfire. Seating is limited, and CDC guidelines will be followed. Bottom lines: The Oklahoma Corporation Commissions meeting on Oklahoma Natural Gas plan to recover fuel costs from the 2021 cold spell will be live-streamed on its website, oklahoma.gov/occ, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Oklahoma was one of 27 states asking the Biden administration to formally withdraw the Occupational Safety and Health Administrations emergency rule on COVID-19 vaccinations effectively blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court. Tulsa-area resident Phil Albert resigned from the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents. Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World Featured video: Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Senate Rules Committee passed Senate Joint Resolution 17, which would let the people vote to amend the state constitution to say that in Oklahoma, life begins at conception. Some conservatives are taking aim at policies that allow doctors to consider race as a risk factor when allocating scarce COVID-19 treatments, saying the protocols discriminate against white people. The wave of infections brought on by the omicron variant and a shortage of treatments have focused attention on the policies. Advertisement Medical experts say the opposition is misleading. Health officials have long said there is a strong case for considering race as one of many risk factors in treatment decisions. And there is no evidence that race alone is being used to decide who gets medicine. The issue came to the forefront last week after Fox News host Tucker Carlson, former President Donald Trump and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio jumped on the policies. In recent days, conservative law firms have pressured a Missouri-based health care system, Minnesota and Utah to drop their protocols and sued New York state over allocation guidelines or scoring systems that include race as a risk factor. Advertisement JP Leider, a senior fellow in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota who helped develop that states allocation criteria, noted that prioritization has been going on for some time because there arent enough treatments to go around. You have to pick who comes first, Leider said. The problem is we have extremely conclusive evidence that (minorities) across the United States are having worse COVID outcomes compared to white folks. ... Sometimes its acceptable to consider things like race and ethnicity when making decisions about when resources get allocated at a societal level. Since the pandemic began, health care systems and states have been grappling with how to best distribute treatments. The problem has only grown worse as the omicron variant has packed hospitals with COVID-19 patients. Considerable evidence suggests that COVID-19 has hit certain racial and ethnic groups harder than whites. Research shows that people of color are at a higher risk of severe illness, are more likely to be hospitalized and are dying from COVID-19 at younger ages. Data also show that minorities have been missing out on treatments. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published an analysis of 41 health care systems that found that Black, Asian and Hispanic patients are less likely than whites to receive outpatient antibody treatment. Omicron has rendered two widely available antibody treatments ineffective, leaving only one, which is in short supply. The Food and Drug Administration has given health care providers guidance on when that treatment, sotrovimab, should be used, including a list of medical conditions that put patients at high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. The FDAs guidance says other factors such as race or ethnicity might also put patients at higher risk. The CDCs list of high-risk underlying conditions notes that age is the strongest risk factor for severe disease and lists more than a dozen medical conditions. It also suggests that doctors and nurses carefully consider potential additional risks of COVID-19 illness for patients who are members of certain racial and ethnic minority groups. Advertisement State guidelines generally recommend that doctors give priority for the drugs to those at the highest risk, including cancer patients, transplant recipients and people who have lung disease or are pregnant. Some states, including Wisconsin, have implemented policies that bar race as a factor, but others have allowed it. St. Louis-based SSM Health, which serves patients in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, required patients to score 20 points on a risk calculator to qualify for COVID-19 antibody treatment. Non-whites automatically got seven points. State health officials in Utah adopted a similar risk calculator that grants people two points if theyre not white. Minnesotas health department guidelines automatically assigned two points to minorities. Four points was enough to qualify for treatment. New York state health officials guidelines authorize antiviral treatments if patients meet five criteria. One is having a medical condition or other factors that increase their risk for severe illness. One of those factors is being a minority, according to the guidelines. The protocols have become a talking point for Republicans after The Wall Street Journal ran an op-ed by political commentators John Judis and Ruy Teixeira this month complaining that New Yorks policy is unfair, unjustified and possibly illegal. Carlson jumped on Utahs and Minnesotas policies last week, saying you win if youre not white. Alvin Tillery, a political scientist at Northwestern University, called the issue a winning political strategy for Trump and Republicans looking to motivate their predominantly white base ahead of midterm elections in November. He said conservatives are twisting the narrative, noting that race is only one of a multitude of factors in every allocation policy. Advertisement It does gin up their people, gives them a chance in elections, Tillery said. After the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a conservative law firm based in Madison, sent a letter to SSM Health on Friday demanding that it drop race from its risk calculator, SSM responded that it already did so last year as health experts understanding of COVID-19 evolved. Breaking News As it happens Get the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut > While early versions of risk calculators across the nation appropriately included race and gender criteria based on initial outcomes, SSM Health has continued to evaluate and update our protocols weekly to reflect the most up-to-date clinical evidence available, the company said in a statement. As a result, race and gender criteria are no longer utilized. America First Legal, a conservative-leaning law firm based in Washington, D.C., filed a federal lawsuit Sunday against New York demanding that the state remove race from its allocation criteria. The same firm warned Minnesota and Utah last week that they should drop race from their preference factors or face lawsuits. Erin Silk, a spokeswoman for New York states health department, declined to comment on the lawsuit. She said the states guidance is based on CDC guidelines and that race is one of many factors that doctors should consider when deciding who gets treatment. She stressed that doctors should consider a patients total medical history and that no one is refused treatment because of race or any other demographic qualifier. Minnesota health officials dropped race from the states criteria a day or two before receiving America Legal Firsts demands, Leider said. They said in a statement that theyre committed to serving all Minnesotans equitably and are constantly reviewing their policies. The statement did not mention the letter from America Legal First. Leider said the state is now picking treatment recipients through a lottery. Advertisement Utah dropped race and ethnicity from its risk score calculator on Friday, among other changes, citing new federal guidance and the need to make sure classifications comply with federal law. The states health department said that instead of using those as factors in eligibility for treatments, it would work with communities of color to improve access to treatments in other ways. Leider finds the criticism of the race-inclusive policies disingenuous. Its easy to bring in identity politics and set up choices between really wealthy folks of one type and folks of other types, he said. Its hard to take seriously those kinds of comparisons. They dont seem very fair to reality. On Jan. 15, 2022, coastal areas across California were placed under a tsunami warning. Gado via Getty Images On Jan. 15, 2022, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai volcano in Tonga erupted, sending a tsunami racing across the Pacific Ocean in all directions. As word of the eruption spread, government agencies on surrounding islands and in places as far away as New Zealand, Japan and even the U.S. West Coast issued tsunami warnings. Only about 12 hours after the initial eruption, tsunami waves a few feet tall hit California shorelines more than 5,000 miles away from the eruption. Im a physical oceanographer who studies waves and turbulent mixing in the ocean. Tsunamis are one of my favorite topics to teach my students because the physics of how they move through oceans is so simple and elegant. Waves that are a few feet tall hitting a beach in California might not sound like the destructive waves the term calls to mind, nor what you see in footage of tragic tsunamis from the past. But tsunamis are not normal waves, no matter the size. So how are tsunamis different from other ocean waves? What generates them? How do they travel so fast? And why are they so destructive? When the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted, it launched ash into the atmosphere, created a powerful shock wave and displaced a huge amount of water, generating a tsunami that raced across the ocean. Japan Meteorological Agency via WikimediaCommons, CC BY Deep displacement Most waves are generated by wind as it blows over the oceans surface, transferring energy to and displacing the water. This process creates the waves you see at the beach every day. Tsunamis are created by an entirely different mechanism. When an underwater earthquake, volcanic eruption or landslide displaces a large amount of water, that energy has to go somewhere so it generates a series of waves. Unlike wind-driven waves where the energy is confined to the upper layer of the ocean, the energy in a series of tsunami waves extends throughout the entire depth of the ocean. Additionally, a lot more water is displaced than in a wind-driven wave. Imagine the difference in the waves that are created if you were to blow on the surface of a swimming pool compared to the waves that are created when someone jumps in with a big cannonball dive. The cannonball dive displaces a lot more water than blowing on the surface, so it creates a much bigger set of waves. Earthquakes can easily move huge amounts of water and cause dangerous tsunamis. Same with large undersea landslides. In the case of the Tonga tsunami, the massive explosion of the volcano displaced the water. Some scientists are speculating that the eruption also caused an undersea landslide that contributed to the large amount of displaced water. Future research will help confirm whether this is true or not. Tsunami waves travel fast No matter the cause of a tsunami, after the water is displaced, waves propagate outward in all directions similarly to when a stone is thrown into a serene pond. Because the energy in tsunami waves reaches all the way to the bottom of the ocean, the depth of the sea floor is the primary factor that determines how fast they move. Calculating the speed of a tsunami is actually quite simple. You just multiply the depth of the ocean 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) on average by gravity and take the square root. Doing this, you get an average speed of about 440 miles per hour (700 kilometers per hour). This is much faster than the speed of typical waves, which can range from about 10 to 30 mph (15 to 50 kph). This equation is what oceanographers use to estimate when a tsunami will reach faraway shores. The tsunami on Jan. 15 hit Santa Cruz, California, 12 hours and 12 minutes after the initial eruption in Tonga. Santa Cruz is 5,280 miles (8,528 kilometers) from Tonga, which means that the tsunami traveled at 433 mph (697 kph) nearly identical to the speed estimate calculated using the oceans average depth. Many tsunamis, including the 2011 Tsunami in Japan, move inland and can flood areas far from the coast. U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse via WikimediaCommons Destruction on land Tsunamis are rare compared to ubiquitous wind-driven waves, but they are often much more destructive. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami killed 225,000 people. More than 20,000 lost their lives in the 2011 Japan tsunami. What makes tsunamis so much more destructive than normal waves? In the open ocean, tsunami waves can be small and may even be undetectable by a boat at the surface. But as the tsunami approaches land, the ocean gets progressively shallower and all the wave energy that extended thousands of feet to the bottom of the deep ocean gets compressed. The displaced water needs to go somewhere. The only place to go is up, so the waves get taller and taller as they approach shore. When tsunamis get to shore, they often do not crest and break like a typical ocean wave. Instead, they are more like a large wall of water that can inundate land near the coast. It is as if sea level were to suddenly rise by a few feet or more. This can cause flooding and very strong currents that can easily sweep people, cars and buildings away. Luckily, tsunamis are rare and not nearly as much of a surprise as they once were. There is now an extensive array of bottom pressure sensors, called DART buoys, that can sense a tsunami wave and allow government agencies to send warnings prior to the arrival of the tsunami. If you live near a coast especially on the Pacific Ocean where the vast majority of tsunamis occur be sure to know your tsunami escape route for getting to higher ground, and listen to tsunami warnings if you receive one. The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai volcano severed the main communication cable that connects the people of Tonga to the rest of the world. While the science of tsunamis can be fascinating, these are serious natural disasters. Only a few deaths have been reported so far from Tonga, but many people are missing and the true extent of the damage from the tsunami is still unknown. ___ Sally Warner has received funding from the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research. Get fascinating science, health and technology news. Sign up for The Conversations weekly science newsletter. ___ On the second Wednesday of every month, attorney Josh Payton can be found behind a gray table downtown at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. Clients say Paytons clinic and services provide them with pathways to proper medical care and detours around housing and workplace discrimination. Since starting the clinic in October 2020, Payton has helped more than 40 transgender Oklahomans get court orders to amend their name and gender on birth certificates. He has 30 waiting to file. They want a piece of paper that validates them from the beginning, Payton said. The hope his services give clients has faded some since late last year, when the governors executive order disrupted the process. Historically, Oklahomans could change their gender between male and female on their birth certificate by presenting a court order to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The department established a process for a third gender option last year nonbinary, an umbrella term for genders other than male and female, which would be represented by the letter X. On Oct. 7, the first nonbinary birth certificate was issued in Oklahoma. On the morning of Oct. 20, a NonDoc story broke the news. Within hours, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that he would take action against the State Health Department. I believe that people are created by God to be male or female. Period, Stitt said in a statement. There is no such thing as non-binary sex and I wholeheartedly condemn the purported OSDH court settlement that was entered into by rogue activists who acted without receiving proper approval or oversight. On Nov. 8, Stitt signed an executive order demanding that the Health Department stop issuing birth certificates with nonbinary gender markers. As a result of the executive order, the Health Department also is no longer authorized to accept court orders for male and female changes, Oklahoma State Department of Healths legal team said in an email. State law will permit gender marker changes only if an error was made by the scrivener. Oklahoma, Tennessee and Ohio are the only states that now do not allow any kind of gender marker changes, though a recent lawsuit cleared the way for transgender Ohioans to amend their birth certificates. Residents in 12 states and the District of Columbia have a third gender option when it comes to amending their birth certificates. Among neighboring states, only Colorado allows residents to do so. Only 103 Oklahomans have changed their gender marker on their birth certificate since 2018, according to Health Department records. The departments short-lived process for getting a nonbinary gender marker resulted from the settlement of a lawsuit filed by an Oregon resident. Kit Loreleid, who was born in Oklahoma, sought to change their birth certificate gender marker to X to reflect that they are nonbinary. Loreleid uses traditionally plural pronouns as singulars to represent that neither male nor female pronouns apply. Though Oregon has a third gender option on state identification, birth certificates and passports are among the primary documents required for the change. Using a passport would not have been an option because the first nonbinary U.S. passport wasnt issued until October last year. Loreleid sued after Oklahomas State Health Department denied their requested change in 2020. A settlement allowed Lorelied to amend their birth certificate, an option no longer available to Oklahomans due to Stitts executive order. After the Health Department announced that getting a nonbinary gender marker was an option, Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, filed Senate Bill 1100, which would restrict gender markers to male and female. Even though the Health Department says it is no longer authorized to accept court orders for male and female changes, some Oklahoma judges are still willing to grant those orders, Payton said. For judges to say they dont have authority is just not in good faith. The constitution says they have unlimited jurisdiction, but they choose to require statutes or other authority, the Tulsa-based attorney said. Quite a bit of what a judge does in trial is based on discretion. The judiciarys responsibility is to interpret the law, not to make or enforce it, said Don Andrews, the presiding judge for Oklahoma County District Court. Although he cant speak for those seeking a nonbinary designation since he has never had a case for one, for people seeking male or female changes, he said theres a track record. Based on that, Id have to rely on precedents until theres been a change in the law, Andrews said. Thats how we approach every issue. This is a sensitive subject, obviously, but thats the courts role. The executive order encourages the Legislature to amend the existing statute authorizing the issuance of birth certificates by the State Health Department. Until the courts are told they are prohibited from granting court orders for male-to-female and female-to-male gender marker changes, Andrews said judges will continue to review them on a case-by-case basis. Prior to the executive order, Payton said he succeeded in gaining court orders for clients seeking birth certificate gender marker changes in 37 of 39 applications. Since the order, hes succeeded in seven of nine attempts. Yet those with court orders now are left in limbo due to the Health Departments rejecting the requests. Grey Mitchell drove from Oklahoma City late last year for Paytons monthly clinic. Mitchell, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, sought a change to a male designation in light of Stitts executive order. I wasnt sure how I wanted to proceed before I started (hormone replacement therapy), but now that I am presenting more male, it just makes sense for me to make that change, Mitchell said. Im out in my workplace, and people already knew that Im trans, but if I were to get pulled over, I dont know who that would be. You just never know who youre going to run into in Oklahoma. So just for safety, I would want someone to be able to look at my ID and have my face match what they see there at least what their idea of gender is. Shelly Skeen, senior attorney for Lambda Legal, a national nonprofit that advocates for the full recognition of civil rights for LGBTQ people and for people living with HIV, said the Legislature does not have the authority to pass a law that has already been found to be unconstitutional in every state but Tennessee. When you target one set of people for some reason, and theres a law that excludes them from access to what everyone else has, then the government has to have a compelling governmental interest that is narrowly tailored, Skeen said. Meaning that when the law is implemented, it only harms the people that the law says are going to be harmed for that compelling governmental reason. So youve got two pieces there. One, (the) government has to show that reason, whatever that is. And then number two, theyve got to show that the law doesnt include too many people. Payton left his home state of Missouri in 2013 to work in his family business that helps bring Broadway shows to Tulsa. He had stopped practicing law but took and passed the Oklahoma bar exam in 2020, inspired by his youngest sibling, who came out as transgender, and a desire to help others seeking name and gender-marker changes. While Payton and many of his clients are expecting to see further pushback and anti-trans legislation passed when the legislative session begins in February, he plans to continue helping nonbinary and transgender Oklahomans. I have not yet met a person who hasnt said: Ill take this all the way. I want to appeal. I want to fight. I want to do anything I can to help this cause, Payton said. I cant have hope, but I have faith. At least 1 billion free COVID-19 tests are available from a government website launched last week. Americans can order up to four free COVID-19 testing kits per household from COVIDTest.gov, which will be mailed to homes within 12 days via the U.S. Postal Service. This means, however, that the first tests will not reach Oklahomans until late January or early February. In other words, too little too late. The state is facing record COVID cases that are burdening local schools and service industries. The increase in intensive care unit patients and emergency room wait times left area hospitals unable to accept patient transfers whether from COVID or any other injury or illness that might befall a loved one. How did we get into this mess? Again? Both the current and previous White Houses are far from blameless. Our lack of public health infrastructure, combined with a contradictory belief that our system is the best in the world, ensured a systemic failure regardless of who controlled the levers of power. Even COVIDTest.gov is mostly the result of a humiliating press conference in which press secretary Jen Psaki glibly dismissed the possibility of making antigen tests freely available to the public, seemingly unaware that for people living in the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, France, Germany and elsewhere, this has been the case for months. So why are at-home tests still so expensive and hard to find? What weve been hampered by is thinking that the role of testing is sort of secondary and optional, where really the role of testing is foundational throughout the course of the pandemic and throughout the exit from the pandemic, said Dr. Thomas Tsai, assistant professor of health policy at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Because the testing is the information, is the early warning system, on whether cases are rising or decreasing. Its the information that informs behavior. The Trump and Biden administrations both bet on vaccines quickly ending the pandemic, thus tabling any large government purchases of COVID-19 tests and sidetracking the Food and Drug Administration from ensuring a competitive test market. Consequently, one of the first companies to get onto shelves Abbott Laboratories dominates the at-home testing market. Abbot, without any real competition or incentive to keep prices low (their BinaxNOW product sells in Europe for a fraction of the cost), is likely the only antigen test available for purchase in many areas of the country. Blurred lines between our health care industry and health care system contributed to Abbots lucky break. Dr. Tim Stenzel worked at biotech companies for most of his career, including Abbott and Quidel, the first two companies to sell at-home COVID tests in large numbers. Stenzel became head of the FDA Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health in 2018 and now holds the most direct authority over whether a test is FDA approved. In the third quarter of 2021, Quidel made $406 million from COVID-19 tests, smashing expectations. In an early 2020 promotional video, the CEO of Quidel said the company wasnt planning on designing a COVID-19 test until he got a call from a contact at the FDA. That contact was Stenzel, the FDA has since confirmed. Abbott made $1.9 billion globally from COVID-19 tests during the same period. On an earnings call in October, CEO Robert Ford said the company anticipated dropping its price to maintain its market share but would not do so if competition did not necessitate it. By contrast, 39 rapid self-administered antigen tests have been authorized by the European Union, according to a database maintained by Arizona State University. Two years into the pandemic, the FDA has authorized only nine that dont require a prescription. This has been a comprehensive, uniquely American failure: the revolving door between regulators and government; elected officials valuing poll numbers more than planning for undesirable outcomes; other leaders, through genuine naivete or brutal cynicism, telling people who trust them that there was nothing to worry about. And now the American public, people with the least power and ability to control public health policy, are being blamed for the current wave. Teachers, service workers and everyday citizens have blame hurled at them, with cries of personal responsibility, when in fact, this is a systemic failure. Featured video: Tulsa World Opinion: Teacher shortages, tribal disputes and golf courses Edward Dornblaser is principal of Dornblaser Consulting Inc. and a Tulsa native. Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Recently, my son interviewed with a chain restaurant and was told during the interview the pay is $5 an hour plus tips. Another person knew of a fast-food place paying as low as $3 an hour. Want to know why so many restaurants are short-staffed? The whole pay system is based on the generosity of diners. Its not completely the fault of restaurants; Americans hate doing away with tradition. But the tipping custom has to go. Customers must be ready for the change and, actually, demand it. Its possible. Restaurants in European countries may add a service fee to the bill, but tipping is not depended upon for a living wage. Any tips there 5% to 10% going by the advice from PBS traveler Rick Steves are considered a bonus for excellent service. Still, tipping isnt expected or as generous. Some countries, including Japan and China, consider leaving a tip rude. Americans ought to be troubled about the beginnings of tipping in our country. While mentions of tipping have been found in the Middle Ages of Europe, the U.S. history is rooted in systemic racism, according to Kerry Segrave in Tipping: An American Social History of Gratuities. In the era before the Civil War, tipping wasnt a part of American society. Segrave cites two 19th century sources in stating that tipping was nonexistent in the U.S. prior to 1840. What, may I ask, is more un-American than tipping? It doesnt belong in American society; it doesnt belong in democracy. It is a product of lands where for centuries there has been a servile class, states one of the 19th century writers. Just after the Civil War, formerly enslaved people found work as cooks, servers, railroad porters, barbers and other types of low-wage laborers. Many employers would not pay former slaves, instead taking donations for workers to split. It will be observed that these occupations are nearly all filled by foreigners and negroes who for the most part have been reared under the patronizing and semi-feudal influences of paternal or ante-wage conditions, states an 1896 Guntons Magazine article cited in Segraves book. The practice came under fire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with a New York Times editor writing that the practice was spreading like evil insects and weeds. Some restaurants advertised that they didnt allow tipping as a way to lure customers. Sexism involved in the practice was noted in some publications, as well. Segrave quotes a reporter who criticized the affect tipping had on college women, noting that it inherently put them as inferiors to male customers. Efforts by states to ban tipping were overturned or declared unconstitutional by 1926, and tipping today works much like it did since New Deal-era wage laws set a separate minimum wage for tipped jobs, according to a Time magazine story. The current hourly minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13 (set in 1991) for employees receiving at least $30 per month in tips. If wages and tips do not equal the federal hourly minimum wage of $7.25 (set in 2009) during any week, the employer is required to increase wages to make up the difference. Also, many restaurants require that tips be pooled to divide among servers, bussers and bartenders. It varies on whether thats an equal split or weighted according to duties. State laws vary on how many, if any, tips can be given to cooks or other back-of-the-house workers. So, skipping the $10 tip affects more than just the server. Its an inherently unfair system. Add to this the sexual harassment staff endure to secure that tip, and its an immoral system. Tipped workers experience sexual harassment at a far higher rate than their non-tipped counterparts (76% to 52%), according to a study released last year by the University of California Berkeleys Food Labor Research Center. And 71% of female restaurant workers had been sexually harassed at least once on the job. The pandemic brought about an economic fallout that hit restaurants hard. Profit margins are already pretty narrow, and many were forced to close. The pandemic didnt create the problem, but it did amplify it. Getting rid of the tipping system is part of the proposed Raise the Wage Act. Among its main provisions is the phasing-in of a new minimum wage that gets up to $15 an hour while phasing out subminimum wages for tipped workers. That includes subminimum wages for workers with disabilities employed in sheltered workshops and for workers under age 20. The Economic Policy Institute says this would affect 32 million workers, or 21% of the workforce. More than half of those workers are between 25 and 54; only one in 10 is a teenager. Most of them work full time, and 28% of the full-time workers have children. The Raise the Wage Act was introduced in the U.S. House last year and stalled in the House Committee on Education and Labor. Those fighting raises in minimum wage argue that it will increase costs, putting more strain on businesses that already have slim profits. As Americans, we have to recognize the cost is worth it. Most lower-income families spend the extra money coming into their pockets, unlike tax breaks to the wealthy that only get reinvested into their portfolios. The money would circulate into the economy. Costs wouldnt go up as much as Americans think. A UC Berkley calculator of how costs would rise if the act is approved found fast-food prices increasing by less than $1 an item. A $10 restaurant burger would go up by about $2. Im willing to pay more for a meal when I go out to eat. Its worth it if workers get a livable wage without sexual harassment. Its worth it not to worry about tipping. Its worth it to end a system with roots in racism. Its worth it for Americans to end a culture of the working poor. Featured video: Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Here are todays leading news stories: COVID-19 Updates -- The Ministry of Health documented 15,707 COVID-19 cases, including 2,945 in Hanoi, on Saturday, raising the national tally to 2,126,444, with 1,800,692 recoveries and 36,596 deaths. -- Ho Chi Minh City has been categorized as a green zone, a locality at low risk of COVID-19 transmission, for three consecutive weeks. The metropolis recorded only 1,802 cases from January 14 to 20, down from 3,122 cases a week earlier. Society -- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has requested relevant ministries and agencies to consider reopening all cinemas across Vietnam, the Government Office said in an announcement. -- Police officers in Ho Chi Minh City captured a 25-kilogram python that was found on the ceiling of a house in Tan Phu District on Saturday. The python was later released to its natural habitat. -- Police in northern Thi Binh Province confirmed on Saturday they had apprehended a 35-year-old man for injuring his children, aged three and four, with a knife following an argument with his wife. -- A woman was seriously injured after an elevator had a free fall from the fourth floor of a hotel in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City early on Saturday morning. -- Ho Chi Minh City's market watchdog has confiscated a large amount of foreign-made COVID-19 prevention and treatment medicine as the owner was unable to present documents proving the product origin. Business -- Trade between Vietnam and the U.S. has set a new milestone after hitting US$111.56 billion in 2021, up nearly $21 billion over the previous year, the Vietnam News Agency quoted the General Department of Customs as saying. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police officers in Ho Chi Minh City have captured a 25-kilogram python that was found on the ceiling of a local residents house. The python was spotted on the suspended ceiling inside the bathroom of a house in Phu Thanh Ward, Tan Phu District, the municipal forest protection department confirmed on Saturday. After the house owner reported the situation, nearly ten officers under the rescue police unit in Tan Phu District were mobilized to the residence. It took them about two hours to remove the python from the ceiling. The wild animal, which is three meters long and weighs approximately 25 kilograms, was later handed over to the municipal forest protection department. It was identified as a reticulated python, which is listed in Vietnam's Red Data Book of rare and endangered species. The python has been released to Cat Tien National Park in southern Dong Nai Province, a forest protection officer said. Officers from the rescue police unit capture the python in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City in this supplied photo. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnams coronavirus tally increased by 14,978 infections on Sunday, with 4,157 hospital discharges and 123 virus-related deaths reported nationwide. The newest infections, including 44 imported and 14,934 domestic transmissions, were detected in 62 provinces and cities, the ministry said, elaborating that 10,324 caught the virus in the community. Hanoi recorded 2,967 of the latest local cases, Da Nang 984, Hai Phong City 764, Hung Yen Province 629, Quang Nam Province 435, Quang Ninh Province 427, Hai Duong Province 351, Phu Tho Province 308, Thua Thien-Hue Province 282, Khanh Hoa Province 279, Lam Dong Province 216, Ho Chi Minh City 138, Yen Bai Province 91, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province 73, Quang Tri Province 60, Binh Duong Province 40, and Can Tho City 36. Vietnam had documented 15,658 locally-acquired infections on Saturday. The country has found 2,134,788 community transmissions in all its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth virus wave erupted on April 27, 2021. More than 1.8 million of them have recovered from COVID-19. Ho Chi Minh City is the biggest hotbed with 512,774 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 292,272, Hanoi with 108,829, Dong Nai Province with 99,663, Tay Ninh Province with 87,131, Ca Mau Province 54,702, Dong Thap Province with 47,018, Can Tho City with 44,135, Long An Province with 41,358, An Giang Province with 35,301, Tien Giang Province with 35,216, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province with 30,303, Binh Thuan Province with 28,821, and Da Nang with 25,186. Vietnam logged only 1,570 locally-transmitted infections in total in the previous three waves. Hospitals discharged 4,157 coronavirus patients on Sunday, elevating the tally to 1,804,849, according to the health ministry. The toll has climbed to 36,719 deaths after the ministry reported 123 fatalities on the same day, including 16 in Hanoi, 10 in Dong Thap Province, nine in Soc Trang Province, eight in Can Tho City, seven in Tien Giang Province, seven in Vinh Long Province, and six in Ho Chi Minh City, and the remaining in 20 other provinces and cities. Vietnam has confirmed 2,141,422 patients, including 135 imported and community-based Omicron infections, since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the country in early 2020. The Omicron cases consist of 68 in Ho Chi Minh City, 27 in Quang Nam Province, 14 in Hanoi, 11 in Khanh Hoa Province, eight in Da Nang, two in Thanh Hoa Province, two in Quang Ninh Province, one in Hai Duong Province, one in Hai Phong City, and one in Long An Province. Health workers have administered above 175.8 million vaccine doses, including 1,333,208 shots on Saturday, since vaccination was rolled out nationwide on March 8, 2021. More than 78.8 million of the countrys 98 million people have received at least one dose while over 73.8 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 surpassed 23.1 million. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Han River and all bridges over it in Da Nang will become a great stage of lighting art, a spectacular landscape to locals and visitors at night, thanks to the large-scale artistic lighting designs that have been completed. The conceptual designs for Da Nangs Han River art lighting project themed River of Light have been finalized by the Da Nang City Public Lighting Company and Signify Vietnam Limited, under Dutch conglomerate Philips Electronics NV, which finances the designing plan, the municipal Department of Construction said on Saturday. The project will create comprehensive changes to the existing artistic lighting systems that cover the entire river area, including the bridges, the riverside, and the water surface, perform large-scale artistic light shows at night under the theme of 'River of Light.' It is expected to help revive the coastal citys tourism after nearly two years suffering heavy impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, local authorities said. An artists impression of the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge artistically illuminated under the River of Light project in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Signify Vietnam Limited As per the new designs, an artistic lighting system will be installed for Nguyen Van Troi Bridge while the existing illuminations will be renovated for the Thuan Phuoc, Han, Rong, and Tran Thi Ly Bidges. At the same time, art light networks will be set up on the embankments and railings alongside the river from the Thuan Phuoc Bridge to the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge. Urban landscapes along the both banks of the river and riverside parks will also be illuminated. All lighting systems of the project will be connected and controlled via the Internet using the Interact Landmark software, which makes it easy to perform artistic light shows from anywhere, according to Da Nang newspaper. All related costs are estimated at VND110 billion (US$4.83 million), the newspaper said. An artists impression of the River of Light project as seen from the Tran Thi Ly Bridge in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Signify Vietnam Limited The construction department has yet to provide a timeline for the project. At a conference held on January 5 to review tourism in 2021, Tran Phuoc Son, deputy chairman of the citys administration urged the acceleration of all major tourism-related projects including the River of Light. The River of Light and other local attractions will contribute to improving locals spiritual life and serve as attractive tourism products for domestic and foreign tourists, chairman of the citys government Le Trung Chinh said when attending the inauguration ceremony for the APEC Statue Park expansion works on January 10. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tonight on Back Roads, Heather Ewart finds there are many surprises in the tiny town of Boulia on the edge of the Simpson Desert about 1700 km from Brisbane. As you drive into the Western Queensland town of Boulia a sign greets you Welcome to Boulia Shire. Land of the Min Min Light. But locals warn, dont go searching for the Min Min Light, let it find you. Stories of mysterious lights appearing in the night skies are part of the folklore out here, from the Dreamtime to modern day travellers. Explorers Burke and Wills might have camped on the towns river in 1861 on their ill-fated expedition to the Gulf of Carpentaria, but Boulia is now luring a new generation of adventurers; medical, health and nursing students. Medical students from around Australia are welcomed with open arms by the population of less than 500 people. Hundreds of students have worked out of the Boulia Medical Centre over the years, inspiring a future generation of health professionals to work in regional Australia. If the students time their placements at the medical centre right, they will be in town for the biggest annual event, the Boulia Camel Cup, known to locals as the Melbourne Cup of Camel Racing. It was an extra special event in 2021, after the Cup in 2020 had to be cancelled due to Covid-19. Production credit: Executive Producer and Story Producer: Brigid Donovan. 8pm tonight on ABC. CHARLOTTESVILLE Virginias new Attorney General Jason Miyares has fired lawyers for two large public universities, his office said, marking more significant changes as the Republican ascends to his new job. Tim Heaphy, counsel for the University of Virginia, and George Mason University counsel Brian Walther have been let go, Miyares spokesperson Victoria LaCivita told The Washington Post. School counsel within Virginias public colleges and universities are appointed by the attorney general. Advertisement Heaphy, who along with UVA also confirmed his removal, worked at the school for about three years. He was on leave from the job to work as the top investigator for the U.S. House of Representatives panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, the newspaper said. LaCivita said Heaphys firing had nothing to do with that investigative role. Rather, she said in a statement, Heaphy was a controversial hire and Miyares Democratic predecessor, Mark Herring, had excluded many qualified internal candidates when he brought in this particular university counsel. Advertisement Our decision was made after reviewing the legal decisions made over the last couple of years, LaCivita said. The Attorney General wants the university counsel to return to giving legal advice based on law, and not the philosophy of a university. We plan to look internally first for the next lead counsel. Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news > Michael Kelly, Herrings former chief of staff, said LaCivitas characterization of Heaphys hiring was inaccurate. Heaphy was a well-qualified attorney with much experience and the first choice of UVAs administration, Kelly wrote in an email. Far from being controversial, his hire was celebrated by the university community and leadership, Kelly wrote. Referencing Walthers firing, according to the newspaper, LaCivita said it is common for an incoming attorney general to appoint counsel that shares its philosophy and legal approach. Both Heaphy and Walther are Democrats, according to the Post. LaCivita also didnt say whether other counsels at Virginias public colleges and universities had been let go. A former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Heaphy was hired by UVA in 2018. Earlier, he had conducted an independent investigation of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in 2017. Heaphy, a UVA graduate and longtime Charlottesville resident, said in a statement that it has been a tremendous honor and privilege to serve as the schools counsel. UVA said in a statement that leaders were grateful for Heaphys outstanding service and disappointed to see it come to an end. Walther referred questions about his firing to George Masons university communications department, which referred questions to Miyares office. The school said Walther had served as counsel since 2017 and the Mason community is grateful to Brian for his work and his many years of service. Miyares, who defeated Herring in the November election, was sworn in on Jan. 15. Roughly 30 staffers were let go by Miyares shortly before he took office, according to the newspaper. Tyler, TX (75702) Today Mostly cloudy...isolated thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 88F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. I cover local government in East Texas for the Tyler Morning Telegraph. Im from East Texas and love getting to report on the area I grew up in. Texas A&M University former student. If you have story ideas email me at mmcham@tylerpaper.com Follow Maleri McHam Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today At 2pm local time, the flagship tournament of the 2022 WSOP International Circuit in Rozvadov continues with Day 2 of the 1,700 Main Event. The 1 million guarantee has already been surpassed thanks to 696 entries throughout both starting days but early entries prior to the restart has pushed that number beyond 700 entries already. Late registration and up to two re-entries remain available for the first two hours and following break with the returning blinds commencing at 1,000-2,000 and a big blind ante of 2,000. This gives all late additions to the mix 25 big blinds for the first 60 minutes of play. It is even possible that the event will surpass the 912 entries of the previous edition in September 2021 in Europe's biggest poker arena. Top 10 Chip Counts for Day 2 Position Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Valon Olluri Kosovo 552,500 276 2 Josef Huber Switzerland 535,000 268 3 Ondrej Drozd Czech Republic 460,000 230 4 Cecil Moagi Germany 389,000 195 5 Silvan Boesiger Switzerland 383,500 192 6 Sharon Ben David Israel 360,000 180 7 Luc Ta Germany 355,000 178 8 Marco Rebergen Netherlands 350,500 175 9 Abd El Ghanim Austria 347,000 174 10 Chun Chang Netherlands 332,000 166 Only two players return with more than half a million in chips as Valon Olluri leads the pack on 552,500 chips, followed by Josef Huber with 535,000. Ondrej Drozd topped the leaderboard on Day 1b and amassed 460,000 to return as the third-biggest stack for Day 2. Several other notables have above-average stacks at their disposal including the two-time finalist Aliaksandr Shylko (226,000), King's regular Eyal Bensimhon (208,000), Ori Hasson (197,500), defending champion Andrea Ricci (189,500), and Marek Blasko (178,000). WSOP Europe bracelet winners such as Sergiu Covrig, Simone Andrian, and Josef Gulas Jr will also be among the returning hopefuls as well. A total of 244 players qualified for Day 2 and will aim to play the allotted nine levels of 60 minutes each to retain their shot at a six-figure payday. The top 12 finishers will also receive an entry for the 2022 WSOP Europe Main Event on top of their cash prizes.. There will be a break every two levels and the feature table action will get underway once the registration closes. Another two tournament days are scheduled as the 1,700 Main Event plays down to a winner on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. Stay tuned for the conclusion of the latest WSOP Circuit stop from King's Resort, as the PokerNews live reporting team will be there from start to finish to provide all the action. Another inmate was charged with the willful delivery of a controlled substance to a prisoner and also remains jailed without bond, the sheriffs office said. MARTINSVILLE A Virginia jail inmate has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, accused of concealing that a fellow detainee who died had taken a suspected narcotic and needed medical help, a county sheriffs office said. Rebecca Lynn Stacey, 25, of Spencer, was charged in the death of Elizabeth Roxanne Mickles, 32, of Martinsville, the Henry County Sheriffs Office said in a news release Saturday. Advertisement Henry County Jail staff realized about 5:30 a.m. Saturday that Mickles was having an apparent medical emergency in her cell and began life-saving efforts, the release said. Mickles was seen walking to her bunk about four hours earlier. The sheriffs office alleges their investigation found Stacey was aware that Mickles had consumed a suspected drug and became unresponsive, but that she failed to tell jail staff or prevented other inmates from seeking help for her. An autopsy will be performed to determine Mickles cause of death. Advertisement Stacey was being held Saturday in the jail without bond. The sheriffs office didnt immediately respond Sunday to an email seeking information about whether Stacey has an attorney. Another inmate was charged with the willful delivery of a controlled substance to a prisoner and also remains jailed without bond, the sheriffs office said. MORGANTOWN, W.V. Villanova women's swimming and diving collected nine winning swims in Saturday's tri-meet split, defeating West Virginia, 177-120, and falling to Iowa State, 150-145, at the Aquatic Center at Mylan Park.Seven Villanova (6-3) swimmers were a part of winning performances throughout the meet with West Virginia (2-3) and Iowa State (8-1), as the 'Cats logged seven individual victories and two relay wins.led the team with another sweep of her four events, winning the 100 Back (55.44), 100 Fly (55.37) and 200 IM (2:02.86) and swimming the opening leg of the 200 Medley Relay where she teamed up withandfor a winning time of 1:43.90. That team beat Iowa State's group by just over a second.was in the top two of her four event appearances. She won the 200 Free (1:50.91), 100 Free (51.34) and swam the anchor leg of the 400 Free Relay for a 3:26.91 finish with Berloco,and Stahl. Her other finish was a second-place showing in a close 50 free (23.87) where Stahl edged her by two-hundredths of a second with a winning time of 23.85.was victorious in the 1650 Free (17.30.75), leading the rest of the field by nearly six seconds.finished fifth in the that race with a 17:54.63 time.Berloco picked up a podium-worthy swim in the 200 Free, finishing three second behind Routledge in third (1:53.62). She also went 1-2 with Routledge in the 100 Free, taking second with a 51.81 time that was just 47-hundreths of a second out of first.andwent 4-5 in the 100 Breast with respective times of 1:07.38 and 1:08.43.Bailey tacked on a second-place showing in the 200 Fly (2:04.86) whilefinished fourth in the 200 Back (2:05.46). Gravell and Stahl added top-five finishes in the 200 Breast, touching the wall in the third (2:22.59) and fifth (2:24.80), respectively.In the 500 Free, Welch finished second in 5:01.59 withtaking fifth in 5:10.55. Bailey finished third in the 100 Fly (57.16) with Gravell taking second in the 200 IM (2:06.48). Benson,and Welch landed fifth in the 400 Free Relay in 3:32.25 time.added on fifth-place dives in the 1-meter (235.20) and 3-meter (196.30).The Wildcats stay in the Keystone State this week as they head to Penn State on Friday, Jan. 28. The meeting with the Nittany Lions starts at 5 p.m. in McCoy Natatorium. This years election season is off to a bumpy start as changes in state law are causing voter confusion and forcing election officials across the state to reject hundreds of mail-in ballot applications. In some cases, applicants simply leave out required information or use old forms without the required fields. In many cases, however, applicants include the requested information, but a critical piece, generally a drivers license number or a Social Security number, is missing from the voter data the state has on file to check against. To register, voters do not have to provide both an ID number and a Social Security number. The Texas Secretary of States Office said about six months ago that about 2 million registered voters lacked one of the two numbers in their voter file despite the offices efforts to update that information into the states voter rolls, McLennan County Elections Administrator Jared Goldsmith said. Those numbers have since dropped to around 700,000 voters, he said. The states largest counties have had to reject hundreds of main-in ballot applications each, The Texas Tribune reported. Travis County, for example, had rejected about half its applications, mainly because of the new requirements, according to the Tribune report. McLennan County has turned away about 25 of the 400 applications it has received since the first of the month, Goldsmith said. Most of the rejections here also have been because of a mismatch between the new identification requirements and the voter information the county has on file. Applicants are asked to provide a drivers license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number if they do not have a state ID. They also can indicate they have not been issued a state ID or Social Security number if that is the case. The good news, Goldsmith said, is that the problems causing applications to be rejected can be corrected with a simple phone call to the county elections office. Goldsmith and local party officials urge voters who hope to vote by mail to begin that process now so that any mistakes or problems can be corrected in time for all the votes to count. Elections office workers are calling, emailing or writing letters to would-be voters whose applications have been rejected so they can correct whatever problems there are, Goldsmith said. If voters are unsure what information they provided on their voter registration applications, they can call Goldsmiths office at 254-757-5043 or go to votetexas.gov to check on their registration status and to make sure the identifying information they provide on their mail-in ballot applications matches the voter registration information the state already has. The deadline to register to vote for the March 1 primary is Jan. 31, while the deadline to have applications for mail-in ballots back to the elections office is Feb. 18. All voters eligible for a ballot by mail must apply to receive one. Voters age 65 or older are automatically eligible. Other voters can qualify if they are outside the county during the election, if they are unable to get to the polls without assistance because of an illness or disability, or if their health would be put at risk by going to the polls. Others can qualify if they are expecting to give birth within three week before or after Election Day and of if they are in jail or under involuntary civil commitment. Goldsmith said for anyone wanting to vote by mail, it is important to read the application carefully, follow the instructions and make sure each section is filled out and each required box is checked. I would say the law was modified more than changed, Goldsmith said. The biggest change is the identifying numbers. They have to match. The numbers on both the application, and later, the envelope used to return the actual ballot have to match state records. Signature matching previously was the main tool for verification. Once voters receive mail-in ballots, Goldsmith said they likely will notice that the carrier envelope in which their ballots will be returned this year is white with a purple stripe on the left side. Before, those envelopes were yellow. It is important that voters write the same identifying numbers they used on their application on the space provided on the while and purple carrier envelope. That space is under a secrecy flap that the voter will seal. They also must sign the carrier envelope, Goldsmith said. Election administrators like Goldsmith are prohibited from sending out unsolicited mail-in ballot applications, but party officials and candidates can. Goldsmith smiled when asked about provisions that subject elections officials, including those in his position and local party chairs, to potential criminal penalties for violations of the new state voting law. My opinion is we are going to follow what the secretary of state tells us to do, Goldsmith said. Its the law and we have to follow the law. Changes can be difficult for some, and if the voters have questions about it, we will be happy to help them because we want to make sure there is no confusion. Opponents of the new law charged that the changes would create new, more restrictive barriers to voting and serve as impediments especially for racial minorities, people with disabilities and older people, among others. Supporters said proposals in the bill would safeguard elections from fraud, despite offering no evidence that it is prevalent. Democrats opposed to the bill left the state last summer, delaying debate over the legislation and leaving the House without a quorum to conduct business for weeks. Peaches Henry, president of the Waco chapter of the NAACP, called the effects of the law voter suppression and said she already is fielding calls from confused, mostly elderly voters who are having trouble with the mail-in ballot applications. This is not innocuous. It is deliberate, obtuse and complex, Henry said. It is meant to confuse the public. It is meant to make the process of voting too complex and obtuse that people will give up. That is what it is intended to do. It is not meant to protect the integrity of the vote at all. That is utterly untrue. The public should not allow themselves to be gaslighted, and that is what is happening. Brad Holland, chair of the McLennan County Republican Party, said the scare tactics with which some approached the changes are off the mark. I think the most important things is, despite all the inflammatory rhetoric, that voting in 2022 continues to be easier than before and more secure than before, Holland said. If you look at it, we are having three weeks of early voting and allowing voting on Saturday and Sunday. Voting is not difficult despite what everybody says. It is easy to vote. If people are going to complain if you have to put your drivers license number or Social Security number on a request for mail-in ballot and think that is restrictive, I fail to see their logic. It was to make it easier to vote and more secure, and frankly, to level the playing field across the board, which was a problem back in 2020. Mary Duty, chair of the McLennan County Democratic Party, said her goal in coming weeks is to try to educate the voters to the changes and to encourage those who want to vote by mail to get the process started now. I think the (mail-in ballot) application is actually more readable, Duty said. But there is always that hesitancy when the government says give me all your information. But you have to show a drivers license or state ID card to vote, anyway. I just tell people to call the election office to make sure what number you are supposed to use and then use that one. Early voting for the primary begins Feb. 14 and runs through Feb. 25. There is no early voting on Presidents Day, Feb. 21. 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. Voter registration drive The McLennan County Republican Women and McLennan County Republican Party will have a voter registration drive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at 539 N. Valley Mills Drive, in the Westview Vilage breezeway. For more information, call 254-772-6955. The voter registration deadline for the March 1 primaries is Jan. 31. Literacy Coalition meeting The Central Texas Literacy Coalition will meet at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy, 2401 J.J. Flewellen Road. GWAMA Dean Dale McCall will be the guest speaker. Convention Center 50th The Waco Convention Center, 100 Washington Ave., is turning 50 years old this year. A come-and-go reception will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday in the centers Brazos Ballroom. Remarks and a retrospective of the centers history will take place at 4 p.m. The public is invited. Light refreshments will be served. Step Up & Scale Down The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will launch Step Up & Scale Down, a 12-week weight management program based on USDA 2010 Guidelines intended to help Americans choose a healthful eating plan, with a session from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the McLennan County Extension Office, 4224 Cobbs Drive. This program consists of weekly lessons to help participants move toward a healthier weight and includes a weekly weight check-in. Cost for the 12-week program is $25. To register for the class or for more information, call 254-757-5180 or email colleen.foleen@ag.tamu.edu. Submit printed or typed items to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco, 76702-2588; or email goingson@wacotrib.com. Our food production and delivery system works so well that glitches in it stand out in stark contrast. Bare shelves make consumers nervous, and more than a few days of missing a commonly available item can become panic buying. We are not there yet, and there is scant evidence to support such a scenario. There is, however, something serious going on as we see a remarkable string of events that are once again causing concerns about our normally reliable food supply. Its important to note that this is not the same situation as in March 2020. Then, we faced pandemic-related lockdowns. People were worried about a forced extended stay at home. Right now, you might go to a grocery store and see a blank section on the shelves but return one or two days later to find it restocked. The food industry has evolved a just in time delivery system that has many advantages, including efficient supply management and fresh products. It is also subject to glitches that tend to be temporary. This is definitely not a policy problem. It is not the fault of this presidents administration or the last one, beyond management of the pandemic. In looking for the culprit to blame for missing products on store shelves, COVID-19 is indeed first on the list. The omicron variant may not be as deadly as previous versions of the disease, but it has swept through the American workforce like a wildfire. Its easy to catch and requires at least a few days of isolation to avoid contributing to the spread. Every component of food production and delivery has felt the impact. Beef plant workers get sick. Truck drivers get sick. Some estimates have the shortfall of available trucks at around 80,000. The pandemic accounts for most but not all of that. Adding to the problem is the changing nature of the American workforce. Available labor is more fluid than at any time in recent memory. U.S. workers are quitting jobs, confident they can find another more to their liking. That means that there will be problems with deliveries and supplies. Significant sick days in processing plants will slow production. Some experts calculate that many grocery stores are operating with about half their normal workforce. That can mean delays in stocking new items as they arrive. Consumers can expect to pay more for beef because of supply chain issues and concerns over a lack of healthy competition among beef processors. Ranchers are not seeing much of this increase because of the added cost beyond the farm gate. Chicken will be more expensive because many people are switching to this less-expensive protein alternative, and it is subject to the same labor and transportation issues. It will likely remain significantly below the price of beef. Compared with the rest of the world, Americans spend less of their income for food than any other nation. This number is consistently at 10 percent or less. The current situation is hitting our food system where it has always thrived. Efficiency is what makes it work, and the pandemic, labor and even weather have caused higher prices and understocked shelves. This is not the grim forecast of two years ago, when we were not sure anything would be available, and we did not feel safe anywhere but home. In the short term, expect to pay more and face a few temporary shortages. As the pandemic recedes, hopefully soon, there will be a new normal, and the system will adjust to that, too. There is no need for panic buying. If the public can move about and access the store, there should be few major delays in getting the food products we need and have often taken for granted. Gene Hall retired in 2019 as longtime communications director for Texas Farm Bureau after a 42-year career. One man died and a teenager is missing after a wave hit their boat and capsized it Saturday morning in the Chincoteague Bay, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission said in a release. It happened around 9:22 a.m. near Curtis Merritt Harbor at the southern end of the island. Someone called Virginia Marine Police about the 16-foot John boat, which had four people on it. A wave hit the boat, and all four people went into the water. Advertisement Marine police said the people on the boat were two 17-year-olds, a 19-year-old and 18-year-old Cory Alles of Bentonville, which is near Front Royal. A good Samaritan rescued two of the people near the boat, while the Coast Guard recovered the body of Alles. The 19-year-old man and one of the 17-year-olds were taken to the hospital with injuries considered not life-threatening. Advertisement A 17-year-old boy is still missing and marine police will continue their search for him in the morning, the release said. The Coast Guard, Virginia Marine Police, Virginia State Police, Maryland State Police and the Chincoteague Police Department are all helping with the investigation. All families and next-of-kin have been notified. The Virginia Marine Police and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission offers its deepest condolences to the families during this time, the release said. Saleen Martin, 757-446-2027, saleen.martin@pilotonline.com Front and center A recent letter to the editor titled High property taxes prompted me to ponder my recent three-year term serving on the McLennan County Appraisal District Appraisal Review Board. I sent the following letter to Dave Lieber, the Watchdog columnist for The Dallas Morning News: Good morning, Dave! I love your focus on property taxes here in Texas and the role of protests before local appraisal review boards. I have just completed a three-year stint on the McLennan County Appraisal Districts review board. I jokingly refer to my three years as serving my penance. I write today as a shoutout to the countless folks across Texas who serve on local ARBs. These past two years serving throughout the pandemic have been indeed a challenge. What kept me positive throughout my experience was my fellow board members. We are a diverse group of local folks offering to serve our communities. Simply put, these are good people who care about their communities. There were times, to say the least, it was not pleasant as angry taxpayers and the local appraisal district made our job difficult. For the most part, the vast majority of taxpayers were polite, patient and wanted to have their protest heard fairly. I believe our local appraisal review board did just that. Please, Dave, if you would offer a shoutout and thank you to the countless folks throughout Texas who choose to serve on local appraisal review boards. Please keep the Watchdog focus on the increasingly burdensome property tax structure here in Texas. Having just completed my three-year ARB term in December, I offer a hearty thank you to all the folks I was blessed to serve with. ARB chairs Charles Reed, Donna Mitchell and Bob Chapman led with compassion and care during challenging moments. To my fellow ARB members, it was a pleasure working with such a caring, committed group of community members committing to serve McLennan County. I ask The Waco Trib, as I asked The Dallas Morning News, to keep the burdensome property tax structure on the front pages and to seek to challenge local politicians and leaders to seek solutions to lessen the burden on local property taxpayers. Michael Joseph Donahue, Waco Speak for me In her Thursday letter, Nancy A. Marquis was referring to the quote from Lutheran minister Martin Niemoller. Niemoller started out supporting Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, but he later ended up spending years in German prison camps. Here is the short version of that quote: First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me. This reminds me of another quote from President John F. Kennedys inaugural address. Kennedy said: ...those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside. American evangelical leaders who support Donald Trump and others like him would do well to consider and heed this advice. Charles Reed, Waco CEDAR FALLS The Board of Education Monday will consider approving the purchase of a new 72-passenger school bus. The board meets at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers of City Hall, 220 Clay St. Officials recommend purchasing a Ford Blue Bird bus for $107,628 from School Bus Sales in Waterloo, although thats not the lowest of three bids. The low bid is $104,499 from Hoglund Bus Co. According to a board memo, the concern with Hoglund is that their International brand bus has a smaller gasoline engine than the Ford and that their dealership isnt local. Some repairs for the Hoglund bus could be done at Thompson Truck & Trailer in Waterloo, however they are mostly a heavy duty truck dealership, the memo says. Most parts would come from Marshalltown or Minnesota, the nearest Hoglund dealerships. The close proximity to parts and service for the Blue Bird bus helps to ensure limited down time. The International engine has 265 horsepower compared with 350 for the Ford Blue Bird engine. The memo also notes that the difference in price is $3,129, less than 3% of the cost of the bus. The third bidder is Truck Center Companies with a Thomas bus for $113,760. Each of the prices includes a discount for the trade-in of an old bus, which was $5,000 in the case of School Bus Sales. In other business, the board will: Hold a public hearing on the Cedar Height Elementary School food service equipment, additions and upgrades. Plans and specifications were approved earlier this month for the project, with an estimated budget of $711,575. A contract is expected to be awarded Feb. 14. Approve the 2020-21 school year audit. Hear a presentation on the 10-year plan for uses of physical plant and equipment levy funds. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WATERLOO Waterloo Community Schools preschool program is seeking additional state funding after enrollment grew this year following a pandemic-related decline. The Board of Education Monday will consider submitting a request to the School Budget Review Committee $144,540, which would come through Iowas federal relief funds. The board meets at 5 p.m. in the Education Service Center, 1516 Washington St. Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief dollars in the states Education Stabilization Fund would help to cover costs for a 40-student increase in the districts voluntary 4-year-old preschool, according to a board memo. The free program, which is serving 463 children this year, annually receives state funds for its operations. Using ESSER money to provide the funding was approved last year by the Legislature after preschool enrollment decreased when many parents kept their children home because of COVID-19. In other business the board will: Consider approving a three-year 5 gigabit per second internet service contract with Mediacom with a monthly cost of $2,250. However, the district will also apply for e-rate assistance from the Universal Service Fund, which could offset 90% of the cost and bring it down to $225 per month. Mediacom is the lowest bidder of three companies vying to replace an expiring service agreement with Aureon. Consider approving the purchase of $259,487 in network equipment from Goldfield Telecom, $121,414 in wireless access points from Aercor Wireless, and $53,955 in voicemail system and services from Tri-City Communications. The equipment will be used in the expanded Waterloo Career Center as well as at other district schools. E-rate funding totaling $323,766 will be sought to help fund the purchase of network equipment and access points. Consider a facility committee request to negotiate with Durham School Services for a one-year extension of its 2019-2022 district contract. Accept a $4,050 donation from Nazareth Lutheran Church to benefit musical programs and classroom projects at Highland Elementary School. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WATERLOO The Waterloo Noon Kiwanis will meet for lunch at noon Tuesday at the Elks Lodge. Chris Dunn from Cedar Valley Hospice will be the speaker. LONDON (AP) The British government on Saturday accused Russia of seeking to replace Ukraines government with a pro-Moscow administration, and said former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate. Murayev is head of the small pro-Russian party Nashi, which currently has no seats in Ukraine's parliament. Britain's Foreign Office named several other Ukrainian politicians it said had links with Russian intelligence services. It's unclear what means Britain believes Russia might use to install a friendly government in Kyiv. The U.K. government made the claim based on an intelligence assessment, without providing evidence to back it up. It comes amid a war of words between Moscow and the West over Russia's designs on Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the information "shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking." Truss urged Russia to "de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy," and reiterated Britain's view that "any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs." Britain has sent anti-tank weapons to Ukraine as part of efforts to bolster its defenses against a potential Russian attack. Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis, U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to meet Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for talks in Moscow. No timing has been given for the meeting, which would be the first U.K.-Russia bilateral defense talks since 2013. The U.S. has mounted an aggressive campaign in recent months to unify its European allies against a new Russian invasion of Ukraine. The White House called the UK government assessment "deeply concerning" and said it stands with the duly elected Ukrainian government. "This kind of plotting is deeply concerning," said National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne. "The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine." The assessment came as Biden spent Saturday at the presidential retreat Camp David outside of Washington huddling with his senior national security team about the Ukraine situation. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The project is aimed to irrigate 37 lakh acres and provide 10 tmcft drinking water for several villages and 30 tmcft drinking water for twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad apart from providing 16 tmcft of water for industrial usage. DC Image Hyderabad: The Kaleshwaram Irrigation Project Company Limited (KIPCL) secured grading of A-category from the Centre's Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) based on its financials and performance. The KIPCL runs Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project. The REC is the major lender to KIPCL. REC general manager Ch. V. Lakshmanacharyulu sent a communication to the state government to this effect on Saturday. The state government constituted KIPCL in 2016 to raise funds for the construction of Kaleshwaram project, the worlds largest lift irrigation project. The project is being built at a cost of nearly Rs 1 lakh crore. The Kaleshwaram project (KIPCL) already secured over Rs 50,000 crore loans from banks and other financial institutions. The REC extended Rs 14,000 crore loans. The task of raising loans for Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme was also entrusted to KIPCL later. The corporation has been paying the interest and principal amounts of the banks and financial institutions promptly on a monthly and quarterly basis. The REC has given the A-category grading based on the financial and other performances, said Rajat Kumar, special chief secretary, irrigation, who is also the chairman of the KIPCL, in a press release. The corporation signed agreements with a consortium of banks to raise loans for the project which include the Union Bank of India consortium, Punjab National Bank consortium, Bank of Baroda and financial institutions, namely,Power Finance Corporation Ltd, REC Ltd and Nabard. The corporation has since been involved in developing, engineering, financing and executing the Kaleshwaram project. The project is aimed to irrigate 37 lakh acres and provide 10 tmcft drinking water for several villages and 30 tmcft drinking water for twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad apart from providing 16 tmcft of water for industrial usage. In 2020, for the first year in 50 years neither my wife nor I traveled outside the United States. We booked a river cruise from St. Petersburg to Moscow for 2020. Due to widespread COVID in Russia, that cruise was cancelled and not yet rescheduled. The cruise line offered us a substitute cruise. Neither of us had been to Chile, around Cape Horn, the Falkland Islands, Uruguay and Argentina, so we signed up for the December 2021 departure. We waited on tenterhooks through 2021, hoping we would be cruising. In October, the Falklands stop was cancelled. In November, we got word that we had to provide a negative PCR COVID test, taken within 72 hours of the departure of our first flight to Chile. We googled PCR tests to learn they cost upwards of $175 each, and not widely available. Happily, we got the test scheduled at Myers Pharmacy here in Waverly. Heading out in mid-December, we put our passports, PCR test results and vaccination cards in safe carrying places. All were required in order to take the plane and enter Chile. Some people were turned away for failure to have a negative COVID test less than 72 hours before leaving the U.S. or vaccination documentation. Upon boarding the ship, we had daily COVID tests. During the cruise, three passengers had positive test results and had to leave the ship for seven days of quarantine and then return to the U.S. Everywhere we went in Chile, we had to carry proof of vaccination and negative testing. When we got to our first port in Argentina, all passengers and crew on our ship were refused entry because of the earlier three positive COVID test results. We thought this would be a temporary ban, given our passengers daily testing, with no further positive results. Nonetheless, we were barred from entering any port of Argentina. We were admitted to ports in Uruguay, based on our test results, but Argentina kept us out. We flew from Montevideo to Santiago to return home. We had to show proof of a negative test result to return to the Santiago airport. While waiting at our gate, we were given two documents that had to be filled in to enter the United States. One was contact tracing information by which since Nov. 21, 2021, all passengers entering the United States must provide their contact information ... to identify and locate passengers who have been exposed. We had to provide our names, phone numbers, email and home addresses along with flight information. The second document was a combined passenger disclosure and attestation to the USA collected by our airline. We had to attest that we had been tested within three days for COVID, with a negative result. These documents were not reviewed by the airline or U.S. immigration authorities upon our arrival at New York. What have we learned about prevention of COVID? These three South American countries are working hard to prevent endemic COVID. They have nationwide vaccination programs with requirements to carry proof of vaccination plus masking required in all public areas. They also have contact tracing capacity. They are reducing COVID risk in many ways. Chile, Argentina and Uruguay all have much higher vaccination rates than the U.S. Iowa has a lower average than the nation as a whole. Are we No. 1 in protecting ourselves against this deadly disease? Are we No. 1 in managing outbreaks? It seems that minority of people in the U.S. and Iowa who are not vaccinated do not think about others. The increase in hospitalizations takes beds/doctors/nurses away from people waiting for surgeries. Do we care about the 1,700 Americans dying every day from COVID? We can do better, here in Iowa and the U.S. Availability of at-home rapid antigen tests will help. They cost an average of $12 each in the U.S.; $3.40 in India; free in Canada and the UK. Better health care, especially to counter COVID, is something the Iowa Legislature and governor could initiate for all Iowans using the large budget surplus on hand now. Health care is free for all persons in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. We, too, can aggressively combat this mobile, changing, deadly virus. We know the tools; we have the tools. An answer about banned books has been modified to correct an error. Q: Will June 19 Juneteenth be observed as a federal holiday this year? A: Yes. In June, President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth National Independence Day a federal holiday. Beginning in 2022, the Postal Service will recognize Juneteenth as a holiday eligible to full-time and part-time career employees. This year June 19 falls on a Sunday, which means the federal government and Federal Reserve Banks and branches will be closed the following Monday, June 20, 2022. Q: Whole Foods is owned by Amazon. Who owns Natural Grocers in Cedar Falls? Who is going to own the Rooted Carrot in Cedar Falls? A: The Natural Grocers business was founded in 1955 as a door-to-door sales operation by Margaret and Philip Isely. They opened the first Vitamin Cottage store in Lakewood, Colorado, in 1963. Beginning in 2008, Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers phased in a name change to Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage to emphasize that groceries is its primary business. The company made its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in July 2012, listed by the symbol NGVC. Kemper Isely has been the co-president and director since 1998. According to its website, Rooted Carrot is a food co-op: Food Co-ops work differently than regular grocery stores. Co-ops are owned by the members, who purchase a share in the co-op and become member-owners. Q: Are you going to be publishing your puzzle book in the paper in the future, or is that going to be online? A: The puzzle books will continue to be in The Courier. The last one appeared Jan. 9. Q: When will the bike trail that is closed from Fletcher Avenue to University Avenue be open and when will the bridges be repaired? A: The city of Waterloo Engineering Department is asking for funding in FY23 that starts after July 1, 2022. If the City Council approves the funding, construction would start sometime in the fall of 2022. Q: I have a box of over 100 wrapped, unused insulin needles. I was wondering if there is anywhere in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area where I could donate them? A: There is an ACE-SAP free clinic at the Salvation Army of Waterloo/Cedar Falls that may take them call (319) 235-9358 to coordinate a drop-off or request more information. Otherwise, there are online resources that take such donations: Try SafeNetRx at safenetrx.org/individual-donation. Q: Iowa Senate President Jake Chapman wants to ban books in schools. Can you list a few of these books that he is opposed to so I can read them and make up my own mind if they are suitable? A: Chapman first posted to social media about banning books he characterizes as obscene after a Johnston school district meeting he attended where a committee reviewed two controversial, award-winning books that deal with race: The Hate U Give, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. In 2015, Waterloo "reclarified" that The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is not part of its approved literacy curriculum. But the books remain on the shelves of all its middle school libraries, available for checkout. Calls are taken on a special Courier phone line at 234-3566. Questions are answered by Courier staff. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The governor deserves credit for thinking outside the box when it comes to staffing up our K-12 classrooms and for throwing in her own application as a substitute teacher. Oh, to be a fly on the wall should Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham follow through and stun some New Mexico students as their substitute. Faced with an ongoing educational crisis exacerbated by a crush of recent COVID-19 infections in the state the governor on Wednesday asked members of the New Mexico National Guard and state employees to volunteer as substitute teachers and child care workers. State employees will get their usual pay while on administrative leave, while members of the Guard who sign up will receive state active-duty pay. About 50 members of the states Army and Air National Guard are expected to participate initially, with hopes of expanding it to 100 people. Licensing fees for substitute teaching will be waived, and new substitutes could reach schools this week. While not entirely new at Albuquerque Public Schools 86 administrators have stepped up for sub duty since April 2021 this iteration is an unorthodox move, for sure. The Associated Press says New Mexico became the first state in the nation to ask National Guard troops to serve as substitute teachers. Weve had teacher shortages before and muddled through, but this is different. This is a major crisis. Teachers are retiring in record numbers or opting to leave for a multitude of reasons, including COVID-related ones. Teacher vacancies in New Mexico exploded with about 1,000 openings early in the school year. The state saw a 40% spike in the retirement of education employees last year. School districts across the state report a need for about 900 substitute teachers. The governor is hoping the initiative will establish a pool of 500. It is part of education leaders united front to keep kids in school the unions are on board. The state Department of Public Education recently announced it was shortening quarantine and self-isolation times for public school students and staff from 10 days to five, in line with revised CDC guidelines. Yet at least 60 districts and charter schools have moved to remote instruction since winter break, and state health officials say we have yet to peak in new cases of the omicron variant. New Mexico set a record for the third day in a row Friday with 6,198 new cases; on Thursday there were 6,010, up from 5,735 Wednesday. There were 633 people hospitalized throughout the state Friday, and more hospitals are implementing crisis standards of care. So the governor has rightfully received high praise for her Supporting Teachers and Families initiative. Public Education Secretary Kurt Steinhaus says utilizing state employees to shore up the pool of substitute teachers is an example of good government This is state government at its best, and we are ready to step up to support our teachers, who have been on the front lines of the pandemic for nearly two years now, by increasing the states pool of substitute teachers. Santa Fe schools switched to remote learning last week after COVID-19 cases surged within the district, with an average of 80 to 90 cases per day. Superintendent Hilario Larry Chavez says Santa Fe Public Schools greatly appreciates the STAF initiative, as this will be instrumental in helping us return and continue in-person learning on Monday. The national Democratic Governors Association, which Lujan Grisham recently chaired, thought the move was significant enough to merit a news release lauding the initiative. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham knows that kids learn better in the classroom, and this initiative will give kids, educators, and working families the stability they need during this pandemic, said DGA Senior Communications Advisor Christina Amestoy. Its still unclear how many state employees and National Guard members will flock to classrooms. But its worth the effort to find out. State and local leaders are rightly doing all they can to avoid a return to the disaster that is remote learning. In June 2020 the Legislative Finance Committee estimated students had lost three months to a year of learning with in-person classes on hold. And that was more than a year ago. Theres no doubt about New Mexicos untapped teaching potential. We have retired Ph.D.s all over the state. The education and training of National Guard members have never been higher. And we have a deep well of state employees to draw from New Mexico has the largest concentration of public-sector workers in the southwestern states, with nearly 28,000 state employee positions. The governor is also encouraging other New Mexicans to apply. We hope they will consider it. Anyone who is 18 or older with a high school diploma or equivalent is eligible, and pay ranges from $78 to $165 a day depending on location and various criteria. Yes, shifting National Guard members and state employees into substitute teaching roles is only a stopgap measure. Having state employees on administrative leave wont help in the delivery of state services, and having them in classrooms wont likely move the needle in a state where just one out of three students can read at grade level and one out of five can do grade-level math. But keeping kids in class and helping them from falling even further behind is a much better prospect than shuttering school buildings and losing even more ground. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. To be a sub Those interested in signing up to help schools and child care centers may do so at ped.state.nm.us or at nmececd.org. Shot clinics Parents can help by getting themselves and their children vaccinated. The state Health Department has a vaccine scheduler tool at vaccinenm.org. Albuquerque Public Schools is holding vaccination clinics for students of all ages. There will be a shot clinic from 2-6 p.m. Monday at Los Padillas Elementary School; no appointment is needed. There will also be a shot clinic Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Berna Facio Professional Development Complex; appointments are necessary. Information about APS shot clinics is available at aps.edu. Parents should take advantage of the clinics and help stop the spread. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Ralph Lucero has spent the last 25 years working at prisons in New Mexico. By his own admission, Lucero was old school and didnt believe in change. His mantra had always been: Lock them down, leave them alone. That was my old mentality, Lucero said. In 2015 Lucero, a unit manager at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Los Lunas, was given a new task: Oversee a seminary program that gave a group of inmates the freedom to work with staff to make the facility a better place for everyone. Lucero was skeptical at best, telling them, I dont even want you here. But then, something unexpected happened. Lucero said the men, known as ministry mentors, were able to help inmates through crises in ways the staff couldnt. They eased the minds of those who were at deaths door from disease or injury. When they spoke, other inmates seemed to listen. Threats of suicide decreased and assaults between inmates and on staff, Luceros biggest worry, went from an almost daily occurrence to zero. Six years later, he is their biggest champion. I value them and they know that I value them, Lucero said. I finally see them, after 18 years, I see that they are human, they are just like me. Im not better than them. Theyre not better than me. A better, safer place Chaplain Kevin Everett, who works with the mentors at the Los Lunas facility, said the mission of the program is to change the culture within the prisons. Everett said the men serve as a Swiss-army knife for the staff. They work to help the inmates change their thinking and way of living, he said. But also theyre a big blessing to the staff, because everything that we do thats positive makes this a better, safer place. Everett said the faith-based program really took root in Los Lunas, where there currently are nine mentors. There are a handful of mentors at Roswell and a few others spread around elsewhere. Funded through a partnership with University of the Southwest, it is one of 17 prison seminary programs nationwide, according to the Prison Seminaries Foundation. The program began in 1995 at Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola,and morphed the facility from the bloodiest prison in America to one of the safest and most peaceful, according to PSF. Mentors in New Mexico begin their two-year training at the Hobbs prison, where they attain a minimum of an associate degree. Some have bachelors and at least one has a masters. Although it is a faith-based program, anyone can apply to be a mentor. They assist inmates of any faith or no faith at all. The programs benefits became evident early on as mentors worked with those in the Mental Health Treatment Center. Lucero said whenever an inmate in the unit was about to freak out, he would send one of the men to talk them off the ledge. Soon enough, inmates were asking for a mentor instead of acting out. Then they had mentors spend time with inmates in the Long Term Care Unit, where Lucero said 90% of the inmates are going to die. They were like, What do you want us to do? And I said, Pray with them, talk to them, watch TV with them, hang out with them,' Lucero said. When the end was near for an inmate, a mentor was tasked with standing vigil so he wouldnt die alone. Over time the group began training four comfort dogs at a time, like Sugar and Baby, rescued from the Valencia County shelter. Lucero said the mentors walk the dogs around the units and visit those in crisis, which lessens tension and anger. Jason Webb, coordinator of Community Outreach and Faith Based Services with the New Mexico Corrections Department, said the mentors are hungry to do work of any kind and serve as the boots on the ground for staff looking to make positive changes. The kind of communication these guys are going to get is totally different. Its very honest, and so they can come back and be like, This is whats going on over here. This is a challenge thats going on there,' he said. I mean, thats how we find out what can we do to make it better? If you see a need, fill a need Vincent Baca is one of the original mentors. The 62-year-old speaks with a swagger and bluntness that comes from spending four decades in prison. When they see me, they know what this represents, he said, pointing to the purple uniform that sets ministry mentors apart. This color represents volumes. It speaks loud. And once they start opening up, I take control and I give them a different perspective on their confinement. Baca and the others range in age from their 20s to their 60s. Most have been locked up for decades and bounced between facilities. Their convictions are for crimes that include double murder, molestation and a drunken driving crash that resulted in grave injuries. They are articulate, highly educated and speak compassionately of their mission. Members of the group dont shy away from their own demons and revert back to faith and God often, but they do not require the same of those inmates they help. They talk, cry, pray and sing with them whatever is needed. After spending more than 15 years behind bars, Clifford Dees became a mentor and was told if you see a need, fill a need. The freedom that came with that instruction was foreign to him. They gave us enough rope to hang ourselves and by the grace of God it hasnt happened yet,' the 47-year-old said, a wide grin apparent beneath his mask. Theyll stick their foot in the door and break a toe trying to keep it open for us, or kick it open. We drive them nuts sometimes with all of our requests, Hey, can we do this, were trying to do that, what you think about this? Theyre like, Lets see what happens.' Dees said that thanks to the support of Everett and Lucero, theyve become a stopgap to help resolve issues before they get to the point of staff using Mace, handcuffs or isolation on an inmate because hes not able to handle his time. The mentors also try to guide those new to incarceration. Christopher Harvey, 31, said prison can be a hostile environment and not everyone can handle it. Eventually, many of them open up. Theyre scared, or hurt, or sad. They dont know whats going to happen, he said. Theres guys that have never been through prison. They think that theyre just going to come in here and get stabbed or beat up for whatever reason. Harvey, an extrovert, said the job comes naturally to him. You know what they say; when you do what you love, its not work, he said. This kind of stuff, to me, its exciting. I actually care about these guys and I want them to understand, whatever youre going through, whether its 100 years or one year, someones there for you. Jail officials said that because the ministry mentors are in the same shoes, they speak the language. John Mayes, another mentor, said they break down barriers that staff may run up against. From their perspective, were not the guards who are going to talk down to them, he said. They can have a relationship with us that can become beneficial to them, emotionally and mentally, and that makes a big difference. I have a new life Matthew Gonzales recalled the moment he got sent away for 12 years. When the judge hits that gavel, a tear drops, just like a waterfall. Your life just changed, he said, adding but it doesnt have to be for the worst. Gonzales said the seminary program had just started when he arrived at the Los Lunas facility. He said seeing the mentors, like Baca, inspired him. Id seen rather hardcore individuals be humble, joyful, and Im like youre in prison, that shouldnt be happening,' Gonzales said. Those guys were infectious and I just wanted what they had I was able to find that little bit of happiness and was able to breathe better. He said the program has taught him that prison doesnt have to define him. That he can be forgiven and write his own definition of who he is. Its brought me, personally, more vibrancy. I have a new life, I dont have a depressed moment in prison no more, Gonzales said. Mayes, in the middle of a 23-year sentence, said the program has helped him communicate better and build up relationships with those inside and outside the facility, like family. From the moment that I got arrested, I knew that I needed to change my life, he said. This program is the culmination of keeping the mindset that I need to stay focused to do things with my life that werent just going to benefit me, but were going to benefit other people as well. The mentors try to bring that perspective to others. The way its been (with) drugs, recidivism theyre treated a certain way because of how they lived, Gonzales said. But they can change their minds, their bodies and their souls. They dont have to live like that. Its not the end of the world Baca said sometimes its not about teaching the men how to live. In the Long Term Care Unit, where he often finds himself, its helping people who are dying. Some guys got rods in their backs, some guys got cancer. Theyre reaching out to somebody, somebody to listen to them, he said. I let them know its not the end of the world.' Despite his assertive nature and tough guy persona, Baca said he is always shaken when those same men leave to be with God. It just blows my mind to see a man take his last breath Im like dumbfounded, flabbergasted like wow, did I just see this happen?' he said. It takes me two or three days (being) in my cell. Then I come out, you know, continue my mission. Because Im everywhere, Im a servant. Lucero, the unit manager, said he saw the night and day change in people like Baca, who he knew from years before. It gives them responsibility and it shows them that the administration has faith in them to better themselves, he said. Because when they get out, and some of these guys are going to get out, theyre going to be better people. One former mentor has since been released and has his own congregation in Clovis. Another is moving up the ladder at the Los Lunas Amazon facility. Not only have they changed his whole mentality about prisons, but Lucero said they made him an overall better person. Im pretty sure its because of the program because Im not so rigid all the time now, he said. Lucero said if they got mentors at all 11 facilities around the state, the program could change the whole dynamics of correctional facilities lowering recidivism, inmate suicides and drug use. The change that they affected in this facility alone is amazing, he said. Im proud of the program, Ill do whatever it takes for the program. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal A New Mexico State Police sergeant testified he was unaware an armed drug trafficker was the target of a high-risk sting operation and didnt ask any details of federal authorities before telling an unsuspecting officer to pull the man over on Interstate 10. Federal agents had prepared for the worst with Omar Cueva. Homeland Security Investigations had a contingency plan in place for his arrest, with a heavily-armed tactical unit and medic on standby. The agency briefed two New Mexico State Police officers who were involved in the operation that he was trafficking drugs, carrying an assault-style rifle and had told an undercover agent he wasnt going back to jail. But, according to depositions taken last week, State Police Officer Darian Jarrott knew none of that on Feb. 4 when he stopped Cueva along I-10 near Deming. Within minutes, Cueva gunned down Jarrott, delivering a coup de grace, before dying in a wild gunfight with authorities near Las Cruces. A toxicology report showed Cueva was high on methamphetamine at the time. Almost a year later, the State Police agent tasked with reviewing the incident said under oath he did a thorough investigation into what led to Jarrotts death but did not review any policies or procedures and could not give a clear answer as to what went wrong. Darian Jarrotts death and the subsequent investigation has revealed that, at best, the State Police is dysfunctional and incompetent. At worst, theyre intentionally stonewalling the family of one of their own, attorney Sam Bregman told the Journal. Bregman deposed State Police Agent Felipe Gonzales and State Police Sgt. Mark Madrid last week as part of the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Jarrotts widow, alleging negligence against the state Department of Public Safety. Madrid, who was asked to resign by an officer after the incident, told Bregman that State Police told him he did nothing wrong, that he was not disciplined in any way and there was no internal affairs investigation opened into the matter. State Police declined to answer questions or comment for this story, citing pending litigation. Needed to know more Madrid told Bregman during the deposition that he first contacted HSI agent Hector Huerta on Feb. 2 after receiving a be on the lookout alert, or BOLO, for Cueva. The BOLO said Cueva was possibly smuggling drugs through Deming, that he had an extensive criminal history and was known to carry guns. Madrid said HSI agent Matthew Rodriguez called him on Feb. 4 as he surveilled Cuevas Deming home. He said Rodriguez sent him photos of four vehicles that Cueva might be in. Madrid said he thought HSI was confused on what they were doing but he never asked about Cuevas criminal history, the agencys plan or any other details. Its not my job to do that, Madrid said. The information that was provided was the information we went off. Madrid said 98% of BOLOs mention firearms and an extensive criminal history, and Cuevas BOLO did not make him seem any more dangerous than anybody else. He said he believed the traffic stop should have been treated as any other and told Jarrott to be on the lookout for two of the vehicles. When Bregman asked what it means to be on the lookout, Madrid replied: Whatever an officer does, sir. Later on in the deposition, Madrid said he told Jarrott that Cueva was possibly armed, to be careful and stop Cueva if he had probable cause. Madrid said if HSI had divulged more, particularly that Cueva said he wasnt going back to jail, he wouldnt have involved Jarrott or any other officer. Madrid said, in hindsight, HSI shouldnt have asked local agencies for assistance and he no longer handles BOLOs put out by federal agencies. I will not work with them, he said. They do not put the information out, I believe, properly for officer safety purposes. Madrid said he was told by State Police he did nothing wrong. As a supervisor I feel I failed that officer as in the circumstances behind it, I dont know, he said. Madrid said he was advised by State Police to leave the state for a few months afterward and saw a doctor for mental health issues. It was a traumatic experience, and I was having a hard time dealing with it, Madrid said. State Police Officer Daniel Soliz sent Madrid an email in May asking that he resign over an incident where some of your decisions are in question. I am asking man to man, that you retire. I am asking that you pass the torch and allow our District to heal the best we can, Soliz wrote. He added, Jarrott did make some mistakes, but he should not of been there by himself, THAT was your decision. Gonzales, the agent who investigated the incident, told Bregman during the deposition it was his first time leading a murder case. He said part of his job was to figure out how Jarrott became involved. Gonzales said he was told Jarrott was assisting HSI but then learned he had no contact with anyone at the agency or anyone involved in the operation. He refused to assign fault but said best practices wouldve had a State Police officer at the HSI briefing. When asked if HSI or State Police did anything wrong, Gonzales replied, I dont know. Gonzales said Madrid disputed Huertas claim that he was briefed on the operation and Huerta refused to sit down with Gonzales again, so he never confirmed. He said he didnt find out why Jarrott was put in that position but agreed it was important to learn why he had been sent in alone. He said he was not sure if Jarrott or Madrid did anything right or wrong. As Bregman pressed him on possible policy violations or lapses in training, Gonzales said he didnt look over any State Police or HSI policies during his investigation. Throughout the interview, Gonzales made no conclusions, contradicted his own notes on the case and answered Im not sure more than 50 times, according to a transcript of the deposition. For someone who was the case agent on this case youre not sure about very much of the information contained in the BOLO or in your report, are you? Bregman asked. Gonzales replied, If thats the way you see it, sir. Bregman told the Journal that the two depositions make it clear that the State Police did not care about Officer Jarrotts safety on the day he was murdered. What makes this even worse, is that the State Police care even less about getting to the truth of why Officer Jarrott was sent in alone on that day, he said. It is a slap in the face to his widow and children. A proposal to overhaul New Mexicos social studies standards has stirred debate over how race should be taught in schools, with thousands of parents and teachers weighing in on changes that would dramatically increase instruction related to racial and social identity beginning in kindergarten. The revisions in the state are ambitious. New Mexico officials say they hope their standards can be a model for the country of social studies teaching that is culturally responsive, as student populations grow increasingly diverse. As elsewhere, the move toward more open discussion of race has prompted angry rebukes, with some critics blasting it as racist or Marxist. But the responses also provide a window into how others are wrestling with how and when race should be taught to children beyond the polarizing debates over material branded as critical race theory. The responses have not broken down along racial lines, with Indigenous and Latino parents among those expressing concern in one of the countrys least racially segregated states. While debates elsewhere have centered on the teaching of enslavement of Black people, some discussions in New Mexico, which is 49% Hispanic and 11% Native American, have focused on the legacy of Spanish conquistadors. We refuse to be categorized as victims or oppressors, wrote Michael Franco, a retired Hispanic air traffic controller in Albuquerque who said the standards appeared aimed at categorizing children by race and ethnicity and undercutting the narrative of the American dream. The New Mexico Public Education Departments proposed standards are aimed at making civics, history and geography more inclusive of the states population so that students feel at home in the curriculum and prepared for a diverse society, according to public statements. Our out-of-date standards leave New Mexico students with an incomplete understanding of the complex, multicultural world they live in, Public Education Secretary Designate Kurt Steinhaus said. Its our duty to provide them with a complete education based on known facts. Thats what these proposed standards will do. The plan calls for students to learn about different identity groups in kindergarten and unequal power relations in later grades. One part of the draft standards would require high school students to assess how social policies and economic forces offer privilege or systemic inequity for opportunities for members of identity groups. In a first for the state, ethnic studies and the history of the LGBT rights movement also would be introduced into the curriculum. An Albuquerque pastor, the Rev. Sylvia Miller-Mutia, welcomed the change in her written comment, arguing children see race early, and that learning about it in school can dismantle stereotypes early. When her eldest child was 3, she said that her Filipino dad wasnt American because he has dark skin, while her mother was American because she has light skin. Already, a cultural script that said to be American is to be light-skinned had somehow seeped into my preschoolers consciousness, Miller-Mutia said in an interview. Many Democratic-run states across the country are looking to diversify those cultural scripts, while Republican-run ones are putting up guardrails against possible changes. California was among the first states last year to make ethnic studies a graduation requirement. Texas passed a law requiring teachers to present multiple perspectives on all issues and one Indiana lawmaker proposed that teachers be required to take a neutral position. The education department in New Mexico is reviewing over 1,300 letters on the proposed standards along with dozens of comments from an online forum in November. The standards were written with input from 64 people around the state, mostly social studies teachers, and are to be published next spring with revisions. Among the authors was Wendy Leighton, a Santa Fe middle school history teacher. As a leader of the revisions for the history section of the standards, she said the goal was to take marginalized groups like Indigenous, LGBTQ and other people that are often not in textbooks or pushed to the side and making them kind of more closer to the center. Identity was the center of a class she taught in December, where students learning about the Salem witch trials identified which groups were at the center of power clergy, men and which were on the margins women, servants. Whats a marginalized group in America today? she asked the class. State Republicans have argued that parents should teach their children sensitive topics like race and that there are bigger priorities in a state that ranks toward the bottom in academic achievement. The focus that I feel is urgent is math, reading and writing. Not social studies standards, said state Rep. Rebecca Dow, one of six candidates for the Republican nomination for governor this year, hoping to unseat Democratic incumbent Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Some parents who wrote public comments said they would rather homeschool their children than have them learn under the proposed standards. Struggle and adversity have never been limited to one specific race or ethnicity. Neither has privilege, wrote Lucas Tieme, a father of five public school students, who are white. Tieme, a bus driver for Rio Rancho public schools, said his wife was homeschooled so theyd be ready to take their kids out of school if it came to that. Some parents who support the changes generally are skeptical of introducing race to the youngest students. Sheldon Pickering, 41, has two adopted children who are Black, and has seen casual racism against his kids escalate as they reach adolescence in Farmington. He has had the talk with his Black son, instructing him how to interact with police. But Pickering, who is white, worries about schools introducing too much too soon. If we start too early, we rob kids of this rare time in their life that they have just to be kids, said Pickering, a cleaning business owner. They just get to be these amazing little kids and enjoy life without preconceived notions, without context. The SP said that the 12th standard student, in her dying declaration to a judicial magistrate on January 16 while undergoing treatment at hospital or in her initial complaint had not mentioned about the conversion attempt. ANI Chennai: Demanding a CBI probe into the suicide of a school girl, who, the party alleged, was coerced to convert to Christianity, the State unit of the BJP held a demonstration in Chennai on Saturday despite the Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board, P K Sekar Babu, making it clear that there was no scope for forced conversions in the State. Sekar Babu made the statement on Friday evening when reporters asked him about the controversy that was being sought to be whipped up the BJP leaders, who claim that the 17-year-old girl from Ariyalur district was pressurized to convert to Christianity at the hostel in Thirukattupalli in Thanjavur district. BJP State President, K Annamalai, released a video in which the girl says that her parents were asked if they could convert the girl to Christianity two years ago. But the Thanjavur district Superintendent of Police Ravali Priya Gandhapuneni said that there was clarity on who shot the video clip and when. The SP said that the 12th standard student, in her dying declaration to a judicial magistrate on January 16 while undergoing treatment at hospital or in her initial complaint had not mentioned about the conversion attempt. So, now that the video had emerged they would like to look at the case from various angles since the parents had also alleged attempted conversion, the SP said. The parents had initially even refused to claim the body of the girl who passed away on January 19, and the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court asked them to take possession of the body on Saturday. But the BJP and other associated organizations have taken up the issue. The BJP has also demanded a statement from Chief Minister M K Stalin on the issue, besides escalating the situation through agitations and calling for more demonstrations in the coming days. Reacting to the BJPs move to politicize the suicide, State secretary of the CPM K Balakrishnan condemned the attitude of the BJP, which it said was trying to create law and order problem using the suicide. He called for all democratic forces to condemn the BJPs moves. However, the BJP trended a hashtag with the name of the minor girl on Twitter. Govt needs to wake up n realize their blind support for missionaries cannot be at the cost of hindu lives, said one of the tweets. The minor girl was staying at St Michael's Girls Home when she is said to have consumed pesticides. The 62-year-old warden of the home has been arrested. The charge that is sought to be made out is that the girl was asked if she could convert to Christianity two years back and since then she had been assigned to do menial chores in the home. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal A former Belen firefighter alleges in a lawsuit that he was fired last year after raising concerns about a co-worker with symptoms of COVID-19 who was allowed to remain at work. Michael Rayne was fired in October as a Belen airport rescue firefighter in retaliation for reporting his concerns to a Belen city official, according to the suit filed Jan. 14 against the City of Belen. Rayne was fired only five months after the city hired him on May 21. The suit contends Rayne was protected under the New Mexico Whistleblower Protection Act when he reported the suspected COVID-19 illness to the citys human resources director. Belen City Manager Andrew Salas said in an email that the city does not comment on pending legal matters. The 2nd Judicial District Court lawsuit sets out a series of events that led to Raynes termination. Rayne reported to work on Aug. 11 and noticed that a fellow firefighter appeared to be sick. In a private conversation with his supervisor, Rayne expressed concern that the firefighter showed symptoms of COVID-19 and was potentially exposing the entire crew by coming to work sick, the suit states. Raynes attorney, Daniel Apodaca, said the sick firefighter tested positive for COVID-19 around Aug. 12, requiring the entire airport fire and rescue staff to remain in quarantine until Aug. 22. During their private conversation, Rayne suggested that the supervisor send the sick firefighter home and was told, I cant send him home we have staffing issues, Apodaca said. The supervisor sent Rayne home but allowed the sick firefighter to remain on the job, according to the suit. After arriving home, Rayne contacted Steven Gonzales, Belens director of human resources, and expressed concern about the supervisors decision to allow the sick firefighter to remain at work. Gonzales later had a discussion with Raynes supervisor about those concerns. The supervisor had a meeting with the firefighting staff on Sept. 13 and told them he was upset that someone had reported the illness to human resources, which he considered insubordination for not following the chain of command, the lawsuit alleges. The supervisor is not identified as a defendant in the lawsuit. After Rayne admitted that he had contacted human resources, the retaliation against Mr. Rayne began, the suit states. The supervisor began the process of getting rid of Mr. Rayne by nitpicking the work of Mr. Rayne, it alleges. The suit alleges that the supervisor eventually built a case against Rayne and fired him on Oct. 12. The suit seeks unspecified damages for lost wages and benefits and for emotional stress. OSLO, Norway A Taliban delegation led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Sunday started three days of talks in Oslo with Western officials and Afghan civil society representatives amid a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The closed-door meetings were taking place at a hotel in the snow-capped mountains above the Norwegian capital and are the first time since the Taliban took over in August that their representatives have held official meetings in Europe. The talks were not without controversy, however, reigniting the debate over whether they legitimize the Taliban government, especially since they were being held in Norway, a NATO country involved in Afghanistan from 2001 until the Taliban take over last summer. Speaking at the end of the first day of talks, Taliban delegate Shafiullah Azam told The Associated Press that the meetings with Western officials were a step to legitimize (the) Afghan government, adding that this type of invitation and communication will help (the) European community, (the) U.S. or many other countries to erase the wrong picture of the Afghan government. That statement may irk the Talibans Norwegian hosts. Earlier, Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt stressed that the talks were not a legitimation or recognition of the Taliban. On Sunday, 200 protesters gathered on an icy square in front of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry in Oslo to condemn the meetings with the Taliban, which has not received diplomatic recognition from any foreign government. The Taliban has not changed as some in the international community like to say, said Ahman Yasir, a Norwegian Afghan living in Norway for around two decades. They are as brutal as they were in 2001 and before. Taliban leaders met with some womens rights and human rights activists on Sunday, but there was no official word about those talks. Starting Monday, Taliban representatives will meet with delegations from Western nations and will be certain to press their demand that nearly $10 billion frozen by the United States and other Western countries be released as Afghanistan faces a precarious humanitarian situation. We are requesting them to unfreeze Afghan assets and not punish ordinary Afghans because of the political discourse, said Shafiullah Azam. Because of the starvation, because of the deadly winter, I think its time for the international community to support Afghans, not punish them because of their political disputes. The United Nations has managed to provide some liquidity and allowed the Taliban administration to pay for imports, including electricity. But the U.N. has warned that as many as 1 million Afghan children are in danger of starving and most of the countrys 38 million people are living below the poverty line. Faced with the Talibans request for funds, Western powers are likely to put the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan high on their agenda, along with the Wests recurring demand for the Taliban administration to share power with Afghanistans minority ethnic and religious groups. Since sweeping to power in mid-August, the Taliban have imposed widespread restrictions, many of them directed at women. Women have been banned from many jobs outside the health and education fields, their access to education has been restricted beyond sixth grade and they have been ordered to wear the hijab. The Taliban have, however, stopped short of imposing the burqa, which was compulsory when they previously ruled Afghanistan in the 1990s. The Taliban have increasingly targeted Afghanistans beleaguered rights groups, as well as journalists, detaining and sometimes beating television crews covering demonstrations. A U.S. delegation, led by Special Representative for Afghanistan Tom West, plans to discuss the formation of a representative political system; responses to the urgent humanitarian and economic crises; security and counterterrorism concerns; and human rights, especially education for girls and women, according to a statement released by the U.S. State Department. The Scandinavian country, home to the Nobel Peace Prize, is no stranger to diplomacy. It has been involved in peace efforts in a number of countries, including Mozambique, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Colombia, the Philippines, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Syria, Myanmar, Somalia, Sri Lanka and South Sudan. NEW YORK Stormy Daniels, the porn star who catapulted herself and Michael Avenatti to fame with lawsuits against former President Donald Trump, will have a starring role in court beginning Monday when prosecutors try to prove that the California lawyer cheated her of $300,000 in book proceeds. Her testimony in Manhattan federal court will be pivotal for prosecutors trying to prove Avenatti engaged in wire fraud and aggravated identity theft to keep from giving his client money he had received from her publisher. Opening statements are set for Monday. Daniels is not expected to testify until Tuesday, at the earliest. Avenatti, 50, has pleaded not guilty to the charges in what will be his third criminal trial in two years. I am completely innocent of these charges, Avenatti said in a statement issued through a publicist this weekend. The government is spending millions of dollars to prosecute me for a case that should have never been filed. Meanwhile, they continue to allow Trump and his co-conspirators to walk free and suffer no consequences for their criminal conduct. That is not justice. In early 2020, he was convicted of trying to extort up to $25 million from Nike by threatening to tarnish the sportswear giants reputation unless it met his demands. He has not yet begun serving a 2 1/2-year prison sentence. Last year, a mistrial resulted in California on charges that he cheated clients there. He awaits retrial. The attorney-client relationship between Daniels and Avenatti seemed strong in the spring of 2018 when the pair showed up together at a Manhattan court hearing pertaining to raids on the home and office of Michael Cohen, Trumps longtime personal attorney. Cohen had played a role in a $130,000 hush-money payment to Daniels to buy her silence 11 days before the 2016 presidential election. He eventually pleaded guilty to charges and served a year behind bars before finishing his three-year prison term at home. With Avenattis help, Daniels sued Trump to try to win back her freedom to speak openly about what she contended was a brief affair with Trump a decade earlier. As a result of the litigation in 2018, a Los Angeles judge ordered Trump to pay Daniels $44,100 in legal fees. Trump has denied the sexual encounter. With Daniels as a client and his growing reputation as a Trump critic, Avenatti found himself in demand on cable television news programs. He became so popular in some circles that he considered a run for president. After Daniels signed a book deal, the pair remained close, and Avenatti was enlisted to write the forward to Full Disclosure, which was released in the fall of 2018. In the book, Daniels revealed details about what she described as her sexual encounter with Trump and communications afterward. But a half-year after the book was published, Avenatti was charged in three criminal cases, including the fraud he was alleged to have carried out against Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford. After his arrest, Avenatti insisted in Twitter posts that no money related to Daniels was ever misappropriated or mishandled and that he mostly worked unpaid for Daniels with an agreement that he would receive a percentage of any book proceeds. He said he looked forward to a jury hearing the evidence. Many people, both famous and not, want Covid to end so they can get some freedoms back. Some think freedom, and what they remember as 'normal life' will return after Covid 'runs its course'. Others insist that a vaccine is the only answer to make the madness stop. With how readily available they are, Stern brought vaccines up, too. He had this to say about people who are hesitant about getting experimental vaccines or who are decidedly against them (pardon the language): Quarantine and the massive shutdowns that took place in early 2020 did a number on people. After reading the article that featured Sterns quote above, I can only imagine they had a negative impact on Stern as well. The decision to shutter people and to limit daily human contact affected kids, adults, and even pets. Depression, suicide and addiction rates increased while availability of therapists and medical personnel, trained to address those conditions, decreased. Over time people raised their concerns about how difficult having to quarantine can be , including other celebrities. Covid restrictions are still pretty intense in some localities. But Stern is a rule breaker kind of guy. So why is he going along with the most tyrannical of rules? He's a headline grabbing sort of celebrity. So why hasn't he used his platform to help get rid of these really restrictive rules? Why doesn't Stern fight for what he wants freedom to live and kick the greedy government and its mandates to the curb? He's a cross-the-line sort of person. In fact, he's one of the most famous cross-the-line sorts of persons who ever existed! Those were my first thoughts when I read that quote from Howard Stern. I don't usually think about him, but I really did stop and think about Stern and what a predicament he must be in to not feel like he has any freedom. My next thoughts about him and that quote included more questions. What's stopping one of the loudest voices from the freedom to live? Who's keeping him from going next door and playing chess? And why can't he take pictures? I know things are not as great as they used to be there, but are cameras and photographs banned in New York City now also? I'm not surprised by his harsh language. It's part of his act. I was surprised about something else. If he had his way, in his America, he said that "all hospitals would be closed to [the unvaccinated]. You're going to go home and die. That's what you get." His America mirrors what is actually happening in some parts of the country already. If you don't, you won't get life-saving surgery. If you dont have proof of vaccination, you wont get into some eateries. The get it or else has even trickled down to the family courts. That demand, that vaccines be required everywhere, is one he seems to want to enforce 'in his America'. "It's time for you to get it," Stern insists. In my America, things would be different. I would promote freedom of vaccine choice. You want a vaccine? Get it. You don't want a vaccine? That would be up to you to say yes, please or to say no, thank you. It's a much simpler mindset and removes the added drama Howard Stern tends to serve to his listeners. I haven't cared for much of what this radio and television personality has chosen to say over the years. I've never been a fan of the show or the theatrics he and his guests typically display either. A poster child for radio shock jock, Sterns dialogue is too raunchy for my taste. Some of it is mean-spirited, too, so I've always steered clear of it. That recent headline that I saw late last week, though, pulled me in. I wasn't thinking of him when I saw a different quote just a few days earlier in the week, "People who hurt others are, themselves, hurting. When you come across someone who is rude or mean-spirited, remember that they themselves are in a great deal of pain and you will feel compassion." I didn't immediately feel any sort of compassion for Stern when I saw that latest article about him. I felt sorry for him, however, and wondered what on earth could've happened to him to be so outspoken and rude toward unvaccinated individuals. Could he really be hurting like that quote suggests? Or could his hands - and therefore his mouth - just be tied to whichever corporation runs and funds his broadcasts, likely one that's promoting a 'vaccinate or else' mantra? Maybe it's part of his act and he's just being a big meanie who happens to get paid to ruffle feathers as he shocks the airwaves. I could reach out to him and ask why his message is so strongly worded, but I have more important things to do, like protecting the freedoms I do have where I live. Fuck their freedom. Mine. Yours. Ours. He wants what we have. Again, pardon the language in that last quote, but an element of jealousy exists in that statement. If Stern cant have freedom, it sounds like he doesnt want it for those of us who get out of the house, who go next door to play chess, and who still take pictures. I snapped this message on a greeting card at the grocery store in early 2020 when life was really difficult. I don't actually play chess, but I do take photos. I haven't stopped snapping all sorts of things I've seen, or things Ive continued to do, since quarantine and lockdowns changed the world as we knew it. Even with and through these Covid times, I have some really cool photos of us living as we have always lived - without fear. Like others, I havent always encountered positive situations with all the changes, but I will always try to find some bit of joy in each and every day. If I didnt find the joy, the pain, the struggles, and the very real suffering I do encounter would certainly eat away at me as it sounds like its doing to Stern. If Howard ever wants to see those photos, especially the ones that bring me joy, I'd be more than happy to share them with him. As trying and crazy as life has been these past 2 years, being able to document life in photos usually puts a smile on my face. Maybe they'll put a smile on his face, too. Cathy Jameson is a Contributing Editor for Age of Autism. COLUMBIA, Mo. Each day, Corinne Bromfield gets up and does what she grew up dreaming about doing. Bromfield works as a veterinarian, specializing in swine production medicine. She has an office at the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center and works for MU Extension, sharing info from university research with livestock producers, in particular on ways to prevent and contain disease outbreaks. I do a lot of work with biosecurity, she says. She also gets to take MU students with her on calls to farms to learn about swine medicine. I love taking students (on calls), Bromfield says. I like taking the students who are interested in pigs, who are just so excited, Today we get to do pig work! Even those who are just looking to check the pig box, they know today could be fun. Bromfield says it is interesting to see those students learn more about pigs and swine medicine, and she remembers when she was growing up and developing a fascination with pigs. Neither of her parents farmed, but when Bromfields family moved from the Philadelphia area to Florida, her new high school had an FFA chapter. She had already developed an interest in being a veterinarian, and the opportunity to get an animal as her chapter project appealed to Bromfield. She says her parents were not thrilled about her plan to buy a heifer, but they suggested she could buy something else, and after talking with her advisor, Bromfield got a pig. She raised it and showed it at the Florida State Fair, held in February. The Florida State Fair is in the middle of winter cause thats when its actually cool enough to have animals outside at a show, Bromfield says. Raising that pig was a revelation for her. I learned about pigs, I learned about production, I learned about cuts of meat, and I was hooked, Bromfield says. Oh, I loved it so much. Her parents were so impressed by how she cared for the pig, the next year they told her she could get that heifer. I said OK, but Im also getting another pig, she says. Today, Bromfield says she enjoys working with both cattle and pigs, and some other animals are fine as well. But she knew early in her education that pigs were her favorite. She attended the University of Florida for her undergraduate degree and then vet school. She remembers how students seemed to gravitate to certain animals. No one was ever as thrilled as I was about pigs, Bromfield says. She worked an internship with the University of Illinois before coming to MU in 2016. Her work with pigs includes the crucial work of preparing for and preventing disease outbreaks. The threat of African swine fever continues to loom, even if the disease has not been found in the U.S. Bromfield knows the stakes are high. If we were to get it, essentially it would shut down our pork exports, she says. The disease has made headlines in recent years when it was discovered in China, then other parts of Asia, and then recently when it was found in the Western Hemisphere, in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. We have been watching it, Bromfield says. Weve been working on plans what can we do to be prepared in the event it comes here? What can we do to minimize the chance it comes here? One thing she says producers can do is work with their veterinarian to make a Secure Pork Supply plan. It provides for enhanced biosecurity measures and plans for how a farm will handle outbreaks. Bromfield says a key aspect is it is a written plan. If there is an ASF outbreak in the U.S., she says there will be a large federal response, and movement of pigs will be restricted. Operations with a written biosecurity plan will likely be the first to receive permits to move pigs, including taking them to sale. Bromfield says producers can go to securepork.org for more information about drafting a Secure Pork Supply plan, and the Missouri Department of Agriculture has a Show Me Secure Pork initiative to help producers prepare and implement good biosecurity measures. Preparation is key here, Bromfield says. Predictions can be tough, and Bromfield can see both scenarios as to whether ASF will come to the U.S. But she says these plans and biosecurity measures have benefits either way. As an optimist, I like to think historically weve seen it come to the Western Hemisphere and not make it to the U.S., she says. But also we have become a more global, interconnected world. We have more travel; were more connected. The preparation we put in wouldnt be wasted, even if we dont get the disease. It could help even with the diseases we have here. Despite the challenges faced by the industry and veterinarians, Bromfield relishes her role and getting to work in the industry. She says she appreciates the variety of experiences of being a swine veterinarian and getting to see the enthusiasm in students. The fact my job is different every day is very much fun, she says. Taking a student out and having them do their first preg check and check embryos, and go, Oh my gosh, this ones pregnant, thats such a great feeling. AgUpdate Daily Headlines Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The race among Republicans who want to be the states school chief could come down to whethe HYDERABAD: The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) on Saturday decided to take up agitation programmes against the Dharani portal. Party leaders will receive memorandums from the victims of Dharani land portal. A Dharani committee meeting was held here at Gandhi Bhavan on Saturday presided by TPC president and MP A. Revanth Reddy. Congress leaders discussed lapses in the Dharani portal, introduced by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) government. Instead of settling land disputes, Dharani portal created new problems, Congress leaders opined. Speaking to reporters, AICC national spokesperson Dasoju Sravan explained the meeting details. The state government brought the Dharani portal without proper exercise and it led to many problems, he said. For instance, ex-servicemen who got land from the government were not mentioned as owners of the land, he said. Land survey numbers were missing from the portal and proper data was not available, he said. The Congress had already brought the Dharani issues to the notice of the state and Central governments, he added. Sravan alleged that the assigned lands of SC, STs were forcibly taken by the state government. We dont know about the security of Dharani portal, he said. Presently, the state government proposed to hike the value of lands, but it had already acquired lakhs of acres of land from the farmers for irrigation projects, he said. The governments decision would cause huge loss to the oustees, he said. The party would extend support to the victims of the portal and was planning to meet Narendra Modi and President Ramnath Kovind, he explained. Theres perhaps no indicator more damning of a states failure to govern than the flight of its residents to other states...People of every stripe are leaving Illinois. Old and young, rich and poor. Mon, 08/12/2019 - 18:45 0 SHARES Authored by Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner via WirePoints.org, Theres perhaps no indicator more damning of a states failure to govern than the flight of its residents to other states. People of every stripe are leaving Illinois. Old and young, rich and poor. They are going to warm states and cold states, big states and small states. Overall, Illinois netted losses of residents to 43 other states in 2016. That has major implications for the state and the Illinoisans who remain. A shrinking population means a future with less economic growth, less investment, falling real estate values and an eroded tax base. And as people leave, fewer residents will be left to pay down the states growing debts, meaning the already massive burden will only gets worse. ncle Sam Wants You to Pay Your Crypto Taxes Illinois has netted a loss of 1.5 million people to other states since 2000, based on U.S. Census data. And as international immigration and births in Illinois have declined in recent years, theyre failing to make up for Illinois net outmigration. As a result, the states population has shrunk five years in a row. Wirepoints analysed the results of the census data in our report: Illinois Demographic Collapse. The following multi-part series will reveal just who is leaving, where they are going and what incomes theyre taking with them. Wirepoints analysis uses national state-by-state migration data compiled by the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS reviews tax returns annually to track when and where people move. It also aggregates the ages, income brackets and adjusted gross incomes of filers. In this first piece, well cover Illinois net loss of tax filers and their incomes since 2000. * * * Losing people and their incomes Illinois is a national outlier when it comes to losing residents and their taxable income to other states. In 2016, IRS data shows Illinois gained nearly 165,000 people from other states and they brought with them a combined Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of about $6.3 billion. Meanwhile, more than 250,000 Illinoisans left the state and they took more than $11 billion with them. That means Illinois suffered a net loss of about 86,000 residents and a loss of $4.8 billion in taxable income the equivalent of more than $100 million in state income tax revenues. And that doesnt include the additional loss in sales, property and other taxes those residents no longer pay. Illinois has lost tax filers and taxable income, on net, every year since 2000. Between 2000 and 2010, the state averaged net losses of about $1.8 billion in taxable income each year. Since then, the states losses have accelerated by about $500 million a year, growing to $4.8 billion by 2016. The problem isnt just that more people are leaving than coming into Illinois. Its also that those who leave, on average, earn more than those moving in. That too is draining the states tax base. In 2016, the average taxable income of people leaving Illinois was in excess of $81,000. The taxable income of those coming from other states was just over $67,000. So not only did Illinois lose a net 86,000 people and their AGI, but it also lost an average of $14,000 in AGI for every person that moved into Illinois in 2016. Illinois the outlier How did Illinois rank nationally for loss of AGI? Well take that up in our next piece, but for now well share how Illinois stacks up on a per capita basis. Take Illinois $4.8 billion AGI loss divided by the states 12.8 million people and Illinois lost $371 in income per person in 2016. Only 5 states lost more AGI per capita, including Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. In contrast, states that are winning people saw their tax base grow. Florida gained more than $800 in AGI per capita in 2016. Idaho and South Carolina, more than $400. Even neighboring cold-state Michigan gained $114 in AGI per capita. Illinois out-migration situation is dismal. And the problem becomes even more stark when you look at the states record nationally over time. Thats the subject of Part 2 of this series. Last week Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, walked into the British Parliament and made the most consequential statement by a political leader since the fall of the Berlin Wall. This is what Johnson said in part, to the cheers of the assembled parliamentarians: Next week mandatory [vaccine] certification will end We will end the compulsory use of Covid status certification in England From now, the government is no longer asking people to work from home and people should now speak to their employers about arrangements for returning to the office [T]he government will no longer mandate the wearing of face masks anywhere we will trust the judgement of the British people and no longer criminalise anyone who chooses not to wear one [mask] There will soon come a time when we can remove the legal requirement to self-isolate altogether - just as we dont place legal obligations on people to isolate if they have flu We will set out our long-term strategy for living with Covid-19, explaining how we hope and intend to protect our liberty and avoid restrictions in future by relying instead on medical advances YouTube screengrab (cropped) Astonishingly, Boris Johnson made this seminal declaration at the height of the flu season during which Britain has been posting record numbers of Covid cases. Nevertheless, Boris Johnson decided to cancel the pandemic in England just like that with a few words. The British Prime Minister ended his nations oppressive dystopian nightmare with a few sentences. It is crucial that we grasp the immense significance of Johnsons simple act. While Covid runs seemingly wild and other countries are taking increasingly repressive measures against their populations Austria, for example, intends to fine and jail those who refuse the Covid jabs Johnson dared to cancel the pandemic just when it reached its peak. By his act, Boris Johnson laid bare the insidiousness of the worlds totalitarians and exposed the global ruling elites response to the so-called Covid pandemic for the gargantuan fraud that it is. By no longer requiring Britons to hide at home, Johnson admitted that the lockdowns were a scam. By no longer requiring British population to wear face diapers, Johnson admitted that masks were a scam. By no longer requiring Covid passes, Johnson admitted that the vaccines were a scam (despite his lip service to it). Even though all this has been obvious for many months now, the totalitarian globalists did their best to promptly silence and ruin anyone who would in any way dare to intimate the truth. Novak Djokovic is one their latest victims. An elitist himself, Johnson decided to go against the will and mindset of his globalist comrades. Whatever his reasons, his move was an act of simple common sense and great courage. Johnson is the first leader on the planet to axe restrictive (and thoroughly useless) Covid measures at the crest of a Covid wave. By his bold move, Boris Johnson fired a mighty salvo of freedom that will reverberate across the world and that will eventually bring down the global Covid tyranny. For many people Boris Johnson was a bitter disappointment. Portraying himself as a reasonable man and a conservative he was anything but. Initially wanting to follow the Swedish approach of dealing with Faucis virus, he changed his position and went over to the dark side. He progressively became a pandemicist, Covidist and finally a vaccinator. Now, however, Boris has redeemed himself and showed that he is more than just a semi-funny guy with funky hair. Boris Johnson now holds the honor of being the first major western leader to thoroughly reject Covidism with its onerous dictates of chicanery and oppression. By exposing its fraudulent nature, Johnson drove a stake through the heart of Covid despotism. Encouraged by his example, other nations will now follow suit. This was undoubtedly the British Premiers finest moment. Boris rose to the great challenge of his time and showed that somewhere behind that buffoonish exterior stands a strong man capable of making honest decisions. Because of what he did this week, Johnson will go down in history the Great Covid-19 Cancellator. His act of singular courage (for a politician) will earn Johnson a place in the annals of history as one of the brave fighters in mankinds cause of freedom. As Boris himself would say, lets have a drink. We, however, cannot rest for long, for there are other great battles to fight against the forces of oppression that threaten to engulf mankind. The specter of totalitarianism is, indeed, haunting the globe. From Austria to Canada to Australia a ruthless cabal of global elitists, oligarchs and technocrats seek to subjugate and exploit populations for their own purposes and enrichment. The people of the world must wake up and rise against it. But for now, viva Boris. And long live freedom. Vasko Kohlmayer was born and grew up in former communist Czechoslovakia. You can follow his writings by subscribing to his Substack newsletter Notes from the Twilight Zone. He is the author of The West in Crisis: Civilizations and Their Death Drives. In a recent year, only 69 girls born in America were named "Prudence." That's a shame, because Prudence is not only a lovely name, but also an important virtue one that we ought frequently to be reminded of. For conservatives in particular, prudence is a key virtue. The very nature of conservatism centers on conserving and preserving. A conservative is prudent by nature since he wishes to preserve his moral and cultural inheritance and, indeed, to preserve life itself. A conservative cares about life in a way that liberals do not: rather than experimenting with untested and self-serving theories, he is mostly guided by what he has learned from the past and by what he knows to be right. It is wise to be prudent because life is full of twists and turns that may do us harm. Every religion teaches of the dangers we face and of the need to take care to avoid violence, accident, illness, bankruptcy, divorce, and other sources of harm. A thoughtful person which is to say, a conservative takes steps to live in a safe, healthy, and financially secure manner. Even then, disasters may befall him, but his chances of success in life (not just wealth and status, but true happiness) are far greater than that of a heedless liberal. A week before he was assassinated in Los Angeles, Bobby Kennedy walked past me and a hundred others, two feet away, with no bodyguard. His death was tragic but unnecessary, and I believe that it resulted in part from a familiar sort of liberal hubris the same lack of prudence that led JFK to ride through Dallas in a limo convertible and other members of the Kennedy family to die or cause the deaths of others. Indeed, imprudence is harmful to others, not just to ourselves. The fragility of our lives is a sobering fact, and when we factor in the miracle of our ancestors' survival over countless generations, the odds of our being here are infinitesimal. If any one of those ancestors had not lived to reproduce, then "I," the unique person I am among billions of others, would not be here. That miracle of life should make us more careful in our behavior and in the protection of our children and grandchildren. Caring for oneself and others is most important quality of a conservative. Every human being is the product of a web of miracles in the past, and everyone has survived potentially fatal events in his or her own life. Just driving to work or to the store involves risk, and setting foot in the parking lot can be dangerous as well. Every year we lose family or friends to disease or accident, and there is always the danger of another global war that might claim the lives of millions. One shouldn't waste time dwelling on these dangers, but one shouldn't dismiss them, either. As these thoughts sink in, most people become grateful for the life they have been given, and they take precautions to protect themselves. They drive carefully, manage their health, avoid conflict, and try to live in a safe area. They support the police and obey the law. They are frugal and live within their means. They find joy in simple things, and they live a chaste and faithful existence. A conservative recognizes the dangers and takes them seriously, and takes the necessary actions to protect himself, his family, and those around him. He is prudent and avoids risks. He knows that life demands courage and faith. He recognizes the importance of "character" in the sense of moral strength and fortitude. Like the sheriff played by Gary Cooper in High Noon that great Cold Warera film about defending one's way of life against its enemies he sometimes feels he is standing alone amid a sea of weakness and corruption, but he remains true to his beliefs. When his Quaker wife urges him to flee, the sheriff says, "If we flee, they'll only come after us." That, too, is wisdom: fleeing life's dangers or pretending they don't exist is not possible because our human condition is full of danger. President Trump understood that "peace through strength" is a prudent policy for our nation, just as prudence and courage are necessary in our personal lives. Most people know instinctively that "running away" from one's enemies or pretending they don't pose a threat something liberal administrations in Washington have done for decades is a loser's game because it violates the very nature of existence. If you flee a tiger, it will pursue you. If you deny the existence of and fail to treat a tumor, it will only grow. Prudence does not just mean avoiding problems; it means confronting them when necessary. Our lives are miracles, and they are precious and worth preserving, as is our democracy, which is threatened today as it has been many times in the past. As conservatives, we are prudent and cautious in our everyday lives, and we are strong in defending our way of life. We recognize the dangers around us, and we are not shy about voicing our opinions as to what must be done. We know that life can be cruel, unfair, and fragile, so we do our best to make it better for ourselves and those we love. We treasure life and enjoy it to the fullest, and we intend to pass the free life down to our descendants. All of that adds up to prudence, and that, in a few words, is the definition of conservatism. Jeffrey Folks is the author of many books and articles on American culture including Heartland of the Imagination (2011). Image: creative_tomek via Pixabay, Pixabay License. For quite some time, Congress has ceded its constitutional power to legislate to the unelected administrative state -- at least when Democrats are both the congressional majority and hold the White House. Now, having ignored its true function, it seeks to expand its mandate to judicial powers. The Select Committee set up by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to investigate the January 6 riot has obviously determined that its mandate does not require a legislative purpose: It will act as a judicial branch, albeit one with no constitutional limits whatsoever. You wont see much about this in the corporate media. You have to go to the self-publishing authors like Glenn Greenwald, whose recent substack sets out in shocking detail the overreaching of the January 6 committee. Citing two McCarthy-era Supreme Court cases, he argues that the power it is claiming belongs to the Judicial branch, not Congress, and that the committees conduct presents a very serious and dangerous civil liberties violation. I am in total agreement with him. What Congress is barred from doing, as two McCarthy-era Supreme Court cases ruled, is exactly what the 1/6 committee is now doing: conducting a separate, parallel criminal investigation in order to uncover political crimes committed by private citizens. Such powers are dangerous precisely because Congresss investigative powers are not subject to the same safeguards as the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. And just as was true of the 1950s House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) that prompted those Supreme Court rulings, the 1/6 committee is not confining its invasive investigative activities to executive branch officials or even citizens who engaged in violence or other illegality on January 6, but instead is investigating anyone and everyone who exercised their Constitutional rights to express views about and organize protests over their belief that the 2020 presidential election contained fraud. Indeed, the committee's initial targets appear to be taken from the list of those who applied for protest permits in Washington: a perfectly legal, indeed constitutionally protected, act. This abuse of power is not merely abstract. The Congressional 1/6 Committee has been secretly obtaining private information about American citizens en masse: telephone records, email logs, internet and browsing history, and banking transactions. And it has done so without any limitations or safeguards: no judicial oversight, no need for warrants, no legal limitations of any kind. Indeed, the committee has been purposely attempting to prevent citizens who are the targets of their investigative orders to have any opportunity to contest the legality of this behavior in court. How chilling this is! The committees targets initially are those who lawfully applied for and obtained protest permits, and since then it has been in secret getting en masse citizens email logs, internet and browsing histories, and banking transactions by sending hundreds of subpoenas to telecom companies and demanding -- with no legal basis -- these records. To preclude court challenge to these subpoenas they asked these companies not to disclose the existence of the subpoenas to their customers. Now, theyve upped the outrage by subpoenaing bank records of private citizens. Since the banks are directed not to notify customers of the subpoenas, they are unable to seek judicial review. This is unlike the FBIs limits -- that agency rarely can impose a gag order on a financial institution unless it has first persuaded a court that such a safeguard is necessary. With such a safeguard in place, in almost all cases citizens can seek judicial relief enjoining the seizure of their records. Without it, the committee is free to snoop into the personal records of anyone it chooses to under cover of secrecy. The Right to Financial Privacy Act (RFPA) prohibits financial institutions from providing to the government customers financial records until the government authority seeking the records Certifies in writing to the financial institution that the customer has received notice of the attempt and an opportunity to challenge it in court. Specific provisions about service of such a subpoena and time to respond are in the U.S. Code -- and none were followed by the committee. In support of his argument, Greenwald tells the sad tale of how Taylor Budowich, a former Trump spokesman, found his records had been seized from JP Morgan with the connivance and approval of its attorney, former Obama Attorney General Loretta (I meet husbands of subjects on the tarmac) Lynch. The bank did everything to preclude him from seeking a judicial ruling, including refusing a Christmas Eve extension and a refusal to even provide him with a copy of the subpoena. After making sure he couldnt fight the subpoena in a timely manner and leaving him only one option -- to file to enjoin the committee from using his banking records -- the committee and JP Morgan then said the entire question was moot as the documents had already been provided to the committee. Obama-appointed Judge James Boasberg rejected Budowichs request for injunctive relief on whether the subpoena was legal. The matter now goes to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Having clearly and admittedly not followed the law respecting notice and time to challenge subpoenas, the committee argues the law simply does not apply to them -- they are above it. Its response to Budowich was: The Act restricts only agencies and departments of the United States, and the Select Committee is neither. Further, it argued, Congressional committees are not required to identity a specific piece of legislation in advance of conducting an investigation of the pertinent facts. It is sufficient that a committees investigation concerns a subject on which legislation could be had. If that isnt scary enough, the committee also argues that it is exempt from the safeguards of notice and opportunity to challenge even when they are clearly engaged in investigating private citizens for potential crimes. Think about that. If there is a majority in Congress and you represent in any way a threat to that majority, they can grab all your records -- phone, email, internet, financials, without your knowledge or permitting you an attempt to challenge those actions. With a back of the hand to constitutional protections, the committee will act as if it were both law enforcement and judge. But it gets even worse than that. The Select Committee claims absolute immunity for members and committees and argues that this immunity prohibits any litigation for redress against Congress to which is has not consented and no such consent has been. The Project on Government Oversight raised alarms about the Select Committees subpoena powers. Apart from them, has the ACLU or any other group which fought against the overreaching HCUA deigned to challenge the unconstitutional usurpation of our civil liberties? Im not hearing any. Will we even hear a congressman or senator ask the committee if it has no shame in this witch hunt? On the other hand, if the predictions of a Democratic party bloodbath in the midterms come to pass, you can bet even if a Republican majority Congressional Committee complies with all the relevant laws respecting subpoenas of citizen records, including notice and opportunity for court challenge, we will hear their cries of alarm with every issuance of a congressional subpoena. While largely established to forge "friendly relations among nations," the U.N. has been anything but friendly toward the Jewish state: Israel. In fact, the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) has long afforded a platform and impunity for those promoting Israel's destruction and the ethnic cleansing of Jews from their homeland. In 1974, the UNGA hosted the then-chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Yasser Arafat, who infamously referenced his "freedom fighter's gun" during his speech. At that time the PLO was an "internationally recognized terrorist organization" with its charter stating that "[a]rmed struggle is the only way to liberate Palestine." Some four decades later, terrorists still receive impunity in the UNGA. In 2018, the UNGA rejected a resolution that sought to condemn the terrorist group Hamas. While the assembly condemned antisemitic terrorism for the first time in 2021, it has targeted Israel in 112 resolutions since 2015. This represents a staggering 70 percent of all UNGA condemnations since then. Sadly, the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) fares not much better in its astonishing bias against Israel. While conceived to address human rights violations at large, 55 percent of its condemnatory resolutions have targeted Israel a free multiparty democracy according to Freedom House. Further, the Council's Agenda Item 7, which targets Israel, remains the only permanent agenda item devoted to scrutinizing a single U.N. member-state, out of 193 total members. If you thought U.N. anti-Israel bias could not get any worse, think again. In December 2021, the General Assembly committed to funding the UNHRC's "Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel," which was established after the latest Israel-Gaza war in May 2021. This new commission reeks of double-standards regarding its mandate, funding, and membership. It deserves to be discredited immediately before it places Israeli (and arguably Jewish) identity under attack in its report, whose first edition is scheduled for release in June 2021. Allegations of apartheid and war crimes are expected, despite Israel's extensive efforts to guarantee legal equality, integrate its Arab citizens, and comply with the laws of warfare. As noted by legal expert Professor Anne Bayefsky, these likely impending allegations could fuel unprecedented adverse action against Israel and its people, including prosecutions of Israeli officials in the ICC, arms embargoes, and widespread boycotts. Systemic double-standards corrupt the commission, the "first ever open-ended" commission of inquiry (COI) and the first ever COI whose mandate need not be "renewed every year." For example, the mandate's timeframe allows the U.N. to scrutinize Israel from time immemorial to eternity, a reality that allows the COI to scratch old wounds and prime Israel for further discrimination. Unsurprisingly, the mandate is purposefully broad in scope, allowing the COI to investigate the "[u]nderlying root causes of recurrent tensions" and alleged human rights abuses "up to and since 13 April 2021." Double-standards in funding also abound. Despite the Syrian Civil War claiming at least 1,368 times more lives than the tragic Hamas-Israel war in May 2021, the COI on Syria commands only half of the funding and two thirds of the staffers as does the COI's new mandate to lambaste Israel. The COI also has a serious problem when it comes to impartiality. All of the commission's members have well documented biases against Israel. The report to be released by the COI will surely reflect the anti-Israel and arguably antisemitic attitudes of those presiding over it, including allegations of apartheid and war crimes. The president of the COI Navi Pillay has falsely accused Israel of apartheid, signed a letter calling for countries to "[suspend] free trade agreements with Israel," and delivered the opening and closing remarks at the Durban Conference in 2009. The Durban conference has been an infamous platform for antisemitism. In years past at Durban, Iran's then-president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, promoted Holocaust denial. Protesters openly praised Hitler and disseminated "cartoons of hook-nosed Jews" and copies of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, "the most notorious ... antisemitic publication of modern times." Thirty-eight countries boycotted the Durban Conference in 2021 precisely because of its antisemitism. While Pillay's presidency over the COI is inexcusable, so is Miloon Kothari's membership as a commissioner. Anything but impartial, Kothari prepared a U.N. report in 2001 in which he "called Palestinian terrorism 'resistance,' while glossing over massive suicide bombings that wounded and killed thousands of Israelis." He has accused Israel of war crimes, apartheid ("banstustan-type [sic] situation"), and ethnic cleansing. He has even blamed Israel for "infighting between Palestinian factions." The last remaining commissioner Chris Sidoti also warrants brief scrutiny for his bias. Having worked closely aside Palestinian NGOs for over fifteen years, Sidoti has accused Israel of "not recogni[zing] the application of international human rights law in the territories." Although the U.N. regularly boasts about the importance of neutrality and impartiality in its humanitarian efforts, the report to be issued by the COI remains at the mercy of these three biased officials, who were appointed by a similarly biased and largely non-democratic U.N. Human Rights Council, whose members reportedly scapegoat Israel through bloc voting to detract from their own human-rights abuses. While this most recent manifestation of the U.N.'s anti-Israel lawfare may not surprise anyone, it should mobilize people of goodwill to speak out. Rooted in unprecedented double-standards and corrupt membership, the COI is bound to harm Israel and perpetuate the root causes of the conflict. This witch hunt serves only to undermine the U.N.'s integrity with regard to human rights and international law, and it further entrenches its systemic anti-Israel bias and antisemitism. Anyone who cares about Israel, the Jewish people, and human rights should take action now to discredit the U.N.'s latest shameful campaign of hate. Jordan Cope is the director of policy education for StandWithUs. Image: sanjitbakshi via Flickr. One of the newest political and intellectual exercises is the search for "root causes," the core issue that leads to a chain of events and effects that can then be examined and become the basis for action. Noticeably, in place of a policy for action, President Joe Biden on February 2, 2021 issued an executive order that called for the development of a "root causes strategy" that addresses the reasons for illegal migration from Latin American countries into the U.S. The United Nations is also on the track of root causes, if in a singularly focused way. The misnamed U.N. Human Rights Council, the UNHRC, held a special session on the "grave human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory." It resolved on May 27, 2021 to establish an ongoing commission of inquiry to investigate "all underlying root causes of recurrent tensions, instability, and protraction of conflict, including systematic discrimination and repression, based on national, ethnic, racial, or religious identity." The UNHRC essentially calls for investigation of Israel actions in the "Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem, and of alleged violations of international humanitarian law and abuses of international human rights law. It will make recommendations on measures to be taken by states to ensure respect for international law in the OPT including East Jerusalem. The commission is mandated to report to the U.N. General Assembly and the UNHRC every year. Two things are notable. The resolution for this one-sided inquiry was proposed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the collective voice of 57 states of which 49 have Muslim majorities, which calls for investigating any and all alleged violations by Israel. Secondly, no open-ended investigation has been leveled by U.N. bodies against any other state. The international community needs to be reminded once again that Israel is the only member-state in the U.N. that is automatically censured for taking defensive military action to ensure the security of its population. The U.N. investigation focuses solely on the response of Israel to the conflict, Operation Guardian of the Walls, an eleven-day war initiated by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in May 2021, supposedly over differences over a small amount of property in an East Jerusalem area. Hamas launched more than 4,000 rockets and missiles, some long-range, against civilian targets in Israel in Jerusalem, the Tel Aviv area, and south Israel but the U.N. is not investigating those actions or their root cause. In response to the 4,000 rockets, the Israeli air force tried to disable the terrorist attack sites, killing 260 Palestinians, mostly militants, but the U.N., not surprisingly, estimated that fewer than half of the Palestinians killed were militants. The conclusion of any inquiry had already been predetermined. The U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, former socialist president of Chile, called on Israel to allow an independent probe of its military action in the conflict. Yet she already stated that Israeli air strikes in densely populated areas resulted in a high level of civilian fatalities and injuries, as well as the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure. Such attacks, she said, may constitute war crimes. These strikes, she continued, are indiscriminate and fail to distinguish between military and civilian objects, and their use constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law. Sentence first, verdict afterward. The UNHRC had voted in May 2021 by 24-9 and 14 abstentions for a Commission of Inquiry. The U.N. General Assembly voted on December 23, 2021 to approve the funding of this multi-million-dollar open-ended commission, which will investigate the "root causes" of recurrent tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The new commission will have three expert members, 24 permanent staff, and an annual budget of more than $5 million. The commission was approved by 125 countries, with the U.S., Israel, and six others against. Thirty-four abstained, including Canada, Germany, and Australia. At the same time, the U.N., illustrating its partiality, is funding and re-entering in partnership with the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, established to help Palestinian farmers but affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which Israel has designated as a terrorist organization. The U.N. is ignoring its Security Council Resolution 2462 of 2019 that warns against the use of nonprofit organizations and donations to terrorist organizations and calls on member-states to prevent the financing of terrorism. It is high time that the U.N. and its various institutions took lessons from "the Rabbi," either in English or in Hebrew, as well as honored him. Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, the 46-year-old rabbi at Beth Israel synagogue at Colleyville, Texas, a city of 25,000 people, about 15 miles from Fort Worth, showed the U.N. and the world an outstanding example of prudent and level-headed behavior. The rabbi was leading Shabbot service on Saturday, January 17, 2022, when an armed intruder entered the synagogue and held him and three, later two, hostage. The terrorist, Malik Faisal Akram, was a 44-year-old British citizen of Pakistani origin who had entered the U.S. two weeks earlier on a tourist visa. A man with no regular job or income, he had a British criminal record for drug deals, violent disorderliness, and driving offenses. After eleven hours, when the terrorist grew increasingly belligerent and threatening, the rabbi threw a chair at him and was able to escape with his two remaining congregants. An FB SWAT team then entered the synagogue and killed the terrorist. Three things can be said. First, the rabbi and his people escaped, by their own prudent and sensible behavior. They were not released, rescued, or freed by outside help. Secondly, there was clear acknowledgment of the intended victims without any U.N. obfuscation. Jews were deliberately targeted, even if, ostensibly, the terrorist demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman, educated at MIT and Brandeis, in prison for 86 years for trying to kill U.S. army officers in Afghanistan in 2008 and planning to target U.S. locations the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty. The U.N. should praise the rabbi and denounce yet another of the increasing number of attacks on Jews. According to the last tracked estimate, 2,024 antisemitic attacks occurred in the U.S. in 2020. The UNHRC can have no doubt: the terrorist Akram made a phone call to his brother in England, ranting about "f------ Jews," and urged British Muslims to launch jihad in the U.S. saying, "I'll go down a martyr." Thirdly, the rabbi explained that his action during the ordeal had benefited from his attendance at multiple security courses, especially the Security Community Network, founded in 2004 by a coalition of Jewish organizations. In a speech in September 2006, then-secretary-general Kofi Anan stated that Israel was often unfairly judged by the international body and its various organization. After the example of the sensible rabbi in Texas, it is a hopeful sign and a remarkable symbolic gesture that the U.N. General Assembly, on January 21, 2022, the 80th anniversary of the infamous Wannsee Conference for the Final Solution, approved an Israeli-sponsored resolution by consensus, except for Iran, which "dissociated" itself from it. The resolution condemned any denial of the Holocaust and urged all nations and social media companies to take action. The motto for the U.N. should be "Never Again." Image: hendricjabs via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Here is a well-researched article that the American media have essentially ignored. According to the Daily Mail: EXCLUSIVE: Revealed: The remarkable lengths taken to whitewash Bill Clinton's cosy links to pervert Jeffrey Epstein when Hillary ran for President Epstein's lawyer Darren Indyke tried to get workers to declare they had not seen former president Bill Clinton visiting the disgraced financier's 'Paedo Island' Miles and Cathy Alexander received the email during ill-fated Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential run which she lost to Donald Trump The email came out of the blue one day in 2016. Almost a decade had passed since Miles and Cathy Alexander had left their jobs as residential managers of Little St James, Jeffrey Epstein's private island in the Caribbean. Since then, Epstein had been jailed briefly for paedophile offences and the couple had retired to their native South Africa. But now Darren Indyke, the disgraced tycoon's attorney, was back in touch. The lawyer wanted the Alexanders to do something that would be of particular benefit to Hillary Clinton and her campaign to become the first female President of the United States, later that year. Epstein's lawyer Darren Indyke tried to scrub links between Bill Clinton and Epstein during Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign It entailed them signing a sworn affidavit which Indyke had already drafted for them declaring they had never seen Senator Clinton's husband, President Bill Clinton, at their former home: 'Paedo Island', as it had come to be known. Whether or not the once-most powerful man in the world had set foot on a 78-acre speck in the U.S. Virgin Islands almost two decades ago says much about the toxicity of what is alleged to have happened there. Both men deny Roberts's allegations. Clinton, whose presidency almost ended over his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, denies ever being on Little St James or having knowledge of Epstein's crimes. The president and the prince's baleful involvement with Epstein is down to one woman Ghislaine Maxwell. The subsequent damage to their reputations largely rests on the word of another Roberts. But what is undisputed is that both men criss-crossed the world on Epstein's jets, receiving hospitality from the financier's young female staff. That possibility of legal fall-out is what Epstein, who died in his prison cell in 2019, had tried to head off. Today, the Mail can reveal how he used his go-to attorney, Indyke, to protect famous male friends who must have followed the recent trial of Epstein's ex-lover Maxwell with more than a passing interest. Arguably the two most gilded members of that circle were Clinton and Andrew. Both relationships with Epstein are said to have been launched and developed by Ghislaine Maxwell, that supreme networker now a convicted paedophile pimp and trafficker. Today, the Mail investigates the associations between these three men. The mainstream media have always ignored the truth about the Clintons and Epstein, to protect them while campaigning for them. Hillary and the DNC didnt have much to worry about. The American media was willing to kill the story for them as they campaigned for Hillary. They didnt worry about all the crimes Hillary committed or kickbacks the Clintons took, either. There was also this: ABC News Anchor Had Jeffrey Epstein Story More Than 3 Years Ago, So Why Did Her Bosses Kill It? In 2015, Robach apparently had an extensively-documented story on Epsteins elite global pedophilia and sex-trafficking organizationincluding information that appeared to implicate a former U.S. president. How many women and young girls were physically and mentally destroyed by the Clintons, Epstein, and bigtime Democrat donor Harvey Weinstein because the media, entertainers, and other Democrats were busy campaigning for the Clintons? In 2015, the New York Times was willing to report on the corruption of the Bidens because they were supporting Hillary: Joe Biden, His Son and the Case Against a Ukrainian Oligarch When Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. traveled to Kiev , Ukraine, on Sunday for a series of meetings with the countrys leaders, one of the issues on his agenda was to encourage a more aggressive fight against Ukraines rampant corruption and stronger efforts to rein in the power of its oligarchs. But the credibility of the vice presidents anticorruption message may have been undermined by the association of his son, Hunter Biden, with one of Ukraines largest natural gas companies, Burisma Holdings, and with its owner, Mykola Zlochevsky, The Obama administration, which had Hillary Clinton at the time as Obama's secretary of state, had famously spied on the reporter of this story, James Risen, through a subpoena in 2010. Next thing you knew, he was targeting Biden, not Hillary. In the 1988 election, the media was willing to report how dishonest Biden was when they chased him from the presidential campaign. Then-U.S. Sen. Joe Biden withdrew from the 1988 presidential race after admitting to plagiarism and exaggeration of his academic record. Yet in 2020, as they campaigned for Biden and sought to destroy Trump, they buried a story they knew was true about the Biden family corruption. They faked that it was Russian disinformation to justify burying the story. It is no wonder we have so much corruption by politicians like the Clintons and Bidens when the media and others are so willing to bury the truth from the public. While the media was burying the stories of the Biden and Clinton corruption, they were running endless false stories about President Trump and Russia. One year after the 2020 election, the media and other Democrats are still targeting Trump. When they arent targeting Trump, they are targeting Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis with garbage stories. While they are ignoring the border, crime, disastrous energy policies, and burying other stories like Afghanistan, they are still targeting Trump. This story seems to be repeated endlessly and always is presented as if it is breaking news. It is as if it is in rotation when they want to divert attention from Biden's disastrous policies. It's as if journalists don't understand that when a person submits a loan application to a bank, they don't have to submit appraisals to justify their requests. In fact, it is the bank's obligation to order its own appraisal to make sure that they aren't getting a biased appraisal. The IRS also requires appraisals when you take donations for land values. We can't just make of values and IRS says O.K. If justice officials went after everyone who exaggerated their wealth, they wouldnt have time for anything else. Maybe the AG should focus on dangerous criminals and actual fraud, instead of having Trump derangement syndrome like most of the media. NY AG alleges evidence of fraud at Trump business In a statement, James said, "thus far in our investigation, we have uncovered significant evidence that suggests Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization falsely and fraudulently valued multiple assets and misrepresented those values to financial institutions for economic benefit." Now that the unconstitutional federal takeover of elections has failed, for the next ten months most of the media and other Democrats will spend a great deal of time and money intentionally lying to the public that Republicans are against the right to vote. They all know that Delaware, New York and other states are more restrictive than Georgia and other Republican states but the truth hasnt mattered for a long time. Then when the Democrats get clobbered in November, the media and other Democrats will claim that the election was illegitimate because of the sensible voter integrity laws. It is no wonder that so few trust the media since most are essentially an appendage of the Democrat party. Americans Remain Distrustful of Mass Media 9% in U.S. trust mass media "a great deal" and 31% "a fair amount" Here is an example of the abject dishonesty that prevails in most of the media today and why the public doesnt trust them: Taxpayer funded NPR cant stand Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and his decisions. Therefore, they ran a fake hit piece claiming that Judge Sonia Sotomayor wont sit beside him because he wont wear a mask. Chief Justice John Roberts, Sotomayor, and Gorsuch all denied the fake story, but the partisan hacks at NPR are standing by the story. Despite statement issued by Chief Justice John Roberts, NPR stands behind report that Roberts 'in some form asked the other justices to mask up' NPR is standing squarely behind its report claiming that Chief Justice John Roberts "in some form" requested that Supreme Court justices wear face masks, despite a statement in which Roberts unequivocally declared that he had never asked his colleagues to use masks while on the bench. Sotomayor and Gorsuch released a joint statement on Wednesday in which they said that Sotomayor had never asked Gorsuch to wear a mask. It is most of the media, who are essentially campaign workers pushing leftist polices, who are the greatest existential threat to our prosperity, freedom democracy, and fair elections. It is not climate change, the protesters on Jan. 6, the Russians or voter integrity laws. Lets go Brandon. Image: Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of image by Public Domain Pictures and Florida official mugshot // both public domain The hostage-taking of a rabbi and congregants at the Beth Israel Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas a week ago by Malik Faisal Akram was not simply to coerce authorities to free Aafia Siddiqui, known as Lady Al Qaeda, but itself specifically an act against Jews in their foremost institution: a synagogue. It was not random. This needs to be said inasmuch as the Biden spokespeople, much of the FBI, and the Deep State initially announced that the selection of a synagogue was simply a coincidence. To those following the growing anti-Semitism, actual Jew-hatred, in the American Muslim community, the attack that happened Saturday last week was the latest in a long list of Islamists targeting Jews and synagogues, from New York/New Jersey in the East across the country to California in the West. As the attack was unfolding and it became apparent that a radical Islamist was spearheading the attack, we anticipated there would be all types of excuses supplied by law enforcement and the Biden administration attributing the horror to some other motive extraneous to Islamic anti-Semitism. We would hear, as dozens of times in the last fifteen years, that the perpetrator was mentally unstable, and that he was a lone wolf. The fact that the perpetrator was from a far-away English city near Manchester, had collaborators back there, and just a couple of weeks ago arrived in America indisputably points to a deliberate terrorist selection of an American synagogue. This cannot be attributed to some local who happened to be walking in the neighborhood and coincidentally passed a synagogue. Out of political correctness, or fear of being called Islamophobic, or because the Muslim community has become an integral and necessary component of the Democrat machine, the FBI, the media, and powerful voices routinely censor reasonable propositions pointing to danger to the Jewish community from elements within Islamic circles here in America. Formerly the FBI monitored certain enclaves and imams fomenting Jew-hatred. For the reasons mentioned above they began curtailing these programs during Obamas second term. The same unfortunately can be said of the U.S. Department of Justice. The downside to the cessation of vital monitoring is expanded attacks by American Muslims against innocent Jews walking on streets, going to synagogue, eating at kosher restaurants, wearing their yarmulkes or any noticeable Jewish piece of clothing. It is distressing that in todays liberal and woke-controlled society, Jew-hatred seems to be an acceptable activity if performed by certain, more preferred minorities. One of the hostages in the synagogue, Jeffrey Cohen, told reporters that Akram spent a good deal of his initial attack denouncing Jews. In fact, Lady Al Qaeda, who is in prison for attempting to murder U.S. soldiers and in whose cause Mr. Akram was holding hostages at the synagogue, is a notorious hater of Jews and Israel and throughout her trial demanded that no Zionist Jew be allowed to sit on the jury and that American Jews are the root of Islamic problems throughout the world. Many high-profile and lesser-known imams look to the notorious Protocols of the Eldersof Zion to blame Jews for the worlds problems and specifically Islams difficulties. This hard-core Jew hatred originated with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, a Muslim collaborator with Adolf Hitler in the final extermination of the Jewish people during World War II. Unfortunately, this Grand Mufti was held in highest esteem among Islamic leaders and thus his Jew hatred has been codified, distributed, and is continually being acted upon by those adherents who feel they are fulfilling the wishes of their Grand Imam. That anti-Semitism is growing exponentially within the American Muslim community is a fact that cannot be denied. Professor Abdullah Antepli at Duke University tweeted last week: Yes, we Muslims living North America undeniably have an increasing anti-Semitism problem and seemingly we have yet to even begin to address the issue honestly, morally and accuratelybut again we have to. I am really sick and tired of the over all defensiveness and tribal ++ Yes, we Muslims living North America undeniably have an increasing anti-Semitism problem and seemingly we have yet to even begin to address the issue honestly, morally and accuratelybut again we have to. I am really sick and tired of the over all defensiveness and tribal ++ Abdullah T. Antepli (@aantepli) January 16, 2022 Indeed, many Muslims within modern American cities are routinely referring to Jews as enemies. This is incendiary, and without doubt foments the actions we saw this week in Texas and have witnessed across America in the last decade. Labeling someone with whom you disagree as an enemy and calling for retribution against them is an old world, tribal attitude being imported into this country. Until recently, the American disposition was to disagree civilly, in large part because we shared an overriding commonality as Americans. As this transcendent pride and kinship in being American is dissipating and, moreover, castigated by todays identity politics and wokeness that purposely separates us and pits Americans against each other, we will see more attacks by those who consign Jews and others (whites) as the enemy. An unknown suspect captured in surveillance video (YouTube screengrab) There is no doubt that Speaker Pelosis blessings and embrace of the Squad -- which demonstrates extreme anti-Israel attitudes and even anti-Jewish sentiment-- is a allowing this anti-Semitism to grow if coming from the constituencies of the Squad members Pelosi befriends. As former Governor Mike Huckabee said: How can we keep America-hating terrorists and anti-Semites out of our synagogues if we cant even keep them out of Congress. Three years ago, when we asked Speaker Pelosi to condemn anti-Semitism as a stand-alone evil, Pelosi would not do so out of fear of offending certain minority constituencies vital to her party. Pelosis obsession with victory and power is culminating in an acceptance of anti-Semitism, notwithstanding all her flowery protestations and calls against hate. The confluence of ignored anti-Semitism growing in the American Muslim community and unwillingness by left liberals to denounce it when coming from their constituents portends a danger to America and its Jewish community. To our regret, too many establishment Jewish organizations and Reform Judaism, whose first and foremost loyalty appears to be toward leftwing ideology and woke-ism and not the defense and dignity of the Jewish people, are silent enablers of this worrisome phenomenon afflicting todays American political scene. Unless the attacker is from the right wing, they seem too willing to minimize anti-Semitism so as not to (1) jeopardize their seat at the leftwing table, (2) offend their partners in the diversity-and-dialogue worship, or (3) stop the self-righteous platitudes that constitute their sanctimonious virtue-signaling and sense of moral superiority. Rabbi Aryeh Spero is president Caucus for America and spokesman for the Conference of Jewish Affairs, and author of Push Back: The Battle to Save our American Judeo-Christian Heritage. caucusforamerica.com. When Donald Trump triumphed over Hillary Clinton in 2016 to win the Presidency it should have been a wake-up call for the Washington Democrat establishment. They should have humbly accepted defeat, then reconnect with voters to understand their shortcomings, and finally embark on a journey to implement drastic remedial measures to win their next electoral contest. But nothing of the kind occurred. Self-righteous narcissists seldom see their own faults. There was a womens protest march which had Madonna talk about blowing up the White House. Talk about impeachment and the 25th amendment commenced. #NotMyPresient trended on Twitter. Trump voters were called ignorant and bigoted. A host of former celebrities appeared in a PSA urging members of the Electoral College not to cast their vote for president-elect Trump, despite the fact that he had the votes. There were several other disgraceful tactics employed. Donald Trump had not even been inaugurated. But their most audacious attack on Democracy was conducted when Democrats amplified and propagated the ludicrous Trump-Russia Collusion conspiracy. They couldnt explain how the election results were altered; no specifics were offered. They just knew it was unfair because their candidate was rejected. For months the Democrats in politics and the news media boisterously and synchronically propagated this falsehood. Bottom of the barrel Democrats such as Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell claimed Trump was a Russian agent who reported to Putin. This looks like a disinformation campaign conceived, aided and promoted by the Washington Democrat establishment. The cacophony caused the appointment of Special Counsel Mueller. During the investigation, the media frequently claimed that Muellers team had discovered solid evidence of collusion that would end the Trump presidency. The Mueller probe hung like a sword over the Trump Presidency for two years and cost the taxpayers $32 million. In the end, Trump was exonerated. But the Democrats claimed that then-Attorney General Barr had concealed sections of the Mueller Report. Sore loser Hillary Clinton was an active proponent of these lies; she blamed her defeat on Putin, former FBI director Comey, the DNC, Bernie Sanders, Obama, WikiLeaks, low-information voters, and agents in Macedonia. This was the first big assault on democracy in modern times, so it is ironic that the assailants call themselves Democrats. Then in 2018, the Democrats took back the House. The Democrats declared it a fair election and that the values of democracy had triumphed. It was called a rejection of President Trump. It could be argued that the 2018 mid-terms were rigged because the baseless Mueller probe was in progress causing voters to vote Democrat because they actually believed that the Republicans were working with Putin to undermine the US. Yet the Republicans accepted defeat gracefully. However, in Georgia, the Democrats gubernatorial candidate, Stacey Abrams, refused to concede following her loss to rival Brian Kemp by 1.4 points. She cited voter suppression as her reason and is unrepentant to this day. Her charade helped to elevate her profile such that she was among the top candidates for Biden's running mate in 2020. Stacey Abrams still claims to have been elected Governor of Georgis Caricature by Donkey Hotey CC BY 2.0 license In 2016, the Democrats believed their rigged polls that showed Hillary winning in a landslide. Hence that allowed the elections to occur fairly. When Trump won, stunned Democrats tried intimidating Electoral College members not to cast their vote for Trump, but it was too late. For four years, the media conducted a pervasive anti-Trump campaign. In 2019 and 20 Democrats blamed every Covid19 case and death on President Trump. They knew that despondent voters usually voted against the incumbent. Big Tech suppressed a major story that exposed corrupt dealings by Biden and his son in Ukraine. Mark Zuckerberg donated $419 million to nonprofit organizations to tamper with the administration and infrastructure of the 2020 election. These organizations lobbied for universal mail-in voting which caused a record-breaking 64 million Americans to cast their ballots by mail. Unmonitored private drop boxes for ballots were allowed which are vulnerable to fraudulent practices such as ballot-stuffing. Select battleground states, cities, counties, and individuals across the US were surgically targeted to affect the results of the election, with Democrat activists infiltrating election offices and vote-counting stations. The process was hence rigged long before Election Day. When Biden was declared the winner, once again like the 2018 mid-terms these elections were declared free and fair. Following the myriad epic catastrophes by Biden and the Democrats, it appears that the Republicans are on track to take back the House and the Senate in November 2022. How do the Democrats react? They are seeking to pass a Voting Rights Bill that will allow voting without any voter ID proof and allow unrestricted mail-in voting, once again making elections vulnerable to fraud. The bill failed to pass in the Senate. Last Wednesday during his presser, Biden cast doubts over the outcome of the mid-term elections, claiming that if the Voting rights bill isnt passed that does increase and the prospect of it (the results) being illegitimate. A day later, the White House walked back those remarks. Bidens misgovernance is also likely to cause President Trump to win back the White House in 2024. Just yesterday on his weekly show, Bill Maher talked with Yale University Professor Timothy Snyder about how Trump is changing the people in power to rig the process. He also said the vote-counting method will be altered when the Republicans win the Senate and the House during the mid-terms. Maher then hypothesized that Trump will baselessly claim victory in Arizona and Wisconsin, adding that Kamala Harris should then throw out the bogus votes and reject the election. Snyder called it a plot to install an illegitimate Trump. Maher compared Trump to Kim Jong-Un. So, what have we learned? The elections are only fair when Democrats win, those who challenge the results are conspiracy theorists. When Republicans win it is due to voter suppression, fraudulent tactics, abuse of power, collusion with Putin, and agents in Macedonia, those who believe their results are conspiracy theorists. It is easy to laugh off Bidens presser remarks as senile rambling and Bill Maher comments as overstatements of a comedian. But we have to remember that the Russian-Collusion theory seemed utterly laughable before a Special Counsel was appointed. Bidens and Mahers ideas could easily be a teaser of what the Democrats and mainstream media have in store once the results are out. It has to be remembered that in 2016, the Republicans had majorities in both the House and the Senate, yet they meekly accepted the bogus Russian interference premise and allowed the Democrats to mainstream the conspiracy without any challenge. Few Republicans discuss the myriad ways in ways in which the 2020 elections were tampered with, such as Zuckerbucks allowing Democrats activists to target and manage the vote counting. Would the Republicans be brave and confront Democrat conspiracy theories in November 2022 and November 2024? We shall see! The government had already allocated Rs 1,200 crore of which Rs 100 crore had been released. (Twitter) HYDERABAD: The state government has expedited the implementation of Dalit Bandhu scheme in 118 Assembly constituencies across the state. At present, the scheme is being implemented only in Huzurabad Assembly constituency on a pilot basis besides Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Raos adopted village Vasalamarri in Bhongir district, where the scheme was launched in August last year. The scheme is also being implemented in Chintakani mandal of Khammam district, Tirumalagiri mandal of Suryapet district, Charagonda mandal of Nagarkurnool and Nizamsagar mandal of Kamareddy district on a pilot basis. The state government has decided to ground the scheme in the remaining 118 Assembly constituencies by March and extend Rs 10 lakh financial assistance to each of the 100 Dalit families in every constituency by March-end. It has sanctioned Rs 1,200 crore for the purpose. Beneficiaries will be selected on the advice of MLAs and the beneficiary list should be approved by the district in-charge ministers concerned. Minister Koppula Eashwar and Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar along with top officials held a video conference with the district collectors on Saturday and issued instructions to ground the Dalit Bandhu scheme by March. Each beneficiary will be allowed to choose a business, occupation or a self-employment unit as per their needs. The officials were asked to facilitate establishment of these units. The government had already allocated Rs 1,200 crore of which Rs 100 crore had been released. The remaining amount will be released into the accounts of beneficiaries in a phased manner. Even before his long slide into dementia, Joe Biden was a babbling, bumbling, hair-sniffing fool whom no one really respected. The main thing you can say about his stint as Obama's V.P. is that he reduced Barry's chances of being impeached to zero. In early 2019, when Sleepy Joe announced his third candidacy for president, no one took him seriously. He was clearly losing his marbles and frailer than ever. His translucent skin; monstrous smile; and sad, wispy hair plugs made him look like an actor in a TV ad for assisted living. But then two things went viral: Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign and COVID-19. As Sanders's popularity soared, the Democrat powers-that-be were scared to death that a wild-eyed socialist would win the nomination only to get hammered by Trump in '20. And thanks to the brand-new Wuhan Flu, the American public was simply scared of dying. Never ones to waste a crisis, much less two, Democrats and their media courtesans decided on a brilliant albeit diabolical scheme. They would pull a presidential Trojan horse on us! Step 1: Get rid of Bernie. Order lightweights like Tom Steyer, Combs Klobuchar, and Mayor Pete to drop out right before Super Tuesday to send votes Biden's way. Then tell fake Indians like Liz Warren to siphon votes from Bernie on Super Tuesday before conveniently suspending her campaign almost immediately afterward. His candidacy severely damaged after Super Tuesday, Crazy Bernie dropped out soon after. We don't know what honorarium Sanders may have received for quitting, only that the last time Bernie suspended a presidential campaign, he somehow found the funds for a nice vacation home on Lake Champlain. Step 2: Push COVID-19 fear and oppressive, poorly thought out government regulations, like mask-wearing, shutdowns, and social distancing. At the advent of the Wuhan Flu, Democrats and the media, not to mention wee Tony Fauci, worked tirelessly to make everyone in America afraid to be around others. Facing a new and unknown virus, you were now deemed an idiot, or worse, a menace to society, if you mingled in public or were seen without a mask. This strategy was wildly successful and sent millions of sheeple, including the addled husk of Jill Biden's husband, to their basements ahead of the 2019 election. Step 3: Keep the addled husk of Jill Biden's husband muzzled and in his basement. Hard enough to understand under the best of circumstances, Biden's nearly incomprehensible with a mask on. Considering the things Joe comes out with calling Obama "clean," questioning a radio host's blackness, and telling minority parents to put on the record player for their kids a masked Biden being incomprehensible was a huge plus for his Democrat handlers. Other people wrote candidate Joe's thoughts and policies. All Basement Biden had to do was read them from a teleprompter a difficult enough task, as it turns out, when your cerebral cortex is slowly turning to tapioca. While Trump was out campaigning and taking heat from the media, Democrats, Hollywood, and academia, his opponent was a mirage, a hologram of a younger, more vibrant Biden spewing all the approved left-wing talking points for the masses. He was kinder, gentler, and more experienced than Trump, this ersatz vision of Biden you saw on your TV and computer. Heck, he was bosom buddies with Obama, as seemingly everyone except Barry himself was happy to point out. Meanwhile, the real Joe Biden hid in his basement for most of 2019, no doubt taking naps, eating ice cream, and getting used to his new Depends. The rest, as they say, is history. Although you must tip your hat to the plotters and schemers who installed a corrupt, mindless meat-puppet in the Oval Office, what, pray tell, was their plan for after Sleepy Joe got elected? How do you hide the leader of the free world? You can't. Now, every time President Biden opens his mouth, the public sees how devastatingly senile he is. How distracted. How defensive. How out of touch. And as the pope could tell you, how incontinent. Mentally and physically, President Biden's going downhill and picking up speed as he goes. And now the American public clearly sees it. As does China. And Russia. And Iran. They say weakness is provocative, and in Joe Biden, we now have the weakest president in history. When the Schiff eventually hits the geopolitical fan, and it must, don't blame me, or Republicans, or folks who simply love their country. Instead, blame instead the vile Democrat power brokers and their media lackeys for successfully hiding the private Biden. Image: Marc Nozell via Flickr, CC BY 2.0. There is a great whittling going on. It is a pastime as old as mankind. It is not the sort practiced by retired codgers sitting on front porches with pocket knives carving wooden artifacts for their grandchildren. The great whittling is the relentless shaving away of mankind's free agency. As I watch the TV series 1883 unfold, I am impressed how deep our need for freedom truly is and how the world seems to go out of its way to ankle our best efforts to live our lives on our own terms. Actor Sam Elliot, as the world-worn wagon master, seemed perplexed as the German pioneer, with wretched humility, described that where they came from, there were laws against swimming, of all things. It is true that in Germany, people were whipped, put in the stocks, and fined for swimming, as was also the case in parts of England. People in medieval Europe and into the Enlightenment generally did not swim. They did not know how. Swimming was not a leisure art or a bathing practice. Overall, getting in water over one's head was considered too dangerous. It is roughly estimated that 2,000 to 3,000 drowned annually in Britain. It is always a general tendency for those in authority to want to protect people from themselves. How else to explain the age-old refrain of "there ought to be law against that"? To revisit 1883, Faith Hill playing a pioneer mother rehearses life lessons on the subject of freedom as she and her daughter swim and bathe (freely) in the river. One is that freedom isn't free. It comes with "fangs." Two, as the world packs more and more people together, inevitably, more rules and more laws will follow. Ponder how COVID-19 mandates stand uniquely illustrative of those two principles. A recent Economist/YouGov poll found that half of the country does not support the concept that businesses should be allowed to mandate that their customers be vaccinated. Thirty-eight percent thought businesses should be able to mandate customers being vaccinated. Twelve percent were unsure. That is thirty-eight percent who are comfortable with businesses curtailing customer free agency. That is the thirty-eight percent that make up the there-ought-to-be-a-law-against-that crowd. It is easy to point out that businesses are private entities, but the notion of them assuming a quasi-government role as bureaucratic health surrogates is just the sort of camel nose government relishes getting under the private tent. As of today, even government can't mandate vaccinations. The Hill reported that a federal judge in Texas blocked Biden's vaccine mandate for federal workers. Judge Jeffery Brown answered the question "Whether the President can, with the stroke of a pen and without the input of Congress, require millions of federal employees to undergo a medical procedure as a condition of their employment." Hats off to Judge Brown for halting that particular whittling of our free agency. In the spirit of 1883, a friend introduced me to a quote by the 19th-century religious leader Joseph Smith, who astutely observed, "We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion." I immediately noted that this is where freedom comes with fangs. Spruce Fontaine is an artist and retired college art instructor. Image: Clem Onojeghuo via StockSnap. On April 14, 2021, President Biden made his withdrawal announcement regarding U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Over the next few months, contrary to most Americans expectations, as the U.S. left, the U.S.-supported Afghan government lost more and more territory to the resurgent Taliban. On August 15, 2021, the U.S.-supported Afghan government collapsed. This shouldnt have been a complete surprise. American officials were reportedly warned that Afghanistans air force could not sustain itself without U.S. support. In particular, its been recently reported that the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan (SIGAR) released a report in January 2021 predicting this precise outcome. The SIGAR Report points to the U.S. failure to train Afghan support staff, leaving the air force unable to maintain its aircraft without American contractors. U.S. air support to government forces was key in the 20-year-war against Taliban insurgents. Its removal along with the inability of the Afghan air force to fill the void was one factor that contributed to the Talibans sweeping victory as the Americans withdrew. American authorities had also been warned by the State Department diplomats on the ground that a full collapse of the Afghan government was imminent. American authorities then had to negotiate with the Taliban whose fighters fought alongside al Qaeda terrorists to allow the U.S. military to remove American citizens, third country nationals, and vulnerable Afghans from Kabul. This evacuation concluded on August 30, 2021. The evacuation was incredibly chaotic and disorganized, and its success has been mixed and very unclear. Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command, was forced to admit that (w)e did not get everybody out that we wanted to get out. The U.S. flew over 122,000 people out of Kabul. These included a mix of U.S. citizens, green card holders, recipients of a special immigrant visa (SIV) for helping the U.S. military or diplomats, refugees, and others seeking asylum. Around 6000 American citizens were among those evacuated, but another 100-200 U.S. citizens or more may have been left behind. Also, according to the Wall Street Journal, many of the 100,000 Afghan nationals flown out of that country lacked visas or paperwork to be admitted. Nevertheless, nearly 70,000 have been allowed to enter the United States. Ten of these Afghan evacuees who had been brought to the United States have since been detained as national security risks. Meanwhile, U.S. immigration officials did not even process 20,000 SIV applications for interpreters who worked with U.S. forces in the run up to the collapse of the Afghan government, as The New Yorker has reported. The U.S. also abandoned a huge amount of military equipment in the rush to leave Kabul safely. The price tag for this may be as high as $18 billion dollars worth, including aircraft, armored vehicles and sophisticated defensive systems. All of this equipment is now in the hands of the Taliban, some of which may well be used against American soldiers or citizens in the future. These facts raise a number of questions. How widely was the SIGAR Report shared with senior military and government officials? Was it shared with the President and his senior advisors prior to the April announcement? Did the State Department memo reach the proper administration officials? How many U.S. citizens were left behind in Afghanistan? How much equipment did we lose to the Taliban? Exactly whom did we airlift into the continental U.S.? Were these Afghan nationals vetted properly? Were national security threats barred from entry? The federal government has, up to now, refused to level with the American people about the full facts of the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. And the U.S. public deserves to know the full and complete truth. In my experience as a staffer on Capitol Hill, this is where the U.S. Congress should come in, to conduct meaningful oversight over the Executive Branch, regardless of the partisan composition of either branch. My organization, the Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), will also fill that gap. CASA is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving the safety and security of the American people. CASA educates and informs them about the actions of their government and its officials that impact their safety; peace and security; democracy, civil rights, and civil liberties; and privacy. To educate and inform American citizens, CASA has requested that all this information regarding the withdrawal from Afghanistan be released by the U.S. government through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). We believe that only by shining a bright light on the truth can we ensure something like this never happens again. Photo credit: YouTube screengrab (cropped) Adam Turner is the Director of the Center to Advance Security in America. Another suspicious FBI raid, this time against a moderate Democratic Congressman who has been critical of the President. This week, Congressman Cuellars home was searched by an FBI team which was seen removing documents and a computer from his home in Texas, reports KEN, a station in Houston. Little information about the raid is known, though KEN indicates it is related to corruption in Azerbaijan. Cuellars connection to Azerbaijan seems thin. As KEN reports, he received a relatively small -- $3500 -- contribution from a man who in 2013 was charged with illegally funneling money from an oil company in Azerbaijan to fund Congressional trips there. Cuellar was not on that trip. Months later, with the ethics committees approval, he did travel with that donor to Azerbaijan. A former U.S. Attorney in the area suggests the raid could not have occurred without approval of Attorney General Garland. What makes this particularly fishy is that it took place weeks before the primary election, a period when the FBI normally limits overt investigative activity. What makes it even more fishy --besides the fact that there doesnt appear any conduct by Cuellar warranting personal involvement in wrong doing -- is that he has been critical of President Biden (see video below) and he's running against a woman whom he narrowly beat the last time and who is far more to the left than he is -- Jessica Cisneros. If my suspicions are warranted, the FBI and Department of Justice are firing a warning shot at any Democrat in Congress who steps out of line. Photo credit: YouTube screengrab (cropped) Ukraine may be a poor nation if you just look at the GDP per capita, but it is a nation rich in natural resources like mineral wealth and agricultural land, which is the breadbasket of Europe. Ukraine has 30% of the world's richest black soil. Ukraine even exports agricultural products like corn to China. The educational level of Ukrainians is high, and the country has a significant industrialized base. Compared to Russia, Ukraine has great weather and was a tourist hub along the Black Sea even during Soviet times. The famous tourist resort Yalta, next to the Black Sea in the Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, just whetted Putin's appetite for more military conquests with no permanent debilitating sanctions from the west. Frankly, without Ukraine, Russia, climate-wise, is too far north, even though it is rich in oil and natural gas and other minerals. Russia will never become a self-sufficient power player on the world stage without Ukraine to feed it. Russia may have nuclear weapons to scare nations, but it has no chance of becoming a world-respected economic powerhouse if it can't feed itself. If Russia gets a monopoly on gas and oil exports to Europe through the pipeline and an agricultural monopoly with control over Ukraine, then Europe could be extorted at some point in the future. Russia could extort some kind of military demands from NATO or preferential trade deals with Europe. Putin will no longer be alive if that happens, but whoever takes over the rule of Russia could be in the driver's seat as far as future European politics goes. I give the odds of Ukraine being invaded partially or fully at over 50 percent since ignorant Biden has already withdrawn American military advisers from Ukraine, but this may be just a rumor, since I couldn't locate any printed validity, and there are military advisers in Taiwan. Estonia and Latvia have sent military hardware to Ukraine because they sincerely believe that if Ukraine falls, then the Baltic States may be next to be annexed even though they are members of NATO. Ice-free sea ports on the Baltic are Putin's temptation. If Russia invades Ukraine, then I further make a prediction that Finland with its border with Russia and Sweden will also want to join NATO to "guarantee" a non-invasion by Russia. Sweden may also join NATO. If Putin has the courage to invade Ukraine militarily, then copycat Xi Jinping could make a military move on Taiwan during the weak Biden administration, too. Who will benefit in the long run from tyrant military adventures? The military industrial complex, which will have new reasons to ask for an increase in its budget. Tyrants are dangerous when they feel that their power is threatened, and COVID has made Putin and Xi Jinping a little more restless due to public dissatisfaction with the way the pandemic was handled among other reasons. Tyrants have a tendency to try to win a military conflict to enhance their waning prestige among the common folk. Military success has a tendency to at least temporarily increase nationalistic feelings of solidarity with the regime in power. Why do I have a slightly pessimistic view about tyrants? Because tyrants respect only stronger military force, since their power stems from forcing their citizens to obey at the point of a gun and not through other forms of voluntary persuasion. In a nutshell, tyrants can act immorally or unethically and can't be trusted, so they fail miserably as humans you can coexist with peacefully. It is a scary coexistence because you can't respect and trust that their promises or contractual agreements will not be broken. So Putin wants to invade Ukraine, but I don't know how desperately he wants to do so. Crimea was invaded during the Obama administration, when Biden was vice president. Ukraine may be invaded during Biden's presidency, and if this happens, then Biden will go down as the worst president in United States history. Croatia: first case of 'flurona' confirmed Simultaneous infection with Covid and influenza (ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 4 - Croatia has registered the first case of 'flurona' in the country, local authorities announced today. Flurona is a simultaneous infection with Covid and influenza in the same person. The case in Croatia has been registered at the Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health in Zagreb, the head of the Clinical Microbiology Department at the Institute told the Croatian public television on Tuesday, the regional television N1 reported today. (ANSA). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved Residents of a town in Pennsylvania in the US have been warned not to approach a monkey that was missing after a crash involving a lorry towing a trailer taking about 100 of the animals to a laboratory. Police urged people not to look for or capture the cynomolgus monkey after the crash on Friday in Montour county. Anyone who sees or locates the monkey is asked not to approach, attempt to catch, or come in contact with the monkey. Please call 911 immediately, troopers tweeted. Several monkeys escaped after the crash between the lorry and a rubbish truck, but as of Saturday only one remained unaccounted for, officials said. The Pennsylvania Game Commission and other agencies searched for it amid freezing weather. The lorry had been on its way to a laboratory, Trooper Andrea Pelachick told The Daily Item newspaper of Sunbury. The location of the lab and the type of research for which the monkeys were destined were not clear, but cynomolgus monkeys are often used in medical studies. A paper posted on the website of the National Centre for Biotechnology Information referred to them as the most widely used primate in preclinical toxicology studies. Trooper Lauren Lesher said state police secured the scene for the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The condition and whereabouts of the remaining monkeys were not clear Saturday. Crates littered the road on Friday as police searched for monkeys, rifles in hand. Firefighters used thermal imaging to try to locate the animals, and a helicopter also assisted, the Press Enterprise newspaper of Bloomsburg reported. Former banker Richard Meddings has been appointed as the new chair of NHS England, and has pledged to donate his salary to charity. The former TSB Bank boss was chosen for the role following a competitive process, and he intends to donate the annual 63,000 wage to charity, the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has said. The role involves working two to three days a week to lead the NHS recovery from the pandemic and expand its workforce. Mr Meddings, who also previously served on the HM Treasury Board, said: It is a great honour to have been appointed as chair of NHS England. It is clear that there are a number of significant and long running challenges to address, many of which have been made sharper by the consequences of the Covid pandemic. But as I commence the role I am humbled by and pay a huge tribute to the people of the NHS for their heroic work and their continuing commitment. Mr Meddings, who is also a non-executive director at Credit Suisse, will replace the current chair Lord David Prior in March 2022. Health Secretary Sajid Javid thanked the outgoing chair and said Mr Meddings would bring a wealth of experience to the four-year role. I am delighted to confirm Richard Meddings CBEs appointment as the new Chair of NHS England, I want to thank Lord Prior for his invaluable contribution over the last few years, he said. Richard brings to the role a wealth of experience in both the public and private sectors, including years of management in the financial services industry. I look forward to working with him as we support the NHS to recover from Covid-19, tackle the backlog, and back our incredible healthcare staff. Mr Javid made the final decision to appoint Mr Meddings following a fair and open competition and a hearing with the Health and Social Care Committee on January 18 this year, the DHSC said. During the scrutiny hearing, Mr Meddings stressed he was a user of the health service and had private health insurance as part of the perks from his previous banking roles. He said he used private care in 2021 after being diagnosed with a DVT a blood clot in a vein. Mr Meddings also described the care the NHS provided to his late mother and younger sister who died after a long illness, adding that he was passionate in believing in what it stands for and does. His twin has just retired as an NHS surgeon and his daughter is a fourth year medical student. As chairman of TSB, Mr Meddings oversaw what he described as its most challenging year in 2018 when it accrued losses of 104.5 million. The migration of its IT system cost the bank 330.2 million, with higher charges related to customer compensation, additional resources and fraud. Around 80,000 customers switched their bank account away from TSB the same year. I have two framed pictures on my bedroom wall, always placed together. An old print of the iconic Rajabai Tower of Bombay and a Calcutta tram moving across a colonial era building, taken by the well-known photographer, Jagdish Agarwal. These two cities, as Bombay, Mumbai, Calcutta, Kolkata, define my life. I did not study at Bombay or Mumbai University, but the Rajabai Clock Tower and its story of being partly funded by Premchand Roychand, founder of the Bombay Stock Exchange, who insisted it be named after his mother, appeals. The clock was modelled on Londons Big Ben, and designed by Gilbert Scott. A quintessential Bombay story, of collaboration, grand design, looking west for inspiration and then, someones Mummy brings us back home. And is it true as the story goes that George Bernard Shaw once said that the height of the tower was matched only by the depth of Bombay Universitys ignorance? How rude, if he did! But why trams for Calcutta? I could not exactly tell you why. When I was about 10, my maternal grandmother left her comfortable home and life in Waltair for a few years, to move to Calcutta to fight a family court case. This grandmother was a bit of a personality. Dynamic, charming, a bit mad and hellbent on getting her way. So, living in the ancestral home she was fighting for in North Calcutta, she had to learn to use public transport. And thus, in the early 1970s, on our annual summer holiday to Calcutta, I was bitten by a tram bug. Those slow, sinuous machines gliding silently on shiny tracks were a magical novelty. There was a magical quality to a tram, as if you were somehow removed from the mad frenzy of normal Calcutta traffic. You hopped on and off and you had time to watch the world. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, you could even do a tour of Calcuttas historical spots by tram, a whimsical winding tour to the quirky and fabulous. Calcuttas trams, the last in India, are on their last rails, if you will. And just as the world is recognising them as an eco-friendly form of transportation, Calcutta wants to get rid of them. The tyranny of the motor vehicle. The Calcutta Tram Users Association is trying to build up public support to keep the trams alive, and if possible, back to their former glory. In most of India, tramways ended in 1964. And yet, the T in Mumbais BEST used to be for trams. The TT of Dadar TT was for tram terminus. Wellington Mews, on the edge of Colaba and Cuffe Parade, was once a depot for horse-drawn trams and a stable for the horses. It is now a fancy Taj property. American city images and its literature and cinema are full of streetcars. I have travelled by trams in Oslo many years ago and most recently, in Manchester. The tram system there is a marvel, and most impressive in these environmentally-conscious times, are the sedum plants laid between the tramlines. You feel like youre gliding over a carpet of flowers. Cities are in some ways defined by their transportation methods. London, New York, Paris, all with their tubes, subways and metros. All exciting, useful. And giving truth to the cliche of bustling commuter crowds moving as one entity with no thought but to get from this point to that and then repeat in the opposite direction a few hours later. What can one say about Mumbais local train system that no one will have heard before? Maybe that weird walk to work practically through the homes of those who lived by the tracks, a shortcut from the station to ones place of work in Tardeo? They had got used to the commuters and carried on with washing clothes, shouting at children, making dinner, as we ducked and weaved through their lives. A very Mumbai experience of intersecting lives and lack of privacy! But maybe it was travelling on the 3D to college in Calcutta? You climbed on to into a stationary bus because you were female: Aastey ledies said the conductor to the driver, another cliche but also true. After that, who knows what happened. You did not need more than one leg on the ground and the crowd kept everyone upstanding. By crystal-ball gazing, you moved towards the door when you thought you had to get out. Between people talking about some esoteric art or politics in foreign lands and occasional cries of Inquilab zindabad and Cholbe na wafting in from between those crammed in front of various openings. Dont forget this is intellectual Calcutta, where you might be able to spot the opening verse of Grays Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard painted on the back of a rickety bus. Then Aastey ledies and you jumped off: Go slow, a woman has to get off if you must get a translation. Sometimes, you had to take a minibus, that Calcutta creature that followed no rules. Bedbugs, chharpoka, is how the bigger buses referred to them. Their depot was BBD Bagh. Which used to be known as Dalhousie Square. And this is a true story from The Statesman of the 1970s. Two young English women visited Calcutta. After a few days, they gingerly asked their host: Why is only one place known as The Lousy Square when the whole city is not that lovely? Truly, Calcutta was not all that lovely then but not all lousy either and so much for colonial history! How many cliches can I fit in here? I have made one classic Mumbai commuter train mistake: got into a Borivili fast at Churchgate and tried to get off at Andheri. It did not happen. I was heckled and blocked as everyone knows I would be. I had to get off at Borivili and backtrack. The rule is simple: avoid a fast train to a destination beyond your own stop. Luckily, I never made the mistake of getting onto a Virar train. I have heard the punishments are much worse. But its trams Im thinking of the most. They can be integrated so easily into city life and they are successfully used in many cities. There were rumours that Mumbai would make one more attempt, but only as a tourist attraction. Mass transportation will save our cities. And why not include a bit of elegance and grace amidst all the honks and high speeds? Meanwhile, I realise that Ive abandoned by grandmother on a Calcutta tram. More on her next time! The Irish Government has expressed concern about planned Russian Navy military exercises 240km off Irelands south-west coast. The artillery drills at the start of February will take place in international waters, but within Irish controlled airspace and the countrys exclusive economic zone (EEZ). All civilian aircraft will be routed away from the area during the exercises. In compliance with legal requirements, Russia has informed Irelands aviation authorities of the planned activities in advance. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) insisted there would be no impact to the safety of civil aircraft operations. Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney (PA) Irelands Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has raised the issue with Russian ambassador to Ireland Yury Filatov. Mr Coveney is due in Brussels on Monday for a scheduled meeting with other EU foreign ministers at which the ongoing tensions on the Russia/Ukraine border will be discussed. The minister is due to raise his concerns about the Russian naval exercises at the meeting. Under international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), states are entitled to carry out naval exercises in another states EEZ, said Mr Coveney. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) was informed of the exercise via standard procedures and has issued a statement to that effect. In light of the current political and security environment in Europe, the Department of Foreign Affairs has raised a number of concerns with the Russian authorities in respect of these exercises. We will continue these discussions in the coming days. Separately, EU Foreign Ministers will meet tomorrow in Brussels. I expect our discussions to be dominated by the security situation in Europe, with a particular focus on Russia and Ukraine. During these discussions, I will briefly inform my EU colleagues about the planned Russian naval exercises. More broadly, I will also reiterate our full support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity and will call again on Russia to de-escalate tensions and engage constructively in dialogue. The Russian ambassador to Ireland Yury Filatov (Niall Carson/PA) Mr Coveney said Ireland, along with several EU states, had updated its travel advice for Ukraine. We are recommending that Irish citizens avoid non-essential travel to the country at this time, he said. We continue to recommend that Irish citizens living in or travelling to Ukraine register with the Embassy of Ireland in Kyiv. In a statement, the IAA said: The IAA has been made aware via the normal international processes for such events in International Waters regarding a Russian navy artillery test 240 kilometres off the south-west coast of Ireland in early February. The authority added: Although the efficiency of aircraft routing may be affected, the safety of operations within Irish Air Traffic Control Airspace will not be impacted, as all civilian aircraft will be routed away from this area during the activity. While not common, notifications for similar activity in International Waters within Irish controlled airspace are received from time to time from other jurisdictions and the same procedures are applied to ensure the safety of civilian aircraft at all times. Katie Price could face jail after she was arrested on suspicion of breaching a restraining order. Police were called to the Sussex home of the former glamour model, who was known professionally as Jordan, on Friday. The Sun reported Price, 43, had sent an abusive message to her ex-husband Kieran Hayler and his fiancee, Michelle Penticost. A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: At 5.45pm on Friday (January 21) police responded to a report that a suspect had breached their restraining order. Officers arrested a woman in her 40s who has been released under investigation while inquiries continue. Price was banned from contacting Penticost in 2019 under the terms of a five-year restraining order. She was fined hundreds of pounds for hurling a foul-mouthed tirade of abuse at her during a row in a school playground. In December, Price was handed a 16-week suspended sentence for drink-driving while she was disqualified and did not have insurance, as well as a two-year driving ban. She was driving to visit a nearby friend in Sussex when the crash happened at about 6.20am on September 28. Her representative has been contacted for comment. The daughter of a British-Iranian detained in Iran says her father will begin a hunger strike on Sunday due to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Developments (FCDO) lack of any progress in securing his release. Retired civil engineer Anoosheh Ashoori has been held at Tehrans Evin prison on charges of spying for Israel, which he denies, for more than four years. Elika Ashoori said her father would undertake a hunger strike from Sunday in full solidarity with others including former US diplomat Barry Rosen to demand Iran release all foreign and dual-national hostages. In full soldiery with former hostage @brosen1501 & others who have courageously begun a hunger strike, demanding the release of all foreign & Dual national hostages,my father Anoosheh Ashoori will start his hunger strike in Evin prison from Sunday Jan 23rd. #FreeTheHostages pic.twitter.com/fpvHdDPczk Elika Ashoori (@lilika49) January 22, 2022 My father, who has been held hostage by Iran for the past four-and-a-half years, has decided to join their hunger strike from Evin prison, Ms Ashoori said in the video posted on Twitter. Needless to say, we are extremely concerned for his physical health as he approaches his 68th birthday. But having failed to see any progress in the FCDOs efforts to bring about his release and no sign that the welfare of hostages currently held by Iran is a priority of the respective US, Europe and UK governments, he will begin his hunger strike in the hope of bringing global attention to the plight of these individuals held by Iran. Please help us by sharing this message using the hashtag #FreeTheHostages. The BBC quoted the FCDO as saying Mr Ashooris continued detention was wholly unjustified. Mr Rosen, who was one of 52 Americans held hostage in the US embassy in Iran following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, began his hunger strike in Vienna on Wednesday as he called for Tehran to release all foreign nationals before it is allowed to reach a nuclear agreement with the West. It comes after the husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe spent almost three weeks in November on a hunger strike outside the FCDO in central London, with Richard Ratcliffe saying his family was caught in a dispute between two states. According to her family, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was told by Iranian authorities that she was being detained because of the UKs failure to pay an outstanding 400 million debt to Iran. Mr Ratcliffe said the Government clammed up and would not talk about the debt during his discussion with them. This is sponsored content. Us Weekly is not endorsing the websites or products set forth below. As Delta-8 has been popular on the cannabis market for a long time, nowadays, Delta-9 has become the primary cannabinoid that millions of people worldwide use. Since it provides potent psychotropic effects, Delta-9 oil is favorable among a plethora of people nationwide. Individuals have different opinions about the methods of cannabis consumption. Some of them choose the tastiest gummies, many turn to the most potent edibles, while the ones who want to feel all the benefits of Delta-9 THC usually turn to the most powerful and pure Delta-9 oil. After a long, exhausting day, were pretty sure you want to find the best alternative to relax and enjoy in complete serenity. We recommend you stay focused and discover the top 2 Delta-9 brands from that point on. Consider the following essential listicle and make your best decision in choosing the best delta 9 oil and tinctures with the highest quality and potency in the future. Enjoy your best choice! 2022s List Of Best Delta-9 THC Oil Brands: Exhale Wellness Overall Best Delta 9 THC Oil, Top Rated Medterra Most Potent Brand For Delta 9 Oils And Tinctures, Runner Up #1. Exhale Wellness Overall Best Delta 9 THC Oil, Top Rated Exhale Wellnes Brand Overview Located in Los Angeles, California, Exhale Wellness appears to be one of the most famous American brands for promoting the best Delta-9 tinctures on the market. If youre looking for diversity, transparency, and reasonable prices, Exhale Wellness is always at your service to provide you with the best customer convenience and Delta-9 THC products. When discussing the most potent Delta-9 tincture on the cannabis market, we must mention this one of the most trustworthy THC gummy brands because Exhale Wellness offers the most organic and the purest Delta-9 elixir for complete enjoyment and customer satisfaction. CBD + THC Oil Features Product Description One of the most popular methods to feel relaxation and euphoria simultaneously is the potent and pure Delta-9 and CBD oil from Exhale Wellness. Created to nourish your mind and body, this excellent, concentrated elixir is something you must try out. By only putting several drops under your tongue, Delta-9 tincture will allow you to reach the sky and provide you with the perfect feeling of complete serenity. You can easily mix this powerful cannabis oil with your favorite food or drinks and get the maximum effects of the potent Delta-9 THC. This organically-made Delta-9 tincture is a perfect option for any time of the day and every time you feel like the stress is present in your everyday living. Ingredients It is significant to know that the hemp derived CBD + THC oil from Exhale Wellness is made from natural and organic terpenes, without GMOs, chemical ingredients, or preservatives and additives. This is an entirely safe product due to its third-party lab testing results. Using this product, you can rest assured that your overall health is always protected. Available sizes The perfectly-made Delta-9 oil from Exhale Wellness is something that you must definitely consider when you want to have complete calmness and perfect high. This potent elixir is available in four available sizes, such as 300, 600, 1200, and 3000 mg. Price, shipping, and refunds Exhale Wellness provides affordable prices for every customer, depending on the size of the tincture. For example, 600 mg is available for only $35,95 and an additional discount for subscribing on their official website. It is also good to know that Exhale Wellness provides free shipping in almost every US country and a return policy of 30 days. Visit the Official Website of Exhale Wellness Pros Third-party tested and safe tincture Natural terpenes Affordable prices Available in several different sizes Pure ingredients, without GMOs or other chemicals The return policy is available for 30 days Free shipping on all orders Cons Exhale Wellness does not provide Delta-9 or CBD products in every US country Customer Reactions According to customer reactions over the internet, this brand has gained appreciation from millions of people across the USA. Regarding their opinions, customers entirely enjoyed this potent and pure elixir and highly recommended it to everyone because every person deserves it. #2. Medterra Most Potent Brand For Delta 9 Oils And Tinctures, Runner Up Medterra Brand Overview Medterra appears to be one of the most attractive online stores in the US, where you can easily find the best Delta-9 products. Created by a group of passionate cannabis lovers, Medterra is a brand that gained the appreciation of millions of Americans nationwide. The mission of this company is straightforward, while they always strive to help people in extraordinary ways. With more than 8,000 reviews and five stars over the internet, you can rest assured that all the products are perfect and worth trying out. When discussing the most potent Delta-9 tinctures, we must mention the brand Medterra for providing you with the best Delta-9 oil alternatives and complete satisfaction. If youre interested in experiencing the fantastic buzz feeling, follow our track and find out whats the best option for a Delta-9 tincture. True Full Spectrum Delta-9 THC Citrus Drops Features In one thing, we want you to be entirely sure: Medterras True Full Spectrum Delta-9 THC Citrus Drops will provide you with rest, relaxation, recovery, and overall well-being. These full spectrum CBD drops work simultaneously with the potent Delta-9 THC to keep you high in the clouds and feel a complete serenity at the same time. You can use this potent Delta-9 elixir at any time of the day when you feel nervous, anxious, or maybe just a little bit stressed. By inserting only a few drops into your mouth, this fantastic tincture will provide you with the best feelings and enhanced mood youve always wanted to experience. Ingredients It is good to know that this excellent Delta-9 oil is made from organic and natural terpenes, without additives or preservatives. In this potent tincture, you can find organic MCT oil, Full Spectrum Hemp flower Extract, and Stevia Extract despite the concentrated CBD and Delta-9 THC. Available sizes You can find this pure and potent elixir in several available sizes, such as 750, 1500, and 3000 mg. Price, shipping, and refunds You can currently buy this perfect oil on CBD.co for an affordable price of only $49,99. You can also have a discount by subscribing to the official site. You can also return this oil in 30 days if unsatisfied or if you want to replace this product. Visit the Official Website of Medterra Pros One of the best Delta-9 tinctures on the cannabis market 100% natural and safe to use Third-party tested product Three available sizes Affordable price and a chance for a discount The return policy covers your order for 30 days Cons Oil is not currently available on the official website of Medterra. You can find it only on CBD.co. Customer Reactions The excellent True Full Spectrum Delta-9 THC oil has excellent feedback over the internet. People are mostly satisfied with the reasonable prices and the long-lasting effects of this pure elixir. According to their testimonials, this oil deserves to be tried out. How We Choose These Top THC Oil Online For Sale? You know, every human being deserves to lead a peaceful and healthy life on this planet. Stress is all around us in this modern era, and countless people have health or mental instabilities. From that point on, considering the psychoactive Delta-9 THC compound is a pretty good idea in order to distract negativity, and harmful thoughts from your head. When discussing the best Delta-9 oil on the market, we must mention that selecting the best alternative was not easy at all. We were looking forward to finding and selecting only the most reputable and trustworthy Delta-9 producers in the cannabis area. In creating this thoroughly-researched listicle, we considered several factors: Trustworthy brand Before making this essential listicle, we wanted to be entirely sure about the transparency and reliability of the brands mentioned above. It is always good to purchase Delta-9 oil from a trustworthy and reputable producer, so for that reason, you can be sure that these brands hold the highest reputation marks in this area. Customer reactions One of the most significant factors that we considered before choosing these two brands and products was the feedback from experienced cannabis lovers. Customer reactions can always be the perfect indicator of the transparency of a particular brand and the quality of its Delta-9 alternatives. You can simply rest assured that Exhale Wellness and Medterra are the most favorable Delta-9 brands among millions of people across the USA. Pricing Delta-9 appears to be a psychotropic compound that should be available for every person in need. Before making this recommendation list, we looked only after the most affordable prices and the highest quality tinctures on the market. On Exhale Wellness and Medterra, you can find the most reasonable prices for an oil tincture, while you can also get a discount if you subscribe to their official website and make your first purchase. What Beginners Should Know About THC Oils & Tinctures? People who want to find something new and more powerful in the cannabis area should try out the most potent Delta-9 oil. This pure and fantastic, concentrated elixir is a psychoactive alternative and contains less than 0,3% Delta-9 THC within its formula. If youre a beginner with Delta-9 and before you have used only Delta-8 alternatives, theres something you should not miss and prepare yourself for an incredible journey through the cannabis space. The difference between Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC Although both come from the same cannabis plant and many people think they are similar, Delta-8 and 9 are very different. Before starting your cannabis journey, you must always know this difference for higher safety and self-protection. In essence, Delta-8 and Delta-9 are different in: Extraction It is essential to note that Delta-9 THC can be found in abundance in the potent cannabis plant. The extraction is usually more straightforward than Delta-8 because it tends to be derived from the marijuana plant specifically. On the other hand, we can say that the extraction of Delta-8 THC requires more work and effort, and thats because Delta-8 is a minor cannabinoid in comparison with Delta-9 THC. Effects One of the most significant distinctions between Delta-8 and Delta-9 is also the effect that these potent cannabinoids provide. This can be typically the deciding factor that influences the decision of millions of people who dont know what to choose. It is good to know that Delta-9 is considerably more potent and produces stronger effects than Delta-9. While Delta-8 promotes serenity and overall calmness, Delta-9 promotes more psychotropic and energized feelings. Legality As you probably know, marijuana is not legal in every country across the USA. The most significant difference between these two active compounds is also the legality of Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC. It is good to know that Delta-8 THC is technically legal in almost every US country, while Delta-9 THC is not that widespread yet. Dosage While Delta-9 has psychotropic effects on the body and mind, you shouldnt exceed the suggested dosage, whether youre a beginner or an experienced user. It is recommended to put a few oil drops under your tongue and not overdose yourself because it is well-known that Delta-9 THC is more potent than Delta-8 and produces more harmful side effects. Side effects of Delta-9 THC The side effects of using Delta-9 THC are harsher than Delta-8 produces. When overdosing with Delta-9 THC oil or other alternatives, you can experience panic reactions, disconnected thoughts, disturbing changes in perception, and delusions and hallucinations. Before starting your Delta-9 journey, you must be aware of the adverse effects and enjoy the benefits instead of overdosing and having negative experiences. Benefits of Delta-9 THC In countries where Delta-9 THC is entirely legal, people are fortunate, we might add. It is always crucial to know that Delta-9 THC has many health benefits for both body and mind. Delta-9 THC is perfect for relaxing your mind, chronic pain and migraines, nausea relief, infections, lung protection, and helps to manage PTSD symptoms. It is also good to note that this active compound is perfect for keeping a youthful look in the mirror. FAQs About Delta 9 THC Oil & Tincture Q1. Can Delta-9 or full spectrum CBD oil make me high? Yes, Delta-9 can hit you stronger than you can ever imagine. It has no comparison with the less potent Delta-8 and produces energized and high feelings instead of relaxation and calmness. For beginners, it is recommended to start using a smaller dose and get used to this potent compound found in the marijuana plant. Q2. Where to find the best Delta-9 oil? In essence, you can find the best Delta-9 oil in Exhale Wellness and Medterra online stores. These trustworthy producers provide the best customer convenience and the most potent Delta-9 tinctures on the market. All of them are third-party tested and safe, and you can rest assured that your overall health when consuming these cannabinoids is always protected. Q3. What is the best Delta-9 alternative? The purest oil elixir, of course. It is scientifically proven that oil drops can work more efficiently when put under the tongue. The other alternatives, such as edibles, gummies, vape carts, can also produce a fast and long-lasting hit, but oil drops can be more effective for sure. It is your decision to try these powerful oil drops, and get into another enjoyable world. Q4. How much time does Delta-9 stay in my system? Experts and health professionals claim that 80%-90% of the total amount of Delta-9 THC inserted into the body stays in the system for over five days. According to many scientific studies, we can also say that this active compound is excreted for over 20% in the urine and 65% in feces. Q5. Can Delta-9 appear on a drug test? Yes, it is essential to note that drug tests can easily detect this potent compound. However, these drug tests do not show THC levels in your body. Instead, these tests look after the metabolites your body produces when your liver is done processing Tetrahydrocannabinol. Q6. Can Delta-9 derived from cannabis plant or marijuana plants be used for medical purposes? We must admit that over the past 50 years, countless scientific studies have been made and have shown that there are a lot of positive effects of using Delta-9 THC. Despite being used for recreational purposes, Delta-9 THC can also be used for medical purposes. It is good to know that Delta-9 THC is a perfect option for treating anxiety, cancer, epileptic attacks, and glaucoma. Many health professionals have also claimed that this compound is also good for treating some types of schizophrenia. Final Thoughts: Are These Full Spectrum CBD + THC Oil Worth Trying? When discussing the best Delta-9 oil on the market, we must mention that these brands and products are a top-notch option for you to try the most effective cannabinoids and enjoy the long-lasting and potent euphoric feelings. Delta-9 THC is always a good idea after a long and exhausting day and appears to be a perfect replacement for harmful chemical byproducts or medications and other substances. WASHINGTON (AP) Count 30-year-old Ethan Miller among that subset of Americans who are actually eager to file their taxes once income tax filing season opens on Monday. The financial planner who lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, is looking forward to claiming the new deductions that will come from buying a home. He also wants to get a jump on a tax season that promises to bring lots of extra headaches and delays for filers this year. Im trying to get a head start on my taxes as much as possible, Miller said, adding that he is not too nervous about forecasts of extra delays because he will file online and will not be waiting for too big a refund. Plenty of other filers, though, may be in for more heartburn. An IRS worker shortage, an enormous workload from administering pandemic-related programs and stalled legislation that would have given the agency billions of dollars for more expeditiously processing returns will combine to cause taxpayers pain this filing season. The IRS right now has unacceptable backlogs and the customer service that people are receiving is not what the American public deserves, White House press secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged Friday. The agency has not been equipped with the resources to adequately serve taxpayers in normal times, let alone during a pandemic. She stressed that the problems predate the Biden administration and she urged understanding for beleaguered workers already saddled with huge backlogs. Its going to take some work, its going to take some time and I think people need to understand that they need funding, Psaki said. Agency officials are already warning filers that in many areas, we are unable to deliver the amount of service and enforcement that our taxpayers and tax system deserves and needs, as IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig put it earlier in the month. Delays in processing are to be expected especially because the IRS says it still is working through 2020 tax returns. During the 2020 budget year, the IRS processed more than 240 million tax returns and issued roughly $736 billion in refunds, including $268 billion in stimulus payments, according to the latest IRS data. In that same time frame, 59.5 million people called or visited an IRS office. Donald Williamson, an accounting and taxation professor at American University in Washington, said he expects weeks and weeks of IRS delays in 2022. You can blame Congress or the IRS. I imagine theyre trying to do the right thing but it just adds to further complexity, he said. My advice in 2022 is file early, get started tomorrow and try to put your taxes together with a qualified professional. Williamson said he advises his clients to file electronically, and those who expect hefty refunds in the tens of thousands should expect greater delays. Most backlogged returns were filed on paper and are amended returns. Deadlines to file have been extended in the past two years due to the pandemic. It is unclear whether this year the agency will offer similar leeway to taxpayers. There will be plenty of new issues to navigate this year. For example, individuals who are eligible to claim the child tax credit and have gotten advance payments throughout the year may get a smaller refund than they normally would see. People who did not get stimulus checks that they were qualified for as part of the pandemic relief package might yet be able to claim a recovery rebate credit on their taxes. On Thursday, the IRS released a list of Top 5 Things to Remember, with suggestions for taxpayers on what documents to pull together and what to do if their 2020 returns still have not been processed. The IRS anticipates that most taxpayers will receive their refund within 21 days of when they file electronically, barring any issues with processing their return. But plenty of pitfalls remain, in part due to staffing troubles at the IRS. Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union that represents IRS workers, said the agency has a hard time recruiting because theyre up against Burger King or McDonalds, which offer similar pay without requiring workers to deal with confusing rules and regulations. As of Thursday, the agencys careers website listed at least 180 open jobs, including clerks and tax examiners paid as little as $11 an hour. Of those, 42 positions were open to the public; most were available only to internal applicants. A hoped-for $80 billion infusion for the agency was included in versions of President Joe Bidens proposed package of social spending programs but that stalled on Capitol Hill. Reardon said the IRS is in a lot of trouble in terms of how it is effectively able to carry out its mission and that has to be rectified. I think clearly the taxpayer gets the brunt of this, he said, adding that IRS workers get the brunt of that blame under horrible circumstances. ___ Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report. Former prime minister Gordon Brown has helped to launch a petition urging the Government to hold an emergency multi-nation conference to raise money to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. He warned that five million children and four million adults in Afghanistan are in immediate danger of acute malnutrition and 23 million people face famine in the coming months. The petition is a direct call to the public to add their voices to the appeal for action to save Afghan lives. Hunger is rife in #Afghanistan. Every province is affected. 98% of families do not have enough to eat. 5 million children are on the brink of famine. Please sign our petition and ask the UK Government to stand up for Afghanistan's children now: https://t.co/DFsRRNxvwO pic.twitter.com/92dqedq8A0 Save the Children UK (@savechildrenuk) January 23, 2022 Mr Brown said no-one who has seen the TV reports coming out of Afghanistan could fail to be moved by the detail of the heart-breaking individual tragedies befalling so many. He pressed the government to convene a multi-nation conference of the 40 countries who joined the American led coalition to fight the Afghan war, to help secure over 3 billion, which the United Nations says is desperately needed to prevent famine hitting millions of people. Of the 40 countries who joined the American led coalition to fight the Afghan war, all should now contribute to the peace. There is not a moment to lose. My friend Malala, the Pakistan girl who was shot at by the Taliban for supporting girls education and won the Nobel prize, has told me she will be one of the first to sign the petition. A boy stands near to his damaged house after it was hit by an earthquake in a remote western province of Badghis, Afghanistan last week (Abdul Raziq Saddiqi/AP) Kirsty McNeill, executive director of policy, advocacy and campaigns at Save the Children UK, which is helping to organise the petition, added, Every province in Afghanistan is facing critical levels of hunger. Its now a race against time to get families the urgent support they need to survive. If no action is taken in the coming months, up to one million children could be at risk dying from malnutrition. The crisis in Afghanistan has been called the worst humanitarian crisis on earth, but its not too late to prevent catastrophic disaster. Its vital that the UK Government convene a global summit immediately to respond practically and financially to the full-blown humanitarian catastrophe under way. Police block Hargrave Street near Park Avenue in Inglewood on Sunday after a deadly shooting at a house party. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Four people were killed and one person was wounded early Sunday after more than 40 rounds of ammunition were fired in an "ambush" shooting at a birthday house party in Inglewood. The city's mayor called the shooting the worst act of violence in the city in years. Firefighters and paramedics were dispatched at 1:43 a.m. to a house in the 1300 block of Park Avenue, according to a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatcher. The house was an Airbnb short-term rental, one of the tenants said. Sources said those participating in the crime were gang-related, but officials said they didn't know a motive for the shooting and were looking for suspects. Two of the victims who were killed, Breahna Stines and Marneysha Hamilton, were sisters. Their mother, who asked to be identified only by her first name, Tiffney, said family had gathered Saturday at the home where the shooting took place to celebrate Stines 20th birthday, which was Sunday. Hamilton was 25. They both were outgoing, beautiful girls, the mother said, sitting beside a display of candles and two large photographs of her daughters that had been placed on the sidewalk at the crime scene. They both had futures ahead of them, and to have it taken away, their mother said, her voice trailing off. She declined to discuss the shooting but said the other two victims were not members of her family and she did not know them. During a news conference, Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. said multiple weapons were used, including one assault rifle and one handgun in what he described as an "ambush." The victims appeared to have been targeted, he added. "This is the largest number of shooting victims that have been injured in this city since the 1990s," Butts told reporters. "When I think about this and hear a crime like this anywhere in New York, in Los Angeles, in Santa Monica, in Culver City, these are sociopathic killers that have to be sequestered from society." Butts urged the suspects to turn themselves in. "We will find you and prosecute you," he said. Later in the day, Butts said the attack "was not random, and it was related to the people who were expected to be at the party." Authorities had not released the names of the victims as of Sunday night. The street where the shooting happened is lined with one- and two-story homes, not far from Edward Vincent Jr. Park and Centinela Elementary School. It's less than two miles from the new SoFi Stadium, which will host the NFC championship game next week and the Super Bowl on Feb. 13. The home had been rented for two weeks through Airbnb by a group of tourists from Sweden, according to a man who waited outside the crime scene tape Sunday evening. The man, who identified himself as a guest of the Airbnb but declined to give his name, said he woke early Sunday to the sound of 10 gunshots in quick succession. He did not know the people who were killed because they were not part of his group, he said. Holding a grocery bag full of water bottles, the man said he had not been allowed back inside the home 18 hours after the shooting because the coroner was still at work. The killings come amid a two-year rise in homicides in Los Angeles County and other places across the country that has been met with alarm. The city of Los Angeles saw nearly 400 killings in 2021, marking the most homicides of any year since 2007. Young Latino and Black men continue to be overrepresented among the dead, data show. An analysis by The Times of killings in L.A. County through the first 11 months of 2021 showed sharp increases in neighborhoods such as Watts and adjoining Florence-Firestone, which each had more than 20 killings, and in other cities in the broader L.A. region, including Compton and Long Beach, which each had more than 30. Inglewood did not see the same increase in killings in 2021 as some neighboring areas. According to Times data, from January through November 2021, the city recorded 13 homicides, just one more than during the same period in 2020. More recent data were not immediately available. Inglewood has been in the midst of a major revitalization in recent years, centered around SoFi Stadium. Home prices lately have soared in some parts of the city of 107,000 people, driven in part by new restaurants and businesses and the anticipated opening of the $2-billion Crenshaw light-rail line. Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine given to people over 60 in Israel made them three times more resistant to serious illness than thrice-vaccinated people in the same age group, Israel's Health Ministry said on Sunday. The ministry also said the fourth dose, or second booster, made people over 60 twice as resistant to infection than those in the age group who received three shots of the vaccine. A preliminary study published by Israel's Sheba medical centre last Monday found that the fourth shot increases antibodies to even higher levels than the third but "probably" not to the point that it could completely fend off the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Israel began offering a fourth dose of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine to people over 60 earlier this month as Omicron swept the country. The ministry said on Sunday the study it conducted with several major Israeli universities and the Sheba centre compared 400,000 people over 60 who received the second booster with 600,000 people in the age group who were given a third shot more than four months ago. As elsewhere, Israel has seen COVID-19 cases spiral due to Omicron. But it has logged no deaths from the variant. (Reporting by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Frances Kerry) Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., on Sunday defended the Biden administration's response to the standoff between Russia and Ukraine but said he's "gravely concerned" that President Vladimir Putin will order Russian troops to invade its neighbor. PHOTO: Sen. Chris Coons speaks during a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations to examine US-Russia policy at the Capitol, Dec. 7, 2021. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) "The most important thing President Biden has been doing is to deter Putin from invading Ukraine. He has pulled together our NATO allies," Coons said on ABC's "This Week." "I think our work in the Senate, and Biden's work to strengthen deterrence is hopefully what is going to succeed. But I am gravely concerned that Putin will show aggression again in Europe and cross the boundary into Ukraine in the coming days or weeks." "The very strongest sanctions, the sorts of sanctions that we use to bring Iran to the table, is something that we should hold out as a deterrent to prevent Putin from taking the last step of invading Ukraine," @ChrisCoons tells @MarthaRaddatz. https://t.co/uB8GRw7aQLpic.twitter.com/XwO5uy4WHA This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 23, 2022 Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva last week as U.S.-Russia tensions continue to rise over the standoff with Ukraine. While diplomatic talks continue, Biden did concede Wednesday that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin will advance troops into Ukraine but says Putin "does not want any full-blown war." MORE: Biden, Putin might meet to resolve standoff over Ukraine, Blinken says Blinken has warned of "massive consequences" if Putin invades Ukraine, but the administration has so far continued to engage in diplomatic talks with its NATO allies and the Russian government. "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz pressed Coons on his support for a bill that impose "crippling sanctions" on Russia, but only if Putin chooses to invade Ukraine. "Why not impose sanctions now?" she asked. Coons, a close ally of President Joe Biden, said passing a bipartisan bill would "show resolve and determination," but only "some sanctions" should come now. "The very strongest sanctions, the sort of sanctions we used to bring Iran to the table, is something we should hold out as a deterrent to prevent Putin from taking the last step of invading Ukraine," he said. MORE: Bipartisan senators turn to reforming Electoral Count Act now that voting rights standoff over Asked about reports that British intelligence believes Russia plans to install a pro-Moscow government in Ukraine, Coons said it's important that the United States and its allies continue to "call out" Russia's plans. Reports that Russia plans to oust Ukraines president and install a pro-Moscow government shows just how aggressive and just how creative Putin intends to be, Sen. Chris Coons tells @MarthaRaddatz. https://t.co/pvFrDExewZpic.twitter.com/PyJQe3UeW8 This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 23, 2022 "One of the things that we are doing to show resolve and bipartisan determination is engagement with Zelensky to support him," Coons said, noting members of Congress have engaged virtually and in person with the Ukrainian president. "I think it's important... that the United Kingdom and the United States that our intelligence communities call out in advance things that we are learning Russia is planning to make it clear to the rest of Europe just how aggressive and just how creative Putin intends to be in both overt and covert means in trying to overthrow Ukraines government, its independence and to violate its sovereignty," he added. Asked about voting rights, Coons also emphasized the importance of Congress passing national legislation and defended Democrats' recent efforts, saying, "We're going to keep trying, keep working at it." MORE: Senate fails to change filibuster rule for passage of voting rights legislation "This was an important fight to show that sharp contrast between Democrats and Republicans this last week on the floor of the Senate," he said. The voting rights legislation was supported by all 50 Democrats in the Senate but ultimately failed to pass as Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., opposed removing the filibuster to pave a path for passage with a simple majority. Expanding voting access and making it overall easier to participate in elections has become a central issue for Democrats, who've accused Republican lawmakers are trying to suppress votes. Raddatz pressed Coons on this, asking, "But ... have you really seen evidence of suppression?" "Absolutely," the senator responded. "We've seen abundant evidence that there are laws being passed that roll back things like ballot drop boxes, drive-through voting, 24-hour early voting, restricting access to the ballot box who particularly in an ongoing pandemic are medically vulnerable." "We made significant progress to make it easier to vote in the pandemic in 2020. Why would we be rolling that back in a dozen states when the pandemic isn't over? Why would we be erecting new barriers for people to be able to vote? We've seen cleverly crafted laws that will do things like automatically remove people from the voting rolls or make it harder for them to apply for mail-in ballots that I believe are designed to suppress the vote," he added. Since the 2020 election, 19 states have enacted over 30 laws making it more difficult to vote according to the Brennan Center for Justice. President Joe Biden expressed "disappointment" after the legislation failed on Wednesday and said he will use "every tool at our disposal to stand up for democracy." Sen. Chris Coons says he's 'gravely concerned' Russia will invade Ukraine but defends administration's response originally appeared on abcnews.go.com